Traveling alone with 6 and 5 yr old should I drive or fly from PA??

[ruadisneyfan2]

I couldn't do it.

When you look at "savings", don't forget you are spending two more nights at Disney, and two more days worth of tickets for each of you into your total cost of flying, so that's a more significant savings to drive. With just you driving, though, you could easily get fatigued and would have no one to pass off to. That could be unsafe as well as unhealthy for all of you.

I'm a major proponent of driving, but in your case, I'd say fly.

That's not a rational comparison. Yes, they'd be paying more OOP for 2 more days at WDW but would also have a longer vacation IN WDW, not on the road. OP could always stay same fewer # of nights in WDW and fly.

If comparing 2 family's vacations both 10 days long, but 1 family spends 4 days on the road and 6 days in WDW, and the other family flies and spends 10 in WDW, they are not equal vacations, regardless of price.


I'd skip the rental car and put the cost toward the flights. It would also ease your burden of luggage handling alone. jmho.

 

[brockash]

For me the only way I'd do the 15 hr. drive would be if it was the only way we could go to Disney. I would always much rather fly than drive though. My kids do pretty well in the car, but it's just so long and I always feel tired/exhausted ect. We're doing a 9.5 hr. drive in a few wks to visit family, and I'm dreading it. I've looked at just flying (we usually do,) but because of the holiday air cost and the taking/bringing home presents, we're going to drive, but that's really my limit. Also, do you have to rent a car? If you're staying on-site could you just use Disney transportation? It would save you some money, and we never rent a car for our Disney trips, and have never had any problems.

 

[Alexander]

As the only adult--no way to driving.

My kids are 12 and 4 and I wouldn't drive with them alone. You cannot mediate problems, clean up spills, get things out for them to do, etc. while you are traveling 75 MPH down I-95. It would be crazy dangerous to try to drive with 2 young kids alone.

I completely understand wanting a rental car, DME and bus transportation is definately not for us. If we couldn't rent a car we wouldn't do WDW. Keep shopping around and look for discount codes and coupons. They probably aren't out yet for April, but they will be.

You should be able to get flights a bit cheaper than what you've got now. Be flexible with departure airports. Even consider leaving a day before or after your originally scheduled trip if possible. Sometimes leaving one or two days different in either direction can save a lot of money. Look at booking one way tickets on different airlines if necessary.

Can someone drive you to the airport? It would save you a bit of money and hassle with parking, getting luggage and kids to the terminal.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP, if you can stand to fly out of Philly, and return on either Sat am or Monday, USAirways has RT for 3 for $704. Even a couple hrs of driving to PHL is easier than 20 hrs to WDW.
I have and would again, drive to BWI if the price is right.


Just checked Airtran from PHL, Sat to Sat, it's only $649.20. Both are non stop. They are not the greatest flight times but still better than driving.

If you can stay until Monday, it's only $619.20. Still both non stops. This is a savings of $363! Would cover your rental car and airport parking.
http://www.longtermparking.com/penn.htm

 

[MinnieGi]

Wow, I could not drive all by myself to WDW!! When a trip came up that DH could not attend so it was myself and my two kids I didn't even consider driving... I knew we had to fly. It worked out great. My kids at the time were 8 & 4. Now that same trip I did drive from Orlando to Hilton Head Island where we were meeting up with DH for a weeks vacation and that took about 5 hours. I felt that was my limit for driving!!

 

[bcuinohio]

935 miles in 15 hours with two kids in the car would be tough to do. Google maps shows Gettysburg to Lake Buena Vista at almost 16 hours. That probably doesn't take breaks and meals into account either.

Allegaint Air flys out of Allentown into Sanford. It is a little bit east of Orlando. Their flights are pretty cheap. Another good website is Kayak. You can run fares the also include nearby airports. They have some cheap flights in early April from Reagan National to Orlando. April 2 - April 10 is $169 RT each.

 

[tlh0726]

thanks for the tips everyone. We are still searching and keeping fingers crossed.

DH and I were discussing last night what was the longest trip that the kids and I did alone. Had to be moving oldest DH stuff to his apartment.
The kids and I drove 3 hours. DS and friend took all the furniture off and set it. The kids and I drove back. Gave the kids lunch while I loaded up all the boxes, jumped back in the truck and drove another 3 hours, unloaded, ran to walmart and lowe's for some items we noticed he needed. ate and drove back home another 3 hours.

So the kids and I have done 12 hours in car plus stops and stuff on top of that.

 

[Aroth28]

.

 

[uva185]

Planning trip for first week of April.
Looks like DH work schedule will have him in Las Vegas. If so, he will definitely be flying in and out of MCO paid for by the company he works for. Which then leaves me with what the kids and I should do.

To drive, it is estimated (one way) 15 hours, 935 miles, fuel cost $120.00 based on 23 mpg which I should no doubt be able to beat.
I have done numerous 7-10 hour trips with the kids (and a dog) alone.

To fly we are looking at
compact rental car $230.79
airfare estimate for 3 $982.20
airport parking $64.00
total $1276.99
versus gas costs of $240.00 roundtrip

cost wise it is a no brainer to me - DRIVE

But is the approx. $1000 savings worth it be driving for 30 plus hours with 2 kids alone and losing 2 days at disney??

decisions, decisions, decisions

But gas is not the only true cost. The IRS deduction rate is 55 cents per miles which is calculated to cover all expenses related to wear and tear on the vehicle. For your trip that would be $1028.50. Then you must calculate what your time is worth. At a minimum I value my free time at double the rate of my salary. Personally flying would be a no brainer given the cost to fly you posted.

 

[tlh0726]

Hey we are from Mechanicsburg just up 15. My 2 sons now 7 and 2 do a 15 hour drive for every shuttle launch. We have been doing it since oldest son has been 3. My wife stays at home and the drive is a piece of cake!

We wait until the countdown clock is at T-20 hours pack the car and go. We stop once at south of the border (~500 miles/halfway) for gas and a bathroom break and arrive at Cape Canaveral usually at T-4 hours until launch.

My oldest son wants to be a Naval pilot so we plan the route out and he marks on the map where we should we be at what point in time. He calls out our checkpoints ,figures out our fuel consumption and we have a blast. Pack some snacks and a DVD player and you are all set. We make the trip 5 to 6 times a year and it's easy.

You can do it. PM me if you need any pointers.

Andy

howdy neighbor