What would you do- Drive or Fly?

[dreamer17555]

I have side by side cruises booked in Sept out of Port Canaveral. We currently have plans to stay at the All Star Sports one night prior & post sailing (waterpark perk ). The drive is about 10 hours. The cost to fly over driving (considering things like transportation to resort and port, parking, gas, luggage etc) is about $250 in total more for the two of us. BUT it is peak hurricane season which makes me nervous... (If it matters I would be the only person driving)

The airport we would need to fly out of is 90 minute drive from our house (SO would drop us off). We are not a money is no object family (hence All Stars) but I also hate that long drive. We would also need to move the car between sailings to the new terminal and that mess vs the system DCL has where they shuttle you over. Flying we would take DCL transportation so a lower BG. What would you do?

Would love for others to weigh in. We would fly SW down, Breeze on the way back (Nicer level on Breeze) if that matters.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I’d fly. Vacay is of limited benefit when you’re stressed to the max starting out. If a storm rolls in and your flight is cancelled but your cruise is on you can always make the call to drive then. If your flight is cancelled the airline has to refund you (however if WN cancels but Breeze doesn’t cancel your return Breeeze is under no obligation to refund you- this sounds obvious but you’d be surprised how many people seem shocked when that happens to them ).

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd drive. Much less hassle than flying these days. Time-wise there wouldn't be a huge difference once you factor in your drive to the airport, needing to be there 60+ minutes before the flight, and then the actual flight (2.5 hours?) plus collecting your bags and getting to the resort. I'm guessing that all adds up to 5-6 hours total. So yes, the drive would take longer, but still the difference isn't significant.
As far as moving between terminals goes, it depends on the ship. You might be able to leave your car at the first terminal and just walk over to the next terminal.

 

[Skippyboo]

What ships are you sailing? The 2 terminals that Disney use are next to each other so it would not be difficult to move the car. They would likely double charge you the day you switch since parking lot charge per day. Alternatively you could park offsite by the terminal and leave the car there for both cruises and use a shuttle back and to the port.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

The drive is about 10 hours.

(If it matters I would be the only person driving

No universe where I would end my magical Disney vacation with a 10 hour drive where there's no one tapping off with me. Too long for one driver, in my opinion. That said, I lean Fly sooner than others, for sure.

 

[Lewisc]

Consider driving but leaving your car at All Stars while you cruise. Would DCL transfers cost much more then parking at the port?

 

[Jodo98]

if you dont mind driving you can drive, but flying is much smoother. Even in hurricane season its smoother. Unless we are getting impacted in florida by a storm, hurricane season shouldnt impact your travels. you should schedule your flight the day before for sure not day of.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Consider driving but leaving your car at All Stars while you cruise. Would DCL transfers cost much more then parking at the port?

Excellent idea!

 

[dreamer17555]

Consider driving but leaving your car at All Stars while you cruise. Would DCL transfers cost much more then parking at the port?

So technically I don't believe it is allowed. I can ask but it depends on the manger on duty and I do think it gets tricky with two cruises (9 nights total).

 

[Lewisc]

So technically I don't believe it is allowed. I can ask but it depends on the manger on duty and I do think it gets tricky with two cruises (9 nights total).

I don't know how often, if ever, license plates are checked. Checking makes sense

 

[ExcitedForWDW]

I'd fly. Far safer and less tiring.

 

[FastPasser.]

The drive for us is about 9 hrs as compared to a 90 minute flight. I can’t take sitting in a car that long. Even with the airport hassle, I prefer it.

 

[sponica]

Even though flying is variable these days, if you can book the first flight out it's far more predictable than driving. My sister's husband drove their pickup towing the camper down and first their battery died, then a rock hit their windshield, they had scheduled a time for a repair at a safelite along the way but ended up in a huge storm and missed their appointment. They were never so happy to see fort wilderness.

 

[dreamer17555]

Thanks all! So we decided to fly and skip the stay post cruise. Flying in the day before (non stop, leaves at 7 AM) and if it goes badly I still have enough time to drive it down. Appreciate your insight.

 

[FastPasser.]

Thanks all! So we decided to fly and skip the stay post cruise. Flying in the day before (non stop, leaves at 7 AM) and if it goes badly I still have enough time to drive it down. Appreciate your insight.

We always fly in on embarkation day. And as you’re doing, we take the earliest flight and if there’s a problem, there’s another Atlanta to Orlando flight every hour. We’ve always made it on the first flight.

 

[LadybugsMum]

We always fly in on embarkation day. And as you’re doing, we take the earliest flight and if there’s a problem, there’s another Atlanta to Orlando flight every hour. We’ve always made it on the first flight.

Be very careful doing that. My friends had to call and postpone their cruise because their flights were canceled and they couldn’t get out until the next day. You should fly in the day before.

 

[sam_gordon]

I know you already chose to fly, but I think that's the best choice. IMO, the two huge variables on fly v. drive is cost and time. If the added cost to fly is too high, we drive.

I prefer flying when it's financially doable. To me, an added $250 total is a no brainer.