When did you give in to driving over flying?

[molly2004]

With all this talk about airlines, their charges and fees. Plus looming changes in DME...I'm freaking out. I wonder if we should just throw in the towel and drive!

When did you decide that flying just wasn't worth it? I've got a long drive, 21 hours and twins who will be almost 3 when we go. Plus, we only have a station wagon, not a big van or anything. So the thought of driving is incredibly daunting. But with airfare costing so much, will I have to give in and drive?

Please tell me I'm freaking out for nothing!

 

[pennyplanner]

Consider the time, $$$ for a stop-over, the cost of gas, wear and tear on your car and the general hassle of driving 95 through NYC, Newark, Baltimore, DC, etc.

Connecticut to WDW by car? Not for us!

--penny

 

[Mac and Us]

We live in NH and we drive. We have flown and drove and decided that we like the drive. It's long but we make it part of the vacation. We also have a motorhome which is more comfortable than a vehicle.

I would say you need to factor in everything. Then ask yourself if your children are good riders. Our DD4 does really well with the drive as long as we keep her busy (DVD's, coloring books, toys, etc).

 

[AshAlytwins]

Have you considered driving to Virginia and taking the Auto train the rest of the way??? We used to drive, but once we discovered the train, that is the way we go. It costs less than flying and is cheaper that buying gas, food, hotel stop, and you get on the train at 4 and at 9 the next morning you are half an hour away from the magic!!!

 

[investgirlmd]

For us it was the timing we are only going for 6 nights so to drive would eat into our stay at Disney. And the thought of driving 18 hours with a 5 and 11 year old didn't sound fun. Plus I kept checking air prices and I found 4 round trip from BWI to MCO non stop flights both ways for less than $800. Which is the best I have found. I booked my flight back in Jan we are going in April.

I think it just depends on how long you are going for and if you can afford to fly. If you can't than drive it wont be that bad. If we didnt already have the money saved to fly we would have drivin.

 

[jodifla]

Have you considered driving to Virginia and taking the Auto train the rest of the way??? We used to drive, but once we discovered the train, that is the way we go. It costs less than flying and is cheaper that buying gas, food, hotel stop, and you get on the train at 4 and at 9 the next morning you are half an hour away from the magic!!!

From where you are, I second looking into this. The Autotrain is really a lot of fun. We've done it twice now.

 

[dudspizza]

2 to 3 days in the car... no thank you.

I can stay at a hotel right next to the airport the night before. They keep my car and shuttle the family to the airport in the morning. We are at WDW by noon. You can't put a price on that.

More power to people who like to drive, but it isn't for me. I can't fathom the 2 day drive home after a week or two of go, go , go.

Duds

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've driven and flown to WDW, more driving than flying, since 1977 and after 30 some trips and September 11 just about stopped my flying. I was never keen on flying and hate it to this day, too much stress and a terrible vacation knowing I have to get back on a plane to return home. Not worth it. Driving has gotten too hectic and stressful with the big cities and traffic. We discovered Amtrak years ago and thats our means of getting to WDW. Its cheaper than flying or driving, I can sit back, relax, play games, read a book and just plain gawk out the window as the train rolls down the tracks. In all our train trips, we've never had any major problems, yes, its hardly on time but we do get there.

Its about 27 hours for us and lately, with our rewards points, we get a roomette sleeper from Washington to Kissimmee. Really nice but small room. When you have a sleeper, all meals are included and they are linen service, really good meals. The roomette seats 2, converts into a upper and lower bed, has a toilet and sink and with porter service, a newspaper in the am, coffee and juice and bottled water in the passageway, its fantastic. We have this car or room from about 4pm till we arrive in Kissimmee in the am, around 10:30am next morning and we're relaxed, refreshed, eat breakfast and we're there. Best way to travel. Our tickets for 2, round trip have never cost more than 450.00 total.

 

[Disneydreaming6]

I have taken this drive many, many times. I love the drive. I have made the trip with 6 kids ages 2-16 piled in my suv. I have also gone with just the little one. I am lucky that my ds loves long drives and is really good during the trip. That is to me the #1 thing you have to take into consideration. If your child doesnt like to sit in a car for long periods of time then the aggrevation, stress etc. will not make for a good road trip, then the cost of the plane tickets would be well worth it. When driving make sure the kids are occupied, dvds, books, snack, games you have to make sure you have it all. You also have to factor in the 4 days it will take to to get there and back, if your schedule doesn't allow for it, fly. You don't want to cut your vacation in the world short because of having to drive. Also another factor as to why I love to drive is I am scared to death to fly. so to me the long drive is worth not having panic attacks as I am boarding the plane. This year I will be flying, going in Oct. right now I am psyched, prepping myself I can do this, but when the time comes, I will be in the corner, white as a ghost, popping xanex, and praying like a lunatic. I know, I know flying is not that bad, but when it comes to flying and mice, (not the big mouse, little grey scurring things that my cat seems to love to bring me) is not logical. And one other point. At this time, it is going to be cheaper for me to fly then drive with the price of gas the way it is. So figure out the 2600 mi. rd trip, add in for just rides around then figure the cost of gas and how many miles to a gallon you get and see if it is going to be cheaper to drive then fly.

 

[molly2004]

Have you considered driving to Virginia and taking the Auto train the rest of the way??? We used to drive, but once we discovered the train, that is the way we go. It costs less than flying and is cheaper that buying gas, food, hotel stop, and you get on the train at 4 and at 9 the next morning you are half an hour away from the magic!!!

Yeah, I had thought of it, but the reports of increasingly uncomfortable rides have put me off it. Maybe you can talk me into it.

How far in advance should you book, anyway? We'll be going late January, so we'll be bunking with the snowbirds.

 

[tabrizia]

When we added up the costs for the two of us. It is actually cheaper to fly then drive. When when have kids and it starts becoming more expensive to fly then drive we'll discuss what to do. Since I don't drive long distances, it would mean my husband driving the whole trip so we will still likely suck up the expense and fly. With 79$ flights each way (for us) you can't really go wrong flying from where we are. And since our main airport is a Southwest hub, we don't even have to worry about the unprofitable airlines since our hub has the only profitable one.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

My wife hates to fly.
The first time we went to Walt Disney World, April 2004 with my 3 year old daughter We decided to go a couple of months before we went with little planning. We rented some points off the DIS forum, checked the airfares a couple of time and picked up a trip tick from AAA.

We drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
1, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
2, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
3, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
4, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
5, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
6, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776

The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston, WITHOUT, tapes, DVDs, video games, just a lot of singing and sleeping.

It's not that Bad!!!

Last year, April 2005 we caught a break in fares and flue down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with American Airlines , $504 round trip total for the 3 of us.

This year, April 2006 we caught a break in fares so we're flying down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with Song/Delta , $496 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2007,
If all goes well,
The creek don't rise,
and there ain't no melt down,
We'll do it all again next year.

Good Luck all,
Joe

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Oh, about when I realized that I was terrified of planes.

(Which actually can be traced back to a September a few years ago, but let's not go there, shall we? Yes, I'm aware I'm mental.)

We have driven before and are driving down in 86 days. First time, kids were 2 and 5. No worries. They had a blast in the backseat (and we didn't even have a car DVD at the time). Each one got a bucket of travel goodies that were new to them. Each day, a new little cheap toy in a Mickey goodie bag. (Yes, I said each day. We took three days there and three back. On purpose.) We went 7.5 hours on day one, stopped in Virginia. Played in the pool, let the kids run around. 7 more day 2, stopped in Savannah, repeat. 4 on the last day, showed up at Fort Wilderness Cabins at noon-ish, and rested. Then we did Disney. The way back was a bit different cause we went to visit family/friends in FL after the World.

At any rate, driving to Disney is not evil incarnate, even with little ones. If you can get the good fares, and like to fly, go ahead. If not, don't panic, pile in the car and yell "Road Trip!"

Good luck with whichever!

 

[Shagley]

I had just finished reading through this thread, and I went to Amtrak just to see what their latest specials were, and I found this...

Kids Ride Free on the Auto Train

Use Promotion Code H608
Two FREE children's rail fare tickets (ages 2-15).
On sale through September 30, 2006.


This spring break – this summer vacation – kids ride FREE on Amtrak Auto Train.

Your vacation starts the moment you get on board with great savings — up to two children ages 2-15 ride for free with each paid adult. Enjoy a digEplayer movie, play card games with the kids, curl up in a comfy seat or simply watch the scenery rolling by. It’s even more fun to travel on Amtrak Auto Train with this great deal on family travel.

Ask for promotion code H608 and kids ride FREE as you travel south to sunny Florida's beaches and attractions, or north for summers with grandparents and visits to Washington, DC and the rest of the Northeast. It’s the perfect way to travel to and from Florida.

Meals are included in the price of all Auto Train tickets, no matter which travel class you purchase. Our expert chef will serve freshly prepared dinners including regional wines, vegetarian dishes and special dinners for kids. Snacks and beverages are available in the lounge car for an additional cost. On Auto Train there is something for everyone!

Getting there really is half the fun!

Terms & Conditions

Valid for sale between February 15, 2006 - September 30, 2006
Valid for travel between March 1, 2006 - October 3, 2006.
Reservations are required a minimum of three days prior to departure.
This offer is valid for up to two free children's rail fare tickets for children ages 2-15 with the purchase of one regular (full)adult, or disabled discounted adult rail fare.
Free child(ren) and adult(s) must travel together at all times and have tickets issued at the same time.
This offer is valid for travel only on the Auto Train (train# 52 and 53).
Offer is subject to any restrictions, blackouts and refund fees that apply to the type of fare purchased and upon which the discount is based.
Free child is subject to the same restrictions and conditions as the fare-paying passenger.

 

[Fionasmommy]

We're not driving, but I just wanted to jump in and say that I'd LOVE to if we could!! Colorado is just too far, though. We do a lot of driving trips, usually Las Vegas or Santa Fe. Last summer we drove to Vegas and the down to the Grand Canyon and up through Utah. It was incredible! To me the drive is part of the vacation - I love seeing the landscapes change, eating in little neighborhood restaurants along the way, and finding tourist curiousities along the way.

FL is just way too far from here though. We drove from CO to NJ and back one Christmas (3 looooong days each way!) with an infant and it was no fun at all. The baby was a real trooper, but after awhile the turnpikes all look the same!

 

[HappyCamperToo]

I have a back up ressie on a rental minivan at home. If airfare doesn't come down to what we can afford, our family of 5 might just save the $$ by renting here and driving. It'll mean 4 days of driving in the shorter daylight hours in December (2 each way), paying a lot more in gas, two extra hotel nights, one each way, and a bit more in food. It'll also mean not having the rental car bill in orlando, not having 5 airfares, not having parking fees at O'Hare. I'm NOT crazy about this idea, ,but.....

 

[Uncleromulus]

For us (who never really LIKED flying to start with) it was the increased lines, waits, searches, etc at the airports that switched us to full-time drivers to WDW. We didn't like the idea of sitting at the airport or on the plane wondering who was going to act out--the flying mode just became too uncomfortable!!!

 

[molly2004]

Thank you for all your responses. I guess we're going to wait and see what happens to airfare. I'd prefer to drive (I'm a cheapskate ), but 22-24 hours is just too long. However, I did make sure that DH was well aware that we should keep driving as a backup in case airfares go nuts. Maybe I'll do what one of the posters does and rent a minivan for the trip. A little station wagon just might not cut it,especially if the MIL decides to come along after all. DH also ruled out the Autotrain. He couldn't justify the cost. Maybe we'll do the train when the kids are a little older and are able to get more out of the experience.

Oh, well, we'll see what happens. Keeping my fingers crossed that airfares look good! Again, thanks everyone!

 

[goofy4tink]

You know, it's funny, but after reading through this thread I started thinking. 3 hrs on the plane, 2 hrs waiting to get on the plane, an hour to get to said airport to wait 2 hrs to fly for 3 hrs. So, a total of 6 hrs before we even get to WDW. Then, going home, 3 hrs waiting (DME, and then 2 hrs at MCO) 3 hrs on the plane, an hour going home....7 hrs. So a grand total of 13 hrs...just for travel. I would love to take 3 days to drive to WDW and make a few stops along the way...2 day to get home.
If airfare for the three of us gets too much above $250 pp r/t trip, then we make start driving. Add that to the fact that we are starting to have trouble getting direct flights. It's starting to make sense to drive.
My ds drove from central ma to Tampa last fall. He drove 8 hrs a day for three days. He started on a Thursday morning around 5ish, and got to Tampa around 1 pm on Sat. He had no issue with traffic anywhere!!! In fact he called me and asked where all the 'supposed' traffic was. He did say that the drive through the Carolina's was incredibly boring.

 

[DISUNC]

I drive from NE PA to WDW every year. PERFECT!
Airlines too much hassle, too expensive & no direct flights.
I tried Amtracking it! What a mess!

If your car can make it, and everyone in the car can keep themselves occupied, it is rather nice driving.

It all depends on your own situation.