Who Loves driving to DisneyWorld

[JennMouse32]

i find driving a lot better than fllying.. for several reasons..


+can take your time getting there
+less expensive
+less hassle
+no luggage fees
+no over size or over weight fees
+no limits on what you can take, other than whe your car can hold


the list goes on and on... plus the scenery can be very nice on the way down, Ive made teh drive before from Syracuse, NY to DW, this year it will be from Indiana to DW.. not as long.. we can stop as much as we like since we are leaving on a saturday and dont have to get there till monday, we can take our time,.. stop and rest if needed.. then sunday night will will rpobably get a hotel room for that night, right before that last 300miles, so we can really rest and take a shower then drive the rest monday monday and get there when we can check in..its just overall more relaxing..​

 

[wdwmaw]

I love to drive to Disney World but I love Disney world better. We have to count every vacation day so to us it is time in the park.We are 12 hours away and usually drive all night going down and that does not bother me at al,l it is the drive back that takes forever go figure. What a world we live in, we can get up @ 6am, be at school by 7, go to school 1/2 day, fly to Disney and be eating in Epcot by 6pm


When the kids are gone and we have more time, DH and I will again be driving to Disney and enjoying I75.

 

[uva185]

...since we are leaving on a saturday and dont have to get there till monday. ...its just overall more relaxing..

To each their own. 3 days of driving is not exactly what I call relaxing.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I don't really like flying or driving (from Chicago)! We've done both. If only I could wave a magic wand to get us there! I'd already have our next trip booked! We usually drive, it's not awful. The kids prefer it - even though they don't watch movies, read books, or play video games in the car because it makes them carsick. Flying causes them too much ear pain (up to 48 hrs after the flight) We just can't win!

 

[FINFAN]

we have also lost time by flying to accomodate the budget...T,W TH flights being the cheapest ( we are a family of 4)and also we have not lost days in WDW by driving as we usually have to cut 1-2 nights off if flying because it adds about $500 to the cost over driving...basically 2 hotel nights. So in our case, the number of days for the WDW part of the trip tends to be the same, number of days off work tends to be the same, but we are together for 2 extra days while driving, and yes, it is not for everyone, I think that is why the OP gave it the title of "Who Loves to Drive to WDW" not , why DON'T you love to drive to WDW.. and if it means the difference of being able to go and NOT be able to go...driving works for us. And one HUGE reason we drive, if we have a car payment, we drive...paying for flights when we are paying for a car that can do the job, just not budget minded of us.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Nope can't stand driving. Did it once from Pittsburgh and never again.

If the flights for our planned September trip don't go down, we will be cancelling and choosing another vacation destination, thats how much we dislike driving.

 

[JennMouse32]

To each their own. 3 days of driving is not exactly what I call relaxing.

Its saturday nightthat we are leaving.. not during the day.. the day is for sleeping, i get off work at 7am, getting our mani and pedis, and packing the van..​

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Interesting topic, seems it just comes down to whether a person is physically and mentally tough enough to handle a drive of this length.. My opinion has always been that I am glad I am because I would have it no other way, to be travel is about freedom, can't have that while depending on the airlines to set your schedule.. And I am glad that those that can't handle the drive, don't..

 

[alwaysmom]

We drive everywhere or I should say DH drives everywhere, I sleep. This year is the first time we have ever flown to DW. Found great airfare that pretty much cinched it. 19 hrs and wear & tear on vehicle vs 3 hrs, we picked flying.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Interesting topic, seems it just comes down to whether a person is physically and mentally tough enough to handle a drive of this length.. My opinion has always been that I am glad I am because I would have it no other way, to be travel is about freedom, can't have that while depending on the airlines to set your schedule.. And I am glad that those that can't handle the drive, don't..

Its not that DH and I are not physically and mentally able to drive to Florida. I used to have a job where I drove hundreds of miles a day five days a week.

Driving takes days off our actual vacation in the parks. We would have to cut two days off our vacation on both ends if we decided to drive. And my thoughts are why would I want to take 17 hours to get somewhere when I can be there in a little over 2? Even if we factor in travel time and wait times in the airport, still is alot less time at least for us to fly than drive.

 

[Tara]

Its not that DH and I are not physically and mentally able to drive to Florida. I used to have a job where I drove hundreds of miles a day five days a week.

Driving takes days off our actual vacation in the parks. We would have to cut two days off our vacation on both ends if we decided to drive. And my thoughts are why would I want to take 17 hours to get somewhere when I can be there in a little over 2? Even if we factor in travel time and wait times in the airport, still is alot less time at least for us to fly than drive.

That poster is clearly trying to get a rise out of people who choose not to drive. If he or she wants to call 2 days on the road, having to time departure to miss traffic around major urban areas, having to make unplanned stops when someone has to go to the bathroom, etc. "freedom" then more power to 'em. I'll just be a slave to the airline schedules that offer me lots of choice of ways to get to Orlando in 3 hours. And when my son has to pee, the airplane doesn't have to stop at the next exit with a restroom.

Everyone thinks their way is the best way. And it is - for THEM. I fly, I check baggage when I feel like it (even if it isn't free), I rent a car, I drive to MK most of the time, I tip valets both at car drop off and pick up, I love San Angel Inn, I think Le Cellier is overrated, I never watch parades and I think TP should go over on the roll. Everyone else's mileage may vary, but I don't really care because my family is the only family taking our vacations.

 

[uva185]

That poster is clearly trying to get a rise out of people who choose not to drive. If he or she wants to call 2 days on the road, having to time departure to miss traffic around major urban areas, having to make unplanned stops when someone has to go to the bathroom, etc. "freedom" then more power to 'em. I'll just be a slave to the airline schedules that offer me lots of choice of ways to get to Orlando in 3 hours. And when my son has to pee, the airplane doesn't have to stop at the next exit with a restroom.

Everyone thinks their way is the best way. And it is - for THEM. I fly, I check baggage when I feel like it (even if it isn't free), I rent a car, I drive to MK most of the time, I tip valets both at car drop off and pick up, I love San Angel Inn, I think Le Cellier is overrated, I never watch parades and I think TP should go over on the roll. Everyone else's mileage may vary, but I don't really care because my family is the only family taking our vacations.

I actually like having to follow the airline's schedule. Whenever I make a road trip to the beach I always leave later than I plan to because there is no real urgency to leave. But when I fly I always leave right on time to catch the flight. If I really need to break away from the airline's schedule I can pay to change my ticket or just claim "flat tire" if the circumstances permit it.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Its not that DH and I are not physically and mentally able to drive to Florida. I used to have a job where I drove hundreds of miles a day five days a week.

Driving takes days off our actual vacation in the parks. We would have to cut two days off our vacation on both ends if we decided to drive. And my thoughts are why would I want to take 17 hours to get somewhere when I can be there in a little over 2? Even if we factor in travel time and wait times in the airport, still is alot less time at least for us to fly than drive.

If it takes you 2 whole days on each end of your vacation coming from PA, you should fly.. we have about the same length of drive coming from Illinois, doesn't cut off any days really, we just leave the house at 6PM on a Friday instead of 4AM on a Saturday to be there before lunch on Saturday..

 

[HHSTigerFan]

That poster is clearly trying to get a rise out of people who choose not to drive. If he or she wants to call 2 days on the road, having to time departure to miss traffic around major urban areas, having to make unplanned stops when someone has to go to the bathroom, etc. "freedom" then more power to 'em. I'll just be a slave to the airline schedules that offer me lots of choice of ways to get to Orlando in 3 hours. And when my son has to pee, the airplane doesn't have to stop at the next exit with a restroom.

Everyone thinks their way is the best way. And it is - for THEM. I fly, I check baggage when I feel like it (even if it isn't free), I rent a car, I drive to MK most of the time, I tip valets both at car drop off and pick up, I love San Angel Inn, I think Le Cellier is overrated, I never watch parades and I think TP should go over on the roll. Everyone else's mileage may vary, but I don't really care because my family is the only family taking our vacations.

Perhaps trying to prove a point, rather than get a rise out of anyone.. It seems like whenever anyone on this board starts a thread about "I really want to drive" or "who loves to drive", some self described expert feels the need to attempt to convince that person that they should fly instead or that flying is better.. Maybe I should do the same, whenever someone starts a thread about "how do I get to Universal", "how do I get to the beach" or "airfare is not going down", I should just say something stupid about how they should drive???

As for the rest, we don't spend 2 days on the road unless we WANT to, coming from Chicago the only major city we drive thru is Atlanta and bathroom breaks are not "unplanned", we expect them... to us, the "unplanned" things are when we are at WDW and somebody says "can we spend one more day at Animal Kingdom" or "can we go to the beach for a few days after we leave WDW" or "can we stop and do something in Nashville"... to me, that makes driving thru the night while the rest of the family sleeps worth it, but thats just me..

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

If it takes you 2 whole days on each end of your vacation coming from PA, you should fly.. we have about the same length of drive coming from Illinois, doesn't cut off any days really, we just leave the house at 6PM on a Friday instead of 4AM on a Saturday to be there before lunch on Saturday..

It takes us 17 hours to drive to WDW from where we live. This is straight through going at times above the speed limit with very minimal breaks.
If my kids spent all night in a car riding for 17 hours there is no way they would feel like walking around the parks on the day we arrive. And if we were driving back, DH wouldn't want to spend 1/2 the day in the parks the day we were leaving. He would want to get up and leave ASAP, hence taking 2 days off our vacation. We always plan park days for our arrival and departure days.

There is no right or wrong way to get to WDW. Some like to drive , some like to fly. We prefer to fly and so much so that if our airfare doesn't come down for our September trip, we will be vacationing in Jamaica instead of WDW.

Has nothing to do with physical or mental capability. Seventeen hours in a car for me is plain torture pure and simple. I'm certainly capable but would rather poke my eyes out than endure the torture.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Has nothing to do with physical or mental capability. Seventeen hours in a car for me is plain torture pure and simple. I'm certainly capable but would rather poke my eyes out than endure the torture.

I was thinking having root canal...

For those who love to drive, that's great. Less demand for our seats on the plane.
I like that we can finish school/work til 4:30 on a Fri, run home to change clothes, head to PHL for an 9 pm flight (eat dinner in the terminal) and be in Orlando by 11:30 pm. We sleep at the Hyatt MCO with a great deal on Hotwire, and wake up well rested in FL.

If driving and left home from the NE at 6 pm, where would you be at 11:30 pm? Virginia maybe?

My vacation time is too precious to spend so much time in the car navigating exits, tolls, back ups, etc. just to save $3-400.
In driving to Williamsburg, VA and having traffic slow down to a crawl on 95 for no apparent reason 3x, by 2 hrs into it I told dh, 'If we were flying we'd be IN Florida by now."

I'd fly to PHL if I could.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If my kids spent all night in a car riding for 17 hours there is no way they would feel like walking around the parks on the day we arrive.

We let our kids sleep in the car on the way down.. Whether we go to the park or make it a resort day depends on the length of our trip, last time we left the house at 3:00PM and were at AKL by 10:00AM , at MK by 10:45 and it worked out fantastic, best part was we decided half way thru to spend 3 days at the ocean after our 12 nights at AKL.. again, its the freedom we enjoy.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

If driving and left home from the NE at 6 pm, where would you be at 11:30 pm? Virginia maybe?

My vacation time is too precious to spend so much time in the car navigating exits, tolls, back ups, etc. just to save $3-400.
In driving to Williamsburg, VA and having traffic slow down to a crawl on 95 for no apparent reason 3x, by 2 hrs into it I told dh, 'If we were flying we'd be IN Florida by now."

Who cares where you are at at 11:30 PM, many people that drive will be at the same place at 9:00AM when the parks open..

Its not about saving money, we could probably fly cheaper, its about being flexible on a vacation.. Which is why is very old when the topic of driving comes up many of the so called "experts" always have to chime in with a "have you checked Southwest, they are really cheap right now"... Figure it out people, people like myself CHOOSE to drive..

If we do a short 3-5 day trip, we would fly, but we normally do 14-18 day trips and will drive every single time..

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We let our kids sleep in the car on the way down.. Whether we go to the park or make it a resort day depends on the length of our trip, last time we left the house at 3:00PM and were at AKL by 10:00AM , at MK by 10:45 and it worked out fantastic, best part was we decided half way thru to spend 3 days at the ocean after our 12 nights at AKL.. again, its the freedom we enjoy.

I wouldn't have this freedom even if driving. I'd know I have to return to work a certain day so we'd have to leave WDW 3 days early in order to spend 3 days at the beach.
For us, driving wouldn't mean tossing out the clock and calendar.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Who cares where you are at at 11:30 PM, many people that drive will be at the same place at 9:00AM when the parks open..

Its not about saving money, we could probably fly cheaper, its about being flexible on a vacation.. Which is why is very old when the topic of driving comes up many of the so called "experts" always have to chime in with a "have you checked Southwest, they are really cheap right now"... Figure it out people, people like myself CHOOSE to drive..

If we do a short 3-5 day trip, we would fly, but we normally do 14-18 day trips and will drive every single time..

I'm not trying to convince anyone to fly, please don't take it that way.
Everyone does what works for their family. For me time is the biggest issue so we go the way that gets us there fastest. (I'd never be able to take off work 14-18 days.)
Everyone has different values and needs.