Who Loves driving to DisneyWorld

[Mickey527]

I love to drive and if gas was cheaper I would drive down more often. I like to drive alone because I can play my CDs as loud as I want and sing along and no one can tell me the cats are howling. lol yes, it is that bad but no one can hear me.
I used to work nights so going without sleep is nothing to me. I will leave Ct at around 6 pm and drive straight through, stopping only for gas. Then we get to the parks at about 11 and go to the parks till closing.
when I go to Orlando alone I usually fly because I can get a RT ticket for under $200 and a rental car usually is about $150. If I fly gas alone will cost me at least 8 fill ups at about $45 each, that is $360, so it costs less to fly alone.
When I go to the parks with my son and grandson we drive. I tape all my grandson's favorite noggin shows and he will watch them when he is awake. My son will nap in the car too, and he drives through VA. I don't know why but I have always hated driving through VA. Airfare for 3 of us is alot more than gas and we have the car for when we want to do something off site.
Driving down in July for the 4th At Epcot. can't wait.

 

[lorac4disney]

This will be our first year to fly. We have driven all of the other times we have gone. I'm the idiot who decided that we needed to fly so that my kids could have their first flying experience while I was with them. So I'm gritting my teeth and bearing it, but I don't plan on flying with the family anytime soon after this trip.

We haven't even begun the ordeal at the airport, yet I already feel like a pinned up piece of cattle.

What I love about driving is that I can take all of the luggage and supplies that I could ever want. There was no worrying about bag weights, bag sizes, and number of bags. No worrying about being separated from my autistic daughter because of all of the seats being assigned. No being stuck to a rigid schedule. Get to the airport at Time A. Check your bags by Time B. Report to your gate by Time C. Board plane in the order called starting at Time D. Take off at Time E. You get the picture. I guess I like being the one calling the shots too much. With flying, I'm at the airline's mercy.

Another thing I like is not worrying about how many souvenirs I have purchased or having them get damaged.

One thing that might sound odd (but that I love the most of all) is that during the 20 hour drive, we actually get to visit with each other. We clown around. We cut up. We tell embarrassing stories. We act like goof balls. Once we get to WDW, there's so much going on that we sometimes don't get that downtime to connect but the drive down there and back more than makes up for it.

Next year, we are definitely planning on driving again.

 

[Belle1962]

I love to drive to Disney because:

10. I am anywhere from 7 - 8 hours away (to fly: 1 hr to the airport, 2 hrs to park and get to the terminal and catch flight; 1.25 hour flight, 30 minutes MINIMUM to get luggage and rental car; 30 minutes to get to WDW=almost 5 hours and that is with NO delays. When we do fly we catch late afternoon/early evening flights from MCO and I would say at least 50% of the times those flights are delayed due to weather --summer storms) I have also priced it out and when you add in costs to drive to/from airport, paying to park at the airport, baggage fees, there isn't that big of difference--especially when 3 or more people are going.

9. I enjoy driving.

8. I can take anything we want/need to Disney. I always take enough clothes so we do NOT ever have to worry about laundry!

7. We enjoy the scenery and being able to stop when something catches our attention.

6. Love the free OJ at the Florida Welcome Center

5. I only get Radio Disney when we get south of ATL--not at home.

4. It's a great excuse to get some new tunes!!!

3. It forces me to have my car thoroughly cleaned inside and out--love starting a trip with that just detailed smell!!!

2. It reinforces the importance of maintenance on my vehicle (oil change, tire rotation a must before any trip) This tip my 90K mile maintenace will be done beforehand.

1. I love being in a car with my grandson and other family members. For us it's great together time. Talk, read book to each other, play games, etc.

 

[Disney Ron]

We LOVE flying over all of you driving so that we can be at the pool at the resort in 2 hours with an adult beverage in hand while the rest of you are still 3 states away!!!

 

[mrodgers]

We LOVE flying over all of you driving so that we can be at the pool at the resort in 2 hours with an adult beverage in hand while the rest of you are still 3 states away!!!

If I was flying, I think the flights available would put me in Orlando at the airport at 4 pm. With driving, I'm taking an extra day off and driving 2 days. It will put me at the Disney resort around 12-1 pm. I wouldn't be putting an extra day on the stay in Disney if I flew. It's 6 nights no matter how I travel. 4 pm to the airport and still have to get to the resort or 1 pm arriving at the resort in my car. Driving will put me in Disney sooner

 

[Snow Shoe]

Next month will be only the second time we've driven since the frist time in July 1986. Then it was with the boys DS#1 was 8yo and DS#2 was 5yo. After that trip I swore never again. We flew every year since then till next months trip. Now since it's just the DW and myself, we decided to try it again. We're both looking foward to the trip. If it works out with no problems, then we will continue to drive.

 

[Disney Ron]

If I was flying, I think the flights available would put me in Orlando at the airport at 4 pm. With driving, I'm taking an extra day off and driving 2 days. It will put me at the Disney resort around 12-1 pm. I wouldn't be putting an extra day on the stay in Disney if I flew. It's 6 nights no matter how I travel. 4 pm to the airport and still have to get to the resort or 1 pm arriving at the resort in my car. Driving will put me in Disney sooner

I have got to admit you lost me on this one.

 

[mrodgers]

I have got to admit you lost me on this one.

Why lost?

Disney stay is Sunday through Saturday, no matter how I travel.

If I fly, I won't arrive until 4 pm on Sunday (according to the flights I could get.)

If I drive, I will arrive around 1 pm on Sunday (according to how we will travel, leaving at 7 am in the morning from our stayover in GA or where ever we stay over at.)

1 pm is earlier than 4 pm. Driving will get me there sooner.

It may take me 2 extra days combined before and after by driving, but my stay is still 6 nights in Disney. Thus, I will get to Disney sooner by driving than I would flying.

 

[clkelley]

I LOVE flying to Orlando, and used to do it quite frequently for our weekend trips.

However, while the drive is longer than the flight, I can still get to Orlando sooner if I drive!!

The main reason being timing!!

There used to be a 6:30 pm direct flight to Orlando from my home town, then a 5:30 pmish flight coming back to HSV.

Now that flight has been cancelled.

Then we started taking the 8:30something pmish flight out of Nashville, and could take a 7pmish something flight back to Nashville.

That flight has been discontinued.

So, my flight option now is to leave my home airport at noon the next day. Gets me to Orlando at 3pmish.

So, I drive because I can leave work at 5pm on Friday, stop South of Atlanta, then get to WDW by 1pmish eastern on Saturday.

I can't get there that soon by flying.

For the trip home, we lose a couple of hours, cause we start driving at about 11am, and DME would be picking us up about 1pm.

So while flying is most definitely shorter timewise, you also have to look at schedule. How much time are you wasting after work or after the kids get out of school just sitting at home waiting on the airline schedule?? You could be using that time getting miles behind you on the road!!

To me vacation time starts the minute you are released from work/school obligations at home and ends the minute you have to be back at work/school at home.

(In the old days, I used to take a 5:30am flight HOME the morning I had to be back at work.)

 

[sharadoc]

Why lost?

Disney stay is Sunday through Saturday, no matter how I travel.

If I fly, I won't arrive until 4 pm on Sunday (according to the flights I could get.)

If I drive, I will arrive around 1 pm on Sunday (according to how we will travel, leaving at 7 am in the morning from our stayover in GA or where ever we stay over at.)

1 pm is earlier than 4 pm. Driving will get me there sooner.

It may take me 2 extra days combined before and after by driving, but my stay is still 6 nights in Disney. Thus, I will get to Disney sooner by driving than I would flying.

Hi. This is exactly our schedule - we wouldn't be adding more days to our vacation, still stay 6 nights either fly or drive.

 

[JB2K]

I made two trips with my wife and young son in recent years -- one was by air, the other in our SUV.

Of course, for many folks, that extra day is everything and it's flying or nothing.

As for us, we flew Southwest (non-stop) on Trip #1 -- although the flight was quick and flawless, other things to take into consideration were ground transportation to/from both airports (as we stay at Shades of Green, DME is not an option for us), and the hassle that is otherwise known as MCO.

And then, of course, the added expense for 3 r/t tickets.

On Trip #2, we drove (as it says to the left, we live 1,000 miles from WDW) -- we leave on Friday afternoon after work, and do an overnight stop about 1/3 of the way to break things up. The biggest perk from driving is we have our own vehicle to do what we want/when we want while on vacation...

So, for future trips, it's most likely going to be driving for my crew...

 

[danalee]

we ran in the same thing, the flights were all over the place! we always took a early morning flight and went straight down...now the flights leave at the same time but have long lay-overs until 3-4 in the afternoon, makin our arrival time early evening...

this trip we are driving and leaving a day early and still getting in to wdw on our scheduled day before noon

 

[codenamejack]

I love driving to Disneyworld! We live about 6 hours away, just a straight shot up the 75. Even though we live in another state, it's like taking a leisurely day trip for us.

Every time we have to drive south on the 75, usually to visit relatives, we joke about just missing the exit and going all the way to Florida.

 

[peabody58]

DW and I are going to start driving to WDW starting in Dec, and again in May 2011. We flew in March and will again in Sept.

Driving is an 18 hr trip for us, planning on a night hold over and be in WDW late morning. I always loved road trips and the DW is really good company.

I really dislike flying, but the time savings are the biggest plus. Fortunately, our travel plans with DVC allow us to drive Sat and Sunday, enjoy the week at WDW, and be back home late Friday.

We will save overall $2-300 by driving, and will have the benefit of a car to do with what we want. Flying and renting is an option, but a lot more $$$.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Well, for us, driving to WDW would be 30 hrs ONE WAY and cost us ~ $1000 R/T. Not a great savings either way BUT I really would like to try it someday!!!

Honestly, it would be THE ONLY WAY I would ever get to see so much of your Great country!!

 

[HHSTigerFan]

We LOVE flying over all of you driving so that we can be at the pool at the resort in 2 hours with an adult beverage in hand while the rest of you are still 3 states away!!!

So you must live in an airport terminal thats within 300 miles of Orlando if you can be at the pool in 2 hours...

 

[Disney Ron]

So you must live in an airport terminal thats within 300 miles of Orlando if you can be at the pool in 2 hours...

Did you even understand what I was saying? We fly from Rhode Island, but 3 states away from Disneyworld is North Carolina. When we're over North Carolina we are only about 2 hours away from the pool. Plus my original post was just a joke. We've driven 3 times from RI 18 hours to WDW. We rather fly because in the 3 hours the flight takes, if we drove, we'd only be in New Jersey.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

No, I didn't understand that, when you said something about having an adult drink in your hand, I assumed you were an adult and would write in a manner that would indicate that...

 

[Disney Ron]

No, I didn't understand that, when you said something about having an adult drink in your hand, I assumed you were an adult and would write in a manner that would indicate that...

Sorry to see you have such a difficult time with comprehension.

Now have a great day.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Yeah, struggling right now to understand what my 6 year old daughter is writing for her homework, same applies to what you wrote..

We love to drive because we are able to set our schedule, don't have an airline do it for us.. Last time we flew, took us 9 hours from dor to door, can drive it in less than 20.. To us, those extra hours in the car are worth it so we can bring whatever we want, if we want to stay an extra few days, we have the flexibility.. This trip we have decided to spend 3 days at the beach, we leave next week and just decided to do it.. Its all about flexibility..