Would you drive 2 hrs. to save $400?

[mjhd]

Absolutely! Our airport is 10 minutes from our house, but we always fly out of an airport 2.5 hours away to save $$$ (money saved = more fun stuff during our vacation!).

 

[stasijane]

I drive 17 hours one way each trip to save $200 I see it as a free Disney Dooney for my time and effort

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I would and have in the past.

 

[ssawka]

I drive 17 hours one way each trip to save $200 I see it as a free Disney Dooney for my time and effort

Wow! See, to me this is totally not worth it! That's only $11 an hour. My time is worth more than that!

 

[Vickie46]

well.. if its the only way I could go .. yes..

But we have become to realize that time is money on vacation... We would rather take a cab then magical express.... We could be there quicker than waiting for a bus to fill up! Drives me crazy... but this last trip was on a budget so we waited in a HUGE line at magical express and after 3 busses filled up we got on ours and waited for it to fill up and we were on our way...

 

[encinc]

Absolutely! It's well worth the drive to Buffalo from southern Ontario. Not only are the flights and parking cheaper, but the airport is much smaller, so everything is more efficient. We find that doing customs by car on the drive home is soooo much easier than crossing through customs at Pearson. So, ultimately the time difference may not be as much as you think.

 

[Mysteria]

Absolutely. I am closer to Buffalo airport but not much further to YYZ. I would chose Buffalo in this scenario simply because I FAR prefer the airport itself. Buffalo is quite small, easy to navigate and parking is way cheaper.
YYZ is absolutely huge and in my opinion you'll spend at least an extra hour navigating the parking area, getting to the ticket counter, going through customs and getting to your gate.
Then on the way back, I make a verbal declaration at the border and they send us right through every time. I find customs at YYZ more intimidating and a way lengthier process. There is always a big line.

Then add in the fact that our government pretty much sets the prices and the RIDICULOUS taxes on our flights and I'll continue to use Buffalo until they decide to become more competitive with the US market.

I got our flights, all in (bag fees, seat fees, taxes etc) out of Buffalo for 1250. I could not find anything for the 5 of us under 3000 out of Canada. The difference is staggering.

MTA! On top of the savings it's a nice small airport and customs is cleared in the car both ways rather than in YYZ both ways.

 

[usnuzuloose]

The question I have will you really save? You need to pay for gas and where would you park the car? I am not trying to be sarcastic, just trying to understand. Or is someone willing to drive you?

 

[danceintherain]

It would depend on a number of factors for me, including how long my total travel day was going to be. If it was long enough to warrant a hotel room on either end and thus cutting into my "savings" I probably wouldn't do it.
We have driven 2 hours to get to an airport for Disney, but that was more because the airport nearby hardly flew anywhere AND we could stay at my parents. Also, there were family related things tacked onto the end of the trip.

If it increases your actual amount of time spent at Disney, and you don't have a problem with the drive, then go for it.

 

[theparsons]

So let's see. The pros of Buffalo are:

Save $400
7 more hrs in WDW
Smaller airport to navigate
Easier customs declaration

Cons:

1.5 hrs. further in each direction

I think I have my answer!

BTW, can you believe the base fare from Buffalo is actually MORE?! It is our crazy Cdn taxes that make YYZ so much more expensive!

Don't forget that you'll also have to pay to park your car at the airport. Not sure what that costs in Buffalo, but here in Phoenix it's $24 a day.

 

[patsal]

In Buffalo there are a good number of parking options.
1. Park at airport about $15 per day
2. Park across the street for $9.99 per day (they will slhuttle you and your luggage across the street)
3. Rent a hotel room across the street from the airport for about $100 for one night and park there for free with a free shuttle to the airport.Most have a special for doing this on their website.

 

[pigletto]

In Buffalo there are a good number of parking options.
1. Park at airport about $15 per day
2. Park across the street for $9.99 per day (they will slhuttle you and your luggage across the street)
3. Rent a hotel room across the street from the airport for about $100 for one night and park there for free with a free shuttle to the airport.Most have a special for doing this on their website.

True!
We've done all three
There is a coupon for the airport parking on their website that will save you a bit. Then there's the Parking Spot which is even cheaper. And last time we rented a room with parking for the 10 days included free and took their shuttle to and from the airport. That was 105.00 for the night.
Any of those options is great honestly.

 

[kkmcan]

We used to drive the 2 hours up to Phoenix from Tucson to save on airfare but now we have to do the math before we decide.

Gas + parking + possible hotel the night before (if flight is early) + meals = sometimes not a savings

For instance if the flight is 6 AM that means getting to airport at 4:30, which means leaving home at 2:30 and getting up at 1:30, which means now we need a hotel room the night before in Phx.

Even an 8am flight means getting to airport at 6:30, leaving home at 4:30 and getting up at 3:00.

Since you would have to leave so many hours earlier now you need to pick up food somewhere and again on the return trip home.

We would need to pay for parking if going to Phx, but not at home as someone would drop us at the airport.

That $400 savings for us would turn into maybe $150 savings. Not worth it for all that extra travel time.

 

[bigmochick]

I have to drive 2 hrs. just to get to the closest airport so yeah, I'd have no problem driving 2 to save $$!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We stayed at the La Quinta. The hotel gave us a hot breakfast and kept our car. The room was nice and they price was very cheap!! We drove up to Buffalo and stayed over night the night before our flight. The shuttle dropped us off at the airport. It was so easy and it saved us money in the long run!!!

 

[ToddyLu]

We drive 2 hours to New Orleans to fly SW non- stop, bypassing Gulfport. Mobile is never priced right. So we have no prob driving two hours.

 

[gk90]

I would do it and have done it, but haven't driven, took the bus instead. Have you looked into taking Megabus or Greyhound from Toronto to Buffalo airport? You can get roundtrip tickets for as low as $15--if you book 2 months ahead of time on Megabus there are some $1 fares available, but usually you'll pay around $28 or 30. If there are 3 of you that would probably mean a savings when compared to the cost of gasoline and parking.
And like others say, Buffalo airport is so much easier to deal with than Pearson!

 

[LadyBeBop]

We drive to Disney. However, on our trip to Las Vegas several years ago. my DH, his parents and I drove two hours to Indianapolis. Even after staying the night near the airport, we saved about $400.

My DD25 has a similar dilemma in our family trip to Myrtle Beach. She lives in Shreveport, LA (actually works at the airport there). However, airfare from Shreveport is more than double the airfare from Dallas, three hours away. Unfortunately, she would be flying into Dallas from Myrtle Beach very late at night, and she would be going into work the next day. She does work variable shifts, so I suggested if she works the afternoon shift, just spend the night at a Dallas hotel. She still hasn't made up her mind yet.

 

[saradela]

yes, I would Drive

 

[Swan4Me]

We are-but mainly to fly direct for our son's wedding in the fall