Your experience driving from Maine?

[leebee]

Also, don't hesitate to look into flying from Logan. You can take C&J bus from Portsmouth- they run hourly around the clock- and parking at the bus station (which is just off 95) is safe and FREE.

My brother drove from York, ME and said it took about 24 hours of driving time; they left late on day 1 to get through NYC/DC, stayed overnight, and finished the drive on day 2. He said he and his wife were exhausted when they arrived but the kids were rested and raring to go! He says the first day at Disney was pretty much "lost" because of being so tired. Basically they drove most of days 1 and 2, and were exhausted on day 3. He said if they ever go again, he'd rather spend day 1 flying and be rested enough to enjoy day vacation 2 at Disney!

 

[Pooh2]

http://www.wmur.com/page/search/htv...ase/-/9857662/21540832/-/106km83/-/index.html

Pease Air base just started flights to Orlando.

 

[englishteacha]

I drove as a kid to Florida from Maine many, many times. My dad wouldn't drive longer than 8 hours so it took 3 days. 3 days in the family station wagon. One year I didn't pack enough books and had to start reading everything over again halfway through day 2. Ugh. The three days home was BRUTAL.

I'd look into flying out of: Portland, Pease in Portsmouth (we did this once and it was awesome. You fly into Sanford airport, so you need to rent a car or a shuttle, but it was fast and easy and CHEAP.), Boston, and Manchester. Your time is worth something, too.

And maybe you can buy a cheap espresso maker to pack in your luggage?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Thank You for all the help. I live near Portland, Maine. I will check into cheap flights, we don't want to be tired! I don't know how I will live without my espresso maker

I think flying will be so worth it! Even if it costs a little bit more, think how much better you'll feel when you arrive after a few hours flight instead of a two day drive!

As for the espresso maker, just how big is it? Remember, if you fly Southwest, you each get free checked bags. And if you use Disney's Magical Express, they'll take care of getting the bags from the airport to your resort room. You can pack a whole lot of stuff--even an espresso maker!--in two bags each.

I was just talking to a friend who said she buys one of the super cheap toasters at Target/Wal-Mart and packs it in one of her bags. She uses that to make toast, English muffins, etc. for breakfast every day in the room and it more than pays for itself during her family's stay. Then, if she needs room in the suitcase on the way home for souvenirs, she just leaves it in the room!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That $500 is dependent on the kind of car you're driving and gas prices at the time of travel. We've considered driving for every trip we've ever taken, but after driving out to OH (12hrs) and Buffalo (12 hrs) from MA, we always say No Way to the thought of a 22 hr drive to FL. We've figured out the mileage and for us it's at least 10 tanks of gas, minimally. (And Bangor, ME is quite a bit farther than we are.) SWA still has some low non-stop flights if you are flexible with your dates and times. It'll probably be a wash and a heck of a lot easier to fly!

 

[beansmom]

jetblue now flies from Worcester, MA to MCO as well. My time is worth $$, too, so we fly. Two days of a vacation (four r/t!) is worth something. Worth alot in time, money and wear and tear on my old body.

I wouldn't drive unless I was driving just to make a road trip. 3 hours and I could be in a hammock in DW.

 

[3boymthr]

FLY!

We drive long distance all the time. MIL lives quite a ways away but because of her location it's actually cheaper and less time consuming to drive. In fact we just got back from a trip to her house so I have to chime in on the price factor base upon our driving trips. Adding it all up I'm calculating an estimated cost of about $800 to drive, including food, gas and hotel. But that's fast food all the way, estimated HWY MPG of 24 and only one night in a hotel. That $200 you might save ( and that's if you can find a hotel for $75 - our last hotel rooms were over $100/night) is just not worth the time you'll lose.

 

[3boymthr]

Also on the price factor, I have another question for you are you staying on-site or off?

If on, I'd consider ditching the rental car unless you can get one really cheap. You definitely won't need one. It's a nice convenience if you want to drive to someplace off of the resort but definitely not necessary.

 

[mguilford1]

We are renting DVC 5 nights, then Universal 1 night and a friend is letting us use their vacation house for the other week. We usually go to a grocery store and off site restaurants a few times to save money on food at Disney.

 

[Judique]

We are renting DVC 5 nights, then Universal 1 night and a friend is letting us use their vacation house for the other week. We usually go to a grocery store and off site restaurants a few times to save money on food at Disney.

Sounds like you need a car while you are at Disney!

I'm doing something different next trip. I have a travel companion on the way down but coming back I will be alone.

I've booked the autotrain. It will cost $408.40 from Sanford to Lorton, Va with AAA discount.

Normally I would spend $150 in gas and about $100 on a room, plus a couple of meals - Cracker Barrel breakfast, a shrimp plate in Georgia, etc, so maybe $300ish one way. I like to have my car and my stuff. Lots of stuff. And I shop. So, a car stuffed with stuff. And I understand the espresso maker as I bring my keurig and a cooler.

So, travel is $300ish and $408.40 - $708.40. I could fly for $278. Plus rent that car - or I could get along without a car.

So even if I rent a car and spend $250-$300, it's still cheaper to fly, but I will drive and have my stuff and shop.

It's a personal choice.