Driving or flying?

[Mainahman]

Ok so i think my first trip spoiled me with flying..but the second trip is going to be a shorter stay at 5 days instead of 7. The larger part of our party My sister in laws group is 4 adults and 4 kids with a possible stay at fort wilderness campground as that was the best price. When i had the numbers ran by KK today, it turns out that for 50 dollars less then a Cabin at FT wilderness we could have a 5 day stay at Wilderness Lodge! Now after staying at POP the thought of a Deluxe made my eyes sparkle. Do you think the possibility of having to drive this time ( 24 hours and 49 minutes to the gate) is worth staying at Wilderness lodge? Well if i can talk the wife into it of course shes leaning towards the cabin, even thought its more expensive.

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think it all depends on you, your family, your stamina, and your vehicle!

My family always used to drive (21 hours of driving time from upstate NY to WDW), towing our pop-up camper behind us to stay in the Fort Wilderness Campground. Dad did all the driving, and would do it in two legs. He'd drive a full day and a half, with a 6-8 hour "sleep break" at a rest area or scenic overlook somewhere 2/3 of the way down. It was back in the 80's, so we had one of those cushy conversion vans with comfy seats that tilted back for sleeping, a little table we could set up where my sister and me could play cards or color, etc. My Dad LOVES to drive. He is a driving machine. He is also an earth science teacher, and he would give us little lectures about the glaciated topography we were seeing on the trip down. I made it my personal tradition to read "Gone With the Wind" -- the unabridged, 3,600-page version -- on the way down. We had no TV in the van, but we did have an 8-track player Mom used to blare "Abba" and Kenny Rogers' greatest hits. We also had a CB radio, which Mom and Dad used to chat with truckers and find out about construction areas, speed traps, etc. along the road ahead. I still remember their handles. We'd also sing campfire songs, take turns reading from comedic books like Bill Cosby's "Fatherhood," and generally just enjoy being silly together.

Now, if that description sounds like torture to you, my advice would be to fly! If it sounds like a fun adventure, then I say, drive.

You also can't beat the savings! I ran the numbers on AAA's fuel cost estimator -- roundtrip fuel costs $540, and flying will cost us almost double that.

 

[foreverbelle]

We made MANY trips to Kings dominion and Bush Gardens in Virginia, since they're only 21/2 3 hours away from us! But, I would go to Disney anytime in a heartbeat, and I'd fly, but 14 hour drive is OK when the air fares are so expensive! But now gas prices are creeping up again!

Ah Kings Dominion...wow I haven't been in ages...you just brought back memories of driving down from Northern VA to the place....

 

[foreverbelle]

We have done both. Lately it seems we are choosing to drive, its a bit cheaper for us and we use it as an excuse to extend the vacation-or rather we claim the drive down to be part of it-and I agree with some of the other posters. It has turned into some fun times. We always seem to dread it to begin with but once on the road....it is all good...the drive home not so much but still enjoyable none the less.

 

[wiigirl]

We almost always fly...long drive and I get car sick easily.

 

[WDWmazprty]

We drive. We got from Nashville to Orlando in about 11 hours, give or take. When I was younger it was from NJ to Orlando which was a good 19-21 hour drive, needless to stay the drive we do now is a breeze. =)

 

[Mainahman]

All valid points! for us we would probably rent a mini van, wifey sleeps. DD would sleep, true on being able to pack water and any adult beverages for the stay right in there. Bring a cooler as well for snacks for the trip. I took my car to Virginia, and it was fine, but i would rent to go to Florida, just would hate to ruin the magic with a costly breakdown, plus with unlimited miles you can just let someone else worry about the wear and tear and i can worry about the pixie dust! I dont know im just torn still...

 

[pixiesteno]

We love to drive down verses flying. Yes, it is a 2.5 hour flight, however, it is two hours from home to the airport to arrive two hours early and hope your flight takes off on time. (After getting up 1.5 hours before leaving for airport in the wee hours of the a.m.) Price for fares, charge for luggage, price of breakfast at the airport due to hour leaving, and 2.5 hours of cramped up seating on a closed airplane to get to Orlando. Add in time to traverse airport, wait in line for DME, wait on bus to leave. The last time we flew it took us almost 8 hours from leaving the house to getting to our resort. Hey, that kind of travel time can put us just north of Richmond, and I know that my luggage is with me! I can pack what I want where I want, nobody is pawing through my clothing. We put in books on CDs, take the IPODs, have snacks and off we go. We have a travel trailer so we stay at the campground and spend the night out on the road in our own bed with our own pillows and get up in the morning and take the house with us.

 

[Mainahman]

We love to drive down verses flying. Yes, it is a 2.5 hour flight, however, it is two hours from home to the airport to arrive two hours early and hope your flight takes off on time. (After getting up 1.5 hours before leaving for airport in the wee hours of the a.m.) Price for fares, charge for luggage, price of breakfast at the airport due to hour leaving, and 2.5 hours of cramped up seating on a closed airplane to get to Orlando. Add in time to traverse airport, wait in line for DME, wait on bus to leave. The last time we flew it took us almost 8 hours from leaving the house to getting to our resort. Hey, that kind of travel time can put us just north of Richmond, and I know that my luggage is with me! I can pack what I want where I want, nobody is pawing through my clothing. We put in books on CDs, take the IPODs, have snacks and off we go. We have a travel trailer so we stay at the campground and spend the night out on the road in our own bed with our own pillows and get up in the morning and take the house with us.

That is the one pro im seeing right now, instead of the 3 carry ons and 2 checked baggage hoping they are under 50 pounds to not get charged extra, and all of the travel size stuff we get for the carry ons, we could probably end up taking less and getting away with it. The wife is pushing for a drive, but i just cant wrap my head around it...Wish i could pull up flights for next august and make a pricing chart.... we got up at 2 am to head to Disney when we left, and we got to the resort around 1ish i believe. that's 11 hours with travel to the airport, layovers traversing Atlanta's airport, arriving at MCO finding the DME counter at MCO, and the drive to the resort...at 11 hours that puts us almost in Virginia almost halfway there.

 

[SuprDav]

Maybe you could spread the trip and drive it over 2 days with a 50/50 sor 75/25 type split. We have drven all the way to Orlando in one day and spent the night offsite to recoup a bit before heading to DW the next morning.

 

[Mainahman]

Maybe you could spread the trip and drive it over 2 days with a 50/50 sor 75/25 type split. We have drven all the way to Orlando in one day and spent the night offsite to recoup a bit before heading to DW the next morning.

Im considering that, if we drive, her mother would probably ride with us, and that would give one more person to drive, so it wouldn't be soo bad to drive for like 10 hours and take a break for like 8. IF we can still get a rental car with unlimited miles for that many days id be all over that

 

[SuprDav]

Keep us updated on what you decide. I love a good road trip.

 

[Mainahman]

well i didnt get a good picture of the main gate like you have there @SuprDav maybe thats a good reason to do it