Flights

[Courtnie1811]

Is it better to book your flight through disney or do you guys usually book yourselves? I have a travel agent but I wanted to see what would be cheaper. We don't leave till september so I have a few weeks before I can book on some airlines.

 

[Courtnie1811]

Also what is your opinions on driving? Its about 9 hours from New Orleans. Would it be cheaper for us to drive?

 

[luv]

My guess is that it would be a LOT cheaper to drive. Nine hours...I could do 9 hours standing on my head. I don't consider than a long drive. If you wanted to (and had the funds for it), you could split it into 2 days...I would do five the first and three the next...but I'd just drive it on through.

Nine hours is easy-peasy.

 

[bgraham34]

If I were 9 hours from Disney I would go once a month. That ride is nothing its like working a full day of work. As for booking flights I always had booked them on my own.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Driving would be FAR cheaper than flying. You can calculate your cost here: http://www.drivetodisneyworld.com/

Honestly, if I was only 9 hours away, I wouldn't even consider flying unless I could do it for free (e.g., with rewards points, etc.). We live 21 hours away and around half the people I know who go to Disney World from this area drive. Unless your finances are such that flying will not be a noteworthy expense for you, I recommend driving. With the right companions, the trip down and back can be terrific fun.

As far as booking the flight, I'm not aware of any advantage to having a travel agent do it, or to going through Disney. If you do it yourself, just let them know (or have your travel agent let them know) your arrangements, if you plan to use Magical Express.

 

[PJean710]

Courtnie, I live in Hammond and my wife and I have done both. It costs us about 150.00 in gas to drive. A non stop rt ticket on southwest out armstrong is about $325. Since we do not have kids we almost always fly. There is just no substitution for a 1.5 hour flight and magical express. There usually is a 10:30/11:00 flight out of MSY that will get you to your hotel around 2:30. My problem with driving is once you get out of pensacola on i-10 the drive sucks until you get to Gainesville/Ocala. Now if you have kids then all bets are off and there is no reason to fly. I wouldn't fly if i had to pay for more than the wife and I.

 

[Pooh'sBuddy]

We live a 19-hour drive away. I would drive 9 hours in a heart beat.

 

[ShookieJones]

Hey Courtnie..
Driving is DEFINITELY going to be cheaper.
However you obviously have other things to consider.

I don't mind driving, so this would be a no brainer for me. I've done it and still consider doing this from CT from time to time. From New Orleans? --Pack up the luggage and a snack (po'boys in this case) and out at 4am I'd be in the World by 1:00PM!! oh yeah.
However I know that for some people long drive are like kryptonite.
So if you don't mind driving. Pack up your gear and get those wheels on the pavement.
If you hate driving... weigh up the cost of flights vs. your hatred of the open road.

That should give you your answer.

Either way you're going to have an AWESOME time when you reach your destination!

Enjoy.

 

[Master Yoda]

Driving would be the cheaper option.

In regards to flights, I quoted more flights for clients directly from Disney than I could count. I always told people to shop the airfare quote I gave them. In over 3 years I never booked a single flight for a client through Disney. That tells me that their prices are not hard to beat.

 

[nolatron]

Driving would of course be cheaper.

We normally fly Southwest. We're heading to WDW for Mardi Gras, but because of that the rates are skyhigh, even for outbound flights. It's like $300/person instead of $99-$125 with Southwest. Even as far out as November. We pretty much were set to drive unless we got a sale on any airline.

Eventually we did manage to get a flight for $846 for the 3 of us on Airtran via Atlanta. Not our usual non-stop airline but it beats a 9 hour drive.

Since you're traveling in September you might have a better chance of getting better rates.

But in the end, you're looking at probably at least $250+/person with good airfare rates while driving might cost you ~$150 roundtrip for gas.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I would definately drive if I lived 9 hours away. It takes us about 22 hours with traffic bathroom breaks and a couple of drive-thru meals and then are exhausted after the drive. I'm with @bgraham on this and would drive at least once a month if I were that close.

 

[SAV]

Agree with many above. A 9 hr drive is easy. Would totally do that vs a flight, even with my kids who can't go 2 hours in a car without fighting. It will be much cheaper. I too would visit monthly if it was only 9 hours away.

The only flight I ever booked via a travel agent is my honeymoon to Hawaii. And that was just because it was a package. Otherwise I use the many sites out there and book my own. It takes a bit of digging, but I will always find the best deal for me.

 

[Figgy1]

Also what is your opinions on driving? Its about 9 hours from New Orleans. Would it be cheaper for us to drive?

Way cheaper if you have the time and you'd have your own car! Parking is free to on sight guests. We drive about 16 hours never had an issue and we save a ton! If your going to fly check AAA the web and Disney to get the best price happy traveling! PS if you drive you can hit the outlets

 

[BigRedDad]

I would drive all the time. However, I get sick of the stops every 60 minutes from 2 women that have to pee all the time. If I could go 3 hours at a time before stops, it would be perfect. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Courtnie, I live in Hammond and my wife and I have done both. It costs us about 150.00 in gas to drive. A non stop rt ticket on southwest out armstrong is about $325. Since we do not have kids we almost always fly. There is just no substitution for a 1.5 hour flight and magical express. There usually is a 10:30/11:00 flight out of MSY that will get you to your hotel around 2:30. My problem with driving is once you get out of pensacola on i-10 the drive sucks until you get to Gainesville/Ocala. Now if you have kids then all bets are off and there is no reason to fly. I wouldn't fly if i had to pay for more than the wife and I.

I agree here, the extra day you would be losing if you drove is worth the extra money. There is something about the feeling of getting on the Magical Express, not having a car, that just makes it feel even more like its I'm on vacation. And he is totally right the drive is horrible during that stretch, I live in Houston and had to drive to Jacksonville once and it was horribly boring on that stretch.

 

[Courtnie1811]

I agree here, the extra day you would be losing if you drove is worth the extra money. There is something about the feeling of getting on the Magical Express, not having a car, that just makes it feel even more like its I'm on vacation. And he is totally right the drive is horrible during that stretch, I live in Houston and had to drive to Jacksonville once and it was horribly boring on that stretch.

Well I have a 3 year old and this is the reason I am considering driving. She will be four then and if we leave around 4 or 5 she will sleep most of the way. I just can't justify a 300 plane ticket for a 4 year old to myself. I think I am leaning towards driving. I like that I will be saving about $500!!

 

[Figgy1]

Well I have a 3 year old and this is the reason I am considering driving. She will be four then and if we leave around 4 or 5 she will sleep most of the way. I just can't justify a 300 plane ticket for a 4 year old to myself. I think I am leaning towards driving. I like that I will be saving about $500!!

BBB here you come!

 

[Courtnie1811]

BBB here you come!

bbb?

 

[Figgy1]

bbb?

Bibity Bobity Boutique where the turn little girls into princesses a nice treat.

 

[BabslovesMickey]

We live about 12 hours away (closer to 14 with the bathroom breaks and food stops) and we have driven our last 3 times, but now that mine are older will be 5 and 8 when we travel Sept/Oct I am so looking toward flying! I recently had friends that flew out of Jackson, MS and the flights were $186 per person. Thats roughly $800 for my family to fly. Once you factor in food, gas, lodging (because we break the drive into 2 days)and wear on me and my husband, it comes out to be slightly cheaper to drive but definitely worth it to fly!!! Fingers crossed I can find good rates! Good luck on your decision