Flying VS. Driving

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

I hate it when my DH does things like this.

When he first agreed to go on this trip, he insisted we fly. He says he can't stand to be in the car that long, which I understand perfectly. I personally enjoy driving, although the last 6 hours of the 18 hour trip are usually the toughest for me.

Well, now he just said he was willing to drive. When we drive, we drive straight through. And as I meantioned, it takes 18 hours for us.

It costs $40 to fill my gas tank. I'm figuring we'll have to fill the tank 3-4 times each way.

The cheapest airfare I will probably be able to find would be $600. And that's probably out of Philly, which means we have to drive 2 hours, and pay to park.

So should we just drive? Driving means we would have our own car, which means I don't have to A) be at the mercy of Disney busses, and B) rent a car.

I was really looking forward to flying. I just wasn't looking forward to spending the extra money. But I've been working overtime lately to cover it.

What would you do?

 

Originally Posted By a1stav

I just checked out AirTran Airways and they have round trip tickets from Philly to Orlando for $123. Northwest airlines has the same price as well.

 

Originally Posted By mrichmondj

I can't stay awake driving, so 18 hours would be a bit much for me.

It's only a 10 hour drive for me, and I am flying down this week.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

Hm, AirTran has roundtrip for $123 per person? Are you sure that's not each way? If that really is the price, then flying is definitely the way to go. That's probably how much gas money we would spend round trip.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

I just realized, that is probably a summer special...the fares in the fall seem to be higher.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

There is NO way I would drive 18 hours with kids. Count me among the idiot crazy people in the world. I would fly. Think of it this way, flying gains you at least one extra FULL DAY at WDW, probably two.

 

Originally Posted By cape cod joe

Touche DVC plus it was on the network news LAST night that flying GENERALLY is cheaper than driving with the price of gas so high.
Why am I the only one you don't kiss up to Chris?)

 

Originally Posted By crazyformickey

Fly!

It is hard to be on a plane to fly down driving in a car would drive me bonkers.

I used Disney Transportation on my last trip and had no problems.

My trip before we forgot the row our car was in and walked for 20 mins trying to find our car (I know what a dork I am).

 

Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1

I wished it only cost me $40.00 to fill my tank. At $2.89 a gallon I am up to $125.00 to fill my truck. It takes us 18 hours to drive from NJ as well straight through but you lose two days. It's not worth it to me to drive. Me personally I would fly. Just keep checking around there has to be some cheap fares out there.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

<<There is NO way I would drive 18 hours with kids. Count me among the idiot crazy people in the world. I would fly. Think of it this way, flying gains you at least one extra FULL DAY at WDW, probably two.>>

We've actually always driven. My parents never had the money growing up for us to fly, so I don't mind driving.

<<Touche DVC plus it was on the network news LAST night that flying GENERALLY is cheaper than driving with the price of gas so high.>>

Not in this case, it would be about $300 or so cheaper to drive down.

Plus, if we fly, it will be out of Philly, which means you either have to add the cost of a hotel or 8 days parking to the cost of flying, plus the cost of gas and tolls for us to get to Philly.

Right now I am leaning towards driving, but we may fly.

 

Originally Posted By cape cod joe

Maryann ------$125 to fill up tank!!??
cough, cough, whooaaaaaaa

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

I hate this airfare waiting game. Do I book now, or do I wait? If I wait, prices can go down....or they can go up! Why can't all flights just be the same price all of the time (ok, that probably wouldn't be a good thing....)

 

Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1

Yes Joe, I have a 44 gallon tank in my truck. I drive an F350 Super Duty at 2.89 a gallon cost me 125.00+. Trust me I choke every time I have to fill my truck.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

Wow woman, that's nuts!

 

Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1

t1lersm0m - It stinks with the waiting game that we have to do to get cheaper flights. I hope you do well if you choose to fly.

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

Here's the problem I am running into. I'd love to fly out of Allentown. It's only an hour south of us, and will cost the least amount of gas money to drive to, as well as tolls.

However, when I look at orbitz.com, a lot of the flights take 6 hours because there is a 2+ hour layover.

But, the price is $213 per person, which includes tax and fees. I just hate the fact that I know if we fly out of Philly, I can probably find a direct flight that will save time in the air and waiting in airports, but it's longer to drive there, and will cost more in tolls.

Ok, I'm just basically ranting now.

 

Originally Posted By a1stav

What months are you looking at? For the early Fall Airtran Amreican and Northwest are $163RT

 

Originally Posted By t1lersm0m

September 30 to October 7 are the dates.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

We drive and have driven every year for the last 20 years - we are 19 hours give or take --

We have driven straight through, although ususally we have done that on the way home not the way down...as I hate getting there exhausted.

We usually stop in Altanta ( Kennesaw) which is just under 12 hours from us) - then finish the rest the next day.

We have always done it with kids but I never take our cars-- too much wear and tear and I get a great corporate rate from Hertz - approx $250 per week for a full size mini van ( which gives the 2 kids lots of space to separate) , unlimited miles -- a lot less than the wear and tear of 3000+ miles as we drive from Chicago to Orlando to Vero beach to home...

We prefer it to flying...and the bonus is having a car on the grounds in addition to the buses

 

Originally Posted By pixiedust1

<<We prefer it to flying...and the bonus is having a car on the grounds in addition to the buses>>

We did drive every trip for almost 22 yrs... about 20 hrs.. pretty much had it down to a science... first day in NC second day into WDW... and having the car is great ... we peronally dont use the Disney transportation system.. We drive everywhere and it saves us many hours on the road with buses, and more time to spend inside of the parks... We recenty moved to FL so Im not sure how it would be with $3 for a gallon of gas... Based on our last trip to Disney on vacation before we moved , gas has pretty much doubled.. : (