Originally Posted By Disneymom443 We drive when school is out and fly when school is in, from OKC. It's just over 1200 miles.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Man, I would never drive that far to go to a theme park, but I would fly it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 there's lots to do along the way Dave- we ' explore' each year something different. For Mammoth Caves ( go spelunking " - to 150 year old candy shops that make their red hots from scratch every day - Civil War museums and battlefields etc. on the way down we go thru Indianapolis / Louisville- Nashville- Chattanooga - Atlanta...there are lots to do in all of those places. I know you are one always looking for quality family time- all I can say is this really did provide that for us also. Also our average time spent between Orlando and Vero beach is 2 weeks- so it's not fly in - fly out.. but then again we all like driving
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed, once in a while that would be ok. And yes, there is much to see. I just know how cranky and exhausted mine can get with the 340 mile journey to DLP, and they are used to travelling. I just find it so interesting that people with so little annual leave would take such a long road trip. But yes, it can be fun (we drove from Ca. to WDW in the early 80's. It was ok until we got to Texas....lol
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo That said, it will be interesting to see how the kids do on our road trip this year. We will drive to the Channel Tunnel and then do the French National Aquarium in Bolougne. Then down to DLP and our villa for a week, taking a day out to visit Paris, and some time chilling at the resort (340 miles from home). Then we will drive for about 180 miles stoping in Metz for lunch and then the evening in Strasbourg. After a day in Strasbourg, then it is a 40 mile drive to Europa Park for a couple of days, then a drive through the Southern Black Forest in Germany to Frieburg, followed by 140 mile drive through the Black Forest villages to Heidelberg. Then we will enjoy the town and maybe pop to Frankfurt or Wiesbaden for a night before doing the 120 mile journey through the Rhineland. We will then stop in the Ling Bao Chinese resort in Phantasialand near Cologne. We will then pop to a Belgian town for the night (Brugges, Brussels, or Ghent, haven't yet decided). Then back to Calais and then home. We will cover 1200 miles, but we are taking three weeks to do it. Then a road trip around Holland in the Summer (maybe northern Germany and Denmark too).
Originally Posted By avimagine Hey steps from the Great Lakes a lot of people drive, some even do 2 weeks (extra week off of school) during spring break. I know a few that drive the distance straight (alternating drivers). Dave remember NA is land of the "mini"van, the "mid"size car, and the Arnold-mobile, I mean SUV, err Prius. Aren't alot of vehicles on the other side of the pond equipped with RES? Is the average annual leave longer in the UK then the US? I think here it's longer. But 4 weeks i not enough, I want 6 like my dad had
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Aren't alot of vehicles on the other side of the pond equipped with RES?<<< What is RES? I've not heard of that before. The average annual leave allowance in the UK is 25 days (excluding bank holidays). And a number of companies will allow more with seniority or you can "buy" days. Personally, I try to take about 9-10 weeks a year with the family (though this does not always pan out). And I also tend to work a lot of days at weekends, so it is swings and roundabouts.
Originally Posted By avimagine Rear seat entertainment ie. at minimum separate audio like in our 90's minivans, today includes video, some vehicles with 2 feeds (most minivans/larger cuv/suvs), or just 2 monitors (most cars with RES), some like Chryler offer "Satellite" TV channels on them. Heh I want 10 weeks Then again you Brits call it sat nav, whereas the old 'Merican self would call it GPS.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo My car has Sat Nav, and the back seat has a plug in point for the kids to plug in their DS's, Laptop etc. (though we are mean and limit the use of tech in the car so they can enjoy the scenery - my friends think we are mean). I have a Skoda Suberb Lauren and Klement (closest car in the US/Canada is a an Audi A8. Sarah has a 7 seater (minivan I suppose), it also has sat nav and the plug in the back two seats. But still, not a vacation to me (then again I am averaging 2500 miles a month at the mo)
Originally Posted By avimagine So large by British standards eh ? If I recall Sarah's is also a Skoda to replace her car that was involved in the accident. I have 110v plug in my vehicle heh. At one point I was doing about 370mi a day. The good old "cigarette" plug.. mine has them front and back. If I recall you also drive auto (and most of UK is still stick?) In defense of those driving to WDW, remember US roads are long and straight. It's not driving it's sitting behind the wheel. When the magic leaves you can always try other parks. The drive to Busch may flood your car though.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Not a bad memory Mark. It was the Skoda she killed though, she has a Seat (which is a sister car in the Volkswagon Group). But yes, I think my choice of cars are still somewhat North American - they are bigger than average and have an automatic tiptronic transmission which most Europeans seem to not see the point of. >>> In defense of those driving to WDW, remember US roads are long and straight. It's not driving it's sitting behind the wheel.<<< True, though that would make it even more dull. I am looking forward to the autobahns with no speed limits this year!!!! Wooohooo! Sarah on the otherhand is not looking forward to this. Lol.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Man, I would never drive that far to go to a theme park, but I would fly it.<<< Had the same thoughts this past summer when we drove to Boston. That was worth it. But two days in the car for WDW? In this condition? The 3-4 hours it takes to get up there has spoiled me. I can justify it for Disneyland, never have seen that, and the quality is better from hat I've heard.
Originally Posted By avimagine Cruise Control, whycha think we have all those massively dangerous "high" speed 55 to 65mph crashes. Think of the recent top gear special to America with the Supercars enjoying the twisties at 35mph... Busch was actually the last Theme park I went to, guess I shouldn't be posting here
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I can justify it for Disneyland, never have seen that, and the quality is better from hat I've heard.<<< Far better IMHO. However, between the time, the carbon footprint and the cost of fuel with wear and tear, I am not sure why anyone would drive it other than because they want to go on a road trip to see other places (which I can understand - that's why we drove Ca to WDW - we wanted to see the Grand Canyon, Pueblo, The Alamo, New Orleans etc. enroute). Sadly when we got through the trip we all wished we had turned around after seeing the Grand Canyon and headed west again ;-)
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Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Oh man, i think it's a little silly comparing what Disney resort is safer so therefore better.>> I didn't think that was quite what we were doing ... more an issue of reality. I feel very safe at every Disney resort. The areas they are located in would be a different matter. I know I'm much more likely to be a victim of crime in Orlando or Anaheim than I am in Tokyo or Hong Kong. ~Guns don't kill people: ignorant laws that allow any crazy person to have a small army's worth in his garage kills people~
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>BTW have you paid US back for saving your asses in WW2<<< BTW Troll, I am American. And have you paid the UK back for every leg up the us got since WWII?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<And there simply is more to do at WDW than any other park on earth.>> If you're saying there are more resort options at WDW than at any other Disney resort, then you'd be correct. But at the parks themselves, well, that's a different story. There's far more to see and do at DL, TDL and DLP than MK for example. And even DSP outdoes TPFKaTD-MGMS in terms of attractions and entertainment. If someone wants a giant resort complex with 30,000 hotel rooms and timeshares and all sorts of recreation (although I never hear fanbois talk about horseback riding at FW, boat cruises on the SSL, tennis at the GF, or spa treatments at SS) then nothing compares to what WDW offers. ~Why is GH boring with so much talent?~
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Even if I don't work hard to get it. BTW If the tips are included in your country for the bill it isn't here so for the love of God please tip at least 15%<<< Speaking of earning, tips are to be earnt too. Though many in the service industry have forgotten that it seems.
