Drive to Disney?

[zerowkul98]

I got 2 words for you....JET BLUE!

I drove to VA a couple times and even THAT was hell. I go to Disney 1-2 times a year (1 for work, the other for the fam) and we fly outtah Bradley in CT. Price in January was $89 each way and no baggage fees.

Leave the mileage off the Runner and get to Disney in 2.5 hours, bro.

 

[JohnnyT]

I know I said earlier that its not about the money savings, but its hard to ignore that current ticket prices to Orlando from the NY/NJ area for August are in the $300-400 range not including any extra baggage, shuttle/cab, etc. costs.

Driving is looking a little better.

 

[DC runner]

Yea. Price is the #1 on this.. If you really were able to get cheap tickets, then fly; but yea. At 300-400 a person, OUCH.

 

[Anonymous4Runner]

We frequently went on vacations in Florida, but few times were to Disney. SOme of my best childhood memories would have to be spending time with my family on long roadtrips. I remember getting excited for any trips because most of the time we drove in my mom's dodge caravan which was fun...of course economy was different back then. I think having great memories with your family on roadtrips rather than flying is worth it. I can't really remember much when the family & I flew...I just know I got sick looking plastic pilot badges if I acted like a good boy throughout the flight (which I did, btw!). That's about the only good memory from my flying experience with the family as a little kid. Of course boardgames, too. But I was more into getting pilot badges at the end of the flight at the time

Go with taking a road trip, and be sure to have your 4R checked out before taking a trip to Disney! My friends didn't get back to Virginia after spending a weekend in Miami for the ultrafest because 1) they missed their original flight back to VA & 2) My friend's audi died somewhere in South Carolina so they had to wait a day for the car repair to be completed before coming back.

 

[Sungod]

At $300 I would drive. Driving still isn't cheap, but for 4 people you are looking at $1200. You are looking at 15hr drive. You could break it up and stop along the way or do the NJ way and leave after dinner and drive throughout the night. That is the way all my friends around there seem to do it. It would be brutal, but you people are half crazy anyway.

Two other options you could look at is flying out of Philly or BWI. BWI typically has good deals on direct flights to Orlando. You could also price out other nearby Orlando airports like Tampa, Daytona, Melbourne or Jacksonville. All are about an hour away with Jacksonville being about an hour and a half.

The other option is Amtrak. You could drive down to DC and take the auto train. That would eliminate 12 hrs of driving and the need for a rental car. The only way that is cost effective is if you just get seats and not the sleeper car. Sleeper car for 4 will break the bank. It is cheaper to fly. You can also do the auto train 1 way.

 

[Gvndeb60]

I live in Virginia Beach VA and make the trip at least once a year. I cannot pass up the cost savings and convenience in driving. I believe it is all mental, I enjoy it because of the money that I am saving, I take a couple of key stops to stretch and give my mind a break, and most importantly I leave early. I mean like 2am early. It allows me to get to Florida in the daytime, check in and then relax for an hour or two of daylight. That really helps mentally so I am ready to go the next day and enjoy my vacation.

I also go to New York, NJ, and Philly every year. Like others have said, if you take 95 it is hit or miss. I have zipped through and crawled the whole way. I do not know how feasable it is from where you are, but I take rt13 over the eastern shore of VA and through MD and DE to the Jersey turnpike and there is never traffic. You would be bypassing all of the DC and Baltimore madness but I am not sure what it would possibly add to your time.

Through all of this driving I can also say the best way to take your mind off of the drive is to play movies and podcasts. Much more relaxing than scanning the radio for FM stations that are going in and out.

 

[Sungod]

Not sure how you calculate the cost savings. For me a drive to Orlando is about 1800 miles r/t. That works out to about $400 in gas alone. I can get flights depending on the time of year for $150-200. Granted I still have to rent a car, but when you balance out all the factors such as wear and tear, the depreciation hit from the extra miles, most imporantly my time, it is hard to say that you are saving. You basically lose two days of your vacation sitting in a car. I can easily make up any extra cost from flying by working two more days. I personally would rather work than sit in a car staring at South of the border signs.

I am off to Fla tomorrow. I have a 6am flight and will be on the beach by 9. I would probably be south of Richmond by that time if I were driving, just dreaming of the beach.

 

[JohnnyT]

We decided we're going to be flying. Even though the drive would cost about $700/800 or so and flying will cost about $1400 (including the flights, cabs, etc.) its too short of a stay to make sense.

If it was a 2 week stay then it makes sense but when its only a week or 8 days then its too much time and energy lost. It'll seem like before you know it, we'll be heading back for another 18 hours minimum.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

4runners are fine for 2 people traveling but when there are 4 people it gets very cramped with all the lugage, coolers etc. Also the back seats are not all that comfortable after several hours.

 

[Mark86]

JohnnyT, have you researched prices out of all local airports? I am in the process of booking a trip to Disney and I usually look at prices for Newark, JFK, LGA, and Phili. Last year, we ended up leaving from JFK because it was around $100 per person cheaper. JetBlue is absolutely the way to go because they don't charge for your first checked bag.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Not sure where you are in NY but the Tappanzee Bridge (Rte 287) is the only way I get to and from NH. GWB, Lincoln Tunnel, Cross Bronx, none of it worth the risk of being caught in traffic. The last time I drove 95 straight up it took 8hrs to get from from Philly, Pa to Springfield, Ma. Even at 11pm there was traffic all the way up. I vowed to never again go that route.


JohnnyT - I will call it right now....the worst part of your trip is going to be travelling across the state of Florida. I did a fly-n-buy for a motorcycle that was in St Pete a few years ago. I tell everyone that the best part about Florida is the sign that says "Welcome to Georgia".

Best of luck in your travels!

LIAR! It says "We're Glad Georgia Is On Your Mind" lol. Sorry

 

[JohnnyT]

JohnnyT, have you researched prices out of all local airports? I am in the process of booking a trip to Disney and I usually look at prices for Newark, JFK, LGA, and Phili. Last year, we ended up leaving from JFK because it was around $100 per person cheaper. JetBlue is absolutely the way to go because they don't charge for your first checked bag.

I did and if we leave from Atlantic City airport it's $297 as opposed to $410 out of Newark. Spirit Airlines has flights from AC. Certainly worth the 1.5 hr drive to fly from AC.

 

[jimmied]

Don't forget to add in all your baggage fees there and back and seat fees if you plan on sitting together. Haha.

That said, the ac airport is awesome to fly out of. Easy toget to, park, and minimal lines for security. Very nice.

 

[Mark86]

I did and if we leave from Atlantic City airport it's $297 as opposed to $410 out of Newark. Spirit Airlines has flights from AC. Certainly worth the 1.5 hr drive to fly from AC.

I got $224 per person out of JFK with JetBlue and they were good flight times. Well worth the extra trip as well.

 

[Woodstock45678]

Spirit Air

I did and if we leave from Atlantic City airport it's $297 as opposed to $410 out of Newark. Spirit Airlines has flights from AC. Certainly worth the 1.5 hr drive to fly from AC.

JohnnyT, MAKE SURE you account for all the extra charges Spirit makes. I think 1 carry on bag is $30 one way (it says in big letters on your ticket if you didn't pay for a carry on; you're only allowed a 'personal item' that must fit under the seat). Checked bag is $25 one way, and can only way 40lbs (and they are ***holes about it, too). If you want to sit together, rather than randomly spread out over the plane, that costs $10-20/per person, one way. On a red-eye, the cabin will be empty and you can move around, but morning flights are packed.

If you're flying by yourself, you can fly cheap with Spirit. With a family, not so sure.

As far as driving; I've done it from TN. Granted my family is older, but it wasn't too bad. What's really nice about having a car down there, is that you aren't limited to the bus schedule or to staying on/near WDW. For lunch/dinner we just left WDW and ate off property or bought cook our meals. YMMV.