Driving to Disney
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Anonymous
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Whose done it? Feasible to do in one day or split it? Looks to be about 12 hours, but I'm guessing we could make it in that or less with some stops.
We have one kid who will be 5 when we go, and is great in the car. All family is out of state so she's been used to 5 hour car trips multiple times a year. I think knowing we were going to Disney she could then handle the drive no problem. Easy going kid. Seems like we could get down and back for well under the $1500 it would cost in airfare... |
Anonymous
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We do it often in one day. We've left after work and arrived in the morning (only good if you and DH can switch off sleeping and driving) and we've also left in the morning and arrived at night. It's an easy drive.
We like having a car in Disney, but do normally stay at the hotels with bus access into the parks. |
Anonymous
We fly to Orlando often and never pay more than $200pp. I usually pay $170-$190pp. So for my family of four to fly down for $680 is WELL worth it. And you only need three tickets! |
Anonymous
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The first time we did it, we drove through the night. The kids fell asleep quickly and stayed asleep so no problems there, but my husband and I were dead tired upon arrival. We said we would never do that again.
Earlier this month, we drove to Orlando (Port Canaveral) again and split the drive into two days. We were going on a cruise and this was the only way we could get down there in time to catch the ship. If we were just going to WDW, we will drive in one day (during the day) next time. My kids are 6 and 4, and they are easily entertained by tablets and other toys they choose to bring along. |
Anonymous
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OP Here - We go to Disney over Thanksgiving, so flights are much more expensive then. Just priced it on Expedia and the flight and car rental are $1,956.63. If we were going during a low time then yes, I'd imagine it would be cheaper, unfortunately not the time of year we go.
Yeah, we thought we'd leave at 5am, and try to get there by 5-6pm. When google maps said 12 hours I figure we should be able to shave a little time off it, but also allow for a few stops. We also thought about driving to Hilton Head, staying there for the night then driving to WDW the following day, but I'd almost rather just get it all out of the way on day 1. We had a car the last time we went (stayed offsite but also had a campground to get the onsite perks) and it was REALLY nice to be able to run to Target and what not. Those who went down in one day, did it take about 12 hours? Little more/less? |
Anonymous
| IN general, Thanksgiving is a really busy travel week so I would expect it to take more time not less unless you are traveling on Thanksging day. |
Anonymous
Yes. Why do you think you can shave time off, especially during a holiday? I find Google maps to be pretty accurate. |
Anonymous
We wouldn't be traveling "on" Thanksgiving, the weekend before/after. Normally when google maps quotes us like 4 hours, we make it in about 3.25/3.5, so yes, when it quotes me 12 hours I would guess we would make it in less time. Now with a few stops and traffic 12 might be right on the dot, which is fine too. Even a little more is fine, especially when it's saving us $2k! |
Anonymous
| I prefer the Autotrain |
Anonymous
Just looked up pricing for that, it's $1500... |
Anonymous
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We just did this last week - one way from Tampa since our flight was canceled due to weather and we couldn't get another one for days. Left at around 3 pm and arrived at 4:30 in the morning. Kids 6 and 10 who are great in the car. Stopped four times. Totally doable straight through but we were wrecked the next day.
We have family down there and have been threatening to do this for ages. The next time we go for Thanksgiving we will probably drive. We would save flight money as well as airport parking money, and we could bring our dog which saves dogsitter/boarding money. For a vacation, I would plan to stop overnight so you aren't screwed for the next day. When my inlaws did this regularly, they stopped in Florence, SC. |
Anonymous
One-way from Tampa PP again. Google maps estimate was right on target even though we stopped four times for food/gas/bathroom. We drive pretty fast. |
Anonymous
| We split it in 2 b/c it took way longer than the 12 hours google said. |
Anonymous
+1 Just bought airfare to Orlando for our family of five for $707 yesterday. Nonstop! It was such a deal we bought a ticket for the baby so we didn't have to deal with the lap issue. |
Anonymous
I'm the $707 PP. Just saw your other post about Thanksgiving prices. So, we actually drove to Orlando twice with the kids (before the above mentioned baby). They had just turned 6 and 4. We did it in one day both times. First time we stopped for lunch, stopped for dinner at a restaurant in Jacksonville, etc... took a long time. Like 16 hours. Second time we made it in about 13.5 (still stopped for food and to switch movies at Redbox but stops were super quick). I refuse to drive this summer with the baby so we're flying. But you have a five year old! Super easy to entertain - lots of snacks, iPad, coloring books, they'll be fine. |