fly or drive? About This Page:

[oldmom]

What a year! We booked flights in Jan with Midwest only to have them cancel the direct flight and other assorted stuff, so we got our money back. Then we had the summer of fun with the airlines. The decision was made to plan to drive but watch flights.

There haven't been any significant changes at KC or St. Louis. however, out of my small town we can get an early flight that connects in Memphis and is cheaper than our original flight ! We start out on a small plane and I've never flown through Memphic airport. It's on Northwest. I've only flown them once and it wasn't great, but it could have been the exception, not the rule.

My quandry. Do I tell the family like I promised? Flying is quicker but we lose the extra day we were going to spend at the Poly. Driving takes longer, but surprisingly with cost the same as this flight. we lose the day at the Poly. Either way we don't get more time in the parks.

Should I flip a coin?

[Tim Sullivan]

the fly/drive debate has always been a cost one for us. When we go as a family, we go for two weeks, and it costs us less in fuel to drive than it would for four plane tickets....plus we've got two weeks, so we're not in a hurry to get there (okay, so we are, but you know what I mean hehe) and don't have to rush to get back either. When my wife and I go next week, it wasn't a question, we're flying. We only have a week, and the last thing I want to do is take a day to drive there, a day to drive back.

Tougher in your case, as you won't save a day by flying...but the one thing to consider is how long is the drive vs. flying...if the drive is quite long, it might be better to fly...however, would you be more comfortable to drive rather than fly? If the overall flight/trip time would be similar to the drive time, I'd probably lean on driving instead of flying. This way you have your car, can pack what you want, don't have to worry about stupid security restrictions, etc.

Good luck!

Tim

[oldmom]

We have the weekend to get there and a weekend to get back. Fly time comes to 5 hours and since it will fly out of our little airport, short TSA lines but small plane for the one leg of the trip. Money wise it really comes out the same if gas doesn't go down any frm today.

[MMMD]

It really depends on whether or not you mind being the car that long for the drive. Everything else seems to be equal. And it doesn't seem to me that you want to be on the small plane.

[oldmom]

DFF has issues with small planes since she flew on one into some small airport in wyoming. she could fly out of st louis but it goes to chicago or detroit then to orlando. it would be nice to have a crystal ball to know what the weather will be like in dec.

[notjustamom]

I'd fly but try my hardest to stay far away from Chicago airports in December! Midway is better than O'Hare though as far as not having delays if that helps. I think I'd fly just so I didn't have to hassle with driving in Dec. IMHO

[disney]

WOW this is hard at this point i would flip the coin . just make sure the ornament makes it in one piece LOL.
jeff

[cmhand30]

think of all the time you will have to bond with each other in the car. And you will have a vehicle to drive around WDW instead of depending on the buses all the time.

[Joanne929]

Oh, I don't know what I would do! I think knowing that a flight only takes 3 hours (from Boston) vs. driving will win every time (although, I am not opposed to trying the drive sometime). But, December, out of the Chicago area, in a little plane? If you have the time, and don't mind driving, AND it will cost about the same, I may lean more towards driving at this point.
Good luck!

[Principessa_di_Fata]

I'd drive if it were me. Getting an extra night would make all the difference, lol! The Memphis airport is easy to navigate, btw, so if you connect here, you'll be fine too. I flew out of here on NW last Feb to WDW and had a perfectly fine flight.

[SARH7]

If the price is the same...I would fly....but that's me personally. Driving long distances is not enjoyable for me...I get motion sickness. I like the ease of Disney transportation too....no worries about traffic or getting lost or parking, etc.....

[disneyqueenmum]

I never mind driving TO Disney but I despise driving FROM Disney!!! We're already exhausted from the busy week at the parks before we even get in the car for the long drive home. The older we (DH & I) get the more stiff we get sitting in the car for long hours too. I would rather pay more to fly and rent a little car when we get there. On the occasions we drive, we always use a rental car anyway because my DH will never get over one trip we took where our own car broke down (on a Sunday!) and we lost two days of our vacation sitting at a garage! Plus, we always stay overnight now so we are not completely bushed when we get there. So we figure that with the cost of an extra four days of renting a car, gas cost, two hotel rooms and food for four people on the road we're already into some bucks. For me it's fly all the way!!!

[RobDVC]

If everything is a wash - Same cost, same time at the parks, etc.... I'd vote for flying since flying will take less time than driving.

[Ceara's mawmaw]

Cost is the same and all I would fly.....get to Disney faster!! Memphis airport is not huge and is really easy to get around in.....

[tboutwell]

The nice thing about driving is if there is a forecast of bad weather you have the chance to get out sooner and get ahead of it when you are leaving. If you are flying, you stuck to your reservations and possibly not getting out of the airport(s).

Driving gives you some control, whereas with flying you are at the mercy of the airline.