Disney Vacations

81

mookeywrench wrote:

My family did a roadtrip to Disney World from MN. It's one of the few vivid memories that I have from when I was 5.

A road trip is an epic adventure for a kid, they'll cherish it forever no matter how lame or uneventful it seems to you.

excellent point

DewieCox

We flew a few years ago and it was easy as pie. I just got too antsy in the weeks leading up to the flight down and and the day of the flight back, those 2 days wore me out worse than the rest of the week. Goin back in April and we're loadin up the Woody and drivin down from Illinois.

I feel sorry for anybody going to Disney World in the summer. Had a major blast but it was dangerously hot in June.

neilybabes86

BabaBooey1979 wrote:

Just booked a family trip to Orlando. The wife and I are torn on spending the extra 1000+ for flight or do we Do the Griswold style trip and drive 1200 miles over two days. We have 7, 5 and 2 year olds. We.ve got a Antarctic Blue Super Sportswagon from Lou Glutz Motors.

booked universal orlando 2 days ago ..going in april


FLY FLY FLY...3 HOURS SIMPLE

SatansFuton

It's Disney dude, take a fucking magic carpet or something.



Or at least Peter Pan your ass over there.

EdsonNascimento

Drive. I've done it 3 times from Long Island. First time with a 2 and 4 year old, then with a 7, 5 and 3 year old, and last year with a 11, 9, 6 and 3 year old. First, as someone else said - it's a great memory for a kid. But, that's not even the reason to do it.

You can stop at Subways for lunch, etc. It doesn't need to be expensive. I once actually got down too fast and had to stop a half hour outside Disney b/c I didn't have the room booked there that night (expected to stop, but it only took me 17 hours - yes, 17 hours with a few stops). It flies.

I've done it both ways - leaving at 6 AM and leaving at 10 PM. Either way is fine. It's really what you are up for. Once you get past Washington DC, it's open sailing. So, time it based on getting past there before traffic hits.

If the kids have electronics (DS's?) and a movie, it is easy.

The trip back kind of sucks, but that is when to plan on stopping somewhere (Savannah, GA, Wasington DC, etc. Just not South Carolina unless you are going way off the highway) to break it up (just like the flight back sucks the most. Going back to real life always sucks).

Just have the kids packed well - if you leave at 6 AM - you get up early, have their breakfast waiting in their seats in the car. Pack the night before and have their books, in car games, whatever near by. Plus - the tunes are great. It gets the kids to listen to a lot of PJ (last year it was PJ Radio the whole way down with a few breaks for movies).

Plus, think about flying - an extra hour or 2 at the airport, dealing with your kids in the airport, then the plane. You can only pack so much (which I guess could be a good thing, but it also limits what you can bring home). I like flying, but this is an easy road trip.

pandora

Fly for sure...

Disney is an exciting overwhelming thrilling and exhausting adventure for child and adult
alike.

treat yourself, fly ...
after you budget the real savings on paper I think you'll be glad you did

Have a stupendous time!

We made great memories there in the mid to late 90's

vduboise

If you've never done it before, I say drive. It will be a nice adventure. It will totally wear on you- driving and paying attention to the kids, but it definitely helps when you are not the only one driving. Also you are not limited on what you can bring, except for how much space you have in the car.

I did a drive to New Orleans last year from NYC, just me and my 2 year old. Driving down was a breeze, left early both days and stayed over one night and a arrived around 1 in the afternoon. But, driving back, I found to be a lot harder. Just facing 20 hrs of driving was a bit daunting. ( and on the return I had my Hub with me)

I did it once, I know what it feels like- so the next time, I'll spend the extra money and fly.

81

vduboise wrote:

If you've never done it before, I say drive. It will be a nice adventure. It will totally wear on you- driving and paying attention to the kids, but it definitely helps when you are not the only one driving. Also you are not limited on what you can bring, except for how much space you have in the car.

I did a drive to New Orleans last year from NYC, just me and my 2 year old. Driving down was a breeze, left early both days and stayed over one night and a arrived around 1 in the afternoon. But, driving back, I found to be a lot harder. Just facing 20 hrs of driving was a bit daunting. ( and on the return I had my Hub with me)

I did it once, I know what it feels like- so the next time, I'll spend the extra money and fly.

we have done chicagoland to charleston and chicagoland to savanah....it's very rythmatic...take her car, tank holds about 300 miles of gas....so we stop every 4 hours or so, gas up, get a snack if needed and switch postions. nothing too it.

rick1zoo2

did it both ways when kids were younger.

I would have to say, if you are not going to stop and see things on the way, then just fly. Long road trips with small kids can be a nightmare.

When we drove, we picked kids up from school and drove straight through, go there about noon the next day, it was brutal, but we had our car and packing was easier (except packed way too much) and not stuck with airline schedule. Driving home sucked.

Kids did great on the plane, we had more time for the vacation, spent less time travelling.

photogirlliz

SatansFuton wrote:

It's Disney dude, take a fucking magic carpet or something.



Or at least Peter Pan your ass over there.

JonnyPistachio

I love road trips, but never done one with that many kids. But if you say they are good in the car, I'd say do it, as long as you don't have to stop and pick up Aunt Edna along the way.

vduboise

81 wrote:

vduboise wrote:

If you've never done it before, I say drive. It will be a nice adventure. It will totally wear on you- driving and paying attention to the kids, but it definitely helps when you are not the only one driving. Also you are not limited on what you can bring, except for how much space you have in the car.

I did a drive to New Orleans last year from NYC, just me and my 2 year old. Driving down was a breeze, left early both days and stayed over one night and a arrived around 1 in the afternoon. But, driving back, I found to be a lot harder. Just facing 20 hrs of driving was a bit daunting. ( and on the return I had my Hub with me)

I did it once, I know what it feels like- so the next time, I'll spend the extra money and fly.

we have done chicagoland to charleston and chicagoland to savanah....it's very rythmatic...take her car, tank holds about 300 miles of gas....so we stop every 4 hours or so, gas up, get a snack if needed and switch postions. nothing too it.

we got a 335d last year, and it was amazing on the diesel. Filled up twice on the drive up and again on the drive back. If it was my car, maybe 4 tanks both ways.

I did stop every 4 hrs or so too- and that helped going down. But back up, we left late both days (hub is not an early riser)- so it made the trip extra longer.

Wma31394

BabaBooey1979 wrote:

Just booked a family trip to Orlando. The wife and I are torn on spending the extra 1000+ for flight or do we Do the Griswold style trip and drive 1200 miles over two days. We have 7, 5 and 2 year olds. We.ve got a Antarctic Blue Super Sportswagon from Lou Glutz Motors.

I have a Honda Odyssey from Bob Rooooooooohrman Honda and did the trip from Chicago a few years ago. I think it was only 9 hundred or so miles but it was great. I would suggest renting a crib in that area. You can find them for dirt cheap these days by disney.

81

Wma31394 wrote:

Bob Rooooooooohrman

we were in the sheffield grill a couple of years ago for out company outting....when he stopped in to make a phone call.

Wma31394

81 wrote:

Wma31394 wrote:

Bob Rooooooooohrman

we were in the sheffield grill a couple of years ago for out company outting....when he stopped in to make a phone call.

Guy is chicagoland legend..dominates autosales. I think his sons took over. Classic old school commercials. Up there with chicago auto wreckers.

PearlJam24

TIme is money...you'll still have to eat, fill up the car with gas, probably get a hotel and this is there and back. You might come out ahead by driving but after 4 days on the road vs. 4 hours in the air, is saving a few dollars worth it?

BabaBooey1979 wrote:

Just booked a family trip to Orlando. The wife and I are torn on spending the extra 1000+ for flight or do we Do the Griswold style trip and drive 1200 miles over two days. We have 7, 5 and 2 year olds. We.ve got a Antarctic Blue Super Sportswagon from Lou Glutz Motors.

DS1119

Wma31394 wrote:

Bob Rooooooooohrman Honda.

Thanks now I'm here watching Bob Rohrman videos on youtube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QX0ekXWPjI

Wobbie

BabaBooey1979 wrote:

We have 7, 5 and 2 year olds.

no wonder you're drinking a guinness in your avatar

81

DS1119 wrote:

Wma31394 wrote:

Bob Rooooooooohrman Honda.

Thanks now I'm here watching Bob Rohrman videos on youtube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QX0ekXWPjI

#getalife

Poncier

How much are you going to save by driving?

You probably will have to spend about $400-$500 on gas round trip, and at least another $200 for a hotel room each way.
Are you gonna need the car while down there? You're staying at Disney so unless you plan to leave the Mouse compound, they provide transportation.

Fly Jet Blue...each kid can have their own TV screen on the plane. (Although Orlando Airport security check was a nightmare with my 1 kid, I can't imagine going through with 3 little ones, at least they can keep their shows on now)