Fly or Drive: A Poll for Disneyland Vacation - Save Time and Money!

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around a poll regarding whether to fly or drive to Disneyland for an upcoming family vacation. Participants share their personal experiences and considerations related to travel costs, time, and convenience.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions the cost of flights being $160 round trip and weighs the benefits of flying versus driving, noting the time savings and mileage concerns.
  • Another participant expresses a preference for flying, highlighting the potential to save a day of vacation time.
  • One participant shares their experience of needing to convince their partner about the cost difference between flying and driving.
  • Several users mention the exhaustion of long car trips, especially with children, and prefer flying for a more relaxed experience.
  • One participant points out the importance of considering additional costs, such as gas and food, when calculating the total expense of driving.
  • Another participant notes that having a car is beneficial for exploring areas outside of Disneyland, while one counters that there are nearby attractions accessible without a car.
  • One participant, identifying as a travel agent, suggests flying and discusses the option of travel insurance for peace of mind regarding airline reliability.
  • Several participants mention the option of renting a car for short trips, such as going to the beach, as a flexible solution.
  • One participant shares their experience with a travel service that offers discounted packages for Disneyland, while another expresses dissatisfaction with the same service due to incorrect information received.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on whether to fly or drive, with many participants leaning towards flying due to time savings and convenience, while some emphasize the benefits of driving for flexibility and cost considerations.

Contextual Notes

Participants share a range of personal experiences related to travel planning for Disneyland, including considerations for family dynamics and travel logistics.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and families planning a trip to Disneyland may find the shared experiences and considerations helpful in making travel decisions.

Would you drive or fly

  • Drive

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • Fly

    Votes: 16 94.1%
  • Total voters
    17
Jennie4PC
Jennie4PC
Messages
3,348
I am taking a poll to see what everone else would do
My family will be going to Disneyland in Oct and we found some flights for 160 round trip. We are debating on weather we sould fly or drive.
The benefits to driving is we have a car for when we want to go to the beach.

The benefits to flying is it is 2 hrs instead of 11 1/2 hrs and we are not putting all that mileage on the car. We will save about $200 if we drive
 
Don't forget the cost of gas!!! I would fly!!!!!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
I need to convince DH about flying it will cost about 640 to fly and if I estimated correctly it would be about 450 to drive.
 
I'd still fly...you'd be saving about 1 day of your vacation! If you drove, you'd be missing one whole day (granted seeing parts of the country as you drive).

I am antsy, so a car ride longer then 3 hours isnt for me!
 
I'd personally would fly - after driving to South Dakota last year from Illinois with 3 kids (although they did great - it was exhausting!) - we had no choice in the matter since we were going many places throughout the state. I'd rather focus my energy on having extra time in California where you can relax and not have to unwind from a long car trip.
 
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Fly, Fly, Fly. $160 is so good right now, especially with gas prices going up. They aren't going to go down anytime soon. Where did you find $160 airfare? Also will you be flying into Anahiem or LA? We are looking to go in the fall also.
 
Did you include any food stops into your calculation of driving, or just gas? When DH & I went on our cruise, we contemplated driving to Miami, but then realized the few $$ we would save on gas over airfare would go to food and snacks for the trip.

Not to mention, do you want to be in the car with the kids that long?
 
There is NOTHING else near Disneyland/California Adventure except Downtown Disney. So if you want to anything outside of Anaheim, you'll need a car.
 
Actually, that is not true, Knotts Berry Farm is close, and a cab or bus wouldn;t be bad at all--most of the hotels have free shuttles. Whatever you do, if you get a car or not, don't park at the big D. We have annual passes and parking is now $11 a day. Stay at a hotel that shuttles you or is across the street. Email me if you need help--I live 10 min. away and we go all the time (matter of fact we did mother's day there yeterday--so fun!).
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
we did not include the food. We plan on going to seaworld but we can get tansportation with the tickets when we purchase them. The biggest thing we want to do is go to the beach. And spend a little bit of time there. We are looking at 2 hotels which is right across the street from the entrance.
As for the cheap tickets we googled chep flights and the tickets are for delta air lines. I also went to priceline and I may be able to get a little cheaper but my concern is what happens if the airline I pick goes under since we wont be going for awhile.
 
Jennie -
I have been a travel agent for the past 14 years (I'm not trying to sell myself) and I have been to Disneyland (California) and it's wonderful but would suggest flying. If you are worried about the airline going "under" purchase travel insurance. If you were flying a smaller less known airline then you might have reason for concern but I"m pretty confident in saying if you fly with Delta you'll be fine but I do highly recommend travel insurance. Travel Insurance: Travel Guard - Trip, Medical/Health & Accident Coverage and choose "protect n assist" - the kids will be free! Have a great time.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #12
I will defenitly do travlers insurance my family did not do it when they went to cancun and because they were told wrong info. they were able to go later but they almost lost out on all that money.
 
I don't know about you, but my vacation time is precious! I voted fly because anything longer than about 5 hours in a car just is not enjoyable. You will lose 19+ hours of your time at your vacation spot by driving. Plus you'll probably be exhausted. Not to mention you'd get there either late at night or early in the AM & want to rest after you get there.

Especially at $160, I would fly! :)
 
Don't forget about the option of renting a car, too. If you just want to go to the beach, it shouldn't cost too much to rent a car for a day. Plus, I'm sure you can get some kind of discount through AAA, your credit card or some other source if you search around. I'm always getting Hertz "coupons" with my credit card statemets (but of course I don't have one handy now).

Just a quick search on Hertz's website for October shows a Ford Focus or similar is $42.99/day. Enterprise is quoting around $28.00/day.
 
Fly! Rent a car to go to the beach if you want.
 
When we go to Disneyland I always get my hotel and tickets through Getawaytoday.com you get the tickets included w/your hotel and you save a ton of money. Everyone I tell about it they always check out other places and they end up going with getawaytoday.com because they always turn out cheaper, check it out. You can also get Sea world on there to.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #17
I did look into get away today and decided not to go through them because they didnt give me correct info. They told me that disneyland didnt do a meal plan and that they dont come out with any other discounts after April. But disneyland does do a dining plan and they do little specials every quarter. And they will honor that code for you if you have tickets. But I really appreciate the info.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I fly or drive to Disneyland to save time and money?

Choosing between flying and driving to Disneyland depends on several factors including your starting location, budget, and time constraints. Flying can save time if you're coming from a long distance, but consider the costs of airfare, baggage fees, and transportation to and from the airport. Driving might take longer but can be more economical, especially for families, as you can pack more and avoid additional travel costs.

What are the cost differences between flying and driving to Disneyland?

The cost differences can vary significantly based on your location and the number of travelers. When flying, consider the price of tickets, luggage fees, and airport transfers. Driving costs include gas, tolls, and potential overnight stays if the distance is great. For larger families, driving may be more cost-effective, while solo travelers might find flying cheaper.

How long does it typically take to drive to Disneyland compared to flying?

The driving time to Disneyland can vary greatly depending on your starting point and traffic conditions. For example, a drive from Los Angeles might take about an hour, while a drive from San Francisco could take around 6-7 hours. In contrast, flying is generally quicker, with flight times averaging 1-2 hours, but you must also factor in airport wait times and travel to and from the airport.

Are there any advantages to flying to Disneyland?

Flying can offer several advantages, including saving time on long-distance trips and avoiding the wear and tear of a long drive. Additionally, flying can provide more flexibility in scheduling, as there are often multiple flights available throughout the day. It also allows you to arrive fresh and ready to enjoy your vacation without the fatigue of a long drive.

What should I consider when deciding to fly or drive to Disneyland?

When deciding whether to fly or drive, consider your budget, the size of your travel party, the distance to Disneyland, and how much time you have for your trip. Also, think about convenience factors such as luggage handling, transportation to the park, and the overall travel experience you prefer. Weighing these factors will help you make the best decision for your Disneyland vacation.

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