[PrincessJazzyG]

I have bought my airline tickets for my December trip for $1576. We are renting a car for $550 upon arrival. Because this trip is being planned on a budget - which I'm not used to, I'm debating on returning the tickets (fully refundable) and driving down. This will save me $1500, since the price of the rental only goes up $50 bucks by renting from RI!
However, it's a 20 hour ride with a 12, 8, and 3 year old.
Any suggestions?

[karliebug]

I would rather stick a needle in my eye than drive more than 50 miles with my 3 kids, but maybe that is just mine. How many miles can you stand "he's touching me"? LOL. Seriously, I would keep researching air deals and I bet your price may come down before December. Since your tickets are refundable you can afford to wait. Don't forget the cost of gas and you'll have to stop at least one night down and one night back which takes 2 days off your trip and the cost of hotel.Plus meals and snacks on the way. Plus you will be so tired from driving and stressed out from being confined with the kids that you'll be exhausted to start your trip (even if your kids are good kids,).We fly from PA and will never drive, it is just too stressful and not worth it, IMHO.

[KarenT]

I agree....I ony have one child and the thought of 18-20 hours in the car
I would keep checking airfare and car deals. Sometime they go down.
Do the numbers firgure out gas, hotel, food , entertainment for the car and decide are you saving that much money ,that it is worth it. Factor in the cost of your time.

Good Luck! have a great trip

[ZarSu]

$1500 is alot of turkey legs. Have you looked at Southwest airlines? They have tickets as cheap as $49 each way from PVD (yes we live in RI too). If you do decide to drive I just posted directions here However you go have fun.

[inluvwithdisney]

I really like the poke my eyes out with a needle comment by karlibug!!! LOL I feel the same way with my 3 kids!!! We talked about driving and between that and the price of gas we decided we'd better fly !!!

I really think if you watch you will find cheaper airfare!! Keep watching travelocity!!! Yesterday from Denver to MCO there was an airfaire for $103 round trip!!!! Yes there was a lay over but for all 5 of us to fly it would be $664!!! Just check a couple of times day!!!!

I am renting from Dollar because it is on terminal and that is important to DH!! Periodically I check back to see if the price of the car I reserved has gone down!!! And as we get closer it has gone down 2 times for a total of $40!! Only $40 I know but hey its something!!!!

[chris5568]

How long are you going for? Isn't 550 expensive for a car rental.

[ZarSu]

Those $49 tickets are nonstop, that is how we will most likely go this winter, next fall we will be driving. It is just the 2 of us now, our 3 kids are grown and have their own lives and families now, we enjoy going by ourselves now, nice and peaceful.

http://www.southwest.com

[chris5568]

Originally Posted by ZarSu

It is just the 2 of us now, our 3 kids are grown and have their own lives and families now, we enjoy going by ourselves now, nice and peaceful.

Next trip we take will be our first without my 18 year old daughter, do you find different things to do at WDW without the kids? I'm worried I will miss doing things with her and not have as good of a time.

[queensmama]

I have only three words to reply to this
FLY, FLY, FLY!

[ZarSu]

We find more things to do and see as we can go slow and look at everything and not worry where they are. It is just very relaxing.

[PrincessJazzyG]

Thanks everyone.
We're going for 10 days.
I actually did buy my tickets on Southwest.com but the cheaper fares were all sold out (Why my DH insists on Christmas week is beyond me) and I figured for the extra $, they're refundable and if I'd booked through a travel agent, I would have bought insurance anyway.
My mother-in-law, father-in-law, and their mothers are also flying up.
My sister-in-law, her husband, and 2 kids are driving up(fear of flying - no alternative for them).

[Dana]

Originally Posted by PrincessJazzyG

I have bought my airline tickets for my December trip for $1576. We are renting a car for $550 upon arrival. Because this trip is being planned on a budget - which I'm not used to, I'm debating on returning the tickets (fully refundable) and driving down. This will save me $1500, since the price of the rental only goes up $50 bucks by renting from RI!
However, it's a 20 hour ride with a 12, 8, and 3 year old.
Any suggestions?

The sanity of a few hour trip instead of the insanity of a 20 hour trip is worth 1500 to me. Are you planning to do outside parks while at WDW or are you planning to stay within the WDW areas? If you aren't leaving the WDW areas, why rent a car? You can save youself $550 right there and just use the free transportation throughout the parks. So you wait a few minutes for a bus...no biggie to me when it's free and there is always the plus of not having to park and being dropped right at he main gates. You can get a towncar with a free grocery stop and pay less than a shuttle and have snacks on hand for the kids. That is a really tough ride for three kids that young. I would seriously consider saving money on a resort or rental before opting to put your family through that hellish drive. That is just my opinion. Your kids may be fine in the car, but I know my DD and my DBF's son in a car that long would drive me and my DBF crazy. Then there is me who can't sit for that long either. I don't know who would be more aggrevated and annoying...me or them....LOLOL

[TinksFriend]

Wow! While that is a lot of $$, the hassle and stress of not having to drive will be well worth it. Plus you'll save a few days by flying..I'd stick to the flying and just shop around for a better deal. Also, I read somewhere that most airlines pricematch...maybe that will save you some trouble too..

[disneyguy]

I would fly!!! I do have a question though. OK I assumed that the plane tickets were for five people. and that calculated out to $315 dollars per person. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS!!

If you tell me where you live, and your dates I would be more than happy to research for you. Last time I did this for a DC'er I saved them over 60 dollars per person.

[PrincessJazzyG]

Yes 5 people, from 12/23/04-1/2/05. Christmas is probably making it more expensive. I believe it was about $140 each way plus tax and security fees, etc. It is nonstop.