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Mom And Son Running through park; RunDisney; incredibles shirt
  • On Sep 7, 2014
    Amanda from TX Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I am wondering what I need to do to + flights 2 our vaca, initially we planned 2 drive frm Hou tx, however it is only 2 adults including myself and my husband with our son (4) . I am afraid will be too tired. I want to have an idea how much this + to budg

    Howdy Amanda!

    I completely understand your conundrum. While driving is a low cost way to travel to Walt Disney World it is has the longest travel time, yet flying gets you there in a snap but is the most expensive way to travel.

    Being budget conscious travelers, my family always weighs the cost of driving vs. flying. When we do drive, we usually break our 15 hour drive up into two segments. While this does add a one night hotel stay on each end of our trip, it allows us to arrive refreshed to start our Walt Disney World vacation.

    Since you have started your trip planning early (welcome to the obsessive planners club), you will be able to analyze which option is best for you. The formula I use to make this comparison is as follows:

    Total Round Trip Miles / Your Vehicle's Average Gas Mileage = # of Gallons of Gas Required for the entire trip (We typically add one fill-up while we are at Walt Disney World for any driving we do while we are there.)

    Amount of Gas Required * Cost of Gas (per gallon) = The total gas cost for your trip

    Total Gas Cost + On Road Hotel Stay (both ways) = Total Travel Cost

    Once you get a good estimate of your Total Travel Cost you can start checking flight prices. The rule of thumb for my family is that if the total cost of flying (including airport expenses, luggage fees, etc.) is within $100 we fly. The amount of time it saves to fly is worth $100 to us.

    I hope this helps with your planning. If you have any more questions about your travel options please come back and see me.

    Wishing you a magical vacation and a pixie-dusted day!

    Sue N., IN
     
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Meet the Panelist: Sue, Indiana

Just call me "Super Team Mom." I am a banker by day and a Disney fanatic and Team Mom extraordinaire by night. I can leap volleyball players in a single bound all while planning dinner for 25 people, coordinating fundraisers and booking travel arrangements. I was born and raised in Maine and am currently living in Indiana. I can't wait to help you plan for magical sports vacations at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Learn More About Sue

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