Once you decide to take the most magical vacation ever, figuring out how to get there is the next big step and possible expense.  

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Should I Fly or Drive?

The journey to Disney can feel a little less magical with the chaos of travel.  The magic will take over once you arrive, but how should you get there first?
 

Driving

A huge factor in driving to Disney is your distance from the parks.  When we lived within 8 to 11 hours, we always drove.  A day trip that ended in a Disney hotel was an easy choice.  However, once we moved farther away and a hotel stay was involved, we started to look more closely at the cost of flying.  

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One huge factor of driving is how your family will feel after the drive.  My husband is a trooper and loves to drive.  He is ready to go after a full night's sleep, so hitting the parks the next day works for us.  For others, driving can wipe them out and hitting the parks the next day when they are already tired can add a lot of stress to a happy time.  

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Something to remember with driving, id that Disney now has a daily parking charge.  This cost covers you if you decide to drive yourself to the parks, rather than taking Disney Transport.  

• Value resorts - $15/night

• Moderate resorts - $20/night

• Deluxe and DVC resorts - $25/night

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Flying

I am a huge fan of flying, especially when I travel alone.  I have security down to an art and can breeze in and out like a seasoned businessman (or woman).  Flying with my kids has added an additional level of difficulty...but nothing that my hyper planning can't handle.  As long as you can manage all the bags and have enough snacks to keep your kiddos happy, then you can fly.  

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Figure out the costs

Our family used this formula to figure out which was the best option for our family.  Hopefully, it will help you to figure out the best options

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Driving

Miles from home to Disney (x) $0.575 (2020 mileage) = 

+ # of hotel stays

+ Meals on the road (x) # of people (typically $7 fast food per person)

+ Daily parking fee ($15 to $25) (x) length of stay

= your driving cost 

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Example...Our family of 5 traveling from St. Louis to Orlando, staying at parks for 7 days

992.5 miles (x) $0.575 = $570.69

+ $100 hotel stay

+ 6 meals (x) $7 (x) 5 = $210

+ $15 (x) 7 days = $105

= $985.69

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Flying

Round-trip flight cost

+ Baggage Fees

+ Airport Meals  (x) # of people (typically $10 per person)

= your flying cost

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Example...Our family of 5 traveling from St. Louis to Orlando, staying at parks for 7 days

$806.86 flight with frontier (with Discount Den savings)

+ free bags

+ $10 (x) 5 = $50

= 856.86

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Using our families' example, it was $100 cheaper for our family to fly thanks to timing discounts.  Hopefully, this math equation will help your family to decide what is the best option for you!  

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