So you've planned everything out, now all that's left to decide is how to get down to Disney. In this mini-series we will see who the champion is flying or driving.
Last week we looked at what some of the pros and cons of flying down to the DCP were. We begin this week by looking at what the pros and cons of driving down to the DCP are before revealing which method of transportation will be crowned the winner on how I plan on getting down to the DCP!
And with that battle round 2 begins!
Pros
1. Road Trip Time!
I have always wanted to do a road trip! The thought of spending days in the car stopping at various sites along the way and taking everything in has always been appealing to me. With enough planning you can make your trip down to the DCP into a leisurely mini-vacation and not feel rushed to arrive at the final destination. If you're not in a rush to get down there, driving may be a great opportunity to visit parts of the country and attractions that you may otherwise not get to see.
2. Generally Less Expensive
Driving is typically less expensive than flying because all you're paying for is gas instead of all the different parts that go into buying a plane ticket. I say generally because depending how far you're coming from or the price of gas at the time, the pricing may work out to be pretty similar. But pricing is listed as a pro because it is generally accepted that driving is almost always cheaper than flying.
3. Can Bring More Stuff
Because you're driving down it means you can pack more things and have less you need to buy when you arrive in Orlando or Anaheim. If you're driving you're more likely to be able to pack any bedding and toiletries you may need as well as any cooking supplies you want that aren't already provided. So if you're not looking to buy yet another bed set that you'll have to get rid of in a few months when your program ends, driving may be your preferred option.
4. Having a Car on Your Program
Driving also means you'll have your car on your program. Being able to go wherever you want on your own whim has it's own benefits, so it comes down to deciding how much freedom you want with your travels when determining if having a car on your program would be something that would benefit you.
Cons
1. Time Consuming
Depending how far away you live, driving can eat up multiple days. If you live 500 miles away that's an 8 hour car ride you're in for and the farther away you live, the longer you will be spending in the car. Add on rest stops and any tourist stops you want to make along the way and it can take an exceptionally long time to get to your destination. If you're more of an ends to a means type person and not for enjoying the journey, driving may not be for you.
2. Long Drives are Awful!
Depending where you are coming from you may have a VERY long drive ahead of you. As someone who has years of experience making 8 hour drives fairly regularly, I can be the first to tell you that long drives can be awful. At this point I can handle an 8 hour drive no problem, but as that ETA time starts to rise I get more and more antsy waiting to finally reach my destination and get out of the metal box I'm trapped in! One of the worst parts about long car rides is being restricted in what you're able to do. Throwing it out there, sitting is hard! We're not made to sit still for that long! And long drives means you need to stay alert and concentrated the whole time.
3. Expenses
If you're driving from somewhere that takes more than 12 hours to get to, you may need to consider splitting your trip into two parts. This means getting a hotel room for the halfway point of your trip, and while there are no shortages of cheap hotel options, it is still indicative of spending money that you may not need to otherwise spend.
And there you have it! Round 2 has officially finished and in our next post we shall see who will be crowned the winner of how I plan to embark on my DCP journey. Will it be flying or will it be driving? Stay tuned to find out!
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