Northern Cal people do you drive or fly to Disneyland????

[poohnpiglet]

We live in Modesto and have always driven in the past. However, this is our first time with two small children and two large carseats. We also take my Mom with us (from Hollister), so we would need to rent a larger car. With the price of gas and car rental I am thinking we should just fly.

However, with having to check in early at the airport I do not know if this will save time. How do you travel with the carseats? It night be a bigger headache to fly.

Help us please. What is the best way to get there????
TIA

[dsnylndmom]

For us we've always driven. I had an Expedition(until yesterday! LOL)and the gas was pretty expensive, but when I drove my MIL's minivan it was much better. We thought about flying last summer, but having to buy 4 flights vs the gas and such was still cheaper for us.

We left last year, from Stockton at 4:30, stopped in Manteca and then were on our way and we made the BEST timing! There's no one on the roads and the kids were sleeping the whole time, it made the drive so easy!!

I'm no help with airport advice!

[Arnie]

We have always driven save once when my wife (girlfriend at the time) and I flew down. This was before 9/11 and all the new security changes so that may affect the time some to. I don't feel that we really saved all that much time, I think with getting to the airport early, the flight and traffic getting to the hotel it took about 6 hours. We were on a large bus from the airport to the hotel so spending a little more for a shuttle would probably speed things up.

I don't think I'd fly again though, we only need to fill up the gas tank maybe a total of 4 times for driving, once before leaving, on the way there, before heading home and half way home. Depending on when you fill up maybe three tanks for us. Thats driving a mini-van so not great gas mileage out of it.

The only other cost for driving is stoping to eat, which you would most likely still get something to eat if you were flying. Leaving early is the best way to go less traffic, the kids sleep, and if your lucky your are in Disneyland in time for lunch.

[Disguy]

I've done both and honestly it ends up being the same time wise. By the time you check in early at the airport, wait for your flight, get your bags then take a shuttle to your hotel. It ends up the same time as driving for us (about 5-6 hours) We spent 125.00 this last trip on gas and we have a small SUV. I like flying because it's less tiring, you don't have to worry about traffic, gas, food stops and potty breaks .

After this last trip it took us almost NINE hours to get home because of traffic the worst drive ever!!! So of course I'm in "fly mode" but when it comes down to it I like the freedom of having our own car etc.

[Jennidisneyfer]

Funny you ask this!
We always drive because flying would mean buying 6 tickets-expensive! Can't beat driving for cost. However, just my daughter, her friend, and I are going this weekend so we are flying! For me, it's all about cost or I would fly every time. Being in the car w/ kids for 6 hours makes me tiiired and sometimes

[Tinkerbelle]

We flew once (our honeymoon) and it took as long (actualy a bit longer from house to hotel)
and yes because of cost we Drive, 2-3 tanks of gas is way cheaper than 4 plane tickets. We go with 2 kids, a pile of books and some games that I organise before we leave (yeah, I'm A.R. what can I say) I pack a variety of snacks to hand out periodicly to help with grumbly tummies but we usualy make 1 stop for a light lunch (or breakfast) but basicly that's an excuse to get the kids out of the car for a while.
we have potty stops down pat, we know which ones we always stop at and everyone goes...then we don't have to stop extra (except the trip where I was Pregnant, I saw every rest stop between San Francisco and Disneyland)
it usualy takes us about 6 1/2 hours from home to hotel.....not to bad.

[DznyVan]

We used to fly from Oakland to Burbank on Southwest (cheap) then get a Budget rental ($19.95/day) and drive to Universal for the day, then head down to DL for a couple of days, then return the rental and fly out of Orange County airport (Southwest and Budget let you do that) all for less than a couple hundred bucks.

Then came four kids...

We tried flying with one, then two, and then it just wasn't worth it.

We have been driving ever since (three to four trips per year). We have a diesel Excursion with the TV and Playstation for the kids and we plan a stop in Buttonwillow which is about three hours into the trip. We usually stop for lunch or dinner at Hamburger Hamlet next to Magic Mountain and then on into DL or Universal depending on our schedule. We also like to just cruise around LA, Malibu, Santa Monica . the movie stars homes, etc... just for the fun of it. Just under 6 hours of driving time from home to the Park.

When you figure in the 9-11 nonsense at the airports, the cost of tix and the hassle of car seats/related small kid stuff, it just aint worth it to fly. When driving, you only have to pack once, can take snacks, stop when you want, don't have to worry about a flight schedule, etc...

Flying is nice, but we prefer driving.

[Alchimedes]

from Modesto for us, driving to Oakland(backwards) or SAC and then flying down there doesn't work for us.
So I've learned if I go in the evening we aren't as tired as leaving at 4am in the morning like we used to. Always been curious about the train though. Relaxing, But you take a bus from Bakersfield. I don't mind the drive, We take usually one break, maybe two. Taking breaks always helps too stretch a little, restroom, walk around a bit. Also bought one of those coolers that connects to the Lighter, it doesn't require any ice and heats things as well, carries up to 6-8 cans or water bottles.

I have always left in the evening, I figure Gas and hotels would pay the same for a flight. So I just go up the evening before. I usually leave about 4pm Sounds crazy? I have never had problem so far. It is smooth sailing.

[Michelle]

DRIVE! I remember a news station did a report on which takes less time, and it ended up that flying ended up taking more.

I like driving down 5. It gets me all pumped up. But the way back seems to take forrreevvverrr

[sir clinksalot]

Doing the opposite trip (SoCal to NorCal) in 2 weeks.

We are planning on driving more than half way to SF (Los Banos) and spending Wednesday night, then driving the rest of the way in. If it's possible to tack on another night of a cheap hotel I would recommend doing about 2/3 of your drive in the evening, staying at a Days Inn or something then driving the rest of the way the next morning.

That way you get almost a full nights sleep and don't have so far to drive the next day.

[Orcatime]

I'm going to try and drive so I can stop and see my family on the way down, but that has yet to be seen.

[EpTxGuy]

Fly? Drive? I thought all you MiceChat guys lived at Disneyland... j/k

[Disguy]

DRIVE! I remember a news station did a report on which takes less time, and it ended up that flying ended up taking more.

I like driving down 5. It gets me all pumped up. But the way back seems to take forrreevvverrr

Always!! I think its because once I leave Disneyland what else is there to look forward to? the WORST part of the drive back is Harris Ranch

[Michelle]

Always!! I think its because once I leave Disneyland what else is there to look forward to? the WORST part of the drive back is Harris Ranch

Haha, I'm used to the Coalinga odor.

There's this one part on 5 where there's just NOTHING and you can't figure out how far you are and it just feels like it's never going to end. That's the worst part for me.

[SomeSayImGoofy]

...We usually stop for lunch or dinner at Hamburger Hamlet next to Magic Mountain...

Oh man! I was raised on HH! (Lived in Century City as a teenager) Then when we moved to NorCal (Santa Cruz and Carmel for about 15 years), we used to make the same stop in Valencia. We would share an entree and each have OUR OWN 4-Layer Hot Fudge Cake!

For that reason alone...DRIVE!!!

Plus (as previously mentioned), it usually ends up taking the same amount of time, cheaper, no taxi/shuttle hassle.

Either way, have a great trip!

Kevin

[poohnpiglet]

Thanks all!! We will be driving. Hubby gets leaves at 4:00 every am to drive to San Jose (sweet, sweet man). So leaving at 4:00 should not be any problem for him, for me that is another story. Thank you all for your input.

[MickeyJCA]

We used to live in Walnut Creek and I always drove to Disneyland. The first time I decided to take the 101 because I thought it would be prettier and the drive would be nice. BIG mistake! I thought I'd never get there!

After that, I always headed right down the 5. It's an ugly uninspiring drive, but it's quick and easy. I'd usually stop in Kettleman City (is that the right name? It's been a couple of years...) for a break. It's not really halfway, but I liked it.

[Alchimedes]

Always!! I think its because once I leave Disneyland what else is there to look forward to? the WORST part of the drive back is Harris Ranch

They have an excellent Hotel and Steak Restuarant!!

I know the 10,000+ head of cattle can be stinky along that route.

[nocaldznygrl]

Hi, I'm new to Mice Chat!
I agree with Disguy! Harris Ranch (aka Bovine University) is the worst part of the drive.

[Marie]

We almost always drive, but the last time I went down to SoCal I was there for a very very short weekend trip, so I flew down with one of my aunts. My youngest aunt lives in Long Beach, about 15 miles away from DL, and just a few blocks from the Long Beach airport, which is tiny but gets the job done.

If you're ever planning on flying down, Long Beach airport's a good option if you're flying in from Oakland (and if you're planning on renting a car or already have transportation lined up), especially if you fly JetBlue. Decent fares, good snacks, and the flight seems to take less time since you get to watch TV.

My car's being kind of crappy at the moment, so driving's a less savory option. But I'm planning on driving down in December or January when my BF comes to visit, because he's never been to or seen California.