Travelling via Buffalo - Road and Border advice?

[jjohns]

We will soon be on our way to WDW (yippee! ). A difference for us this time is that we will be flying out of Buffalo - a first for us.

So, many questions...

1) We have a 12:50 pm flight on Delta - how early should we plan to arrive at the Buffalo airport?

2) Which border crossing is likely to be the best (i.e. least hassle and quickest)? Queenston-Lewiston or Fort Erie? (We are travelling from Toronto)

3) Any idea what the traffic would be like Niagara-bound on a Saturday morning of the Cdn Thanksgiving long weekend? Normally, I'm told the Buffalo drive should take 2 hours, but I suspect I should allow more than that...

TIA, Jeff

 

[disneyvacationmom]

We always fly out of Buffalo and usually arrive 1.5 hours before the flight. There's not a lot to do in the Buffalo airport and check in has always been smooth but I still think you should be there early. We always cross a Lewiston/Queenston but that's just personal preference. No idea on traffic but I prefer to leave lots of time. Have fun in Disney.

 

[dsneygirl]

My advice would be to leave first thing in the morning like 8 you'll get to Buffalo around 10 and can grab a bite to eat since there is nothing good at the airport then you have lots of time to park your car and get organized.

I would say cross at Fort Erie since it is well marked from there where the airport is and only about 10-15 minutes.

 

[emmalgin]

Leave early and stop at the Galleria if needed. I never worry about traffic outside Oakville of all places. So easy at the airport there is no need to worry about getting around.

I'd stop accross from the Galleria at the Wegman's (10 minutes from Airport) and get a Sub for the airport. They make the best ones I know.....

 

[dsneygirl]

Actually emmalgin the traffic on the QEW can be crazy around here any time of day. I also think it's better to be safe than sorry and be there in plenty of time, you wouldn't want to miss your flight to WDW That would be terrible.

 

[emmalgin]

I am always shocked on a Saturday to find a traffic jam at 11:00 am by the Ford Plant to Burloak...... I go to Niagara Falls every 3 weeks on average.

Playing Glen Abbey on saturday and I expect no traffic, so I'll listen closely to the traffic.....

Also forgot to mention that I usually use the bridge by the Casino..... My preference.....

 

[jjohns]

For anyone that was following this thread, here is an update of our experience.

Our flight out of Buffalo was at 12:50 - we ended up leaving Toronto (DVP & Bayview/Bloor) around 8:45. We crossed into the USA at Fort Erie/Buffalo - that only took about 5-10 minutes to clear US Immigration. As a side note, the line of cars entering Canada went 1/2 way up the bridge back to Buffalo. We were parking at the airport by 11, and checked in by 11:30.

On our trip back, we decided to try a different route so we came back via Queenston/Lewiston. We had a 20-minute wait to clear Canadian Customs, then it was clear sailing. All told, the return drive took 2 1/2 hours, so we made pretty good time. One thing to point out was there was no Bills game and no Sabres game, so the return traffic to Canada was 'typical', not 'heavy'.

HTH anyone planning something similar in the future.

 

[emmalgin]

Rainbow Bridge is always the easiest for me. Never have waited more then 10-15 minutes and almost always this is a Saturday or Sunday. Hate Fort Erie.

Buffalo Airport is great though based on size.