April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[jilljill]

We usually drive straight thru. For T'giving week we'll probably have to stop somewhere since it will just be my DD and I going down, and then coming home we'll drive straight thru since DH plans on flying down T'giving Day.

 

[Z'sDisneyMom]

jilljill:

How do you find the drive? We are going to the world for Thanksgiving also with family and extended family from NY/NJ/VA. We are only 3 so the high holiday flight prices are still somewhat manageable for us but some families in our group are larger and we have been discussing driving to cut costs.

alenushka:

I am a cruisecritic addict too, although I admit my Disney addiction is worse

We have the Allure booked for Aug 2011 so I have been reading everything I can for the Oasis/Allure on cruisecritic in addition to the Dream. My 11 year old DD is as into the planning as I am and thinks it's "very cool" that we will sail 2 new ships in 1 year.

Where are you in NY? We are in NJ about 20 miles from Manhattan.

Depending on the decision to drive for Thanksgiving and if all goes well, we may consider driving in April too.

 

[caronjn]

Ok, I'm obviously going to need to check the posts more frequently! hahaha - Thanks for adding us! I have to ask my wife our state room number but it will be me, my wife, son (10) and daughter(7) ... we are also on Deck 8!

 

[jilljill]

jilljill:

How do you find the drive? We are going to the world for Thanksgiving also with family and extended family from NY/NJ/VA. We are only 3 so the high holiday flight prices are still somewhat manageable for us but some families in our group are larger and we have been discussing driving to cut costs.

It's not all that bad, except for the Wash. DC area for us. Now for you, you will have the added traffic/congestion of the DE Mem. Bridge and coming thru DE.
For going down we try to leave around 6pm to avoid the majority of the traffic in the DC area and so far it's worked out well for us, unless there's an accident - at least we avoid the work traffic.

We've been doing this since she was 2 and she's now 16 so it's not all that bad - it beats paying over-priced holiday flight fares.

 

[Ness2289]

caronjn and alenushka!!

We're glad to have you join us! I've added you to our roster. Yelena, Deb T. will add you to the FE exchange list!

Disney Dream- April 17, 2011

1. Outahere, DW, DS(16)
2. Lildeb724 (Debbie), DH, DD(10) DS(7)
3. Mom 3 mouseketeers, DH, DS(10/11), DD(9), DS(7)
4. Castlegazer, DH, DS(9), DD(6)
5. Muhhhrrisssa (19), Mom, Dad
6. CSX2, DW, DD(15)
7. Curlybop (Amanda), DH (Mark), DD(8), DD(2)0. Irishone21 (Chris), DH (Mike), DS(7), DD(3)
9. Rdevine10 (Robin), DH, DD(5), DD(8)
10. Scootch(Amy), DD-Mattisyn(11), DD-Kenzey(9)
11. Akjtmax, DH, DS, DD
12. Freddyfishsticks, DW, DD(12), DS(9)
13. MissMousey, DH, DD(14), DS(11)
14. Mom2Elliot, DH, Kids(13,9,3)
15. Deb T., DH(Jeff)
16. Ness2289, DD(12)
17. Jilljill, DH, DD(16)
18. Pershing (Sue), DS(16), DS(14), DS(13)
19. Tiger1313 (Cathy), DGD (17)
20. Cleopahd, DH
21. jel0511, Dh, DD(13), DS(10)
22. Disney1fan2002 (Marie), DH, DS(14), DD(12), and DS(11)
23. Mom2BCCC (Barbara) DH, DS(14), DS(12), DS(10), DD(5)
24. KerryDVC, DH, DD(7), DD(5), DS(3), DM, DF
25. Golfnsuch, DH, DS(11), DS(7)
26. WPoohgirl (Wendy), DH, DD(14), DS(12)
27. NYDisneyfamily, DH, DS(13), DS(8)
28. Z'sDisneyMom (Robin), DH, DD(12)
29. ydrj (Yvonne), DH, DS(16), DD(14)
30. Quagmire, DW, DD(14)
31. JasonDVC, DW, DD(2) and DTBA(6mo)
32. princessdaisy (Steph), DH, DS(8) and DD(18)
33. guarn3md (Debbie), DM (Judy), DF, DS (9), DSis(7)
34. allaboutdisney1967 (Donna), DH (Angelo), DD(13) (Gabby)
35. goofy4tink (Diane), DH, DD(17) (Kate)
36. dmdietz, DH, DD(11), DS(11), DS(11)
37. jeni37, DH, DS(14), DS(10), DD(6)
38. disneycruisegal (Lissa), DH (Brian)
39. lindafish (Linda), DH (Gale)
40. gabby, DH, DS(15), DD(13)
41. caronjn, DW, DS(10), DD(7)
42. alenushka (Yelena), DH (Vadim), DD10 (Katya)

Corrections made, caronjn!

 

[Z'sDisneyMom]

It's not all that bad, except for the Wash. DC area for us. Now for you, you will have the added traffic/congestion of the DE Mem. Bridge and coming thru DE.
For going down we try to leave around 6pm to avoid the majority of the traffic in the DC area and so far it's worked out well for us, unless there's an accident - at least we avoid the work traffic.

We've been doing this since she was 2 and she's now 16 so it's not all that bad - it beats paying over-priced holiday flight fares.

Thanks for the insight. Just spent the last hour debating the pros and cons of driving down with the VA folks. No decision yet but its looking likely!

 

[alenushka]

jilljill:

How do you find the drive? We are going to the world for Thanksgiving also with family and extended family from NY/NJ/VA. We are only 3 so the high holiday flight prices are still somewhat manageable for us but some families in our group are larger and we have been discussing driving to cut costs.

alenushka:

I am a cruisecritic addict too, although I admit my Disney addiction is worse

We have the Allure booked for Aug 2011 so I have been reading everything I can for the Oasis/Allure on cruisecritic in addition to the Dream. My 11 year old DD is as into the planning as I am and thinks it's "very cool" that we will sail 2 new ships in 1 year.

Where are you in NY? We are in NJ about 20 miles from Manhattan.

Depending on the decision to drive for Thanksgiving and if all goes well, we may consider driving in April too.

Hi Robin,
My DD is an active participant as well; we call her CCA-in training and I would have to add DisboardsA-in training now
Funny - we are 20 min from Manhattan as well, but on the other side of GWB, in lower Westchester.
Driving (I will describe optimal driving conditions, meaning no accidents on the roads):
Option "overnight": used to work for us when our son was little, as he would sleep most of the way. We used to leave NY area around 6 pm and drive through the night with a short stop on a rest area somewhere in NC for a couple of hours of sleep. It is hard to drive at night, but, if no accidents, great time to drive bs so few cars on the roads. This option does not work for us anymore, bs our daughter does not sleep well in a car, especially if we stop.
Option "early am": it has to be very early (around 6-6:30 am). By 8 pm you should be entering GA, Pooler (that is counting multiple stops for bathroom/ stretching breaks and about 30 min picnic). There they have nice hotels to sleep; then continue next morning (about 5-6 more hrs to DW); if you leave at 7 am, you should arrive by 12 pm. I know a lot of people who go straight to FL, and get to DW slightly past midnight.
If you drive, print out "driving I-95" for tips on rest areas, restaurants, etc.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/I95.htm
http://www.i95exitguide.com/mileage/index.php

We usually use Holiday Inn (no breakfast, about $130) in Pooler, GA driving to FL, and in Holiday Inn Express ($100, incl. breakfast for all) in Emporia, VA driving to NY. Honestly, you are in NJ (don't have to cross GWB), you should probably go straight to NJ, just leave FL really early (7 am vs 7:30 makes a difference).

If anyone recommends any other nice places to stay - please let us know. The above are clean, efficient, reliable, but, i think, on pricey side.
PS: driving from Miami/Ft. Louderdale area this spring break, we stopped at NC, exit 121, at Marriott ($100, breakfast incl), 1-252-265-5660.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Y.

 

[curlybop]

To all of the brave souls that will be driving. Just this week my DH suggested it, but I don't think that I could handle it. We would be driving at least 13 hours with an 8 year old and 2 year old. I just can't imagine.....

 

[alenushka]

To all of the brave souls that will be driving. Just this week my DH suggested it, but I don't think that I could handle it. We would be driving at least 13 hours with an 8 year old and 2 year old. I just can't imagine.....

o -no, i would not be brave enough to drive such a long distance with a 2 yrs old, but if you decide to do it - think about driving through the night, while kids are sleeping. Good luck!

 

[Z'sDisneyMom]

Thanks for the advice alenushka.

Copying all of the info into my Disney file

 

[Deb T.]

Hi All!

Here's the latest FE list....

Fish Extender Exchange: (Deadline to join is 4-1-11)
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
kim5678 & DH, DD13
lindafish & DH
disneycruisegal & DH
caronjn & DW, DS10, DD7
alenushka & DH, DD10, maybe DS in college

 

[alenushka]

Thanks for the advice alenushka.

Copying all of the info into my Disney file

 

[pershing]

I keep thinking about doing FE but I won't have a stateroom number until the last minute as I'm in guarantee status.

I think it would get too confusing.

I admire all the people who drive. Airfare's gonna be expensive next year, but being the only parent with 3 boys in a car for days seems like too much family bonding for me.

 

[curlybop]

I admire all the people who drive. Airfare's gonna be expensive next year, but being the only parent with 3 boys in a car for days seems like too much family bonding for me.

Exactly! Too much family bonding.... I'm starting the airfare fund now. I wish more fares were available, but hopefully around the six month mark we can get a better idea of just how expensive this will be.

 

[jilljill]

I keep thinking about doing FE but I won't have a stateroom number until the last minute as I'm in guarantee status.

I think it would get too confusing.

I admire all the people who drive. Airfare's gonna be expensive next year, but being the only parent with 3 boys in a car for days seems like too much family bonding for me.

You may not have a cabin number last minute, they usually assign them around 35 days out. Some cruises they have been assigning them a bit earlier. Our friends got their assignment about 50 days out for our cruise next month.

I don't blame you for not wanting to drive that distance, especially being the only driver.


For those with little ones, driving thru the night is key so the kids can sleep. We've been making the drive since DD was 2 and never had problems with her. She's actually better on long trips than short trips, even now and she's 16.

 

[Deb T.]

I keep thinking about doing FE but I won't have a stateroom number until the last minute as I'm in guarantee status.

I think it would get too confusing.

Please don't let your GTY status prevent you from joining in on the FE fun. As jilljill said, you'll have your cabin number in plenty of time to let everyone know. In fact, even the people who are fortunate enough to get a visit from the "upgrade fairy" or pay for an upgrade at the port are still able to participate in the FE Exchange! In my final set of instructions, I remind everyone that if there is a last-minute change in cabins, all they need to do is make a quick call to the other participants after boarding (or let me know and I'll make the calls). I've done this on two cruises and it takes only a few minutes to leave a message on stateroom phones.

 

[kim5678]

Thanks for the update Deb!

 

[Mom 3 mouseketeers]

We use to drive from CT to WDW for many years. We started when our 2 oldest were 3 and 1 1/2. We'd leave at 3pm and drive till 2am then sleep somewhere. When we added our last peanut we started leaving at 2am, that way they'd be awake for a couple hours and be so excited then eventually they fell asleep and slept till almost 8am, that was 6 hours of nothing! We'd usually stop within 2-3 hours of WDW and spend the night somewhere.

One year we did it with a 4 year old, 2 1/2 year old and 5 month old, not that I'd recommend doing it, but did you know you can nurse a baby still in his car seat without stopping !

Granted we've flown the last 3 years and I'm not sure we can go back to driving!!! Can't wait for our cruise, with the kids sail free MR we were tempted to switch but so glad we decided to stay with all of you!!!

 

[alenushka]

We use to drive from CT to WDW for many years. We started when our 2 oldest were 3 and 1 1/2. We'd leave at 3pm and drive till 2am then sleep somewhere. When we added our last peanut we started leaving at 2am, that way they'd be awake for a couple hours and be so excited then eventually they fell asleep and slept till almost 8am, that was 6 hours of nothing! We'd usually stop within 2-3 hours of WDW and spend the night somewhere.

One year we did it with a 4 year old, 2 1/2 year old and 5 month old, not that I'd recommend doing it, but did you know you can nurse a baby still in his car seat without stopping !

Granted we've flown the last 3 years and I'm not sure we can go back to driving!!! Can't wait for our cruise, with the kids sail free MR we were tempted to switch but so glad we decided to stay with all of you!!!

WOW, that is a long drive with 3 little ones! You are very brave, and it looks like your kids are great!
We tried to drive through the night a few times, but every time, the hardest hours for us were between 2 - 4 am, and we were usually forced to stop at the rest area around 3 am for a little "nap". Ever since our daougher was born, she would never sleep in a car for longer than 20min. Now, it is not an option for us anymore. A few yrs ago we drove though the night (our daughter was around 4) and we tried to stop for a nap; our daughter would wake up right away and would not go back to sleep no matter what time it was and we were "forced" to cont. driving hardly staying awake ). Since then, if we decide to drive a long distance, we have to leave really early and stop for a night in a hotel.
Great that you did not change your cruise! we are a great group and we will have a great cruise together!

 

[alenushka]

Happy Father's Day to all wonderful, hard working, loving fathers! Thank you for sharing your children (and your wives) Disney DREAMs!