Can we really go 24hrs with no sleep???

[d96j97]

We are leaving about 11pm-12am on Saturday. Here is the dileama...our trip will take about 14-15 hours from West Virginia and once we get there...well...we plan on unloading and hitting DD for the remainder of the evening until about 11pm. My question is...is this really possible or do we have wishful thinking? We have 2 DS's (ages 6 & 7) who will get to sleep so they will be ready to go. My DH and I on the other hand, will have to tank up on coffee to make it. Has anyone else had to do this? I figure the adreniline will keep us going.

 

[InstImpres]

I think it might be heard to go on no sleep and start you off on a rough note. How about switching off driving so you can each get in at least 4-5 hours sleep. Also maybe the first driver could sleep from afterwork to 10:30pm to be rested for night driving.

JMHO
Sandy

 

[kilee]

You're gonna be dragging. This could make or break your trip. You could run yourselves down so much it could affect the whole vacation. Just keep that in mind. I mean will you and DH be switching off on the driving, so that you can each take turns napping?

Also, you are looking at being at the hotel by 3pm, getting to DTD by lets say 5 pm. Honestly, I've never spent 6 hrs straight there before!! Usually 2-3 hrs and that's about it. I would maybe go for alittle bit. However, I really don't think you'll need to stay until 11pm. This way you can call it an early night. Don't know what your next day plans are, but you might want to be rested and refreshed.

 

[geniegirl]

We did is - drove down after work in 2000 from Pittsburgh.

We got into Daytona around7am. We were dead tied and got a cheap hotal and just slept for 3 hours. We then did Daytona USA and headed onto Orlando.

After check in around 4pm we headed to DTD for a few hours.

So.... yes it can be done, yes you will be tired. If we had kids though i would not push it. you dont what them to be too tiried for the next day. i would take it easy check in get some food and head to bed.

This year we are heading out about 4am and will get there in the evening just in tie to check in unload grab some food and get a good nights sleep.

IMO take turnsif you can make sure the kids sleep, and have a good trip.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I wouldn't risk it, esp. driving that long. At least take turns driving, or break up the trip with a rest somewhere.

 

[bizwiz24]

To be perfectly honest, it pretty much depends on how long you are staying. Some people do not have a choice besides going to a park the day they arrive. Since you are driving, lets assume you are staying about a week. Perhaps it would be a good idea to visit Downtown Disney or maybe a relaxing water park. But if time is an issue, then switching drivers is the best way to go.

I am actually going to be doing this in July, and we will be switching drivers. In fact, on the first day we arrive, we are going to use it to relax.

Good luck on any decision you make.

Bizwiz24

 

[Chuck S]

We left about midnight on our last trip (from the San Antonio area). I drove all night, and stopped at a rest area for about a 1 1/2 hour nap. Then continued on. We arrived in the WDW area about 5pm the night prior to our reservations at OKW. Got a room off-site, had a good nights sleep, and began our WDW adventure the following morning. That was fine, and we'll probably do that again this month. But, I would not drive all night and then spend a late evening in the parks. Consider leaving a night earlier than you've planned. That way, if unforeseen road conditions delay your trip, you have extra time. Stay off-site at a reasonable hotel/motel in the WDW area the first night, and start your visit with Mickey refreshed, you'll enjoy it much more.

 

[cleo]

I've done the 18 hour drive straight through from home to Disney and would definitely not recommend planning anything after your drive. Obviously, since only one of you can drive at a time, you'll be able to get some sleep while the other one is driving. Even so, I'd play it by ear and be open to a more restful start to your trip. Downtown Disney will be there the next day (and the next), so I personally would not push it after such a long drive.

 

[neverlandclub]

My DH is the KING of the drive through the night. He is normally up a total of 40 hrs + in the beginning of each trip, as we hit a park when we first arrive. So by the time he finally hits the pillow, he hits it hard.

Here is how we work it. First, my DH seldoms lets me drive as he prefers to do it himself. We have occasionally stopped at rest areas or I have taken a turn when he has gotten tired. We leave the night before around 8 pm from Maryland. This is so we have the night for our 4 kids to sleep (in other words, not fight) and there is less traffic. My hubby uses the cruise control and we set it at the speed limit, there is after all, no hurry to get there as check in is in the afternoon. Also, my DH is always honest about when he is tired. He will stop and rest, no reason to try to push it and risk falling asleep. I am usually up with him, though I manage a few hours of sleep.

DH next tip is to get yourself the 16 oz Mountain Dews to drink. The caffeine content is the highest and it helps a lot. As do having something to snack on. We usually stop at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast and lots of coffee when the kids finally wake up. Usually in St Augestine or Daytona.
Now, if we are going to WDW first, we go to Typhoon Lagoon. Much easier to get a spot and DH can sleep in the shade, go on some slides, etc.. We eat lunch there. It is much easier to spend the day in a water park than at DTD shopping. That wears him out fast.
If we go to Universal first, we check in and leave our bags and head to one of the parks.

It can be difficult, but not as bad as driving with fighting, whiney kids during the day. There are pros and cons to any way you go. At night- kids sleep, no traffic, quiet- but you will be groggy. During the day- you can drive faster, but there is traffic and you will have to stop a lot for everyone to go to the bathroom or eat. Its all what you can handle. Hope this helps.

Melissa
NeverlandClub

 

[meganbear]

Hello fellow West Virginian! Where in WV do you live? We live near Summersville and we are leaving for WDW on Sat. as well~~Sat morning. We have decided to drive about ten hours on Sat. spend the night and then drive onto WDW on Sunday. We just can't take driving that far in one day and going without sleep---but everyone is different, I'd say just play it by ear and see how you are feeling. Good luck and I hope you have a great trip!

 

[sunking]

we also do the drive overnight straight thru everytime we go to the world from the philadelphia area...we usually leave about 11:00pm and arrive in the world about 3:00pm...it is about a 15-16hour drive (depending on traffic and how much i break the speed limit)...the ride down isn't so bad as long as you have something caffinated to drink and something to munch on...i bring the ipod and the gps and it gives me something to "play" with and hold my attention on the road...
believe it or not, i actually enjoy the drive down...
when we get there, i usually take a dip in the pool to wake up a bit and then i am ready for a few hours in the park...
have a great time!!!!
sunking

 

[dlbwright]

I drove down when I was a kid a few times, but never as a adult. As someone who needs her sleep I would not be able to do it. But as someone else said try and switch off driving. I would think you would need to get a some sleep.

Good Luck

 

[tinawv]

Hello d96j97. I am from Parkersburg, West Virginia, and we drove straight through this past December. It took us about 15-16 hours with a few stops. We arrived around 3:00 p.m. and stayed offsite the first night. We didn't go to sleep until around 11:00 p.m. that night, but we just took it easy around the hotel. The most important think is that you don't want to start out tired and stay tired. It could ruin your whole trip. I think you will be fine if you don't over due it. Just listen to your bodies. Usually you are so excited the first day that you can't sleep anyway.

Have a great time.

 

[paulh]

as we travel from the uk we get up uk time 5 am ( us - 5 hours)
shower breakfast ect get kids up get to airport 8 am 3 hours before flight takes of go round duty free then sit on the plane for 9 and 1/2 hours only fun is there a good movie on board (xmas was 13 hours as we did 2 stops) land in florida usealy sanford go through customs up to 1 hour pick up hire car and drive down to disney 45 mins to 1 hour depends on how many wrong turns i take check in at disney we alow up to 1 as you know that they dont rush at frount desk then get to room and while dw upacks me and kids explore the hotel ( keep them out of dw hair) then we have something to eat then bed the whole process takes up to about 23 to 25 hours and with the whole addrenilin rush no sleep unill you drop and as our body clocks are on uk time we are wide awake at 5 am the first morning chomping at the bit to attack the parks
Paulh

 

[tenaseewalker]

We've done it and with a 5 yr old. We leave Michigan at 10:00 AM on Monday morning and made it to all-Star Movie at 5:00 AM Tues. morning to Check-in. We unloaded the van and took showers and were off to the parks for the day. We got back to the resort at 11:00 PM ordered Pizza and when to sleep. Then next morning we were up at 7:00 to start again.. We do it like this everytime we go...
Gail

 

[d96j97]

Wow...we're really close. We're from the Fairmont area. We thought about the overnight stop but jointly decided to "stick it out". We will definately switch off drivers and try to get a snooze in. Our boys have very early games on that Sat. am and we hope that will tire us all out. My DH will drive first so hopefully he can fall asleep around 4-5pm and I will get the boys down around 8-9pm which is their normal bedtime. By the way...did I mention that the boys have NO idea we are going? This was a surprise trip for them. We're going to drag them out as the engine is running, put them in their seats, and take off.

Thank so much to everyone for all the encouragement!! We are also "need sleep" people so we'll have to do everything we can.

Here's to hoping we can do it!!!

 

[dizagain]

Hey! Made the trip from Dallas (19 hrs) last year with kids close to the ages of yours... We decided to go for a long first day and drove to Tallahassee. We got a good rest and drove the last 4-5 hrs into Orlando the next day. We got into our hotel early and swam. We then did go to DTD for dinner and a walk around, but NOT UNTIL 11 P.M.!!! We ate at Rainforest and spent plenty of time checking things out and were back by 9. Had a good night's sleep and began our week of fun...

Even though your kids might sleep in the car, it's not the same as a bed and I have found my kids don't sleep soundly at all. In my opinion, I would not try for a late night upon arrival - save it for the parks. You will enjoy DTD and don't need 4 or 5 hours there at all! have great time!

 

[meganbear]

d96j97

Yep, we are almost neigbors! I love the surprise you have for your boys! They are going to be SO excited! I'm going with DH and our DS age 9, also with my 72 year old Mom and my sister and her two girls (ages 5 and 8). But I didn't have the control you had---I told my DS as soon as we decided to go---I'm terrible at keeping secrets!


I think with switching off and getting some sleep you will be just fine! Hope you post a trip report when you get back! I'm going to try to!

 

[Micca]

Tonight when I'm having trouble falling asleep, I will think of all of you making those marathon drives:sleep: Maybe I will wake up at WDW

 

[bigbabyblues]

Good luck! Please, tho, if you get too tired stop and rest. We went to WDW on our honeymoon, intent on driving all the way through (from SE Ohio, across the river from Pt. Pleasant, WV), and we made it to NC, when DH was falling asleep; after he went off the road onto the berm once I made him pull over and let me drive, and I was almost as bad (can't sleep in the car for my life), so I drove us straight to a Red Roof Inn and we spent the night. Got up early and left around 5 am or so, but we didn't end up at WDW until about 2 in the afternoon.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide! I'm sure your kids will love it, imagine their surprise and excitement when they do find out!

Steph-- --waving from SE Ohio, not terribly far from you