DIS Dads DDC XXIII - Where Everyone Knows Your Name! NORM!!!!!

[afwdwfan]

Has anyone ever driven overnight to WDW? Our family is getting to the point where the prospect of saving $1000 in travel costs by driving instead of flying to The World is pretty attractive. But I don't want to burn a whole day of our vacation to do it. For my 12-hr drive, I'd need to leave home at about 8 pm the night before in order to get there at 8 or 9 am. Is that just stupid to drive overnight like that? I don't want to get up at 4 or 5 on the first day of a vacation and load everyone in to the family truckster just to spend most of the day on the road and just get there in time for dinner. No- I don't have a trip in the works. This is for the imaginary trip that I'm always working on. And I'd rather not stop at a hotel half way through. With that expense (we'd need two rooms) and hassle, I'd almost rather bite the bullet and fly.

I've done it a few times... well to the Orlando area anyway, actually 2 of the trips weren't even to Disney, unfortunately. I've also done it a few different ways. We're about 14 hours away. One trip we left at around 8 pm and got to my aunt's house in Kissimmee the next day around lunch time. Another trip, I worked all day on a Friday, loaded up with some friends at around 6pm and drove all night to be at Universal Studios before the park opened that Saturday morning. I wouldn't recommend doing it that way. I was dragging by about noon.

Last year, DW and I took DS, and technically, we didn't go to Disney World right away, we had a couple of days planned at St. Pete Beach but we did that drive. We left on Thanksgiving, so I slipped home a little early and left DW and the kids at the family Thanksgiving gathering while I went home and slept for about 4.5 hours. I woke up at about 11:30 and we loaded up and hit the road just after midnight. This way actually worked very well. We didn't get there until about 3 pm, but thanks to just a few hours of sleep that evening, I never really felt tired and it never caught up with me that trip.

In about 28 days, we'll be doing this again but we have a larger group going, so there will be 2 vehicles. I plan to have our vehicle loaded up Thursday evening and head to bed early for a good night's rest. Friday I'll get home from work a little after 5 and head to the bedroom. I'll try to get about 4 - 5 hours of sleep and we'll try to hit the road by 10 and should get to Coronado Springs sometime between noon and 2 Saturday, depending how many times we have to stop.

Personally, I enjoy driving, so it doesn't bother me a bit. On all these trips, I've actually driven the whole way through. It always seems to feel like the trip goes faster when I'm driving, rather than riding, and I can really cover a lot of ground at night while DW and the kids are asleep. Less restroom stops and less whining. And the kids are quieter too.

Anyway, yes it can be done and isn't a big deal. I think the most important advice I can give someone who wants to try it is to definitely be well rested before heading out. If you can get a nap right before you leave, that will make a world of difference. Also, just try to make sure that first day is a little more low key and try to get to bed at an early hour. You should be fine.

I think you can do it, but I'd be worried about being exhausted the following day or two.

That's the biggest factor right there.

No, I was just being an idiot. You may have noticed I do that occasionally as well.

 

[cj9200]

Really well, thanks. They made me a pretty good offer, and I'm planning on accepting. Just have to bring myself to give notice here, which after 6 years is tougher than I thought it would be...

Can be tough to leave a place you are comfortable. Good luck at the new place.

If the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? If it leaks to the V.C., he could end up M.I.A. and then we'd all be put out on K.P.

I'll get right on that PDQ.

Has anyone ever driven overnight to WDW? Our family is getting to the point where the prospect of saving $1000 in travel costs by driving instead of flying to The World is pretty attractive. But I don't want to burn a whole day of our vacation to do it. For my 12-hr drive, I'd need to leave home at about 8 pm the night before in order to get there at 8 or 9 am. Is that just stupid to drive overnight like that? I don't want to get up at 4 or 5 on the first day of a vacation and load everyone in to the family truckster just to spend most of the day on the road and just get there in time for dinner. No- I don't have a trip in the works. This is for the imaginary trip that I'm always working on. And I'd rather not stop at a hotel half way through. With that expense (we'd need two rooms) and hassle, I'd almost rather bite the bullet and fly.

I almost always drive. But then again WDW is just 4 hours away. Since sometimes I can't sleep, I've gotten on the road at 1 or 2 am and hit the resort as the sun is coming up.

When I took the Pirate Princess to Pirate school, I did one long haul to get most of the driving over with. 22 hours from leaving Miami we were north of Baltimore and almost in NJ. When I do a long drive, I bring lots of caffeinated beverages and snacks. The kid goes out like a light when the car first moves so I have the I pod loaded with podcasts. When tired, I would pull off at a rest stop nap for a bit then get back on the road. Once we stopped, I was good to go after a couple hour nap. I like driving an all nighter because there is no traffic and I want to get it over with.

Here are my tips.
Nap if you can before trip.
Pack stuff that keeps you awake - cokes, candy, coffee (thermos) as gas stations can cost $.
Time it to miss traffic - before or after.
Get ADR Breakfast at or close to resort.
Put swimsuits in easily accessible bag if room not available.
No theme parks.

Good tips.

That sounds like a plan.

Did I mention the seats behind the plate? I can get 4 of them and if we plan it right could get together and see a game at the same time.

Let me in on that plan. I could possibly time a trip to visit the kid and make it to Boston. Jim, I might even let you buy me a beer.

 

[wasnotafan]

You guys sure were chatty today. Have a great trip, good luck with the new career move, prayers for those in need, and congratulations to those deserving.

November is a busy month with

multiple family birthdays ,

much for work and family

and overall...

.

 

[AirGoofy]

Family Movie Night = Pizza and Avengers.

 

[Venomhatch]

Family Movie Night = Pizza and Avengers.

Sounds perfect!!! I am in!

 

[declansdad]

Unfortunately, the show is pretty uneventful. We normally sit in a booth for 8 hours while all of our distributors from around the world come in and tell us what we need to do better. Half of them don't speak english so we just sit and nod.

The beer and parties are a lot of fun though. I'll remember you for next time.

Thanks, it was really the beer and parties I was thinking about.

 

[declansdad]

Family Movie Night = Pizza and Avengers.

Jeff Dunham and a beer on the go here.

 

[Venomhatch]

Jeff Dunham and a beer on the go here.

Look you made a rhyme!

 

[declansdad]

Look you made a rhyme!

Must be the beer.

 

[dvczerfs]

we are home!!!! the power came on today at 2pm.
i want to thank everyone for there thoughts, texts , prayers and offers to help us out.
the is still a hole in my roof but the roofer is coming sunday to fix it.
theres no way i could catch up on everything so i hope everyone is doing well.
donald (venomhatch) i did catch a pictures of your crash and i hope your doing better. ill have to try to catch up on eveything.
thanks again everyone!!!!!

 

[cj9200]

we are home!!!! the power came on today at 2pm.
i want to thank everyone for there thoughts, texts , prayers and offers to help us out.
the is still a hole in my roof but the roofer is coming sunday to fix it.
theres no way i could catch up on everything so i hope everyone is doing well.
donald (venomhatch) i did catch a pictures of your crash and i hope your doing better. ill have to try to catch up on eveything.
thanks again everyone!!!!!

Also posted on the Pub, good news Dave.

 

[Venomhatch]

we are home!!!! the power came on today at 2pm.
i want to thank everyone for there thoughts, texts , prayers and offers to help us out.
the is still a hole in my roof but the roofer is coming sunday to fix it.
theres no way i could catch up on everything so i hope everyone is doing well.
donald (venomhatch) i did catch a pictures of your crash and i hope your doing better. ill have to try to catch up on eveything.
thanks again everyone!!!!!

Good to hear!!!

 

[declansdad]

we are home!!!! the power came on today at 2pm.
i want to thank everyone for there thoughts, texts , prayers and offers to help us out.
the is still a hole in my roof but the roofer is coming sunday to fix it.
theres no way i could catch up on everything so i hope everyone is doing well.
donald (venomhatch) i did catch a pictures of your crash and i hope your doing better. ill have to try to catch up on eveything.
thanks again everyone!!!!!

Glad you made it home Dave, good luck with the roof.

 

[mm1971]

I am available to be an overpaid assistant at your work as well.



Happy to help. Bring your earphones. Learned that during one trip - don't want to wake up the monsters, err um, children. Actually, we started traveling that way as my oldest was car sick, and her sleeping in the cooler car was nice.



Poor CJ. Back to slumming it.



Have a nice sports weekend.



Hope this one works more smoothly than the last time, or perhaps, you need to start traveling by boat.



You don't throw them at the cars. You save them for that recycling fee to buy more beer.



DW talked about reading those. Are they any good?



Glad you made it thru. Good luck.

It would be a long commute to MA, but I'll let you now when we are hiring.

The Kingdom Keepers books are pretty entertaining. The fun part is that the settings are all over the Disney parks and even the cruise ships. I read them with the kids so we could discuss them and I could answer any questions. I enjoyed them. Definitely fun for the kiddo's when they point out, "i know right where that is". I think my DS could be a tour guide at this point.

 

[AirGoofy]

Sounds perfect!!! I am in!

Saved you some pizza.

we are home!!!! the power came on today at 2pm.
i want to thank everyone for there thoughts, texts , prayers and offers to help us out.
the is still a hole in my roof but the roofer is coming sunday to fix it.
theres no way i could catch up on everything so i hope everyone is doing well.
donald (venomhatch) i did catch a pictures of your crash and i hope your doing better. ill have to try to catch up on eveything.
thanks again everyone!!!!!

Glad to hear from you again and that you are safe.

 

[Venomhatch]

It would be a long commute to MA, but I'll let you now when we are hiring.

The Kingdom Keepers books are pretty entertaining. The fun part is that the settings are all over the Disney parks and even the cruise ships. I read them with the kids so we could discuss them and I could answer any questions. I enjoyed them. Definitely fun for the kiddo's when they point out, "i know right where that is". I think my DS could be a tour guide at this point.

Are lil one reads them too!

 

[Venomhatch]

Saved you some pizza.

Cool beans I am on the way!

 

[AirGoofy]

Cool beans I am on the way!

Don't drive the car. Take the spaceship.

 

[mm1971]

Can be tough to leave a place you are comfortable. Good luck at the new place.



I'll get right on that PDQ.



I almost always drive. But then again WDW is just 4 hours away. Since sometimes I can't sleep, I've gotten on the road at 1 or 2 am and hit the resort as the sun is coming up.

When I took the Pirate Princess to Pirate school, I did one long haul to get most of the driving over with. 22 hours from leaving Miami we were north of Baltimore and almost in NJ. When I do a long drive, I bring lots of caffeinated beverages and snacks. The kid goes out like a light when the car first moves so I have the I pod loaded with podcasts. When tired, I would pull off at a rest stop nap for a bit then get back on the road. Once we stopped, I was good to go after a couple hour nap. I like driving an all nighter because there is no traffic and I want to get it over with.



Good tips.



Let me in on that plan. I could possibly time a trip to visit the kid and make it to Boston. Jim, I might even let you buy me a beer.

On the V.I.P. list. It's the least I can do for my new nemie. Trying to plan a DW golf trip with DS. If the plans come together maybe we could meet then as well.

 

[Venomhatch]

Don't drive the car. Take the spaceship.

I cant drive anyways at the moment. Not supposed to. But Ill have my pilot fuel up the jet and be there in 40 mins flight time. lol