Driving Through the Night Insight 11hr 800ish miles. LA to FL

[Nazran]

We are family of 5. Wife and I are 40 and 41. Kids DS=11, DS=7, DD=3 at time of travel.

We live in Dallas Ft Worth area. Each year we go to my in-laws for the Thanksgiving holiday. They live about an hour north of Baton Rouge LA. This year, rather than drive the 6 hours back to DFW area, we will surprise the kids and tell them we are driving to Disney World for a week. I am looking at at 11h 800ish mile trip to Disney World.

My plan is to leave 9p from Louisiana and drive through the night to Disney World. Arriving anywhere from 9a-12p depending on stops, breakfast, gas, etc. Obviously we want kids to sleep a good chunk of the way.

We have a 2013 Toyota Sienna with roof mount luggage system. We should be comfortable in the van as it is new and large an most of the luggage will be on the roof. DVD player, Tablet, Wifi.

I would like to get some feedback for similar distanced drives and any insight I may not have thought about. I plan on doing all the driving because DW can be a princess/grouch with little sleep. As a result my plan is to rest as much as I can Friday after Thanksgiving with a large nap if possible. Then mainlining 5 hour energy and coffee before we leave. Driving only to stop for Gas until breakfast somewhere in Florida.

 

[DVClurkerRob]

I have made similar journeys myself. We drove from Lake Charles, LA straight through when we lived there. We now live 12.5 hours away in Kentucky. We make the journey straight through. I prefer traveling this way because 1) the traffic tends to be very light, 2) the kids travel well, seeing as they are asleep, and 3) we stop a minimal number of times. The last trip down, I only stopped for gas! Not one single kid-induced potty break!

My only caution to you (beyond the safety lectures board members will undoubtedly give you), is to manage your expectations for the first day. I generally hit a huge brick wall after lunch. If possible, I go back to catch a nap. However, there is no telling if a room is available or not before hand. Just manage your expectations and you will be fine.

 

[supergoofy]

Done numerous long drives like this and my suggestions are as follow

1) Fuel before you hit the road. Starting with a full tank gets you on the road for some ways and kids will be sleeping.

2) I had a Caravan and there was a space between captains seats up front. Perfect place for snacks.

3) Practice this at home before you try it on the road. For example wake up and go to work like normal and then come home and do what ever needs to be done and then say 9pm turn on the tv and sit and watch it and see how long you last. This is pretty much what you will be doing. May even try working all day and taking a nap for 4-5 hours and see how that works.

4) Lastly the hardest part will to be in a good mood come Florida. If you drive for 11 hours and hit the World at noon and do a park and close that park at 10 and then go to hotel you are looking at a 22 hour day which is not for everybody.

 

[sam_gordon]

I've got to believe the roof mounted luggage will affect wind resistance and therefore gas mileage. That's not a reason to not do it, but just something to keep in mind.

I like supergoofy's idea of trying out staying up all night. Personally, I could probably go until 1, maybe 2 in the morning, then I'd be about done. The ride down is a lot easier (to me) than the ride home.

I have found driving goes quicker for me when I'm listening to podcasts as opposed to music.

 

[froggygal1301]

We do a similar drive from just north of New Orleans. Could your DW drive at all to give you a break? Even just a couple hours might make the next day more tolerable for you. My DH is much better than me with distance driving and does most of the trip other than a couple hour break or maybe two where I drive. We love making the trip at night, certainly easier for all the reasons you mentioned.

As a PP mentioned, DH does well with podcasts or books as opposed to just music. Good luck!

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'll third podcasts. You have someone talking to you rather than singing to you which may lull you to sleep.

A plug for the DIS Unplugged. Don't listen to the November episodes when they first come out. Download them onto your smart phone. Four weeks worth of DIS Unplugged will get you eight hours of Disney tips (along with Pete's rants). And that will get you over almost to Orlando.