Driving through the night

[tardin1964]

Tinkerbelle739


We are from Middlesex County (Old Bridge). We are going the first week if November (Jersey Week).

I CAN'T WAIT

 

[Doodlebug939]

Here is my take. I am a military wife who has had too many road trips in my ten years of marriage. My husband and I have the truck packed and gased up the night before with a change of clothes laid out for the kids already in the truck. We get up at 2:30 after going to bed at 9 pm. So we have 5 1/2 hours sleep. We load the kids up in their pjs and hit the road.

Usually the kids sleep until about 8 and we stop for breakfast. So we have 5 hours of driving while the kids are sleeping.

But we make sure to stop everyday regardless of the trip at 3 pm. I think it is important that the kids stretch and by that time I am so tired of just sitting.

I also agree with the DVD player. Our kids know that it doesnt come on before breakfast.

I enjoy driving because it builds up the anticipation of the whole trip.

 

[Deafmedic]

Personally, we leave at 3 am and reach the Florida state line about 9 am. From there it's exactly 200 miles to the entrance of WDW at Downtown Disney. We spend that first day staying at one of the DTD hotels and exploring DTD before getting up at 8 am and going intothe resort to check in. Usually refreshed by then.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

We have found that the drive to WDW is about 12 hours driving time for us. For my daughter, this turns out to be a "three-movie trip." We thought about driving through the night last trip, or trying to book at room about halfway along the route and split the trip up. That didn't work out - I didn't get home from work until around 7 that friday night, and was really too tired and keyed up after a long week at work to even want to try make the trip that night. Besides, trying to find a room at the last minute meant that all the rooms were more than we really wanted to spend.

Strangely enough, this all worked out for the best. We got up and out by 5 am the next morning, and with good driving were in our room, checked-in, unpacked, and had supper by nine o'clock local time that night.

Some tips that have helped us :

1. The tv/vcr, of course.
2. Take rest stops often.
3. For us - have a gps ! It's not that we need it for the route, we
know that by heart. My wife found this it was much easier for
her to drive a longer stretch if she knows how far it is to the
next major stop/turn/city. In addition, I plot out where the
highway construction may be, so as to possibly avoid it.
4. The cooler.
5. A set of toiletries just for trips, for all of us.
6. Before packing, we cover the seat and floor with an old
blanket. This makes it a snap to clean up any messes.
7. A box with medicines - headache, motion sickness, etc.

I hope this helps.

 

[disneyorbust]

We ended up driving straight through from MA this past June. We left at 6PM and stopped around 9PM for wash up and bathroom breaks and then the kids (11, 14) slipped in their sleeping bags and went to sleep. The 14 yr old woke up just entering S. Carolina the next morning and thought that was great! I had make ressies in Savannah to stop and check out the city and stay overnight, but DH said - only 5 more hours to WDW what do you want to do...of course everyone wanted to keep going. DH drove from 6-4 and I drove from 4-9. We arrived around 5PM and just hung out and spent the day at FW the next day. We weren't exhasted at all. It's a tough drive so keep your options open. I could cancel the hotel up until 6 PM that night, so I liked knowing I could stop if needed. Driving at night is much less stressful for everyone. We will do it again next June.

 

[crazelion]

I think you should leave around 6:00a.m. and drive through the day. Then stop for the night and finish up the drive. If not use to driving a night.

I tried driving though the night from WDW and it was rough. There was hardly any gas stations open at all. The rest stops for poorly light.

Do yourself a favor drive through the day.

 

[tardin1964]

Not that this matters much, however, I drive 130 miles everyday round trip to work. I do a lot of driving. I live in NJ and drive to Long Island, NY 5 days a week.

Now, I know this doesn't compare with driving through the night. But I do think I have a lot more experience driving then most folks. Also, I will be taking frequent breaks and my wife will take over every now and then for a few hours.

My main concern is getting gas in the middle of the night. But I think if I fill up a little south of the D.C. area where there are 24 hr. gas stations I should be ok until the next morning.

I'm going to give it a shot.

 

[wdisneelvr]

When traveling I95 (or any other highway) day or night please remember to be careful at rest stops. Always go in with your children, never send them in by themselves. And check under all stalls before entering. You can never be too careful, especially very late into the night of who might be lurking around.

 

[sandbar]

Several years ago we drove all night from Ohio to WDW. I thought the kids would sleep (12yrs &16 yrs). Was I wrong! They were bug-eyed until late (or should I say early the next morning!) I was exhausted for a good day after that but on a positive note, it was good to get the driving part of the trip over with sooner.

Staying awake wasn't too much of a problem with my DH and I (we were excited too!) I used a portable CD player with headphones when the rest of the family finally did get to sleep so I could listen to some lively music to keep me going and it didn't bother them. When you do get sleepy, please don't push yourself. Take plenty of rest stop breaks and I agree with "Don't forget the Tylenol"!