East Coaster that have been to DL- time difference

[fhtpdw20]

For those East coasters who have been to DL, how did the time change effect you? I am normally a lark up around 3am which translates to Midnight DL time and go to bed around 8:30 or 9 which means 6pm west coast. I don't do naps unless I am sick. Any suggestions??

 

[Mattsmommy]

I get up around the same time as you and I found it best to leave on an early flight and nap on the plane and stay up as late as I can once I arrive to Los Angeles. Then on the way back I take a red eye flight and sleep most of the way back home.

One time we left NYC on a late flight and it took a few days for me to adjust to the time difference once we were there. By the time we finally got checked in, and ordered room service for dinner it was around the time I would be getting up and ready for work.

 

[KAYELIZ]

The time change works to our advantage because we have no problem getting ready, having a leisurely breakfast and getting to the parks when they open which would be mid-morning back home. We go on the rides and collect fast passes all morning and then go back to the hotel for a rest in the early afternoon when it starts to get crowded and then go back late in the afternoon and use the fast passes to avoid the long lines at night.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I get up around the same time as you and I found it best to leave on an early flight and nap on the plane and stay up as late as I can once I arrive to Los Angeles. Then on the way back I take a red eye flight and sleep most of the way back home.

I agree with this. I went to Disneyland from NYC in April 2008 and did the same thing. I had the first flight out of the day; I had a direct flight and got to the resort around lunchtime. I was sluggish by the end of the day, but tried to stay up until a normal bedtime. Mornings were easier, which is great because the parks are not as crowded at rope drop.

My problem came on the return trip home. I also had a red eye flight. I slept okay on the flight, but was quite tired the whole day that I returned home. Again, I tried to stay up until a normal bedtime and wake the next day at a normal time.

I did run into a problem on a trip from Seattle to NYC. Again, on the way there I had the first flight out and the time on the west coast was not a problem. On the way back, I again had a direct red eye flight. However, this flight encountered several thunderstorms and I barely slept at all with all the turbulence. When I got back to NYC, I was so tired but I didn't want to get off schedule with sleeping. I went to take a two hour nap from about 7-9am. Trouble was, I slept through the alarm and slept the ENTIRE DAY. Instead of being 3 hours off schedule, I managed to get myself 12 hours off schedule! Fortunately it was summer and I'm a teacher, so I had some time to correct it. Just something to think about...

 

[dalstitch45]

fhtpdw20, I have a schedule similar to yours. I just came back from DL this past weekend. I agree with the PP posters about taking the earlier flights going out. The direct flights are getting more and more expensive (at least out of PHL). I like SW and AT, and direct flights to California are pretty much non-existent on these two (2) airlines.

Going out I was fine, and got there early enough to do quite a bit before getting tired out. On the way back with the three (3) hour time difference, I really felt it the next day. I was so tired the next day after I returned home, I slept quite a bit of the day away. I think next time I will leave on an early morning flight instead of mid afternoon.