Farthest you would drive for a spontaneuous weekend trip

[EagleFlyer]

My family of 4 spent a week at Disney in January. We had planned on going back again in another two years. But it's been a rough summer for my wife. She became pregnant in June which led to three months of misery for her. She has very bad "morning sickness" (a terrible name since it's really all day) when she's pregnant and has been on several medications all summer that sap her energy. We took a week long road trip last month that had been planned prior to the pregnancy and she basically spent half the time lying on city benches or beds. And then to make matters worse last week she had a miscarriage and has been having a hard time with things. No baby, wasted time being sick over the summer, difficult doctor's office issues, etc.

She loves Disney World so I was looking in to the possibility of going for a quick weekend trip over Labor Day weekend to help cheer her up. We live about 8-9 hours away by car. We could leave after school on friday, get in late friday night, spend saturday and sunday in the parks (EP and MK, likely), and then head home on monday. The total park tickets/hotel (off site) costs would be about $1100 plus food and gas.

Setting aside FP+ availability issues and knowing that we wouldn't get to see everything, would you drive 8+ hours each way for two days in the parks?

 

[Alesia]

To answer your actual question: Nope. Not a chance. 5 hours is my limit.

I know your heart's in the right place, but she just had a miscarriage last week - having you try to "cheer her up" is probably the last thing she wants or needs.

 

[EagleFlyer]

I know your heart's in the right place, but she just had a miscarriage last week - having you try to "cheer her up" is probably the last thing she wants or needs.

Good point, you might be right about that.

 

[laceyinwonderland]

We live in SC and its an 8 hour drive! We actually went for labor day last year, just for the long weekend, and had the best time. I say do it!!! It would be really special for your wife I bet!! Now, I heard you say leave after school on Friday? Is this b/c ya'll are teachers, or have other school age kids? My kids can leave school at 10:30am and still get credit for the day. Maybe yall could do that and get a few extra hours friday night?

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

I once drove from Bowling Green, KY to Panama City, Fl after an 11:45 class on Friday and Drove back on Sunday afternoon. That was 8.5 hours. Granted I was a bit younger then. That said, if it's just the two of you I would do it because it's always something that cheers me up.

 

[tlmadden73]

Sorry for your loss and I like your thinking. I'd go for it ..

My wife and I took a fairly last minute trip last fall for the same reason (with my 2-year old). A group of friends were going and we weren't planning on going because we would still be pregnant in the fall.
(My wife's doctor suggesting getting away to help get over the loss, but you have to make sure your wife is physically able to make the trip if the miscarriage was recently)

But, unless you can take an extra day off and leave early in the morning on Friday it could be too tiring.

We did a short 2 park day trip because I too live only 9 hours away.
BUT .. I made trips take 6 days to make it less stressful:
Two 1/2 days of travel (leave at noon on first day, arrive to the resort midday on the 2nd day and spend the afternoon at DTD).
Two Park days
One day off to rest (pool)
One travel day (full) on way back.

The only other reason I do that short of a trip as well because I have 10-day no expiration tickets and my son was free. Both kept the cost down.

The trip was such a success we are doing it again in ONE WEEK!


It may be rough going on a holiday weekend though. Could be really busy.

 

[tobikaye]

Usually 6-8 is my normal limit for a weekend, but I have been known to do a round trip in 1 day that was 10 hours so I could push that depending on the trip. Most of my weekend trips were leave Friday afternoon return Sunday night. For a long weekend, I would easily consider a 10 hour trip each way.

With only a 8-9 hour trip, with 2 full days of vacation, I would do the trip easily.

 

[Accident]

To answer your question, if there's enough time at where i'm headed and it's safe to be up and driving, I'm fine with any distance but I love to drive and see the country

As PP mentioned, I think your destination is wrong. I wouldn't surprise any trip in this situation. Just be there for her, maybe ask if a last second getaway would be help and let her pick where your going if she does.. Disney with families is the last place I would think of in this situation.

 

[scrapquitler]

My family of 4 spent a week at Disney in January. We had planned on going back again in another two years. But it's been a rough summer for my wife. She became pregnant in June which led to three months of misery for her. She has very bad "morning sickness" (a terrible name since it's really all day) when she's pregnant and has been on several medications all summer that sap her energy. We took a week long road trip last month that had been planned prior to the pregnancy and she basically spent half the time lying on city benches or beds. And then to make matters worse last week she had a miscarriage and has been having a hard time with things. No baby, wasted time being sick over the summer, difficult doctor's office issues, etc.

She loves Disney World so I was looking in to the possibility of going for a quick weekend trip over Labor Day weekend to help cheer her up. We live about 8-9 hours away by car. We could leave after school on friday, get in late friday night, spend saturday and sunday in the parks (EP and MK, likely), and then head home on monday. The total park tickets/hotel (off site) costs would be about $1100 plus food and gas.

Setting aside FP+ availability issues and knowing that we wouldn't get to see everything, would you drive 8+ hours each way for two days in the parks?

Yes, we would. But we've done impromptu trips to Nascar races where we had to drive 10-12 hours for the weekend many, many times. I'm sorry for your loss, and I think a quick, fun trip might be a great thing for both of you.

And as for the destination being wrong, I disagree, but I think that's a very individual thing. We had a Disney trip planned for Christmas week (with our 5 year old) one year, and I was pregnant, but had a miscarriage the first week of December and still went on the trip. For me, the location didn't matter, being on the trip was a good thing, and the fact that it was a family place didn't register...I was sad no matter what.

 

[AquaDame]

5 hours is our max too, from actual weekend trips we've done before. That said, if I was in your situation I would not hesitate to ask my husband (I'm the wife, lol) if it would make him feel even a little better. If he said yes, I would start packing!

 

[Elleshoodat]

I'm sorry for your loss. When I had a miscarriage, I didn't feel right doing anything "fun" for the first few weeks; I felt like I should be in mourning.

Your idea is a sweet one, but consider asking your wife what SHE thinks and feels.

 

[EagleFlyer]

5 hours is our max too, from actual weekend trips we've done before. That said, if I was in your situation I would not hesitate to ask my husband (I'm the wife, lol) if it would make him feel even a little better. If he said yes, I would start packing!

Thanks for all the feedback. I figured it would be across the board, both positive and negative. I don't think the location and having lots of families around would bother her. But this is a new situation so we're still discovering how we're reacting.

One key point that you brought up that I didn't mention in my original post, I wouldn't surprise her with the trip. I'd make sure she was ok with it first. Maybe surprise the kids, but my wife keeps an eye on the finances so I doubt I could sneak this past her even if I wanted to.

 

[HappyHaunts999]

Firstly,I am very sorry for your loss. I have been having a bad year medically and understand all the stress. Early this year my daughter won tickets to the 24 event at WDW. She asked if I wanted to go and left the decision to me. We left 12 hours later and drove straight from NY to Disney. It was very tiring but had a wonderful time with great memories. We only stayed 2 nights and drove back to NY. I am glad I was able to go. Ask your wife if she would like to go. If she says yes have a great time and go at her pace. If she says no then maybe try giving her a home vacation with no cooking, cleaning and some of her favorite thing.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

My family of 4 spent a week at Disney in January. We had planned on going back again in another two years. But it's been a rough summer for my wife. She became pregnant in June which led to three months of misery for her. She has very bad "morning sickness" (a terrible name since it's really all day) when she's pregnant and has been on several medications all summer that sap her energy. We took a week long road trip last month that had been planned prior to the pregnancy and she basically spent half the time lying on city benches or beds. And then to make matters worse last week she had a miscarriage and has been having a hard time with things. No baby, wasted time being sick over the summer, difficult doctor's office issues, etc.

She loves Disney World so I was looking in to the possibility of going for a quick weekend trip over Labor Day weekend to help cheer her up. We live about 8-9 hours away by car. We could leave after school on friday, get in late friday night, spend saturday and sunday in the parks (EP and MK, likely), and then head home on monday. The total park tickets/hotel (off site) costs would be about $1100 plus food and gas.

Setting aside FP+ availability issues and knowing that we wouldn't get to see everything, would you drive 8+ hours each way for two days in the parks?

I can see going 8 hours. We used to do that to go to Disneyland all the time when I was a kid. As long as the high per day price for 2 day tickets doesn't bother you, then fine.

 

[bc7ate9]

I would drive that far for a weekend trip. I'd probably make sure your wife is up to it first, though.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Well it depends on how spontaneous or if you mean the length of the trip. I have driven 14 hrs each way for a less than 3 weeks planned 'surprise' family Disney Cruise and 1 Disney hopping blitz day. The traffic, construction, weather, car trouble and drive in general were terrible both ways! But those 4 days were some of the best days our family has ever had!

I also drove 8 hrs each way for a 2.5 long day to meet up with my MI friends I hadn't seen in 6 yrs. We played legendary foozball, ate nachos, played cards, and then had one AWESOME epic engagement and France dinner day at EP and then a split AK and HS/ La Nouba/DTD day/night the next day. That morning, we all packed up and drove home. TOTALLY WORTH it for 2.5 days!

I find sometimes shorter trips more often are more fun, less dramatic (as in, this is our only shot, all this time off from work!), less family drama, and just right. Plus you don't have to board the dogs or pay a sitter for so long! (one great advantage to living here. My four legged babies are waiting for me when I come back from HS...)

 

[MischaOz]

Yep, I would absolutely drive that far for a weekend trip! Farthest I've done for a weekend is Milwaukee to Mount Rushmore, which I believe was about a 12-hour drive.

I think your idea of a vacation is a good one, as long as your wife is on board. She doesn't have to necessarily be excited about it, just willing to try. Not your exact situation, but when I was dealing with infertility I became very despondent. My husband and I took an amazing trip to Italy and I cannot tell you how uplifting it was for me. I can't say for sure if it was related, but we conceived the month following that vacation (after nearly 2 years of trying). Point being that a change of scenery can be very healing.

If you did not have other children, I would be concerned that WDW may be a bad choice of location. When I was dealing with infertility at times it was VERY difficult being around other people with children. But I understand from your post that you do have other children, so I think in that circumstance your wife may be able to focus on the joy that the trip would bring to your other children. Good luck in making your decision...

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

Hi! OK please let me be the one naysayers here... I, too, love WDW! BUT wild horses couldn't get me to drive 8 hours plus and spend $1100.00 for only 2 full days of pleasure... There has to be somewhere a lot closer that you could find to do a weekend trip with your family, or even hire a sitter for an evening and take your wife out. OR even better, pay to have her go to a day spa and set up a cleaning service to do some fall housecleaning while she's being pampered! Only you know your wife. I am truly sorry for your loss AND I think it's admirable you want to do something lovely for her! Please let us know how it turns out! GBY

 

[GaryDis]

We make a trip from Boston to the Delaware/MD shore every year. It's about a 9 hour trip, though part of it is on the ferry, making it only about 7 hours driving. For us, it's 2 days dancing, then at least one day at the in-laws (more now, as they need more time).

If I were dealing with that sort of drive for WDW, I wouldn't hesitate at all for three days at the park, but two days is just too draining for me. You'd be at one of the parks the day after a long drive, and then taking another long drive after two days with no break at the parks. There's no recovery time built in. I might do it under special circumstances, but it wouldn't be a simple decision, and I wouldn't count on full park days for either day.

I doubt any of us could know better than you whether or not this is the right thing for you, your wife, and your family. I'm sorry for your loss, and all the stress, and I'm sure you'll do something that helps regain your collective joy.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

I'm sorry for your loss.

As you said, you would ask her first, and I say go for it. Doesn't hurt to ask. People react different ways, and I think it is very thoughtful of you to think about a trip to a place she enjoys. She will let you know if she wants to go or not.

And if she wants to go, I don't think that drive is too far for a long weekend. If she's onboard, it's sometimes nice to have a tiny bit of a distraction during difficult times.