For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[pilferk]

I am really starting to think moving this thread to the transportation board wasn't such a great idea. As is said many times over here there is no "pixie dust" on the transportation board. You guys like to just stick to the "facts".

This thread is about why we like to drive to Disney. That really includes "pixie dust" and not just "facts".

Absolutely. I agree it can be about more than just "facts". But on the flip side of the coin "why we like to drive" can certainly include the fact it saves us a few bucks, right? It can be BOTH.

In the original post, huskies90 acknowledged the "pixie dust" factor, that some people just enjoy/prefer the drive, but said he couldn't understand those who said they did it because of a cost savings.

I do it because of BOTH, but if I'm being 100% honest, the cost savings is likely the larger motivating factor for us. So I figured I'd chime in with exactly why my POV is what it is. I think it's both useful and on topic...and it might convince more people to TRY the drive so they can FIND the "pixie dust".

 

[loribell]

That's PRECISELY the route we take.

WITH little kids, frequent stops for potty breaks, an hour and 30 minute dinner stop, and leaving about 3 hours earlier than you plan to, it took us just under 22 hours.

With NO kids, infrequent stops for potty breaks, no meal stops, and leaving about 3 hours earlier than you are, we've done it in just under 20 hours.

I think 4 PM is CERTAINLY "doable".

But I don't think we'll do the "through the night" thing again, after this trip. THAT was tough on the body, and I'll be the first to admit that, around sun up, I was in rough shape. Once the half light was gone, I perked up (along with some Monster Energy drink), but it was TOUGH. And I had slept until about 2 hours prior to our leave time. You're going to do a full day of work before hand and then drive it? I don't envy you that one!



Just to pass along OUR experience (and our kids were young, so take it for what it's worth):

We banked on the kids sleeping over night. We made two critical mistakes: We didn't tell them about the trip until we picked them up from school...it was a complete surprise and we banked our whole "strategy" on them sleeping so that my wife could sleep a bit, and switch off to do some driving. Man, did we pay for that.

Apparently the adrenaline rush of telling a 5 year old and a 3 year old they're going to Disneyworld is capable of propelling them forward for at least 30 hours (well, to be fair, they slept about 2 hours a piece). I wish I could have bottled the stuff. We (DW and I) got REALLY frustrated...until we finally decided to just go with it and keep the DVD player running through the night. Kept them happy, but left my wife unable to catch any sleep...which meant I did the WHOLE drive all by my lonesome. Which was fine....but unexpected.

With older kids, likely not as much of a concern. Also, if they know the trip is coming...probably not as much of a concern, either. But I still wanted to throw it out there...maybe there are others that can benefit from the experience.

I remember you coming back and talking about that trip!

I like how you have laid out your logic. It just seemed to be turning in to an arguement against why you should not be doing it. It looks to me like you have factored everything in.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

You know...two sides of the same coin. And certainly "on topic", ya know?

If the more "cost focused" posts aren't your bag, skip 'em. I won't be offended, I promise.

that is what I did, skipped them! Made my time on here easier in fact, cause I spent less time reading.

 

[pilferk]

I remember you coming back and talking about that trip!

And we leave in 6 weeks...from today, actually...and I'll have more "road stories" to tell when i get back, I'm sure.

We're looking forward to it, that's for sure!

 

[huskies90]

It just seemed to be turning in to an arguement against why you should not be doing it.

In the original post, huskies90 said he couldn't understand those who said they did it because of a cost savings.

I agree, I started it (inadvertently)

Although, I would consider it a "discussion" more than an "argument" which is what we do on discussion boards. And it was a healthy well appreciated, discussion where we got to share experiences in a civil and friendly way.

A few posts back, I 'officially' put the accounting piece to bed and moved back to the pixie dust discussing my upcoming 2000+ mile drive which I am way excited about.

I think pilferk is just doing the same thing so, I think we everything is good, right?

 

[huskies90]

Just to pass along OUR experience (and our kids were young, so take it for what it's worth):

We banked on the kids sleeping over night. We made two critical mistakes: We didn't tell them about the trip until we picked them up from school...it was a complete surprise and we banked our whole "strategy" on them sleeping so that my wife could sleep a bit, and switch off to do some driving. Man, did we pay for that.

Apparently the adrenaline rush of telling a 5 year old and a 3 year old they're going to Disneyworld is capable of propelling them forward for at least 30 hours (well, to be fair, they slept about 2 hours a piece). I wish I could have bottled the stuff. We (DW and I) got REALLY frustrated...until we finally decided to just go with it and keep the DVD player running through the night. Kept them happy, but left my wife unable to catch any sleep...which meant I did the WHOLE drive all by my lonesome. Which was fine....but unexpected.

With older kids, likely not as much of a concern. Also, if they know the trip is coming...probably not as much of a concern, either. But I still wanted to throw it out there...maybe there are others that can benefit from the experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience. If you were at my house this AM (and every AM) watching us trying to pull our 12 year old daughter out of bed for school, you wouldn't worry about them sleeping in the car either. Even if it is for a fun family thing, we still can't get them up. My wife falls asleep when we are driving to the mall, so I am not worried about her getting sleep and yes, everyone knows about the trip already (like I could keep a secret that long!!)

No, I am most concerned about me since I'll have the graveyard shift through the night and into the daylight. That is where we'll switch drivers...I plan on having a case of Red Bull in the front seat with me....

 

[mookie]

No, I am most concerned about me since I'll have the graveyard shift through the night and into the daylight. That is where we'll switch drivers...I plan on having a case of Red Bull in the front seat with me....

That's one of my big worries on our trip....how many times the driver will need to make a "pit stop" from all the red bull and coffee!!!!

 

[loribell]

I agree, I started it (inadvertently)

Although, I would consider it a "discussion" more than an "argument" which is what we do on discussion boards. And it was a healthy well appreciated, discussion where we got to share experiences in a civil and friendly way.

A few posts back, I 'officially' put the accounting piece to bed and moved back to the pixie dust discussing my upcoming 2000+ mile drive which I am way excited about.

I think pilferk is just doing the same thing so, I think we everything is good, right?

Yes, everything is good. I was just afraid it was going to turn bad.

By the way, Red Bull is very bad for you! Bad, bad stuff.

As much of the driving that I did on oour trip I didn't even start to get tired until we were on the Florida turnpike already. I guess it was the excitement of getting there.

Good luck to you on your drive.

 

[twoeeyy]

A few weeks ago when I made the trip I used the 6 hour power shots . They worked great and I had NO crash at all !!

I did not have to pee like I would have if I was downing cans of Red Bull .

 

[loribell]

A few weeks ago when I made the trip I used the 6 hour power shots . They worked great and I had NO crash at all !!

I did not have to pee like I would have if I was downing cans of Red Bull .

And those are not as bad for you as the Red Bull.

 

[emmsmama]

What are power shots?

 

[twoeeyy]

And those are not as bad for you as the Red Bull.

I figured it did not really matter if they were good for you or not, they worked and I only used them for that drive, I do / did not plan on using them on a regular basis.

 

[twoeeyy]

What are power shots?

They are these tiny little bottles ( think shot glass size ) of this sorta gross cough syrup stuff. I just held my nose and swallowed the whole thing in one gulp then chased it with some other kind of drink.

You can get them at CVS, walgreens , gas stations etc... They are just huge doses of vitamins no caffeine, that is why there is no crash.

 

[LovePug]

They are these tiny little bottles ( think shot glass size ) of this sorta gross cough syrup stuff. I just held my nose and swallowed the whole thing in one gulp then chased it with some other kind of drink.

You can get them at CVS, walgreens , gas stations etc... They are just huge doses of vitamins no caffeine, that is why there is no crash.

Do you know if there's sugar in these? I'm thinking there probably is and that would rule them out for me .

 

[huskies90]

Don't want to get off topic here again, but I have been told before that Red Bull is bad for you and I am wondering why. I am a part time musician and I am often playing very late nights in clubs and then having to drive home. Sometimes it's over an hour drive at 3 or 4 am when I am very sleepy and it can be tough staying awake. My brother in law turned me on to the 5 Hour Energy power shots and told me they were all natural, zero sugar and not bad for you like Red Bull and other energy drinks:

http://www.5hourenergy.com/

I would take them after a show and it would keep me up for the drive home. However, recently I started drinking a Red Bull instead because I can get them at the bar and it seems to work better for keeping me up. So just curious why are they bad for me?

 

[pilferk]

By the way, Red Bull is very bad for you! Bad, bad stuff.

Heh...all things in "moderation".

I actually prefer the low cal edition of "Monster" Energy drink to any other "eye opener" (including mass quantities of coffee). It also seems to (and this is wholly anecdotal in nature) seems to incur less "pit stops" for me.

 

[loribell]

Well I guess as opposed to falling asleep while driving the redbull is definetly better but the 5 hours drinks would be the better thing to drink. Definetly do it in moderation though.

I will go find some of the research so you can see for yourselves why it is bad. Don't want to miss quote anything.

 

[MOmousefan]

The last trip in our car was in 2007. My two 20 something daughters and I drove straight through with no issues. However I would like to point out one aspect of my "strategy" to stay awake backfired. My son had graduated from high school on a Thursday and I helped sponsor Project Graduation, an activity in which we bused the graduates to a YMCA and "Locked" them in all night for a drug and alchohol free night of fun. We came home at 6:30 the following morning (Friday). We left for WDW on Saturday at 3:00PM. My plan was to not dring any Diet Pepsi (I'm addicted) to avoid any extra pit stops. My oldest daughter drove for fours in two two-hour stints.
We stopped in Valdosta,GA around 5:00AM at an IHOP and I had a big breakfast. By the time we were on the Florida Turnpike I was feeling the effects of no cafiene and the big breakfast. It was hard to stay awake, but I made it to Orlando.
My 22YO son and I are driving down to WDW on Nov 30 and again we will drive straight through. This time I will stay well hydrated and my son will drive the majority of the way. He loves to drive and I will spell him when he is tired.
I don't want to drink energy drinks so will stick with my Pepsi.

 

[loribell]

Here are a few things you can check out on the energy drinks.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1725925/red_bull_danger_to_your_health/

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8015/344084.html

http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/energydrinks.htm

 

[gk90]

My BIL warns everyone never to take Red Bull after his bad experience with it. He tried a can to help get him through a long drive--he took it at lunch and couldn't get to sleep at all that night, finally dropped off exhausted at 8 am, 20 hours after taking it. But the worst part of it was that it gave him the shakes and made his heart pound. It really put a damper on their trip. We'll be driving to WDW together in August and I'm sure he won't let any of us drivers take any Red Bull!