getting sick when driving long distance

[sven1277]

We have started driving to WDW from CT. Its my wife and I plus our three girls. We have a Yukon XL, so its rather spacious. The nonstop trip is around 22 hours with several quick stops, maybe 1 actual sit down meal break. Driving allows us to go more frequently compared to paying for plane tickets. Plus, it gives us a lot more flexibility while down there. We typically stay 2wks per visit. My wife tends to get sick with the long car ride and also has a hard time sleeping in the front seat overnight while I drive. She would prefer stopping half way and getting a room for the night. When we go, I want to get there, I would rather be exhausted at AKL than in sleep in a cheap hotel on the way. What are some methods that you have found to help cope with the travel? I think maybe trying motion sickness pills and a sleep aid could help. Thanks for your input.

 

[Missy13d69]

Try all natural motion sickness pills that are made from ginger. I used to get sick after even just a 30 minute drive, but I started taking ginger pills and they are amazing. I've had no problems since.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly? I think you should stop once on the way down, if that is what it takes for your wife to travel without being sick. I get car sick too, and it is no fun! And it is not like once the car stops you are immediately fine, it takes a while to feel right again.

Also, at least for me, if I can see out the window, it helps. That obviously wouldn't work traveling at night.

I think a compromise in order. Get ginger pills and have her give them a shot. I wouldn't use any sleep aid because then your wife will just be groggy and out of it for the first day in WDW. And then stop either on the way down (ideal) or on the way home. A car ride shouldn't be torture for any one person, and being sick in the car is pretty close to torture.

Or how about she flies down and meets you?

I want to add that I'm sure you love your wife. However, I don't think trying to "fix" this for her is going to work. I only wish it were so easy to overcome being car sick!

 

[Aunt Bee]

Dramamine will make her sleepy and if she doesn't need to drive or watch after little ones it could be the answer. It also relieve motion sickness.

Dramamine also comes in the 'non drowsy' version that calms and relaxes but doesn't knock you out. I always use Dramamine for long airplane trips when I want to wake up 'there'.

 

[bearloch]

But you can not take draminine if you have high blood pressure!!

I used the motion sickess wrist bands they take the edge off but not 100 percent! i also drive that is the only 100 percent cure for me i would say budget in a hotel and if that can't happen then u may have to fly or at least let her fly! I have ad the motion sickness where it can last up to a day after your done driving so u would still lose a day!! or get cheap flights for all!!

 

[RMulieri]

Honestly? I think you should stop once on the way down, if that is what it takes for your wife to travel without being sick. I get car sick too, and it is no fun! And it is not like once the car stops you are immediately fine, it takes a while to feel right again.

Also, at least for me, if I can see out the window, it helps. That obviously wouldn't work traveling at night.

I think a compromise in order. Get ginger pills and have her give them a shot. I wouldn't use any sleep aid because then your wife will just be groggy and out of it for the first day in WDW. And then stop either on the way down (ideal) or on the way home. A car ride shouldn't be torture for any one person, and being sick in the car is pretty close to torture.

Or how about she flies down and meets you?

I want to add that I'm sure you love your wife. However, I don't think trying to "fix" this for her is going to work. I only wish it were so easy to overcome being car sick!

AGree..

 

[nessz79]

Personally, I just can't sleep in a car overnight. I can nap, but I can't get into a decent night's sleep at night and I get very, very cranky by around 1 AM.

You could try dramamine...it might make her sleepy enough that she can sleep well.

But personally...I would just stop halfway. 22 hours is a very long way!

My DH used to be the type that wanted to go, go, go until he got there. We now break up an 18 hour drive to Washington D.C. (that we take every 2-3 years) into 3 days. It wound up being heaven. We drive for a while and then stop somewhere and take in the sights followed by a good night's sleep at a hotel.

Food for thought.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Be respectful of your wife's need and stop over night. You can cut out the sit down meal and try to go about 12 hours the first day. Get up early and you may can be at WDW by mid afternoon.

 

[Julylady]

Your post reminds me so much of my Dad. Once he got behind the wheel he wouldn't stop come hell or high water. My Mom and us kids were miserable and it look us half the vacation to recover. As an adult I HATE driving vacations that are more than a couple of hours away. I loved my Dad but not the way he "vacationed." please do you wife a favor and stay in a cheap motel along the highway. Maybe you can compromise and only stop for 8 hours or so.

 

[sven1277]

Boy, you ladies aren't helping my cause. I definitely understand the valid point for stopping. I think its nice for the kids to wake up in the morning and find out we are just about in Florida. We just returned from our second disney road trip last week. We are going back in October (yeah, we're. Kind of nutty over Disney) . I think the plan is to try some medicinal aides on the trip down. If that doesn't work, then I will concede to stopping overnight. We always stay at a Disney resort. For me, that is as big a part of the experience as the parks. It is so nice to walk in and hear "Welcome home ". I get excited about the arrival and want it as soon as possible.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

be glad i am not your wife, you would be stopping and cleaning up car about every hour that i am not driving. none of the aids help me, only driving. i have to have the break at night, so we do not have a chioce. and it is not a once and done problem.

 

[bumbershoot]

Your post reminds me so much of my Dad. Once he got behind the wheel he wouldn't stop come hell or high water. My Mom and us kids were miserable and it look us half the vacation to recover. As an adult I HATE driving vacations that are more than a couple of hours away. I loved my Dad but not the way he "vacationed." please do you wife a favor and stay in a cheap motel along the highway. Maybe you can compromise and only stop for 8 hours or so.

OP, read this post over and over. You are making your wife unhappy. YOU might be happy to be exhausted and at WDW, but she does not appear to be made happy by that. Don't be "that" dad and husband.


"The nonstop trip is around 22 hours with several quick stops, maybe 1 actual sit down meal break."

This sounds miserable. When I was 18 I would do that. My parents were horrified. They were scared for me the whole time. That's despite the fact that THEY would drive that much when they were younger.

As we get older, we realize how dangerous our youthful behavior was. Why not realize it now? 22 hours of driving nearly straight through is asking the universe to get you into an accident. When you were 18 and on your own (if you were...my parents were already married by then, so if you're the same, take the age down, LOL) it was one thing. But there are a few other people in the car now!

Find neat hotels along the way. Be sure to pick ones with pools! Hotels with pools, even the most basic Motel 6, were always so much fun for me and my brother. Make it part of the trip, make it fun, and stop making your wife ill.

 

[ready2vacation]

While I understand the desire to get there quick by steamrolling down the highway and taking only necessary/quick breaks (I bet you eat, gas, potty all in one ), I would say at least compromise for the sake/sanity/safety of your family and stop on the way down. Could you leave a little earlier? Leave right after work and make 5 or 6 hours headway in the evening, stay the night, and then get to Disney late the next day? (Sorry, it wasn't clear what time you actually leave for the trip).

 

[maxiesmom]

Boy, you ladies aren't helping my cause. I definitely understand the valid point for stopping. I think its nice for the kids to wake up in the morning and find out we are just about in Florida. We just returned from our second disney road trip last week. We are going back in October (yeah, we're. Kind of nutty over Disney) . I think the plan is to try some medicinal aides on the trip down. If that doesn't work, then I will concede to stopping overnight. We always stay at a Disney resort. For me, that is as big a part of the experience as the parks. It is so nice to walk in and hear "Welcome home ". I get excited about the arrival and want it as soon as possible.

As nice as it is for the kids to wake up in Florida, and as nice as it is to walk in and hear Welcome Home, I'm betting your wife would think it even nicer to arrive in Florida well rested and healthy.

To me, someone's health trumps anything else. You wife gets physically ill over long drives. Her health should be the main concern, she shouldn't have to suck it up and deal so that kids can wake up in Florida.

Ask yourself which is really more important. Your wife's health or your kids getting to wake up in Florida. Then your choice will be simple.

 

[Marionnette]

Boy, you ladies aren't helping my cause. I definitely understand the valid point for stopping. I think its nice for the kids to wake up in the morning and find out we are just about in Florida. We just returned from our second disney road trip last week. We are going back in October (yeah, we're. Kind of nutty over Disney) . I think the plan is to try some medicinal aides on the trip down. If that doesn't work, then I will concede to stopping overnight. We always stay at a Disney resort. For me, that is as big a part of the experience as the parks. It is so nice to walk in and hear "Welcome home ". I get excited about the arrival and want it as soon as possible.

You THINK the plan is to try some medicinal aides? Have you even discussed this with your wife or are you just looking for ammunition to back up your own plan? She's the one who has to take the medicine, deal with the side effects and hope that they relieve her misery. I think that she should have a huge voice in the decision.

In my experience, there are some things that work better for my car sickness than others. Ginger and ginger ale do not cut it. Sea bands don't do it for me. Dramamine works a little but I'm in no condition to operate a vehicle after taking it. The non-drowsy formula makes me jittery.

Sorry, but if Mom ain't happy, no one is happy. Cut you wife a break instead of submitting her to 22 straight hours of hell just so you can get to Disney sooner. The kids will still be excited to be there regardless of how long it takes. You will still hear "Welcome Home!" when you walk into your resort.

 

[WDW Obsessed]

I totally understand Sven. I used to drive to FL in similar time, however now a days with a child and wife who also hate driving over 2hrs we only fly. I agree with the others you should just take a break half way down. It's x100 safer and the family will be happier in the long run. As one of the above posters said, just find a cool hotel to stop and stay.

As far as a medical aid, I say Dramamine. There's also a close alternative called Bonine if I remember correctly.

 

[sven1277]

Thank you for your replies. The long hours don't bother me as I plow. In the winter i am used to the ridicules hours. I will definitely plot out the trip figuring a stop.

 

[Suzy8383]

I get car sick...it doesn't matter the distance, 1 hour, 22 hours. If your wife gets car sick, she's going to get car sick. I highly suggest Bonine. You can get it at any Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, whatever. It's great. You take it once a day - she needs to take it 24 hours before the start of your travel to get it in her system. It's way better than dramamine.

I used it before our cruise and I didn't get sick on the plane or the ship, even with rough seas. It was amazing!

I agree with you on the travel. If you are the driver and you are fine with driving all night - and you feel safe - have her lay back and sleep away. She may do better if she's not sick. Otherwise, she could ask her doctor for a one or two night supply of a sleep aid. They are better than the OTC ones. Those make you feel sick and hung over. The prescription ones work for just a few hours and you don't feel hung over the next day.

Enjoy your drive!

 

[sven1277]

Thanks for your reply, Suzy.

 

[laceemouse]

How do YOU stay up and drive so long? Driving while tired is dangerous and causes a lot of accidents. No way would I let my hubby drive me and the kids when he is nodding off

I have extreme motion sickness, I get sick after 20 minutes in the car. Sitting in the front doesn't help, natural remedies do not help, and Bonine (which is the same medicine as non-drowsy Dramamine) causes weird side effects for me. I take the regular Dramamine and sleep. It WILL make her be able to sleep in the car.

There is another motion sickeness patch that she can get from the doctor. I would try some of them at home or on shorter trips if it were me.

We drive almost as long as you do. We do about 12 hours to first day (we get all the way to Florida) and have a shorter day the next day. We stay with Marriot points for the night and have a small bag of "just for the night" stuff packed so we do not have to unload it all. If we drove all the way non-stop it would take us a couple of days to get over it. No thanks.