Is it worth stopping for 4 hours of sleep?

[la79al]

At this point it looks like we will be driving in June (holding out a little hope for a ding, but we'll see). I'm wondering whether there is any point in stopping at night for a few (4ish) hours of sleep. The plan right now is for me to take off Friday, maybe sleep a little, pick up DH from work and head towards WDW. I am thinking we should be able to go for a little while on WDW excitement energy but I am not sure how long we can keep going once we arrive. I am now considering driving til about 2, finding a hotel to catch a few hours sleep and then finishing the 7 or so hours. Thoughts?

 

[A&CsMom]

What about sleeping at home until 2 am or thereabouts, then driving straight through? If you have everything packed in your vehicle except what you will need to use when you get up and shower, you can be away quickly. That way you will save on the cost of a hotel, and you will mostly be driving in daylight which will help you stay awake. We once had to stop in Pittsburgh on our first driving day due to a severe snowstorm, and the next day ended up driving straight from Pittsburgh to Ocala (where we were staying with my parents, and about 1 hour north or Orlando). We drove from 8:30 am until 2 am. We ate in the van and stopped as little as possible (we didn't want to lose a day of our vacation). Just a thought because I know I sleep better in my own bed anyway. Good luck with you decision.

 

[MALE*RN*777]

Wife and I left Western MD at 5:30pm after I got up at 5:30am (work) on Friday and we drove through the night each sleeping about 2-3 hours. A little tired when we got there at 9:00-9:30am Saturday. I would not have wanted to do a park that day so we relaxed by the pool on that day then went to the park on Sunday. You can do your check in but your room will probably not be ready until about 3pm (maybe sooner depending on your cleaning service CM). HAVE FUN... We'll miss you

 

[lokin4deer]

We drove down last Sept on the way down we stopped twice in rest areas and slept for about a hour each time. Was a hard drive. On the way home we did it better stopped for gas and potty for all at about 10pm and then drove again my DD fell asleep in her seat then my wife fell asleep and I drove till about 2am then pulled into a rest stop leaned my seat back and slept till about 6. Sun was coming up so I started driving again. My DD slept till 8:30 then we stopped for Bfast and stretch. Felt pretty good after it too. Lots of people sleeping in cars and trucks in rest stops I felt completly safe. We even passes some rest stops that advertised security officers patroling.

 

[NU2WDW]

Me personally, this seems a little grueling for the kids. You know your family best, but I just think it's too much. I'd either stop at a time where they can have a "real" night's sleep, or fly. It seems like the pace you're trying to set is great, if it was just you & DH. I just can't imagine doing it with the kids. Too much unpredictability. JMHO.

Good luck w/ whatever you decide!

 

[Pixie Dust Luver]

For me personally, I would rather get a good night sleep and leave early in the morning, but my sister who use to travel from Miami to SC would always leave around 2 or 3 am, that way the girls would sleep quite a bit of the way and still get here at a decent time. Approx 8 hr drive. I know it is a hard decision,but driving at night will be cooler, but there again I hate night driving.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[pigletof4]

We live in northern PA and just did the drive down and we didn't stop for the night. We left around 4:30pm Saturday evening and arrived on property around 10:30 Sunday morning. We did unfortunately do Animal Kingdom that day because our rental house wouldn't be ready until 4. Dh said he would never drive again, but with 5 people, driving is cheaper then flying. I would probably stop and stay halfway next time and we will also stay on property next time. We went with another family and they didn't want to stay onsite so we split the cost of a house.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I would just plan on driving straight through and if you feel like you need to stop off then do that. We drive every trip and for us it is about 9 to 12 hours depending on how many stops we may need to make and how traffic is and all of those good things. Often times we try to leave late at night around the kids bed time or a little later so that they will sleep and not keep asking "are we there yet" or we leave really early in the morning around 5ish and drive all day then spend a night at a value resort (depending on what time we get there).

 

[missesdisney]

We've driven now 6 years in a row from Southern NJ (Outside Phila) and we usually leave around 6pm and drive straight through the night to arrive in approx. 15 hours. We've learned to switch off about every 3-4 hours and in the very late hours in the Carolinas it is difficult for a while being so dark. The good part about that is - the last few hours when you are the most tired are in daylight again and the anticipation builds up again. Our son is 6 and sleeps in the carseat each year with the dvd player. It is easier to keep moving toward Disney for our family than to stop and sleep only a few hours then start again.

One downside - when you arrive - depending on time - chances are the hotel is not ready for you. We've been about 50/50 on that so we are changing in the hotel restrooms and heading to a park for a few hours.

Depending on where in PA you may be able to do it straight. We don't take any really long stops - just gas and quick bites to eat on the road and off we go!

 

[jessica52877]

We will usually leave after DH gets off work, drive until we are tired, usually leave around 5 or so and drive until 10 or 11. We then get a hotel for the night and sleep until we wake up, no alarms. DS is usually our alarm though. It makes it so we aren't totally exhausted when getting there. Be aware though it usually takes a while for DS4 to unwind in the hotel room, he is so excited to be going to "the room" as he calls it.

We have also gotten up early in the morning, just around 6 and then left. That saves on the hotel and still puts us there with about 1/2 a day left. The first day we usually do downtown disney and outlet shopping so is perfect.