Is there Anyone here Who Traveled from Atlanta, GA with Kids?

[devotedchristian]

What time did you leave Atlanta and what time did you arrive in Orlando?

I'm wondering if we should leave during bedtime (1am) so the kids (Ages 2, 4, 6 and 15) will be sleep most of the drive going there.

 

[Lady V]

we drive from there sometimes because we stop in Marietta to pick up my mom on the way. my kids are 6 and 7 and it is not a bad drive at all. I want to say about 8 hours? We usually leave in the middle of the night and get there early day.

 

[Princess Roo]

7-8 hours depending on stops and traffic. Mapquest says 7 hours driving from our house, but the speed limit is high for most of the way and we found actual drive time to be closer to 6 hours.

The first time we took a long car trip with DS, we tried leaving at 4AM, thinking he would sleep the first few hours in the car. The joke was on us..He was awake and cranky for most of the trip. The next two car trips (both to Disney) we left right when he woke up and it worked well, we took turns entertaining him in the car and he dozed some off and on. We arrived in time for the pool and DTD or dinner ADRs. Then the trip home (each time) we left right after lunch, which is his nap time, and that also worked well, and we arrived home close to DS2's bedtime.

I personally wouldn't want to leave at 1AM, because I would be too excited to fall asleep beforehand and would end up being awake all night...Then *I* would be cranky! If I wanted to drive most of it through the night, I'd leave around dinnertime and just deal with the difficult transfer to the hotel room, probably. But that's just me!

 

[tadamom]

We left right after we got up in the morning and got ready. So probably around 9. We stopped a TON and we got to our hotel at bedtime. I wouldn't leave in the middle of the night or at bedtime myself b/c when you get there YOU are tired and your kids aren't! Just my opinion.

When we go in May, we plan to do the same thing - leave after we get up and get ready!

 

[earthfaries]

We have driven lots of times from Asheville, NC which is a few hours away from Atlanta. We went through there one year on the way back from Disney for a change of scenery. Anyway. We have tried it both ways, we left at 1am once, when the kids were 2 and 9 and I would have to say it worked great. Actually our plan was one, but like the others said above, I could not sleep I was so excited! Anyway, we ended up leaving at 3am. and it was perfect. They slept great - don't get me wrong, it took them about an hour or two to fall asleep once we got going, but they slept quite a few times throughout the trip and I think they weren't as worn out because a lot of the driving was done in the early morning, we got to WDW early, and it didn't seem like we were in the car for 12 hours like it would if you left at say, 8am and got there at 8pm. We got there by 4pm for our ADR and it was the only time we did it all in one straight shot and it was great. The other times we have split it up by stopping over for the night 1/2 way or so for different reasons, usually extra sightseeing, But since you live in Atlanta, I would just do it all at once and highly reccommend leaving early, maybe 3am, because it is not too early, and you won't feel as tired later, and you will get in 4 or 5 good traffic free driving hours by the time 8am even comes around!

Good luck!

 

[HopperFan]

Lots of times, 8 hours door to door, one stop for gas and quick fast food. We like to leave about 7 am and arrive perfectly in time for check in so room is ready. Unload, change and go somewhere nice to eat. Depending on the next day plans we either get comfy and relax, or hit the pool.

We hate driving at night. While the kids may sleep, we don't and not a great way to start the trip.....tired. If you leave at 1 am, what will you do when you get there ? Most hotels will not have your room ready, you will have to occupy the rested kids who will be ready to go, but you will be tired.

 

[jpaxton1118]

We drive also. It took us a little over 7 hours and we even stopped a few times. I think we left around 9 in the morning, I packed the car the day before. We arrived around 4, unpack and then go to downtown disney for the rest of the time and eat dinner. We get back to the room around 8 and we all relax and the kids are ready to sleep from their excitment on the drive down and walking around dtd. They are 4 and 7.
Was that too much info!?!?! Sorry

 

[Zoemakes5]

I just have to laugh at myself, here. Atlanta to Orlando was the last leg of our trip from MN to Orlando a few years ago. We went pretty much straight through from MN to Atlanta (stopping only to eat/visit/etc. but no hotel or sleeping). It took us 8.5 hours from Atlanta to Orlando! We had to stop a ton, we were all worn out!
The way that I like to plan longer car trips is to set out about an hour before you typically eat dinner. Then, drive as far as you can without them having a total fit (pushing back the dinner time a bit, if you can.) Then, we drive for as long as we can and stop for potty break and put jammies on the little ones and get gas. They settle in for the night and we drive the rest of the way in relative peace. It's not a true "overnight" drive, so we aren't exhausted, but there's not one long stretch of them being awake and crabby, either.

 

[SnowWitch]

We live 1 hr ne of Atlanta and it takes about 9 hrs. We stop for gas x2 and for breakfast south of Macon. We like to leave around 3am. We can get 5 hours sleep before leaving and miss Atlanta traffic well pretty much all traffic. The kids sleep most of the drive and its peaceful. We arrive at our rsort around lunch if the room isn't ready we always have a pool bag packed and we hang out at the pool. We then catch a nap and have a leisurely evening, nice dinner, rent surrey bikes on the BW and just relax.

 

[jiminy]

We are driving from Columbia, SC and it takes about 7-8 hours, we will leave around 7am and stop for lunch and a couple of bathroom breaks. I just know that we need to get a good night sleep or we'll be useless.

 

[mjejj]

I live about an hour north of Atlanta and when we went in October, we left at 9:00am and got to Disney around 5:30pm. My husband drives a little fast but we stopped for short breaks about every two hours. My kids watched dvd's on the way down and when we got to Disney, we had dinner, went for a swim and then to bed. I'm not an early morning driver because for us, we are exhausted and the kids are wired when we get to our destination. We like to leave after rush hour (if there is such a thing in Atlanta).