Jet Lag & DLP

[RJAYL]

Hi Everyone

As my trip is fast approaching I have an interesing question!

We are flying in overnight from the States we get in around 6AM

I have transportation (BS) from the airport to DLH our hotel I know we wont get our room till around 3PM however we should be able to check in and have breakfast before heading to the park!

Any suggestions on how to handle the jet lag or what to do the first day Oh by the way their are 6 of us DW DS14 DD's 12, 6, 3 hopefully the kids will sleep on the plain!

 

[Jazzman67]

I travel a great deal from Sweden and back to the USA. Wnen I
return back home I also arrive in the morning. My rule of thumb is
to try staying up a normal day on the first day, if that's possible. I
find that it's easier to get used to the schedule in Europe that way.
So, try to enjoy the first day at the park, and get a godd nights sleep
when you are at the hotel.
´
Good luck!

 

[nbodyhome]

My best way to deal with jet lag is to take a couple of Tylenol PM's or something similar when I get on the plane, and to get as much sleep as possible.

This past trip, it took me 26 hours to reach the first destination I was staying from leaving the house. Drive to the airport, 2 flights, metro, Eurostar, Tube. I slept some on the flight, and then slept some on the Eurostar. I didn't have any real jet lag when I got there, I felt like I was on their time.

Today I have some jet lag, though - I got back at 11pm last night.

 

[SandraVB79]

Are you sure you'll have breakfast that first day?

Anyway, my advice would also be: try to have a normal "European" day the first day, and just go to bed "early". That's what I do when I come back from vacation in the US. If you nap during the first day, your jet lag will last. If you adjust to the European time and eat accordingly, and just go to bed early (around 9 or so), you won't suffer from it too long! That's how it works for me anyway

Taking a refreshing shower as soon as you can get to your room (3pm) will also help you!

 

[RJAYL]

Are you sure you'll have breakfast that first day?

Hope so, we are staying in the castle club, for what Im paying we should get Breakfast Lunch & Dinner!

Taking a refreshing shower as soon as you can get to your room (3pm) will also help you!

Good Idea this might help us make it to Dinner!

 

[poohmadmum]

Another tip is when you board the plane to set your watch to the correct European time and work by that time to help your body adjust. We certainly do that when we board the plane to fly to Florida.

If you hit the parks in the morning as you are staying CC you can return in the afternoon for afternoon tea in the CC lounge. By this time your room should be ready and you could also freshen up and then return to the parks in the evening (not sure when the parks close when you're there) before having an early night. Hopefully you will have a good sleep and feel refreshed and ready to start the next day.

 

[nbodyhome]

It's funny, the last 2 or 3 trips I did a great job beating jet lag on the way. This trip, I napped on the plane and Eurostar (26 hours from home to first evening destination) and felt great and on-time.

Now, I'm home and exhausted - I used to have little jet lag on arrival back, but now that is when I do get it.

 

[RJAYL]

What about a jump in the pool first!

The thought has arisen that as we arrive so early in the morning to go to the DLH pool for a swim to wake the family!

Does anyone know if there are showers & changing rooms at the pool?

 

[bavaria]

Planning to sleep as soon as you board your flight is critical.

I do this on my trips 'home' to Europe and arrive refreshed. (the shower on landing at FRA before my connection to MUC is of course also helpful)

On a recent work trip to Paris, I had a very hard time sleeping even while in Lufthansa business class, and as a result it took me many days to get over the jetlag that trip.

Other tips include

• bring eyeshades and ear plugs if you are flying Economy (business/first usually provides them)
• eat light meals starting 3 days before your flight
• drink no caffeine or soda day of flight; drink lots of water
• don't wake for the onboard meals, except for the final breakfast before landing
• before landing, use 'brushups' or similar to brush your teeth. have a good wash before landing
• if you have lounge access, or are flying business/first, use the showers on landing. Note that in the mornings the wait in the lounge can be 2 hours or more (unless one has an 'in' with the shower ladies ) But there are public showers too - ie FRA has them for a few euros
• on landing, retrieve luggage and have a light meal/coffee at the airport
• spend as much as possible on the arrival day outside
• do not go to bed earlier than 8pm on arrival day; expect to awake around 4-5am the following day

If you are going to use sleep aids on the flight, experiment a few days before the flight as they can have different impact on people.

And drink a lot of water the first few days after the flight; on longer flights your body may retain water and you will feel very dehydrated. No matter how many bottles of water I buy for my hotel room, I don't seem to have enough to combat dehydration.