Jet lag from the East Coast

[Golf4food]

Myself, DW, and DS (4) are making our pilgrimage to DL in August, coming from Florida. We've never traveled more than one time zone away, so we are very much not used to jet lag and have no idea what to really expect. We're flying out on Saturday,Aug 15th and don't plan on doing parks until Sunday.

What can we really expect? I have this image of wanting to go to bed at 6pm PST on Saturday and then waking up at 4am PST on Sunday and nothing being open and all being starving because it is (our) time for breakfast.

How long does it take to adjust before the time feels "normal"? I don't want to plan any important dinners or things if we're going to feel like sleeping at 7pm the first few days, etc. Help us poor east-coasters out.

 

[mickeymom629]

Having done the trip twice in the last few years from Maryland, I would say that the nice thing is that you are going to be all set for those early mornings! I would say that the sunshine and excitement should help you stay up until 8:30 or so the first night but, if you are anything like me, I wouldn't push much past that (I get headaches if I get over-tired). I know when we go to WDW, depending on the park hours, we are getting less sleep than we normally would - even in the same time zone!

I think you will feel okay within a day or two if you take it gradually.

 

[elaine amj]

I love that early mornings are so easy when I travel to the West Coast You'll make park opening easily.

 

[Golf4food]

Oh yeah, we're planning early breakfasts, character meals, and park openings for sure.

 

[Geemo]

Can you adjust your sleeping habits a little a few days before you go? To help with jet lag?

 

[kamik86]

I just got back from a San Diego/Disneyland and we did have that problem to an extent. What we found though is that the first day we definitely were up at 4 AM and I was hungry by 5 and hit breakfast when it opened at 6. However staying up a bit later each day was easy enough (I mean you can stay awake past 10 if your doing something at home and sleep in the next day, so staying up a bit longer shouldn't be too hard then either) so the next day I managed to sleep until almost 5 and then 6 until I was waking up at 7 which was reasonable for 9 AM park openings.

We didn't do any late nights until the disneyland part (the latest we were out in San Diego was getting back from dinner at 8) so I would say your likely not to want to stay for the fireworks or the late night showing of fantasmic the first day or two but don't worry about not being able to stay awake to have dinner.

Edit: Will add though you may be a bit better. I was really messed up because I had been working 3rd shifts and sleeping during the day the entire week before I left for CA and we had a 6 AM flight out. So I was already on a weird schedule. Was up really early east coast time for the flight... so the day we got there we really did go to bed at like 6 PM. If you can avoid that by sleeping in and taking a later flight to CA you may be better off.

 

[Golf4food]

Can you adjust your sleeping habits a little a few days before you go? To help with jet lag?

I'm guessing that adjusting the sleeping habits of a 4 year old is not the easiest task in the universe.

Besides, I doubt any of us will sleep much the night before due to the excitement. We still do that just going to WDW and we've been there well over 20 times and visit 1-3+ times per year lately. Doesn't matter. Still hard to sleep the night before.

 

[sheetz]

Going East to West really isn't too bad since it's easier to get up early for rope drop. It's much harder going from West to East.

 

[jsebsirois]

It usually takes us 2 or 3 days before getting the ''normal'' time. The good thing though is that during those 2-3 days, we're always in the Parks as soon as they open!