Missouri to WDW...Drive Through Night or Get Up Early?

[becka]

We are leaving for our next trip either late on Jan 31st or early on Feb 1st. We can not decide if it would be better to leave around 9 pm or so on the 31st or to leave around 3 am on the 1st.

We originally planned on leaving around 3 am so DH and I could get a little sleep and then just put the kids in the car in their PJs and hopefully we would be well into Illinois before they would even wake up. We then planned to hopefully get a little south of Atlanta before staying the night. We would get up early the next day and finish the drive. Obviously the kids would be awake quite a bit on both days. DS is a pretty good traveler but we have never made this long of a trip but I think we can keep him entertained. DD is decent but she really does not care for long stretches in her carseat and she is harder to entertain. A movie will not work for a 12 month old.

We then started wondering if leaving around 9 pm the night before would be better. The kids would sleep so much more of the trip but DH and I could/will be exhausted. We figure we could still make it a two day trip but most hotels would not let us check in until late in the afternoon. By then we could be fairly close to WDW.

So which would you choose?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I will have to admit that when the kids were little we would leave after dinner the night before. We would time it to rush hour and where we wanted to be.

Now I can't do it anymore. We have decided that when we are going somewhere we have to leave at 4/5am. My girls are older now, 9 & 14.

That way if we stop we have alot of miles under our belt.

 

[SandiH]

We took this trip when my kids were little. We left about 9:00 p.m. and made it just north of the Florida border before DH was exhausted. I had a stomache bug so wasn't any help driving. It was a great trip and nothing better than all of us dancing around at 2:30 in the morning at a gas station in the middle of Kentucky (at least I think that's where we were). We probably could have made it into Florida if not the whole way if I were up to driving.

 

[scarlett873]

On our last minute trip to WDW last September, we left Indianapolis after I got out of class on Wednesday night. DH slept for a few hours and when I got home at about 9:30pm, we finished loading the car, and were off by 11:00pm. It was hard to drive straight through, but between the two of us, we made it and pulled into POP around 4:30pm Thursday afternoon!

It was just DH and I though...no little ones along for the ride...I wouldn't even begin to know how to manage it and keep them entertained!

But as you said, the kids would sleep (hopefully) for more of the drive time, assuming you left at midnight on the 31st.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[BethanyF]

when we drive we try to leave before dawn and get several hours under our belt before stopping. We've left our house at 3 or 4 AM for several road trips and it works great. We just time it to avoid major cities (especially Atlanta) at rush hour.

 

[Meriweather]

I'm a morning person, so leaving early would be my choice.
We also always did that when the kids were young....and they could sleep.

We'll be there 2/1 also (taking the red eye on the 31st).

 

[OhMari]

Start looking for airplane tickets. 12 months olds are no fun when they scream for 3-4 hours. Believe me, she will want out of her car seat.

 

[Micca]

Unless one of you is a night owl, I wouldn't recommend the overnight driving--too dangerous. I would opt to leave at 3am. How many hours is it from where you live to WDW? Actually the $1000 airfare sounds like a pretty good option

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I would most definitely fly. You can get non stop tix out of KC. By the time you add up gas, wear and tear on the car, food and potential lodging....... not to mention stress.....

I would definitely fly!

 

[chyam]

I would most definitely fly. You can get non stop tix out of KC. By the time you add up gas, wear and tear on the car, food and potential lodging....... not to mention stress.....

I would definitely fly!

I have to second this option, not only is it a long drive with kids it takes it "out" of you and IMO I am good for nothing for about 2 days when I push myself like that. Really if you add the price of gas, the wear and tear on you and the car and the day and half you lose plus a night in a hotel there and back I don't think you will be losing all that much money and will arrive fresh and relaxed to enjoy your vacation, not worn out and needing another vacation when you return home.
***just found a flight leaving St. Louis @ 7:45 am on Feb 1 arriving Orlando at 10:40 on American for a total of $240.00 RT that was just for the adults so I would think the kids would be cheaper......3 hours flying time sure sounds alot better than 17 hours driving time with a couple of screaming tired and bored kids!

 

[kydisneyfans]

I would vote for the 3 AM departure-get some sleep before driving. I am used to that wake up time-that is usually what we do. This places us on site at check in time around 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

 

[N.Bailey]

I would leave at 9 PM, but I am a night owl. I'd start driving and allow hubby to get some sleep. By morning, I'd let him take over.

If you have the money, I'd pay the $1000 for airfare. Keep in mind though, that's only going to get you to Orlando. Will you also be renting a car from there? If not, how do you plan to get to Disney? Limo, taxi, Mears? You'll need to add that cost in as well.

 

[pixiemomma]

I vote get up early. It is easier to drive when it is light out. (We've done it both ways; have made the 1000 mile trek to FL at least 10 times.) And you are on a semi-normal schedule this way.

 

[Ronda93]

If you must drive (I agree with all the fly people) leave early. Driving through the night is dangerous - if not because of you, then because of the folks on the road with you.

It's a solid two day drive from KC. We stopped in Marietta on the way down. Once, when I was young(er), we drove straight through from St Louis. About 22 hours.

Fly if you can. If you get 20 miles to the gallon your round trip will cost $300 in gas (at the current IRS mileage rate, it would be over $1000 in gas/wear/tear). Add a couple hotel nights and you're over $400 - closer to $450. You have to consider how much your time and sanity are worth. The second day is a hard drive, too. Florida is a surprisingly tall state ; )

I think four days of your trip and the convenience would be worth the extra $600-700 you'll spend if you fly (car rental).

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would leave on 1/31 after work. Drive until you get tired and get a motel. Get up the next day refreshed and arrive at WDW ready to go.

 

[Beth76]

I vote for spend $1000 for airfare. We just drove only 10 hours from STL to Dallas at Thanksgiving. I would not do it again. My four-year-old wasn't a problem--kept easily entertained by movies and gameboy. But, the one-year-old was a different story. He was ok--it could have been worse--but it still wasn't pleasant. And we had my parents with us. Also keep in mind how much money is it costing you for gas, hotel and the extra two days off work.

If flying really isn't an option, then I vote for leaving late, the night before.

Also want to note that I'm not one who thinks that getting there is half the fun.

 

[Mishetta]

First I want to say how beautiful those children are & I can't believe how big your son has gotten already!

Anyway, here is my 2 cents worth....I would recommend the leaving at 3 or 4am & the kids will sleep probably till it's light out but sometimes longer. Mine do that. They sometimes sleep longer in the car than in their own beds due to the rocking motion of the car. Then around 9 or 10am we stop for a nice hearty breakfast, which helps them take a nap (having a full tummy). At each rest stop we spend about 20 minutes so that they can run & run & run. My little guy was 18 months his first trip in the van to Disney & he did cry & then I'd make my older DS go in the 3rd row & I'd sit beside the little one to help him calm down. My kids are so used to traveling long distances in the van now (we have been blessed to be able to go twice per year to WDW since then) that they actually behave better than me! I'm the one who keeps asking my DH "how much longer before we get to ....(the next biggest city)".

We live in the Detroit area & always do the most driving the first day...we don't stop for the night till we get to Atlanta. Very long drive. Then the next day we only have about 8 hours to go. (An FYI....if you stop at the AAA Disney Center in Ocala ~ it closed! We just went for Christmas & we always stopped at that center. Also, if you plan on bringing AAA Travelers Checks ~ DON'T! We couldn't find anywhere that would accept them. All the vendors would tell us that they would accept any travelers checks except for the Visa ones from AAA since there had been so many fraudulent travelers checks out there! Lucky for us we had our credit cards!)

Flying is much more convenient but it sure does suck a lot of your vacation money. That's why we always drive ~ we do Disney "a la cheap" so we can continue to go as often as possible!

Good luck & let us know how it went when you return! (BTW...I am going to PM you a little hint too!)

Rose

 

[Beth76]

***just found a flight leaving St. Louis @ 7:45 am on Feb 1 arriving Orlando at 10:40 on American for a total of $240.00 RT that was just for the adults so I would think the kids would be cheaper......3 hours flying time sure sounds alot better than 17 hours driving time with a couple of screaming tired and bored kids!

There's also a Northwest flight out of MCI for $183pp that changes planes in Memphis.


I'd estimate that you would spend $400 on gas for the total trip. Not to mention extra food and two extra nights in a hotel. And a lot of SCREAMING!

 

[N.Bailey]

SNIP

Also want to note that I'm not one who thinks that getting there is half the fun.

ME EITHER!!!