Time difference

[attagirlx2]

We are traveling to DL from the east coast with 3 children - DD7, DD5, and DS 23 months. It is a 3 hour time difference between here and CA. Any recommendations on what to do?? Our kids wake up at 7am no matter when they go to bed, which will be 4 am while on vacation. YIKES! What can we do at that hour? They will be ready for bed by 5 pm (8 pm EST). Is anywhere open for breakfast at 5am???

 

[Mousemom]

I think that this has always been one of the most difficult things for our family to get used to, but reversed. When we go to WDW our family is just getting used to the 3 hour difference when we have to come home. At first we tried to get our family up and going but after several trips we have given up. We sleep late and always close the parks at night. It works for us and everyone is happy. If you have a car there are some 24 hour Denny's restaurants that you can eat at, but that only kills an hour or so.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

We're bringing a few toys along (and knowing we'll buy a few there) for our boys, ages 5 and 2. I'm going to have a trip journal for my older son to write and draw pictures, and probably a coloring/activity book or two. Maybe have him write & mail postcards to the grandparents. We'll also bring books to read, maybe a chapter book to read to them. We'll bring a couple Potato Heads and buy Disney Mr. Potato Head parts at DCA. I wish there was a VCR in the room, because a movie would keep the boys quiet and happy - Maybe you'll have one where you stay?

 

[PattiPB]

In our experience you don't have much to worry about. Going East is the "jet lag direction", so your kids will probably be chipper and pleasant. Keep them awake later than usual (which would mean until 7 pm our time that first night), and hopefully they'll wake up at a reasonable time.

If your kids are anything like mine, you'll have trouble getting them back to normal after the Eastbound flight.

 

[mad hatter fan]

We've had the same problem as you though not quite as severe. We have a 2 hr. difference from here in MN. In the past, I have shifted their schedules at home about 2 weeks before the trip. Yes, we lost some alone time without kids for awhile having them stay up later each night. But I did have them start to sleep in by the time we left on the trip. Then at the start of the trip they woke up at 6 CA time instead of 5. It got better as the trip progressed. (we stayed 12 days) Until then there were some cartoons on that early! Consider booking the earliest possible character breakfast at Goofy's. (Or one of the others, we just like Goofy's best ) Good Luck!

 

[attagirlx2]

I had thought about adjusting their schedules leading up to the trip, but my DD5 will have just started kindergarten. It's bad enough that we are taking them out of school for a week so early in the year that I just don't want to risk messing with their body rhythms too. I plan on keeping them on EST as much as possible while we are in CA.

Does anyone know if the Grand Californinian has VCR's in the rooms?

Also, does anyone know what time WhiteWater Snacks begins service. Is it 24 hour or does GC have 24 hour room service? My biggest concern is everyone waking up famished and not having anything to eat!


And thanks for the idea of writing postcards! We always buy them but never seem to find the time to write on them. Now I guess we will!

 

[darph nader]

We are traveling to DL from the east coast with 3 children - DD7, DD5, and DS 23 months. It is a 3 hour time difference between here and CA. Any recommendations on what to do?? Our kids wake up at 7am no matter when they go to bed, which will be 4 am while on vacation. YIKES! What can we do at that hour? They will be ready for bed by 5 pm (8 pm EST). Is anywhere open for breakfast at 5am???

Kick back and smell the fog,enjoy the quite,and have an early breakfast(if you bring your own). Last year every morning i got up @ 05:00,did my thing, read the O.C. Register with a cup of joe and hammer a nail on the walkway in front of the room(non-smoking). By the time everyone else was up and at em it was 'show time'.

 

[seattlebusymom]

You might be able to request a DVD player for your room. I know at the DLH we have always had one. Two of the times we were at Conc. level and I think it is standard as they have free movie check out. You might want to consider that upgrade as the lounge opens early for food as well. If not use your black out shades and the free wake up phone call from Mickey. My kids love it when he calls and they fight to answer the phone. Tell the kids they have to wait until Mickey calls to get out of bed..... you never know what creative magic we can invent. Have fun!!!

 

[Rapunsel]

I travel to CA from NY all the time...

Just put the kids to bed about 8 pm CA time and they should sleep about the same amount as home. Putting them to bed at 5pm to keep them on their schedule can be confusing for the older children.

You might also get the why do we have to go to bed while the sun is still up..


For us DD 17 mos and DS 4.5 we go to bed at 8pm CA time and are up at 8 am CA time. So it works out just fine. Let them take a short nap if necessary.

When we go home they sleep till about 10 am NY time which is 7 am in CA so they get messed up no matter what..
Just don't let them sleep for long on the plane home or you will never get them to bed.

That happened to us and we were up till 4 am to get the baby to go to sleep

 

[Katie0677]

I know how you feel. I have 3 young ones too, and because we live in Alaska, everywhere we go is in a differant time zone.
I wouldn't try putting them to bed at 5, but 8 instead. I can't imagine that they would wake up at 4 am if you did. Plus, you'll be at DL all day, so they should sleep well!!
Have fun-
Katie

 

[AStamm]

Anybody try eating to stay awake? We've got 5:10 ressie's at Goofy's Kitchen this Saturday hoping that by eating so late (it's 8:10 pm our time) and being in such an energetic place, we'll be able to stay up. Every morning since I got done teaching last week I've been up at 7:00 am thinking "ugghhh...it's only 4:00 am in CA". At nighttime I think "geez...it's only 8 pm in CA...how will I make it to the fireworks?"

I totally foresee being up at 4:00 am on Sunday morning, raring to go for our 1st day at DL and having to wait HOURS until the park opens. We've got 7:00 am ressie's at PCH Grill to kill a little time, but I know it's going to be hard to get adjusted.

The worst part is that we won't be getting back to our house late on Sunday, June 26--I'm taking a graduate course that starts at 8:00 am--which will probably feel like 5:00 am to me by that point. The sacrifices one makes for Disney!