Tips for coping with Jet Lag?

[Hopelessly_Lost]

Hi All,

We're going back to WDW for the first time in about 3 years this summer and I remember last time I had problems with jet lag for the first couple of days. As I'd really like to make the most of every minute (times is precious!) I was just wondering if anyone has any tips for coping with the jet lag?

Thanks.

 

[PoppyAnna]

I'm a bit concerned about this too over the next few days. I've heard that little ones can wake up at 4am for the first few days.
I haven't suffered in the past, I do try to set my watch to the destination local time as soon as I get on the aircraft and that helps me.

 

[Soprano]

In Die Hard, John McClane is advised to take off his shoes and socks and make fists with his toes on carpet when he arrives. But then terrorists take over the building and he ends up running over glass on bare feet. Ouch. I wouldn't advise this. Although I must confess I did try it...

I use jet lag to my advantage. Usually next day we're all up by 5/6am. Ideal to hit the theme parks nice and early for the first few days until the body adjusts. You avoid all the crowds this way. Leave early and hit the pool until its sleep time.

 

[CustardTart]

Never had any problems, but that might be because we make sure we're on Orlando time as soon as we get on the plane and don't go to bed until the appropriate time once we've arrived - even tho' it means we've actually been up for over 24 hours...

BTW, have a wonderful time, fellow Beckenham babe!

 

[Hopelessly_Lost]

In Die Hard, John McClane is advised to take off his shoes and socks and make fists with his toes on carpet when he arrives. But then terrorists take over the building and he ends up running over glass on bare feet. Ouch. I wouldn't advise this. Although I must confess I did try it...

I use jet lag to my advantage. Usually next day we're all up by 5/6am. Ideal to hit the theme parks nice and early for the first few days until the body adjusts. You avoid all the crowds this way. Leave early and hit the pool until its sleep time.

So your saying as long as terrorists don't take over the building I'll be ok!

I think I may well try hitting the parks early but it depends on wether the wife and kids also want to get up at stupid o clock

 

[Soprano]

So your saying as long as terrorists don't take over the building I'll be ok!

I think I may well try hitting the parks early but it depends on wether the wife and kids also want to get up at stupid o clock

Well, if your wife and kids are anything like mine, even getting up at 5.30am, we still 'only just' make it to the parks as the gates open! Jet lag is our natural alarm clock!

 

[aaronandterri]

HI
We try to stay up late, letting little ones have a nap around normal bed time and waking them up after an hour or so, then try to have earlyish nights the next night, kids always get up at 3 the first day 4 the second 5 the third etc though!! just one of the things you have to put up with in order for A Great holiday i guess???
a week till my got up normal time......taking mum and dad this time there gonna love that!!!


But on the plus side i find coming back much easier!!

 

[PoppyAnna]

Never had any problems, but that might be because we make sure we're on Orlando time as soon as we get on the plane and don't go to bed until the appropriate time once we've arrived - even tho' it means we've actually been up for over 24 hours...

BTW, have a wonderful time, fellow Beckenham babe!

Cheers CT, only a few months or so to go for you - just printed boarding cards

 

[wicket2005]

The last two years we went straight out to Sea World on arrival and stayed there till 10 pm, hitting our beds at 11 pm. We had been up for well over 24 hours and didn't have any problem sleeping and then waking up at an appropriate time. Other years we did wake up at 5 am which was a right pain, dying to get to the parks but none open, then tired on the night earlier. Best try to stay up as long as possible then you are in the new time zone.

I am terrible coming back though and crash out. End up being awake at odd hours during the night.

 

[AliceGardner]

I use jet lag to my advantage. Usually next day we're all up by 5/6am. Ideal to hit the theme parks nice and early for the first few days until the body adjusts. You avoid all the crowds this way. Leave early and hit the pool until its sleep time.

We do the same - get up at 5.30am/6am and get on with our holiday (it is light by 7am, sometimes earlier) and then have an early night (9.30pm/10pm). We actually try to sustain this throughout the holiday - so less problem adjusting coming back.

This works out well with Lucy - we haven't been to Disney with her yet, but have been to the US with her a couple of times since she was born.

Aice

 

[Madjock]

We seem to be able to cope on the way out so long as we stay up until at least 10:00, keeping awake on arrival is the hardest part.

But coming back I was always really bad and would suffer for a couple of days at least but in December I tried some homeopathic tablets called No Jet-Lag. We used them on the way out and back and they really made a difference. When we got home I managed to stay awake until 8 in the evening which is unheard of for me and after a good nights sleep I was back to normal time zone the next day!

 

[wicket2005]

We seem to be able to cope on the way out so long as we stay up until at least 10:00, keeping awake on arrival is the hardest part.

But coming back I was always really bad and would suffer for a couple of days at least but in December I tried some homeopathic tablets called No Jet-Lag. We used them on the way out and back and they really made a difference. When we got home I managed to stay awake until 8 in the evening which is unheard of for me and after a good nights sleep I was back to normal time zone the next day!

Where did you buy them from? Sounds ideal for me.

 

[Madjock]

I bought them online from here:

http://magellans.co.uk/store/In_Flight_Comfort___Jet_Lag_PreventionIF398?Args=

You can also find lots of info on them from here:

www.nojetlag.com

I have given some to my friend who has just travelled to Brazil, she's back this weekend so I'll find out what she thought as well and let you know.

 

[wicket2005]

Thanks for the link. I will be interested to hear what your friend thought of them too.

 

[stephensmum]

We seem to be able to cope on the way out so long as we stay up until at least 10:00, keeping awake on arrival is the hardest part.

But coming back I was always really bad and would suffer for a couple of days at least but in December I tried some homeopathic tablets called No Jet-Lag. We used them on the way out and back and they really made a difference. When we got home I managed to stay awake until 8 in the evening which is unheard of for me and after a good nights sleep I was back to normal time zone the next day!

Thanks for the link. Have you given them to children?

 

[Alltiggeredout]

We stay up until about 10 but we still get up about 3 on the first day.We then get funny looks when we have breakfast at Dennys at about 3.30 and then we have walmart all to ourselves at about 4.

 

[irongirlof12]

my friend is an air hostess and doesn't suffer from jet lag, she recommends drinking a glass of water every 20 mins and adjusting your clocks to 'local' time as soon as you board plane. stay up later or sleep in late depending on time of arrival.

 

[Madjock]

Thanks for the link. Have you given them to children?

Yes we gave them to our 6 and 13 yr olds. They are suitable to give to children.

 

[katytrott]

We seem to be able to cope on the way out so long as we stay up until at least 10:00, keeping awake on arrival is the hardest part.

But coming back I was always really bad and would suffer for a couple of days at least but in December I tried some homeopathic tablets called No Jet-Lag. We used them on the way out and back and they really made a difference. When we got home I managed to stay awake until 8 in the evening which is unheard of for me and after a good nights sleep I was back to normal time zone the next day!

These sound fantastic, problem is, we leave next Thur so if i order online, they may no arrive in time. Does anyone know if i can buy them in any shops?

I seem to remember last year coping quite well with jet lag when we got back (have never had problem going out - the rule is it is worse for you when you are flying against the sun). I read somewhere getting plenty of sunlight helps you to get over it (something to do with the seretonin hormone). When we arrived in England we had a couple of hours nap and then went out for a long walk in the sunshine (not the woods). It was the first year we never suffered (have to hope it's nice weather when you get home). The only thing we did suffer with was post holiday blues - boy was that bad. If anyone has tips for that i would be grateful

 

[castanea1985]

I bought them online from here:

http://magellans.co.uk/store/In_Flight_Comfort___Jet_Lag_PreventionIF398?Args=

You can also find lots of info on them from here:

www.nojetlag.com

I have given some to my friend who has just travelled to Brazil, she's back this weekend so I'll find out what she thought as well and let you know.

Thanks for this link Annmarie, but one question...
Is Jet Ease the same as No Jet Lag?
Every time I press the link for European outlets, it keeps coming up with a product called Jet Ease?!
If so then it is slightly cheaper here...

http://www.garden.co.uk/acatalog/THE_GARDEN_PHARMACY__Jet_Ease___Drink_Ease_221.html

I think it must be the same, as it's the same image?! Anyway, have just ordered some!!
Thanks again
Tracy