Tips for staying alert while driving to WDW on the interstate.

[surfgirl]

As far as getting books on cassette/CD, see if there is a local Cracker Barrel - they used to have a program where you could 'rent' a book on cassette (for $1/week I think) and return it to any Cracker Barrel during the rental period (1 wk? 2 wks?).

I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but we used to do it renting from one location and returning to another.

 

[disneyphanatic1911]

I'm guesstimating the trip is 16-17 hours or so. If I were you I would drive til about 12:30 stop and sleep until about 5:30 then drive til you get there. That should still put you in Orlando before 1 or 2:00.

 

[crazymomof4]

As far as getting books on cassette/CD, see if there is a local Cracker Barrel - they used to have a program where you could 'rent' a book on cassette (for $1/week I think) and return it to any Cracker Barrel during the rental period (1 wk? 2 wks?).

I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but we used to do it renting from one location and returning to another.

We do have a Cracker Barrel about 15 mins. away! In fact, we just had breakfast there Sat.! I'll check into the rental program. Thanks!

I'm guesstimating the trip is 16-17 hours or so. If I were you I would drive til about 12:30 stop and sleep until about 5:30 then drive til you get there. That should still put you in Orlando before 1 or 2:00.

My calculations exactly! Except I'm factoring in a little more time to allow for traffic (sometimes around Baltimore and Wash. DC) and potty/gas stops (6 kids and we'll be in a Suburban- 14 miles/gal--ouch!) So I have us stopping around 1am and getting back on the road by 6-7am, at WDW around 2-3pm.
Fortunately, I KNOW DH can do this. For the 20 yrs that we've been married he has gone fishing many, many times. When he does, he can go to bed at 11pm, get up at 3-4 am and fish all day! He's a sound sleeper so he wakes refreshed with less hours of sleep than I need as a light sleeper. So if we stop at a hotel off of I-95, it will take him all of about 5 mins to be in a deep sleep, he'll sleep like he's comatose for 5 hours and be wide awake and ready to hit the road!

I'll be spotting him by driving a few hours of the first leg so that he can take a brief nap and then drive until we stop at the hotel.

One thing we are doing to save traveling time on this trip is to pack stuff for snacks and sandwiches and eat while driving rather than stopping like we usually do for 45mins-1 hr. to eat at a sit-down (usually Cracker Barrel)

 

[Talking Hands]

~Listen to peppy music using headphones and a portable CD player (The kids will no doubt be asleep in the car)

At least in Florida it is illegal to use headphones while driving so this one may be out.

 

[SylviaL]

Audiobooks are great! DH and I love the Harry Potter books--we think they're even better than actually reading the books b/c the narrator does such a fantastic job. Sometimes we just sit in the car to listen to the book some more even after we have reached our destination.

 

[MikeM132]

DH and I are leaving NJ at 3:30pm on Tues and hope to be checking into POP around 2-3pm the next day. This will call for some driving that will extend well into the wee hours that first night. (We do plan to stop and sleep for about 5-6 hrs. at a hotel along I-95.)..........................

!

I sometimes use one of those hand-grip exercisers when I get really tired. This works for a period of time and you'll arrive able to bend spoons with your fingers (ha). Also, I like books on tape instead of music. An exciting book can really keep you going a long time (better than coffee, and I am a coffee-holic).

 

[monymony3471]

guess we "Monica's" think alike.

I find that it's not common meeting too many monica's. I've only known one other my whole life. Bumped into just a few here and there.


Books on tape, that sounds pretty interesting. We have a dvd player, I thought listening to a movie is ok. AND NO I don't mean watching it while driving just listening.

But those are hard to hear while the car is driving if you don't have the head phones on. So that may not work anyways.

I think I'm gonna go up to the library tonight.

 

[ducklite]

In all honesty, I'm not sure you're going to get there that early in the afternoon.

We make that drive very regularly, and seldom get in until later in the evening. Keep in mind that when you stop to sleep for 5-6 hours, it's actually going to end up being a 7-8 hour stop. By the time you get checked in, take everything to your room, get to sleep, and everyone showers and you truly get on the road the next day, add two hours to your time.

I'd suggest driving to Southern VA and stoppiong for the night--around midnight depending on where from NJ you are leaving and the traffic you hit.

Get up and on the road the next morning around 7:00am, you'll be refreshed and feeling good, and will get to WDW in time for a late dinner without worrying about falling asleep.

If I'm driving on a weekend, I chat with a friend on the cell phone (hands free) and listen to music. We have CB radio in the car and I listen to the truckers (be careful if you've got little ones, the language can get rather coarse.) I eat krispy kremes and drink fountain Cokes when I need another hour. If I'm driving alone I usually take a power nap right after we cross the bordr in Northern FL.

Anne

 

[crazymomof4]

Books on tape, that sounds pretty interesting.........

I think I'm gonna go up to the library tonight.

I checked my library today and got good news: The loan period for books on tape is the same as for paper books- 4 weeks. So if I borrow them just prior to leaving, I won't have to rush to get them back after our trip. Also, I noticed that they have several Mary Higgins Clark titles for which I have the paperbacks, but have not yet read. I picture myself driving along, listening intently, much like people listened to radio programs before the advent of television!

ducklite: the schedule you described is exactly the one we usually follow. This time we're going to try to drive a bit farther into the night. That's why I will be driving, to give DH a few hours to power nap so that he can go further into the night. By doing this, plus starting earlier the next morning and not stopping to eat (packing food) along the way, we hope to shave off a few hours and get there a little earlier. Like I said in a previous post, DH can honestly be refreshed after only 4-5 hours of sleep. He's one of those people who falls fast asleep in, no kidding, 2-3 minutes! He sleeps very soundly and wakes up alert and ready to go! I wish I could sleep like he does!!!! The kids and I can catch up on our missed sleep in the car, so we should all be OK by the time we arrive.

 

[hayleypiesmom]

A couple of things that seemed to help on our trip last to WDW a year ago....

First, we had everything except the barest of essentials packed in the van the night before... we then got to bed SUPER early-- like 6-7:00 p.m.... even with all the excitement (it was a WDW first for ALL of us!) we managed to get a few good hours of shut-eye....

I set the clock for 2 a.m. This "trick" goes back to my college-finals days... I used to do this very thing when I needed some heavy-duty studying. I always found that after the initial "shock" of waking up at that awful hour, I felt great and more alert than any other time.... probably wouldn't work for everyone, though.

We quietly and quickly moved dd6 to her carseat without waking her, and gathered the little bit of stuff we still needed... I was already fully awake/ showered, etc., so I did the first pretty long stint of driving (4-5 hours,) while dh napped-- he is a much better "car-napper" than I am.

Our dd didn't wake up until around 7:30, when we stopped for breakfast/ potty. That was about 5 1/2 hours we didn't have to be asked, "Are we there yet?!"

Since dh had practically a whole night's sleep, he was good-to-go for the better part of the day of driving. We did stop at a motel for a few hours when we were both tired.... really, our opinion was, what's the point of getting to WDW totally exhausted and cranky, anyway?

I agree with the poster that said the way home is much different... we left WDW with a full-night's sleep, but I was totally useless, as a driver... thank goodness dh wasn't as tired!!! We started driving around 8:00 a.m. and stopped about 5:00 and spent the night. I felt like an absolute zombie!!! I couldn't have driven even 1/2 hour that day.

But we did the 2 a.m trick again after stopping for the night, and felt great.

HS

 

[mexico_ride]

We live in PA, just 5 mins. North of the MD border! Our recent plan of attack on our last 4 or 5 trips is, we leave between 6 - 7pm and drive straight through the night. The kids sleep almost the whole time, which makes it easier on them!
Once you get through VA, the speed limit is 75 all the way down I-95 until you get to FL! If you maintain a good speed (80+) you can pick up some time!

Quick stops at convienience stores and rest stops keep me going! A book on tape, or even just a new CD or two works wonders! Stand up comedy is good too! XM has been a big help lately as well!

If ya got friends on the west coast, give them a call on your cell!

DONT try to make the journey home in one trip!!! TOO MUCH!!! I've done it several times and always regret it!

In January, we left PA at 6:00pm and pulled into Outlets on I-Drive at 9:45am!
Plan on besting my time in a few weeks when we head down again!

 

[8 Ears]

I will admit I have not read the other posts (supposed to be getting ready to go to work) but can you say

Mt. Dew??

 

[stemikger]

This might seem strange to some and gross to others, but I swear this works. Before you get in the car stick a thumb tack on the meaty part of your buttocks. It hurts at first and you will bleed a little, but it keeps you aleart. I do this every time. However, on my last trip I pushed myself a little to long and my backside got infected. When I arrived at Orlando - I had to go to the hospital to get stitches for the gaping hole and antibiotics for the infection. My butt hurt all week and some green puss was coming out. So I guess I didn't save that much time after all.

Oh one more thing, if you are going to use this method, make sure you wear diapers.

 

[crazymomof4]

I set the clock for 2 a.m. This "trick" goes back to my college-finals days... I used to do this very thing when I needed some heavy-duty studying. I always found that after the initial "shock" of waking up at that awful hour, I felt great and more alert than any other time.... probably wouldn't work for everyone, though.

Too funny! I did this all through college too!

We've done the leave at 2am thing when we went w/ my in-laws. Now we prefer to leave immediately after DH is done work (3:30pm if he doesn't take lunch) I actually pick him up at his place of work since it's south of where we live. That way he gets credit for a full day of work and we get to use the rest of the day to begin traveling.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Please consider slightly altering your plans. At age 15 I was in a rollover car accident because my boyfriend fell asleep at the wheel. I would not be alive today except for my seatbelt. Driving while tired is JUST AS BAD AS DRIVING INTOXICATED! I know most people don't realize this, so I am not flaming anyone, just a friendly reminder. If the driver tires, try switching drivers. If all available drivers are tired, STOP FOR THE NIGHT. Period. Don't let a fun family vacation turn into a horrible tragedy. You could hurt or kill your own family or someone else's. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Disneyonmymind]

for everyone's safety. I previously did not believe my DH, but I tried them and this really does work. I don't even like seeds much and never eat them for any other reason but, to avoid falling asleep, they aren't that bad. Planters & Frito Lay are best. There's something about eating them one at a time and having to open the shell in your mouth and then separate the seed from the shell and then spit out the shell into a cup. This is just enough "activity" to keep you awake and driving safely. You don't feel so tired because you're not just sitting there staring at the highway. Since you don't get much to eat, you don't get filled up so you can keep going for hours. My DH can drive for hours this way and so can I.

Please, for your safety and your loved ones, take a bag of seeds just in case. I can almost guarantee it will work (unless you just can't stand seeds, of course, LOL). I once fell asleep at the wheel and wrecked my car so I'm not a believer in driving tired and sleepy. I would rather pull over along any road and catnap rather than fight sleep at the wheel. The seeds keep you from being tired so it never gets to the sleepy stage.

Ok, sorry, - I will shut up now. I just had to post again because I think it's such a great technique and I want everyone to be safe.

Jackie

 

[hayleypiesmom]

Too funny! I did this all through college too!

I guess I've never been a big sleeper, anyway, but this was the best thing for me in my college days. After I was fully awake, I found that I retained anything I had to study SO much better on a few good hours of sleep than people who stayed up until the same hour studying.... plus, I lived in the dorm, and I was normally the only one awake-- no one else to TALK TO!!!

I still wake up occasionally and do 2 a.m.house work, or catch up on work.... dh thinks I'm truly !

I agree with everyone else on the fact that it's truly not worth it to risk anyone's life by driving while sleepy. We were SO ready to get home, and dh was convinced he could just drive straight through... I insisted that we needed to stop... I was even too exhaused to RIDE in the car at that point!!! Besides--- we were only saving 5-6 hours, anyway.

I am so thankful that we stopped. HS

 

[crazymomof4]

Try the sunflower seeds for everyone's safety. I previously did not believe my DH, but I tried them and this really does work. I don't even like seeds much and never eat them for any other reason but, to avoid falling asleep, they aren't that bad. Planters & Frito Lay are best. There's something about eating them one at a time and having to open the shell in your mouth and then separate the seed from the shell and then spit out the shell into a cup. This is just enough "activity" to keep you awake and driving safely. You don't feel so tired because you're not just sitting there staring at the highway. Since you don't get much to eat, you don't get filled up so you can keep going for hours. My DH can drive for hours this way and so can I.

I have put that on my list and will definately be munching on these!!! What you say about the activity involved in eating them makes sense to me. Just one question...where do you spit the seeds? Thanks for this great tip!

 

[Disneyonmymind]

We just use an empty coffee or soda cups that we kept expressly for that purpose. There always seem to be plenty of them and they're easy to handle. My DH and I each have our own "style" of seed-eating and I'm sure you will develop your own. I'm glad you decided to try it since it works so well for us, lol. I like to get the word out if it can help to keep someone safe.

Enjoy your trip!!!

Jackie

 

[crazymomof4]

Please consider slightly altering your plans. At age 15 I was in a rollover car accident because my boyfriend fell asleep at the wheel. I would not be alive today except for my seatbelt. Driving while tired is JUST AS BAD AS DRIVING INTOXICATED! I know most people don't realize this, so I am not flaming anyone, just a friendly reminder. If the driver tires, try switching drivers. If all available drivers are tired, STOP FOR THE NIGHT. Period. Don't let a fun family vacation turn into a horrible tragedy. You could hurt or kill your own family or someone else's. Enjoy your trip!

I appreciate your concern and totally agree with not driving while TIRED. This thread is getting long, so you probably didn't read some of my previous posts on this, so I'll repeat:
We are not planning on driving while TIRED. Our plan is to drive just a little longer than we normally do in the initial stretch. This will require me to drive for about 3-4 hours while DH naps. I usually don't drive much when we're going on vacation. (DH would rather drive than tend to the every need of 4 kids- LOL) So that is why I posted asking for suggestions. Because I've been a driver for 23 years I know that I tend to get DROWSY when I drive on an interstate (no stops or turns, not much to look at, motion of the vehicle) for a long period of time. I believe this happens to more people than just myself. It has nothing to do with being TIRED. It can happen in the middle of the day, when I've had a full nights sleep and naps in the car! My OP was to help fight off this drowsiness and remain fully alert for safety's sake. I'm happy to have recieved some excellent suggestions and I feel confident that a combination of several of these will keep me from becoming drowsy, AND make the hours pass more quickly!!
As I said in my OP: We will be driving until about 1am and then stopping for about 5-6 hrs of sleep at a hotel. That way our normal sleep rythym will not be altered a great deal. So we are not pushing ourselves and have no plans of driving while tired.

I think I may edit my OP so that people don't get the wrong idea.