Wednesday...how horrible might a road trip be?

[kyraj]

Humm, I just think I'm going to second the thought of MC. It really seems like a WONDERFUL place! I have first hand experience ya know!

Tell them to cut the plans and just drive towards MC......you could come along!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Humm, I just think I'm going to second the thought of MC. It really seems like a WONDERFUL place! I have first hand experience ya know!

Tell them to cut the plans and just drive towards MC......you could come along!

Hhhmmmm...

 

[laurie31]

I think you've already put your foot down, but here's some ammo if you want.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/2...?Title=Driving-is-dangerous-Thanksgiving-week

A recent study by the University of Alabama shows that the day before Thanksgiving was one of the worst crash days in 2007.

Statistics indicate that on the day before Thanksgiving, there were 585 accidents, compared to 196 on Thanksgiving Day.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/patrol-52865-carolina-highway.html

"We try to have every available trooper on the road,” said Worley. “The day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday following Thanksgiving are traditionally the highest travel days in the state.”

I don't think it would be such a horrible idea to visit the campus on a day when there aren't classes, but you couldn't pay me to drive this Wednesday if I didn't have to. (I'll be driving to work...that will be bad enough!) People driving home for the holidays don't really have another option, but your DS's trip is optional. Go later. The college isn't going anywhere.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Don't know anything about your route...but I'd avoid unnecessary travel on wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving.

How many miles are we talking and what is the regular-non-holiday traffic drive time?

We are heading to Maryland for a friend od the family's graduation from somehing in the army. We are doing it as a HUGE favor and are happy to do it. Rush hour drive time will be abot 2 hours. That doesn't take holiday traffic into consideration. We wouldn't do it for anyone else for any other non-emergent sitation.

This is unnecessary holiday stress. Bake pies instead!

 

[Buckalew11]

Humm, I just think I'm going to second the thought of MC. It really seems like a WONDERFUL place! I have first hand experience ya know!

Tell them to cut the plans and just drive towards MC......you could come along!

One of the best.

Hhhmmmm...

yeah, I'm a good mover inner.

 

[allison443]

OP do I understand correctly that your son hasn't applied to this school yet? If he hasn't it seems time would be getting short for a pre-application visit. I know at my kids' high school, the guidance office has to receive your transcript request by Dec. 1 in order to get the transcripts out before Christmas break...I know deadlines vary among schools, but it is getting late. Maybe that's why your dd wants him to visit asap.

If he has already applied, imo he might as well wait on the visit until a time when classes are in session...colleges and high schools holidays don't always coincide, so perhaps a day he is off from school but the college is in session?

Good luck to your son! I'm sure having a dd who works in admissions helps with knowing the ins and outs!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

How many miles are we talking and what is the regular-non-holiday traffic drive time?

170 miles, about 3 hours.

OP do I understand correctly that your son hasn't applied to this school yet? If he hasn't it seems time would be getting short for a pre-application visit. I know at my kids' high school, the guidance office has to receive your transcript request by Dec. 1 in order to get the transcripts out before Christmas break...I know deadlines vary among schools, but it is getting late. Maybe that's why your dd wants him to visit asap.

If he has already applied, imo he might as well wait on the visit until a time when classes are in session...colleges and high schools holidays don't always coincide, so perhaps a day he is off from school but the college is in session?

Good luck to your son! I'm sure having a dd who works in admissions helps with knowing the ins and outs!

He has applied. His applications are all in, so he does have time to actually go see the schools. DD didn't see the college she's attending (and LOVES) until we went to the "accepted students" day. DS is applying to some of the top schools in his field...the one he wanted to see Wednesday is one...plus others. So it might be just as well to wait and see if/where he gets accepted before visiting them.

I think you've already put your foot down, but here's some ammo if you want.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/2...?Title=Driving-is-dangerous-Thanksgiving-week

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/patrol-52865-carolina-highway.html

Thank you! A parent can never have too much ammo.

 

[Pixie Princess]

I'm driving through Atlanta tomorrow and I'm already dreading it. Planning to get there no later than 2pm and pray it isn't too bad already.

From that everyone else has said you couldn't pay me to drive on Wed!

Good luck! Before I started working out of my home, I would either work from home or take 1/2 the day off on Tues. to get out of town before everyone else was passing through.

A few years ago my sister and I drove from GA to visit our other sister in Nashville on the Wed. before Thanksgiving. The sister that drove with me is a school teacher so we had to wait until Wed. to leave. What should have been a 6 hour drive at most ended up being an 11 hour drive. Never again will I travel that day.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

A few years ago my sister and I drove from GA to visit our other sister in Nashville on the Wed. before Thanksgiving. The sister that drove with me is a school teacher so we had to wait until Wed. to leave. What should have been a 6 hour drive at most ended up being an 11 hour drive. Never again will I travel that day.

See, that's what I mean. I know it's the worst travel day, but to what extent? A normally 6 hour drive taking 11 hours is exactly what I've been wondering about. If that's the type of thing we can expect as the norm for Wednesday, then "no way." We've never traveled to anyone else's house the day before Thanksgiving...all our travel, IF any, has been Thanksgiving day, and either very locally or flying. I guess that's why I haven't paid much attention to past news about traffic, except crowded airports...the reason we would fly to WDW on Thanksgiving morning, rather than get that extra day in by going Wednesday.

The good thing is...since the topic has been going around the family, our oldest DD who has a somewhat long work commute, is probably going to take Wednesday off.

Let me just clarify...again...the college would not be 'DESERTED'. Staff doesn't have the day off, admissions is open, tours are available. And no, we're not going.

 

[crazelion]

Might help if we knew where you were driving. We are going to Atlanta and trying to time the trip to avoid rush hour. Hoping for the best but Atlanta traffic is horrible even when it's not the day before a holiday.

Have you checked to make sure anyone will be at the college? Does he just want to look at the grounds? I agree with the others, not a good day for a college visit.

How bet rush hour is 3:00 am in the morning. I am not joking either.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Double the "on a good day" travel time will be a best case estimate. Plus, you'll be dealing with other stressed out drivers.

Seriously, visiting a deserted campus is a total waste of time, gas and toll money!

 

[MrsPete]

Oh please, are you serious? WTHeck are you implying? She loves her brother, she'd be driving out there round trip in a day (6 hours on a good day), a road trip would be a great time to hang out with him, she's interested in what he plans to do college-wise, she's worked in an admissions office for 3 years and considers herself something of an expert, she's got the week off of school and works AT school so she's also not working, he's got the day off of school and as I've said repeatedly it works for HIM, he naively suggested it and she naively said "sure" without considering holiday traffic, the campus is NOT CLOSED nor deserted...there are no classes but it's a regular work day for the staff, she has a boyfriend near HOME not out there. Anything else?

Or maybe, she wants to do drugs and hook up with a stranger. Which I'm thinking she can do anytime if she really wants to since she's got her own apartment near college, year round.

Too funny. Only on the DIS.

Wow, what an over-reaction. I was commenting that since she's SO INSISTANT, perhaps she was hoping to see an old high school friend, shop somewhere unique that's in that area, and she didn't really want to mention that was a part of her motive for making the trip that day. Where'd you get the idea of drugs, etc.?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Double the "on a good day" travel time will be a best case estimate. Plus, you'll be dealing with other stressed out drivers.

Seriously, visiting a deserted campus is a total waste of time, gas and toll money!

I'll just say it one more time for the heck of it ...the campus would not be "deserted". Staff still there. Admissions open. Tours available. NOT the best situation, but fits the fact the MY DS has the day off from school. Would be a preliminary visit. And no, we've decided not to brave the traffic.

DD is 20 years old. This would just be another adventure for her. Major traffic wouldn't faze her. I'm older (lots ) and don't feel comfortable about her driving in horrible traffic. Therefore, I win.

 

[Buckalew11]

Just send him to MC. All problems solved. He has applied, right? Haven't you always wanted to see that *beat a dead horse* town near it?? LOL

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Wow, what an over-reaction. I was commenting that since she's SO INSISTANT, perhaps she was hoping to see an old high school friend, shop somewhere unique that's in that area, and she didn't really want to mention that was a part of her motive for making the trip that day. Where'd you get the idea of drugs, etc.?

Oh, I don' think it was an over-reaction at all. You implied something sneaky was going on, questioning her real motive. She's 20 years old, and there's no reason whatsoever for her not to say she wanted to see an old school friend (male or female) or that she wanted to shop. All I did was explain all of the VERY good reasons for why she DID want to make the trip. She was insistent (actually, just bantering on FB between her and me) because she's not seeing the traffic aspects of it as any big deal. End of story.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Just send him to MC. All problems solved. He has applied, right? Haven't you always wanted to see that *beat a dead horse* town near it?? LOL

LOL Um, yeah, of course he applied there. *nose growing wildly as I type*

As soon as he's off to college, wherever he goes, I AM coming to see that "beat a dead horse" town (oh, mom and dad would have LOVED a picture of me next to the "beat a dead horse" town sign! )...and staying at YOUR house. (The guest room IS decorated in Disney style as I requested, right?) I'll bring the BB for dinner. Then off to the Food & Wine Festival.