What Was I Thinking?!?! UPDATE

[SharpMomOfTwo]

We are going to Disney this Tuesday ​

I can't wait, and I guess in my flight booking insanity..... my brain just wasn't working.....
Our flight takes off at 7.30am. The airport is just over an hour from us. You are supposed to be at the airport about 1.5 hours before your flight..... So that means that my inlaws will be at my home (they are flying with us) at 4.20am to drive down there
That means that I have to get my kids up around 4.30am or so (DDs are 2 & 3) - throw some clothes on them and throw them in the car and PRAY that they fall back to sleep for the hour drive. If they don't sleep in the car, I know they will fall asleep on the plane.......
But the worst of it all is the fact that I booked the Princess dinner in Norway for that night!!!! All I can hope is that they will have taken enough naps throughout the day that they will be able to survive it - but what about the adults!!!!! The next morning we also have Chef Mickey ressies for 9.20am!! DH doesn't get home Monday night till 8.30pm - his plan is to just STAY UP ALL NIGHT because he says that going to sleep he will be MORE tired than if he just stays up

Please someone tell me that you have done something insane like this, and you and your family survived it.... PLEASE!!!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Take a tip from Jon & Kate +8 and have your girls sleep in their clothes. If they are pretty sound sleepers they may be able to be put in their car seats without fully waking up. I know you want to make use of evey minute, but this may be a day to make sure to fit in a nap time...if you can get in your room early...may want to call and request and early check in time. I think your girls will perk up once they see the princesses however they may crash pretty early too Have a great trip...it will all work out.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Great idea about having them sleep in their clothes!! The ony flaw I see in it is that DD3 will still have to go potty... though I may be able to get away with NOT changing DD2s diaper, since it probally won't be that wet yet - SINCE IT WILL STIL BE THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!! What was I thinking!?!?

 

[Bibbidi]

We get up often at 4 am for 14 hour drives between our house in Ohio and my parents in MA. Your kids will more than likely fall back to sleep in the car on the way to the airport. If not, I tend to find that the lack of sleep is usually worse the next day, so I would think they'll get through the Norway dinner, but may not be ready for Chef Mickey's the next morning. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just have fun--hey you'll be at Disney and you can find time to nap somewhere in there I'm sure. Have fun!

 

[tzolkin]

I agree with having them sleep in their clothes. If we have a long day of traveling, I usually dress my kids in comfy clothes anyway (esp. not jeans). If we have to get up that early, we get some food/snacks and drinks for the car (in case they wake up and are hungry) and we wait until the last minute to bring them from bed to the car (we'll change diapers in a dimly lit room or carry them to the bathroom with just a nightlight on, so they don't really wake up completely).

I'm sure they will be fine for the princess dinner. They will probably sleep in the car and on the plane and will be excited when you get to the park and especially excited to meet the princesses. I'm not so sure about the next morning, but I don't really have any experience. We didn't do reservations on our trip because we didn't want to worry about following a strict schedule. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. Don't worry about your reservations until that morning-- just focus on how your kids are feeling and take time to enjoy it all.

 

[tchrrx]

We've been to WDW for the past 3 years. Each time we've left our house before 4 a.m. We love it! There's something about being the only family on the road. We take a box of powdered donuts & eat at the airport. Lines are basically non-existent, so there's no waiting at the airport. The only problem we've found is that there was no where to purchase a drink at our airport b/c everything was closed. If you're going to a larger airport, that may not be a problem.

 

[*Wish*Upon*A*Star*]

I'm laughing because we're in the same exact situation as you!

We leave Tuesday as well - our flight is scheduled to leave at 7am - we have to be at the airport by 5:30am. And... DH has to work until 11pm tomorrow night!

We have 8pm Chef Mickey reservations so I'm hoping we can all get a nap, provided our room is ready when we arrive. If not, it's not the end of the world, we'll work it out.

Have fun!!!

 

[ColleenG]

Sounds like our travel plan for our last trip. I planned on taking my kids to the air port in their PJs with the hope that they would sleep in the car for the hour drive. Nope! All 4 were wide awake even though it was pitch dark. I thought ok they'll sleep on the plane. Nope, I think DS1 slept for maybe 1/2 an hour. We went to dinner at DTD at T-Rex around 5:00. They did pretty good, but after that they pretty much crashed. If they don't sleep, just remember they are probably on a Disney high and are running on a lot of excitement. Try to nap if you can but if not don't panic. Just plan in some down time the next day after your breakfast ressie. Good luck and have a great time.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

When we went to WDW this past October our plane left at 6:30 am and we live 1 hour from the airport.

My kids were so excited. I told them once, its time to go and they were up and dressed I think before I turned around and left their room.

My DS (10) was OK the whole day. DD(5) was OK until about 8:30 pm . She asked to go back to the room because she was tired.

No naps and no meltdowns.

Good Luck!

 

[mom2faith]

I can beat you!!

Our flight was for 5:45 am.

We are in Canada, so therefore had to be there 2 hours before departure: 3:45 am.

We live 1/2 hour outside of the city, so we left at 3:15 am!!!

We use the J & K trick and DD slept in her clothes.

We actually were not that tired when it was all said and done and still went out that first night, but we also had an easy day the next day.

We would do that same flight again as it got us there at 3:00 pm and we could get settled, stop at Target and head over to DTD for the evening.

Have fun!!!

Amy

PS On the way home we left at 7 am so left our hotel room at 4 am to allow time to return the rental car and be there 2 hours before the flight. That was a lot harder!!!

 

[Del]

If it were my kids, they would be fine all day because of the excitement but it would be so hard to get them up early the next morning because they would be exhausted. Good luck. ENjoy!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I just went to print out our boarding passes from Spirit, and the flight time has changed!! We are now boarding at 5.40am!!!!! I can't believe this!!! This now means that the inlaws will be here tomorrow morning at 3am to get on the road! Oh my goodness!!! DH says hes 100% not going to sleep tonight because he just doesn't see the point, and at this point, hes right. Well...... at least....... we really will have a full day our first day!

 

[Nie0214]

I just went to print out our boarding passes from Spirit, and the flight time has changed!! We are now boarding at 5.40am!!!!! I can't believe this!!! This now means that the inlaws will be here tomorrow morning at 3am to get on the road! Oh my goodness!!! DH says hes 100% not going to sleep tonight because he just doesn't see the point, and at this point, hes right. Well...... at least....... we really will have a full day our first day!

Wow! I'm sure you will just nap for a good part of the day. Have fun!

 

[mjkacmom]

In this day and age, it seems like flights change all of the time. Ours was for 11 am, and was changed to 7:30 am, last November. Fortunately, we live 20 minutes from the airport. I think 4 hours of sleep is better than none.

 

[madmom1030]

If you still have left over pull ups from potty training I would put dd3 in one just in case. That way if she wakes up and has to go to the bathroom and you aren't close to one it isn't a big deal if she has an accident. Just put them in the car and go. Don't change diapers or try to make them go the bathroom. They will probably sleep until you get to the airport.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Wow, good luck! Does this mean you will also get in earlier and may be able to get a little nap. Have a great trip & let us know how things went

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Wow, good luck! Does this mean you will also get in earlier and may be able to get a little nap. Have a great trip & let us know how things went

 

[ColleenG]

OMG!! That is early! I hope you can all sneak in a nap. Good luck and safe travels!

 

[CrawfordMom]

We've done this before! The kids are always so excited they never sleep, but just plan on a nap and you'll be fine. Have a great time!

 

[emh1129]

I just went to print out our boarding passes from Spirit, and the flight time has changed!! We are now boarding at 5.40am!!!!! I can't believe this!!! This now means that the inlaws will be here tomorrow morning at 3am to get on the road! Oh my goodness!!! DH says hes 100% not going to sleep tonight because he just doesn't see the point, and at this point, hes right. Well...... at least....... we really will have a full day our first day!

My DH does the exact same thing- stays up all night. It drives me nuts and makes no sense to me, but whatever. He's stubborn!

Have a GREAT trip!!