You'll all be proud of me.

[50sjayne]

This is the first time we haven't drove straight through-- through the night (through the snow barefoot) to walk into the gates opening at Disneyland.

We said last time never again (gettin' too old for that) but were falling back on our old ways until I made a final brilliant attempt at a compromise. I knew it had to be perfect to get husband to miss 1/2 a day at Disneyland.
I found the Days Inn in Westley for $55 grand total-2 beds, one jacuzzi and a continental breakfast. I really need a jacuzzi for my back--I have issues with sitting. That'll make it 8 hrs 45 minutes of a drive from Eugene OR down I5. Then 5 1/2 hours to Disneyland.
I figure it will be so busy that day we won't miss much--it's also a Monday so no magic morning to take advantage of and we have our volunteer fast passes. Check in isn't even 'til 4pm anyway. Thanks to all the people posting about places, I wouldn't have even thought to look so far south but it makes perfect sense.

 

[skiingfast]

Did you make the park opening from Westley?

 

[lisah0711]

Glad that you found something and will be stopping. Just think how rested you will be when you get to the park on Monday! Great job on the room deal!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I could never drive straight down and get to the gates in the morning. We allow a day for driving. We go to the hotel, settle in, and then head on over to the parks around 4 or 5pm. We don't count this as one of our days at DLR, it is extra bonus time.

 

[rentayenta]

Stopping? I am totallyteasing, I don't know how long the total drive is from your home to Disneyland.


Our drive from Utah is about 10.5 hours and I debated, heavily, on stopping but decided not to. We took a family vote and the only person who really wanted to stop was DH. It's amazing that it turned out in my favor when I presented both options so fairly.

1. Get up at 5, head to Mesquite. Stop for the night, swim, play, chill. Leave the next morning for Disneyland at 6 am. After grocery shopping and checking in, arrive to parks about 2ish. And no arcade our souvenirs.

or​

2. Get up at 5, drive straight through. Arive in Anaheim by 4 pm. Stay at the hotel with the dads while the moms shop, swim, eat, chill, watch the fireworks from the HoJo- maybe head into DTD, ya know they have Build A Bear Head to the GCV early to drop our luggage and groceries, make MM by 6:30 meaning 8 more hours in Disneyland.

 

[50sjayne]

I'll do a trip report and include how the drive went and how the motel was when we are back. It is about a 15 hour drive total. Last time we hadn't been to Disneyland for 10 years and I hadn't slept much the day before and maybe only an hour during the trip down. Husband decided he wanted to sleep about midnight so I was handed the wheel then and drove until 4 am. It was foggy too and I made hime wake up and drive before the grapevine. I figure if I absolutely cannot make him fly (there were actually $59 fares from Eugene to LA) he will grant me this...

 

[rentayenta]

I'll do a trip report and include how the drive went and how the motel was when we are back. It is about a 15 hour drive total. Last time we hadn't been to Disneyland for 10 years and I hadn't slept much the day before and maybe only an hour during the trip down. Husband decided he wanted to sleep about midnight so I was handed the wheel then and drove until 4 am. It was foggy too and I made hime wake up and drive before the grapevine. I figure if I absolutely cannot make him fly (there were actually $59 fares from Eugene to LA) he will grant me this...

I hate the foggy groggy feeling. We flew red-eye to WDW last time with a stop in the middle of the night. I will never do that again. The first day and even part of the next, I felt like I had been smacked repeatedly with a hammer. So not worth saving the money on the flights to fly red-eye.

Will look for your report.

 

[chrissiecutie]

We drive straight through from our home near Seattle, WA. About 19 hours total.

We eat an early dinner at home, around 5pm and get on the road by 6pm. Stop around 9pm and put DS in PJ's, potty/gas break and then drive for as long as we possibly can without getting sleepy. Usually until about 1:30am and then DH and I get out and walk around, buy something with caffeine, hit the gas station, etc and get back on the road. All while DS sleeps. I always tell DS, when you wake up....we'll be in California!!

We usually arrive the following day around 4-5pm. We don't usually go to the parks that day but settle into the hotel, eat an early dinner and use our MM the next day.

Works great!

 

[50sjayne]

We drive straight through from our home near Seattle, WA. About 19 hours total.

We eat an early dinner at home, around 5pm and get on the road by 6pm. Stop around 9pm and put DS in PJ's, potty/gas break and then drive for as long as we possibly can without getting sleepy. Usually until about 1:30am and then DH and I get out and walk around, buy something with caffeine, hit the gas station, etc and get back on the road. All while DS sleeps. I always tell DS, when you wake up....we'll be in California!!

We usually arrive the following day around 4-5pm. We don't usually go to the parks that day but settle into the hotel, eat an early dinner and use our MM the next day.

Works great!

Yeah we were going to do that this year we were going to use the GAD vouchers to upgrade to 3 day but we found the 5 day LMT tickets. Already had 4 days at the hotel so decided to just add one more day--Mon. because husband didn't want to drive all day Sun. Then have to work Monday because he is a baby. When I added a day at HOJO it was $20 more than our other days because the prices went up and we were already staying in a premium Disney view because we were originally only going to be there 4 days (instead of 6 like last time) even though we are getting the room 1/2 off becuase of a contest I entered--it's still going to be about $70 a night-$90 for Monday so I don't want to add another day.
We're just getting too old for doing that- I'm always going to be too excited to sleep, and husband is 51. We used to do it though-- every year when the kids were little. We'll still drive straight through home. If we leave early enough we might even get through the Siskious when it's still light-- scary y'know.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Yeah we were going to do that this year we were going to use the GAD vouchers to upgrade to 3 day but we found the 5 day LMT tickets. Already had 4 days at the hotel so decided to just add one more day--Mon. because husband didn't want to drive all day Sun. Then have to work Monday because he is a baby. When I added a day at HOJO it was $20 more than our other days because the prices went up and we were already staying in a premium Disney view because we were originally only going to be there 4 days (instead of 6 like last time) even though we are getting the room 1/2 off becuase of a contest I entered--it's still going to be about $70 a night-$90 for Monday so I don't want to add another day.
We're just getting too old for doing that- I'm always going to be too excited to sleep, and husband is 51. We used to do it though-- every year when the kids were little. We'll still drive straight through home. If we leave early enough we might even get through the Siskious when it's still light-- scary y'know.

I hear ya! It's hard driving straight through but honestly, I don't know why more families with young kids don't do it??

Your kids can sleep, you don't have to listen to the constant whining/fighting/are we there yet AND you save money on top of it!

The hardest thing is the "witching hour" from 1-4am, waiting for the sun to come up and staying awake can be difficult but once the sun is out and you find yourself in Cali- suddenly the drive doesn't seem quite so long and you're not as tired as you were just a few hours ago!

DH and I always play it safe and help keep the other awake while driving. Also stopping for regular potty breaks every 2 hours helps. Walk around, eat a candy bar (sugar!) and get back on the road. All while DS is blissfully asleep!

 

[reynmagsmom]

We did the drive straight through last year for my 40th birthday and I swore I would never do it again... I guess I'm getting too old for it as I do most of the driving. About 12 hours is my limit and that gets us to Santa Nella so thats our normal stop point for the night, then we get into anaheim around noonish and have pleanty of time to head over to the parks!! I find when we stop I have enough energy to head over to DL on day 1 instead of hanging out at the hotel. I just have to go in !!!