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Mother, Son, Giraffe, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom, Savannah
  • On Mar 7, 2008
    Alisha from KY Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hello my fellow Kentuckian!! We are traveling to WDW in June and was wondering what you think about driving straight through the night from Lexington to WDW and then attempting to go to the parks the same day of arrival? What would be your suggestions?

    Alisha,

    You're a woman after my own heart!  I can tell you that we have done exactly that twice (we lived in Louisville at the time) and it worked out fine. 

    We had two children the first time, a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 month old, and the trip was much easier on them that way.  We left around 7 pm so they were up for a while, and I read stories, played games, and we watched a DVD before 'bed'.  We arrived around 8 am and the girls had been up for a short time and were ready to go.  We took turns driving so no one person would be completely exhausted.  We were very fortunate to be able to check in to our resort early (the room just happened to be ready) and shower before hitting the parks.  The kids were more peppy than the grown-ups that day, but we all had a great time.  And it couldn't have been too bad, because we did it again a few months later!

    The second time I was pregnant with our third daughter and that was more challenging.  The trip was scheduled the same as the first, but it was much harder on me.  I was very ache-y riding in the car, and as I'm sure my husband will verify, I got cranky.  I might have possibly demanded a hotel room somewhere in Georgia on the return trip!

    Moral of the story is, as long as you're not expecting, I think you'll do fine!  My mommy safety note - make sure you nap at home on departure day, so you're well-rested to drive that night.  Be sure to switch shifts, have caffeine, and stop frequently to avoid driver fatigue.  Sleep when you're not driving.  Get a hotel room if you get sleepy - you can only enjoy Disney if you arrive safely! 

    Good luck with your trip!

    PS) I have some 'how to keep the family entertained in the car' tips but I ran out of room to answer!
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Meet the Panelist: Heather, Kentucky

I'm a member of the original 2008 Moms Panel and am happy to be back again to help you plan! We are DVC members who visit 2-3 times per year with our 3 young daughters, and I am only one visit away from being able to say I've stayed in every Disney resort! Learn More About Heather

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