Leaving Early for WDW

Janice419 · 08-06-2005

We are driving from NC to WDW in September. Our first night is Sept 21st. We have started talking about driving down on the 20th and staying off-site in a cheaper place just to be there bright and early on our first day.

How many of you do this?

My husband will be off on the 20th so we first planned to finish packing and then leave real early the 21st but I just think I would rather head down there and be rested and ready to go on the 21st.

**Dana** · 08-06-2005

I think that's a great idea. You will start your first day at WDW refreshed instead of tired from all that driving. Definately go for it. I never do that only because I always fly and will not pay the $100 to change my flight times..lol It's tempting though..lol A WDW vacation can never start to early.

Princessbaby · 08-06-2005

I agree with Dana, a WDW trip can never be started too early!

You can be refreshed and ready to go if you go down a day earlier. Once you get into the park you'll be so wrapped up in things to do, you'll wished you were more rested.

**Dopey** · 08-06-2005

If I could I would. It's a great idea. Staying off site for the fraction of the cost of staying onsite is a good thing.

Andrea · 08-06-2005

Sounds like a great plan to me! DH has to work the day before our trip, but as soon as he gets home we're driving as far as we can toward WDW... then it'll be just a few hours in the morning until we arrive.

bali · 08-06-2005

We're doing this for the first time this trip. Usually we leave at some crazy hour like 3:00AM for our Disney trips, but this time we're leaving after work the night before and heading down. This way we won't be so tired and cranky on our first day in the World.

BuzzLightyear · 08-07-2005

Same here, we are usualy up at 3 am for our trip to disney.
This year we are leaving a day or two earlier than normal with an afternoon flight to start the trip off rested.

**DisneyTeacher** · 08-07-2005

That's a great idea. We once left at 3 am and arrived in Orlando about 8 pm. We stayed in a cheap off site hotel and checked in to our Disney resort well rested at 8 am the next morning.

**llama** · 08-07-2005

We do it all the time. Time is precious at WDW - don't waste any of it, if you can help it. Have a great trip!

Val32 · 08-07-2005

I just did this!! I booked my air flights flying in the nite before at 7pm!!
I booked the Ramada Resort Maingate and it is 1/2 mile west outside the Disney entrance!!
It cost me only $42.00 too!!!

Iam so excited!!!!
Looks like a nice hotel too, although we will be there a very short time!
I hope to check out in the morning and head over to WL and attempt to ck-in, leave my bags at the front desk, go have breakfast at the Kona Cafe and then head over to Sea World!!!

We will then come back to the hotel and get situated before our PS at 8pm for the Luau!!!

Janice419 · 08-07-2005

Mapquest is saying we will have about an 8 hr drive. DH usually likes to leave on vacations late at night so the boys (2 and 4 yrs old) can sleep most of the way in the van. That works great for them but then I am exhausted!

In September there are some cheap rates around that would not be bad for the one night - no frills - just sleep stay.

DH says he is fine trying it this way IF I can have everything packed in time. I think with all this notice though I should be able to manage.

08-06-2005	#1 (permalink)
Janice419 Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 202	Leaving Early for WDW We are driving from NC to WDW in September. Our first night is Sept 21st. We have started talking about driving down on the 20th and staying off-site in a cheaper place just to be there bright and early on our first day. How many of you do this? My husband will be off on the 20th so we first planned to finish packing and then leave real early the 21st but I just think I would rather head down there and be rested and ready to go on the 21st. __________________

08-06-2005	#2 (permalink)
Dana Super Mod/Packen' Kracken Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Joisey Posts: 23,782	Re: Leaving Early for WDW I think that's a great idea. You will start your first day at WDW refreshed instead of tired from all that driving. Definately go for it. I never do that only because I always fly and will not pay the $100 to change my flight times..lol It's tempting though..lol A WDW vacation can never start to early. __________________ ~82 off-site~91 off-site~97 ASMusic~ ~00 ASMovies~02 Wilderness Lodge~04 Animal Kingdom Lodge~ ~05 Animal Kingdom Lodge & Polynesian~ ~05 Port Orleans French Quarter~06 Old Key West~ ~07 Port Orleans French Quarter~08 Old Key West~ ~09 Saratoga Springs~10 Port Orleans Fench Quarter~ My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 10 day do all or die trying trip. 270 days 23 hours 3 minutes

08-06-2005	#3 (permalink)
Princessbaby Always a Princess Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,710	Re: Leaving Early for WDW I agree with Dana, a WDW trip can never be started too early! You can be refreshed and ready to go if you go down a day earlier. Once you get into the park you'll be so wrapped up in things to do, you'll wished you were more rested. __________________ Can't wait to get back to WDW Next trip: June 2010 ´¨) ¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)¸.•¨) (¸.•´(¸.•`Princessbaby´¨) My Disney Countdown Counting down to:* Celebrating a birthday in Disney!! 206 days 7 hours 55 minutes

08-06-2005	#4 (permalink)
Dopey eleventwentyten Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In the middle of the madness Posts: 11,468	Re: Leaving Early for WDW If I could I would. It's a great idea. Staying off site for the fraction of the cost of staying onsite is a good thing. __________________ WDW Theme Parks Moderator - moderating with a twist x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)xxxx¸.•¨) (¸.•´ Adventures of an Innkeeper ´¨) Limser was my first MB friend ~ Pepperstink is my cheesy friend Doughnut, HB and Limser are my Michigan Martini Madness cohorts MissDisney is the better cookie baker Pu is back eleventwentyten Every morning is the dawn of a new error My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Going to meet Mickey and Friends

08-06-2005	#5 (permalink)
Andrea Dole Whip Apostate Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shasta in my heart Posts: 2,815	Re: Leaving Early for WDW Sounds like a great plan to me! DH has to work the day before our trip, but as soon as he gets home we're driving as far as we can toward WDW... then it'll be just a few hours in the morning until we arrive. __________________ x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨"...make sure you don't grow up stupid.¸.•´¨) (¸.•´xxxxxxxxxxxxIt's bad for the world."xxxxxxxxxxx ¸.•´ xxxxxxxxxxxxx--Tami Taylor, Friday Night Lightsxxxxxxxxxx(¸.•`* My Disney Countdown Counting down to: I have absolutely nothing to look forward too. :-(

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Leaving Early for WDW

08-06-2005	#6 (permalink)
bali Dreamfinder Society Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,387	Re: Leaving Early for WDW We're doing this for the first time this trip. Usually we leave at some crazy hour like 3:00AM for our Disney trips, but this time we're leaving after work the night before and heading down. This way we won't be so tired and cranky on our first day in the World. __________________ May 02 offsite * May 03 AKL * Oct 03 CSR * May 04 POR * Oct 04 CSR * May 05 BCV * Oct 05 SSR * Dec 05 BWI * Jan 06 WL * May 06 AKL * Sep 06 PC/BCV * Dec 06 WL * Jan 07 CSR * Apr 07 BCV * Jun 07 BW * Oct 07 BWV * Nov 07 WL * May 08 CSR *

08-07-2005	#7 (permalink)
BuzzLightyear MB Cast Member ® Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Space Mountain Posts: 3,917	Re: Leaving Early for WDW Same here, we are usualy up at 3 am for our trip to disney. This year we are leaving a day or two earlier than normal with an afternoon flight to start the trip off rested. __________________ 86,92,96 Offsite * 2002 AKL * 2003 BCV * 2004 Contemporary * 2005 WL * 2006 BWV* 2008 CSR * My Disney Countdown Counting down to: 108 days 9 hours 3 minutes

08-07-2005	#8 (permalink)
DisneyTeacher Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: WDW in my dreams Posts: 18,308	Re: Leaving Early for WDW That's a great idea. We once left at 3 am and arrived in Orlando about 8 pm. We stayed in a cheap off site hotel and checked in to our Disney resort well rested at 8 am the next morning. __________________ ~Stephanie~ 1993 Caribbean Beach Resort ~ 1996 Caribbean Beach resort ~1997 Caribbean Beach Resort ~2003 Wilderness Lodge ~2004 Beach Club Resort/Shades of Green/Pop Century~ 2005 Wilderness Lodge Resort/Beach Club Villas ~ 2006 Saratoga Springs Resort~2007 Port Orleans French Quarter/Beach Club Villas/Boardwalk Villas ~ 2007 Port Orleans Riverside~ 2008 Wilderness Lodge/Beach Club Villas~2008 Beach Club Villas~2009 Hilton Head Island~ 2009 Beach Club Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Beach Club here we come 240 days 4 hours 3 minutes Last edited by DisneyTeacher; 08-07-2005 at 01:11 PM.

08-07-2005	#9 (permalink)
llama Practically Perfect Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Slurpee Capital of the World Posts: 7,379	Re: Leaving Early for WDW We do it all the time. Time is precious at WDW - don't waste any of it, if you can help it. Have a great trip! __________________ Your Moderately Moderate Moderator A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BAD KITTY CLUB "Meowany Are Called, Mew Are Chosen" eleven-twenty-ten My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Christmas in Florida 31 days 10 hours 3 minutes

08-07-2005	#10 (permalink)
Val32 Villainous Vixen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Jersey for now... Posts: 4,105	Re: Leaving Early for WDW I just did this!! I booked my air flights flying in the nite before at 7pm!! I booked the Ramada Resort Maingate and it is 1/2 mile west outside the Disney entrance!! It cost me only $42.00 too!!! Iam so excited!!!! Looks like a nice hotel too, although we will be there a very short time! I hope to check out in the morning and head over to WL and attempt to ck-in, leave my bags at the front desk, go have breakfast at the Kona Cafe and then head over to Sea World!!! We will then come back to the hotel and get situated before our PS at 8pm for the Luau!!! __________________ Oct 2004 - Caribbean Beach Resort Oct 2005 - Wilderness Lodge Nov 2006 - POP Century Aug 2007 - Old Key West Dec 2007 - Polynesian Oct 2008 - Caribbean Beach Resort [http://www.myspace.com/valsan71 x´¨) x¸.•´ ¸.•´¨)xxxx¸.•¨) (¸.•´xxxxxx(¸.•`xxxVal ´¨) My Disney Countdown Counting down to:* Going back for MNSSHP and FW Festival!!! Relaxing at the Beach Club!!

08-07-2005	#11 (permalink)
Janice419 Senior Mouseketeer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 202	Re: Leaving Early for WDW Mapquest is saying we will have about an 8 hr drive. DH usually likes to leave on vacations late at night so the boys (2 and 4 yrs old) can sleep most of the way in the van. That works great for them but then I am exhausted! In September there are some cheap rates around that would not be bad for the one night - no frills - just sleep stay. DH says he is fine trying it this way IF I can have everything packed in time. I think with all this notice though I should be able to manage. __________________

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