Originally Posted By Misty We live in Davis, have driven 4 or 5 times, flew twice. It is easier on my husband to fly, since he generally does all the driving. But it always seems like a useless cost to us, and the drive is not that bad. Except for that last LA hour - even without witnessing a horrible accident! We also like having our car so we can bring the cooler filled with food - empty it into the hotel refrigerator on arrival. My kids can also bring their own pillows, etc. Have a safe trip everyone!
Originally Posted By mickeynewe The whole drive down to us isn't bad, only coming home does us in because by that time we are so tired from opening/closing the park each day. Out of curiousity, what time does everyone like to drive down? We always drive at about 4-5:00 p.m. and get there between 10p.m. - 12:00 a.m. That way we get a full night's sleep for the next day. This time we are hoping to drive down between 1:00-2:00 p.m. and get at least a couple of hours in the park since it is open to Midnight. It will be the only night the park is open late during our stay.
Originally Posted By magicbeinghad2 Last year, my husband flew down to attend a conferance, and the kids and I drove down after school on the first Friday of Dec. We made great time and were really excited, then... at almost the end of the grapevine, dead stop. It was the weirdest thing getting out of my car and standing on the blacktop of I-5, 10 p.m. talking to my husband on the cell, and just waiting. We waited an hour, we could see the flickering lights of the emergency vehicles around the bend, but not anything else. People were sort of milling around their cars. My kids were watching a video and I don't even think they noticed that we were stopped. It was very surreal, we got to the Candy Cane a little after 1:00 a.m.
Originally Posted By BoyStory We usually aim for 5:30-6:00am for departure. It's part of the exitment of the trip to leave while it's still dark, and watch the sun come up enroute. We get to our hotel by around noon, grab a quick lunch, and then we're in the park by around 1:00-1:30 pm.
Originally Posted By kmsandrbs We go to SoCal a few times every year (not always to DL), and we typically want to leave around 1 PM, and do leave around 4 or 5. This is usually because I am getting off work early, but things aren't packed and ready to go. On our few trips to DL, we have usually spent the night before with family, and then headed to DL in the early morning.
Originally Posted By dlkozy LOL kmsandrbs-We have a "want to leave time" and an "actual leave time" too!
Originally Posted By iDisney72 We actually prefer to leave about 11pm the night before, and staying at a motel or what not that night, and then we are ready to go around 11am the next morning. This time, we'll be leaving here around 6am the day of, and leaving Anaheim around 1 on our last day to avoid LA traffic. Hopefully leaving in the morning won't be too bad...I know I'll be well rested for the day, but my driving boyfriend better not be tired!
Originally Posted By pirategirlscully Funny once I posted on this topic I went and talked to my husband and kids about driving vs flying next trip and we are pretty much decided on driving since it only saves us 2 hours each way flying. (and a lot of money) We usually leave around 7am, stop for a quick brunch and get to the DL hotel around 3-3:30pm... this will probably be the plan when we go again next December. I seriously hope the bedlam will have ended by then.
