Originally Posted By mickeynewe Hoping you can help me! Our typical Disney vacation is from Wed-Saturday. This time we are going Sat through Wed. We will be coming home on November 9th. We have to drive home (7 hours) to Northern California on Wednesday so my daughter can be back to school on Thursday. I was hoping you could give me some advice on what would be the best times to leave based on L.A. traffic? I really hate having the long traffic jams! Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!!!
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LOL - Darkbeer lives south of Disneyland. We have found if you leave mid-morning, the traffic isn't bad except maybe through the La Mirada area (where the carpool lane on North I-5 ends). Typically, we leave around 10 am.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Yep, get out of dodge some time between 9am and 10am and it's pretty much smooth sailing.
Originally Posted By retlawfan OR travel in the middle of the night. But that does make for a very long day. Also, if you are a AAA member, stop by the AAA kiosk to the left of City Hall for a LA freeways map. they will even highlight the carpool lanes on the freeways if you'll be driving during the busy times. If followed correctly, it does save some time, even though it seems you are going out of your way sometimes.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ <<OR travel in the middle of the night. But that does make for a very long day.>> LOL! See our trip reports from a week ago Saturday! 5.5 hours from the Bay Area to Mickey and Friends. We left home at 4 am, had 12 hours in the park and got home again at 3:45 am.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe >>> LOL! See our trip reports from a week ago Saturday! 5.5 hours from the Bay Area to Mickey and Friends. We left home at 4 am, had 12 hours in the park and got home again at 3:45 am <<< All hail the Disney Queen! Wow...5.5 hours, really? I am impressed. LOL...dare I ask how fast you were driving?
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Cruise control was set on 85 for I-5. It was slower on the LA side of the Grapevine, obviously, but we never moved faster than surrounding traffic and someone was always passing us! We made one stop for gas and potty. That's the advantage of having six adult LPers in the car, LOL.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ And it helps to have the whole car singing along to Aerosmith on the way home
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Aerosmith?! You rock! Now, that would keep me awake on the long drive home!! I only get to listen to rock when I'm by myself in the car, or occasionally my 12 year old will be nostalgic with me and listen to some of my old rock favorites.... hubby is a dedicated country music fan. Can't wait for Christmas this year, I've been a very good girl and asked Santa to put a brand new (okay, old) Scorpions CD in my stocking.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LOL! Well it was all night disco until we got over the grapvine and lost the english language stations. The only CD we could unearth from the center console was Aerosmith's Oh Yeah! Girl, until I met you, I was F I N E fine! We woke up any passengers still sleeping with that one!
Originally Posted By wendebird And if that didn't wake them up, my rendition of Dude Looks Like a Lady sure did!
Originally Posted By mickeynewe I now have this mental picture of you guys stuck in my head..... gee....thanks! *grin* Sounds like you all had a really great time!
Originally Posted By mickeynewe Will do! Would love to see what you guys REALLY look like instead of those dang pictures singing in my head! ROTFL
