- Are you driving in one big vehicle? I'm wondering whether you have ample space for packing all you want? If so, bring along sale-purchased sodas, bottled water, and snacks. Not just for the drive, but for the whole trip. Over-pack snacks and drinks; at the worst, you bring them back home -- they will definitely be cheaper at home than in Orlando.
- Discuss ahead of time whether you'll allow the 17 year old to drive part of the way. Let him or her know your expectations.
- Pack a cooler with road-trip drinks and snacks, and pack it in such a way that the kids in the back seat have access to it. Pack frozen grapes, carrot sticks and cheese cubes for the road -- don't get the kids sugared up and then expect them to sit nicely in the car.
- Pack plenty of sunscreen, Tylenol and other such necessities. These things will be exponentially less expensive at home. Think about sunscreen, tampons, water shoes, bandaids, laundry detergent, batteries, and anything else you think you'll want.
- Pack your Disney clothes and your road trip clothes in separate bags. When you arrive at your on-road hotel, leave your big Disney bags in the car. Bring in one large duffle bag with one pair of PJs and one set of clothes for tomorrow -- for everyone. Less in your hotel room to step over, less to pack up again the next morning.
- Will you have a kitchen in Orlando? Consider ordering your groceries ahead for pick-up. Why waste your vacation time shopping? Whether you have a kitchen or not, grocery store deli food is a nice "in between" choice; that is, in between eating out and cooking.
- Remember what they said in driver's ed: "Take ten out of two." That is, a ten minute stop /stretch break every two hours. It'll keep people sane. Someone else suggested a soccer ball, etc. for breaks -- excellent idea.
- When our kids were small, we used to do something that really looked mean to outsiders, but wasn't: We'd stop at a McDonald's with a play space and let the kids play -- while we ate. On the way out the door we'd buy their Happy Meals for the car. Win-win for the kids, but to strangers it looked like we were getting food for ourselves /not the kids.
- All these children are old enough to understand "long drive", and they each own a school backpack. Discuss ahead of time your expectations for a quiet, calm drive, and encourage them to start packing a drive-bag soon. I'd give them each a small budget for magazines, puzzle books, card games, etc. for the road.
- We used to get audio books from the library for car trips.
- These are KIDS, and road trips get long for them. Consider a visual for them -- something like a string of post-it notes strung across the top of the front windshield. Mark them with 50-mile interval numbers OR towns you'll pass through. Every time you take down a post-it note, have a dance party in the van. Make one for the trip home too.
- Your first driving day will be easiest -- riding fatigue will hit you the second day. Try to put 2/3 of your miles behind you the first day; this will also mean you can arrive at your hotel mid-afternoon and have time to scope out the place, lay in some groceries, and hit the pool before dinner.
- Choose a hotel with a pool. This'll give everyone a needed physical outlet after sitting still all day. Encourage the kids to stay up late-late at the hotel -- they can sleep the next day in the day, which willl be a win for everyone.
- Choose a hotel that includes free breakfast. It's so much easier for everyone to go downstairs at their own pace and get something to eat. Once they were 10-12, we started letting the kids go down to breakfast in pairs, leaving the bathroom open for the adults. Makes for an easy morning.
- Coming home can be a bummer. Leave the house sparkling clean with fresh sheets on everyone's beds and an instant dinner in the freezer. If you have a neighbor whom you trust to help you out, ask him or her to go by early on your return date to turn on your air conditioner and leave fresh flowers on your table.
My girls and I sometimes get car sick -- it's unpredictable. I highly recommend candied ginger from the produce section of the grocery store. I can always find it at Harris Teeter under the name brand Sweet Melissa. I cut it into bitty pieces/pack it in a small Tupperware container. The relief is INSTANT but not particularly long-lasting.
My RN daughter turned me on to emesis bags from
Amazon -- I always have them in my glove compartment -- throw up, twist the top to secure the mess, then throw the bag away. She calls them "Punch and Pukes".
https://www.amazon.com/MP-Mozzpak-Vomit-Bags-Disposable/dp/B08C3Y8T5W/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1D9TEZN9GMT0O&keywords=throw+up+bags&qid=1651946538&sprefix=throw+up+bags,aps,112&sr=8-5