CRAZY? Driving with 4yo and 22mo

[belle92471]

Just wanted to see if you all would drive to WDW from Northeast PA with a 4 year old and a 22 month old. Are we crazy? Planned to leave at night - so they could sleep and drive pretty much straight through. With the price of airfare these days and having the convenience of our own car, we think this might be the way to go. What would you do???

ME(36) DH(39) DD(4) DS(1)

 

[karajeboo]

I totally agree with you - but for me I think it's much easier to drive with children that age, than it is to fly. You can overpack if you want to, you can go at your own pace and stop as many times as you want to, you don't have to worry about the children crying on the plane, and it's not as frantic trying to get from gate to gate, and worrying about luggage getting lost.

I know some people think I'm crazy, but by the time you get the airport early, wait out any delays, then there is the layover in another airport, then wait for your luggage in the arrival airport, then wait for shuttle or rental car and finally drive to resort - what sounded good as a 3 hour flight has suddenly turned into 7 or 8 hours (yes, I know the drive is much longer than that!). So while you are saving some time by flying, it's usually not as dramatic as most people think. And if you're flying in the summer, beware of afternoon t-storms almost every day that cause major delays at the southern airports!

To sum it up, I'd definitely be driving (fighting DH all the way, he HATES to drive!! ) Enjoy!

 

[belle92471]

Thanks Kara for the words of encouragement. We went in December and flew. It wasn't that fun and I think you're right about it being easier to fly when the kids are older. They can entertain themselves a bit more and understand. We are heading down in August with the kids again, so lets hope the driving will be better.

ME(36)DH(39)DD(4)DS(1)

 

[lgjjp]

We just drove from pgh to disney in november with a 4 yo and a 19month old. On the way down we left at night and the baby slept. On the way back we left a 6am and drove all the way thru. the baby lasted until about 7pm before she really started to carry on. We just stopped, got something to eat, let her run around, put pjs on and she slept the rest of the way home. It wasnt so bad. I would do it again.

 

[mnasmom3]

We've done it before, too. The hardest part is that they sleep while you're driving and they're wired when the get there since they slept and you'll be exhausted. I'd take it easy the first day there.

 

[buckler]

My advice. Pack lots of M&M's. My youngest was awful in the car on our trip home from WDW when she was almost 3. She kept wailing and crying "I want to go back to the hotel!" It was awful! M&M's were our only way of calming her down.

She did get her way though. She's been back to WDW 4 times since then and we'll be going again soon I'm sure.

 

[belle92471]

Thank you lgjjp, mnasmom3, and buckler for all your responses and advice. Will definitely need them. It's good to know that others have survived the Drive to the Happiest Place on Earth. Now, can I turn my house into that for when we come home!!!! (It's the ride home that I'm dreading!) Thanks again,

ME(36)DH(39)DD(4)DS(1)

 

[buckler]

I always try to have the house reasonably clean for when I come home. Yes, it's stressful getting ready for the trip. But it's so nice to come home to a clean house.

Tip...when you pack the luggage to come home, sort the dirty clothes into the various suitcases like you would sort your laundry to wash it (whites in one suitcase, check the pockets for tissues etc). Then it's ready to dump in the washer without having to sort.

 

[vanderpawv]

For our family of 5, driving is the best way to go. Its a long drive from the Detroit area, but with our last 3 trips to Disney over the last 4 years we always drive. We went for New Years in 06 and our kids were 6,4, and 7 months. Driving at night is definately the way to go for us. Even for our trip last Halloween, we still leave at night time. We get soooo much more driving time and distance in when the kids are sleeping versus during the day. As mentioned, they are pretty wired when we get there, but luckily the hotel pool keeps them busy while one of us chills and the other catches up on some sleep.
Out or curiosity, for this years trip we looked into flying and the cost is way more than we can justify. With no discounts for kids, we plan to drive once again. Besides, we like having our car down there, we like to bring lots of stuff fur "just in case" with 3 kids. Yes, the drive is harder coming back home, but with a week of fun and priceless memories its well worth it.

 

[Grendalynn]

We plan to drive to your upcoming Florida Trip as well. But I must be crazier than you because I hve one more child and live 8 hours farther away! Our Boys will be 18months, 5 years and almost 9 years. We live in NH and will most likely try to drive staright through. The good thing is that we will be going to my laws right away. It will give us a chance to get the kids rested and caught up on sleep and back on track. When DS9 was younger we drove to Myrtle Beach. As with any traveling we learned to bring lots of stuff (new stuff - rewards almost) to keep their attention. We would bring something new out every so often or when the naves got restless. Nothing super expensive, just something new and fun. Be sure to have a DVD Player if possible with a couple new or borrowed DVDs. Snacks are a must a have too. Also be sure to take plenty of breaks/pit stops so that the kids can get out and run around, stretch their legs. It will tire them out and athings more bearable for everyone, belive me!

PS I am also another for driving at night. Dramamine is also good to help the kids stay car-sick free and makes them a little sleepy. Helps to kep them a sleep for those 3am gas stops!!

 

[becca011906]

we drive about 16 hours. we tried to go stright through one night and IT was NOT fun, they slept we didn't we go there the next day and 1/2 wasn't to fun. now when we stop on the way down or back we are all fine, even if it's only stoping from about 12a-1a or so till about 5 or 6. sure we pay $80 for a few hours but so worth it! and usally we can get a b'fast for free.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would not drive even if there were no kids in the car. If I was forced to (meaning tied to the car with my mouth duct taped) I would hold my breath until I passed out. Did I mention that I hate car trips?

 

[Joanna71985]

I don't think it's crazy. My family drove down all the time (had to, because it's not cheap for 10 people to fly). We usually split the drive over 1 1/2 days. Thank goodness for a tv in the van- we never would have survived otherwise!

 

[*DisMom*]

We just went this past Thanksgiving and drove with an almost 4 year old and 18 month old and it wasn't bad driving there. It took us about 11 hours. We left at 3am so the kids would sleep for the first couple hours, stopped for breakfast and let them run around, and then we were about half way there...so we just had snacks, colors, etc for them to do! On the way home it was a different story. We left right after breakfast and the car was the last place they wanted to be, plus we got stuck in traffic for about 3 hours!!!! Oh, that was something I would like to forget! Anyways, couldn't have been too bad, b/c we are doing it again in May ...my girls will be 4 and 2!! Have fun!

 

[jasbellehontas]

I am a little confused about night driving. If you drive while the kids sleep, then when they are awake and ready to tackle the world, aren't you cranky and tired and suffereing from a sleep headache? I love to drive from the Northeast to Disney but we just leave first thing in the morning bc my DH and I would be useless otherwise. I would love to know how others do it.

 

[mousemommyx3]

We drove once when our girls were 4 years and 16 months. We did ok except for "bedtime" when my youngest wanted to be held not strapped into her carseat. We drove again last year and the girls were 7,4 and 8 months. The baby did really well. It annoyed her to no end that she could not see the Dvd though. I am so excited for our upcoming trip this year because everyone will be able to watch the movie. Oh, we drove from Maryland (near the PA border)
It worked for us to leave super early in the am (around 5) and have everone just go back to sleep in the car.
Have fun!

 

[auntie]

Just wanted to see if you all would drive to WDW from Northeast PA with a 4 year old and a 22 month old. Are we crazy? Planned to leave at night - so they could sleep and drive pretty much straight through. With the price of airfare these days and having the convenience of our own car, we think this might be the way to go. What would you do???

ME(36) DH(39) DD(4) DS(1)

We've done it. We start at 5 in the morning..and the kids slept until we got to Maryland(we're from Long Island)..at which point we would have breakfast. We drove more than half way..to South Carolina..would stop in Florence I believe. Do yourself a favor and stop around around 4:00...maybe even earlier, get a hotel with a pool. Let the kids have a swim and relax, have some dinner. If you don't make a reservation somewhere, make sure you stop before dinner time, otherwise you will be racing other people up to the check in desks at the hotels trying to get a room. Everyone on I-95 has the same idea around dinner time! Been there done that! Learned our lesson and the following year we started stopping earlier in the day. Worked out much better. Then you can get an early start the next day and make it to Disney. The second day we usually start out later....around 8 or 9. With your kids being young they might be up earlier. Make it more like an adventure for the kids..playing games on the way down. We first drove my kids were 2 and 6. So they were a bit older. It's the trip back..that just seems longer to me..the excitement of the vacation is over. If you can make a plan to stop and maybe visit somewhere else on the way back, that would be fun.

 

[Grendalynn]

I am a little confused about night driving. If you drive while the kids sleep, then when they are awake and ready to tackle the world, aren't you cranky and tired and suffereing from a sleep headache? I love to drive from the Northeast to Disney but we just leave first thing in the morning bc my DH and I would be useless otherwise. I would love to know how others do it.

Usually any time we drive, or travel, we give ourselves a day before we arrive to recoup. From NH it takes just over24 hours. Or depnding on our dispositio, we will stop before we get toOrlando and get a good night sleep. But usually for example, that means we arrive on say...a wednesday, stay off site at a less expensive place such as a Days Inn or Econolodge to get an earlynight to bed for everyone, DH and I rotate kids duty so we can get a nap, the kids get one too, get a good meal. Older boys can relax and watch a movie... This way on Thursday we are sure to be rested as we enter our WDW vacation!! Which is usually more tiring than the longest week at work!

 

[GoofyG]

We are doing our 3rd trip driving. The shortest time for us was 21hrs. This time the kiddos will be almost 4 and 2. I'm probably going to be the problem this time since I will be 27wks prego. Flying stresses me out and to add all of the junk and car seats to deal with NOT WORTH IT! Also the 2yr old has food allergies. Thank goodness for the DVD player, and we even have it facing the 2 yr old who still RF in her car seat. My girls do really good in the car. We always stop and McD's and the girls run and play, bathroom, order food and eat in the car. That way they burn energy. Good Luck!

 

[HelenePA]

Just wanted to see if you all would drive to WDW from Northeast PA with a 4 year old and a 22 month old. Are we crazy? Planned to leave at night - so they could sleep and drive pretty much straight through. With the price of airfare these days and having the convenience of our own car, we think this might be the way to go. What would you do???

ME(36) DH(39) DD(4) DS(1)

I didn't read any of the replys, but we are driving from NEPA with 3 kids God help me. Airfare is CRAZY!!! We wont be stopping over night. We are still trying to work out the timing of when we are leaving. Would you like to to report back after we are back?? we leave sometime march 31 to make it there for April 1