Drive or Fly

[GJM]

Also from NJ here (Saddle Brook). We have driven twice with my DS. This first time he was 8 months old. It was good to drive because we had so much stuff. At that age I just sat in the back with him & he was easy to entertain or he would sleep. We did stop & stay over I think in GA. We hit a bad storm. Coming home we didn't stop. Last year my son was 3 l/2, this car trip was a little different. We had the DVD player, I though he would love this. He did watch some shows, but it didn't hold his interest that long. We had to do alot more stops for him, & I had to sit in the back with him & entertain him. It was much easier I think at 8 months old then almost 4. We are going again in Oct. & this time we are flying. I also HATE to fly, I have never liked it, but I had to fly in April and I asked the DR. for something. It did take the edge off, I think if I didn't take anything I wouldn't have even went on the plane. Now this will be my DS lst. plane trip, so we will see how this goes. But I just can't do the drive down again.

 

[justhat]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we had an incredible amount of stuff for my daughter when we went to WDW, aside from 4 checked bags, we had her diaper bag, husband's laptop, carseat, stroller, and her travel aquarium swing (which we gate checked). We just threw all that stuff in the stroller and carried her in the Bjorn, much easier to get through the airport.

 

[alicenwonder99]

We live in Chicago and we drove a couple of years ago. My children at the time were 15 months, almost 3 years, and 13 years. My 15 month old didn't do to well in the car. But, I should add that he never really liked car rides. We made frequent stops along the way. We stopped in Nashville on the way there, and it took us around 10 hours. With no children we can get there in around 6 hours. On the way home, we stopped in Chattanooga. That was about 12 hours. My dh did ALL the driving! What a man! lol.

The best part about driving is we were able to bring ALOT of stuff. When you have little ones, you just need so much. We were able to bring our double stroller with and that helped out alot at the parks.

Last year, we few to DL. The children were older: 2 1/2 years, 4 years, and 15 years. It was a 4 hour flight. Well, by the time we left our house to the time we arrived at the house we were staying in LA, it took 12 hours. That was really draining, too. I hate flying and I would rather drive. But driving to So. Cal from Chicago is just out of the question.

We're planning our next trip to WDW in Dec 2005 and we are going to get a dvd player for the car. I figure that the children can watch a movie and when it's over, we'll stop for a break. Pop in another a movie, and then stop for a break. Hopefully it will be alot easier this time.

So, to answer your question, if your baby likes car rides, I think you it will be fine. But just make sure you stop for frequent breaks. The children can't really move around too much in those car seats. Another thing that may help is to plan on leaving around 3am. Hopefully you can just slip her into the carseat without waking her. You guys can get alot of miles in while she's sleeping.

Mary

 

[Amirah95]

Before we got our minivan DH told me that after I get pregnant that we won't be seeing WDW for at least four years. He doesn't want to "torture" our the baby or our DD (who will be 11) in a 17 hour drive that will turn into a 24 hour or more drive. Now that we purchased the van he is open to the idea of taking the baby on a roadtrip. I don't think that most babies do well on long roadtrips because they have to be strapped into a car seat.

 

[kerry34]

Alicenwonder99,


DVD player is a great idea. I bought one for our last trip down to the world. We were able to get one fairly cheap at Walmart. My kids loved it, we brought some disney flicks to get the kids psyched up. DD11 was thrilled because she got to watch Pirates of the Carribean a few times. The great thing about them also is they come with AV Jacks so you can hook them up to a regular television as well.




Kerry

 

[Amirah95]

Welcome to the DIS Kerry!!!

 

[kerry34]

Thank you, this is a great board.

 

[Alicia Gist]

We have decided to fly this time. It just works out better for us. We can work the day we leave and not have to take another vacation day off. As far as the DVD player... it is a godsend. My son is 15 months old and loves Sponge Bob. If we run an errand he goes with us where he can watch Bob Bob as he calls it. Now we just have to get him adicted to Mickey.

 

[montblanc]

I have done both and was surprised to find the flying part was more tiring (I had to carry all this stuff and a car seat into the plane with a young child). Recently I have not enjoyed flying and for some reason as I get older my fear goes up.

We have driven twice from Maryland (about 13 hours, thank goodness they raised the speed limits). I've figured out elaborate ways of keeping entertained and we never get bored. It is also fun to see the different states as we pass through them and the closer we get the more excitement there is. We do take 3-4 breaks for eating and such on the way down as well.

The cost of driving is very low for us, I think last time it was around $200 round trip. Hard to beat that with airfare...

 

[Amirah95]

Did they clean that mess up on I-95 in Richmond yet? We only drive when we take vacations to Florida and round trip for gas was $200 for us too. We are thinking about taking our DD for her first cross country tour. DH and I used to do it every other year before she was born. I think she's old enough to handle it.