Drive vs Fly (with 2yr old) + other questions

[rjcisme]

My family will be going on a 3 day cruise in April for my Dad's 75th birthday (19 total people).
My wife and I are trying to decide to drive-vs-fly from Atlanta, GA. I think it would take about 8 hrs to drive and we have a restless 2 yr old that would probably bounce off the walls after 4 hrs. We can get a deal on Delta for $225ea for my wife and I. (Toddler on our laps) We would get to MCO Thursday about 12:00 and leave Sunday at 11:35.

Questions/Opinios:
1-Fly or drive?

2-Airport to Port transportation: considering one-way car rentals.
Return flight is at 11:35 so we may be pushing it for time. Should we do one-way car rental back to airport or Limo service?

3- Any other suggestions for cruising with toddler will be gratly appreciated!

 

[mickeyboat]

Are you flying in on the day of your cruise? If so, please reconsider getting there a day early. We experienced a horror story and would not wish that on anyone else?

If you travel at night, do you think your 2 year old would sleep? When we drive with our little ones (3 and 4) we would sleep for a while and then leave early in the morning (like 2AM) and drive into mid morning.

We didn't rent a car, but used Disney transfers to and from the airport. We had a 11:55 flight from MCO and got to the airport at around 10AM without rushing off the ship.

Good luck with your decision. I think in your shoes if I thought my child would sleep, I would probably drive down. Save the money on doing something fun on the ship.

Denae

 

[Madaboutthemouse2004]

Hi!

We've been driving to St Augustine & to WDW with kids in tow from NY for the past 7 years. My son was 4.5 when we started and my daughter was 1.5 when she first did the ride. We leave very early in the morning 4am and drive straight through to St Aug. My daughter was a little antsy the first time.

My friends (5 kids - GOD BLESS!) leave at 11pm and drive while the kids sleep.

Save the airfare for goodies

 

[rjcisme]

We aren't paying for the trip. Does that make a difference?

 

[figment52]

my siblings swaer that they won't drive anywhere over an hours with the younger kids (toddler age) if they don't have a VCR or DVD player in the car to help entertain them. I did an Atlanta/Detroit trip and it was easy, we just played their favorite movies (over and over) but it worked like a charm.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I too was going to suggest the "Drive At Night" option. But that puts you drivning back during the day. Also, you either wind up getting there a full day early OR you leave the night before the Cruise and take your chances that you don't run into serious car trouble that would keep you from getting to port by 3 or 4.

I don't know how accurate your estimated 8 hours of driving is. I live just south of Birmingham. When it was just the wife and I, the trip consistantly took 11 hours. We've done it once with a 1 year old and that took 12-14 hours.

 

[eye R.N.]

Better a kid bouncing in a car seat than a kid bouncing in your lap on a plane (add ear trouble and you will be miserable)

My kids are now 18, 15 and 12 and then having been doing the trip from Baltilmore to Orlando at least yearly since the oldest was 2. We have done the night driving thing, day driving, driving on Christmas day, you name it. I have heard every Harry Potter book on tape, sang countless raffi songs, and finally graduated to DVD's on the laptop. I'll take driving over flying any day.

If you do fly, spring for a seperate seat for your child. You as well as folks in front of you will be glad you did.

 

[jel0511]

First off, you mention you have a 2 YO, a 2YO needs to have a ticket purchased for them as well, you can not hold a child who has reached their 2nd birthday on your laps. Secondly, I've driven and flown to FL from NJ with both of my kids, driving is SO MUCH better. We have a DVD player in the car, and it really keeps them occupied, maybe purchase one for your car, you'll see a dramatic difference. Also, since it's 8 hrs, break the trip up and stop for lunch/dinner somewhere. This way, you're toddler will have a chance to unwind before you have to get back on the road. I know my kids can't take more than 4 hours or so in the car, so we always stop and get out of the car and eat a meal around that time. We usually stop at a McDonalds that has a playland so after eating a quick meal, they can run off some steam. It always workd!!!!

 

[jrabbit]

My vote for you would be to drive (I would). A bouncing two year old is nothing compared to a 5 or 6 yo asking that age old question: "Are we there yet?" Like an earlier poster said, on planes you can have ear troubles that can make a child very miserable. Its only 8 hours or so. I'd reduce the amount of nap time the 2yo gets before the drive to help with them falling to sleep.

Good luck with your decision and have a WONDERful trip.

 

[felixdacat]

Hi, I'm from Roswell and will be driving down to WDW at the end of April with the cruise on 5/2.
A straight drive to Port Canaveral should take 7-8 hours. I would do I75 to I10 to I95. My kids are now 3 and 5, but we drove them all the way to Miami when they were each two (10 hour drive). The secret...DVD player or Video Player. We would give each child a turn (Barny for the youngest, Bugs Life for the oldest) and then a parent would get a turn just listening to music. Now that they're older, they can use the head phones and I can listen to music all the way.
Since everyone recommends getting to the area a day early, I would suggest driving to the Jacksonville area the day before, so that you would only have a two hour drive the day the cruise begins. Therefore, you can easily make it to the port by noon.

 

[CamColt]

Since we have driven 24 hours straight, 3 years in a row, the last year with a 3 & 6 yo, and 8 hour drive would be a piece of cake for us and I would definitely drive.

 

[hydster]

We aren't paying for the trip. Does that make a difference?

Heck if you arent paying for the cruise I'd spend the money and fly down a day early, go to WDW for the day and then crash at a hotel for the night or go to the port and wait til you can get on the ship the next day. I HATE driving with my kids and we have a built in DVD player with wireless headphones, an x-box and my kids are 10, 9 and 5. I'd take the cost of a R/T ticket anyday for the 3 of you versus driving listening to a 2 year old whine about sitting in a car seat for that long! If you aren't paying for the cruise you just saved enough money to fly and it wont be such a pain in the rump to get there.

We've driven to DL once and it was about 12-14 hours and it was the most miserable 12-14 hours of our lives! We now spring for a SW flight and consider that our nerves and patience are worth at least that!!! We are going to drive to Denver in August and it's about 10 hours and I am dreading every single day until we get home but the cost to fly into DIA is way more money than even me the pansy is willing to pay to fly.

I'd do what your budget can afford but then I AM a self proclaimed driving anywhere wimp!

Heidi

 

[norma30]

We recently travelled with our 22 mo old. Here are some tips:

1. Bring a safety pin for some privacy. The curtain doesnt shut the whole way.

2. Bring some snacks for when you dont feel like running for someting. We had raisins, PB cookies and Gerber juice bottles.

3. Bring some new little toys....little cars and some crayons.

4. We brought our own sand toys...it was good for the other islands we visited.

Make use of secret deck 7 ...all the way aft. It was a great place to let my DD run around completely safe while DH and I sat on the lounge chairs.

Have a great trip...another other questions, please dont hestitate to ask.

 

[rjcisme]

Thanks for all the advice so far. It looks like driving is the popular opinion with a 2 YO. I appreciate all the responses. Keep the advice coming!

 

[SandraLee]

I have to balance this thread with another vote for flying. I also live in Atlanta and have DD5 and DS8. I never drive anywhere over 2 hrs long. I figured that is why they make airplanes -- to get me started on the vacation earlier. LOL.

I also have a hard time at justifying the 'expense' of driving -- 8 hrs in the car. 2 tanks of gas. plenty of meals and snacks. cost of installing dvd player. parking expense of car at port. 8 more hrs on the way home, ... and the list goes on. Believe me, after coming off a wonderful cruise the LAST thing I would want to do is get in a car w/ a 2 year old and drive for 9 hrs! And, my DH can't stand the waste of time just sitting there when we could be having fun someplace! (or, he could be working)

My kids have been flying the whole lives. Last summer I decided to go to the beach at the last minute and drive to Destin. As we were passing the airport, my youngest (yes, the 4 year old DD) said, "hey Mom, I thought we were going to the beach! She thought we were flying!

 

[O&WMOM]

We have flown with our childern since our oldest was 1. Never have had a problem. They usually fall fast asleep as soon as we take off. Just make sure to have plenty of suckers or pacifiers for take off and landing.

Have a great time on your trip!

 

[MouseGoofy]

HI,

One thing to consider about your travels is that if you fly it is not just the hour or so of your flight but the 2-3 hours that you have to arrive before your flight and the security screening that you will go through. You know best how your child will react with these things. At least in the airport they can still run around a little it's not like being buckled up in a car.

We have driven to WDW from suburban Chicago a number of years ago when DS(11) was 2 and we said we would never do that again, although that is more than double your drive. We have flown about once a year since and most often it has been uneventful. In November 03 we decided to drive again and it was a good trip but DS being older was now content with A portable DVD player and Gameboy.

We were planning on driving later this year but we may change our minds because of some of the low airfares around here and the rising gas prices.

Good luck in your decision, I hope either way it works out well.

John

 

[rjcisme]

We decided to fly and go down the night before. Probaly rent a car one way.
Thanks for all the advice/responses.

 

[aprilgail2]

We drove from NY with my 2 year old and she was great the whole trip. We broke it up into 2 days. I would NEVER EVER fly with a child on my lap and not secured into a car seat...would you drive your car and hold them in your lap? A plane should be no different. I am surprised that they still even allow that but they do.

 

["Ginger"]

We've been driving down for a few years about 17-19 hour depending on stops. Here's our secret with our now 7 year, we leave home around 8 pm her bedtime, she sleeps for a good 10 hours by the time she wake up it time to stop and have breakfast.

If you leave around 8 p.m. you'll be there before your little one wakes up. Leave the day before and spend the night before your cruise at the Radisson or somewhere close to the port and be refreshed for you cruise. Plus you'll be saving whoever the airfare, a one night stay at a local hotel is cheaper that 2 plane tickets.