Driving from MA w/ 10m old Suggestions

soontobewed07

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Joined
Aug 4, 2006
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This is our first time driving with a 10 month old. We have made this choice because we would like to have everything we need with us, our own car and save a little bit of money. We are looking for any suggesions you may have. Where to stop on the way down (overnight) maybe the Carolina's ?Virginia? Diser's have been my life savers in the past TIA:goodvibes
 
Hello fellow MA - driving to Disney? Me too in April! We've done it before with a trailer (children were 2 & 5) and this time we're going without a trailer, but with more people in the vehicle! Go ahead call me crazy!


1. The first thing I will recommend to you is not to overpack! Because you will have your own vehicle you can hit a Super Wal-Mart in FL and usually get all the things - diapers, formula, snacks, wipes, etc you will need. Bring some for the ride down of course, but don't over stuff the car with supplies. Sometimes they are cheaper down there then here in MA!

2. Car entertainment will be important for you and your lovely 10 mo. If you haven't already get a portable DVD player and put a large supply of DVDs in a bag that is easily accessible from the passenger seat. Also bring at least four toys that usually entertains the child. This will be your comfort toys!

3. Snacks - not just for the child. It's a long drive and you'll want to have drinks and snacks. Think about getting a small cooler to keep drinks and bottles cold.

4. TRIP TIC - if you don't have a AAA membership - GET ONE!! You will need to request a trip tic from them at least four weeks prior to your trip. It will give you specific directions for your transport down. Also pick up a road atlas - even if you have GPS it wouldn't hurt.

5. Bring your own stroller to the park, but don't drive your own car. If you are staying on site - stay on site. Utilize Disney transportation - no reason to put additional miles on your car if Disney has wonderful transportation provided for you. Leave the driving to them while you are at Disney.

Honestly we drive until we can't take it anymore. Last time we drove straight into Georgia the first day stopping periodically on the way. Florida was the longest trip. I think we stayed at a nice hotel in Georgia right on the edge of Florida. However DH and I are use to driving 6 hours at a time because we have our trailer and our kids don't mind driving at least 4 hours without a break. Bring a Hotel locator - AAA will have them for the east coast so you have a recommended 5 star location to stop in -- not a roach motel on the side of the road!!

Don't be afraid of truck stops! Some of the nicest people are truck drivers - hardest working! Remember to lock your doors at all times, but they are nice people.

Also you might want to think about stopping on the way back at Seseame Street Place - big water park in PA near Hershey! Your child is a little young, but I don't know when you're going he might really enjoy seeing Elmo and Big Bird up close. Plus it's a good place to unwind after a crazy Disney experience.

You can PM me if you want to talk more about it. Like I said we're going down in April 2008 so I'm already making my plans now.
 
we dorve down when my now 3 year old was 12 months and when she was 2. at 10 months they are still rear facing be sure the DVD player will attach to the back head rest for her to see well. I'm not all for a 10month old watching tv but we talking a LONG drive it will save you! LOL be flexible it's a LONG haul! What is the longest car trip you've taken with the child?? Be prepared to not go right to sleep when you stop on the way down, if the baby sleeps for 4-5 hours in the car durring the drive when usally only takes a 2-3 hour nap at home they aren't going to want to go right to sleep when you stop and finally get them out of the car!!!
 
I'm actually contemplating driving this April. Airfare looks really rough. I just wanted to second the triptiks from AAA. I've been playing with their online trip planner all morning.

If we do it we will take about three days.. I'm thinking of stopping in DC, Myrtle Beach, SC on the way down and maybe Charlotte, NC (Carowinds??) and Cape May, NJ on the way back.

I'd love to hear others experiences!

The longest trip we've done is MA to Hershey PA when DD was 18 months...I was ready to tear my hair out by the end of the trip. DD was fine...I was just sick of looking at Corn fields!!! :)
 

How many hours driving will it be??? We have a 16 hour drive, we have done it a lot of differant ways ...
In '01 when it was me and dh only we left about 8am stoped about 10. got up around 8 drove again go there about 2 or so. that was fine if you want to take 2 full days out...
in '04 we flew.... grandparents treat!
in '05 we drove w/ friend (2 differant cars) they were on a budget trip and didn't want to stop on the way... well it was HELL!!! My kids were 5,3,1 we left at 3pm got threw atlanta by 1-2 AM then they wanted to stop and sleep at a rest park... well they slept my kids all woke up b/c the car stoped... left again at 4 am got there by 1 and couldn't check in till 3... it wasn't fun at all i will never do it again. (on a side note i think i could have worked but thier plans to dirve were just all wrong we should have left about 9-10 at night ... got there at 2-3 in the afternoon...)
'05 we left at 5AM drove w/ sleeping kids till 9 am stoped eat b'fast drove threw atlanta around 4pm (yep rush hour)... stoped south of there around 4pm time to eat a nice dinner, swim, chill out, bed early. left at 7am got there about 2pm still took 2 days but it was so much more relaxed...
I'm trying to talk dh into over night dirve but he's not going for it so i think this year we are going to be leaving around 3pm (when the kids get out of school) drive to the north part of GA stop around 11Pm or get up early around 5am get there 1:00 or so... so about a day and 1/2 to get there not to bad!!!
 
I'm actually contemplating driving this April. Airfare looks really rough. I just wanted to second the triptiks from AAA. I've been playing with their online trip planner all morning.

If we do it we will take about three days.. I'm thinking of stopping in DC, Myrtle Beach, SC on the way down and maybe Charlotte, NC (Carowinds??) and Cape May, NJ on the way back.

I'd love to hear others experiences!

The longest trip we've done is MA to Hershey PA when DD was 18 months...I was ready to tear my hair out by the end of the trip. DD was fine...I was just sick of looking at Corn fields!!! :)

I got airfare in April on Southwest out of Providence for 85.00 each way. Maybe they still have fares available.
 
I got airfare in April on Southwest out of Providence for 85.00 each way. Maybe they still have fares available.

Unfortunately its my dates..leaving sunday coming back Friday... Can't get lower that $500 non-stop.
 
Hello fellow MA - driving to Disney? Me too in April! We've done it before with a trailer (children were 2 & 5) and this time we're going without a trailer, but with more people in the vehicle! Go ahead call me crazy!


1. The first thing I will recommend to you is not to overpack! Because you will have your own vehicle you can hit a Super Wal-Mart in FL and usually get all the things - diapers, formula, snacks, wipes, etc you will need. Bring some for the ride down of course, but don't over stuff the car with supplies. Sometimes they are cheaper down there then here in MA!

2. Car entertainment will be important for you and your lovely 10 mo. If you haven't already get a portable DVD player and put a large supply of DVDs in a bag that is easily accessible from the passenger seat. Also bring at least four toys that usually entertains the child. This will be your comfort toys!

3. Snacks - not just for the child. It's a long drive and you'll want to have drinks and snacks. Think about getting a small cooler to keep drinks and bottles cold.

4. TRIP TIC - if you don't have a AAA membership - GET ONE!! You will need to request a trip tic from them at least four weeks prior to your trip. It will give you specific directions for your transport down. Also pick up a road atlas - even if you have GPS it wouldn't hurt.

5. Bring your own stroller to the park, but don't drive your own car. If you are staying on site - stay on site. Utilize Disney transportation - no reason to put additional miles on your car if Disney has wonderful transportation provided for you. Leave the driving to them while you are at Disney.

Honestly we drive until we can't take it anymore. Last time we drove straight into Georgia the first day stopping periodically on the way. Florida was the longest trip. I think we stayed at a nice hotel in Georgia right on the edge of Florida. However DH and I are use to driving 6 hours at a time because we have our trailer and our kids don't mind driving at least 4 hours without a break. Bring a Hotel locator - AAA will have them for the east coast so you have a recommended 5 star location to stop in -- not a roach motel on the side of the road!!

Don't be afraid of truck stops! Some of the nicest people are truck drivers - hardest working! Remember to lock your doors at all times, but they are nice people.

Also you might want to think about stopping on the way back at Seseame Street Place - big water park in PA near Hershey! Your child is a little young, but I don't know when you're going he might really enjoy seeing Elmo and Big Bird up close. Plus it's a good place to unwind after a crazy Disney experience.

You can PM me if you want to talk more about it. Like I said we're going down in April 2008 so I'm already making my plans now.

When are you going? We will be there from 3/31 to 4/5/08. Thank you:worship: for all of your suggestions I might take you up on that offer. We are going to stay at CBR and this is my first time at that resprt so I am a little nervous. I don't know where to request. :confused3
 
How many hours driving will it be??? We have a 16 hour drive, we have done it a lot of differant ways ...
In '01 when it was me and dh only we left about 8am stoped about 10. got up around 8 drove again go there about 2 or so. that was fine if you want to take 2 full days out...
in '04 we flew.... grandparents treat!
in '05 we drove w/ friend (2 differant cars) they were on a budget trip and didn't want to stop on the way... well it was HELL!!! My kids were 5,3,1 we left at 3pm got threw atlanta by 1-2 AM then they wanted to stop and sleep at a rest park... well they slept my kids all woke up b/c the car stoped... left again at 4 am got there by 1 and couldn't check in till 3... it wasn't fun at all i will never do it again. (on a side note i think i could have worked but thier plans to dirve were just all wrong we should have left about 9-10 at night ... got there at 2-3 in the afternoon...)
'05 we left at 5AM drove w/ sleeping kids till 9 am stoped eat b'fast drove threw atlanta around 4pm (yep rush hour)... stoped south of there around 4pm time to eat a nice dinner, swim, chill out, bed early. left at 7am got there about 2pm still took 2 days but it was so much more relaxed...
I'm trying to talk dh into over night dirve but he's not going for it so i think this year we are going to be leaving around 3pm (when the kids get out of school) drive to the north part of GA stop around 11Pm or get up early around 5am get there 1:00 or so... so about a day and 1/2 to get there not to bad!!!

According to GPS it will be a 21 hour drive. We are probably going to stop around Virginia We will be leaving at 7pm hopefully the baby will sleep the 10 hours. That is his normal bedtime. My DH is a medic and I am an EMT so we know overnights LOL
 
According to GPS it will be a 21 hour drive. We are probably going to stop around Virginia We will be leaving at 7pm hopefully the baby will sleep the 10 hours. That is his normal bedtime. My DH is a medic and I am an EMT so we know overnights LOL

see this is why i'm trying to talk my dh into driving us down at night, he's a cop works the night shift 6p-6a so he's use to being up all night (although after jan. he goes 3p-3a but still) ... he's worried the kids won't sleep and be ressless all the way, i think it'd work out best if we left at 9-10pm drove till about 1-2 pm and got there... i'd take the kids to the pool and dh could sleep all afternoon! LOL but he doesn't like my idea...
 
does anyone know of a good vacation checklist with baby items on it. I am so worried I will forget something and it would prevent me from making my own.
 
We drove to WDW back in October with 5 kids and MIL. Youngest one was 14 months. I'm telling you Portable DVD players are a life saver!!!!!!! We had a small cooler to keep drinks & ds's bottles of milk cold and plenty of snack foods.
Our GPS said 21 hours also, but we made it in 20 1/2 and that was with a stop over in Georgia for Breakfast. We left at 10pm, DH took the first leg. I took over somewhere in Virginia, Stopped in Georgia had breakfast and DH took over till we hit our resort at 6:30pm. We stopped every 300 miles to stretch our legs and get gas. Originally we planned to stay a night over in South Carolina, but decided to go straight on thru. Luckily there was a room available lol. The kids were very well behaved and didn't hear very many complaints either. Something we would definetely do again!

Good luck on the ride & have fun :) Remember it's an experience you'll never forget whether good or bad ;)
 
it will be fine with a 9 month old . if your were talking about a 2 and a 5 year old I would have to say thats crazy. me and my wife drove from portugal to paris france which is 24 hours with my 4 month old son and my 3 year old daughter and that was fine now with them 2 and 5 forget about it . I would have to pull over and have a drink every five mins for myself LOL and not water. so I would say have a great time it is not to bad of a driive. By the way that trip to paris was to goto disneyland PARIS
 
We drive down from MA, as well. We'll be driving in April w/a 6 year old an 15 month old. We haven't driven since oldest was about 18 months.

We stayed last time and have booked this time at the Comfort Inn in Rocky Mount, NC. We leave Townsend early am and I believe we got there around 6pm. There was an outback on the other side of their parking lot and we just got takeout and brought it back to the room.

AAA triptick is the best!! It was great to know how far until the rest stops!! I need to get a 2nd portable DVD...for my little one, but my oldest doesnt' look up from his DS too much, so that may keep him.

We haven't decided where to stay on the way home. Last time we did not book a hotel, just stopped, but with the timeframe we are going now, I want to make sure we book...with all the snowbirds heading back north, etc.

We stayed somewhere in VA, I believe, last time.
 
We have decided to stop in port wentworth GA on the way down and somewhere in PA on the way home. AAA sent us or travel package in 2 days they are amazing. We are leaving at 7pm so our LO will be asleep during his regular sleep time. Any advice on where to stop on the way back to MA?
 
Tina gave GREAT suggestions, esp the DVD player. Make sure you bring Baby Einstein like DVDs. When DD was young I tried a full length movie in the car and she didn't like it.

Also, Sesame Place isn't anywhere near Hershey...are you thinking of Dutch Wonderland or Hershey Park maybe? Sesame Place is near the PA/NH border, north of Philadelphia.
 


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