Driving to WDW w/2 year old....Any Tips?

[chipper10]

We will be going to Disney World in May with our DS. DS will be 2.5. We are going to be driving from Illinois.

Any tips or suggestions from people that have previously survived this?

 

[Ellester]

Snacks, juice boxes, lots of wipes, portable DVD player and lots of movies he likes! At that age, we would stop for lunch somewhere with a play area and let them run while we ate peacefully and then got their food to go to eat in the car. It may not be fun, but it can be done!

 

[Harvestmooner]

Snacks, juice boxes, lots of wipes, portable DVD player and lots of movies he likes! At that age, we would stop for lunch somewhere with a play area and let them run while we ate peacefully and then got their food to go to eat in the car. It may not be fun, but it can be done!

I agree, we have done it!! Our DS slept alot-just because of the motion of the car. We drive from NH-about 24 hours straight through. Take nice breaks to walk or run about and play silly games in the car. Of course the DVD's with Disney movies and talk about who you are going to meet.
Have fun!!!

 

[PrincessMama605]

My dd (now 3) has been going on road trips since she was about a month old, so she is used to it- and she can still get cranky!

I always make a big deal about where we are going and what we are going to do (Disney, vist relatives, etc.) so she feels like the long drive is worth it. I know she will be off her schedule anyway, so I do let her stay up a bit later the night before, helps to get her tired to sleep in the car as much as possible. Also, I bring her favorite blanket and pillow from home so she's comfy.

I have toys I keep just for long car trips, plus I let her bring a few favorites. I also have crayons or color wonder markers for her to use. And like the pp said, lots of snacks, juices and hand wipes. I also like to let her get out and run around a bit when we stop. And she does get to (occasionally, not every stop) pick out a junk food treat, something I wouldn't normally allow at home.

A dvd player is great, but I would recommend headphones to go with it. Also this year she got a leapster, so that does keep her busy for awhile.

Good luck!

 

[Mandychelle79]

How well does the child like the car seat. My ds was 2 when we took him and it was HORRID, because he hates the seat. That and we had to go through the mountains of WVA so his ears hurt. But that said we are doing it again in 2009

 

[3boymthr]

Not to WDW but from MA to CA and back (28 days/7,000 Miles) with three kids. Plus trips to Delaware and/or Indiana and back to MA each year for the last 13 years. We're doing the WDW trip in May...

As per PPs definitely find some play areas for mid day pit stops and bring favorite blanket and/or pillow and/or lovey. Pack favorite snacks, lots of wipes and if he's potty trained an empty 20 oz soda pop bottle with a cap because one thing we discovered not all rest areas have a bathroom (or trees) .

Pack a kid size backpack with some of his favorite small toys because after a while even movies get boring. Something he can reach into and grab what he wants to play with. Small Cars, a few books, some action figures, little animals, etc. Sometimes a couple of cheap new toys are a great way to keep them distracted for a longer period of time - something you pick up at the dollar store such as a new dinosaur, etc. Or since your headed to Disney a new Disney toy as an advance souvenir. Instead of crayons and color books a travel Magna doodle was a great asset for youngest DS. No crayons to drop and he could make all the scribbles he wanted with no mess for me to clean up.

If you are not driving straight thru to FL and plan on stopping for the night mid way I would recommend finding a motel/hotel with a pool or playground so you can let him be active for a little to use up extra energy before putting him to bed. A motel with an indoor pool is easier to find than one with a playground. If you stop early enough some motels will direct you to the local public playground. I recommend making reservations before you leave or stopping by 5:00 because nice motels along the major highways often fill up by 7:00 and that way you won't have to push on farther than you planned before stopping or end up stopping at a roach or no tell motel.

 

[Trader Aaron]

Leave early, really early.

We've done a number of multi-day road trips with our 2 year old and getting on the road early has always worked well. With that said, flexibility is your friend. Bring lots of options for snacks, games, media and be prepared to stop.

Best of luck.

 

[crl]

I agree with all that's been said. On our last 9 hr drive to MIL's house, my kids (2&5) loved little prize bags I put together. I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of stuff. Every few hours, I brought out another lunch bag that had a prize in it. The kids loved it.

 

[Krazi4Travel]

I would go to the MdDonalds website and use the McDonalds trip planner. I would find all the McDonalds along the way with a playground. If my kids started getting restless in the car we would stop and buy a drink and let the kids burn off some steam for a little while then continue on our way.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We drive from Eastern Iowa about 19 hours of driving time taken both kids for babyhood to toddlerhood, the Chik-Fil-A's have the cleanest play places we've found and there's several along the interstate once you get to GA. We like to have one person drop parent and child off then drive to get gas (there are always stations in the same lot or across the street, turn child free, the gas getter come back runs in orders food, then adults eat, return to car, feed a runout child(ren) then they usually get a good long rest after a bit of exercise and full bellies.

Otherwise we stuck to cleaner reststops so we could turn the toddler free to run a bit. I found that bringing a cooler of familar food helped, he hates fast food, even at 3.5 will only eat a plain cheesburger, so we took lots of fresh friut, yogurt, etc. We also try to stick to one really, really long day stopping in Valdosta and then one short day to WDW. They are really car seat fatiguged by the time we get there and making that 2nd day any longer would be torture, and they are really good car riders but they all have their limits.

 

[mom of princessx2]

We got by last year (dd3.5 and dd1) with DVD player, lots of books and snacks. Most rest areas are pretty good and I think the fresh air always did my girls good. You could bring a football, plastic ball and bat, bubbles, anything to burn off energy. just be flexible, leave as early as possible, and have loads of fun!