driving with babies

[ohalloran1]

Hello

In late April, my husband and I are driving from Cincinnati to WDW with a 27month
old and a 8month old! I am dreading this drive. We plan to leave around 7pm and plan
to drive directly there. Has any one done a similar drive? Any suggestions? We
are guessing it may take around 15 hours . Does that sound about right? We do realize
that we will need bathroom and maybe rest breaks, but both babies are still in diapers.


thanks

 

[littleducksmom]

we have done this drive from the st louis area twice, when our son was 7 months and at 13 months. it is just a little longer drive than yours. we always leave a little earlier so that the hardest part of the drive (when the baby is awake the most) is in the beginning. we usually leave before 3 pm and arrive around 8 am in the orlando vicinity. from about 7pm until 6 am he slept pretty well. it just worked well for us to leave a little earlier in the day. we will be driving again in april when the baby will be 18 months.

debbie

 

[ohalloran1]

Thanks for the information. I was hoping to leave earlier. It all depends when my husband gets home from work. I hope your drive down will go smoothly as I hope ours will. I noticed you will be there in April, so will we. April23-26 at WL.


thanks

 

[ohalloran1]

Thanks for the information. I was hoping to leave earlier. It all depends when my husband gets home from work. I hope your drive down will go smoothly as I hope ours will. I noticed you will be there in April, so will we. April23-26 at WL.


thanks

 

[gring]

Hello! We live in Charleston WV and we have made it to FL in 13 hrs. We stopped just a few times for restroom and soda breaks. We will be making the trip in Nov with a 5 year old and a 5 month old. You will have to post when you get back and tell me if you have any suggestions on traveling with an infant!

 

[luvmy2sams]

When our daughter was 21-months-old we drove from SW Oklahoma to Disney, which is about a 21 hour drive. We broke the drive down into 2 days, driving 12+ hours one day and 9+ hours the next. Our daughter's been making 8 hour road trip to visit the grandparents since she was 7 weeks old, so she was unphased by being in the car for this length of time. She watched videos the majority of the time, but I also took along coloring books and colored pencils, some Disney tapes, a few of her favorite toys and plenty of snacks. We stopped for meals at either McDonald's or Burger King so she'd be able to run around while DH and I ate. We ordered her meal as we were leaving, so she'd be able to eat as we drove instead of making her sit while at the restaurant. The stops for diaper changes really didn't slow us down much, and it was nice to be able to get out of the car for just a few minutes. I think having a positive attitude about the drive is half the battle in getting there. Try looking at it as an adventure, the makings of many good stories for years to come, half the fun is in getting there. We're making the drive again this November, and I can't imagine doing it any other way. I hope that you have a safe trip and a wonderful time at Disney!

 

[skeezixspud]

I would say that the most crucial thing is to stop overnight, and it's best to make sure that the hotel you stop at has an indoor pool. (Make a reservation!) When DS got out of the car after a long stretch, he was super-antsy, but DH and I were exhausted. We found that a swim (paradoxically) refreshed us somewhat, but totally exhausted the baby (now 4 yo, but it's still a foolproof strategy.) Most indoor hotel pools close around 10 pm, so stop earlier than that. Bring floaties. I would not drive the full distance straight through for any money with kids that age; you will both regret it by the time you arrive. (Maybe coming home, but not on the way down, anyway.)

For your children's safety, and your sanity, get a full set of sunshades for the back of the car; side and back windows. Little ones will get really cranky if the sun is in their eyes, and it is possible to get a whopper of a sunburn through car windows.

Make sure you have tapes/cd's of the kids favorite songs, and brace yourself to listen to them over and over again.

 

[kozmo]

I was so glad to read these posts ,i am going to take my 20 mos old grandson,about 21 hrs ,in about 12 days (yee haw)wish me luck ,i know i am going to have fun!!Just worried about the drive.

 

[stacie_d]

We did just the same thing right before Christmas. We travelled at night so that our 2 year old would not be strapped in his car seat all day while he would be awake. And he has no problems sleeping in it. There were three of us who could drive, so we figured that we would each drive around 5 hours. In the middle of the night we would swicth every couple hours, so that the driver would not get too tired. It worked pretty well, and we checked in to AKL bright and early. Then we took it easy that day (no park). The drive back was a little better, because we started out around 2 pm, so there was not as much night driving.

We did not have the room, but a tv would have been great to bring in the car. My inlaws just got a van with a DVD player, and it has kept my DS mesmorized! Next long trip, I will find room to sit a tv/VCR combo.

 

[Desnik]

We have driven every year with our now 4yr. old since she was 9 months old. I cannot stress enough how important is is with younge kids to do most of the driving the first day, spend the night at a hotel and do the rest of the drive the following day. After driving all night you will be exhausted and you will start your vacation with the first day or two without the right sleep pattern. When we arrive at WDW the next day after having a good night sleep, we feel refreshed and ready for our vacation. The times we drove straight through, we were nasty and SLEEPY!!! It is important to stop about every 2-3 hours to let your toddler stretch his/her legs and you and your DH too!! We have always done the drive without a tv/vcr and our DD has done fine. We bring her lots of things to draw and color with as well as her favorit music and little toys wrapped up and we give them to her when she gets alittle ansy. You will have a wonderful time and long family drives and what happens on the are the stuff memories are made of!! Have a wonderful trip! We will also be driving this May along with my 10yr. old sister, she's bringing her gameboy to keep her busy, but this time we might get the tv/vcr thing!

 

[Lisa AF]

We're from the Columbus, Ohio area. We usually slept until 1am then left. We've always done this. There is less traffic during the night too. Another benefit. My suggestion is take snacks along and don't drink to much soda (fewer pit stops). We hated having to stop if the kids were sleeping! They would always wake at stops and wouldn't resume sleep easily. We would stop the next morning, during rush hour, for a relaxing breakfast. We would either stop at hotel (inexpensive) 2 hours away, or check in an take naps and head for the Polynesian Luau.

Our girls are 7 and 11 now. But driving all night has become a traditon. They never sleep now!!! But, they're great travelers so we enjoy it.

 

[hallie]

We're going to drive to WDW, about a 15 hour trip in 6 days with a 5 and 18 month old. We're doing the same thing you are and driving at night when the kids are sleeping. I'm a night owl and my husbands an early riser so it'll work out pretty well.


I have no advice since this is our first time doing this, just wanted to say have a great trip!!



Hallie

 

[hallie]

We're going to drive to WDW, about a 15 hour trip in 6 days with a 5 and 18 month old. We're doing the same thing you are and driving at night when the kids are sleeping. I'm a night owl and my husbands an early riser so it'll work out pretty well.


I have no advice since this is our first time doing this, just wanted to say have a great trip!!



Hallie