Driving-with Kids!!! What to Bring?

[Tootles]

Hi all- Driving to WDW in three months time! Yeah! Unfortunatley, the drive will be 19 hours for DH and I, straight through with two kids, DS8 and DS6. We have a t.v in the vehicle so we plan on bringing DVD's and some plug-in play games (for the t.v connection) to keep them entertained for the most part. FYI: They do not have any hand held game systems. Any different ideas of things to pack to keep kids busy on a long drive to, and more importantly, the long sad drive home, from the Happiest Place on Earth? What works for you? Thanks!

 

[Magic2000]

The tv will probably help - maybe try to get a movie or two that they haven't seen yet (try borrowing from friends). We play cards, color book/colors, and "ABC's" with road signs. You have to find an A in any road sign, then B, then C, etc. Another favorite with my kids is, again using the ABC concept, one person names a Disney character (or a food item) that starts with A, then the next person says what the A word was, and makes up one starting with B. The next person has to say the A word and the B word, then make up one with C, etc etc. It gets kinda funny at the end trying to remember all of the words!

Try having a few new things for the ride home (maybe a different coloring book, or a different card game, a different movie - again,try borrowing from family or friends. I usually hide a few things in my luggage or in the trunk and surprise them on the way home).

You may want to try leaving around 9:00 or 10:00 pm, and they should sleep the first 8 or 9 hours???

Have a great trip!!!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

When we drove to WDW when I was 4, my parents had little presents that they bought before we left home that they gave us every couple of hours. That helped to keep us entertained.

The DVD player in the car will really help to pass time. Try bringing some of their favorite CDs along too.

Hope that helps a bit!

 

[Tootles]

Love the ideas! Especially the ABC games. Keep them coming...what little things "specifically" do parents pack to entertain the wee ones? Toys, cars, comic books....

 

[Pumba's Dad]

We face an 11 hour drive to Disney when we go. DS and DD got a personal DVD and they bring DVD's they want to view on the trip. Plus Game Boy, CD player and other stuff they can plug into the lighter. We also get audio books to listen to on the road. Listened to Harry Potter last time going down and coming back.

We also make each one a snack box. I go to dollar tree and get various things like gum, lollipops, juice boxes etc and give each one for the trip. Also play car bingo. Look for different license plates.

 

[LgTmDisFan]

when we drove from MI some of the thing the kids liked were, madlibs, travel games like connect 4 travel version, mind teasers, radio with earphones and a jack for two earphones for the tv so that you do not go crazy before you get there. Also while you are at the dollar store rember to get ponchos as they are very expensive there. snacks with low sugar and fiber for the car. car caddies for the back of the car seats are great to hold there personal stuff. string games were great we got a book for that and oraganie at borders. the dollar store usually have math flash card too. hope you and your family have a magicial time

 

[Mousemom]

My favorite for any road trip.....Benadryl!

 

[kimbac3]

My kids really enjoy books on tape. They like to just relax and close their eyes or they color while they listen. I just bought a bunch of new ones for our trip in 15 days.

Try making it an adventure. Draw a map and add points of interest for them to look for. Just make it fun. I found that if I stay happy and positive then my kids will too. It's hard sometimes, but keeping a good attitude really helps!!!

Have Fun!!

Kimba

 

[draw]

My favorite for any road trip.....Benadryl!

You beat me to it. I was going to say tylenol/motrin and a urinal for little boys.

 

[Tootles]

These suggestions are great! I like the mention of staying positive. After reading so many posts about "going with the flow" and not being able to "see it all-do it all" I have to continuously remind myself that this is a vacation for all of us, and not everyone will want to do what I want, when I want. I am a hard core planner by nature. So I will have to let it go as soon as we leave for WDW. I build up the perfect vacation in my mind, that no vacation can hold a match to...then I'm always dissappointed in the end. Someone may can sick, there may be crowds, it quite possibly could rain...in the end, we will all be together in Disney World, and that's all that really matters.

FYI: Motrin AND Tylenol are both on my packing list! Just in case.....

 

[dyna]

Jump ropes and a ball so they can play a few mins each time you stop at rest stop. We also plan 10 minute walks when we stop too not everytime but walk one time play the next keeps the youngun's from gettin to much energy built up an us old folks from gettin to stiff.

The metal lap trays are a godsend for readin an coloring etc in car also great for letting the kids eat in car. We stop at a MIckeyD's that has a playground let the kidlets play while we eat then let them eat when we get back on the road. My DD thought eating in car was such a treat she was willing to give up ketchup and BBQ sauce to get to eat in car lol.

 

[my3disneygirls]

My favorite for any road trip.....Benadryl!

I was going to say Xanax for the non driving adult.

I pack hand held games that are age appropriate.

I really like the crayola color wonder pads and markers for the little ones. They can color and not mess up themselves or the car.

Two out of my three girls have a gameboy so we bring that and a car charger for it. I like to buy them a new game for it before a road trip.

 

[myAAbatteries&aTD]

Definitely get a movie or 2 they haven't seen yet - that's worth 4 hours or more (if they're like mine, they'll want to watch it over and over and over!).

I know you said they don't have any hand-held games, but maybe you could borrow one???? The Leapster is good for HOURS of entertainment - we only have one and they are good about sharing it.

My girls love "We're going on a trip/picnic and I'm going to bring/pack A", then the next person says the same thing w/ "A" and adds "B", etc... all the way through the alphabet. (you could use "we're going to WDW and we're going to see/ride xxx").

License plate bingo or object bingo (Print or make sheets for them)

We play the alphabet game w/ signs

My oldest likes to read chapter books in the car and I'm going to try the audio books on our next long trip, too.

Anything new is good - last trip I stocked up on Disney-theme coloring books, magic color-appear books, etc.... and would give them a new thing every so often.

Special snacks/drinks that they don't get at home or very often - I dole out smarties one at a time to make them last longer (or skittles or nerds - that takes a while!) or nutritious ones like beef jerkey, carrot sticks, apples, crackers that you dip in cheese, etc....

We take our time going down to WDW, but my dh always wants to get home and so we drive it straight w/out really stopping for anything but gas... good luck!

 

[PixieMama]

We will have a 10+ hour drive when we go to WDW in Oct. I will pack a small tote bag for each of my girls (ages 6 and 4) with things to keep them occupied, in addition to our DVD player.

I subscribe to Hidden Pictures Playground (published by Highlights) and I have been stockpiling them just for our trip! Each month we get two activity books and I let the girls have one for now, and save the other for our trip. Each book has 3 sticker hidden picture puzzles and my girls just love them!

 

[RachelNinja]

I go to dollar tree ...

My mom and I do the same exact thing to buy things to entertain my now 8-year old brother. Our car ride is about the same amount of time. My older brother and I used to be angels (LOL) in the car and my mom would buy us each ONE toy that we really wanted (as we got older we got ONE comic book each and we would always swap) for the ride down and ONE toy for the ride back.

My younger brother now will ask 45-minutes into the ride whether or not we're there yet. The dollar tree works out perfectly for that. There's the prospect of something new and because everything's a dollar, we don't spend that much. My older brother and I would be able to play with that one item for the entire ride (and trip) and not get bored but I feel like this new "generation" needs constant stimulation.

Maybe you can use a reward system to give the kids incentive? If they're good or whatnot, give them a ticket and if they accumulate a certain amount of tickets, they can pick something from your loot bag filled with small items. This is how we get children to behave in the children's program we run at church. Instead of rewarding kids every few hours regardless of behavior, this will encourage them to remain well-behaved.

You should schedule stops into your drive as opposed to stopping only when you need to (for food or restrooms). This way the drive can be seen in smaller segments (2-3 hours at a time, for example).

I agree with another DISer that as a child, I loved eating in the car! It was always a no-no except when we were on vacation! On a few trips down, we would have potato chips and so it was the wonder of (1) eating in the car and (2) eating potato chips, something we weren't allowed to have often!

 

[Smailey]

Earplugs!

 

[Gabkatt]

We drive about 14-16 hrs. straight through as well. We leave around 6pm to ensure they will be sleeping for most of the drive, about 8-10 hrs. For the rest of the time my DS 4, has a lap cushion with a table top that he colors on. It's funny but he has an electronic steering wheel that he pretends he's driving with me... its great and keeps him occupied! My DD's 8 & 11, have all that...Ipods, gameboys, activitiy books, snacks, kids novels but the cool thing...and why we love to drive...my kids would rather talk about the scenery, the trip, play all the "I Spy Road Games" and if you're good...with a little love and some luck... you'll find out some stuff about your kids you might not have realized before! Yeah...good times...goooood times!!! I love the road trip!!

 

[BlueJeansGirl]

We try to do LOTS of driving at night so they will sleep some, but the bigger they get, the harder that is. I think the most important thing is to give them a break at rest stops. We don't try to fly in & out as fast as we can. We sit on a bench, have a snack out of the car, have races - something to get the blood flowing...they sit still better when they know they will have a few minutes to run around soon. It may take an extra hour to get there, but your sanity is worth it!!

PLUS - everyone has a better time if you get there and everyone is still excited, instead of upset after hours of arguing!!

 

[Tootles]

These ideas are great! Thanks everyone! I really like the "reward system" idea with a goodie bag. My boys usually need an incentive! My DH is all about driving straight through as to save money on a hotel on the road. My youngest, is a sleeper. He's pretty quiet and really well behaved most of the time (5 1/2) but my other (8) is pretty active (ADD and CAPD) so I'm sure the t.v will stimulate him for the most part. I overheard him telling his little brother, on a recent trip to Toronto, that Disney World is going to take a "whole day to get to. That's like driving to the CN Tower, and all the way back home!" Toronto...is 3 hours away. This...is going to be one...long...trip....

 

[Enchanted]

This game has saved my family from killing each other on many road trips. There are so many weird and cool things to look for that soon it becomes less competitive and more of a family-togetherness thing as we all try to help each other with our hardest cards. Just a thought!