For those folks driving!

[purpledisneyprncess]

Does anyone have any suggestions for lap trays for the kids? I thought it might be a good idea in the car. They could put coloring books and snacks on it. But I'm afraid it may take up too much space back there. Not sure??? Thanks.

I got a couple plastic snack trays from Michaels Arts & Crafts store and they are great.

 

[bluezy]

Does anyone have any suggestions for lap trays for the kids? I thought it might be a good idea in the car. They could put coloring books and snacks on it. But I'm afraid it may take up too much space back there. Not sure??? Thanks.

My kids are older now and don't use them anymore, but I used to use a small jellyroll pan (cookie sheet with a lip around the edge). They worked well because the lip kept pencils/markers from rolling off (no crayons in our car -- we had a bad melting experience many years ago on a day that the temperature outside was only in the low 80's.) and the tray could also be used for playing with magnets. My kids each have a travel-size pillow for when we travel so they would put that on their lap first and set the pan on top of it. They don't take up much space because they can be stacked and usually fit under the seat or down the side of the seat for storage.

 

[skywaywaver]

Does anyone have any suggestions for lap trays for the kids? I thought it might be a good idea in the car. They could put coloring books and snacks on it. But I'm afraid it may take up too much space back there. Not sure??? Thanks.

We have two different styles:

These: http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...r:adType=pla&cagpspn=plab_4608031&mr:keyword=

And these: http://www.amazon.com/Taby-Tray-Vehicle-Children-Activity/dp/B002VOS168/ref=pd_cp_ba_2

As they get older, tray #2 is better as they don't need to be buckled around them - the kids can place them on and off their laps as they please.

However, DD1yo will be using Tray #1 as it can buckle around her and is soft but has really high sides to keep stuff from falling off.

They definitely are wider than the car seats, so if you're dealing with a smaller back seat, then they may be an issue. We have a Chevy Traverse so it's not really a problem for us.

 

[dkoerner27]

GF and I just booked January 2015 at SSR and are planning on driving. Coming from the Pocono Mountain region of PA. I have done it before and drove straight through in a day. This time we are looking at taking a few days. Driving to Rehobeth, DE and following the ocean all the way to Cape Canaveral (as close to the ocean as possible anyway). Has anyone ever done this before?

 

[ParrotBill]

That's a fun idea! I've driven that first section from DE to VA Beach. OCean City MD was a fun stop. The Bay Bridge-Tunnel is cool.

I've never tried through NC/SC. You planning to use US 17? The next stretch is best on I-95, then at Jacksonville you can use US 1 and A1A. I've driven those.

Tell us how it went!

 

[dkoerner27]

That's a fun idea! I've driven that first section from DE to VA Beach. OCean City MD was a fun stop. The Bay Bridge-Tunnel is cool.

I've never tried through NC/SC. You planning to use US 17? The next stretch is best on I-95, then at Jacksonville you can use US 1 and A1A. I've driven those.

Tell us how it went!

I have done the VA beach to rehobeth route before. I enjoyed it. We're gonna take 1 from rehobeth to ocean city, then come across 50 to 113 to 13 into va beach. We'll pick up 158 in va beach and take that into kitty hawk. 64 from kitty hawk across to 17 and take that all the way into Savannah and pick up 95 there and take that to 1 just south of Jacksonville. 1 all the way to cape Canaveral, then 520/532/192/535 to wdw.

My girlfriend has only been to wdw 1 time and she stayed off property and only did epcot and MK. She's never driven that far, I have made the drive down before. She's excited as am I.

 

[kasedroz]

We live in KY and usually take i75s the way down. But with the headache we went through in April we've decided to go i95 this time around. There's not even an hour difference between them as it is but I bet once you count for the disaster that is Atlanta i95 is probably a lot faster. Does anyone else take this route? Am I correct in saying it'll actually save time since we are avoiding Atlanta? Are there numerous towns and gas stations along this that are in safe and are well kept?
Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[scottb8888]

We live in KY and usually take i75s the way down. But with the headache we went through in April we've decided to go i95 this time around. There's not even an hour difference between them as it is but I bet once you count for the disaster that is Atlanta i95 is probably a lot faster. Does anyone else take this route? Am I correct in saying it'll actually save time since we are avoiding Atlanta? Are there numerous towns and gas stations along this that are in safe and are well kept? Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Always go 77 to 95!! Live in Ohio. We like it better than 75

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[LiloH]

Due to the crazy high airfare for spring break week we are considering driving from Philly. We would leave on Friday 3/27 and head back on Easter Sunday 4/5.

If we leave the Philly area around 4am are we likely to clear DC before the traffic picks up for rush hour? We are planning to stop on our way down. One of my work colleagues drives every year and he suggested the Hampton Inn in Brunswick, GA.

We will probably drive straight through on Easter. I expect the traffic will be lighter that day and we can leave super early. We are planning to have the "Easter Mouse" deliver baskets to our room the night before so our kids don't feel too deprived!

Does any of this seem like a really bad idea? We've done long trips (8 hours) with our kids before and we think they will be ok.

 

[disney-inspired]

If this is in the wrong area, sorry!

We will be driving for the very first time from the Ft. Benning area in Georgia and was wondering if others with experience could tell me some good places along they way for food and to stretch our legs?


Thank you!

 

[jsdeforge]

Any suggestions for jersey shore to DW? We will be leaving Sunday 9/28 at about 2 A.M. Our plan is I-95 all the way making it in one day. We have done this trip twice before but would love other suggestions. We will be traveling with out 8 year old triplets who do amazing on long trips. Thank you everyone in advance.

 

[dealia]

Does anyone have any suggestions for lap trays for the kids? I thought it might be a good idea in the car. They could put coloring books and snacks on it. But I'm afraid it may take up too much space back there. Not sure??? Thanks.

Jelly roll pans. They are great they take up almost no space. You can even get the magnet story sets on line and Barnes and Noble. (they are like color forms)

 

[xiaojunjun]

Good to know

 

[Tallent]

Thinking of making the drive with my kids (ds 10, dd 13) and dd may bring a friend in June when school gets out. Would be leaving from MD (about halfway btw B'more and DC). Car is a dodge grand caravan. Trip is already booked and I really do love having my car at WDW. Past 2 years we've done the auto train but that's not in the budget this time. Looking at flying but that's on the high side right now too (I could live without a rental and just use uber/cabs when needed so I don't *have* to have the car).

SO--I'm thinking of making the 13 hour drive but I'd be the only driver. I could certainly break up the trip so I'm not doing the whole leg at one time but I'd only be cutting 3 hours as we have family 3 hrs south who we can spend the night with there and back. I could also stop an extra night but it seems silly to take 3 days for a 13 hour trip. Noting also that ds gets car sick even on OTC meds so stopping often would be good for him or driving at night is better for him plus he can sleep. I just wish there was a driver service I could hire to drive while I nap so at least I'd get a little break. DH came with us on on our recent Dec trip and won't do Disney in the summer so he's not an option.

My choices are really these:
A. Drive the whole thing in one lump. Leave here on a Sat around 6am. Stop outside of Disney or DTD area for the night and check in at resort and hit Typhoon Lagoon the next day (weather permitting and w/ a 10am opening we have some extra sleeping time)

B. Do a 2 day trip. Leave here ion a Fri afternoon and drive 3 hours to spend the night with family in Va. Leave Sat morning and drive 10 hours again stopping outside of Disney or in DTD area.

C. 3 day trip. Leave here in Fri pm, stop to spend night with family. Leave Sat morning to drive about 8 hours. Stop and spend the night. Next morning drive 2 hours and arrive at Disney.

What would you do/have you done as a single driver?

Rachel

 

[Feberin]

I haven't gone as a single driver but I went with my husband and we're from Baltimore so a very similar trip. We left at 4 am and made it to Orlando in one day. He did most of the driving but we did swap a few times. It was exhausting and I can't imagine doing it as a single driver with a child who get car sick. I would think even taking off those extra three hours (drive down to family and spend the night then drive the rest of the way) would help.
Also we found the trip back up a lot harder. I can't imagine doing that in a single day. We were exhausted from our vacation and needed a break.

 

[Tallent]

Yes, I'm leaning toward the 2 day option. We don't have anything planned for after the trip so I suppose we could be flexible with the drive and just take it as it goes.

 

[Lids]

Tried to search but really not coming up with what I am looking for and I am starting to get frustrated. So I apologize in advance if what I am asking has already been answered elswhere.

There is a total of 4 adults and 2 children driving down to Disney from South Jersey. Out of the 4 adults only three will be sharing the driving. So the first day we are looking to get somewhere between 3 and 4 hours of our final destination. Yes we could drive through but with this many people we will need to stop and recharge overnight.

So my questions are: 1) What town should I stop in 2) Any recommendations for a safe, clean, affordable hotel.

Thanks everyone.

 

[ffugitive]

Tried to search but really not coming up with what I am looking for and I am starting to get frustrated. So I apologize in advance if what I am asking has already been answered elswhere.

There is a total of 4 adults and 2 children driving down to Disney from South Jersey. Out of the 4 adults only three will be sharing the driving. So the first day we are looking to get somewhere between 3 and 4 hours of our final destination. Yes we could drive through but with this many people we will need to stop and recharge overnight.

So my questions are: 1) What town should I stop in 2) Any recommendations for a safe, clean, affordable hotel.

Thanks everyone.

I highly recommend stopping in St. Augustine, Florida. It's only two hours away from Orlando but there are some great restaurants and just a real cool town to walk around. If you leave early enough (e.g., 4 or 5 am), you could get there for dinner, an evening stroll, grab dessert and then crash. We did it two years ago.

 

[kerry34]

We have stopped several times in Savannah Georgia. There are several hotels off 95....I believe it is a little over 4 hrs to Disney from there. I have stayed twice at the Fairlfield Inn right off 95 and the hotel was clean and central to places to eat and gas....it's also about a 15 minute ride to historic downtown savannah which is pretty. We have also stayed at Jekyll Island which is a bit further down 95 and that was pretty as well.

 

[ffugitive]

I highly recommend stopping in St. Augustine, Florida. It's only two hours away from Orlando but there are some great restaurants and just a real cool town to walk around. If you leave early enough (e.g., 4 or 5 am), you could get there for dinner, an evening stroll, grab dessert and then crash. We did it two years ago.

OH, and we stayed at the Courtyard right off 95 - bunch of hotels there. Convenient. Drive into town from there takes 5-10 minutes.