For those who drive to WDW ????

[ash&abby'smom]

Needing some advice on occupying the kids in the car. We have a tv with a DVD player that will entertain for a while, but what about the rest of the time. It's about a 10 hour drive. We may take two days to drive, just so that won't be to fussy. Their ages are 4 and 18 mos. The 18 month old is the one I am more worried about. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Hi! I wish our drive was ONLY 10 hours--we do that in one day then 7 more hours the next

I took toys that we unwrapped every hour or two--ideas:

plastic slinkys
travel size magna doodles
travel size etch-a-sketch
spinning light up toys (from Disney store)
stickers, stickers, stickers
special snacks
NEW dvd's
childrens music (Raffi and Joe Scruggs to be specific)
magnetic letters/shapes and a small cookie sheet from dollar store
Color Wonder markers and pads
Koosh balls

The most important thing for my 2 year old--an unlimited supply of cheetos.

Good luck!

 

[SandrainNC]

Our drive is about 8 hours. We are driving down during the middle of the night so my son (3.5 years old) will sleep hopefully most of the way. On the way back we are stopping half way home in Savannah, GA. We will also be purchasing a portable DVD player for the trip.

Sandra

 

[DBLG]

I used to pull overnighters I drove while everone slept. Most of our trips ran from 10 to 12 hours. I had the DVD system and a "tent" made out of a goose comforter to block the headlights allowing my daughter to sleep (we did this from when she was 9 months to about 2 years and it has worked great.

She is now 2 and a half and she doesn't do so well with the trying to sleep at night. So we have found leaving as early as possible, kids songs and videos (all right basicly running the Toy Story videos) on heavy rotation works great. But we also make some quite time (about an hour after her normal nap time) so she can sleep a little.

So in essence we use TS 1 and 2 plus Woody Buzz and Jessie with a side of Dora Magna Doodle, stir gently and roll...

 

[ahutton]

We've done 3 road trips - each 1000+ miles in the last year - my girls are now 4 1/2 and 2 1/2... We left on the trip after they had a busy morning playing, either at school or a playground and had been fed lunch. That is their normal school naptime, and each slept for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Then we watched a video and had a juice box and some fruit snacks. After that we looked at car colors, then stopped for gas, a potty break and while DH and I ate we let the kids play in McDs play area. The kids ate while we started driving again, then one more movie, a potty break where the kids changed into jammies and we drove until about 11:00 or so that night. We let the kids run about a bit in the room and then got them into bed, let them sleep until the woke up, let them play, have breakfast and then we start the cycle over again. We had a bag of toys, suckers and removeable stickers (the other kind lasted until the first one got stuck to a window!) for other entertainment, and listened to some read along story tapes. If you don't have any you can always make some of their favorite stories. The girls also like to do Sing Alongs - on video, radio, anywhere!

 

[tinkernelllec]

My kids are the same age!! I have traveled to Fl every year from Pittsburgh since my 1st Ds was 6 months old, in fact twice a year. SO here is how we do it.................

We leave around 9pm, after my kids have had their baths and are ready to sleep. We make their car seats extra comfy by adding some padding. Nice soft music for the 1st hour or so, so they fall asleep. Then they sleep for a good 10 hours until breakfast time, then we eat, stretch and change their clothes. Now they are ready for the videos of which we have a portable DVD player and my DS's love those Baby Einstien videos (especially the 18 month old, really the only thing he will watch). Thank goodness my 4 year old likes them too, but they watch that and sometimes get bored to sleep some more. I do get them some toys (like at the dollar store) to "surprise" them with, but you have to be careful with that, they just expect another. My kids are really good travelers and hoping they are good this October. My DH is a great night driver too. We get to FL in about 13 hours and are usually early for check in, but I pack the swimsuits in a seperate suitcase, so we use the pool until checkin, and my DH sleeps by the pool. It works for us, hope you have a great trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

10 hours is an easy drive down. Don't waste time and money and break it into two days. We've done 14 hours one way without stopping several times. If we leave after school and work, we break it up, though to about 6 and 8.

Let the kids sleep if they will. When we leave early in the AM, my son usually sleeps about 4 or 5 hours and then wakes up.

 

[kerry34]

We have driven down every trip with my kids. It takes a while since we are up north, but overall the ride isnt too bad. Last time we went we left around 330 am. Once the kids settled down in the car they slept for a good 5-6 hours. We stop for breakfast. After that they will do various activities. Older ones will play video games or they will start their disney diary. Little ones spend alot of time coloring. The color wonder markers and paper are a great investment. I can't stress that enough. My twins are 4 also and the last time we went they loved them and there is no mess to deal with. I also bring a few new toys with me and hand them out here and there. After lunch my kids usually fall asleep again for a few hours. We usually stop driving after about 12 hours or so and stay over night. The ride the next day is a breeze since it isnt as long as the first day. The dvd is definately a blessing. My little ones also liked music as well. Just be sure to keep everything within reach that you need to give them so you dont have to hunt for things. Make sure you pack the things you will need for stopping overnight. I made the mistake the first time driving and forgot to do that. It is a real pain to have to find everything you need after driving all day long.

Also a word of caution if you have never driven long distances with your kids before. The first time we drove down with my DD9, (3 yrs at the time), she starting complaining that her stomach didnt feel well. We got off the highway and stopped, my mom picked her up to hold her and she vomited all over my mother! What a nightmare. She had never been carsick before and we were not planning for it at all. It may be wise to ask your doctor about childrens dramamine or some other motion sickness remedy. It can't hurt to prepare just in case. My daughter is 9 now and we still give her one about a half and hour before we leave just to be on the safe side. There is nothing worse than the smell of vomit in a car in 85 degree weather (we were in S.C. at the time)!!

 

[mrskay9]

A friend of mine rented a DVD player for her trip. I know she got it at either a Rent a-Center or Rent Way, something like that. I think it was $30 for a week.

So if you didn't want to bite the bullet and buy one, this may be an option for those w/o the DVD player already.

 

[homeschooler]

This seems to be a reoccuring theme (not being nasty). I think we all want a magical wand to make the trip the great. I take the trip with the kids by myself regularly so traveling at night is NOT an option. And because of my eyes, I have had doctors limit how much time I can be on the road soooo.....

Here are 'my secrets.' I don't use the TV. I think that makes the kids worse. We stop every two hours. MANDATORY. Everyone gets out and stretchs their legs, play tag, whatever. MANDATORY. We will wake them to go potty. Every two hours, there is a new little surprise. (green army men, slinky, coloring book, new crayons. a book to read) Some of the surprises they have helped pick our, others are truly surprises.

We keep the snacks and drinks low in sugar. Mostly water now that the kids are a little older but some juices. No soda. It makes everyone need to stop more. Some cookies but carrots and celery and peanut butter, etc.

Eat a good meal at the end of the day.

GET A ROOM WITH A POOL. Because everyone needs to get some physical energy out.

We have about 20 hours of driving so we generally make 2.5 days using the last 1/2 day to get groceries, unload, swim and maybe and evening out like the HDDR.

The biggest thing is to have fun. You are going to Disney. Start the vacation on the trip. No rush, no fuss, just fun.

 

[KathyPem]

We did a 'trial run' on a 5 hour drive to Michigan a few weeks ago. We ahve a VIdeo in a bag. It worked out GREAT!!! Even the baby (12 months) who doesn't watch TV liked them. I got viewmasters at Wal-mart dirt cheap. I gave them to them part way. I got my older two game boy advances and my soon to be 3 year old a pixter. Those kept them occupied quite a while as well. I have picked up lots of things at dollar stoers for them (we are actually breaking our 18-19 hour drive into two half days and one full day that we will be stopping at the Cabbage Patch Factory mid-day for a break adn to stretch and since my kdis all love baby dolls.

Rotatation has seemed to be key for us. Let them watch a movie but them have them play a game with you or find letters, colors, etc. hard with the little one. Bring plenty of snacks and bubbles are great to stop at a rest area and let them run for a few minutes. You'd be amazed at what 10 minutes can do, especialy for the younger ones! Good luck and have a great trip

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We've driven for our last 2 trips. Without kids it would be a 7½ hour trip for us. With them it's more like nine. I won't count our experience driving on the first trip b/c we were in my parent's RV so in that you don't face the same challenges!

What we did was plan to leave at like 4 AM. DH went to bed early and I kept the kids up a little later than usual wearing them out some. I had everything packed in the car and ready to go when his alarm went off. When he was ready to go he woke me up and I brushed my teeth and put on shoes (slept in my comfy travelling shorts that night!). We put the sleeping kids in their car seats and set off. I went back to sleep in the car too. The kids woke about 8:30 or so and when they did we were a little over half way there. We stopped and got them changed and let them stretch a bit. No problems getting them back in the car because the knew we were on our way to WDW. We stopped at the next Cracker Barrel and had a nice breakfast and more stretching. After that we put on a video for them and set out again. This time I drove and DH slept. After about 2 hours we stopped for a break at a McDonalds and got them some fries and a drink and let them burn off some energy in the playground. Back on the road we started another video but they were asleep before the end of it. They woke again about 30 minutes from the WL. My 4 year old is convinced WDW is "not too far away" because he wasn't awake for most of the trip.

 

[newtowdw1]

My kids have the potential to be awful in the car. I know, because I've witnessed it. We regularly take 4 to 6 hour trips. We've taken to leaving later in the day and running the little buggers physically ragged before we go. Then they travel in their jammies. However, sleep is not something ds3 does well. DD7 is resigned and will sleep. DS3 usually won't sleep until the last hour. SO don't count on them sleeping if your kids are stubborn.

We have a 7 passenger minivan/SUV with captains chairs in the middle and a bench in the 'way back.' This was literally the BEST investment ever. DD7 can spread out with her big kid stuff and she CANNOT touch ds3. He has two seats (his own and the one across the way) to fill with toys and stuffed animals.

We don't philosophically agree with the TV in the car. Boy, does that sound stuffy! But we sing and read books (I SPY are great!!!!). We talk and act silly. We threaten and cajole. Candy at home is rare, so they get a ring pop or pushup pop (really good because they can be stored if they get tired of them) and are pleased. I buy cheap sticker books everytime I see them on sale. Both the large 8 x 11 size and the little 3 x 5 size. I keep a travel bag which little fingers are not allowed in EVER. Stuff rotates in and out. Save toy catalogs as they come in the mail.

It will take us forever to get to WDW next summer. We are breaking it into two nights on the road. I can't sit that long!!! We aren't in a hurry. The destination will be there if it takes an extra hour. We stop and let them play and pee as needed.

 

[homeschooler]

I just remembered something else. When DS was having allergy testing and stuck in a little room at the doctors office for 8 hours, they suggested a bag packed ONLY for the testing days. We used that idea for traveling too. The toys, some really great ones, we kept ONLY for longer trips. That gave them something to look forward to in the car.

 

[2lilprincesses]

Thanks for all of your great suggestins. I still think we are going to break our drive into 2 days. I think we are going to drive 7 hours the first day and stop for the night. That way we only have 3 hours left to drive. We plan to go to DTD and shop when we get there and hit a character meal at CM and try for a early night. I just don't want the kids to be tired. I'm not sure how restful sleeping in the car is. But, if we have no trouble and can make the whole drive we will and just arrive a day early. I just don't want to push it. I did see advertise a new set of princesses dvd's being released on 9/7 that I want to get and put away as a surprise. Also, DD4 actually turns 4 on 9/29. I plan to get her the princess laptop that will be perfect in the car and educational. Since I am pulling her out of school that week I do plan on doing missed work from school. Right now they are working on colors, shapes & numbers so that is something else we will do on the road. We always play I spy on road trips. Now jsut to figure out some stuff to occupy DD 18mos. She isn't a big tv watcher. Thanks again.

I'm ash&abby's mom too. I'm in my office working (lol). I couldn't remember my password to log in here.

 

[gigibeans1]

I asked that same question last week and got some wonderful advice:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=624614

Have a fun trip!

 

[TiggerStac]

On top of the dvd player, we got some pocket sized toys for our son. We travel from MA, so our trip was over 24 hours (we stopped overnight in NC). Anyways, we got travel size etch a sketch, magnadoodle. What else was great was the crayola marker set that only work on special paper....I think it is crayola magic. It costs more than just markers and construction paper. But I had no problem giving this to him in the car, knowing that if he dropped the marker...it wouldn't end up all over the back seat!!

 

[MommyBoo!]

Osco has a Crayola Wonder coloring book set and a Crayola Wonder paint set on sale for $4.99 each. They are usually $9.99.