Has anyone driven from Ontario with infants?

[Disney Fanatic]

We are in desperate need of a vacation and wonder if anyone has driven to Disney with infants? We also have a 6 year old as well.

We have a mini van we just bought and feel with all the stuff we need to take, we need to drive vs fly. We also think being on our schedule vs an airline schedule will make things less stressful.

We are thinking to leave around 5pm and drive all night so hopefully they will sleep. Our 6 year old slept when we drove last time and wondering if anyone has had any experience with infants?

Any advice for our roadtrip adventure would be appreciated.

We are flexible and feel that if things get crazy, we can always stop and get a room for the night.

Thanks

 

[Debbie]

We've done the drive a couple of times with infants. If you are driving I-75, be sure to pick up Along I-75 by Dave Hunter. It really helps with the stops, and, if you have time (we always made time) for some kid-friendly stops along the way.

My infants usually slept, but we were always on a "kid-friendly" schedule-if they were fussy, we stopped, if they were sleeping, we kept driving. If the older ones needed a break, it was a quick stop to nurse, snack, eat and/or play at McDonalds. It sounds like you are in that frame of mind, too.

Our schedule was usually to leave at 4 a.m. (London area) and get to Ohio for an early lunch. I usually packed a lunch so that the kids could let of some steam with a ball or a frisbee. What we didn't finish eating, they'd polish off in the van or in the hotel room that first night.

The first trip that we took we had an infant @ 7/8 weeks old. The next we had a 3, 4 and a 5 year old. We even drove through the mountains to visit the Cabbage Patch Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia. Then came the trip with an infant (12 weeks), a 2 1/2 year old and the almost 7 ,8 and 9 year olds.

They were good times....and great memories. Have a terrific trip!

 

[SaraMc]

We take DS on car trips all the time ( he's 4months old, asnd really we try to take as little as we need as possible. We are going to WDW in Feb. We are flying out of buffalo for many reasons, but with us flying Jet Blue we can also on top of 2 pieces of checked luggage each take a car seat, a diaper bag and stroller. We are not taking DS car seat as we are not getting a car and are taking ME and the busses cant secure it. We are bringing his baby bjorn but putting it our carry on luggage.

 

[Disneyof3]

Our first trip to WDW and we drove and trained my youngest out of diapers along the way He did it and was great. We didn't have a protable DVD and they were still great. My kids were at the time 3,5,7. We took tones of toys in the van and I burned tones of c/d's full of disney music from the movies and from bob the builder,bear in the big blue house,blue's clues,wiggles,etc: and the kids were not fighting at all. We actually drove straight in 23 hrs with 7 stops including gas and meals. To let the kids run around we left at 6pm so they slept all night and in the am for breakfast we stopped at a McD's with a playland just into Georgia. Then for lunch we stopped at a Chick'falay (think this is how it is spelled) and they also had a playland and it helped let some energy out of the kids. We played tones of games also in the van like eye spy and punch buggy and counting the different license plates etc: I think you will do fine and it is a adventure you will treasure for life.
Good luck and enjoy

 

[son3disfan]

We flew when my boys were 5,3 and 8 months....It was difficult. Car seats, strollers , trying to get through the security check( just after 9/11) with all our carry ons and taking off the kids shoes...It was alot of work.We drove every year after that and had a ball.This March we left around 5 pm and everyone would crash in the car and DH and I would do 3 hour shifts of driving through the night.We' d hit the Florida border and be re- energized.
We decided to fly again this year, with a 10,8 and 6 year old , we are taking alot less stuff.
Have a great time!

 

[F4disneyfan]

We started our kids on teh drive at 6 months old it is really quite easy as they tend to sleep for most of the trip.

 

[Newcastle]

I think that as long as you are flexible and amenable to stopping at a hotel if necessary, then you will be fine. We were absolutely positive that our youngest would sleep in the car however she wanted no part of this. We had hoped to be able to drive straight through but instead had to stop at a hotel which really wasn't a big deal, but we were somewhat dissapointed that we would have to prolong our trip down to Florida. It all worked out in the end but the key is to be flexible and make sure that you leave yourself adequate time to get down to Florida if you do have to make numerous stops!

 

[OntFamily]

We drove to WDW with a 21 month old (and then 5 months later to Hilton Head) - both times using I79,77,26 route.

As long as you stop frequently to allow for diaper changes/running time, you'll be OK.

There's lots of rest stops (with clean washrooms and lots of space to run/get exercise) along the route.

It's a nice drive. However, it's good to have a portable DVD player to help pass the time.

 

[maryliz]

Both of my kids went to WDW before they were 6 months old ...drove down. Be prepared to stop when necessary, and just have a great time. DH and I found that by the time we had kids, we had no desire to do the all-night drive anymore (we had done it many times before). But if you can, then do it. And if by midnight you're exhausted and the baby has decided he/she will NOT sleep, then just get a hotel and get another start the next day.

Be sure to have some Gravol handy ... we encounted car-sick babies, and let's just say I was glad I had packed the Febreeze.

As long as you're flexible and don't get stressed out that "we haven't made it to the Florida border by the time we had planned to", the trip is actually quite enjoyable. And definitely get Dave Hunter's book.

Oh, and DON'T stop at a Pizza Hut to eat ... the food is gross, the bathrooms disgusting, and they don't have change tables.

 

[son3disfan]

Yes!!! on the Pizza Hut ! Very different then here in Canada.And we've tried a couple along the way.Alot of them have been very dirty...

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I am interested in this thread as I am considering the drive too. Hubby thinks it would be a crazy thing to do, our kids will be 12, 4 1/2, 3 & 5 months when we plan to go in December. We have flown to WDW and to Mexico with our 3 girls and we have found it to be relatively easy, even with the double strollers, carseats, playpens, etc. but we also would like to do it on half the budget we did the last time so I think driving might be a great idea. My concern is, how bad (long) does the ride home seem?

Sorry for hijacking your thread but I am very interested to see the responses. Dh is leaning towards flying from Buffalo.

 

[Disneyof3]

Like any where you drive going takes longer than coming home. We drive straight through and we are okay with the long drive. We make stops and we use them to our advantage. Every year we have taken toys and games and tons of c/d for the kids in the van. We also leave at supper time so they sleep alot the first and most of the driving down. When they are awake you play games and sing etc: This year the DVD players will help I'am sure but my kids aren't addicted to the tv so they might not even use them much. Us being a family of 5 is way to expense for us to fly everytime. If that was the case then we wouldn't be going as much as we have or will.

 

[OntFamily]

I am interested in this thread as I am considering the drive too. Hubby thinks it would be a crazy thing to do, our kids will be 12, 4 1/2, 3 & 5 months when we plan to go in December. We have flown to WDW and to Mexico with our 3 girls and we have found it to be relatively easy, even with the double strollers, carseats, playpens, etc. but we also would like to do it on half the budget we did the last time so I think driving might be a great idea. My concern is, how bad (long) does the ride home seem?

Sorry for hijacking your thread but I am very interested to see the responses. Dh is leaning towards flying from Buffalo.

The more people who are flying, the more expensive it becomes (obviously).

For driving, expect out of pocket costs (including gas, two nights hotel, food and incidentals) to run approx $750. This excludes any wear and tear on your vehicle.

If you fly (and stay on site at WDW - so you can use DME), as long as the flight costs are less than $750 cdn, you're ahead of the game. Otherwise, you'll need to decide on your own how much your time is worth.

For 4 people (infant flys free as long as he/she sits on someone's lap), on a seat sale, expect to pay at least $700 cdn rtn.

 

[LdnCpl]

In '05 we took our 9 month old and found it wasn't nearly as bad as you think it might be. We left at 6am on a Sat from London, made plenty of rest stops and lunch stop and stayed at the Holiday Motel in Berea,Ky.
Sunday, back on the road at 7am,stops,lunch,drive and stopped in Valdosta,Ga overnight. Monday morning, up at 6am,Disney at 10:30. Plenty of stops = one happy family

 

[Disney Fanatic]

We have considered flying and still debating it in our house but if we fly from Buffalo it seems like you will be there in a couple of hours but with the drive, check in time etc, it really will take almost 8 hours to get to Florida.

We are leaning towards driving because then we are on our schedule and not the airlines schedule.

I know the DME is great but we do like to have a vehicle to get around while we are there. A mini van to rent for us is over $500.00 for the days we are there.

The prospect of the drive sometimes keeps me awake at night but hopefully we are making the right decision. Oh well, its tough at home so we may as well have a tough time and be on our way to Disney!! LOL!

 

[polyhm83]

We have 3 kids and have been driving from north of toronto to Disney since they were babies. They are all teenagers now but I think they were better in the car when they were little. We used to leave at 8 pm after my husband had a nap, then we would drive right through the night as well. By the time they woke up in the morning we were well over half way and we would stop for breakfast and fresh air. The daylight refreshes you and it seemed quick to get to the Florida border. We would stay on the beach near St. Augustine for the first night and head for Disney the next day. We are going again in March
and bringing the DD's boyfriend. 4 teenagers in the van will be crowded but it will be great. Have a great trip what ever you decide.