How to Watch Movies on Long Road Trips

[DisneyPiPhi]

We are driving to Disney in a couple weeks from Michigan. Having done this many, many times before DD was born, we know the drive takes 18 hours if we limit stops, and we're doing it all in one go.

I'm looking for suggestions on watching movies in the car; specifically, letting DD watch movies in the backseat.

Here's what we've got:
- A Honda CRV that doesn't have any kind of DVD players installed
- An iPad that does NOT work with data, only Wi-Fi (we have four movies downloaded to watch on here from past road trips, but obviously Netflix is out due to the whole no-data thing)
- I also have a Chromebook and we own an external CD/DVD drive for it

Is my best plan to buy some more movies or TV episodes on iTunes? (This may not be an option as I think the iPad is low on storage space.)
OR finagle the DVD drive with the Chromebook for her?
OR should I just go buy a $50 portable DVD player at Wal-Mart?
OR... something else I have't thought of?

 

[Chelley00]

We bought the portable DVD player that can strap on the back of the seats. We tried the laptop thing for movies but the kids were looking down and saying it hurt their necks. With the actual car player, the kids are looking straight ahead.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I picked up a cheapie set of headrest dvd players for our first road trip with DD a few years back. We only use them on road trips, and it works great. I think I paid $60 for some off brand refurbished set, but we've gotten our money's worth.

 

[Angc77]

We did the portable dvds that can be Velcroed to the back of the seats. The kids love them and they can watch the same movie or each watch a different one.

 

[mrsp1030]

Portable DVD player sounds like the best deal for you...

 

[monorailsilver]

I was in Walmart a few weeks ago and was looking at the $5 movie bin. One movie caught my eye as it had a sticker on and said downloadable or something like that.

My dh downloaded the app and scanned in the sticker or put in the code and voila we have movies on the iPad that don't need wifi.

I want to say it was cinema now he downloaded.

 

[ForeverAlice]

We drive about 13 hours to WDW and bought the portable ones that go on the headrests. They work fine and have on other trips to WDW as well. We bought Phillips ones from Best Buy. I keep like 20 dvds (disney of course) in one of those little zippered keepers and off we go!

 

[scrapquitler]

We are driving to Disney in a couple weeks from Michigan. Having done this many, many times before DD was born, we know the drive takes 18 hours if we limit stops, and we're doing it all in one go.

I'm looking for suggestions on watching movies in the car; specifically, letting DD watch movies in the backseat.

Here's what we've got:
- A Honda CRV that doesn't have any kind of DVD players installed
- An iPad that does NOT work with data, only Wi-Fi (we have four movies downloaded to watch on here from past road trips, but obviously Netflix is out due to the whole no-data thing)
- I also have a Chromebook and we own an external CD/DVD drive for it

Is my best plan to buy some more movies or TV episodes on iTunes? (This may not be an option as I think the iPad is low on storage space.)
OR finagle the DVD drive with the Chromebook for her?
OR should I just go buy a $50 portable DVD player at Wal-Mart?
OR... something else I have't thought of?

I would buy the portable DVD player and bring a bunch of DVDs. YOu can plug it into the cars plug and you can attach it to the back of the seat so it will be easier for DD to watch....any of the other options she will have to hold the laptop or ipad, and that will not go well (been there, done that).

I would also consider grabbing some different DVDs from a Redbox along the way ($1.20 each for regular, slightly more, maybe $1.50 for Blue Ray) and dropping them in a different kiosk to return them the next day.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Portable dvd players that attach to headrests.

 

[Pesky]

portable dvd player + kidz gear headphones + attachment so it attaches to the seatback. This keeps maximum flexibility for you so you can bring it with you into a restaurant, onto a plane, and even plug into the hotel TV (if you get the cables and bring those). We've been using ours for years.

 

[rascooby]

We have a portable DVD player that attaches to the seats. We bring some movies and get some at Redbox along the way.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'll 3rd the redbox suggestion. We've done that many times.

 

[BLAZEY]

We bought DD7 a $50 portable DVD player when she was 2 ( almost 3). We bought it as we took road trips and we didn't have a tablet at the time, We figured if she broke it we were only out $50 . Still works over 5 years later, but we are on a second set of head phones. She sits with it on her lapa and knows how to stop and change movies when done. Best $50 we spent. Daddy has the Ipad. Ours came with an cigarette lighter charger and a A/C charger so but also holds enough charge to watch a 2 hour movie.

 

[jtopp]

Portable DVD player all the way. And get a nice pair of headphones so you don't have to listen to what she is watching. Have a safe trip.

 

[pooh4evr]

Portable DVD, and check out some movies, from the library.

 

[ReyFan]

Since everyone else has covered the dvd question (and I agree to buy a portable seat back player and use Redbox) I thought I would suggest an additional option. On long road trips we rent books on CD from our library. Not sure if yours has them but my kids love them and its a nice break from movies you can a!so do audible, but the library is free. We have listned to a ton of books over the last four years-alice in wonderland, wizard of oz, many magic tree houses, etc.

 

[Mouse3Dad]

We have drove from Cleveland the last 3 years so feel the pain of long trips.

As others have said, a portable DVD player on the back of the seat rest is the best route.

Another option if you have an iPhone is increasing your Data plan for that month. Then use your cell as a mobile hotspot, connect to your cell with your tablet and watch netflix. There are ways to turn down the quality to make sure the video playback isn't too jumpy.

 

[tvsdisney]

Disney movies anywhere app. You can download the movies straight to the iPad and don't need wifi. Most DVDs come with the code and you enter it in and have the movie. You can connect it to your iTunes or Amazon account too

 

[jeepnjudy]

We also use a portable DVD player that works well for both kids. But as a parent, their movie time is limited and they are not arriving in FL looking/acting like TV zombies!

 

[mzsarah10]

The last trip we used our Amazon prime app. You can now download to your iPad and watch without wifi. When we stopped somewhere, we would connect to their wifi and download a new movie since we only had so much memory.