I-95 Alone w/kids

[fortheboys]

It looks like I may be driving from NJ to Tampa, then to WDW alone with my 2 boys (5 and 2). My husband was going to drive with us, but due to a change in his work schedule, he will fly down a week after us. (We visit family in Tampa, then go to WDW afterwards, so he's not missing the main event! LOL)

My husband is cool with my driving, but my parents are totally against it, and think I'm insane to travel cross county alone with the kids! I plan on making 1 overnight stop somewhere in in the southern part of South Carolina. I plan on leaving around 3 AM and stopping around dinnertime at a hotel, then continuing on the next day, arriving in the Tampa area in the early afternoon.

Does anyone have thoughts, and especially tips for the long haul with only 1 adult?

 

[adoptionmomma4]

I just made the trip from Ohio to Orlando in March. It was me and my DD's ages 3 and 10. I left around 8 AM and drove a little past Charlotte where I we met up with my BFF and her 3 daughters ages 6,14 and 16. We took separate cars so I was alone with my girls.

As for the trip... It was so BORING for me. I had no one to talk to keep me occupied. I also had no music since my newly three year old refused to wear the head phones to the DVD player. I did however memorize the words to Enchanted and Bee movie because those are the only two movies my girls watched over and over and over........

My tips would be to sit the your 5 year old close to your 2 year old, so he can hand him things like his blanket and dropped toys (within his reach). Always go inside to eat even if it is McDonalds to give the kids plenty of time to stretch their legs. I would also stop around dinnertime for the night where you can eat and maybe go to the pool for a while and it is still daylight. I also like to choose a hotel that you have to go inside to access the rooms. I am a bit of a freak and I am always scared of traveling alone. So having a room with access from the outside parking lot terrifies me One to many movies maybe I always pack a separate bag for the overnight trip. I put it on the floor on the passenger side. That way I do not have to drag everything out to find the overnight bag and I have all of the things we need for the morning.

I hope this helps some. It is hard to make the trip alone, but doable. I think the worse part is having no adults to talk to. Maybe it is just me, but a long car ride makes me sleepy.

Good luck!

 

[Poohbug]

I drove from FL to Wi this spring with my DS8 and DS4. It went surprisingly well. We had a great time-no problems. They had a DVD player in the back and I could listen to the radio.
I would try to map out where you are going to stop and get a hotel first. There are a lot of BAD hotels out there and I find it a pain to go from one hotel to another trying to find a decent one.
Just be smart-lock your doors, be observant, etc and you will be fine.

 

[karynnix]

Sounds like fun! I drove 24 hours with my kids last year from Iowa to SC, and LOVED it. Of course, we stopped a lot. I didn't try to leave super early to get more driving time in, because I knew I would just be tired on the trip. We slept until 8 AM or so and took our time getting ready. Try to stop before it gets dark and unwind. You will have a lot more fun than you think! I really can't wait to make the trip with them again!

 

[2Kds2K9]

Sounds like it could be a fun trip. Just be cautious. Get a hotel with inside doors. Not a Motel. Also, as you open the door to the room, just say, "Honey, it's me" Then people around you will think your DH is already in the room. In my life before kids, I traveled a lot by myself and that was one of my tricks.

Make sure your cell phone is charged and GPS, if you have on, is operational.

Good luck and be safe!

 

[disneyandme]

I would rethink the 3am start time. I know that once my kids are woken up, they would not fall back asleep, especially in the car. Also, doesn't that put you in the NYC area at rush hour?

 

[PixieDustLove]

It looks like I may be driving from NJ to Tampa, then to WDW alone with my 2 boys (5 and 2). My husband was going to drive with us, but due to a change in his work schedule, he will fly down a week after us. (We visit family in Tampa, then go to WDW afterwards, so he's not missing the main event! LOL)

My husband is cool with my driving, but my parents are totally against it, and think I'm insane to travel cross county alone with the kids! I plan on making 1 overnight stop somewhere in in the southern part of South Carolina. I plan on leaving around 3 AM and stopping around dinnertime at a hotel, then continuing on the next day, arriving in the Tampa area in the early afternoon.

Does anyone have thoughts, and especially tips for the long haul with only 1 adult?

i haven't read through the thread yet or any of the other suggestions so i'm not sure if this is on here yet or not but my suggestion is to please, please, stay at a hotel that has inside rooms...it's worth paying the extra money for your safety. you never know who could be watching you from the parking lot if you're staying at a place with outside rooms. your drive will be great though! the kids will have a ton of fun playing "eye spy" games and it will definitely create lasting memories....and on top of all that fun you have disney to look forward to!!!!

 

[fortheboys]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I never even thought about the hotel door situation, but will keep that in mind! We leave southern NJ at around 3am becuase it gets us thru the entire DC metro area before rush hour, but do like to stop early to get settled in a hotel before dinner. I'm excited at the prospect of the trip, but know its going to be very trying! I can just imagine hitting every reststop down I-95 becuase someone has to pee, or change the DVD or pick up dropped toys or clean up spilled drinks and dole out snacks. I might never get there!

Keep the suggestions coming!