i am so torn...drive from MA

[POLLY ANN]

We have driven the 24 hour trip a dozen or so times so I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve...If anyone has mentioned this already, I apologize.....
Start stocking up on little toys, books, games, etc. from the dollar store. Wrap them up individually in X-mas or birthday wrap. Hide them in the car someplace so the kids don't know about them ahead of time. Hand them out for good behavior or after a set amount of miles. Your 5yo will love it! My dd stayed quiet for over an hour once just to unwrap that dollar toy! For her that was a miracle!

Driving is not so bad if you plan for any and everything......

 

[VickiVM]

We'll be doing the drive from San Antonio next September with 3 small kids, 4, 6 & 8. IF we could afford to, we'd fly, but that's out of the question.

Just very recently the kids have been better behaved in the car and out in public that I'm actually looking forward to driving with them. And I have to say, car trip vacations have been so underrated lately. How many of us have fond memories of our childhood road trip vacations?? My husband still has distinct memories of road trips with his family. And I missed out entirely so I'm looking at the time spent with my kids on the road as a future nice memory for them. Plus, like another poster said previously, a planned stop on the way back is a nice cushion for Disney withdrawal. I'm hoping we can stop in New Orleans on our way back.!!

JMO

 

[figment95]

Our drive isn't as far as yours but we do it every year and we love it. We have the car organizers that hang on the back of the front seats. We bought one for each child. I go to the dollar store and but a whole bunch of cheap toys, coloring books, crayons, auto bingo game, etc. I put a few in the pockets of the organizer along with some snacks and candy. Whenever we stop, I sneak a new little toy or snack in the organizer for the kids to find. We always stop at all the welcome stations to pick up brochures for the kids to look at and so they can run around on the grass a little. We stop overnight at a hotel with an indoor pool. It's a little more expensive but it gives the kids a chance to get some excercise so they can sleep. We take our time and stop anywhere that looks interesting. When we get to DW we are rested refreshed and ready to go! Getting there really is half the fun!

 

[Threehearts]

figment95-
Your way sounds oh-so-pleasant! With all the stops you make, how long does it take you to get to WDW? We live just outside of D.C. and are thinking of driving down in August with a 4 and 6 year old.

 

[weeyore33]

hi everyone!!!! after reading everything here we have decided to take an extra day to drive so we have a rested arrival at WDW and we have planned a stop for the way back in NYC. We have 2 boys who are so big-hearted... we asked them for input on where to stop on the way back home my 5 year old said "i want to meet the firefighters who saved all the people" and my 9 year old said "they would probably like a gift from WDW" they are so thoughtful!!!! kids amaze me.. just when you think they really don't understand....... we will be stopping on the way home. hopefuly this will also help my 9 year old with his fears.... to all who were affected, my prayers are still with you, and to all..........we all lost a piece of ourself that day, but we are filled with the strength of each other to go on... to end on a happy note, we are going to DISNEYWORLD!!

 

[figment95]

weeyore,
What wonderful, thoughtful children you have. Please give them an extra hug tonite when you put them to bed.

Threehearts,
It is a very unstressful way to go. We usually leave home at about 6am. With all our stops we end up in Kingsland GA. (right on the boarder of GA and FL) at about 5pm or so. The next day it takes us about three hours to get to DW. We have also broken the trip up into 2 nites on the road. We drive about 5 hours to Columbia SC.(we usually do this after DH gets off work so we don't miss a work day) From there we spend a nite on ST Augustine Beach. There is a Holiday inn right on the beach there that's a wonderful start to the vacation. We can usually get there by 2pm so we have time for a swim and a walk on the beach before it gets dark. From there it's about 2 hrs to DW. WE're going again in June but this time I think we'll stop in Daytona Beach Shores. This way is more expensive than driving straight through, but IMHO it is so much fun, it's worth it. I can't wait!

 

[weeyore33]

my DH got on the "i am going to drive straight through" kick again, until he read these posts with me again tonight.... now hes a believer... take it slow, let the kids kind of set the pace and definately stop on the way to sleep, swim and play.... now to figure out just where to stop???? we will leave from my husbands work(he works in providence, RI) we will pick him up. eat some dinner, then start the drive.... how long? i think we will drive until breakfast, get a hotel for the day and let the kids play and swim, and we can take turns sleeping... does this sound like a good plan? expert help wanted....

PS we went to the outback for dinner today and the hostess had a shirt on with the skyline of NY (with the towers) and my 5 year old siad--- mommy that is the buildings, we need to fix, but they dont look broken any more, he wanted to know if all the firemen put it back together
I LOVE MY KIDS!

 

[figment95]

weeyore,
If you are going to take your kids to the site of the WTC in NYC please be advised that it is a horriffic place. My sister works there and the last time I talked to her about it (she doesn't like to talk about it much) she said the smell is sickening. If you go, you may want to prepare your children beforehand.
Now, on to happier thoughts. If you are planning to drive through the night you may have to make special arrangements with the hotel. At most hotels check in is 3pm or later. Another option would be to figure how long you want to drive the first night. We usually figure if I pick DH up a work at 5pm we will drive until about 10pm. Figure out where you will be at that time and reserve a room at a hotel there. You may have to guarantee the reservation on your credit card so they will hold the room that late. That way everyone can get a good night's sleep and you'll be ready for a good day's drive. Just an option. My kids would much rather drive during the day. They don't get good rest in the car and they love to look for landmarks. We make a game out of it. But like I said, it really depends on what you think will work best for your family.

 

[weeyore33]

figment95,
thank you so much for the info on the WTC site. i guess iwas being nieve* (dont know how to spell this) thinking that the kids could go there... i think maybbe we will just visit a firestation, and central park so the kids can see that life has gone on for all the people of ny... maybe we will go visit the Today show and hold up a sign that says hello Dis fans!!!! there is much to do in NY... we will find a happy memeory to replace the horror memory. thank you so much, i would not want to add to their fears/
on the drive, that is what i suggested to my husband, drive until about 11, to get through new york. sleep and drive the next day until dinner, get a room again, drive the next day untilwe get to wdw... i will have to do some creative convincing to get it done this way thank you again!!!! i cant wait to go!


------------------------------------------------
1987- first trip with mom- offsite
1989- offsite
1999, may CSR
1999, December CSR
2002- MAY 11-21 first try at CBR- first drive to WDW

 

[figment95]

You're welcome. I didn't mean to scare you off NYC. It's a great place to visit. Have a great trip!

 

[weeyore33]

thanks, we are not scared off from NY, we will still go, just not take the kids to WTC site....i am glad you told me what it is like, i would have been crushed after bringing the kids to disney then going there, we will take them to other sites in new york...

on the more positive side, went shopping today.. found these great attatchments for the kids to use in the car.. they have a tray and places to hold coloring books, markers, juice box, etc
they are awesome!!! saw the barbie ones and had to keep searching and searching but i found scooby doo!!!! i didnt think the boys would appreciate the barbie ones......

 

[figment95]

I love those. They attach onto the back of the front seat? I have a boy and a girl so we have Scooby Doo and Hello Kitty. They are wonderful. Ours have a bunch of little pockets and I have a great time searching for little treats for all the pockets. I must be insane but I have almost as much fun planning the drive as I do planning the actual vacation. DH and I bought plane tickets for our June trip on Sept. 9. We found a good deal and it seemed like a good idea at the time. We've decided to take the loss on the tickets and drive anyway. It's much more relaxing for us. So far I've bought Mad Libs, auto Bingo, and a dinosaur clolring book for DS and a princess coloring book for DD. If you have any more ideas for good little toys, please let me know. I'm always on the lookout. Thanks!

 

[mom42860]

weeyore33, where did you find those? I have been to toysrus and could not find any, maybe I am looking in the wrong places, any help would be apprec.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The real adventure in driving to WDW is getting around DC. If you get caught at the "mixing bowl" any time even near rush hour, you'll spend the next 10 hours trying to relax again. Getting around NYC will seem to have been a picnic.
Whatever you do, AVOID the DC rush hour!!

 

[weeyore33]

i found the car tray pack things at walmart in the auto section, near all the cup holders and car accessories.... they are awesome!!!! i have stickers, favorite fruit snacks, new coloring books, disney themed... 1 new game each for the game boys, 1 new game each for the playstation and 1 new dvd each, that should just about cover it, maybe???? i am hoping to give these spaced out enough to last the whole trip, i thought that if i planted a gift in the pocket of the scooby doo thing every time we nee dto stop, it will make for as much fun for me as them!!!!

I agree about the planning... i am having as much fun planning the road trip as i am planning the disney part of it!!!! this is so much fun...

Thanks for the info on dc, we will definately stay away during rush hour!!!! Thank you!

I also found an awesome cooler at walmart.... plugs into 12 volt or an outlet it works like a small fridge!!!! think of how many more juice boxes that will hold without having to use ice!!!!

We wont have any puddle in the back of the truck!!!

the good thing about the truck also is, it has 3 12 volt outlets for us to use at once.....
fridge, tv, playststion.... its like driving a mini mini house!!!!
Look for me i will be in the yellow escape with the yellow mickey antenna, wave hi when you see us pass by!!!!

 

[figment95]

weeyore
You're going to have a great trip!!There's nothing better than roadtriping to DW. I'll be anxious to hear about your trip when you get back. Please Post.

 

[mom42860]

Thanks guess I will be heading to Walmart tomorrow! weeyore, when are you leaving? We are heading down in April! I am also very excited about the roadtrip, like the idea of sticking the goodies in the pocket at rest-times, had been trying to figure when to give them out.

 

[weeyore33]

we will be heading out on May 9th at approx. 7 PM>>> not that anyone is keeping track around this house I cant wait and i will def. post a report when we get back, we are bringing the laptop so maybe i will find some time to post while there too! I love these boards so much!!!!!!!! Mom42860---what part of Mass are you leaving from?we live all the way in Plymouth, near the Bourne Bridge........but my husband works in Providence, so we will leave from there!!!saves 1 hour of drive time, 1 hour closer to Destination DISNEY!!!!!!YAY!!!

Now Does anyone have any good suggestions on Hotels to stya on the way down???or any Hotels or hotel chains to AVOID????

ooh me so happy, me so happy, i need it to be MAY 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[weeyore33]

we will be heading out on May 9th at approx. 7 PM>>> not that anyone is keeping track around this house I cant wait and i will def. post a report when we get back, we are bringing the laptop so maybe i will find some time to post while there too! I love these boards so much!!!!!!!! Mom42860---what part of Mass are you leaving from?we live all the way in Plymouth, near the Bourne Bridge........but my husband works in Providence, so we will leave from there!!!saves 1 hour of drive time, 1 hour closer to Destination DISNEY!!!!!!YAY!!!

Now Does anyone have any good suggestions on Hotels to stay on the way down???or any Hotels or hotel chains to AVOID????

ooh me so happy, me so happy, i need it to be MAY 9!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[mom42860]

We are in Manchester on Cape Ann, so you are closer to Disney! Still haven't pinned down our time to leave. Started with 3am then thought midnight now we are thinking as soon as the baby is ready for sleep. Found this great link last night on one of the threads, I95 website it may help with planning.