Is it crazy to drive 1300 miles with a 3 year old?

[latexscooter]

I'm looking at cutting corners for our family trip next year so we can stay at the Poly. One of my considerations is driving. But with the cost of gas, the aggravation, and equating our time into dollars I don't know if it's worth it.

My daughter will be 3 (almost 4) at the time of travel. I will do most of the driving while hubby...reads? I don't know, he'll do something.

My questions are these:

Is it crazy to try and drive with a toddler that distance?

Should I try to drive straight through or build in a hotel stay along the way?

How long will it really take? Yahoo maps says 21 1/2 and I remember more like 24 for a ride to Georgia a few years back.

Do you really think it'll save that much? We usually fly down and for all 3 of us with a good rate we're looking at $600 RT because we don't live in a big city.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[cjnix29]

We did it last year and my son was not quite 3. He really did great. I had a portable DVD player which was a godsend! Also, we made sure when we stopped, it was at places he could get out and run around. As long as you are prepared, it should be Ok, and as long as your child is Ok on car rides. When we drove, we left at 3 am, and drove straight through. Worked out great.

 

[bluedoggy]

Although it has been many years since we did it (our DD is now 27... with a DD who just turned 4) but we drove from Wisconsin to WDW when our DD was just turning 3. Those were the days before in car DVD players. In fact our car didn't have A/C back then. She survived - and did quite well. We did it in 2 days (each way) with an overnight stop. Maybe keep watching for fare sales, who knows- you may find when you calculate gas, wear & tear on your car (and yourselves) that it may come out about the same. Maybe consider renting points from a DVC owner - to stay at one of the DVC resorts - we love the studios (and ended up buying DVC once we tried it). Check out the DVC rental board here on the DIS to compare cost.
Have fun

 

[katyjeka]

Hi. We've driven many, many times with our DD's, from Pa. Yes, driving can be a little stressful, however, flying with kids in our opinion can be just as bad. I actually look forward to our car time. We play games, sing(corny, I know), read alot of stories, and watch movies. I don't want to mislead you, I'm usually sticky, and look pretty "bad", but a long car drive can be fun. I also enjoy the time my husband and I have to talk. No cell phones, nobody dropping in, its a great time to reconnect. Whatever you choose, have a great trip. Janice

 

[jennymouse]

We're hoping the car ride with my 2yo DGD is going to be better than the plane ride we had with her over Thanksgiving. Anything's gotta be better than that was. I mean, if the child cried on a plane you have to deal with all the other passengers giving you the evil eye and you don't have any control over the situation. At least in the car, it's just your family and you can stop and get out of the car for a break or whatever. That's my 2 cents.

 

[Tink1999]

Yes, you are crazy.

Does it cost you $600RT per person, or for all three ($200 each)?

With the price of fuel, the hotel you stay in along the way, aggravation, etc., you're better off flying and shaving a day off your trip to save some money. Delay the trip one year and put money aside for the flights. A 3yo won't remember the trip anyway.

Another option is getting cheaper flights out of a major city that is a 2-6 hour drive from where you live.

 

[**eeyore**]

Yes, you are crazy.

Does it cost you $600RT per person, or for all three ($200 each)?

With the price of fuel, the hotel you stay in along the way, aggravation, etc., you're better off flying and shaving a day off your trip to save some money. Delay the trip one year and put money aside for the flights. A 3yo won't remember the trip anyway.

Another option is getting cheaper flights out of a major city that is a 2-6 hour drive from where you live.

Ba-humbug!

I don't think you should delay your trip at all - 3 years old will be a very magical age to take your daughter! I think you should, however, consider flying. As a few people have mentioned, $600 round trip for 3 people is not too bad, especially when you compare it to the cost of driving (fuel, wear & tear on vehicle, hotels is you stop for the night and the value of your time - figure you will add at least 2 days to your vacation for drive time, or that it will eat up 2 days of your time at disney). I was originally thinking the same thing for our trip in a year, but then realized I would probably only save $200 at most (traveling from northern midwest). I'd rather pay the extra $200 and fly.

In then end though, it is a personal preference. Some people have a lot of patience and love to drive. And as one person mentioned, time in the car with your family could be wonderful bonding time!

I'm sure you will be quite happy with whichever choice you make.

 

[disnut1149]

YES!!!!!

We drove from Philly to WDW when my son was 6 and my girls were 16 and 13. It was the trip from H---! My husband hooked up a little vcr with tv, (before portable DVD players) and he watched movies all the way down. But the ride was so boring. We just wanted to get there. Our friends were meeting us there and they flew. Got to check in right before us and they looked all refreshed and happy. We looked tired and ragged. We said never again. We ALWAYS fly now. My kids will still talk about that drive and they are 32, 29 and 22. Whatever you decide, you'll be going to Disney!! Have fun!

 

[latexscooter]

Thanks everyone for the advice. It looks like the responses are split down the middle on what to do and I guess we'll make a decision once we get closer. This will be DD3 4th trip and 4th airline flight (if we decide to go that route rather than driving) and things have always been good at that end. So it's really down to dollars and doing the math.

The idea of family time is appealing to me but I'm not sure if I'd rather get that pool side and add a couple additional days at a less expensive resort. Just for clarification, the reason I'm looking to drive is to save dollars. The reason I picked the Poly is the close proximity to the MK (and it's a HUGE, HUGE fantasy of mine to stay there). But we could knock off almost $75 a night by staying at WL and be just as close. We plan to buy into DVC within the next 3 years so I'd like to get this special trip in before then.

When I look at driving I'm not sure if it really makes sense with the cost of oil and the fact that our Sienna isn't the most fuel efficient automobile out there. Once we add in two separate nights hotel we may be even between the two. I know if we add in the cost of the additional vacation days it definitely makes sense to fly. But...

To answer an earlier posters question - it is $200 each with a total of $600 RT.

 

[java]

We drive every year from NJ to Disney (kids are 12,8,3,1 now) but they have been all ages during our many trips down. It just is too expensive for us to fly and we have too much stuff. The last time we flew they actually pulled out a box for us to throw all the baby stuff into and they threw that onto the plane. I was LOL as it came off the belt. A HUGE box but all our stuff was in there. Also right now the only direct flight from our local airport to Orlando is Hooters air and I am not so sure that is family friendly.(although DH and my 12 year old son would probably enjoy it)
Oh I didn't answer the ?'s
No you are not crazy
It takes us 16 hours from NJ(takes us 5 to get to Boston if that helps)
We do stop for the night but do most of the driving day 1(harder to get the little ones into the carseat after a marathon driving trip....)
But for you with one child it might be cheaper to fly.

 

[penguin087]

With the price of gas I don't think you will save much money so the only other factor is your aggravation. Everytime I consider driving I think that in roughly 2 hrs (I'm in PA) I can be on the ground in Orlando or arriving in Baltimore MD and then I book my flight.

 

[slbeaute]

I think it probably depends on your child. I know our 3 yr old DD has a hard time making it to Grandma's and that's only 4 hours away. This is with a dvd player, etc. When I asked DH if maybe we should drive to WDW to save some money, he looked at me like I was crazy..definite no! On the other side, when we flew last Oct. for a wedding, she did great! She was very excited to be on the plane and get a snack, etc. She slept the whole way back, even through the landing. This will be a longer airplane ride, but I think she'll be just fine and we will all be better rested and in a good mood. I would just go with what you know about your daughter and her temperment.


First family trip to WDW in 9 days!!!

 

[subtchr]

I don't see how you could possibly save money by driving, if you do the math.

Gas -- 2600 miles/23 mpg (we have a Sienna, too!) x $2.80/gallon (may well be higher) = $316

Two nights hotel -- minimum $150 (I think if you drove straight through you would be so exhausted you would not enjoy your vacation!)

Extra meals (assuming you would have to buy one meal somewhere if you flew, but at least 4-5 meals if you are driving a total of 48 hours) -- minimum $60-80

And this is the biggie, but people fail to account for it -- wear and tear on your van -- an average amount from different websites I found is $.35/mile -- that's $910 right there!

There are five of us, and even though it WOULD be cheaper for us to drive (we're a bit closer, plus the extra two airfares, of course), we decided our time is worth something! We'd rather leave our house at 6:30 am and be in the World four and a half hours later, ready to relax and have fun together! Have fun whatever you decide ~

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

$600 sounds like a great price if we're just comparing driving down to flying.

However, you also have to tack on airport parking fees if you fly -- depending on the airport it could add up. Also, if you feel you'd need to rent a car in Orlando, there's another huge chunk of change you wouldn't have to shell out if you drove your own vehicle.

Personally, for that distance at that good a price, I'd find a way to just pay the $600 plus airport parking and make due without a rental car.

 

[the Fidge]

ok two points to make, one I don't knwo where you are near, but Airtran seems to have great prices. I would try that first. Second, I have traveled alot with my son and find creative things to do. I did not have portable DVd player, but actually enjoyed the time I spent in the back of the car! If you walk around the dollar store ALONE!!! you can come up with great things to do. The craft stores are another great find for car things!

I still travel with my son, and rarely hear are we there yet, having too much fun on the ride to ask! Trust your spirit of fun!

 

[MamaLema]

No, you aren't crazy. We are doing it in September too. Kids will be 9, 7, and just shy of turning 3. If you bring lots of things to occupy them, the time will go by faster.

We are driving straight through (about 24 hours) but this is not for everyone. Our kids are great travellers so it works for us.

 

[cjnix29]

I would keep checking airfare. We were going to drive this September, but then found airfare for 122 pp. For a total of 366, it would have cost us more than that to drive! Just keep checking!! But it is doable with a 3 year old!

 

[Ella's Mom]

You are crazy to drive. FLY!

 

[debbi801]

We drove from Maryland when my youngest was 2 1/2. It really wasn't too bad. We got a DVD player for the car and made lots of stops. We split it up into 2 days and stayed at a hotel within walking distance of a chuck e cheese and with an indoor pool. That way, he could burn off energy.

The best thing we did was load up the car the night before, dress my DS in clothes when he went to bed, and then put him in the car and leave at like 4:30 in the morning. That way, we got a lot of distance in before having to stop the first time.

In addition to the DVD player, we got kids books on CD, brought Wonder color markers and paper, his magnadoodle, and lots of little snacks and bottles of water.

It was far easier than we were expecting it to be.

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

We just drove the 24 hr drive in Feburary with DD10, DS3 and... wait for it............ DS 3months!!!! And NO he did NOT sleep the whole time. But it was alright! On the way there we stopped one night, and on the way home we took a little more time, just cause we could. He cried a little at times, but not TONS. Our son that is 3 was fine though. Just bring stuff to entertain your child. New things help. Oh and we are going back in September and we are flying because it is sooo much cheaper with the airfare I got. We paid $470 RT for the 4 of us. (Plus an infant, but of course he was free) Good Luck!

Lee