Is this even a remote possibility?

[TexasErin]

Really wanted to rent a minivan or SUV for our trip and then buy a portable DVD player for our long trip. We have a VW Passat and thought we would be more comfortable in a larger vehicle. However, no rental agency around here has minivans or SUVs. So it looks like we are stuck with our car for the trip.
Has anyone ever used a portable DVD or VCR in a car. Want to keep the kids entertained, but also, more importantly safe.
Any suggestions?

 

[DisneyTeacher]

We just bought a portable DVD player for our drive to WDW. We paid just under $300 at a ShopKo (like a WalMart). It has a 7 inch screen and has a wonderful picture, very clear and sharp. We bought a CD/DVD case that holds 24 CDs/DVDs and, of course, plenty of movies. We have done the TV/VCR but found that too big and bulky to haul around. The size of the TV and the size of the tapes made the DVD player a much better choice.

To keep everyone safe you can buy a case that goes over the front seat to hang the DVD player in so that in the event of a wreck or sudden stop the DVD player is secure.

 

[Hawkeye314]

Let me suggest soemthing else...

Buy headphones for each kid. Go to Radio Shack. They make a three way splitter for headphone lines. So all you have to do is plug the splitter into the DVD player and then you can plug up to three headphones into the splitter. That way each kid has earphones and you don't have to listen to it from the front seat. My experience is also that headphones make the kids stay quieter (except when its tiem to sing a song!).

Make sure you buy the splitter that requires a battery. Even though it burns the batteries, you need the extra boost.

--Jon

 

[eek40]

another additional thought, we have a vcr in a bag combo dealy(that's whats its called really..lol) and its great. I will say please if you do put it in your car make sure its secure, if you put it on the back of your seat bungy it at the bottom, If you were in a wreck the tv/dvd/vcr will fly right into a small child. And could cause a serious injury.

 

[SueM in MN]

I will say please if you do put it in your car make sure its secure, if you put it on the back of your seat bungy it at the bottom.

I agee totally with having it secure, but please don't use bungee cords. In an accident, the TV will keep moving forward at a force of its weight times the speed you were going (so a 10 pound TV will be going at a force of 350 pounds in a 35 mile per hour accident. Most bungee cords are only rated to 5-10 pounds. If you are in an accident, the bungee cord will stretch to a certain point and then either the hook will tear off or the cord will snap. If you have ever gotten "snapped" by a rubber or elastic band you can imagine what can happen. The TVs I have seen in bags are secured on the top and the bottom. Look for that when you buy one.

 

[eek40]

good point sue, and thanks for sharing that, I didnt even think about the rating of a bungy cord!

 

[jel0511]

They also DVD players in travel bags, and they are pretty compact. I kow one is made by a company called Fun TV and is available at Best Buy. Is is pretty compact, and would be fine in a Passat. You attact it to the front seats, with straps, so it is secure. They also make a VHS player. Here is the link to the Best Buy site.

http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11213626&m=3026&cat=3016&scat=3017

 

[mat2672]

You could also plan your drive time around your kids sleep time. We drive every year and its a 16 hour drive. I leave at about 9 P.M. and my daughter sleeps thru the majority of the trip. Just a thought. I do keep my laptop in the car which has a dvd drive in it just in case though.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

We bought a portable tv/dvd combo for our trip last year. It fits nicely into our vehicle and it keeps the girls (now 13 and 11) entertained while we are on the road. We've used it on our last two trips and it has defintely made the trips go a bit smoother. I bought a three-way headphone splitter from radio shack so the kids can watch a movie and not be bothered by the music on the stereo (I must have music to drive).

My wife and I have lots of fun "watching" movies from the front of the vehicle while the girls are watching them in the back. Last year we did this with "The Princess Diaries", this year with a couple others. It's amazing how much you can vividly remember from the soundtrack alone.

Our set is a Toshiba that we got from Costco. Less than $300.00.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

One other suggestion: If you know anyone who has a laptop with a dvd player (or if you have one yourself) you can use that on the trip as well. Or if you were in the market for one anyway....

just another option.