Less than 1 month!!

[QTPie7375]

The countdown has begun....less than one month until we take the long drive from NJ to SSR with a 2 1/2 year old! I am freaking out because we attempted to drive last October and turned around in Maryland because I couldn't take the crying in the car anymore! Needless to say, our daughter does not sleep in cars like most children! So...we are now debating whether to leave in the morning or at night (either way we will be stopping halfway down and checking into a motel for some rest). At least this time we will be staying for 7 nights (last year we were only going to stay for 5 nights) so we will have more time in Disney to recover from the long trip and prepare ourselves for the ride home!

So....we would love to hear what other people do that drive with kids to Disney.

Wish us luck, PLEASE!

 

[toniosmom]

Oh boy.....driving from NJ to WDW is tough. I have a 4 year old and (unless he's sleeping) he doesn't travel well when we go only a couple of hours away! I can't imagine him on a trip like that one. Luckily for us, it's just the two of us, so we can fly.

I'm not sure where you live in NJ, but I hear that there are some incredible deals out of Atlantic City airport to Orlando. Deals so good that driving (gas, lodging, etc.) may not be a big savings. You may want to check it out.

Let us know how you make out. Good luck!

 

[flipflopmom]

Make use of the sleeping time. See if you (and spouse if you have one) can switch off driving times and drive through the night. This is the only way we can drive with our girls. DH will come home, go straight to bed around 5 pm, and sleep until midnight. I keep the girls (2 1/2 and 9) up as long as possible, and then we hit the road around midnight. Drive until it gets CRAZY, usually just before lunchtime, then stop, take a run around break somewhere (like a Chick Fil A or McD's playplace, park, etc.) get back in the car, and plug in the DVD player! We only have a 12 hour drive, so this usually gets us there shortly after lunch.

 

[DVC Mike]

the long drive from NJ to SSR with a 2 1/2 year old!

Uggh! I'd go crazy on such a long drive with small children. I agree with the posts above driving through the night while the kids are asleep.

 

[QTPie7375]

I think i will post a log of our journey...i am sure it will give people a good laugh! I think we are leaning more towards leaving at night.

And I wish we could fly...a 2 hour-ish flight as opposed to a 17 hour car ride sounds like a no-brainer....however, the hubby doesn't do airplanes.

 

[flipflopmom]

Mine either. Definitely drive at night. You'll be more tired when you get there, but not nearly as frazzled!

 

[Tinks "SS"]

2 words for you! Car DVD! It has been a life saver for us. our boys are now 7 and 8 but they have always had movies for them to watch and has been the best travel companion for us. We always drive to WDW from ATL and we also go to kentucky and indiana to visit family and always drive. When your child gets a little bigger a Nintendo DS or what ever is popular will be good also. Even if you aren't a fan of vidoe games. (i'm not really except when traveling).

Seriously though, Get one of the portable DVD players and bring her favorite movies and you will be so glad as she will be watching it instead.

 

[Bekky2]

We are also driving for our first trip home in October and have a 10 and 8 year old. We are planning to leave on a Friday afternoon after school and drive about 6 hours and then spend the night somewhere. Get up the next morning, drive on and off with bathroom and meal breaks and spend the night somewhere and then should be at Disney sometime early on Sunday. Yes, mine are older but we don't have the car DVD and are debating getting one just for this drive. Since they are older and we plan to stop in between on the ride down (we live in Northern Indiana), we think they will be okay with the Nintendo DS and sleeping some of the time. I have heard from a lot of people that the car DVD has been a lifesaver. If we had kids that were younger, we would probably definitely get one. Good luck to you!

 

[rmonty02]

Drive at NIGHT! Leave after dinner 6ish, pop in a movie (YES, Portable DVD Player!), that will get you to 8, then it's night-night. Drive on through all of her sleeping...stop to switch and stay awake. I have 2 little one's 4yo and 2yo. They're good travelers, but after they watch Peter Pan 3 times in a row...Captain Hook getting shot at isn't as funny to them anymore.