My trip will be here in 22 day and I am depressed???

[Dagny]

We will be leaving for WDW and Universal on the 29th or 30th of May and as the date draws nearer I am becoming more and more depressed. For the first time, we will be driving to Florida instead of flying. Vacations are supposed to FUN, and the thought of being in the car for ump-teen hours makes me want to cry. My 12 year old daughter is dreading it too. Can you imagine how many times the 4 year old will ask "Are we there yet?" and we haven't even left the city yet???? Oooh, this should be fun I can't even imagine the let-down of having to drive all the way home..... UGH!!!

What I wouldn't do for a HUGE airfare sale right now that would make my husband at least think TWICE about flying!!! $213 RT from Dallas wasn't quite cheap enough for him

 

[joyfull]

We always drive. It really can be alot of fun. We do have a tv/ vcr that we have in the car. My kids are 13 and 14 now, but when they were younger, we always stopped to eat at a place that had a playground. This way we could enjoy our dinner and the kids would run and play for the 20 to 30 mins that it takes to stop and eat. We never worried about them eating when we stopped. We figured that we could just let them eat in the car afterwards. Another thing I would do is go to the dollar store and buy them alot of small toys. I would wrap them and whenever they started getting on my nerves I would just pull out a wrapped gift. That would keep them busy for 40 mins. You can also play games with them. Like I spy or something like that.

Just remember attitude is everything.

 

[MEM]

For the 4 yo, you can try giving him/her a roll of quarters. Everytime he/she whines and/or asks "are we there yet?" he/she has to give you a quarter from the roll. When you reach your destination, he/she gets to keep whatever is left! I do it with my kids for long trips -- 4 is old enough to understand about money. I avoid "rewarding" them with toys and such when they get nudgy, but whatever works for you.

For the trip home, you can work on your trip report or on planning the next visit. That helps with the withdrawal.

 

[Kallison]

Get the TV/VCR combo, it really helps. Maybe after the car trip he'll think twice about driving next time! It will be fine, you might even enjoy the family time.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We are driving too and leaving the same approx. days you are.

We have the PS2 in the mini van and last year my kids were so quiet I had to keep looking back to make sure I hadn't left them at the last stop! And they were 5 and 3.

It is about attitude and I have been checking fares also but with 4 of us $218 is still out of our budget when I add in the rental car. If I could have found airfare for around $700 I would have jumped on it, but driving is not so bad.

One of our funniest memories from last year's trip was stopping for gas just inside of the Florida border and they were selling HUGE watermelons for $1.00 each! We were already loaded down and we were trying to fit this watermelon in the van! You can't have that kind of fun on a plane! LOL

Now if you were riding a bike to WDW, THAT'S DEPRESSING!!

 

[dahess]

Please cheer up!!!!!

I truly believe that if you think you are going to have a bad time, you will.

We have only been to Disney 1 time (Going again in June) & it truly was a magical time, besides that fact that...................
my period started, I was bloated, acne all over face, sun burned out the yeng yang, didn't see fireworks at night, didn't see Fantasmic, rained, brother (his family went with) had a terrible head cold, ran out of money (had to use credit cards & we are still paying them off), got sea sick on Disney boat, got sick during Star Wars (about threw up in the simulater), I could go on and on and on and on and on, but I won't.


HaVe A MaGiCaL tRiP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WDWorBUST]

You can also get children's books on CD or tape for the drive. That should kill some time. You might also plan on leaving late - not driving straight through necessarily - we are this trip because we have two more adults that we can make take turns keeping the driver alert....it would make me nervous with children though since at times everyone would be asleep except the driver which is very hard - but napping until 8pm or so and then leaving. You can get 6-8 hours down the road with both adults alert before stopping at a hotel....the kiddos would sleep most of that time. Just an idea....it might not work if you have to add an extra hotel stay or something. I do believe that driving can be "depressing" but I(25) drove from Oklahoma to Florida with my mom(fifty-something) and two sisters(35 & 30) and my DH(26) and my two nephews(13 &10). And we did okay - I wouldn't choose to do it again but if it was the only way I could go I'd be the first in the car. You will have a good time. If you have any Trivia games take just the cards and play that with them - the little one might not get a whole lot right but will learn from them. And disney trivia has the children's cards that even the youngest child can get the answers - sometimes better than an adult

 

[Kaa]

If I have to do it, you should have to do it too! Our first trip was when Christopher was 3. That TV/VCR thing saved our lives and continues to do so to this day! Of course, I don't have to deal with two kids ...


LYMI!
Tammy

 

[MrsPete]

This is going to come out sounding mean, but I don't really intend it to sound that way: You need to change your attitude. Why? Because the kids will pick up on it. If you're excited about family time in the car, they will be too. If you treat it as one step away from torture, they will too.

Put the kids in charge of preparing activities for the car. Let them pick out a couple coloring books, check out books on tape from the library, pick up a walkman style CD player, buy/borrow/rent a TV/VCR combo.

Get ten one dollar bills for each child and explain to them that every time there's an argument (or whatever behavior drives you nuts) they'll lose a dollar. No second chances. Whatever's left is theirs to spend at Disney.

Choose a McDonalds with a playspace for meals. You and your husband sit down and eat while the kids play and run off some energy. Then order their food to go. Or bring a picnic and stop at a rest stop. Bring along balls, jump ropes, etc. for rest stops.

Don't allow the kids to have caffeine before or during the trip.

There are tons of things to make a car trip pass quickly. My kids can do NC to Florida with only 1-2 minor problems. Again, it's all in the attitude.

 

[tink2dw]

YOU ARE GOING TO WDW!!!!

You definately need a trip to the Disney Store!! To get your MoJo grooving in the Disney Magic!!

Not to buy anything there!! BUT to get the MAGIC going!! Take the kids and Dh,too!! Listen to the music!! Look around at all things that are Disney!!

You know those little compressed washcloths,they aren't very spendy,get one of each person's [even you,they are large and good quality] favorite Character. To suprise them with at the start of the trip!! Let everyone wet theirs and rinse it then bag it in a zip lock baggie. To clean sticky hands,or cool off with.

Then make a trip to the store for Mickey

,drink pouchs or Mickey juice boxes,Mickey fruit snacks,and a Mickey box of cereal that is good for snacking or even Breakfast in your room.


Just think....

with a little

Magic Pixie Dust

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!

 

[Dznypal]

Your pictures are just beautiful!!!

almost makes you feel like your there

 

[gm]

OH MY GOD!!
Dagny!!

I am in the same situation as you. I am so depressed that I cannot begin to tell yall how much I am dreading the "Driving" day. This is the first time I did not get cheap airfare in the 100 range.

Airfare is $200+ and that is just way too much for me. It will be just me and my 2 kids 5 and 9. Hubby has to work.

I do have ressie at Dolpin and am looking forward to 10 days but the thought of driving is "driviing me crazy". First I rented a van but that still came out to about $540 for 2 weeks. Then I changed it to a full size car which came to about $320 for 2 weeks.

I WISH cheap airfare come out soon but I doubt it. We are driving from Houston.

 

[MK Familystone]

Don't giveup on flying!

Up here in the Northeast Delta and every other airline is offering deals.

Try Southwest, Delta, and US AIR websites EVERY MORNING until
14 DAYS BEFORE YOU GO, sur you had to pick Memorial weekend but this has been A CRAZY YEAR! Plus last minute Specials.
Tuesday Morning SW post specials and the other airlines evaluate there weekend traffic on Wenday nite .
Bookmark each Airline site at the "specials or promo" page.
If no luck, spend the airline money on a portable dvd player for the car or Nintendo Advance for the kids to make the time pass.
Our boys use the nintendo on the airplane or car.
NOTE: DON'T FORGET THE BATTERIES OR THE DC ADAPTER WIRES FOR THE CAR
ENJOY!

THE MAGIC HAPPENS!

 

[taylor1293]

Dagny,

I feel your pain! We are leaving on the 30th and driving straight through to Orlando from IL.

I agree with everything others have suggested to you. The money thing works great, we do this with our older dd. We also have a tv/vcp and bring tons of movies. That entertains them for long periods . Plus, I just bought a bunch of crayons, papers, pencils, books to surprise them with on the trip. This should fill a few hours!

Definitely start telling your kids how much fun the drive will be and how many games you can play along the way. That way they will start looking forward to it instead of dreading it.

Make short but frequent stops so they can get out and stretch.

The best part of the drive is all the money you are saving to spend on something else while at Disney! For the 5 of us to fly down and rent a car would have easily cost us around $1,300. We are driving there and back for around $200. That's a lot of souvenirs and character meals!

Good luck with your trip!

Teresa

 

[HunnyPots]

We are driving from just west of Fort Worth and leaving May 31. This is our first WDW trip and I am so excited! Sure, I'd like to just hop on a plane and be there in four hours, but as you've noticed, airfare just ain't what it used to be. But I don't care! I'm going to Walt Disney World!

In the last five years, we've planned and then canceled four trips, due to various circumstances. Now we are three weeks away and NOTHING is going to get me down about this trip.

Think of it this way: you can pack whatever you like without worrying about airport security, you don't have to hassle with shuttle or towncar service from the airport, and you'll have your own car so you can venture off Disney property if you like. I'm sure if you try, you can think of other perks.

And even if you can't...

YOU'RE GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi , Please cheer up , I am flying from MHT to MCO to drive to KY for a wedding then back to WDW for vacation.. I have DD 9 and DS 6 .. I am dreading the Driving days but man it will be sooooo worth it , we are getting to go to disney ( we just got back 6 months ago -using the last of AP's !!! ) we booked the SWAN during the awesome hotwire sale a few weeks ago Oh and the kids don't know about Disney !!! Plus we have friends who are meeting us there ( and her kids don't know either ) they think we are vacationing in KY for the week !! I have been buying little trinkets and printing off games and coloring pages and a neat journal to keep them busy.. Oh my i am almost down to a month!!! hee hee .. CHIN UP you are going to the happiest place on EARTH !! take care Michelle

 

[Robinrs]

tink, you always manage to make me smile!

Dagny, I feel your pain. I'm going to Orlando on 5/24 and I was just PRAYING for a sale. Well, my wish FINALLY came true Wednesday. One way from Atlanta to Orlando was suddenly $72 instead of $122!! Yippeee!!

I know, I live close to Orlando but we drive down at least 3 or 4 times a year and it's an 8 hour drive just with me as the driver. My last trip I fell and hurt myself something fierce and was grateful I wasn't driving because I wouldn't be able to. We took the bus, NOT RECOMMENDED, but it's cheap and I don't have to drive.

This time we're flying and renting a car. It's not the CHEAP way to go but the best for me.

We have a VCP that Micheal uses in the back seat. It's been a lifesaver for two years now. I usually leave VERY early so we're almost there before he knows it.

Have a great trip! Where are you staying? We'll be at the Portofino May 31! Can't wait!

 

[cookie2001]

My kid's actually seem to do better on a long trips than on short trips. They argue almost every day on the way home from school. I think they settle in for a longer trip better. As one of the above posters said books on tape from the library can pass a lot of time. I also bought each child a very inexpensive tape player and this really kept them busy as they could independently choose what they wanted to listen to.

The way home does seem longer. Last year the last day we left in the afternoon and stopped one night at the beach. This year we are planning on stopping at a different and new beach because it really helped for the Disney decompression and broke the drive up.

Good Luck!

 

[Dagny]

Thanks everyone... I am trying to put on a new attitude The suggestions for passing the time are great and very much appreciated!

I know the drive will be worth it and I will be so thankful once we actually get there!



Tink - those pictures were great, thanks for that little pick me up!!

Robin: I will be at the RP starting on June 2nd. We are leaving May 30th and driving down... we are hoping to stop at the Beach for a couple of days before getting to Orlando....

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by Dagny
Robin: I will be at the RP starting on June 2nd. We are leaving May 30th and driving down... we are hoping to stop at the Beach for a couple of days before getting to Orlando....

Awwww, we LEAVE June 2nd!

I was at the RPR last month. LOVED it! Enjoy yourself!