Recommend a portable DVD player - 2 screen?

[onajourney]

We are making our pre-trip purchases early to spread out the pain. And one thing we are wanting for our 16 hour car ride is a portable DVD player. (My folks are going with us and will drive my kids crazy if they don't have something else to do.) We had a Polaroid system and it was AWFUL... we hardly used it because it wouldn't load, would skip, and finally died and was tossed. We have 3 kids so we would need a 2-screen system. Anyone have one to recommend?

 

[Cadiewampus]

We are making our pre-trip purchases early to spread out the pain. And one thing we are wanting for our 16 hour car ride is a portable DVD player. (My folks are going with us and will drive my kids crazy if they don't have something else to do.) We had a Polaroid system and it was AWFUL... we hardly used it because it wouldn't load, would skip, and finally died and was tossed. We have 3 kids so we would need a 2-screen system. Anyone have one to recommend?

Not sure if they have a 2 screen system but we bought 2 individual Magnavox players about 3 years ago and they work well. Have a great picture on them. Don't remember how much they were but we got them at Best Buy

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I would NOT recommend the Disney one Target sells. It doesn't consistently resume the movie when you turn the car off and on again so you either start the movie over again (having to navigate the menus and everything) or you have to manually select the right chapter.

The audio also isn't very loud. If ours breaks, I'll be buying a different one for a replacement.

 

[ccgirl]

Definitely not the Disney one Target sells. I returned mine. My children are 5 years apart (1 boy/1girl) so they don't necessarily want to watch the same movie. I got a two screen from Target on clearance for $150 that can either play the same movie simultaneously or they can watch two different movies. The only "caveat" if you want to call it that is that there is no battery and it needs a constant power supply. I absolutely love it though.

 

[Perditamarie]

Here's an idea to consider...not sure how it fits in w/your family but this is what we did w/our 3 kids for traveling -- we got them media players (like an Ipod but definately NOT an Ipod!!):

* purchased Disney Mix Max on sale...great price! (Lately I have seen them at Burlington Coat Factory for $40). The older models are being phased/clearanced out and the newer models have 2gb now. Both have sd slots so you can have as much memory as you have sd cards for!

* you can "rip" dvds you already own and convert them to files to be played on the media player....you can also save them to sd cards. It takes a bit of time to "rip", but it is pretty straightforward and soon there could be an sd card "library" for each child.

http://magicdvdripper.com/

* you can also load music and audio books (free from the library) on these.

* have purchased 2gb sd cards very inexpensively at Big Lots

This should work w/really any media player...the ones w/an sd slot are great so you are not limited by the units memory.

This would cost the same/less as a 2 screen system for the car and would be portable to your hotel room...and best of all, you won't have to mediate whose turn it is! Just an alternative to consider.

Happy planning!

 

[HETRICKL]

I bought mine at Target. I think it's a Kawasaki. We've had it at least 3 years and works fine. We however only use it about 3-5 times a year, only on car trips. I agree it's a lifesaver, especially with earphones!

 

[wildlandmedic]

We have had the polaroid 2 screen player and it is still going strong 2.5 yrs later. My only complaint with it was the cords were a little short, but we bought new ones at radio shack that worked out well.

I was going to suggest it, but it doesnt' look like you have had much luck with polaroid.

 

[squirrel]

I would go with two portable DVD players. The cost is almost the same and that way the children can watch different things.

You didn't say how old the children are but I would give the oldest one the headphones and one DVD player in the back and have the other one in the second row of the van.