Surprise trip box for kids!

[Ally&Alec's Mom]

I have bought a plastic bin/box with a snap on lid for DS (4) and DD (8) for the trip to WDW, we are driving from upstate NY, (appx. 2 Days trip). so far I have bought for the boxes, invisible ink pads, markers/crayons, small disney toys, etch a sketch, books, coloring books, gummies, candy, stuffed Mickey & Minnie dolls, disney pens and probably some other misc. stuff. Any other ideas? I plan on giving them these items on the 2nd day of our trip, since on first day we are leaving home around 5pm so they will probably watch movies till dinner/bedtime then sleep the night through...next day will be tougher since they will be sick of being in the car and ready to get there. Any suggestions???

 

[hipporina]

On our first trip with 2 of our kids, we did a box and gave it to them near the start of our drive. This time, I am goinc to do it a little bit different. I plan on starting with a few things and then giving periodic surprises along the way to encourage good behavior. Such as, If you are good until we get to ..... you will get your next prize. It will also give them something to look forward too and will hold interest longer.

I can't think of much else that you haven't already got. My older kids will be getting cameras and film, and I'm hoping to find some little fans. You could include a deck of cards, goggles for the hotel pool, or other things to use while you are at the parks.

 

[dyna]

When I made DD up a box like that when she was younger the box was mine and I gave her stuff out of it as we stopped at rest stops and for gas this way there was always something new in the box and she didn't get to try it all and get bored with it before we got there.

I also took her a ball and a jump rope to be played with for a few mins at the reststops amazing what 5 mins of running and jumpin can do for a kid stuck in the back seat all day.

Also for lunch we tried to stop and get fast food where there was a playground we ate and got DD's food to go she played while we ate and got to eat in the car after we was back on the road this was a special treat for her as well. Didn't normally eat in car.

Walkman or something like that so each kid can listen to what they want to helps as well.

Oh and DD always packed 3 or 4 things she wanted with her in the car for entertainment.

If traveling during hot months do not take crayons to FLORIDA

Have a great time!!!

 

[twoeeyy]

ditto. to the aboove posters. We would periodically ( usually at rest stops ) hold the bucket up and let her reach in a pull out a surprise.

Don't forget to save some stuff for the ride home. I feel that this is the worst ride, going down they are excited about going but coming home is a drag !

p.s. I sould suggest not to give silly puddy. We did and it was a disaster. She dropped a little piece into her car seat and we did not know it, and it got all over the seat of her shorts and the car seat and we tried everything and could not get it out.

One of our favorite things was ( this was of course before all the prtable dvd players ) kids books on tape from the library.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

In my bag of goodies so far I have...(trip from MA with DS4 & DD3 in Oct)
Markers, crayons, coloring books, water paint books (the ones where all they need is a q-tip and cup of water), small battery operated fans from Disney Store (DS), I purchased 2 disney cups on clearance - the kind with the little snow globe on top and straw, mini about 2x2 disney books from local dollar store, bubbles (also good when standing in line for rides/waiting for parades), glow sticks (also for parks), sunglassess and new hat, mini puzzles - the slide kind that makes a picture when put in right order, mini mazes - both of these came from the dollar store (party favor type things), and also plan on bringing there leapster, and leappad with books. And borrowing a dvd player for the car. It will be a looooonnnnnnnnggggg drive!!!!

 

[jeankeri]

There are a few good kids travel activity books out there (I know Klutz makes one) that have the licence plate game in them, etc. My DS can get car sick, so for long trips I make sure we play some games that involve looking out the window. It has helped him travel long distances easier. Also, Mad Libs books can be very fun on car trips. Your 8 year old is just the right age. If you play on a team with your 4 year old I'm sure they would enjoy it.

 

[BrinxFam]

When we make the trip I always make "surprise bags" for my girls. They know that as long as they are well behaved they get little stuff along the way. They have included books, coloring books, Crayola Color Wonder stuff (the markers only write on the special paper), color pencils, little jewelry things, different candies, note pad, special ink pens, lite up rings, dry erase board and dry erase markers, etc. Even my now 15yr. old asks when the next surprise is planned. We have found that one of the best things for our now 7yr old is a metal cookie sheet with magnetic dolls, alphabet magnets, magnetix, etc. I also made a checker board on the back of one and a tic tac toe board on the other. Then I painted some round magnets in two different colors and those were their game pieces. The cookie sheets also made a great "lap tray" if we ate in the van.

We don't have to worry too much about the trip home because the girls usually sleep most of the way!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Go to the craft section of your local store and get a big multicolor pkg. of "pipe cleaners." My kids love making things with these, and sometimes we have contests to make the best flower, etc. Inexpensive and fun.

We also take a separate tape player (battery powered) for the kids to play story tapes and kid's music tapes. Daddy doesn't like to share the radio, LOL.
This works really well when it is dark out and you are driving, as they can't color, read, etc. (And we don't have a dvd, so the stories do entertain.)
Little cheap hand held games, like connect four are also good.
We'll be making our long road trip in a week, and I still don't have everything rounded up.

 

[3for Me]

Someone mentioned Mad Libs and I wanted to add that Sharper Image has an electronic version and - at least at my store - they are on sale for $9.99.

 

[luv2nascar]

stickers kept my kids busy for hours. Also all surprises were wrapped and they each could pick one every so often. Also another good activity I read somewhere is a small cookie sheet with magnets. I think Colorforms would be fun too.

 

[Tamie]

I was just at super Walmart and I found these snacks that are disney theme related they are from Disney. There 5 different kinds, I'screams with Tigger on the front (Fudge-dipped Shortbread Cookies - Shapped like little ice cream cones), Mouseketeers with Mickey (Peanut Butter or Chocolate chip - shaped like a mickey head), Chipper Cremes with Goofy (PB or CC sandwich looking cookie), Mickey M's with Mickey (Fruit Fusion or Chocolate Mix graham crackers - shaped like little Mickey heads), Film Star Classics with Tinkerbell (kinda looks like a oreo).

I just thought that they were cute and that they would be perfect for a trip, I am going to put them in baggies and put them in their backpacks for the plane ride.

 

[Martha7]

I don't know if anyone else has already suggested this, but try to have headphones for the kids while they watch DVD's. The noise from the DVDs can get pretty annoying to the parents, especially since the kids like to watch the same ones over and over. If you have a car with the built-in DVD player, you'll already have headphones. If you're bringing a portable player, you can get a connector piece at Radio Shack that lets you hook two sets of headphones into one player. Ideally, each kid would have their own player, but that can get expensive! Have a great trip! Also, portable video game units are good, like the Nintendo DS, etc. Don't forget the batteries!

 

[jeankeri]

I'm going to check out Sharper Image for that electronic Mad Libs! Cool!

 

[dyna]

Don't forget a lapdesk DD's was a metal lap tray hers had ET on it from when her older sis's was little but a plain colored one would be great for magnets and would kill 2 birds with one stone.

Older kids in school speak and math and speak and spell type toys are great if you can find them older toys that my older dd's had that I still had when DD came along.

The little eletronic smart desk toys etc would be great too.

BEWARE of taking crayons if they melt you got a mess colored pencils work good tho as do washable markers.

The stuff for entertainment in the car stayed in the car at disney so DD did not play with it and get tired of it but usually the trip home she slept most of the way.

 

[milmore104]

I have bought a plastic bin/box with a snap on lid for DS (4) and DD (8) for the trip to WDW, we are driving from upstate NY, (appx. 2 Days trip). so far I have bought for the boxes, invisible ink pads, markers/crayons, small disney toys, etch a sketch, books, coloring books, gummies, candy, stuffed Mickey & Minnie dolls, disney pens and probably some other misc. stuff. Any other ideas? I plan on giving them these items on the 2nd day of our trip, since on first day we are leaving home around 5pm so they will probably watch movies till dinner/bedtime then sleep the night through...next day will be tougher since they will be sick of being in the car and ready to get there. Any suggestions???

A fun game we do is the license plate game but I download a copy of the US map for each kid. Then I get them sticker dots or stars so they can put a sticker over the state they've spotted. It's fun for the kids. And if you do have a DVD in your car try getting Disney movies to get them excited about the trip. You could also get each kid the For Kids only Birnbahms book and a highlighter or notepad and have them write down all the things they really want to do and then they can compare notes. It will also give you an idea of what they really want to do.

Ally&Alec'sMom, I see your from Upstate NY where abouts if you don't mind me asking. I live in Massena NY. Also when are you going? We are heading down 9/30-10/10. Hope you have a great trip!!!

 

[kandeebunny]

We bought catchphrase for out last trip (24 hours drive from NH to WDW) and it was a HUGE hit! Makes you think and it can get some good laughs!

 

[DBarber600]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this yet but both KMart ($5.99) and Toys R Us (on clearance), have polly pocket type Disney princess dolls. You can get Jasmine, Ariel, Belle, or Cinderella. I've even seen a Christmas-themed Belle. They all come with 4 or 5 different dresses, shoes, and little accessories. I know the TRU here has alot of them. My daughter has la petite Madeline dolls like these and loves them, so I bought her the princesses for the drive to WDW and I am saving them for her.

I am adding this because I just read about the DVD players and headphones. We have a device, Belkin is the manufacturer, that plugs into the DVD player's headphone jack and transmits the sound through your radio if everyone in the car wants to hear the movie. I know my DH and I enjoy listening to the movie as we drive.

 

[christinou]

There are some great ideas so far, we have done the drive from upstate NY many times, and 1 thing that has really worked for us, is giving them a pin or disney dollar every time that we entered a new state....
I bought a bunch of cheap disney pins before we left, then they had fun trading when we got there.

 

[Fonzy13]

Another upstate NY driver checking in. Went last year with my 7-year-old brother and I swear the license plate game kept him occupied for 20 of the hours. We wanted to see which state would "win."

If you can handle,


"What's that one mom?" And then looking, you'll be fine. Not to mention, by South Carolina, he/she will have most of the plates memorized.

 

[Ally&Alec's Mom]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I keep finding more and more great things as I snoop around the million dollar stores in our area! Now I have to make sure I put things away for the ride back too! That will be the worst leg of the trip!