Tips on keeping my 2 yo entertained on the long drive to WDW????

[disneygirl1977k]

Hey everyone,
Just wondering if you guys could give me some tips on keeping my 2 yo. DS entertained on the 12 hour drive to WDW......My DH and I were looking at getting a portable DVD player and then this morning I was looking at those Video Now Jr. Players and wondered if anyone has these are they good at keeping children entertained??? Any advice would be great....Thanks guys.
Kristy

 

[tiggger1]

I have a few tips for you,

if you are going to get the video now, dont get the jr. it only plays jr dvd's not the reg video now dvds, but the reg ones plays both kinds, that way you can get more use out of it!
we didnt buy a portable dvd we bought a 13 inch tv and used our home dvd player. all we needed to buy was an adaptor and it was still cheaper that an portable.

we drove from mass to virginia in Sept with my 16month old. It went really well.

we left around 9am and let her just ride cuz i knew she would be fine for up to an hour and a half, exactly an hour and 25 minutes she was out cold. She slept for 2 1/2 hours and when she woke up we feed her and let her watch her movies. She did that for another hour and then we stoped to change her it was around 2 pm. We let her run around for a few minutes and then started back out. thats when I started to bring out her toys (books, crayons, doll and her baby doll) that kept her happy until about 3 ish until she fell asleep again. She only napped until 4 and that when we met up with gramma and grampa. she ran around again for a few minutes and thats when it started getting hard. she fussed and played and was super cranky by 6 when we stopped for dinner. after dinner she was happy again till we got to the house we were staying at and got to run around for about an hour before she crashed for the night!

 

[NJDisneymom]

we drove to SC last summer (14 hours) and started our drive at about 8pm. Both kids were asleep by 10pm and didn't wake up until about 6am. We have a dvd system in our van and they did watch movies part of the trip.

Coming home during the day was much harder and required more stops. I think I would get a portable dvd player before a video now. I couldn't imagine my 2 year old understanding and staying interested in the video now as much as he can relax in front of the dvd player.

Good luck!!!

 

[Briarmom]

A video now system may be hard for her to hold. I would recommend a portable DVD. I have seen a newer kind at Target where the screen hangs on the back of the carseat and the DVD player is on the seat by the child. Of course then you would not be able to take that on an airplane. We have a portable DVD (it is a Disney one!!) and we got it at Sears. Now there is a cuter one I think also at Target.
Anyway, sorry to ramble. When my son was 18 mo we drove from Phoenix AZ to Fairbanks Alaska. 10 days in the car. I wrapped little cars and toys and gave him one every once in awhile. It helped. A magnadoodle is also a necessity.
Good Luck!!

 

[rt2dz]

We take long drives all the time, at least two 10+ hour drives per year & several 2-6 hour drives. One of the things we do for long drives is leave at night (between 4 & 6 pm, usually around 4). We get a couple of easy, peaceful hours on the road, stop and get out (very important to stop a lot) and have dinner. There is another hour or two of peaceful driving before the kids are out for the night (bring pillows & blankets). It is here we try to get in as many hours as possible. DH usually goes down with the kids and I drive until I'm tired (about 11 pm or midnight) and he drives while I sleep. We switch as soon as one gets tired until the kiddos get up in the morning. If we're both too tired to drive, then we just go ahead & stop for the night & sleep in a bed. We then stop (if still driving which is the norm), get out, & eat breakfast. Then drive as normal for a long trip.

I can not stress enough with little kids how important it is to stop often. Let them get out, run around. I wish I had movies of DH & the boys running around rest stops doing calestenics; he makes sure all the kinks are worked out. Stop for every meal & GET OUT! Look for fast food or sit down restruants that have a play area--kids can always eat in the car & play while you eat if you want to save time. It might make the drive an hour or two longer, but a million times more pleasant so it actually seems shorter.

The things we have to keep the kids occupied between stops are a portable dvd player (it is only the bag that hangs--you can take the dvd out and use it anywhere & don't forget to check into your library for free rentals), a magna doodle (great for even the 14 month), lots of kid music, crayons/markers & coloring books (the color wonder stuff is great!), books on tape, some new toys (think dollar store), some favorite toys, plenty of snacks, and picture books. That's all I can think of for now.

We don't have the video now player. Our oldest is only 4 & right now I just don't think it is worth it. Maybe when he is 6; I know by then they'll be a lot nicer so I don't want to invest before I think it is worth while.

 

[disneygirl1977k]

Thanks guys, awesome advice and I think I will go with the portable DVD player for sure......I would love to find the Disney one......sounds cute and what a great idea the magnadoodle is.....never would have thought of that one for him but I know he will love it....thanks again you guys.
Kristy