Welcome to the Jungle........Pool! Updated 7/7 pages 14 & 15

[MRYPPNS]

Every time we think of driving we shudder !!No way would the kids make it a pleasant trip!!!Soo we deal with the flight prices !!!

Good plan! Saving money can't make up for everything.

I'm so glad your drive went well! I commend you for even trying it once. The thought of making that trip spins my head! I did it as a passenger (who could sleep) two or three times as a kid. That bridge would have freaked me out too.

I could do the drive again if I was just a passenger and didn't have the kids with me. One night I tried to 2 hours to sleep....3 different times I started to doze and one of the kids would start crying for me.

Ok, first of all - LOVE your license plate.

Secondly, I bow down to you for being in a car with your DH and kids for over 48 hours total! I would never have made it without killing someone!

Glad the rides were uneventful for the most part! I've said it before, but your little ones are adorable!

I didn't kill anyone but believe me -- I wasn't the most pleasant person after awhile!

27 hrs in a car with two little ones. You are my new hero. When I was a kid we always drove from CT but we stopped overnight, usually SC or Georgia. I think we drove straight through once. I can't imagine doing all the driving and listening to kids whine. As much as I hate taking off and landing in a plane I will take it over the driving.

The kids looked like they did great though

On the way down we should have found a cheap hotel room for 5-6 hours to sleep but it was too late to bother by the time we figured out how bad John was feeling. We did a better job on the way home monitoring that and making decisions.

 

[Native NYer]

Heidi, I don't know how you did it.
I don't know how you drove straight through. That is impressive.
I'm so happy to hear the kids did well on the drive. But your poor DH.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hi Heidi,
I've been following the Spectrum Mom's TR and found yours from there. I think it's a great idea to write a TR on themes and not necessarily in chronological order. Your children are absolutely adorable!

You deserve a medal for driving with two kids under 5 from NH to FL!!!! Wow, just wow. I'm glad there weren't too many lowlights during the process.

One question for you, since you've obviously flown with infants before. Any tips? We're flying down to FL with my 9 month old daughter in 20 days.

Looking forward to the rest of the trip!

Well Liam was 17 months old when we flew with him but a couple travel tips stick out in my mind for any diaper age child.

* I suggest using the overnight type diapers when traveling. We use the Huggies brand. They hold a lot more liquid so you might get away without changing a diaper on the plane. (I think I originally got this idea from Scrappie-Do). My kids wore them on this drive.
* I like having disposable changing pads with me....
* and I like disposable table mats for eating at restaurants. They are plastic with tape all around the edges so you can stick it too the table when little ones are feeding themselves.
* Unless your daughter needs special food for medical reasons I wouldn't bother with trying to get "liquid" baby foods thru airport security even thou the TSA says it's allowed. We wanted to take yogurt and apple sauce for Liam....what a hassle. It had to get swabbed....it didn't pass....then we got patted down. In the end I had them just throw it all away because it wasn't worth any more time.
* And a couple little toys that they have never seen before can buy you a half hour of peace.

Safe travels! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[MRYPPNS]

The last time I drove to Florida was when I was dating my hubby in my early twenties. He drove most of the way because when it was my turn I got us lost. Kudos to you!

When we see the flight costs come out, we fleetingly consider driving (over two days mind you) but always decide against it. But it was what gave you the green light to begin with so you gotta do what you gotta do. Sorry your DH was ill - that must have pretty much sucked.

Mmmmm, Taco Bell.

Don't drive. Ever. It's like 10 hours just from your house to mine.

Yeah it pretty much sucked. Somehow I just got in that Mommy survival mode and did it.

Heidi, I don't know how you did it.
I don't know how you drove straight through. That is impressive.
I'm so happy to hear the kids did well on the drive. But your poor DH.

My iPod helped a lot on the ride as I found out this trip that I can't really read in the car anymore...sucks to get old.

I thought of you and Brook as we drove thru NYC on the way home. Can't wait to see how much it costs us in tolls thru NJ and NY.

 

[Native NYer]

My iPod helped a lot on the ride as I found out this trip that I can't really read in the car anymore...sucks to get old.

I thought of you and Brook as we drove thru NYC on the way home. Can't wait to see how much it costs us in tolls thru NJ and NY.

I can't read in the car either. I get so dizzy!
Are you starting the final season of Big Love soon?

You could have stopped in NYC for a Dismeet. The tolls in NY & NJ are ridiculous. What bridge did you take in NY? George Washington?

 

[MRYPPNS]

I can't read in the car either. I get so dizzy!
Are you starting the final season of Big Love soon?

You could have stopped in NYC for a Dismeet. The tolls in NY & NJ are ridiculous. What bridge did you take in NY? George Washington?

I haven't downloaded the new/final season yet. Soon. Because once I do I'll just want to sneak away to my bedroom and watch.

John was driving thru NYC....I *think* we took the George Washington....seemed more like a tunnel to me. Thankfully it was 515am when we went thru because it was Monday morning at that point.

 

[disneyfan61]

Wow driving from NH!!! You are brave Both my DH & I really hate driving anywhere..so flying it is for us. I would think it would be worse for motion for your DH driving rather than flying. I just can't get over the fact that you take off & 3 hours later you are in FL. I used to HATE to fly (I was not used to it) but now I love it. It must be really though though with the motion sickness thing.

2 hours sleep!! I would have been falling asleep. Riding in a car puts me to sleep anyway so I would have been in trouble.

It sounds like you did great though. I do not love bridges either & slippery ones especially!!

Looking forward to more.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Well Liam was 17 months old when we flew with him but a couple travel tips stick out in my mind for any diaper age child.

* I suggest using the overnight type diapers when traveling. We use the Huggies brand. They hold a lot more liquid so you might get away without changing a diaper on the plane. (I think I originally got this idea from Scrappie-Do). My kids wore them on this drive.
* I like having disposable changing pads with me....
* and I like disposable table mats for eating at restaurants. They are plastic with tape all around the edges so you can stick it too the table when little ones are feeding themselves.
* Unless your daughter needs special food for medical reasons I wouldn't bother with trying to get "liquid" baby foods thru airport security even thou the TSA says it's allowed. We wanted to take yogurt and apple sauce for Liam....what a hassle. It had to get swabbed....it didn't pass....then we got patted down. In the end I had them just throw it all away because it wasn't worth any more time.
* And a couple little toys that they have never seen before can buy you a half hour of peace.

Safe travels! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

Many thanks!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I love the fact that most of the highways in the south at 70 MPH too! So much better than our lame-o 55 MPH in Chicagoland.

Wow, 27 hours straight! That was really impressive. I always thought that having to drive from Chicago was hard at 19 hours.

 

[All7OfUs]

That was some power drive, Heidi! WOW! So glad it all went relatively smoothly, and that yes, you made it over the bridge. I have the EXACT same nightmare- over and over, and over. I always end up driving off it....

 

[irish dancer]

Your kiddos are absolutely adorable!

So glad the drive went relatively well. We are going to attemt it in June but we're not going to try and go straight through, it's 1200 miles for us. Even with current gas prices 5 plane tickets are just crazy expensive. We've driven straight through twice going to Hilton Head and it was a killer. The kids slept and so were ready for action when we got there and DH and I were DEAD tired. Luckily my kids are older and pretty self sufficient in the car now.

Bridges didn't really bother me when I was a kid either but I drove to Canada a few years ago and going over that bridge from Detroit freaked me out. I kept my eyes straight ahead and deep breathing.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

You definitely get major kudos for making the drive --and straight through, no less!! Glad it went relatively smoothly! Sounds like you were well prepared for various contingencies-- not that I'd expect anything less from an accomplished planner like you!

Love that your license plate is MRYPPNS too. So cute!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

I just have to say that you're amazing. Honestly, I can't imagine that drive. I'm debating driving to my sister's this summer which is about 17+ hours (because airfare is RIDICULOUS) and I'm telling you, it's all going to depend on Squirt. I know Nemo is old enough that we can ply him with a portable DVD player and the Nintendo DS, but the baby is a whole other story! I'm glad it went so well.

 

[mousescrapper]

I can just see you doing the Axl dance to Welcome to the Jungle!

it will be the opening act for our next concert at the LAND

.

Here’s the MYRPPNS mobile in the MK parking lot as proof that we took her!

LOVE IT!!!

* me pulling the driving shift that had us driving over the Delaware Memorial Bridge

Matt would have never been able to drive over that...he would have seriously needed to pull over and make me drive it

But the best highlight is that a large bag of caramel corn from the Caramel Kitchen in Germany will get you thru 24 hours driving from Florida to NH !!!

nice...good tip!

well you have done it and surrived it...like everyone else has said kuddos to you we have driven to WDW once but that was before kids and in a huge conversion van w/ a bench in the back that I stretched out in.

But we have done our fair share of road trips w/ the kids to Atlanta and NC/SC...I grew up road tripping it so it doesn't bother me, but yes I have been quite frazzled by the kids whining on multiple occassions...have no clue how we as kids made it to CA after 3-4 days w/ no electronics back in the late 80's

Looking forward to the next segment...

J~

 

[Charleston Princess]

I am so impressed that you made that drive! I don't think I could do it!

I did have to laugh at how Danica is grinning from ear to ear in every picture! Is she always that happy?

Why, yes, South Carolina does have pretty welcome signs! Are there not many 70mph speed limits in the New England?

Those bridges creep me out, too.

You know I just made a note on my master list to get caramel corn for our drive home. LOL!

 

[MRYPPNS]

I love the fact that most of the highways in the south at 70 MPH too! So much better than our lame-o 55 MPH in Chicagoland.

Wow, 27 hours straight! That was really impressive. I always thought that having to drive from Chicago was hard at 19 hours.

Probably after hour 16 it didn't matter in more....time just seemed to slip away except for those last 2 hours......those dragged!

That was some power drive, Heidi! WOW! So glad it all went relatively smoothly, and that yes, you made it over the bridge. I have the EXACT same nightmare- over and over, and over. I always end up driving off it....

If we ever get together (and I hope we do) let's never drive over one of those bridges together! Deal?

Your kiddos are absolutely adorable!

Thanks!

So glad the drive went relatively well. We are going to attemt it in June but we're not going to try and go straight through, it's 1200 miles for us. Even with current gas prices 5 plane tickets are just crazy expensive. We've driven straight through twice going to Hilton Head and it was a killer. The kids slept and so were ready for action when we got there and DH and I were DEAD tired. Luckily my kids are older and pretty self sufficient in the car now.

Bridges didn't really bother me when I was a kid either but I drove to Canada a few years ago and going over that bridge from Detroit freaked me out. I kept my eyes straight ahead and deep breathing.

That was one of my fears....that the kids would sleep too much and keep us up once we got to the resort. Thankfully it wasn't an issue. They both woke up in the middle of the night and I just put on another movie for them.

One that we did for the kids was give them Motrin every 6 hours or so to help any muscle pain from sitting so long.

 

[MRYPPNS]

You definitely get major kudos for making the drive --and straight through, no less!! Glad it went relatively smoothly! Sounds like you were well prepared for various contingencies-- not that I'd expect anything less from an accomplished planner like you!

Love that your license plate is MRYPPNS too. So cute!!!

Awwww....thanks! The plate came before the DIS. If I ever give my MRYPPNS plate up I already know what I want for a new one.

I just have to say that you're amazing. Honestly, I can't imagine that drive. I'm debating driving to my sister's this summer which is about 17+ hours (because airfare is RIDICULOUS) and I'm telling you, it's all going to depend on Squirt. I know Nemo is old enough that we can ply him with a portable DVD player and the Nintendo DS, but the baby is a whole other story! I'm glad it went so well.

Babies are hard because you can't entertain them well while they are awake. Diapers and food are easy but stopping the crankies is near impossible.

it will be the opening act for our next concert at the LAND

You know I snort laughed when I read this!

well you have done it and surrived it...like everyone else has said kuddos to you we have driven to WDW once but that was before kids and in a huge conversion van w/ a bench in the back that I stretched out in.

But we have done our fair share of road trips w/ the kids to Atlanta and NC/SC...I grew up road tripping it so it doesn't bother me, but yes I have been quite frazzled by the kids whining on multiple occassions...have no clue how we as kids made it to CA after 3-4 days w/ no electronics back in the late 80's

Looking forward to the next segment...

J~

I road tripped it a lot as a kid too. On of the differences I think is that I was belted in the whole time and had a lot of room in the back seat to move around. When you aren't responsible for driving or taking care of kids I think you can just zone out and relax.

I am so impressed that you made that drive! I don't think I could do it!

I thought of you when we were driving thru GA. You're lucky you don't live near I95.....you would have had house guests!
If I lived as close to Disney as you do I'd be there at least 3-4 times a year.

I did have to laugh at how Danica is grinning from ear to ear in every picture! Is she always that happy?

No. Not by a long shot!

Why, yes, South Carolina does have pretty welcome signs! Are there not many 70mph speed limits in the New England?

None. The interstate in NH is 65 mph, state highways are 55.

Those bridges creep me out, too.

I actually think it was better that it was dark out so I couldn't see where I'd be falling to my death.


You know I just made a note on my master list to get caramel corn for our drive home. LOL!

It was delish and I didn't share it with anyone. I remember eating it at 2am and 5am and smiling to myself.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Joining in - hoping for Pixie Dust for you on this trip!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I thought of you when we were driving thru GA. You're lucky you don't live near I95.....you would have had house guests!
If I lived as close to Disney as you do I'd be there at least 3-4 times a year.

And we would have loved having you!!!

 

[Native NYer]

I haven't downloaded the new/final season yet. Soon. Because once I do I'll just want to sneak away to my bedroom and watch.

John was driving thru NYC....I *think* we took the George Washington....seemed more like a tunnel to me. Thankfully it was 515am when we went thru because it was Monday morning at that point.

Oh you will LOVE the final season. Next week is the finale. I'm sad that it's ending.

You got over the bridge just in time. Traffic really starts to pick up by 6.