Who drives with kids??

[katyjeka]

I'm not sure what kind of books your kids like, but 2 of our DD's love to listen to the Little House on the Prairie series. Do a search on Amazon to get some ideas. Have a great trip. Janice

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

We drive about 1100 to WDW at least once a year and have since DS and DD were 2 yrs and 16 weeks, respectively.
Best strategy for us is to stop every couple hours at a roadside stop with space to run or a playground (my kids are not, nor have ever been, nappers in the car) and run or crawl as age appropriate for 10-15 minutes, quick potty break, then back in the car. We eat in the car and play regularly outside the car. It really doesn't take long for these quick races around the rest stop (unoccupied, of course) picnic tables and then my kids are ready to sit in the car a little longer. My kids do best by getting up very early so we can drive a few hours before they are really awake because they are done with the car by late afternoon regardless of start time. We stop at a hotel with a pool. The pool exercises and soothes us all after a day in the car. I use this pool (or sometimes another physical activity at hotel location) as a bribe to get there. I also use new games, snacks, etc. as many others have suggested.
Different than suggested above is that we rarely use electronic entertainment - my kids are very active and not at all sit quietly types. We play family car games - kids will not be ignored however hard we try I'm actually more worried about our first time to fly to WDW in June...

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

I'm not sure what kind of books your kids like, but 2 of our DD's love to listen to the Little House on the Prairie series. Do a search on Amazon to get some ideas. Have a great trip. Janice

Thanks for a great idea! My girls love not only the books but also the tv show...

 

[Princess Glenda]

I'm not sure what kind of books your kids like, but 2 of our DD's love to listen to the Little House on the Prairie series. Do a search on Amazon to get some ideas. Have a great trip. Janice

Little House Books on CD/tape was going to be my suggestion too. Another would be something like Anne of Green Gables (I'm not sure if it is available on CD/tape or not.) Or possibly The Secret Garden.

Another suggestion for an activity to do while driving...

DS has just started to LOVE Mad Libs. There is also a Mad Libs Junior version that would be perfect for ages 6-9.

 

[PaulaSue]

a little OT and I am sorry....

So how much does it cost (I know prices have gone sky high lately) roughly to drive a minivan/suv from PA or surrounding areas to give me an idea of if we want to think abouut driving next time. Our plane tickets (5) cost $805 and we had to pay about $50 parking at the airport and I am wondering if that is good considering people driving eat more meals on the way there and maybe a night or two of hotels extras. TIA

 

[mom2riceboys]

We're leaving for WDW in two weeks. It will be around a 21 hour drive. Last year we drove to Disneyland which is a little further. It took us 2 1/2 days to drive with two little boys. I thought it was going to be horrible, but we had so much fun! We managed to drive 8-9 hours each day. If we saw a sign for something and wanted to stop, we did. I packed picnic lunches and we stopped at several rest stops. The boys loved it. We also had a DVD player and I purchased several new DVD's for them. They brought several books and action figures. I love our treks across the country!

 

[mommyintn]

I will just say we are in TN and it's about 11 hours, we went to WDW for the first time this year and it wasn't too bad on the way down we stopped in Valdosta, Ga and only had to drive about 4 hours on day 2. On the way back it was almost 15 hours and we stopped less and did not spend the night anywhere, due to traffic and construction in GA. We will definetly not drive again, I should've bought tickets in the first place but then waited to long and the price went up. I know there are better and more patient parents on here but the even though the kids did pretty good the drive was too much for me and dh. Buy some new movies that you don't break out until the trip, our boys watched The Three Musketeers (Disney version with Mickey, Donald and Goofy) so many times they know the words and they still love it. Good luck on your trip I'm sure you'll have better luck.

 

[MinMouse]

We live about 1000 miles from Disney and we have driven our family 5 times! We have found leaving between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. works best for us. We live about 2 hours from Washington, DC and we need to get through there before the traffic really starts backing up. we have found that that our DDs (8 & 11) prefer this also. We wake them up and they get in the car in their pj's. Usually they are up for about an hour . . . we're all so excited. Then they fall asleep for a few hours. When they wake up we usually stop for breakfast and they get dressed. That's when the DVD player kicks in. No DVD before 8 a.m. in the van! Usually we have new DVDs for them . . . the latest movie out on DVD and often we buy a new series for them. Last time it was Full House and they loved it. They also have several Little House on the Prairie seasons. Sometimes we listen to books on tape . . Charlotte's Web is wonderful. I think DH and I enjoyed it as much as the DDs. We also enjoy watching how far we gone and what state we're in. Last time I printed out a blank U.S. map and everyone in the car got a crayon and we colored in the states as we saw vehicles with license plates from there. We love the rest stops along I-95 that you can picnic out and usually have a picnic lunch so we can stop, eat, stretch and get moving again. We typically stop in Florida about 30 miles north of Orlando. WE spend one night in a hotel with a free continental breakfast and get up the next day, eat and head in to check in and hit the parks.

We are flying for our June trip (for a few reasons) and DD11 is really disappointed that we aren't driving. I think they really enjoy the time spent in the car. Once we drove overnight and both DDs said they missed seeing everything (please note there is NOTHING to see on our trip along I95 except South of the Border signs!). The main negative for us with driving is it is always a LONG trip home!

Happy planning!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

a little OT and I am sorry....

So how much does it cost (I know prices have gone sky high lately) roughly to drive a minivan/suv from PA or surrounding areas to give me an idea of if we want to think abouut driving next time. Our plane tickets (5) cost $805 and we had to pay about $50 parking at the airport and I am wondering if that is good considering people driving eat more meals on the way there and maybe a night or two of hotels extras. TIA

Here's a fuel cost calculator based on current prices, your car, and the distance of your trip: http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

As for hotels, on our trip in *GASP* 48! days, we'll be spending $100 a night, two nights each way. But we take it REALLY slow, and are fairly picky on the hotels. You could PROBABLY get $79 a night, and only one stop over.

Then add in food. Probably your airfare is pretty good. But remember you have to add in rental car or shuttle service at the other end, unless you are only using Disney transpo.

Hope that helps!

As for driving, I'm SOOOOO looking forward to our drive in June. (No sarcasm!) I love the wildflowers some of the states we pass through plant on the median strips, and there are some really pretty things to see along the way. The kids will be riding high on excitement cause it's a surprise, we have a DVD player this time that we didn't have last time, and both now have handheld games. We are planning to get each of them a new Disney themed video game, plus take along a Disney themed road trip book that I got on-line for our last trip. (Good thing I saved it, too, cause it's no longer available from the Hewlett Packard site. Anyone who wants it can PM me, and I'll happily e-mail it to you.) Plus, we picked nice hotels with indoor pools, so FUN for this non-pool owning family! I think we'll have a great trip. We're stretching it over three days - 8 hours day one, 6 hours day two, 4 hours day three. I figure the excitement factor will carry us for that first long stretch, the next day will be easier and we can swim and play most of the afternoon, and last day will be super quick and get us to Disney in plenty of time for our Chef Mickey's dinner ressie.

 

[famfab5]

We live in Central Maine so the trip is about 26 hours. We drove the last time in May of 2004. My children LOVED the drive! When I mentioned a splurge trip this August but we would "have" to drive again they were all for it. I have a 11, 9 and 5 year old. Last time, I hit the library before we left and stocked up on books-on-tape and new books from the series they were currently reading. I went over the top the last time and packed bags for each one with coloring books, mad libs, treats, new game boy games, etc. but really they didn't use it. They really were more interested in taking it all in around them.

We left at midnight and made it to the GA border by 11:00 p.m. with several stops and a long one at Cracker Barrell in VA. The children were only uncomfortable the last hour or so in GA. (it seems to take forever through SC and GA!!) but once at the hotel they zonked and we all woke up happy and rested the next morning. We stayed at a hotel with a continental breakfast and were in Disney by 10:30 a.m. Perfect!

Back in 2004 the gas and tolls totaled 175.00, it will be much, much more this time. Darn gas prices...grrrrrrr. BUT, we will be saving lots with free dining!!

 

[scrapbookworm]

We drive 10 hours each time from central Alabama.

We bought a DVD player before our 2nd trip.

Color Wonder markers and paper are good to take. I also pack a couple of Barbies, some books (DD wants me to sit back there with her for at least half the trip), etc.

I posted this link on another thread, and I think it's worth mentioning here. This is a webpage with links to hundreds of games to play while riding, waiting in line, etc. I haven't played some of these since I was a kid, so I can't wait to use them in 2 weeks!
Games to Play Anywhere

 

[hollyb]

We have a 13 hour drive...we stop after about 9 hours & spend the night (usually in Georgia somewhere)...

Our kids are 8 & 11 now...we've been doing it for a few years...no problems.

We have a Chrysler Town & Country.
DD11 sits in the middle row of seats, DS8 sits in the back row. This helps!!

We don't bring snacks...no eating/drinking allowed in the car.
We just stop for regular meals.

Each kid has their own DVD player & Nintendo DS.

They each do great during the drive!!

OMG we could never take a car trip with no food allowed. LOL We drive 16 hours to MI. We have to have a fun car snacks and drinks. Thats part of the fun.

 

[Becky2005]

I guess it depends on how good your kids do in long rides. We drove down last summer with the kids being 11, 8, 5 & 1. We didn't have the portable DVD players at all. Our kids did fine. We did have a gameboy though that I bought for the occassion and they all had to share it (except the baby). I think it's about 20 hours from here more or less. We split it up into 2 days.

I had Madlibs, search-a-word, magical coloring books (i.e. add water and colors appear to it - I got those through AAA). I don't allow crayons or markers, so we use colored pencils. I also got little things - like I found these twisty ropes that you just keep twisting around and it is kind of curver, a Rubick's cube, etc... I had planned on giving them to them every couple hundred miles but it didn't really work out that way because they weren't all that fussy.

One thing I made up (read about it on these boards but don't know how to give credit to) was for my older 2 - I made up a 3-ring binder for the travels that included a map of each state with our route highlighted, information about that state (i.e. state capitol, flower, etc...) and then made up a find-a-word regarding it, had some pictures to color. I used a folder for each state (that had holes so they could be put in the 3 ring binder) and as we crossed over each state line, gave them the folder. They seemed to like that (the 11 year old I think enjoyed it the most).

We stopped at a rest stop to eat breakfast/stretch (we left around 3-4 AM - so it was a while later and we take a back-road for the 1st half - it's the first place to stop and will be a while before the next stop), Did lunch at a rest stop let the kids play on the playground there (that was probably our longest stop), then basically did some pit stops along the way but not too horrible. The kids slept a lot too.

For us, with a family of 6 - it was cheaper to drive even with the hotel cost than it would be to fly. Now, we don't need a rental car as we didn't mind using Disney transportation - so once we got there we parked the car and didn't need to move it again.

 

[Becky2005]

We don't bring snacks...no eating/drinking allowed in the car.
We just stop for regular meals.

See, now I find this interesting because in real life I am considered probably the meanest mom around as I do NOT allow eating/drinking in my car (at least not by the kids), unless it's an unusual event.

However, for vacations they ARE allowed to eat/drink a little bit. It's still rather restrictive on what they can have (as it has to be in a container that won't spill - with a lid & straw that preferably has a snap on lid on the end of that). The snacks are small, non messy ones and not a whole lot of it.

I think to them "getting to eat in the car = vacation". We do prefer to stop and get out of the car to eat real meals and things too though to let them stretch.

 

[katyjeka]

I always find that flying is so hectic. I worry about our DD's on the plane. I know people don't expect complete silence, but our youngest can get kind of loud at times, LOL!!! I also find the security checks, that I understand are 100% necessary, are somewhat tough with three kids and all our stuff. I actually feel sorry for the people behind us. I'm still hoping that we will drive instead of fly this year. My friends call me crazy! Janice

 

[nlugo]

Hello. We drive as well. Our trip takes roughly 22 hours. Our children are 2,5, and 8. It wasn't too horrible because we are doing it 2 years in a row. I would suggest coloring books, travel games and a dvd player. We also have handheld video games. I like to take audio books as well. It helps pass the time as we drive and the children are otherwise occupied. We drive all the way through with stops for gas and stretching our legs. Stopping gives the children the chance to move around. Good luck. It isn't as bad as you think.

 

[digskat]

I have a question - We are also driving (17 hrs) for the first time this year with our girls. I have heard a lot of people suggesting books on cd which I know my girls 10 and 6 would love. Anyone have any suggestions for some good ones? I'd like to reserve some at the library. (By the way, we are not into Harry Potter.) TIA!!

We have a Robert Munsch one that the kids love. His voice gets on my nerves afer awhile but the kids love it...it has a lot of his classics ie paperbag princess etc We found Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland @Dollartree when we were in Port Huron last week it's pretty good too.
We have driven to WDW the last two yrs. Our kids are 6 &8. We plan on driving south this Nov as well. It is a 22hr drive from our house to the mouse. We did the driving all night but found we were too tired. We left at 0400 hrs and drove til we reached Dalton GA. This time we are gonna try leaving after school on the Friday and stopping around 11pm and then driving until we reach Valdosta or Northern FLA the following day. The kids enjoy the drive and are occupied by dvd, this year they'll have their disney MP3 players and Gameboys. We love the drive and can not justify spending that kind of money to fly.

 

[kaw1218]

I have driven to Disney 4 times with my two girls.. starting when they were 1 1/2 and 4, they are now 7 and 10. I agree with almost all suggestions, leave at night-sometimes they don't sleep though. Make sure you have some new things to keep them occupied (toys, games, movies and music) and make sure you have a few old favorites.

BEWARE OF CRAYONS in the hot car... they do melt VERY quick!( I usually bring them inside whenever we stop) Also be careful with books and handheld video games.... they can make kids carsick.

One thing I have always done is tell them it will take a day longer than it will. We drive it straight through(about 15-17 hours depending on D.C. traffic) and we have always told the girls that we will get there after we sleep somewhere for the night. We have managed all 4 trips with I think 3 'are we there yets'. And they are always surprised that we arrived so soon!
(although I think they are beginning to catch on!)

There are also nice clean rest stops along 95, we let the girls run around like crazy for about 15 minutes and in the warm air they tire themselves out pretty quick. ( keep sugar and caffiene out of their diet while traveling- not a good idea- just ask DH!)

One last suggestion is if you just spent all day driving, don't plan on going to the park right away. We normally hit a food court for something little(sometimes just ice cream ) and then spend the rest of the day at the pool. It helps relax everyone and gives DH time to put all the bags in the room.

Hope that helped a little, Have a GREAT trip!!!!

 

[traviesojmt]

We are driving from MA to WDW this Aug. We are a family that loves to drive. DD will be 3 and DS8 do very well in the car. We have a DVD for each of them and my son has his GameCube hooked up to his. I buy new DVDs just for the trip. My son usually buys himself a new video game which keeps him very busy. Some may think us nuts, but we drove from Anchorage, Alaska to WDW last summer. We had a great time. We play lots of travel games too. I had a bag of books, movies, games and snacks ready for each child. When we stopped for meals, we made sure that our kids had time to run and play a little before we took off again. We think of driving as an adventure. Hope you have a great time.