My DH and I are taking our three kids to Disney this spring (ages 2, 5 & 6). I know many on this site have great ideas so I was hoping for some suggestions on things to bring along for our drive as well as things not to forget. I have a couple of things on my list such as: autograph book, a disposable camera for each of my kids, ponchos. We are going to pack each child with a backpack of toys, etc. for the trip down. Any suggestions on fun things to pack? Or any suggestions on things you bring to Disney that is a must? Thanks in advance!!
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Gadgets and Gizmos...what things to bring??
- Thread starter meeskamickey
- Start date
ggauthier82
New Member
I strongly suggest bringing walkie-talkies (radios) so you can communicate with your DH when you have to seperate. We had those on our 2009 trip and it saved the day more than once.
For the drive my 7yo had his Nintendo DS, so he was busy and we didn't hear a peep from him (all the way from Canada). And I had bought plenty of new toys for my 18mo so he kept busy as well.
For the drive my 7yo had his Nintendo DS, so he was busy and we didn't hear a peep from him (all the way from Canada). And I had bought plenty of new toys for my 18mo so he kept busy as well.
NYwdwfan
Well-Known Member
We bought my kids Leapsters (chunkier than DS and geared for younger kids) and a bunch of games on Ebay and suprised them when we got on the plane. Kept them busy the plane ride down and during any downtime in the room. I also like to get them Disney sticker books (the publisher DK makes really cool ones - available on overstock.com much cheaper than in stores) that we save for the trip as well.
mousebymarriage
Active Member
A power strip for the room is a great way to charge your cells, cameras, i-pods etc. all at one time without hunting for a bunch of outlets.
Also a nightlight so you can find your way to the bathroom at night in unfamiliar surroundings.
Also a nightlight so you can find your way to the bathroom at night in unfamiliar surroundings.
HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
We brought a number of the previously suggested items as well as travel sized magnadoodles (or however you spell that). We had our laptops with us just in case we needed movies and I also added a number of things to my ipod so the girls had things to watch on there as well.
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Do you have a thing against having something the kids can use to watch movies in the car?
I'm not saying that's a bad thing if you do; my wife and I argue about it back and forth, too. We're thinking about getting a portable dvd player I can use to watch movies when I run on the treadmill, but with a car mount for long drives. This way, it's not always in the car, so li'l Slapperina won't expect it to be on all the time, even for short trips. I also tend to have some kid friendly movies on my Droid Incredible, plus I can access youtube, or tether it to my laptop to watch hulu or netflix (that is, until the netflix and hulu apps for Droid are a reality).
We don't want there to always be television in the car, but if we were to drive to WDW, we're talking about 17-18 hours total driving time, to say nothing of an overnight hotel and meals and fuel and leg stretching. And it would be nice to expose her to some Disney classics along the way, keep her in the right frame of mind...
But otherwise, music and books, not only books your children can look at but books you can read to them...little video game systems (again, if you're ok with them)...You can find stories on CD, not audiobooks but dramatizations of stories you can share with them (including plenty of old time radio, if you think they'd like them), singalong songs...
I'm not saying that's a bad thing if you do; my wife and I argue about it back and forth, too. We're thinking about getting a portable dvd player I can use to watch movies when I run on the treadmill, but with a car mount for long drives. This way, it's not always in the car, so li'l Slapperina won't expect it to be on all the time, even for short trips. I also tend to have some kid friendly movies on my Droid Incredible, plus I can access youtube, or tether it to my laptop to watch hulu or netflix (that is, until the netflix and hulu apps for Droid are a reality).
We don't want there to always be television in the car, but if we were to drive to WDW, we're talking about 17-18 hours total driving time, to say nothing of an overnight hotel and meals and fuel and leg stretching. And it would be nice to expose her to some Disney classics along the way, keep her in the right frame of mind...
But otherwise, music and books, not only books your children can look at but books you can read to them...little video game systems (again, if you're ok with them)...You can find stories on CD, not audiobooks but dramatizations of stories you can share with them (including plenty of old time radio, if you think they'd like them), singalong songs...
NYwdwfan
Well-Known Member
We used to play "travel bingo" - my mom would make sheets of paper with stuff to look for and my sister and I would race to find them - and "the alphabet game" - looking for all the letters in order on license plates and signs. Helped pass the time. My mom always tells the story about the time we played hide and go seek in the back seat. And we were wearing seatbelts. :lookaroun
ggauthier82
New Member
I agree with slappy magoo. We have a portable DVD player for the car, but it is always put away in the house unless we are going to grandma's which is a 2.5 hour drive or grandpa's which is 1.5 hours away. Otherwise, it's at home. It's always been that way so the kids don't even think about asking for it for short drives.
We had it when we drove to Disney last time and it was appreciated. Our oldest one had earphones so the sound wouldn't wake up the younger one when he was sleeping.
We will be using it to drive to the airport this time around!!
Thanks so much everyone for your input. Any other suggestions on what is a must have at Disney?
Cell phones, using calling and or texting, can be just as effective and not quite as "sqawking" as walkie-talkies - and you don't need to worry about others on the same channel.
mickeysshoes
Well-Known Member
When we use to drive I would get the girls now coloring books, activity books, a new cup with a lid so no spills. DVD now a days is the way to do. We went with a smaller screen so we could afford to get 2 (one for each kid) so there was now fighting over what to watch.
I learned to do on the road and in the parks is a "PREVENTIVE" Make the kids try to go to the bathroom every time some one else has to go or before you leave the room or on the way out of the park. Nothing worse then in the middle of a long wait in line or on the bus "mom I have to go" and you had just been at the bathroom with the other kid!!! Most of the time when they try they will go..even if its only a little and will save you from a accident or emergency!!!
I learned to do on the road and in the parks is a "PREVENTIVE" Make the kids try to go to the bathroom every time some one else has to go or before you leave the room or on the way out of the park. Nothing worse then in the middle of a long wait in line or on the bus "mom I have to go" and you had just been at the bathroom with the other kid!!! Most of the time when they try they will go..even if its only a little and will save you from a accident or emergency!!!
NYwdwfan
Well-Known Member
My dad instituted the phrase "I'm beginning to have to go to the bathroom" after one such trip where my sister and I would announce we HAD TO GO NOW and we had just passed the last rest-stop for 20 (or more) miles. That way he could be on the lookout for the next stop and (somewhat) avoid the emergencies.
SAV
Well-Known Member
The DS is a must. Keeps 'em occupied for a long time.
Not sure if your kids are colorers, but you could bring a small laptop desk and some wonder magic kits for the drive. They can color, but not trash anything.
We did the drive when our daughter was 2yo, she was riveted to the VCR player(it was a while ago...ok) in the car. Really didn't hear a peep out of her. She would fall asleep and we'd turn it off. When she woke up, we would break out the coloring books and small toys before turning it back on.
As for things at the parks...Goldfish crackers. Yep, those beauties work wonders. My 6yo boy loves playing with those small plastic figurines. So we make sure to bring some of those along so he can play with them if we are in a really long line and he needs something to do.
One thing both of my kids on the trip last year was pin trading. I picked up a set of 20 pins on ebay for $13, cheap lanyard at the dollar store and the kids were crazy about it. Always wanting to check out lanyards of CM's, comparing them with each other, telling us which was their favorite and which they would "never" get rid of. Definitely made the lines seem shorter.
Not sure if your kids are colorers, but you could bring a small laptop desk and some wonder magic kits for the drive. They can color, but not trash anything.
We did the drive when our daughter was 2yo, she was riveted to the VCR player(it was a while ago...ok) in the car. Really didn't hear a peep out of her. She would fall asleep and we'd turn it off. When she woke up, we would break out the coloring books and small toys before turning it back on.
As for things at the parks...Goldfish crackers. Yep, those beauties work wonders. My 6yo boy loves playing with those small plastic figurines. So we make sure to bring some of those along so he can play with them if we are in a really long line and he needs something to do.
One thing both of my kids on the trip last year was pin trading. I picked up a set of 20 pins on ebay for $13, cheap lanyard at the dollar store and the kids were crazy about it. Always wanting to check out lanyards of CM's, comparing them with each other, telling us which was their favorite and which they would "never" get rid of. Definitely made the lines seem shorter.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Babyloveblankies
I ordered a mickey for my son & tink for my daughter 2 years ago - they are small enough to fit in my backpack & perfect while waiting in ride lines or restaurants. They still play with them, but we mainly save for disney.
These are great bc we can all interact together vs the DS zombies my kids can become.
The seller is great if you are looking for a custom fabric.
I ordered a mickey for my son & tink for my daughter 2 years ago - they are small enough to fit in my backpack & perfect while waiting in ride lines or restaurants. They still play with them, but we mainly save for disney.
These are great bc we can all interact together vs the DS zombies my kids can become.
The seller is great if you are looking for a custom fabric.
Yes, and buy a "lot" of pins on ebay! Your 5&6 year old will love that. Every time we went in a shop, all my kids cared about was finding someone to trade pins with! We saved a ton of $ bc they werent always asking us to buy them something. Plus its fun to interact w the cast members.
DisneySky
New Member
My child is only 3, but I took your advice on this one. She is a social butterfly so I think she will enjoy going up to the cast members asking to trade pins. I ordered her 6 pins on ebay yesterday, so I will be excited when they come in .... It is going to be fun to see which ones we get too... cause they randomly select your pins. We leave for Disney on March 5th, I will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for the advice!~
Allygator
Well-Known Member
My daughter bought a set of Lion King figures (like the toy soldiers). They were small enough to put in a back pack/purse. Great to pull out a few of them for her to play with while waiting in lines and for the parades. I'm sure you can find them much cheaper outside of Disney.
syst3merror
Member
for the ride down last time (and for this next coming trip) we did portable dvd players for the kids to watch and my son had a DS (with head phones) and they were pretty much occupied the whole way down (driving from Indiana).
This next trip will consist of the same thing aside from my daughter will have my sons DS and my son will have his ipod touch for games and music.
This next trip will consist of the same thing aside from my daughter will have my sons DS and my son will have his ipod touch for games and music.
Kristamouse
Well-Known Member
As a Mom to four, 6,5,3,1...I say bring some sort of a stain pre treatment. If you do wash on vacation than great but if not you have a jump on the stain...
As for the car DVD debate, ours is a pop down in our car but it only comes down when we are in the car for over 2 hours or if one of us had to run in a store for something while the other is stuck in the car with the kids...they are happy, healthy well adjusted kids who know not to ask and don't expect it.
If you do go the DVD route while traveling I would have different movies for the drive down and back.
Other gear, a stroller you love and is easy...BABY WIPES 1,000s of them...Clorox wipes for the room and your stroller...night light...glow necklaces from the dollar store...small snacks gold fish, pretzels, cheerios, cheese sticks, yogurts etc for your room when your kids get hungry in the room...rain gear of your choosing...microwavable sterilization bags for pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups etc...hangers...some sort of suction cup for holding toiletries for the entire family or a dollar store hanging shoe organizer for family items (keeps the rooms clean)
Otherwise, bring as little as possible only what you need day in and day out with your family. We will allow our 6 year old to bring is DSi and our 5 year old will bring her Tag and we will have our iPad for some movies we download for us and them.
Am taking a power strip this year too^ thanks for the suggestion....
Enjoy we have 42 more days till our surprise trip for our kids
As for the car DVD debate, ours is a pop down in our car but it only comes down when we are in the car for over 2 hours or if one of us had to run in a store for something while the other is stuck in the car with the kids...they are happy, healthy well adjusted kids who know not to ask and don't expect it.
If you do go the DVD route while traveling I would have different movies for the drive down and back.
Other gear, a stroller you love and is easy...BABY WIPES 1,000s of them...Clorox wipes for the room and your stroller...night light...glow necklaces from the dollar store...small snacks gold fish, pretzels, cheerios, cheese sticks, yogurts etc for your room when your kids get hungry in the room...rain gear of your choosing...microwavable sterilization bags for pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups etc...hangers...some sort of suction cup for holding toiletries for the entire family or a dollar store hanging shoe organizer for family items (keeps the rooms clean)
Otherwise, bring as little as possible only what you need day in and day out with your family. We will allow our 6 year old to bring is DSi and our 5 year old will bring her Tag and we will have our iPad for some movies we download for us and them.
Am taking a power strip this year too^ thanks for the suggestion....
Enjoy we have 42 more days till our surprise trip for our kids
ThatBrunette
Well-Known Member
A list of easy-to-find Hidden Mickeys. Kids love being in on the secret.
Disney themed Silly Bands are fun to give out to the kids when waiting in line and you might find some guests who like to trade.
Waiting on line for a ride is boring.
Disney themed Silly Bands are fun to give out to the kids when waiting in line and you might find some guests who like to trade.
Waiting on line for a ride is boring.