tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

please share your experiences/tips with me.
looking into driving to orlando in October with 3 boys. they will be 16 months, 7 and 9.
we have a Honda CRV.

it will cost us $900 to fly and then have to rent a car or about $450-$500 to drive.

thoughts? tips? warnings?

Message edited 3/16/2012 12:12:05 PM.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

I have a CRV I couldn't imagine driving all the way to Orlando with 3 in the back (I only have 2). If you had a mini van or something with tons of room I would consider it - but I don't think I would do it to say only $400. If you said the airfare was $1200 + maybe I would feel differently. BTW $900 is pretty good! I was looking in August and for 4 people I found prices from $900-1300.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

I would not drive down to Orlando with 3 kids. I would not drive down with no kids! I think 5 hours is my absolute limit with car trips unless you break the trip up.

$900 for 4 plane tickets is not so bad. You could always stay at a value disney hotel and not rent a car.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

I have a CR-V with only 2 kids and the furthest I'm willing to drive with them in that car is to Boston (4 hours). We all get stir crazy by the time we get there. I would eat up the cost if you can and fly.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

if you were saving thousands of dollars I'd say there was no question - but for a savings of $400 .........No way! FLY !!

I'd rather pack lunck the whole time I was there or skip the ridiculously priced character dinner than drive for 2 days w/ 3 kids in the car when you can fly for 2.5 hours !!

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

We're driving down sometime this summer with our three kids (6,4,4). We did Myrtle beach in SC two years ago and they were perfect. We will stop along the way and break up the trip with an overnight or maybe even two. I would like to see the monuments in DC, where DH went to school in SC, etc.

If your kids are good in the car for long periods of time, then I say do it. Mine are great and one is autistic so we thought he would hate it. They just travel well. We plan on leaving during their bedtime (DH likes to drive at night), which will buy us some time. But if we make two stops then we can leave at any hour.

My friend just did it during the February break and said her kids did awesome (7th grader and 3rd grader). I think this is what swayed us to make the trip this summer. Plus, we can pack whatever we want and not have to lug it on the plane.

All we will bring is the DVD players (we have the dual one that attaches to the headrests), iPad this time around, and snacks/drinks. Good luck!

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

I just did the drive last month. I had a 2, 4 and 16 year old. Honestly I was dreading it, but my kids were very well behaved I was so surprised. We stopped at a hotel at night. We are already planning next years trip and we will be driving again we had a really fun time.

We bought the portable DVD players, iPad, iPod, the ds, snacks, drinks... Stuff to keep them occupied

Message edited 3/16/2012 1:28:36 PM.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

im surprised at how many people say no. of all the times ive been to disney i would say 95% of the time i was driven there. we always drove when we were kids and i dont remember it being a big deal.

we're on a tight budget which is why i am contemplating the drive instead of the flight plus a car rental. we arent paying for hotel because we are using someones timeshare and we only plan to visit epcot and sea world, not magic kingdom or anything like that.

my other fear of increased cost is luggage on the plane since most airlines charge and im packing for 2 adults and 3 kids

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

I haven't done it (with kids), but my sister has multiple times in a minivan. The last time she went she had 3 kids and she said it's not so bad. They stop overnight in the Carolinas.

My whole family is going next month and my sister will be driving again with 4 kids this time, ages 9,7,5 and 4 months.

I think if you have well-behaved kids it shouldn't be that bad. I know some people said it's "only" $400, but that money could be used for a ton of things on the vacation.

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

as a kid, we drove down to Orlando, 3 kids in a car. not even an SUV. it's definitely doable!

Re: tried searching past posts and had a hard time finding...Driving to Orlando with 3 kids....crazy?

Just did this in January, 3.5 year old twins, and a two year old. Went very well ! Saved a ton of money on flights. It took us two days (one overnight stay). But, my kids love the car, so you have to do what's best for your family.