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Vacationing with a Toddler - The Logistics

Sep 8, 2024

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Before kids, my wife and I were basically vacation pros, or so we thought. We’ve done all the classics—road trips from Ohio to Florida and even Ohio to Las Vegas! That Vegas trip? Definitely a highlight. The sheer range of scenery from Ohio to Nevada is mind-blowing, and then, of course, there’s Vegas, where reality goes on a break. But once we had kids, well, vacations took on a new... flavor. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about the destination, but about the kids and how long we could keep them entertained (and sane) along the way.


Our first, Theo, was born in early 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first year and a half of his life, we basically lived like hermits, following all the restrictions. But once things started loosening up, we were practically clawing at the walls for a vacation. Since I grew up visiting family in California, we’d hit Disneyland once when I was younger, and I thought it was the coolest place ever. Unfortunately, in a family where the budget was tighter than a jar of pickles, trips like that didn’t happen often.


As a dad, I made it my mission to give my kids all the experiences I missed out on, starting with Disney World. I had never been, so we decided our first big family vacation with Theo would be a road trip to Orlando, Florida. Theo was a little over a year old, and we saved for this trip like squirrels saving nuts for winter, stashing away any extra cash in an envelope until we hit our target.


We figured driving was the way to go. The plan? Leave in the evening, get Theo all sleepy, and have him snooze the entire 14-hour drive. Foolproof, right? Yeah, no. We left around 7 PM, fully expecting him to be out cold by 8:30 or 9. Spoiler alert: that was not what happened...


Theo was a creature of habit, and we stuck to his schedule like glue. Same wake-up time, same nap times, same bedtime every single day. But this road trip? Yeah, that threw him for a loop. During the 16-hour drive down to Orlando, Theo may have slept a grand total of 2 hours. Not 2 hours straight—total. Every time we stopped, we tried to make him more comfortable, but no luck. The kid was determined to stay awake, like he was guarding a national secret or something.


This was our first stop. Theo was almost in a state of shock!


My wife took the first shift driving that night, and I was in the back with Theo, trying to navigate. By 9:30 PM, the car was dark, and I was doing my best ninja impersonation, avoiding eye contact so he wouldn’t get excited. I thought he might finally nod off. But when I turned around, there he was—wide-eyed and staring straight into my soul while doing the "Wheels on the Bus" motions with his tiny arms. I mean, seriously? It was equal parts hilarious and creepy, like my one-year-old was saying, “Sleep? Who needs sleep when you’ve got nursery rhymes?”


Theo was still going strong, but for how much longer?


This routine continued for most of the trip. Even though Theo only caught a few micro-naps, he didn’t cry or whine. I was in shock. Where were the legendary road trip meltdowns? The constant crying? Nope. Theo was just tired but trucking along like a little trooper. By the last few hours, though, the poor guy was beyond irritable, and I couldn’t blame him.


We finally pulled into the hotel around 2 PM, rushed to our room, and set up the nap situation ASAP. Lights off, doors shut—and then, the scream. Not just any scream. A scream so loud and terrifying, I wondered if our toddler had been replaced by a banshee. It turns out, being completely overtired in a strange place had pushed him into a state of confused toddler frenzy. He refused to nap anywhere except in my wife’s arms. Thankfully, after a good cuddle session, he calmed down and finally got some much-needed rest.


As you can see, Theo had reached his limit by this point.


Later that evening, as if nothing had ever happened, Theo was back to his normal self. We were able to walk around, relax, and just pretend we hadn’t all just survived a 14-hour marathon drive. We got to bed at a decent hour because we had big plans for the next day—Disney’s Epcot! I had never been, but the idea of wandering through different cultures with their arts, foods, and drinks? Sign me up!


We packed Theo’s Disney-approved stroller and diaper bag like seasoned pros. The next morning, we hit the complimentary hotel breakfast—always the highlight, right? Theo was in heaven with his Mickey-shaped waffles and chocolate milk. After fueling up, we loaded into the car and headed to Epcot, ready to conquer the day. I’d done my research (because, of course) and found a Hilton Home 2 Suites that was basically a dream for families like ours. The suite had a separate bedroom and living area, so Theo could nap in peace while we could still watch TV and actually have conversations like real adults. Plus, the hotel was just 10 minutes from the parks—perfect for those mid-day nap escapes!


The separate living area for Theo was a life saver, making the stay more manageable.

This boy loved his Mickey Mouse waffles!


That setup saved us. Theo had his own space to recharge, and we got some time to unwind without worrying about waking the little guy up. I’ll definitely drop a link to that hotel at the end of this blog for all you tired parents out there.


Looking back, this whole trip was mostly perfect—well, as perfect as a vacation with a one-year-old can be. Theo handled the chaos like a champ, adapting to new situations and changes like a seasoned traveler. If he had been more like a typical one-year-old, adjusting the time we left or maybe wearing him out before the trip would’ve been smart. Honestly, we were both floored by how little Theo actually slept during that drive. The kid’s stamina is impressive!


We had everything prepared and packed to a level that would make any Boy Scout proud. Car? Gassed up. Bags? Packed to the brim with everything from diapers to snacks. Lists? Oh, we had lists. Lists for the lists. I highly recommend making one if you’re about to embark on a trip with a toddler—it’ll save you from that “Did I forget something?” panic when you’re halfway down the highway. Snacks and drinks? A must. But now you’ve got to think about those tiny human snacks too, because trust me, when they’re hungry, you’ll know it. 


Toys are a must on a long road trip. I’m talking “don’t leave home without them” level of importance—especially if you value your sanity. We had a few of Theo’s greatest hits packed, including a busy board, a light switch board, and some fine motor skills toys (because who doesn’t need to work on their threading technique during a road trip?).


Now, the busy board? It’s basically a toddler’s version of a productivity binder, filled with everything from brightly colored buttons to snap, zippers to zip, and velcro strips that probably gave Theo more satisfaction than I get from my morning coffee. Who knew toddler entertainment could be so…organized?


The light switch board, though—that thing was a game changer. It’s like we handed Theo a mini control panel for some secret mission. It’s battery-powered and lights up like a Christmas tree when you flip the switches and turn the knobs. Watching Theo furiously flip switches like a tiny NASA engineer kept him entertained and made the drive a little more tolerable.


These toys? Lifesavers. The trip went a whole lot smoother thanks to them, and I’ll drop the links at the end of this blog in case your sanity could also use a busy board.


We packed a small tablet for Theo just in case, and yeah, we caved and used it a bit when he got restless. Honestly though, I think he would've been fine with a couple of his favorite toys. Oh, and here’s a pro tip: don’t forget to tell your bank about your travel plans unless you want the fun surprise of a rejected debit card at the gas station!


Now, let’s talk about the pros and cons of driving versus flying. Driving? It’s got that adventurous spirit, not to mention the freedom to pull over when you see something cool, or when someone’s suddenly really gotta go. Plus, it's way more budget-friendly, especially for us, since my wife’s in the school system and we’re locked into peak travel times. You just can't beat the flexibility of a road trip—stopping for snacks, leg stretches, or a random roadside attraction (who doesn’t love a giant ball of twine?).


But then there’s the downside: the time. It’s long, especially when you're driving from Ohio to Orlando. If you live closer, it’s no big deal, but for us? That’s a commitment. And don't get me started on I-75—it seems like every time we drive it, we get stuck in some sort of construction zone or accident traffic jam. We were lucky on this trip, but there have been times when we’ve been stuck for hours. If you’ve got needy kids, or ones who need a lot of entertainment, you might want to think about breaking the trip into smaller chunks or flying altogether.


At the end of the day, only you know what your kids can handle. Some families are road trip warriors, while others might find that flying and getting it over within a couple of hours is the way to go. It’s all about what works best for you. This was our first road trip with Theo, and despite the lack of sleep and a few toddler meltdowns, it was an adventure we’ll never forget. I hope this blog helps someone out there plan their own epic family vacation—good luck and happy travels!






Links:



Lodging


Hilton Home 2 Suites:


Home2 Suites by Hilton Orlando Flamingo Crossings



Theo Approved Toys


Wooden Lacing Apple Threading Toy:


Amazon.com: JCREN Wooden Lacing Apple Threading Toys Wood Lace Block Puzzle Shape Travel Game Toys Early Learning Fine Motor Skills Educational Gift for 3 4 5 Years Old Toddlers Baby Kids Boys : Toys & Games



Busy Binder:


Amazon.com: PITCOTT Busy Board Montessori Toys for Toddlers 1 2 3 4 Year-Busy Book Board Travel Toy for Plane Car, Birthday Gift for Boys Girls-Preschool Educational Learning Sensory Activity Motor Skills (Blue) : Toys & Games


Light Board:


Amazon.com: Montessori Wooden Busy Board with 8 LED Light switches, Sensory Toys Light Switch Travel Toys for 1+ Year Old Baby and Toddler : Toys & Games


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