Movies To Go: Redbox on the Road
Renting a redbox DVD at a gas station in Alabama
As a general rule of thumb, we provide our kids with unlimited opportunities for self-entertainment (i.e., looking out the window) for road trips under nine hours. This is partly because our Hail Mary minivan is as analog as it gets and partly because most computer repair shops generally frown upon jerry-rigging laptops using a combination of bungee cords and Newton’s Third Law of Motion. That said, there are occasions
when even the most seasoned road warriors are faced with choosing between the digital baby sitter and eating our offspring.
Redbox to the rescue.
About two summers ago it dawned on me we could rent and return DVDs as we traveled. Allowing kids to select new movie releases and video game rentals from one Redbox location, we’d drive 400-500 miles, find another self-service kiosk and repeat the process at $1.20/rental ($1.50 for Blu-ray/$2 for video games) . With now nearly 28,000 locations nationwide and a handy mobile app (we use the iPhone app, but Android is also available), the rent, travel, rent process is much more streamlined than calling your husband for help from 1642 miles away. The smart phone apps also allow you to browse titles and reserve advance copies.
Currently subscribers to Netflix from our home mailing address, Redbox “on the road” offers the additional flexibility and instant gratification necessary for preserving your mental health when driving solo, say, to the Gulf of Mexico from Wisconsin in two days. (!)
Viewable from the car, hotel room, airplane, train, and boat (we make lots of trips across Lake Michigan), the folks at Redbox are generously donating 20 FREE DVD rentals to the first 20 people (one each) who leave a comment on this post with their favorite road trip movie.
Our son loves any Disney title…great idea!
This is a great idea! I often travel with kids and this is a good way to keep the whole family entertained!
The Princess Bride.
LOVE IT! I use Redbox for all roadtrips… which are alot!
Favorite family road trip movie, Pixar’s Cars!
Great idea. Best road trip movie? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid… at least for me.
I left a comment via the Facebook format and can see it above, however I’m not sure it counted. Is the freebie still available? We like to red Sid the Science kid episodes from the Redbox before a road trip.
Thanks for the opportunity — any idea when you’ll announce the winners?
My kids love redbox for the roadtrips we take to Colorado!!
I love Redbox, quick and fast,and convienent!!
We do this on all our trips.. Best movies Back to the future by far..lol
Thanks for sharing this great idea! Packing DVDs, Blue-ray discs, etc. takes up room in the suitcase. Stopping at Redbox and renting movies is fast and easy.