10 day trip, only carryon-- am I nuts

[plutosmyfav]

I am traveling alone with DS 3 1/2. I am brining a stroller and his booster seat. I have been strategizing my trip through the airports and decided I want to try to get by with one carryon suitcase and a large backpack. I think I can do it (we'll be washing clothes of course). Has anyone else ever attempted such a feat?

Am I totally nuts?

Last year my family of 4 went same time, same trip duration and I packed SOOOOOOO much stuff DH and me nearly killed ourselves getting through the airport to the rental car (we couldn't find a trolly anywhere). So this time I'm wising up (I hope)

comments please

 

[goofy4tink]

We've never done it using only carry-on. But, my dd, 10, and I are going to try it in 3 weeks. We'll be wearing jeans, turtlenecks with sweatshirts, heavy socks on the plane. Then we'll be ready for that 'cold' weather in WDW. We will each have our own carry-on bag tho. My ony question would be, is the back-pack going to count as your ds's carry-on? I would love to bring a back-pack also, but don't think Song will let me. I'll just have to carry a large purse. Good luck. Doing laundry first thing in the morning has worked for me.

 

[melk]

I think you can do it. You'll have to be very strict as to what you will bring, then either roll it all very tightly or use those vacuum bags. This is my goal for our next trip. My friend inspired me because they have a family of four, had two carry on's and each carried a backpack. They liked doing it this way.

 

[Gretchen]

You can do it! I think a backpack counts as a "personal item" like a purse, briefcase, diaper bag etc. We are the ultimate bring it all with ya group! This trip we will try to do it with two little rolly suitcases and a couple of carryons. My SIL travels one suitcase and a diaper bag for the four of them. Everywhere! Me, everyone has a suitcase, carryon stroller, etc.
Gretchen

 

[CEDmom]

I think it makes a lot of sense to cut down of luggage since you'll be the only adult and will have a small child. However, have you thought about how you're going to get DS wheeled to the plane while carrying his booster seat plus the luggage then get him out of the stroller fold in up and get on the plane? I have a 4yo and we also bring a stroller and seat along with a carryon. That's all we're able to manage between 2 adults. Why don't you try a dry run to see if you can carry it all. If not, I'd suggest checking your luggage.

 

[TammyC]

Have you considered renting a booster seat, so you don't have to carry yours? I think you do have a lot to carry. A larger suitcase or duffel bag on wheels, even though it would have to be checked, might also work out. Remember that you will need a variety of clothes, as the weather varies at this time of year. Have a great trip!

 

[claudia]

When my youngest son was that age and I travelled with him alone to Disney a stroller, booster seat and large travel purse (packed with his food, snacks, change of clothes and toys) were all I could manage. I packed one medium suitcase that I checked, filled with enough to get us through half the trip....did laundry once. Once off the plane, put DS in stroller, had him hold the booster seat and draped the travel purse on the stroller....then I was able to manage the medium suitcase easily.
It sounds a little overwhelming to me with the suitcase....all I can think of is how difficult it will be to try to guide your son on and off the plane, while trying to carry the stroller, backpack, booster and carry-on.....I'm getting anxious just thinking about it!!!! LOL

 

[safetymom]

I don't understand why you are only doing carry on. The baggage arrives very quickly at MCO and I would rather do that then spend time doing laundry during my vacation. There are loads of those carts you can rent for $3. Also I travel a lot and very rarely do the lose suitcases and when they did I had it several hours later.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Yes I've been "getting anxious" about it for weeks! I remember last year going through security and boarding the plane was incredibly stressful with two adults and a 12 yo. to boot! They made DS (who was 2 1/2 then) walk through the security gate alone. He took off running and I was still on the other side, helpless. You'd think someone could have stopped him! Of course hindsight, I realize we should have had one of us go first, then him, then the other but it was so chaotic there wasn't time or presence of mind to think of such things! This year there will be just me so I am going to speak up and say "please make sure he doesn't run before I get through".

I haven't done the dry run yet, but my thought is that the booster seat can attach to the carryon suitcase handle (one of those rolly things). There's a chance it might fit in the underneath storage of the stroller (haven't check that yet either). If either works, then I have a rolly suitcase in one hand, stroller in other, backpack on back. DS can either be in the stroller up until boarding or hold on to the side (if he is in control). We've practiced that type of walking in malls and he knows the drill.

I don't see anyway of pulling off boarding without help from a flight attendant. Someone will have to help me if they want to get that bird off the ground! At least once I have him onto the plane he can only move about so much while I'm fussing with folding up the stroller and getting his booster seat in place on the plane seat and putting the rolly in overhead.

Yikes, I need to remember to breath.... it sounds quite daunting.

The alternative is to have a checked bag, but that would only change the scenario behind check points. I would still have to get to the rental car with one hand on a stroller and one hand on a suitcase.

Part of my temptation to go "no checked baggage" is that we are schedule to land in Orlando at 10:14 AM and I'm using National's EA so I have it in my head that we can hit the parks by noon if we don't spend an extra minute in the airport.

A dose of reality might be in order

 

[plutosmyfav]

I just had a brilliant idea! I will do the dry run and include DS in the planning. I will show him what I will have to take care of and explain to him he needs to stay right with me and listen, etc. I will try to prepare him the best that I can for all the things that will take place at the air port. I hadn't thought of that. He may do a lot better if he has some idea in his mind of what we will be doing.

He's only 3 1/2, but I think he can grasp the key points.

With my current plan, I will have to fold up the stroller and put it on the xray machine belt, then the booster seat, then put the suitcase on, then the backpack, taking out the laptop to go through separately, all while DS is free to "go exploring".

Maybe I better have an incentive to get him through that, like a new car "if he stays right with me the whole time". We better start working on the security routine right away.

 

[Cruisin]

If you will look at my tag you will see our attitude toward luggage.
If you can't carry it, you don't need it. We like to travel with just carry on luggage if we can. It makes it so much easier when you get off the plane, you don't have to go to the luggage area you are ready to go. This is very helpful, especially on the return trip, we are off the plane, onto the shuttle bus and at our car before the luggage even hits the carrousel.
Now granted I have never flown with very little ones, I would imagine it would be a big challenge.
We usually fly Spirit and are allowed one carry-on and one personal item such as a large purse, backpack, laptop etc.

 

[wdwnutze]

I would try to go without the booster seat. I think it would be easier to reserve one with the car rental company. As far as I know, booster seats aren't allowed on the plane for seating. Only approved car seats are allowed to be used to have someone sit in them. Seems you would have to check your booster seat and that would defeat what you are trying to do. I think it can be done, but I would get rid of anything unnecessary! Good luck!

 

[lovesdumbo]

You can usually gate check the stroller right at the gate so you don't have to bring it down the ramp to the plane yourself.

Do you have a harness or wrist strap for your DS?

Have you thought about getting a backpack for the carseat? I had one last year and it was big enough to put another bag inside it. I was a bit rough getting on the plane though because the bag was wider than the ilse so it had to be held up over the seat arms. The booster seat has to have the harness to be used on the plane.

Have you thought about sending a package to the resort?

 

[tw1nsmom]

Unless something's changes recently, they won't let you use the booster on the plane. They will make you check it. As someone else posted, maybe you could rent one in Orlando.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Whew--I am getting tired just thinking about this; I'll soon be flying alone with a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old and I'm glad to be getting some tips from this thread.

How big is your booster? I know there are some that might fit as a carry-on. (As others have said, your child won't be able to ride in it on the plane). Another option, if you really want to avoid the baggage claim, might be to gate-check the booster with the stroller. I saw someone doing that once on Southwest but you'd definitely want to check ahead with your airline to see if that's allowed.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Wow, thank you all! I was having a "Dori" moment about the booster seat. My booster seat is one that requires a lap & sholder seat belt to work. Of course I couldn't use it on the plane! I hadn't thought about that. Geesh. I didn't know you can't use any boosters. My mother has a 5-point harness one that I could borrow if American Airlines approves. I will look into that today.

Last night I discovered that my booster lodges securely between the underneath storage bin and handle of my stroller and it is easy to push the stroller with it like that. So, I would have no trouble getting it on the plane. I will need to check if I can bring it on with the stroller or will need to check it.

I also "zip locked" outfits last night. Boy does that save room! I was able to squeeze one summer outfit for me and DS in each zip lock. I did 4 summers. We will wear pants, long sleves and sweatshirts to the airport and I think I'll bring one more pair of pants each.

Depending on what the airline says about the booster seat, I may still get away without baggage check.

Shipping clothes down is a good idea, I won't rule it out yet, either.

I hadn't thought about renting a booster at the car rental. Does anyone know what that costs? I don't want to spend another dime on this trip if I don't have to!

Oh, and yes I do have a harness for DS. If I have to use it we will be quite the attraction at the air port. He will throw a fit, but if I have to I will.

Thanks for the tips and advice.

 

[safetymom]

Just keep in mind that your shipment of clothes could get lost or delayed by UPS or FedEx. I can't tell you how many times my shipments have been lost or delayed by days. So I don't advise that you ship all your clothes.

 

[plutosmyfav]

Good point SafetyMom (BTW I love the CBR FAQ thread)

I will most likely ship dirty clothes home. I doubt I will want to roll them up and zip lock them again at the end of the trip. It wouldn't be a tragedy if they got lost or delayed on the way back.

 

[safetymom]

I agree on the way back it wouldn't be a problem. I would hate to see someone ship clothes down and then UPS loses them or delays the arrival.

Glad to hear you enjoy the CBR FAQ. Have a great trip.

 

[HappyMommy2]

About renting boosters from rental car companies--

We've never rented a booster, but we rented a regular carseat once (for about $7/day from a major "name brand" rental car company)---NEVER AGAIN! It was unfamiliar to us so it was difficult to install (though with a booster that shouldn't be much of an issue), it reeked of grease and who knows what else, and it was just generally pretty gross. Luckily we only needed it for 2 days, but I just didn't feel right whenever I put DS in it.

Maybe we just had an unlucky experience, but I'd say you'll probably be much better off taking your own--and spending the $7/day on fun souvenirs at Disney!