2/3 year old and stroller for airport and cruise terminal

[mmps108]

We are traveling over my LO's 3rd birthday. We'll be in the parks, 4 days, while she's 2 and on her 3rd birthday we board the Dream for 4 days.

We went for a week when she was 9 months and used a (borrowed) full size stroller and the Ergo. This time I am thinking of renting a stroller so we don't have to deal with the hassle of the stroller at the airport. We have a City Elite for home and I like the canopy and comfort level for napping better than the one we borrowed.

Do you think I will regret not having a stroller in the airport and cruise terminal?

 

[Bluegrrl]

Look into a gogokidz carseat cart. It's AWESOME! It's like a trolly/dolly thingy, and you strap the carseat onto it. The kid can sit in the carseat, and you roll it like a rolly luggage. That way you can bring your carseat which you NEED in Florida now, can control where your kid is like a stroller, strap the carseat into the airplane and have to worry about checking it and not need a stroller for the terminal. Win-Win!!

Seriously, I love mine. Be sure to practice putting the carseat onto the dolly, since I found it to be a little tricky.

 

[mmps108]

We need a car seat for Magical Express and Disney Cruise transportation? Yikes! I guess we'll need it for the airplane. And we had talked about getting a van to take us to the terminal from OKW instead of using the Disney transportation.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Bluegrrl]

Yup, Florida has had some significant changes with their carseat policies
http://flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2014/316.613

Kids 3+ did not need carseat (bad), but now kids 0-4/5/6 need carseats or booster seats (good!)

 

[Skrabadoo]

We recently traveled with our almost three year old. We rented a stroller and used a toddler Tula in the airport.

It worked great!

 

[Skrabadoo]

We didn't feel we needed the stoller in the terminal. The carrier is great for pirate night. Get the little one in pjs, plop them in the carrier, mine crashed and I put him in bed and he didn't wake up.

 

[SeanTomorrow]

We need a car seat for Magical Express and Disney Cruise transportation? Yikes! I guess we'll need it for the airplane.

Yup, Florida has had some significant changes with their carseat policies
http://flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2014/316.613

Kids 3+ did not need carseat (bad), but now kids 0-4/5/6 need carseats or booster seats (good!)

That statute seems to exempts buses and taxis. I don't think you'd be required to have a car seat for DME. And I know you don't need it for the airplane.

 

[Bluegrrl]

When we traveled, it was helpful for the plane. But yes, it does not apply to taxis and buses. Still, helpful for for plane and if OP decides that they may want to rent a car, then they aren't stuck without a carseat (and a hefty fine for not having one.) And heck, it's thin little dolly, so it's not a lot to have

 

[luvmy2babies]

Unless something has changed in the last 6 months or so, no car seats on the DME or the DCL bus. If you have one they will put it underneath. So if that is how you are getting from the airport to your resort and to the port and back to the airport, I'd probably do a CARES harness for the plane if you want.

As for whether you'd regret having a stroller in the airport and cruise terminal, that's hard to say. Our last trip was my 2nd without a stroller in the airport. On the first one, my son was 10 months and in an Ergo. This last one he was 4. My one concern was him falling asleep on the Disney bus and having to carry him or wake him when we got to the airport. It happened the day we came home. Fortunately he had only been asleep about 10 minutes and he was good about waking up and walking. I had no choice though because I was the only adult and we each had a carry on. I couldn't carry him. I made it as far as getting off the bus to the first place I could sit down and had to wake him.

 

[DisneyMommyto4]

We just came back from our trip in January. We had 4 kids ages 7, 5, a turning 3 year old on our trip and a 1 year old. I baby wore my one year old and all the other kids walked and carried their own backback through the airport. I had no issues with all 4 by myself at one point. As long as your 3 year old isn't a "runner" you will be fine without a stroller at the airport. Also, you Do Not need a car seat on Magical Express. I held my 1 year old on it and the seats had seat belts and all of my kids sat with the seat belt and watched the TV on the bus. Hope that helps.

 

[travelgirl06]

We've taken a Maclaren on 3 cruises with little ones. It's lightweight, helpful in the terminals/airports and easily slips under the bed in the cabin. We tend to do some walking adventures in port, so it's nice to have that option. Last cruise we had a 3yo and a 1yo, I think the strolłer was used mostly by the 1yo, but I liked knowing I could put ODD in it (and wear YDD).

Also - nice work planning under-3 (free) park days and a 3-year old (kids-club-eligible) cruise all in one vacation

 

[mmps108]

We've taken a Maclaren on 3 cruises with little ones. It's lightweight, helpful in the terminals/airports and easily slips under the bed in the cabin. We tend to do some walking adventures in port, so it's nice to have that option. Last cruise we had a 3yo and a 1yo, I think the strolłer was used mostly by the 1yo, but I liked knowing I could put ODD in it (and wear YDD).

Also - nice work planning under-3 (free) park days and a 3-year old (kids-club-eligible) cruise all in one vacation

Now I just need to get her toilet trained!

 

[mmps108]

We didn't feel we needed the stoller in the terminal. The carrier is great for pirate night. Get the little one in pjs, plop them in the carrier, mine crashed and I put him in bed and he didn't wake up.

I LOVE this idea! Like I said in my OP, she was 9 months last time we were there and the Ergo was a lifesaver! She just crashed and we kept going. I was wondering how I was going to handle night time now that she's a toddler. I've been wanting a Tula and now I have a good excuse.

 

[Skrabadoo]

Here's my toddler Tula in action at WDW. I bought the rocket ship one because it was "manly" for my son. I could also put my 5 year old in it if I had too.