2 Questions - Stroller and Car seats

[HayGan]

I know not another dreaded stroller and car seat question but...

Since we are flying instead of driving, DH and I are debating whether or not to take our Graco DuoGlider. We really don't use it anymore and I could likely sell it for ~$50. We will actually be in the parks 5 times during our Dec trip. Should we just rent a double stroller? Or should we take it with us on the plane and kind of use it as a cart in the airport.

OK, now for the car seat? Should we check our seats at the gate or should we take them on board with us? They are booster seats with backs. One does have a removable back.

BTW, my kids are 3 & 5 and will likely be in and out of the stroller throughout the park days.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[beattyfamily]

Did you rent a car and that's what the carseats are for??

I would get a carseat bag and check them with your luggage. Your kids, IMHO, are old enough to sit with the lap belt. That way you can check one more thing you don't have to carry around the airport!

I would bring the stroller. My kids get SO tired at Disney and the double stroller rental is pretty darn expensive. I like having my own stroller for outside the parks, at the airport and for comfort, for the basket, etc...

Good luck deciding.

 

[DisFan331]

I would get bags to check the carseats. You mentioned they were boosters. If they are being used without built in restraints they probably will not be allowed for use on the plane. There should be a sticker on the seat that says if it is FAA approved. We always take the stroller and gate check that though. Have a safe trip!

 

[all4fun]

Well, a double rental should cost you about $64 for 5 days if you do a multi-day rental with the 15% discount. That more than negates the money you would be "making" by selling your stroller, so I guess it depends a little on how important saving a few dollars are to you. If you don't really need the stroller around home anymore (since you mentioned selling it), in this situation I can see the attraction to renting one. It would definitely be easier for the kids to get in and out of. Then there is transporting it...if you have a rental car, which I assume that you will based on the fact you're bringing the kids car seats, then you'll want to make sure it's one with enough trunk space for the stroller and luggage. Not sure how big a duoglider is when folded but we have the Jeep Liberty 3-wheeler which is rather bulky when folded so we have run into this problem in the past. It's the reason we bought a Kidco umbrella-style stroller for our trips, actually.

As far as the car seats go, I agree with the pp's. Given the types of seats they are, I would put them in bags and check them so you'll have that much less to carry through the airport.

hth.

 

[Aneille]

I would check the seats. I checked my 3 year old seat for the first time on our last flight and although she wasn't as behaved as she was on other trips it was worth not lugging any seats.

You will need a stroller for both your kids so whether you rent one or bring it is really up to you and the $$ you want to spend.

The other nice thing about bringing your own stroller is being able to use it outside of the parks.

Its a toss up.

 

[tlbwriter]

You can't use boosters on the plane. We took our backless booster as a carry-on anyway, and it was no trouble, but that would be a hassle for your high back booster. I wouldn't transport it as checked luggage; there are too many reports that seats are damaged. I'd have it gate checked (and even then it might be damaged, but the risk is smaller).

 

[HayGan]

Thanks for all the responses!

I think that we will take our stroller. If it gets beat up, it is no big loss since we don't use it anymore.

I'm going to look into the bags for the car seats. I do know that one is FAA approved but I'll have to check on the other. Anybody know where to get the carry bags cheap?

Thanks again

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for all the responses!

I think that we will take our stroller. If it gets beat up, it is no big loss since we don't use it anymore.

I'm going to look into the bags for the car seats. I do know that one is FAA approved but I'll have to check on the other. Anybody know where to get the carry bags cheap?

Thanks again

I got a carry bag at Babies R Us for $20. It fits two no back booster seats and then some. We've used this bag for not only our 2 booster seats but also for Halloween costumes or souvenirs and once put a sleeping bag in it!