4-hour flight with 3 kids - help!

[mermaidwannabe]

The backpack idea is a good one. I thought that would be great for the older two. We have gone to Oregon, Lake Powell, Calgary, etc. in the car but it seems different to me because you can periodically stop and get out to stretch. I may look into the portable DVD player as long as they are small enough. I have seen those special Crayola markers; those are great. Maybe I'll get some of those, too. Aren't there hand-held gadgets that play movies but they are only for the gadget (they aren't DVDs). They look like game boy games. I thought I'd seen those somewhere before. ANYWAYS, keep the suggestions coming. I have a GREAT list going beside my computer that I'm going to take to Target!!! Thanks again!

 

[mum of two pirates]

When I looked into the video now, it was lamost as much as the gameboy sp. The video now only plays movies where as the sp plays games and moves, better way to spend our money I thought, and right now our walmart has the sp movie for $10. Just got two more last friday for our wresstling matches for the next 4 saterdays.

 

[nbandfour]

Rather than backpacks, my kids take those small suitcase with wheels that fit very nicely under the seat in front of them. These hold alot more than backpacks, won't weigh them down as they walk in the airport, and keep things from being crushed. You can usually find them inexpensively at Target or Ross. We pack fannypacks for the parks.

For the airplane: special snacks, pony beads and lanyard, fresh pack of markers and paper, dvd player (dh's laptop actually), magnetic play books, dot-dot paints (things that look like bingo markers), geoboard, cards, travel versions of games like boggle, yahtzee, hangman.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I wondered about those little pull-suitcases! We have some; I just didn't think they would fit underneath the seats, but that is a great idea! Especially to put in an extra set of clothes in case our luggage doesn't make it the first night. I will definitely do that. Does anyone happen to know the measurements for what will fit underneath the seats? I have 2 different sizes.

 

[grlpwrd]

I just wanted to add...

There was discussion a while back about playdough on this board, I think. Lots of people discouraged bringing that stuff because of the smell and because they are messy and can easily get everywhere.

I have a 18mo, 6yo, 10yo, and 13yo. They all like to listen to music and "books on tape" from a CD player. They also love playing cards.

Well, everyone else pretty much covered it... GL!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We are bringing gameboys, SNACKS, and an art folder (I got this idea from someone on this board)

Take a 2 pocket 3 prong folder. Put in a zip pencil case in the brads and behind that put in 24 pages or so of plain white paper (you'll have to 3 hole punch it).

In the pencil case pouch, I am putting stickers, twistable crayola crayons, pencils, and a few markers.

When the child decorates the first page of paper, you just tear it our and stick it in one of the pockets of the folder.

Also in the back pocket, I am putting a thin coloring book and sticker book.

Happy Flying!!!

 

[DebIreland]

You could always gift wrap a few little things, really good with lots of tape , so it will take them a while to open things.

I love it!!

 

[Ahrizel]

You said you have 20 minutes between flights? Is that 20 minutes to just hang around spare time, or 20 minutes as the one flight gets in and your connection leaves 20 minutes later?!? If it's the second you may not make the connection! Can you clarify please??

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Hi Ahrizel - we have 30 minutes total between the time we get in and have to go again. I know! They usually start boarding 30 minutes prior to a flight, so we're going to have to book it to get to the next one. Do you think it's enough time? It always takes awhile to just get off of a plane. We'll probably barely have time to let the kids take a potty break.

 

[G00fyDad]

Hi Ahrizel - we have 30 minutes total between the time we get in and have to go again. I know! They usually start boarding 30 minutes prior to a flight, so we're going to have to book it to get to the next one. Do you think it's enough time? It always takes awhile to just get off of a plane. We'll probably barely have time to let the kids take a potty break.

I dont even think youre going to have time for that. For instance, NO plane ever lands "on time" it may be 5 or 10 minutes later. (could be early too...) And it may take about 5 or 10 minutes to get off the first plane. That being said, you may only have 10 minutes to get from the first gate all the way to the second gate and board the second plane.

 

[DebIreland]

Hi Ahrizel - we have 30 minutes total between the time we get in and have to go again. I know! They usually start boarding 30 minutes prior to a flight, so we're going to have to book it to get to the next one. Do you think it's enough time? It always takes awhile to just get off of a plane. We'll probably barely have time to let the kids take a potty break.

You are really cutting it fine! I absolutely wouldn't risk it if I were you - you could end up with a lot of tears, having missed your flight to Disney World! Is there no way you can get an earlier 1st flight or a later 2nd flight? What about checking in for your 2nd flight or are you doing that online? Is there more than one terminal in the airport... if so what if you have to take a shuttle from one terminal to the next? Sorry!!! I don't mean to panic you and I know that here in Europe people always allow a *minimum* of 2 hours between flights and perhaps that's not common practice in the U.S. so maybe it's more common there to cut it as fine as 30 minutes, I don't know. But personally, my nails would be bitten down to nothing sitting on that first flight hoping it gets there on time!! With 3 kids having just sat in a plane for an hour chances are at least one will need the toilet or nappy change!! Good luck!!! You're gonna need it.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

I just called Delta and the lady said we would be flying out of the same terminal so there shouldn't be a problem. I hope so! We'll be on a smaller Skywest/Delta plane from Bozeman to Salt Lake so it won't take forever getting off which helps greatly! Wish me luck!

 

[Katy Belle]

I have done MANY long car rides-11 hours one day and 5 the next and several long plane rides, just did a 9hour and a 6 hour one to our new location, all with three DSs. Let me first say, I think you will be surprised at how well they will do. Mine always surprise me and it is very rare that I hear a child on a plane, other than infants who cry at home too, not just on planes!

Is your DH traveling with you? If so then you will be very pleased to have 2 adults to tend to the 3 kids. I think your 2 yr. old will be the one trickiest to entertain, bring LOTS to do. My husband was always pretty entertaining with a puppet-you can make one out of the barf bag on the plane!!

Instead of buying all new stuff, trade with with a friend. Leave them some of your toys to play with while you are traveling, and take some of their stuff with you. Anything "new" entertains longer than the old and familar.

Keep your eyes open at Dollar stores. Two of our favorite travel game came from the dollar store. Both are plastic, self contained games, one is a Cat and Mouse game and the other is a sticks and dots kind of game. Do your older kids play cards? We passed the time with many games of WAR, Old Maid, etc.

It is do-able. I really think you will be surprised at how well they do. Everything is so exciting, the peanuts, the drinks, etc. I would stress to them that its going to be a LONG, LONG plane ride.

Have a great trip!!
Katy

 

[Sheaboys]

We flew in December of 2003 to California from Massachusetts with the 3 boys. At that time they were 17 months, 3.5 and 5.5 years old. For the two older ones and dh we had the portable dvd player. They also read books and colored. But for us the dvd player was the best. We had a connector for the headphones so you could connect 2 sets to it. DH used them when the 3.5 yr napped.

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi mermaidwannabe!

First of all, re: your connection...that will be cutting it really close, but be sure to enlist the help of the flight attendants, gate agents etc. if you can, to help you get off the first plane and to the next one. Seems to me it's good customer service to help you connect smoothly...of course, I haven't flown in awhile, so I have no idea if the airlines even care about good customer service any more!! But they used to!

Regarding how to keep the kids entertained on a long trip...we do long drives fairly often and our kids are now 11 and 8 yrs. I like the idea of the art folder! We're doing something similar next trip, and I'm including home made Disney crossword puzzles and BINGO. I'll also include something we call "doodles", where I'll draw a basic shape/squiggle etc. on a page and they have to use their imagination and make a picture out of it. I can make a whole bunch of those pages with little effort, LOL!

Good luck to you...hope you have a great trip!!

 

[nygrl]

I just called Delta and the lady said we would be flying out of the same terminal so there shouldn't be a problem. I hope so! We'll be on a smaller Skywest/Delta plane from Bozeman to Salt Lake so it won't take forever getting off which helps greatly! Wish me luck!

are you flying on delta song or just delta because delta song has tvs on every seat which would keep your kids busy.we only fly jet blue or song for this reason

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks for more great ideas! Katy Belle - I laughed really hard when I read that we could make a puppet out of the barf bag. We do have a dollar store but I've never been to it, so I think I'll make a trip there very soon without any of the kids (that's a feat in itself) so I have things to surprise them with.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

nygrl - we're flying on delta. I'm not sure Delta Song goes to our airport or not in Bozeman, MT. Bummer though! Those tvs would be great!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

We have rented the portable DVD players at the airport for a very reasonable (in my opnion) rate. Check "In Motion Pictures" for locations. You don't have to rent and drop off at the same location either. Pick it up in SLC and return it in Orlando is perfectly fine!

Just a thought!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

I just wanted to add that you'll come into concourse "E" on Skywest. Delta departs from concourses B, C and D. So you could be in for quite a stride if you have to go from "E" to "B".

Good luck, but I think you'll do fine!