A 4 hour flight with a 20 month old or two 2 hour flights?

[Mulligan295]

We are thinking of going to WDW in Feb, my 3 year old DD would be easily entertained on the plane but the 20 month DD doesn't like to sit for long. I can book a 4 hour direct flight or we can book a flight that has a stop in the middle. We would have to change plane and have a bit of a wait ( then she could run around for a little while). I've gotten a lot of good ideas from other threads on how to keep them busy but the 20 month is a handful and strong willed!! What do you think?

 

[Bugsmom73]

I would go one 4 hour flight, buy her a seat and put her carseat in there. Both of my kids knew what their carseat was for and understood that they needed to remain in it.

Welcome to the Dis.

 

[hopare]

I vote for direct. Where are you flying from? That time of year expect the unexpected...what happens if you miss the connection. weather can really slow things down. The biggest nightmare would be getting stuck in an airport in bad weather after having missed the connecting flight.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Well...your the mommy!! You know your kids best and you sound like you are leaning toward breaking your trip up. If you have most of the day to devote to travel that's probably the way to go. I think it would be pushing it if you spend that long on the plane and traveling to WDW from the airport AND trying to do much park activity the same day. You are going to be tired by then! our kids are a little older than yours, and I don't plan any park stuff the day we arrive. We hang around the pool, organize our room, and get ready for the next day. If the baby would take a loooong nap then maybe the direct flight, but she may be over stimulated and not rest at all! I personally would have done the 4 hour just to get it over with, but my kids always nap on the plane. Of course, that's several trips to the potty........ It's really what you are comfortable with knowing your kids-but the end of the trip is still WDW and it'll be fine either way. Go with your gut-that's the best choice Let us know what you decide and enjoy your countdown!!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I'd go direct. Connections are exhuasting!! While keeping her entertained on the flight will be a pain, at least you will get it all done all at once. When my son was 20 mos we took him to Disney (only 2 hour flight). It was tough but he eventually fell asleep and it was pretty uneventful after that. If you can make the flight around nap time, you can get your babe to sleep through at least a portion of the flight.

 

[Nom]

Without a doubt, I would take the direct. Getting on and off the plane with all the gear is a big part of the young child travelling nightmare. Doubling the times you have to do that would be a real pain. Another thing to think about:

I can book a 4 hour direct flight or we can book a flight that has a stop in the middle.

Don't assume that your options are a 4 hour direct or 2 2 hour flights. It would probably be more like a 4 hour direct and 2 2 1/2 or 3 hour flights- because with a connection you are doubling the take off and landings... which are add a lot of time to the flight. Take off and landing (meaning going from the ground to full crusing altitude) usually takes about 20 min- so add about 40 min on to your total flight time if you take a connection. I may be being confusing, but look at it this way:

Direct flight:
20 min ascent
200 min at crusing altitude
20 min descent
240 min total (4 hours)

Connections
20 min ascent of flight one
20 min descent of flight one
20 min ascent of flight two
20 min descent of flight two
200 min at cruising altitude (this does not change because you are still going from home to orlando)
280 min total (4 hours, 40 min)

Just something else to think about... hope that makes sense! I have thought about this a lot because I travel on business a lot.

Also, more take offs and landings mean more chances for delays, missing connections, etc... just more stress in my opinion.

Hope that helps!
Noelle

 

[tanyaandallie]

I'd go direct. Connections are exhuasting!! While keeping her entertained on the flight will be a pain, at least you will get it all done all at once. When my son was 20 mos we took him to Disney (only 2 hour flight). It was tough but he eventually fell asleep and it was pretty uneventful after that. If you can make the flight around nap time, you can get your babe to sleep through at least a portion of the flight.

 

[Mulligan295]

Your right weather would be a factor( flying out of eastern Canada). I was going to just put her on my lap rather then pay the extra $550 for a seat. Thanks!

 

[Nom]

Your right weather would be a factor( flying out of eastern Canada). I was going to just put her on my lap rather then pay the extra $550 for a seat. Thanks!

If you can afford it, you may want to consider paying for a seat for your 20 month old. I traveled a couple of 2 hr flights with a 9 mo old lap baby and let me tell you I was ready to tear my hair out by the time we got there. NEVER AGAIN! And I can only imagine that the older the baby, the worse it is. If you can afford it, springing for the extra seat will be very worth it, in my experience.

 

[brymolmom]

I have flown with a 23 month old lap child and I would agree with the go for direct. The worst parts of the flight are when you CANNOT get up or move at all with the baby and when you have to keep the electronics off and trays up- and that part is just hugely increased with 2 takeoffs and landings. I tend to 'plan' out my parts of the flight, for example:
1) pre-takeoff - wipe down arm rests and trays with anti bact wipe - get out books, toys and 'first line' entertainment and put into the back of seat in front. Fill sippy cups with water purchased after security and put those in back of seats too. Put 'emergency snack' in a pocket unseen by children.
2) takeoff- sit down with lap baby on lap and try to distract her by looking out the window and 'do you see that plane? Do you see that person?' for as long as possible. Once that fails to distract - pull out favorite books and begin to read (I've found that mini photo albums work great - filled with pictures they haven't seen with familiar people) to distract.
3) If lap child gets too fidgety - break into emergency snack (preferably something they love, rarely get and can be doled out slowly....like M&M's - one at a time).
4) When in air - let lap child off lap to stand in front of you (tight, but little kids can do it especially if the 3 year old is right next) to play with things up on the seats or on your lap. This stretches her legs.
5) Next, break into coloring, play-doh, magna-doodle or other 'use-the-tray' activities with child on your lap.
6) When this is old - get out portable DVD player and have kids watch a nice hour to hour and 1/2 movie. Keep snacks near to use if younger dd gets distracted away from the movie.
7) Depending how long each of these has taken - hopefully after the movie you'll only have an hour to hour and a half left. Take a 'walk' down to the bathroom for a few minutes to stretch legs.
8) Then break out the 'meal' - bring sandwiches or pizza or whatever, make a big production out of taking out napkins and folding them onto the tray, refilling the sippy cups, cutting up the food, etc - make it more than just eating - make it playing AND eating.
9) Now you're resigned to the bottom of your 'trick' bag - grab out 'new' purses filled with trinkets bought mostly at the dollar store and have dd's take time going through each one.

Hopefully THAT will bring you to landing. Thank goodness you don't have to worry about hauling 2 sleeping kids off the plane TWICE - only once and hey- you're THERE so it's a lot easier to take since you're not looking at another plane ride right away.

 

[_queenie_]

Changing planes is just a complication. There's the production of getting on and off, and you have to get situated on the plane twice. I've always found it easier to just get everything and everyone on once. When there's low turbulence I think it would be okay to take your DD for a little walk, ask your flight attendent first if that makes you feel more comfortable.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I will also vote for direct! I did a connection once, and one time only. We ended up waiting in Atlanta for about 4 hours due to weather. It was not fun. I think that was about 5 years ago, and I still remember trying to entertain my then one year old daughter.

 

[mshoo1]

I would advise to always fly direct with a child five or under. Aside from the concerns rasied by others, the chances of delays and other complications go up exponentially with connecting flights. Connecting flights are a deal breaker for my wife. I just build the cost of a direct flight into the budget.

 

[hammie59]

Go for the 4 hr direct. The last thing I'd ever want to do is have to make a connection with a toddler. I have enough stress when it's just me and my husband doing that. I purposely looked for and found non-stop flights for my upcoming trip with my 5 and 1 yr old. Good luck!!!!!

 

[katiesmom2]

I always go for direct, which is a fight with DH who thinks it is better to break up the trip.

I say get on the plane and get it all over with. Stopping makes your day much longer. Not to mention, what if DD hates the first leg so much that she throws a complete tizzy when it is time to board leg #2? Just a thought.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Mulligan295]

"I say get on the plane and get it all over with. Stopping makes your day much longer. Not to mention, what if DD hates the first leg so much that she throws a complete tizzy when it is time to board leg #2? Just a thought."

I never even thought of a tizzy fit LOL!!I do not enjoy flying and I'm usually slightly medicated to get though the flight!! This will be the first time flying with the kids, my DH wants to leave the kids at home and go alone ( imagine going to WDW without your kids....insane thought ). Thanks for all advice, this site is great.

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

I'd vote direct flight. I have a strong willed child as well, she was almost 2 when we were there last and we flew 10 hours and she was an angel. Really. If you time it around sleep/nap times, she'll probably be asleep before take off like mine did. Something about the hum of the engine keeps them knocked out, & mine was our non sleeper.

Hope she surprises you & is well behaved for you. With her sleeping 4 hours will be a breeze. Bring things for her to do in the mean time or while in flight sit her next to her older sibling and let her color and eat snacks, etc.

 

[Veals_Family]

I have a 3 year old and she has flown 5 times. One take off and one landing is MUCH better than 2 of each. TRUST ME. You don't know how your child will deal with the pressure in their ears. You don't want an upset child because of that.

PLUS, the time you have in between flights, for me at least have always been about 1 hour. Which really isn't much time, considering you have to go from one plane to another and you have to most likely, change a diaper, then get in line to pre board and then you get on the plane almost 20 minutes before you supposedly take off again. Trust me, you don't want to a layover. The last layover I had I was RUNNING with my daughter to get to my flight....the initial flight was made to circle for 40 minutes!!! Luckily the next plane had to wait for the crew!!! IT WAS TERRIBLE.

Also, I would recomend buying a seat for your child, IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY! Your arms will be very tired if your child falls asleep and you have hold them the whole time, not to mention if you have to get up and pee (Like I do aften lol)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

[nicolem05]

Hi, we just returned 3 days ago and let me tell you this was my number 1 concern!! I have a really bad really loud 16 month old and was terrified!! we drove 8 hrs and then flew 9 hours to get to WDW and and our flight had a one hour layover which was more hassle than anything.. We were so surprised that she was AWESOME!! Our best flight (go figure) was the first where we departed at 5am so we had to get up at 3 am she was so tired she slept almost the whole way and it was great! she was better in the first flights economy seats where she couldn't see the floor (due to lack of leg room) and didn't think about getting down.. on the way home we flew out at noon and so her breakfast was rushed her lunch messed up and her dinner.. we also had economy plus seats and with the extra leg room she kept trying to get down.. she was still really good which surprised us and I had people compliment the kids behavior after the flight (boy if they only knew how lucky they were lol) the best distractions for her were snacks and the magazine on the plane peeking through the seat and the woman behind us and sleeping LOL so not much advice other than I would do it all in one shot if I were you and try to fly when early in the morning after they have some sleep (unlike night flight when they are super tired after a whole day of life) but are ready to fall back asleep and awake in Florida rested and happy!! this worked for my SIL the week before with her baby too so I think we will always try for the early early morning flights (bonus the airports are empty!!) GOOD LUCK!!

 

[taitai]

Direct. There are so many delays and problems with flying these days, why complicate your life by having twice the opportunity for things to go wrong (delays, cancellations, lost luggage, etc.) Just get it over with.