advice on flying with a baby

[kt_mom]

Okay, I need some advice/tips/help from my dis friends. We were origonally going to drive down in October but we have now decided to fly. We are flying airtran out of Richmond. It will be DH, myself, DD7 and DS 4 1/2 months.

We have a direct flight both ways. Our flight going down leaves Richmond at 7:00am arriving at 8:58 am and our return flight is leaving Orlando at 9:05 arriving Richmond at 10:53. We live about 2 hours from Richmond so we aren't sure yet whether we will stay the night or drive on home. Depends on how we feel. DH is a night owl so he will probalby decide to drive on home and have all day Sunday to relax before going back to work on Monday. For the trip down we will stay in a hotel the night before our flight like we did last year.

My questions are this:

DS is going to ride on my lap. I checked the lap baby box when I bought the flights. Do I need to contact them now or how does that work?

Last year we stayed at a hotel that offered the stay/park/fly option and took the shuttle to the airport. If DS is riding on my lap on the plane and we are taking ME to our resort what do I do about a carseat? We are taking a DVC tour while we are down there but our guide told me that they have a carseat in the van we can use. So I don't need the carseat once we get to florida.

I'm thinking that I'll get the prepackaged individual packets of formula and carry those on the plane and in the parks and then just pack a can of formula in his suitcase. Should I prefill the bottles or wait and get water after we go through security? Will I be able to get room temp water or will I be stuck giving him a cold bottle?

Any other tips on flying or getting around Disney with a 4 1/2 month old? He's a great baby and very go with the flow. I've got a mei tai carrier that just came in that I need to try out tonight. I had bought a hotsling but he hated it. I think it was because he was so squished up in there.

We're going to bring our city min stroller (that I need to order soon) with us to the gate and gate check. The website says this is free of charge.

Sorry to be so long winded but the idea of flying with our little guy intimidates me even though he's such a great happy baby.

Thanks!

 

[ancestry]

I, personally, would call the airline and make sure that they know you have a lap child flying with you. Also you will need to take the child's birth certificate to the airport with you to prove his age (under 2). Depending on the airline you may not be able to do online check-in because of the need of having to see the birth certificate at the airport.

You don't use a car seat on DME. In fact I believe that you aren't allowed to use one even if you have one. If memory serves me correctly, there aren't any seat belts on DME and therefore no way to secure the car seat.

 

[kt_mom]

I, personally, would call the airline and make sure that they know you have a lap child flying with you. Also you will need to take the child's birth certificate to the airport with you to prove his age (under 2). Depending on the airline you may not be able to do online check-in because of the need of having to see the birth certificate at the airport.

You don't use a car seat on DME. In fact I believe that you aren't allowed to use one even if you have one. If memory serves me correctly, there aren't any seat belts on DME and therefore no way to secure the car seat.

I didn't think we needed one on DME and/or the Disney buses or transportation. My problem is going to be getting from the hotel to the airport in Richmond and back. I guess we may have to drive over to the airport and park. The shuttle was just so convenient that last two times we used it. But we didn't have an infant then so no car seat worries. I don't want to bring the car seat to Disney if I don't have to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

ancestry is right - you can't use the car seat on any Walt Disney World public transportation; and I would trust DVC to have safe car seats available. It's pointless to bring it on the plane with you unless you purchase a seat for your son.

Bottled water on the plane isn't refrigerated. Bottled water purchased in the airport may or may not be, but if you ask, I'm sure someone will be able to get you some room temperature water "from out back" and even 'cold' varies, depending on whether it's an open or closed refrigeration unit.

Remember to request, and fill out and attach, the gate check tag when you first get to the gate; don't wait until boarding starts.

 

[kt_mom]

ancestry is right - you can't use the car seat on any Walt Disney World public transportation; and I would trust DVC to have safe car seats available. It's pointless to bring it on the plane with you unless you purchase a seat for your son.

Bottled water on the plane isn't refrigerated. Bottled water purchased in the airport may or may not be, but if you ask, I'm sure someone will be able to get you some room temperature water "from out back" and even 'cold' varies, depending on whether it's an open or closed refrigeration unit.

Remember to request, and fill out and attach, the gate check tag when you first get to the gate; don't wait until boarding starts.

Thanks! I've never had to gate check anything so wasn't sure what the procedure was. DH was amazed we could do this at all.

That's my problem I don't want to brign the carseat with us to Disney. But I wanted to use the airport shuttle from the hotel. I don't see any way around having to drive to the airport ourselves and park so we have somewhere to leave the car seat. Or do people ride the airport shuttle with no car seat. I just wonder as to the legality of this and the safety issues. I can get parking for the week at the airport if I prepay for about $46. So it's not too bad. It's more the convenience of the the hotel shuttle.

 

[At World's End]

I would call the hotel and ask about the shuttle bus. I'm guessing they do not seatblets on them, as with most busses.

 

[momtotwins]

as for taking water for the bottles you are allowed to being bottled water through security for the baby. you just need to pull it out of the bag and declare it. it is supposed to be of reasonable amount for the trip

 

[Tara]

and I would trust DVC to have safe car seats available.

The one that was in the van that picked us up looked ancient, but that aside, the padding of the seat was soaking wet, a fact I didn't discover until he sat in the seat.

 

[kt_mom]

Okay, I think I will just bring one water bottle for him to the airport. The flight is only about two hours and I can make 3-4 bottles with one 16 oz bottle of water.

That's disappointing to hear about the car seat in the DVC van. Doesn't sound very Disney to me. I guess we'll have to take our chances though. I just don't want to lug the car seat down there for just that. I found a link on the airtran site and I can get parking for about $46 for the week if I go ahead and pay through them. They will shuttle you from your car to the front door. I'll just have to find a less expensive room for the night before. I think I can get it to even out.

Hopefully he will sleep on the flight but even if he doesn't he's generally pretty happy and go with the flow. I'm anticipating this being a good trip even with him being so young. The only thing I'm concerned about is the heat for him. Other than that I think he'll be content in the parks seeing the sites and napping in his stroller. And he does great in restaurants.