AirTran and checked vs. gate checked baggage

[TwoRoos]

I'm having trouble deciding how to manage all the stuff we're taking on our trip. We will have two umbrella strollers, one car seat, and one booster seat. I have a really huge stroller carry bag that I can fit one stroller and the carseat in. I would love to check those two pieces because we will not need them until after we arrive at WDW. The booster seat can go in one of our suitcases and we will be using one umbrella stroller in the airport for our baby, so I definitely want to gate check that one. My problem is the one stroller and carseat. I called AirTran and at first the lady told me that the carseat would NOT count as one of our baggage allowances. In other words, we could check that in addition to our two pieces per person. Then later in the conversation she said that it would count. However, she said that we could gate check all of it and that it wouldn't count as our baggage allowance. I'm really not sure what to believe. Does anyone know for sure?

If we do check the carseat my other problem is what to put it in. I was hoping to use the stroller bag, but it exceeds their size limits. I read on another thread here a few weeks ago that the airlines sometimes have large plastic bags to wrap your carseat in if you're checking it. The lady at AirTran didn't know anything about that. Has anyone here used AirTran and gotten one of those bags from them?

If we do end up gate checking all three things (two strollers and a carseat), is it best to give them each piece separately? Or could I put the one stroller and carseat in my big stroller bag? I would love to do the latter since we won't need that stuff at all when we first arrive. However, the bag is really big (it's over the 64 inches they allow for the checked bags), and I'm not sure if they will accept something that big for gate checking. The other stroller I would gate check separately so I could get to it more easily when we arrive.

Also, if we end up gate checking it all, is there a way to have Magical Express get it when we get off the plane so we don't have to take the second stroller and carseat with us on the bus? I know it will be stored under the bus, but I didn't want to have to haul it from the gate to the ME area.

Bless anyone who's read this far and even understands what all I'm asking. I'd appreciate any help anyone can give.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Not sure about the checking...we always gate check our stroller and don't rent a car so we don't need the car/booster seats.

But....you will have to take the gate checked items to ME yourself. They only grab checked bags that have the yellow tags on them. All your carry-ons and gate checked items, you will have to haul down to the bus yourself.

 

[seashoreCM]

Normally, car seats that are not FAA qualified (and cannot be used during flight) and car seats that are not used during flight will count as baggage items.

Are you sure you cannot or don't want to use both car seats during flight so as not to have them count as baggage items?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm