Baggage issues.

[Disneynut5]

Traveling with kids 4 and 8 years old they can not handle their own luggage. So Dh and I have 4 suitcases (I refuse to do laundry on vacation), a stroller, a carsear, a laptop bag, and a carry on bag to handle. He also needs to go get the rental car (alamo). Should I just get all of the crap and wait for him in the baggage area - let him bring the car around? Or is there a better way? Are there carts and are they for rent or free (I have found this to vary in different airports). DS can push Dd in the stroller so that would help but we still will struggle with all of the luggage because of the carseat! I even thought of strapping the carseat to the stroller and having Dd walk!

HELP!

We leave on Saturday!

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, there will be luggage carts available, but they are for rent. I would have your dh with you to get the checked luggage. Then you can all go down to level 1 and the rental car area together. He can then checkin for the car, and then you can all head over to the rental lot...having your dh with you will make it a lot simpler.
Is there a reason you aren't using DME?? That would be a huge help.

 

[Disneynut5]

We don't get in until late and by the time ME would get us to DW the car care center would be closed. We have breakfast reservations the next morning at 8am at AK so no time to pick up a car then. There is only 1 flight per day to Orlando so we had no choice about arrival time.

ANy idea how much a cart would cost? I am trying not to carry too much cash.

 

[richmo]

What we did last trip was upon arrival at MCO, I went to the Alamo kiosk to complete my rental, then walked out to the garage and "claimed" a car (took the keys and locked it...I asked an Alamo garage rep and he said it was OK to do it). (BTW, when I did this, there were a few luggage carts sitting around that I could have easily taken back to baggage claim without paying). The rest of the family waited at baggage claim while I did the Alamo part and when I walked back to baggage claim, the last of the baggage was coming out. Then we just walked back to the garage and off we went.

 

[TagsMissy]

there are carts... but as long as your suitcases have wheels I do not see why an 8 year old cannot pull their own bags? My 6 year old niece pulled her own suitcase quite adequately on our past vacation. She made it clear she was in charge of her own bags and if she chose to pack it she'd lug it. LOL

Unfortunately she didn't have the same thoughts in the parks -- bring it/carry it. She bought one of those squirt bottles with a fan and it lasted 1 day with us on the parks; she didn't want to carry it after that lol

 

[clkelley]

The carts are $4.00 and the machines take credit cards.

 

[clkelley]

Another option is to have DH get the rental car, and the rest of you take DME. That way DME will take ALL of your checked luggage directly to your resort. (As long as you land before 10pm). Then you have the best of both worlds.

Also, this provides the advantage of splitting up the kids if nessecary. Send one kid with dad and the rental car, and one kid with mom on DME. Less opportunity for them to "pick" at each other while waiting on luggage, waiting on the rental car, loading luggage, etc.

When our boys were that age, we split up on certain tasks quite often, that way one parent wasn't dealing with both kids, and their "together" time during boring tasks was limited.

 

[clanmcculloch]

We don't get in until late and by the time ME would get us to DW the car care center would be closed. We have breakfast reservations the next morning at 8am at AK so no time to pick up a car then. There is only 1 flight per day to Orlando so we had no choice about arrival time.

Just how late is a late arrival? If you're scheduled to get before 8:00ish, I'd say let DH get the car and drive to the resort while the rest of you take DME and let them take care of your luggage. I know DME will get luggage until 10:00, but if there are any flight delays then who knows what time you'll get in. Just make sure to have anything you need for putting the kids to bed in your carry-ons and when you arrive at the resort, make sure they know that you want your items delivered no matter what time they arrive at the hotel.

 

[DisTwix]

there are carts... but as long as your suitcases have wheels I do not see why an 8 year old cannot pull their own bags? My 6 year old niece pulled her own suitcase quite adequately on our past vacation. She made it clear she was in charge of her own bags and if she chose to pack it she'd lug it. LOL

I agree with this.... I've travelled with my girlfriend and her kids, and starting at about 4 they were fully capable of pulling their own suitcases. They actually were hauling their suitcases around the house for fun.

But, when just the two of us went with two strollers, two little ones (1 and 4 years old), car seat and booster and only two grown women, we HAD to get a cart, and it was the best money we spent all trip (besides staying on the monorail!!).

 

[Disneynut5]

Well, I packed DD and DS in one large suitcase that would be difficult for Ds to manage. I also need him to paush the stroller!

 

[Anal Annie]

In my overpacking days we used to bring 5 checked bags & a carry-on + a laptop, my purse or tote and DS's backpack - just for the 3 of us!! We mananged. Your 8 yo can at least handle the carry-on bag if it has wheels. We stack stuff on top of each other & use the luggage straps to buckle things together. DH and I would each pull 2 large ones (one in each hand). Between stacking & buckling together we somehow manage. Maybe you can get your 4 yo to hold hands with your 8 yo while you walk thru the airport? And if all else fails, as someone else mentioned, there are carts for rent for a few dollars. NOW we have an Owners Locker & I have learned how to use packing cubes so I pack more efficiently and we bring A LOT less.

 

[ccgirl]

You may want to reassess what you are packing, it sounds like you may be packing a lot that you don't need. I know you said you do not want to do laundry. Even without doing laundry, my DH and myself are able to both pack things in one suitcase (it's pretty much the biggest one they sell but it's still only 1) and then my DS and DD split a much smaller suitcase. I put each of their outfits in a gallon size ziploc bag, complete with undies and accessories (hair stuff) and that cuts down on wasted space. My DD has been able to push/pull that suitcase since whe was 5 so I'm sure your 8 year old can do the same. You can also wear the car seat as a backpack by turning it around and putting your arms through the straps on the back of the seat. I would all wait to get the bags then go to the rental car together.

 

[Tissa]

When my ds and I go without the rest of the family I just use a skycap to handle the luggage. Ds is in a wheelchair so I can not push him and two bags too. It worked out well coming and going. When I dropped the rental off at Alamo there was one standing there with a cart right by the cars.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay everyone..the OP didn't ask for packing advice here. Can we not get into the whole 'are you packing the kitchen sink in there?' conversations??? They serve no purpose.

To Disneynut5...since you'll be leaving in three days, it might be hard to have DME take care of your luggage. That would have been a good way to go. I would just pay for the luggage cart...it shouldn't be too expensive, probably under $5.

 

[lil mermaid]

Honestly, with that amount of stuff, I would just get a porter, tip them 10 bucks (more if they have to wait a long time for you) and call it a day. We have used one before and he brought our stuff all the way over to the Alamo pickup area (it really isn't very far.)

Just make sure that your porter is wearing MCO identification.

 

[WillCAD]

I've seen families in MCO with that much stuff. Lil Mermaid is absolutely right - the only way to effectively manage that much stuff is to get a porter with a large luggage cart. You'll have to tip, but it's the best way to get you, your family, and your stuff to the car without saying the magic chant and summoning the invisible swordsman.

Er... did you reserve a car big enough to handle all the people and all the luggage?

 

[dburg30]

Er... did you reserve a car big enough to handle all the people and all the luggage?

There's a very good question!!