Bring car seat???

[mikayla'sMom]

My family is going to be flying this year. This is a big change since we usually drive. We have a 7 year old and my son will be 9 months. We opted not to get my son a seat on the plane because it is a short flight. We have also decided not to get a car. We have always gotten a car when flying in the past. We are trying to save where we can because my husband my be out of work for a little while. So anyway, we can't use the car seat on the plane or on the Magical Express bus and we will not have a car. We are staying at POR for 3 nights then we will transfer to OKW for 9 nights. I figure will will just have to get a bus at DTD to transfer. I was thinking of possibly getting a taxi to do the transfer or use a taxi if the crowds were bad leaving a park at night. I am not real worried about my 7 year old, but what about the 9 month old? Can you request a taxi that has a car seat? I know they probably have boosters, but he would need a full car seat. Anyone have experience with this? I keep trying to change my husbands mind on the car. It is the week before Easter , so the rates are real high and we are there for over a week. But it is also very busy and a car might be easier leaving the parks due to having a large stroller etc. Plus then we can food shop!! Maybe we will get a car for a few days just around the transfer and not for the whole time. I also am unsure if that is considered an extra piece of luggage. The airline know has a limit of 1 carry on per paying customer. I can't do 3 pieces of luggage for 4 of us! (I don't travel light) The airline said since I made the reservation prior to the change they will allow me extra baggage. Thank heavens!! Any thoughts???? Thank you in advance.

 

[go cowboys]

If I understand you right, you are transferring from one resort hotel to another. We have done this and it is VERY easy. Let them move you. The bell services will transfer your bags while you are at the parks and they will be there when you return to the new hotel. I always tip some money at both ends so the bags are taken care of but it is much easier than moving yourself. Plus you won't need a carseat.

As I said we have done this before and in fact stayed in three resorts one trip and they took care of us each time.

 

[Monte Cristo]

We just cam back from our daughter's first trip on 1/26. We did buy her a seat and did use the car seat. It was worth every penny that it cost us...$240. Since the flight we took down was early in the morning, she slept for 2 of the 2.5 hour plane ride. She's 10 months and I couldn't imagine having held her that long. She probably wouldn't have slept that long, but it would have been awful. On the way home she slept an hour and a half. Both times we ended up having a rested baby on our hands and it was great.

As someone else here noted, let Disney deal with your baggage on the transfer, I would just suggest maybe re-thinking getting him a seat on the plane. That way maybe you don't end up with an over-tired, grouchy little one once you get to paradise.

Good luck to you!

 

[mikayla'sMom]

Thank you for the replies.

"We just cam back from our daughter's first trip on 1/26. We did buy her a seat and did use the car seat. It was worth every penny that it cost us...$240. Since the flight we took down was early in the morning, she slept for 2 of the 2.5 hour plane ride. She's 10 months and I couldn't imagine having held her that long. She probably wouldn't have slept that long, but it would have been awful. On the way home she slept an hour and a half. Both times we ended up having a rested baby on our hands and it was great."

Monte Cristo, although you may be right, it is not in the cards for this trip. We would probably be worse off if his sister was not there to keep him happy! My in-laws are arriving the day before we move to OKW. They are driving down. They have offered their car to us for that day. So DH could actually move the luggage and go food shopping. I would have to take the kids to DTD to transfer to a bus to OKW. I actaully wish we could walk there. I know POR and OKW are near eachother, but I don't believe they are that close. I was just thinking that for the off chance I may need the car seat, I would have to lug and store it for the slight chance of needing it. If we decide to rent a car, I will just rent a car seat. The thought of that actually grosses me out though!

We are actually flying because my daughter was sick in the car on our Nov.-Dec. trip. Plus I thought a 9 month old will be hard to travel in a car for 2 days.

Thank you for the input!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Let Disney tranfer the luggage so you don't have to worry about it. you can take a bus to DTD or a park or water park, then get on an OKW bus. If you can't get a air seat, then I wouldn't even bother with the car seat. Having used taxi's in NYC, I can't ever remember them having car seats??? you just held your baby. Get the groceries delivered, or use your parents car, even better, have them bring the car seat, so if you do go out in the car with them, you have it!

 

[shellbelle1971]

On a short flight, we don't purchase a ticket for our infant, but always take the carseat with us to the plane. If there is an empty seat (and 90% of the time there has been) the flight attendants will usually move people around so you can sit next to it and buckle in the carseat. If there isn't an empty seat, you can gate check the seat, or just put it into the overhead compartment. (The newborn size carseats usually fit overhead, but the larger ones need to be gate checked.)

 

[mikayla'sMom]

On a short flight, we don't purchase a ticket for our infant, but always take the carseat with us to the plane. If there is an empty seat (and 90% of the time there has been) the flight attendants will usually move people around so you can sit next to it and buckle in the carseat. If there isn't an empty seat, you can gate check the seat, or just put it into the overhead compartment. (The newborn size carseats usually fit overhead, but the larger ones need to be gate checked.)

shellbelle1971 - Thank you for that great idea. I just checked and there are several seats still available!

Thanks for all the input!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Seat availability could change (e.g. the flight could sell out) and don't be surprised if Flight Attendants don't move other passengers around to provide a seat for a lap child.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Seat availability could change (e.g. the flight could sell out) and don't be surprised if Flight Attendants don't move other passengers around to provide a seat for a lap child.

Especially if it's a non Southwest airline. (Southwest has no assigned seating)

Whatever you do, have a great time!

 

[CarolA]

And there have been posts over on www.flyertalk.com where parents were not allowed to bring the car seat on to use in the "free" seat so on SW don't count on it on SW. (In SW's defense the parents do not have any more "entitlement" to the extra space then anyone else on the plane)

 

[mikayla'sMom]

Thank you all for your responses. I am going to leave the seat at home. I don't want to lug it around and worry about storing it. If we decide to rent a car, i will rent a car seat. For the other trips I will use my carrier, just as a just in case. Thanks again!

 

[puffkin]

No real advice on your particular situation, but I waned to share our experience flying with our 3 month old on Southwest. Both flights were full but had a few empty seats. Both times I asked at the gate if I could bring the baby's seat on for an empty seat and both times I was told no. Our first flight was an early am flight with only a few preboarders and they could have accomadated us all if they wanted too, but they didn't. We had to gate check the seat too, they wouldn't allow it in the overheads (it was the infant kind that snaps into a base or stroller). It wasn't a big deal to us but even if there are empty seats chances are you still will have to gate check the seat.

 

[chr1972]

We flew last with with an 18 month old. He sat in our laps and we did not have any problems. Short flight though. I would not drag a car seat through the airport and take the chance I couldn't use it.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I've flown before with lap babies. I always ask when I check in if there is an empty seat I can use. If there is I've always been given a boarding pass with the babies name. If not I just check the carseat.