Buses and traveling with an infant

[Disneychick75]

When we go to Disney World in April, the baby will be 8 months old. How do you take the baby on the buses? There's no way to take a car seat unless we use a car seat transporter. Should we rent a car instead?

 

[chanda7]

I know the safety is debatable, but we took our 6-month-old on the bus. I think people gave up their seat for whoever had the baby all but once, when it was a very crammed bus. One of us wore him in a baby carrier during the ride each time. You may want to resort to a car for peace of mind, though.

 

[Disneychick75]

Thank-you chanda. I think we will rent a car.

 

[tourguide81]

Buses work differently than cars in accidents. We have taken our kids as infants and old on buses many times, including Disney buses & magical express. Car seats can not be used. On the resort to park buses we often wore them.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just remember that car parking for MK means taking either the monorail or the ferry boat to the gate. no walking

 

[Disneychick75]

Thanks, tourguide81, good information. Although I have driven around Disney World, I really don't like to drive even in my own city. More to think about..

 

[beckysko]

We took our 8mo on the Disney transportation and it was totally fine. The only annoying thing is having to collapse your stroller. It's a two person job for sure -one day I decided to take the baby back for a nap and leave the rest of my party at the park - huge mistake! It is super awkward holding the baby (and diaper bag!) and collapsing and holding the stroller. I would recommend babywearing for the bus too - mine had a habit of falling asleep on the bus (yay!) but then it's awkward for you and you have no hands free to hold the rail when it's time to get off.

 

[Disneychick75]

Betty, you're right, taking the bus to the MK is definitely easier since we go straight to the gates.
Becky, thank-you, we do plan to bring the baby's carrier.

 

[glvsav37]

I find that when taking young and stroller bound kids to WDW your resort selection plays soooo much into how you plan to move around


This is the primary reason we stay at Bay Lake tower bc we spend most of our time at MK and it is a simple walk away. And Epcot is a monorail ride away ....heck you can even hit DS from there by boat if you have the time

3 parks....no stroller folding/taking the baby out.

Anytime I do not have to fold the stroller up is a win for me.

Another under looked mode if transport is taxis. They are often right near the resort and the bell desk can call you one. You can req a van style where you can put your stoller in open and many have car seats that are easy to snap in bc of the large can style bench seats.

Yes, they will cost a few bucks, but IMO it may be worth it depending on the situation.

 

[dsneygirl]

We have been taking our kids since they were 3 months old. Never had a concern about bus safety.

Same as any city bus all over the country.

 

[Disneychick75]

I find that when taking young and stroller bound kids to WDW your resort selection plays soooo much into how you plan to move around


This is the primary reason we stay at Bay Lake tower bc we spend most of our time at MK and it is a simple walk away. And Epcot is a monorail ride away ....heck you can even hit DS from there by boat if you have the time

3 parks....no stroller folding/taking the baby out.

Anytime I do not have to fold the stroller up is a win for me.

Another under looked mode if transport is taxis. They are often right near the resort and the bell desk can call you one. You can req a van style where you can put your stoller in open and many have car seats that are easy to snap in bc of the large can style bench seats.

Yes, they will cost a few bucks, but IMO it may be worth it depending on the situation.

Thank-you, we're staying at BWV. I rented a full sized SUV which we'll use to get from the airport and to Animal Kingdom. We'll walk to the Studios and Epcot and take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The car will be great for when we move to Universal and then back to the airport.
Once we get to a park, I'll buy a stroller. That way we'll have less to bring with us. I thought about buying an Orbit Baby stroller/car seat system but then I've read here about people having their nice strollers stolen so that's out.

 

[dsneygirl]

Thank-you, we're staying at BWV. I rented a full sized SUV which we'll use to get from the airport and to Animal Kingdom. We'll walk to the Studios and Epcot and take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The car will be great for when we move to Universal and then back to the airport.
Once we get to a park, I'll buy a stroller. That way we'll have less to bring with us. I thought about buying an Orbit Baby stroller/car seat system but then I've read here about people having their nice strollers stolen so that's out.

I wouldn't plan on buying a stroller for an infant in the parks. They only sell a very basic umbrella with no recline and a tiny sunshade. I would look into a Maclaren or Citi Mini and bring a carrier.

 

[Crystal824]

Thank-you, we're staying at BWV. I rented a full sized SUV which we'll use to get from the airport and to Animal Kingdom. We'll walk to the Studios and Epcot and take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The car will be great for when we move to Universal and then back to the airport.
Once we get to a park, I'll buy a stroller. That way we'll have less to bring with us. I thought about buying an Orbit Baby stroller/car seat system but then I've read here about people having their nice strollers stolen so that's out.

I would probably rent a stroller if I were you rather than buying at the parks. The companies will bring it to your hotel and have it ready and waiting for you upon arrival. We stayed at BVW last May. It was awesome to just walk to the DS and Epcot. Have you ever considered using Magical Express and just renting a car at the Swan/Dolphin I don't remember which for the day you go to Universal? That is what we did. You can walk there and get the car and then return it...super easy. It will save you some money. We took DD when she was 9 mo old and had no issues on the buses. We did not use a carrier or an infant seat. She just sat in our lap. In fact, you aren't allowed to use infant seats on busses. I never felt that DD was unsafe.

 

[epsmith921]

As far as getting a stroller when you get to the parks, for an infant you may want to rent from an offsite company like Orlando stroller rental. They are allowed to deliver directly to your hotel, and from what I remember, they can also pick up from a different hotel. Then you could have it delivered when you arrive and take it on the bus to MK.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd take ME to and from the airport, rent a stroller from an outside company, and rent a car for the Universal day, using the buses to MK and AK.

 

[rillsung]

We always take our strollers and mark them well with ribbons, etc. We bought a $350 Peg Perego and got it a couple days before leaving. We've always used them in the airports too so we take it with us. When they were infants, we would recline the seat halfway or all the way so they could just be in there and all were OK that way

We just stayed at BWV for our second time and loved the convenience. Walk to Epcot, walk to Studios and bus for everywhere else. We have a 7yr old, 4yr old and 2 yr old. We did not even rent a car but used the Magical Express... We didn't want to mess with trying to bring 3 large carseats on the plane

Next year we will probably rent a car and do Universal and Legoland and other non-Disney stuff

 

[Disneychick75]

I would probably rent a stroller if I were you rather than buying at the parks. The companies will bring it to your hotel and have it ready and waiting for you upon arrival. We stayed at BVW last May. It was awesome to just walk to the DS and Epcot. Have you ever considered using Magical Express and just renting a car at the Swan/Dolphin I don't remember which for the day you go to Universal? That is what we did. You can walk there and get the car and then return it...super easy. It will save you some money. We took DD when she was 9 mo old and had no issues on the buses. We did not use a carrier or an infant seat. She just sat in our lap. In fact, you aren't allowed to use infant seats on busses. I never felt that DD was unsafe.

There aren't any available at the Dolphin when I want to pick it up.
I'll keep checking.
Is there insurance on the stroller in case it's stolen?

We always take our strollers and mark them well with ribbons, etc. We bought a $350 Peg Perego and got it a couple days before leaving. We've always used them in the airports too so we take it with us. When they were infants, we would recline the seat halfway or all the way so they could just be in there and all were OK that way

We just stayed at BWV for our second time and loved the convenience. Walk to Epcot, walk to Studios and bus for everywhere else. We have a 7yr old, 4yr old and 2 yr old. We did not even rent a car but used the Magical Express... We didn't want to mess with trying to bring 3 large carseats on the plane

Next year we will probably rent a car and do Universal and Legoland and other non-Disney stuff

Good idea of marking the stroller with ribbons. I might buy a lock too if I bring a stroller.
I can see not wanting to hassle with 3 car seats, lol.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thank-you, we're staying at BWV. I rented a full sized SUV which we'll use to get from the airport and to Animal Kingdom. We'll walk to the Studios and Epcot and take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The car will be great for when we move to Universal and then back to the airport.
Once we get to a park, I'll buy a stroller. That way we'll have less to bring with us. I thought about buying an Orbit Baby stroller/car seat system but then I've read here about people having their nice strollers stolen so that's out.

Won't you need a stroller for the airport?

Also, the strollers they sell at the parks and resorts is a basic umbrella stroller with a small sunshade. Not ideal for an 8 month old.

 

[Disneychick75]

Won't you need a stroller for the airport?

Also, the strollers they sell at the parks and resorts is a basic umbrella stroller with a small sunshade. Not ideal for an 8 month old.

I have decided to bring a stroller.