Car booster seat question

[DisneySarah80]

We have booster seats for our daughters (4 & 6) in both of our cars (as well as all grandparents cars...). We are going to Disney in October, and are looking to rent a car. I do not want to lug our booster seats with us on the plane, and the Dollar Rent-A-Car at the Orlando airport does not rent boosters.
So my question is - Is it the law that kids have to be in boosters, or just a suggestion? I know there is a commercial saying that 4'9 is the "magic number" to be out of the booster.... But again, I'm not 100% sure.
I would feel pretty comfortable driving on Disney property (from hotel to park and back) with just seatbelts, no boosters, but I don't think I would feel good about going to and from the airport without them....
My other option is to rent a car at the Dolphin, and I have no problem doing this, but would rather rent from Dollar because its about half the money.


Also, does anyone know of any other car rental places in the airport or Disney that does rent booster seats?

 

[momto2js]

Florida laws are pretty lax when it comes to carseats. I believe over 3pm you are good to go as far as the law is concerned. For my family it wouldn't work and I would check boosters for the kids on the plane.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Your kids will not "have" to have the boosters in FL since the law is under 4 must be in a seat; however, I would personally lug the boosters along and gate check them.

 

[ThreeBeans]

It would be extremely, extremely dangerous for your daughters to be in a crash without boosters. The laws of the state may change from border to border, but the laws of physics are universal

I also do not recommend renting booster seats from a rental agency. The chances of something being wrong is too high.

Options you could consider are a Ride Safer Travel Vest or the new BubbleBum booster, both of which are incredibly portable and convenient

 

[beachcomber]

Have you checked with other car rental places on their booster availability? Could just one of the adults do the rental car, while the other rides ME with the children to the resort? Then you could rent car seats/booster seats from A Baby's Best Friend in Orlando (and they deliver them). You could just do the small booster seats (as in, not high back boosters with side impact protection) from Walmart or Target and carry them with you on the plane...or go there directly from the airport to purchase them.

When they sit in your car at home, where do the seat belts hit (without the booster)? That will show where they may hit with a rental car. That will also tell you how comfortable you will be without them in a booster.

 

[ThreeBeans]

Have you checked with other car rental places on their booster availability? Could just one of the adults do the rental car, while the other rides ME with the children to the resort? Then you could rent car seats/booster seats from A Baby's Best Friend in Orlando (and they deliver them). You could just do the small booster seats (as in, not high back boosters with side impact protection) from Walmart or Target and carry them with you on the plane...or go there directly from the airport to purchase them.

When they sit in your car at home, where do the seat belts hit (without the booster)? That will show where they may hit with a rental car. That will also tell you how comfortable you will be without them in a booster.

A 4 and a 6 year old will not fit safely without boosters. They are just too young, 'comfort' regardless.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Hands down...lug your own. It may be a pain in the butt...but at least you'll know you have reliable/safe boosters that your girls are already comfortable in and used to. I am assuming your girls are in regular (not high backed)booster seats. It's not worth it to risk your kids' safety to/from the parks (not to mention to/from the airport) without a booster seat.

 

[xgator52]

I think all airlines are required or do check them for free or gate check them.

 

[tjmw2727]

FL law doesn't require your children to be in a booster or carseat. That said - the danger doesn't change from state to state.

Most airlines will let you carry on a booster seat and not count it toward your allowance. A low back booster will fit under the seat with a small backpack on top and definately fit in the overhead. We have carried on two low back boosters on board many times... be prepred for the FA to remind you that you can't use them onboard though.

Another alternative is to stop at wallmart and spend 40 ish total on two low back booster seats (as opposed to the $15 a day a car rental agency charges) and then donate them to GKTW or another charity org. when you leave.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Juvenile-LiteRider-Youth-Backless-Booster-Car-Seat-Beige/15047826

 

[disneyobessed]

Here in MA. kids have to be over 10 or 59 inches.. I believe to be out of boosters.. My 4 year old will be in one down there. We are just taking the bottom part to it.. My sons who are 11 and 9 both still use one because they are under height.. and they just sit on the base up here in MA... down there we arent worrying about them. BUt we will just pack the base for my daughter and bring it on as carryone and store it above the seat.

 

[starshine514]

Our girls are 4 and 6. When we fly, we use backless boosters for them (weight appropriate, DD4 hasn't hit the 40 lb mark yet, so her selection is limited) and every airline we've ever flown has checked them, free of charge (no need to lug them through the airport - only as far as the counter).

 

[dhardawa]

Absolutely put them in boosters and don't rent them. God only knows what you'll get when you rent.

For the six year old, I'd take a backless booster and carry it on the plane and put it in the overhead compartment. For the four year old, I'd buy a Graco Turbo Booster with a high back. Take the back off and pack it in your luggage and carry on the backless part and also put it in the overhead compartment. If your four year old is smaller, take a harnessed seat and use it on the plane.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Take your children's booster seats. Allowing them to ride without is simply putting their lives at risk. The roads around Disney are not "safer" because they are around Disney. They are major freeways and roads that are very very busy. A 4 and 6 year old riding in a seat belt only is simply not a safe option.

 

[DisneySarah80]

Thanks for the responces. As far as the boosters we use here at home, they all the high back ones - They made me feel the safest, so thats what I got. I don't know if they seperate, and truthfully, even if they did, I'm still not taking them with me. I can just see my DH grunting and cursing through the airport with them....
So, we will either not rent a car at all, and just use the busses on property (We already have ME scheduled, so thats not an issue) or we could rent a car from the Alamo on Disney property, and then rent one from the company that several people have mentioned.
The other thought is, my parents (who are coming on this vacation with us) may be driving down due to my mothers health, and not being able to fly. If that is the case, they can just bring down our boosters. I can't believe I totally forgot about that, especially since we have already asked them to bring one of our suit cases! lol

 

[LisaTC]

Glad you have a way to get them if need be. I bet they come apart. Our DD7's boosters separate and we took her back off when she was 5-6. I wondered the same thing and actually looked up Fla's law -- not very good compared to other states. In our state (OH) children are required to use belt-positioning booster seats (once they outgrow their child safety seats - usually at 4 years old and 40 pounds) until they are 8 years old & are at least 4 feet, 9 inches (57 inches) tall. Children 8-15 must wear safety belt. So...I'm taking her booster to the gate and check it. It's only the bottom portion. Better safe than sorry.

 

[cassandrap83]

Do you have backless boosters? Just check them with your luggage for free.