Car seat & stroller questions

[disneylicious]

Sorry if this has been asked before - the search function doesn't work for me.

We're spending 5 days in DLR at the end of February, then renting a car to drive down to San Diego with my DD who will turn 4 mid-trip. I wasn't planning on bringing a car seat as we will be renting one with the car. Do you need one to ride the shuttle from the airport to HoJo? We're booked on the Disneyland Resort Express. Sorry if it's a dumb question but I seem to recall reading somewhere that some shuttles have seatbelts and therefore require child restraint systems...

Stroller - I have a crappy, small stroller (not umbrella, not lightweight, difficult to turn, etc) that I dread pushing around, so am considering purchasing an umbrella stroller. I'm looking at the Mac Volo; even though it's pricey (I can get one for about $130 here), it's light and my 35lb DD will easily fit into it. Is it worth it? What about theft? Am I better getting a cheapie? They just always look so uncomfortable - my daughter is quite tall for her age (almost 41"). Also - does anyone know if you can take them as carry-on on Alaska? I worry about getting the expensive(ish) stroller and having it thrown about with the other checked baggage.

Any advice on either issue would be much appreciated! I am SO stoked - haven't visited the mouse since 1983!!

Thanks!

 

[hlbtimes2]

You will not need a seat for the airport express. If you go super shuttle you will. Personally, I would be concerned with a rental car seat, as you dont know where its been or what condition it will be in or if they will have on in stock (even with one reserved its not always 100%).

I would go with the new, better stroller. Cheap strollers suck at Disneyland. Its hours of pushing, cheap ones are horrible. I bought cheap one last trip to avoid paying $10 a day for a rental. That thing was horrible! I know some people have problems with theft, we have not experienced any at all.

You can gate check the stroller. They will put it on last and have it ready for you at the airport. I think they put it under the plane with wheel chairs.

 

[daffidyll]

Hi, I just asked the same question not too long ago. From what I've learned, like the PP said, the express bus you don't need a carseat. I emailed Super Shuttle regarding our 4 year old and they said they have seatbelts and 4 and above won't require a carseat although, of course, highly recommended. Some people have suggested bringing the backless booster seat which is easily transportable....I'm still researching as I'm in Australia and not sure how they will work in the U.S.

I have the Mac Volo and LOVE that stroller!!! So light and easy to push and steers like a dream! Our DD is pretty tall and I love that she can still fit in it comfortably without her feet dragging and also still loads of room for her head under the hood. The one and only thing I hate about the stroller is if you hang anything off the handlebars and DD isn't in it, it tips over pretty easily. Still the most fantastic stroller....I'd highly recommend getting it. You can also buy a travel stroller bag for it to protect it in travel.

 

[Liltx]

I would bring my own carseat as well but I would also use it on the plane with a 3 year old but that's just my safety issues. You actually can't use it on the busses.

I would not pay $130 for a stroller unless you will need it for a future child. I might buy a $50 one because your use of it with a four will be very short lived. I have only used a stroller with my four year old at WDW and no other time, not even the zoo, mall, etc., in the past year. She will be 5 in March. We already had a Chicco C5 that was around $50 and it worked perfectly. She also liked to walk so it was easy to fold up and carry with the shoulder strap. It's only 7 lbs. I'm cheap that way though. If you do want that stroller, I would buy it used on ebay.

Monica