Car Seats if using Magical Express

[El&kris'mom]

We are going back to Disney in May. My kids will be 19, 5 and 9 months. I have bought one of those Baby Air Vests for DS (9 months) as he will be sitting on either DH or my lap.
Car Seats are not allowed on Magical Express and we will not be renting a car or using any other form of transportation other than the Disney transportation.
What is your suggestion on car seats? Bring them or don't bring them?

 

[Mom2Nick]

What kind of a vest did you get the baby? Is he going to be a lap child? Is the 5 year old in a regular car seat in the car or a booster? If he sits in a booster in your car then I wouldn't bother with anything for him on the plane. If you're worried about a seat for the 9 months old and he doens't have a seat on the plane - then there's no point in bringing a car seat at all.

 

[sparkyboy]

If your 5yo is now in a regular booster seat, don't bother with the seat for the plane. If you have not booked seat on plane for 9 mo old then again, I would not bring anything else for him. Good luck

 

[DVCsince02]

We are going back to Disney in May. My kids will be 19, 5 and 9 months. I have bought one of those Baby Air Vests for DS (9 months) as he will be sitting on either DH or my lap.
Car Seats are not allowed on Magical Express and we will not be renting a car or using any other form of transportation other than the Disney transportation.
What is your suggestion on car seats? Bring them or don't bring them?

If your 5yo is now in a regular booster seat, don't bother with the seat for the plane. If you have not booked seat on plane for 9 mo old then again, I would not bring anything else for him. Good luck

Most booster seats aren't approved for airplanes. I say don't bother to bring them.

I also have 3 kids. So I know what you are going through. The 5 year old can sit on the plane with no car seat. Just buckle in like normal. There aren't buckles on the ME bus either, so they can just sit next to you.

Good luck!

 

[Sydnerella]

I have never used anything on a plane for kids under 2 - I figured if we crash, the car seat wont save them... sad but true. I always have checked their car seats. The issue once you arrive is cabs and other transport like the magical express. I would be inclined to bring a seat for the 9month old if Disney has latch on the express. If not then I would not bring a seat for either little one. But hold yourself to a no car travel rule if that's the case.

 

[cogero]

We have been going to Disney since our dd was 25 months. I have never bought a car seat with me. Our last trip my son was 8 months I just held him on the Magical express. Was just easier.

On the plane I also just hold him.

 

[El&kris'mom]

What kind of a vest did you get the baby? Is he going to be a lap child? Is the 5 year old in a regular car seat in the car or a booster? If he sits in a booster in your car then I wouldn't bother with anything for him on the plane. If you're worried about a seat for the 9 months old and he doens't have a seat on the plane - then there's no point in bringing a car seat at all.

It is called a Baby B'Air
babybair.com

 

[El&kris'mom]

Thank you everyone for your responses. You have made me feel more comfortable with not taking any car seats.

Dianna

 

[CDNTech]

I figured if we crash, the car seat wont save them... sad but true.

This is actually not true. Planes don't generally just fall out of the sky, that's true... but runway accidents do happen (as does turbulence) and it's very easy to have your child properly protected in their carseat. Numerous children have been hurt/injured (a few even killed ) due to turbulence/runway accidents because they are not properly restrained, while the adults walk away with not even a scratch.


A Baby B'air can not be used for take-off/landing, you will be required to hold them for take-off/landing facing you with your arms wrapped around them.

At 5 yrs old, I wouldn't worry about bringing a seat since it can not be used at the other end (and if it's a booster seat, it can not be used on the plane either).

If it's possible to purchase a seat for your 5 month old, I would do that and bring his/her seat. Babies/children generally do much better in a familiar seat and it's easier to keep them contained (and safe) in their seat than squirming in your arms.

If it's not possible, then you could try bringing his/her seat with you to the airport. If they have an extra seat, they may allow you to use it for free and you can install the babies carseat. If no seat is available, then run the carseat back out to the car if you have time, or you can gate check it... bit of a hassle with this option, but if you can get a spare seat it's totally worth it.

 

[HGD24]

...you will be required to hold them for take-off/landing facing you with your arms wrapped around them...

We just flew to WDW in Oct with our 8.5 month old DD as a lap infant. We were not required to hold her in any specific way during take off and landing.

We didn't bring a car seat at all. We used DME and the Disney buses between resorts and parks the entire time and never had a problem. If a bus was too full to where it was standing room only, we would wait for the next bus so that one of had a seat to sit in while holding DD. We've been on buses that have had to stop quickly, so just be sure that whoever is holding on to your LO is holding on very tight for the duration of the ride.

As for the Baby B'Air - please contact your airline (in writing if possible) to be sure that you will be allowed to use it between take off and landing. I read many comments in the review section on another website about flight attendants not allowing people to use it while at cruising altitude.

 

[nuggetoflove]

thanks for making me feel better about not bringing a car seat. My youngest will be 11 months when we go and I don't want to bother with something extra to carry.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We used a carseat on the plane for my 12 month old, but it was so she was contained in her own seat and not wiggling in my lap and running up and down the aisles. It was worth it to me so that we could have a comfortable flight. A toddler in my lap for 3 hours in a cramped seat is not my idea of comfort. We didn't use it anywhere else on the trip.

 

[Mom2Nick]

We just flew to WDW in Oct with our 8.5 month old DD as a lap infant. We were not required to hold her in any specific way during take off and landing.
.

We have never flown with a lap infant but on a flight once we were told by the flight attendant that we had to unbuckle our 3 year old from her seat and hold her on our lap for takeoff and landing. We tried arguing that we had never had to do that with our older one and pointed out she was not a lap child and we bought her seat but the woman would not relent. When we were forced to do that - we were told to hold her facing forward....

 

[bumbershoot]

We used a carseat on the plane for my 12 month old, but it was so she was contained in her own seat and not wiggling in my lap and running up and down the aisles. It was worth it to me so that we could have a comfortable flight. A toddler in my lap for 3 hours in a cramped seat is not my idea of comfort. We didn't use it anywhere else on the trip.

That's how I feel, too. And I know it, b/c I dealt with holding my 17 month old on my lap for just about a 3 hour flight to San Diego, and it took DAYS for my arms to recover. NOT FUN.

And in turbulence he would have gone flying, and probably would have injured other passengers when he landed.

Carseats for babies on planes is the only way we'll do it...if we have more babies.

We have never flown with a lap infant but on a flight once we were told by the flight attendant that we had to unbuckle our 3 year old from her seat and hold her on our lap for takeoff and landing. We tried arguing that we had never had to do that with our older one and pointed out she was not a lap child and we bought her seat but the woman would not relent. When we were forced to do that - we were told to hold her facing forward....

Sounds like a rogue flight attendant to me!!!!!

 

[tlbwriter]

I have never used anything on a plane for kids under 2 - I figured if we crash, the car seat wont save them... sad but true.

Actually, it's not true. Most passengers today DO survive in a plane crash. And lap babies can be injured or killed from turbulence, which is much more common than a crash. BTW, if your plan is crashing or crash-landing, you will be instructed to put the baby on the floor and hold onto his ankles. Do you know why? It's not to make the baby safer. It's to save the other passengers, because they know the baby will be ripped from your arms and will become a projectile. They don't want your baby to hurt anyone else as he's flying through the cabin. It's a scary thought.

Anyway, to the OP, you can't use a carseat on ME or in-park transportation, so if you're not using it on the plane, there's no reason to bring it.

 

[set1208]

I have a 9 month old that I am going to be keeping on my lap. Has anyone used the Maya wraps, or similar cloth wraps, to keep them snugged up to you on take off/landing? I figure that since he can face me in it, it should be alright.
Thanks!

 

[Mom2Nick]

I have a 9 month old that I am going to be keeping on my lap. Has anyone used the Maya wraps, or similar cloth wraps, to keep them snugged up to you on take off/landing? I figure that since he can face me in it, it should be alright.
Thanks!

I don't think they will allow any non-FAA regulated restraint to be used at all. You can give it a shot though.

 

[tjmw2727]

I have a 9 month old that I am going to be keeping on my lap. Has anyone used the Maya wraps, or similar cloth wraps, to keep them snugged up to you on take off/landing? I figure that since he can face me in it, it should be alright.
Thanks!

You won't be allowed to use anything except an FAA approved carseat or a CARES harness (also FAA approved). This includes the baby b air, sling, snugly, belly belt etc.

Check the section on flying with children on your particular carrier and it will be clearly explained.

Here is the section from AA
Child Held By An Adult ("Lap Child")

"Infants under 2 years of age may be held in an adult's lap at no charge when traveling within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, for the safety of your child, American recommends purchasing a seat and using an approved child safety seat.

FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices
The following may not be used when an infant seat or child restraint device is required:
Any device without an approval label
Booster seats with no approval label or shoulder harness
Vest and/or harness-type devices except Aviation Child Safety Devices (ACSD) bearing FAA aircraft approval labels
Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult


Here is the verbage from SWA for example:

"The FAA has banned the use on aircraft of certain types of child restraints that may be harmful to a child in the event of an aviation emergency. These include backless booster seats, safety belt extensions (commonly referred to as "belly belts"), and vest or harness devices that attach to an adult. Although some that were manufactured before the FAA's ban may carry an insignia and/or language indicating they are approved for aircraft use, please understand that they are no longer permitted.

NOTE: Devices that tie the child to another person are prohibited for taxi, takeoff, and landing regardless of any approval labels they bear.

NOTE: Backless booster seats are not approved for use during any phase of flight regardless of any approval labels they bear."

TJ

 

[MegaDisney]

After yesterday's airplane crash into the Hudson River, I hope if anything it makes parents realize the importance of safely securing their child into their seat. The descriptions by the passengers on how severely they hit the water was truly scary. I definately would not want to be holding my child in my lap during an incident like that- I would much rather they be secure in their own seats, whether they are old enough to sit and fit properly on their own (5 and up) or strapped into their car seat in their own seat.

I know yesterday's incident was rare and luckily had a happy ending, but the risk is not worth it, to me. Others may disagree and that's cool

 

[all4fun]

I agree!

After yesterday's airplane crash into the Hudson River, I hope if anything it makes parents realize the importance of safely securing their child into their seat. The descriptions by the passengers on how severely they hit the water was truly scary. I definately would not want to be holding my child in my lap during an incident like that- I would much rather they be secure in their own seats, whether they are old enough to sit and fit properly on their own (5 and up) or strapped into their car seat in their own seat.

I know yesterday's incident was rare and luckily had a happy ending, but the risk is not worth it, to me. Others may disagree and that's cool