Car Seats on ME

[MISSREBECCA76]

Sorry if this has been answered before- but I was wondering if anyone used booster type car seats on the ME. We will be bringing them with us and checking them because we will be renting a car- the best deal we found was a military rate at SOG- so we are taking the ME to and from our resort. It seems to me they would be safer in the seats- but would the fit properly on the ME. Also, that means we have to go to baggage claim and wait for them so, wouldn't it make sense to just grab our other checked bags too while we are there? We have always just rented cars from the airport and never used ME so any input would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[luvmy2babies]

No, you cannot use car seats on DME. The buses are the motor coach type like chartered buses and Greyhound.

If you want to grab your luggage before getting on DME, make sure you don't put the Magical Express luggage stickers on because if you do, you won't see it come out. They take it before it goes on the belt, and it goes out for resort delivery, but it doesn't sound that would be a huge deal for you. Just something to know so you won't be standing there waiting for your other bags.

When we went I had my son's car seat in a bag and gave it to the driver. He put it under the bus.

FYI, you might check with your airline. It would likely be better to gate check the seats if you don't mind carrying them to the gate. Then you can put those stickers on your bags and skip baggage claim.

 

[Alesia]

You can't use them on the bus because the bus doesn't have seatbelts.

Don't check your booster seats. You should carry them on if at all possible.

 

[MISSREBECCA76]

Never thought of gate checking them- but we will have three of them, plus a stroller, and all our carry-ons plus three young kiddos so I am not sure how practical that would be for us. Has anyone else ever tried it in similar situations?

 

[Alesia]

Will you need the seats while you're in Florida. Unless you're renting a car you shouldn't need to bring them at all.

 

[ancestry]

Never thought of gate checking them- but we will have three of them, plus a stroller, and all our carry-ons plus three young kiddos so I am not sure how practical that would be for us. Has anyone else ever tried it in similar situations?

What ages are your kids? Are they old enough to sit on a plane with a seat belt or in a Cares Harness (http://www.kidsflysafe.com/)?

With three young kids I wouldn't bring the car seats at all unless I was planning on renting a car, which I'm assuming you aren't doing since you are taking DME. If one of the three is a baby then I would only bring that car seat on the plane.

Edited to add: I just saw from another post that your kids are DD7, DD5 and DS3. With those ages I wouldn't bring car seats at all unless you are renting a car. You can't use the seats on DME or the Disney buses. Your 7 and 5 year old should be able to sit on a plane in a seat belt and so should the 3 year old. If you have a squirmy 3 year old then I would suggest the Cares Harness.

 

[linzbear]

OP said they were renting a car.

I would gate check the seats or carry them on if possible. Car seats/boosters are frequently lost (it happened to me) and mistreated (in some cases broken) by luggage handlers. By gate checking, this is mitigated, by carrying them on the plane yourself, it's eliminated entirely.

Yeah, it's annoying. We use the stroller to push our carryons in the airport, not the kids!

 

[mousefan1972]

Maybe I'm misreading, but I think the OP said they are staying at Shades of Green? (SOG) If so, Magical Express is not available. OP might be better off picking up her rental car at the airport.

 

[MISSREBECCA76]

OP said they were renting a car.

YAAAAY- you read that that part! I was beginning to think I had not explained it clearly- Thanks!

I would gate check the seats or carry them on if possible. Car seats/boosters are frequently lost (it happened to me) and mistreated (in some cases broken) by luggage handlers.

We have checked them twice and not had a problem, but I would hate to push my luck.

By gate checking, this is mitigated, by carrying them on the plane yourself, it's eliminated entirely.

Yeah, it's annoying. We use the stroller to push our carryons in the airport, not the kids!

Sounds like a good plan- I may have to steal it- thanks so much for the input!

 

[MISSREBECCA76]

Maybe I'm misreading, but I think the OP said they are staying at Shades of Green? (SOG) If so, Magical Express is not available. OP might be better off picking up her rental car at the airport.

We are not staying at the SOG- we are staying 6 nights at FW Cabins, going on a cruise for 3 Days on the Dream and then staying 2 nights at BWI. We just renting the car from SOG because the price is much cheaper then renting it at MCO.

 

[luvmy2babies]

How set are you on renting the vehicle? From the sound of your plans, I'd think seriously about how much you'll need it.

When we go next time, I am so looking forward to leaving my son's carseat at home and just packing a CARES Harness for the plane.

But if you're set on it, you might try:

Having the 7 year-old carry his or her own seat if it's a backless booster.

Depending on the temperament of your youngest, ship the stroller ahead.

Get a rolling bag big enough to hold two of the three car seats if possible. There are some really big ones that can hold two if they are low profile seats.

I have read on here of some people shipping their car seats ahead.

 

[MISSREBECCA76]

How set are you on renting the vehicle? From the sound of your plans, I'd think seriously about how much you'll need it.

My DH insists on having a car, he likes the freedom of it- and with the military rate we are getting from SOG it is not tons more to rent a car for 10 days than what the port transfers would cost for 5 people. So for us, it really makes more sense to rent. Plus we will have things with us that we are not taking on the cruise that we will need to leave in the trunk of the car.




I have read on here of some people shipping their car seats ahead.

If they ship the car seats ahead, what seats do they use to drive to the airport? Or even around town for the few days after they ship them?

 

[luvmy2babies]

If they ship the car seats ahead, what seats do they use to drive to the airport? Or even around town for the few days after they ship them?

The ones I have read that did it, ordered new cheap seats online and had them shipped directly to where they were staying on vacation. Seats that were like $40 or less.

 

[mousefan1972]

We are not staying at the SOG- we are staying 6 nights at FW Cabins, going on a cruise for 3 Days on the Dream and then staying 2 nights at BWI. We just renting the car from SOG because the price is much cheaper then renting it at MCO.

Ah, ok. Thanks for clarifying. I did misread your original post...