Car seats / Taxis / Uber

[glk2009]

We were planning to use Uber for our upcoming trip but it sounds like they do not provide car seats and it's my understanding that car seats are required for kids under 6 now.

Our trip would be from AK to Disney Springs, so it seemed like a taxi or Uber would be the easiest and quickest option.

Can I call a taxi for a pre-arranged time for the pick-up at AK and request a car seat? Or is the turn-around time pretty quick if I just called when we were leaving the park. It would be on a weekday, leaving to go for dinner.

TIA! Any info and tips would be appreciated.

ETA: I just read that sometimes there are buses that run from AK to Disney Springs in the afternoon. Has that been the case? Our trip is in one week!!! Thanks!

 

[Gracie09]

You can call meats and ask for a cab with a car or booster seat. I believe the bus from ak to Disney springs were just a test and have not been extended

 

[Alesia]

ETA: I just read that sometimes there are buses that run from AK to Disney Springs in the afternoon. Has that been the case? Our trip is in one week!!! Thanks!

They did that for a short test (it lasted less than a month) several years ago. It has not happened since.

 

[glk2009]

They did that for a short test (it lasted less than a month) several years ago. It has not happened since.

That's too bad. I guess we will be calling Mears.

Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

FWIW, you could just take the bus to SSR and then walk to Disney Springs. Or you could transfer at Pop Century. I would probably choose either of those over a cab unless there was a major time crunch. Taking a taxi will cost about $30 and save you about 30 minutes.

Or you could take the bus to Port Orleans and take the boat. It's slower, but the boat ride can be fun for little ones.

 

[supersnoop]

it's my understanding that car seats are required for kids under 6 now.

There seems to be some debate, heated debate on these boards, whether car seats are legally required in a taxi or uber. Read the law yourself and do what you believe is best for your family.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

 

[wilkeliza]

Not sure if Orlando has the option but in NYC you can request an Uber with a car seat. The biggest issue is you have no clue if Uber or Mears car seats are safe. The law protects the taxi driver in that they are not liable and when you get on through them it is your job to ensure it was installed correctly and hope they hadn't been in a car accident with it before.

 

[RideShareRob]

This is a hot topic for debate within the uber community as well.

My take on the whole seatbelt/child restraint thing is this: front seat passengers must be belted and all children under 18 must be belted/car seat,etc.

Having said that, we do not have the space in our vehicles to carry around car or booster seats so we dont have them. Im pretty sure they can be rented once you are here if needed from one of those stroller companies. Someone also mentioned an inflatable booster somewhere on the disboards as well.

Further, I personally wont take you unless children are at least belted. As parents, you are ultimately responsible for your childrens safety, so I encourage you to make prior arrangements and provide for the correct booster or car seat yourselves. Driving in Orlando is somewhat challenging becuase we have a lot of tourists driving who dont know where they are going. Hence I often have to brake quickly in response to other vehicles acting stupid on the road. You don't want your 5 year old to go flying through my windshield...and neither do I.

 

[CarrieR]

How old is kiddo? If they are of the correct age, something like a RideSafer Travel Vest or Bubble Bum might be a safe yet convenient option.

 

[bear_mom]

I've done the bus to Port Orleans and then boat to DTD/Disney Springs.

 

[AngiTN]

As I understand it, taxis will take you without a car seat, Uber will not (though I suppose some drivers will look the other way)
Personally, I will not put that on the Uber driver and will not ride with them without a seat for DGD
But, I've never taken DGD as an infant, 4 was the youngest we went where we didn't have our car/car seat.
Starting at 4 we have used taxis and not put her in a car seat, just a belt, only on the Disney property. Is it ideal? No but there are times we have no other choice. None of the Taxi drivers ever batted an eye
Now I have the Bubblebum inflatable seat and we will have that for our trip next month.
When we have to use it to go to a park we will put it in a locker.

There seems to be some debate, heated debate on these boards, whether car seats are legally required in a taxi or uber. Read the law yourself and do what you believe is best for your family.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

Based on the paragraph in item (6) it seems pretty clear car seat use is not required in a taxi. Uber probably falls in to this but I do think they are much more of a grey area

 

[Gracie09]

As I understand it, taxis will take you without a car seat, Uber will not (though I suppose some drivers will look the other way)
Personally, I will not put that on the Uber driver and will not ride with them without a seat for DGD
But, I've never taken DGD as an infant, 4 was the youngest we went where we didn't have our car/car seat.
Starting at 4 we have used taxis and not put her in a car seat, just a belt, only on the Disney property. Is it ideal? No but there are times we have no other choice. None of the Taxi drivers ever batted an eye
Now I have the Bubblebum inflatable seat and we will have that for our trip next month.
When we have to use it to go to a park we will put it in a locker.



Based on the paragraph in item (6) it seems pretty clear car seat use is not required in a taxi. Uber probably falls in to this but I do think they are much more of a grey area

You always have a choice. You can wait for another cab with an appropriate car seat. You can take a bus (it may take transfers but you can get just about anywhere with public transport at disney. You can rent a car and use a car seat.

Ah yes - but you cannot just read the one sentence. It goes one to say "It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare as defined in s. 39.01 to comply with the requirements of this section." So the parent/guardian etc is responsible for providing the car seat to be used, not the taxi driver. Either way, physics don't change because you are in a cab.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, we made our choice and were comfortable with it. Other make other choices.

 

[disprincess2213]

Is a carseat an option when booking uber? We will need a ride for 4 adults and a toddler from AKL to WL and unsure if we should do taxi vs uber.

And am I correct in saying that it IS legal for a toddler to ride in either uber or a taxi without a carseat? Im just wondering legally what is the answer.

 

[Alesia]

1.Is a carseat an option when booking uber? We will need a ride for 4 adults and a toddler from AKL to WL and unsure if we should do taxi vs uber.

2. And am I correct in saying that it IS legal for a toddler to ride in either uber or a taxi without a carseat? Im just wondering legally what is the answer.

1. According to RideShareRob earlier in the thread, no.
2. It is not. The law requires everyone to be in the correct restraint for their age. The law exempts taxi drivers from punishment, but not the parents.

Legalities aside, here's something to think about: there are a lot of tourist on the road in Orlando, so traffic accidents aren't exactly uncommon. The laws of physics don't change just because you're on vacation.

 

[supersnoop]

And am I correct in saying that it IS legal for a toddler to ride in either uber or a taxi without a carseat? Im just wonde

Alesia and I disagree on this point. I've posted a link to the actual law above. As I read the law, yes, it's legal to forego the carseat in a taxi or uber. I'm not aware of any case law to support either side.

 

[glk2009]

Sorry to have re-opened the debate on this.

How long is the walk from SSR? We're going to Disney Springs for dinner at Morimoto's, which seems to be in the middle area.

The other option that seems to be the most "direct" is to take the bus to AKL and then the bus to Disney Springs.

We've done the boat from Port Orleans and while awesome, it might be too slow for us.

I'm considering Mears, but I guess I'm worried about how reliable they will to show up for the pick-up at AK.

I wish Uber would offer the UberFamily option in Orlando!

Thanks everyone!

 

[Alesia]

Sorry to have re-opened the debate on this.

1. How long is the walk from SSR? We're going to Disney Springs for dinner at Morimoto's, which seems to be in the middle area.

2. The other option that seems to be the most "direct" is to take the bus to AKL and then the bus to Disney Springs.

3. We've done the boat from Port Orleans and while awesome, it might be too slow for us.

4. I'm considering Mears, but I guess I'm worried about how reliable they will to show up for the pick-up at AK.

I wish Uber would offer the UberFamily option in Orlando!

Thanks everyone!

1. About 15 minutes if you get off at the Congress Park stop.

2. Transferring at Pop Century is more direct and faster.

3. It's definitely slow.

4. There's no reason to be worried.

 

[glk2009]

1. About 15 minutes if you get off at the Congress Park stop.

2. Transferring at Pop Century is more direct and faster.

3. It's definitely slow.

4. There's no reason to be worried.

Thanks!!!!