DME and car seats?

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We've always taken a Mears shuttle from/to the airport, and used a car seat for DD on the shuttle.

This time, we'll have DD (needs a booster) and DS (needs a five point harness). Does DME have car seats, or should we bring them with us?

Thanks!

 

[epsmith921]

We've always taken a Mears shuttle from/to the airport, and used a car seat for DD on the shuttle.

This time, we'll have DD (needs a booster) and DS (needs a five point harness). Does DME have car seats, or should we bring them with us?

Thanks!

No car seats are provided and are not required on the bus.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Even if they aren't required, can they still be used? I'm kind of a stickler about car seats/seat belts/etc. I also have no doubt my 2 yo will not sit still with a regular seat belt. He'll have that thing unbuckled and be standing in his seat within seconds (and I'm pregnant and cannot hold him on my lap).

 

[Alesia]

No, you cannot use car seats on the bus.

 

[Gracie09]

you cannot use them on the buses. A booster wouldn't work anyway because they are to lift the child up to the shoulder strap height and I believe they only provide lap belts in the Magic Express. You also can't use them on the buses around property if you were planning on using them.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

they will be store under bus with the luggage , you will not be allowed to use a booster that uses just lap and shoulder belts on the plane only approved ones with 5 point harness can be used

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

they will be store under bus with the luggage , you will not be allowed to use a booster that uses just lap and shoulder belts on the plane only approved ones with 5 point harness can be used

DD has never used a car seat on a plane, but we'll use one for DS (he's MUCH wigglier than she was at his age). We fly cross country and internationally pretty frequently, so I'm prepared for that part.

Riding on the highway from MCO to WDW on a bus with no car seats just makes me nervous. I've known people who have been in bus rollovers. Just need to remember they do this 24 hrs a day, every day, so I'm sure it'll be fine. Maybe I'll practice some meditative breathing to calm my nerves : )

 

[bumbershoot]

The buses are coach buses. Most of them don't have seatbelts; they are like Greyhound buses for the most part.

There are some newer ones that have seatbelts, but you aren't supposed to use carseats with them.

If this is something you cannot deal with (the reasons why coach style buses have traditionally not had seatbelts), rent a car. I doubt that I would have used the buses if we had gone when DS was that little. But we rent a car most of the time anyway, only rarely using their bus system, either DME or once on site.

 

[Cedarmom]

Buses use a different type of containment system called compartmentalization. That's why they have those high seats in front of you. You are meant to bounce off of them. This, plus the mass of the bus as compared to the mass of the surrounding cars (40,000 lb bus vs 4000 lb car means the bus will 'win') is what keeps you alive. Unfortunately, comparentalization only really works if you are seated properly and weigh over 40 lbs. We didn't do dme this time, but last time we weren't even allowed to bring the car seat we used on the plane on the bus. We had to store it underneath. If you aren't comfortable with the physics behind bus safety, especially with children under 40 lbs, I would take the Mears shuttle. It isn't worth the 45 minutes of stress the trip would cause.

 

[purple figment]

For peace of mind you'll probably want to rent a car because none of the DME buses or the Disney buses on property will accommodate booster seats or car seats. Some of the DME buses had seat belts, but I didn't see any on any of the Disney buses.

 

[OZMom]

We drive to Disney anyways, but took our car to the parks, for a variety of reasons. One of them was so my kids could be in their car seats. I realize we are on Disney property, but accidents can still happen. I am sure the busses are very safe, but it's a point of anxiety for me and like someone else said, wasn't worth the stress. Both of mine are still in 5 point harnesses so it was just easier. Plus we didn't have to fight with the stroller on the bus, and at the end of the night we didn't have to fight the crowds for a spot on the bus.

Lots of people put their kiddos on the DME and Disney busses daily and they are fine. However, if you're like me, renting a car or taking the Mears shuttle and using your carseat might just save your nerves