Do we need to bring DS's carseat?

[COscrapper]

We are leaving for DL on Wed. with our 4-year-old and will not have a rental car. Do we really need to bring his carseat/booster JUST for the ride from John Wayne Airport to Hojo's (and back)? We won't be doing any other driving while we're there.

Do any of the shuttle/taxi services require that we have it for the ride to the hotel?

Thanks!

 

[jham]

We are leaving for DL on Wed. with our 4-year-old and will not have a rental car. Do we really need to bring his carseat/booster JUST for the ride from John Wayne Airport to Hojo's (and back)? We won't be doing any other driving while we're there.

Do any of the shuttle/taxi services require that we have it for the ride to the hotel?

Thanks!

I won't be bringing the carseat for DD4 on our trip. We are in the same situation as you, not renting a car, staying at Hojo's. I don't think the shuttle/taxi services require a carseat. I am taking the Disney bus from the airport. It may be a longer ride, but I'll feel safer in a bus with no carseat than in a shuttle or taxi. Some shuttle services may provide one on request? But I do not know for sure.

 

[daneenm]

Tell the shuttle service you need a booster or car seat when you book. In my experience, most have them available. I really would not want to drive in the LA traffic with my 4 year old and not have him in a car seat.

 

[MyMonkies]

I don't know what you are riding in to get to & from, but typically the law in CA is 6 years or 60 pounds (I could be wrong if it's or, might be and?). Anyway, I agree with the PP about asking whatever service you are using about supplying a booster.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

I know they're not required on busses such as the Disneyland Express. Anything smaller, I would think (and hope!) so.

I agree with the PP about calling to see if they provide them.

 

[disheadz]

Some provide them upon request many, such as Supershuttle, do not. A booster is easy to check on and does not count as checked baggage or incur an extra charge. We usually bring one.

 

[krash2501]

We will be flying out to John w. airport on wed. with a DD2 and DD4. We were told by SuperShuttle that we would need them and we would also like to have them on the plane so we will be bringing ours.

 

[Sienna]

In a passenger van or taxi, and you will need the car seat (or booster - whatever you use). It's the law - there's no getting around it even for a simple ride to/from the airport (which is 10+ miles of freeway driving, BTW). If you don't want to bring it, the only way would be to take the Disneyland Express bus.

 

[sahbushka]

We are flying into LAX with our 1 and 4 year olds on Wednesday and taking Supershuttle to HoJO. I double checked with them and while a car seat isn't required by them it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED and it is a law in california that you are supposed to have them. I checked with my airline and we can gate check the car seats for free. I did a lot of thinking on this because I know it will be a hassel, but if anything did happen to me kids because I didn't want to bother bringing a car seat I would be devastated for the rest of my life! I'd rather have the hassel than lose a child!

Sarah

 

[IBLarsen]

I just wanted to let you know also that you can check car seats with your baggage for NO additional fees. It's pretty standard with all airlines that car seats don't count towards your baggage max and no fees apply to them.

Some airlines will let you gate check them and some don't. Last time we flew we took our car seats to the gate to gate check and they wouldn't let us and we almost missed our flights because of this (having to go back to check as baggage). So check with your airline before assuming you can gate check. If you check them as baggage we have been told to stick them in a large garbage bag so the seats don't get dirty. (We have car seat covers that serve as backpack to wear for easy carrying also, and leave it in those to check).

 

[Tasmen]

I've been trying to decide about this same thing. I booked tickets into Orange County this time instead of our usual Long Beach just in case I opt not to take the car seat. We'll just take the Disneyland Resort Bus from SNA to our hotel.

I'm going back and forth on the subject though since it is free to bring your car seat along with you.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you don't want to bring them, then book yourself on the Grayline Disneyland Express. It's a coach bus, so there are no seatbelts at all.


But if you're taking a cab or shuttle, you'll need them. I doubt the drivers will MAKE YOU, but if for some reason the shuttle is pulled over, I'm guessing it will be YOU that gets that ticket, and if there's an accident, well, I won't go on except to say...the way the SS drivers drive, I'm surprised there aren't MORE SS accidents.


We've gate-checked our Nautilus (DS is 5 and will be in a 5 point harness until he's too big for any 5 point harnesses out there) or previous seats with Southwest, Virgin America, and Jet Blue, no problems. For some reason some xray machines can deal with the Nautilus just fine (seatac and lax) but others are smaller (San Diego).

We baggage-checked our seat once, but later I watched the boosters and seats come crashing down...and I realized I would never willingly do that again. The impacts with the baggage carousel were so strong it almost made me go and replace my seat...ugh.


Anyway, it's easier to just go on a coach bus, so book Grayline Disneyland Express.

 

[COscrapper]

How much is the Disneyland Express? And we'd have to sit through tons of stops, right?

Last night DH said he wanted to just splurge for a taxi and get to the hotel quickly, but if taking the bus means we don't have to haul along our carseat - hmmmmm.

I know it's free to check the carseat, but like a previous poster said, I'm always nervous about how they get treated as cargo - plus it's one more thing to carry from the car - ugh.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

If you're staying on Disney property, they stop there first. I'm not sure what the order is after that.

Getawaytoday has the best prices for DLE: $22.50 pp, rt. If booked on their website, it's $30 pp, rt.

The bus is quite fun to ride- there are tv's that play DL videos and the bus itself has a festive overlay so it's exciting to see it pull up for YOU!

 

[COscrapper]

So there's no chance a TAXI would provide a carseat for us, right?

 

[jenpace]

For a four year old I would not have him ride without a carseat...even if it were my DH or myself driving. Get a backless booster at Target, Kmart or Walmart for $15 to $20. They're small enough so it won't be too much of a hassle but the peace of mind will be invaluable.

 

[Leofoenget]

We are leaving for DL on Wed. with our 4-year-old and will not have a rental car. Do we really need to bring his carseat/booster JUST for the ride from John Wayne Airport to Hojo's (and back)? We won't be doing any other driving while we're there.

Do any of the shuttle/taxi services require that we have it for the ride to the hotel?

Thanks!

Well according to the law Yes. I have one that the top and the bottom snap together. I just took the bottom part. It was very easy to take on the airplane as a carry on. It did the trick and was fine just for that quick ride

 

[jacs1234]

Does anyone know if we need child seats ( ages 3 & 5 ) for a stretch limo trip ??

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Does anyone know if we need child seats ( ages 3 & 5 ) for a stretch limo trip ??

The 3 yo yes in every state I believe the 5 yo is different in every state but with California(or East Coast drivers for that matter) drivers I would never risk it.

 

[jenpace]

Does anyone know if we need child seats ( ages 3 & 5 ) for a stretch limo trip ??

As far as I know, limousines don't have seat belts.