First time flying, and with a toddler what I need to know

[magic kingdom park]

We are thinking of flying to disney world this year, first time I have ever flown anywhere so wanted to ask a few questions.

Where do you look to book the cheapest flight.

If the baby sits on your lap he is free, so what do you do about a carseat when you get there, and what about a stroller.

What is the deal with bags and fees.

Do you try to pack some food and snacks, because if you don't rent a car and ride the magical express then there is no grocery stop I'm sure.
Or is it easier to just rent a car when you get there.

Any other advice I may need to know would help also.
Thanks

 

[maxiesmom]

How old a toddler are we talking about? A child over the age of 2 needs to buy a seat, so I'm hoping your little one is under 2.

If you fly in and are not renting a car, you won't need a car seat. They are not allowed on the Disney busses. If you are renting a car, then you can either gate check your car seat, or check it in your regular luggage. A stroller can be checked at the gate, that way you can use it thru the aiports to help with your child.

Most airlines have checked baggage fees. Usually a certain price for the first bag for each ticketed passenger, and different price for the second bag for each passenger. You need to check each individual airline for the exact prices, as they do vary a bit. But think around $20 for the first bag.

If you use Magical Express and want to have some groceries for your room, there are a couple different places that will deliver. Garden Grocer and We Go Shop. We have used Garden Grocer a couple of times and have no major complaints. One time they forgot our doughnuts, but we called and had them the next day. Their web site lists what items you can buy, what the prices are, and what their delivery fee is. I think the minimum order is $40.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[TheTurners]

Start with Expedia.com and then try Southwest and Airtran. Baby gear flies free, so you can check the carseat and stroller free of charge. If you leave the carseat at home and rent a car, they will charge you an extra $10/day to rent the carseat. Snacks for the plane--you can bring juice, but not an "excessive amount" due to regulations. Last year we brought 2 small juiceboxes for each of our two girls. The security agent felt that was excessive, so we had to throw 2 of them in the garbage. You can pack whatever food you want in your checked luggage. Don't stress out about the experience, it's not bad, even with little ones.

 

[cw21726]

If you leave the carseat at home and rent a car, they will charge you an extra $10/day to rent the carseat.

If you have AAA and rent with Hertz it's included at no additional cost.

 

[magic kingdom park]

thanks for the help, my little one will still be one when we fly.
can you use magical express back to the airport and not use it to take you to your resort?
Also can you take portable dvd players or laptops on the plane?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, and yes.
And instead of Expedia, I would recommend Kayak.com. It's a travel search engine, not a travel agency - you click through and (most often) buy your tickets right from the airline. That way, you deal directly with the airline if there are any schedule changes, etc.

 

[danceintherain]

Yes, and yes.
And instead of Expedia, I would recommend Kayak.com. It's a travel search engine, not a travel agency - you click through and (most often) buy your tickets right from the airline. That way, you deal directly with the airline if there are any schedule changes, etc.

I recommend Kayak as well. Generally speaking, Expedia won't have any better deals than are offered directly through the airline, but they have more restrictions.

If you plan on using Disney transportation the entire time, then you don't need a car seat.

The baggage fee will vary by airline. I think Southwest is the only airline that lets bags fly "free" anymore. Southwest is not on Kayak, so you'll have to do a separate search.

You can gate check the stroller for free. This will allow you to take it through the airport with you.

I don't usually pack many snacks. We budget food into our trip cost. I considered having some snacks, water, and diapers delivered to the resort on our last trip, but decided to just pay to check 1 bag and bring everything we needed. I was adding a ton of stuff that I didn't really need to the delivery to get it above the minimum purchase. With the delivery charge it just didn't make any sense. I think Costco might not have a delivery charge, but I don't have a membership.
We only needed the one checked bag, and I think it cost us $15 each way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The baggage fee will vary by airline. I think Southwest is the only airline that lets bags fly "free" anymore. Southwest is not on Kayak, so you'll have to do a separate search.

JetBlue allows one free checked bag per ticketed passenger - and their carry-on bag dimension is a bit larger than most other airlines as well.

 

[magic kingdom park]

okay so the bags you carry on have to be a certain size, what about checked bags to they have weight or width restrictions?

 

[Greysword]

I recommend you consider buying a seat for your little one. A long plane trip is even longer with a baby in your lap, and they can't get to sleep as easily.

Also, visit the TSA website: http://www.tsa.gov/ To the right is a "What to know before you go" section that will give you info on the security lines.

 

[rwdavis2]

thanks for the help, my little one will still be one when we fly.
can you use magical express back to the airport and not use it to take you to your resort?
Also can you take portable dvd players or laptops on the plane?

You will be required to show a birth certificate for the baby when you check in with the airline to prove its age if you do not buy a seat. Security does not require it to get through.

 

[kaytieeldr]

okay so the bags you carry on have to be a certain size, what about checked bags to they have weight or width restrictions?

Yes. Since restrictions vary by airline, you need to check the specific airline for size. Weight is usually 50 pounds, but might be less.

 

[magic kingdom park]

thanks for all the information. what are the websites for the places that deliver groceries to your resort?

 

[gigi1313]

You will be required to show a birth certificate for the baby when you check in with the airline to prove its age if you do not buy a seat. Security does not require it to get through.

is this new? we only flew once w/our son as a "lap baby" and were never asked for proof of age... every other flight we bought him a seat and if i had to do it again, i would always buy the seat! his safety and comfort is worth it!

we use www.gardengrocer.com and have been very pleased w/their service... be sure to order at least a week in advance so as to insure your delivery date is your arrival date!!

also, op, where are you flying from? oftentimes that will determine which airline you will be flying...

 

[magic kingdom park]

we are flying out of Charlotte, North Carolina

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If you insist on the little one sitting on your lap you will also need his/her birth certificate to prove he/she is under two.

However, I feel like I must point out that it's not really that safe to hold the child in your lap. The only reason it is allowed is that the FAA continues to give into pressure from the airlines who are more concerned that they would lose your flight $$ then the facts about "flying infants"

You can take both portable DVDs and laptops on the plane. They will have to come out of thier case to go through security and they may not be used during take off or landing. (And honestly if you have child in your lap there really won't be room to use them on the plane!)

 

[DopeyDame]

However, I feel like I must point out that it's not really that safe to hold the child in your lap. The only reason it is allowed is that the FAA continues to give into pressure from the airlines who are more concerned that they would lose your flight $$ then the facts about "flying infants"

QUOTE]


Children are safer when properly secured just like all the other passengers on the plane.
It's what the AAP (http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/5/1218) and NTSB (http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/safetyalerts/SA_015.pdf) recommend.
In addition to that, I couldn't imagine flying with my little one sitting on my lap the whole time - he's be a miserable wiggle worm, and I'd be so frustrated. Airline seats are TINY as it is, trying to cram two people into one seat is just asking for pain and suffering. Additionally, at least for my DS, when he's in his carseat he knows how to behave (mostly). Sitting on my lap would just confuse him and make him think he's allowed to get down and run (or crawl, depending on the age) around.
Please consider buying a seat for your DS.

As for other tips, I usually bring several individual servings of the Gerber Baby shelf stable milk. My nightmare scenario is the plane sitting on the runway for whatever reason for hours on end... I want to be prepared with snacks and some milk for that occasion. I usually bring 4 boxes and haven't ever had a problem through security (although once in Dulles they asked me to open it and swabbed it - that was a bit annoying.)

have fun!

 

[ThreeBeans]

However, I feel like I must point out that it's not really that safe to hold the child in your lap. The only reason it is allowed is that the FAA continues to give into pressure from the airlines who are more concerned that they would lose your flight $$ then the facts about "flying infants"

QUOTE]


Children are safer when properly secured just like all the other passengers on the plane.
It's what the AAP (http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/5/1218) and NTSB (http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/safetyalerts/SA_015.pdf) recommend.
In addition to that, I couldn't imagine flying with my little one sitting on my lap the whole time - he's be a miserable wiggle worm, and I'd be so frustrated. Airline seats are TINY as it is, trying to cram two people into one seat is just asking for pain and suffering. Additionally, at least for my DS, when he's in his carseat he knows how to behave (mostly). Sitting on my lap would just confuse him and make him think he's allowed to get down and run (or crawl, depending on the age) around.
Please consider buying a seat for your DS.

Bingo to both of you!

It is not safe to bring a baby on a plane without its own seat. The FAA, while it allows it for political reasons, STRONGLY RECOMMENDS AGAINST it. Furthermore, they STRONGLY RECOMMEND that all children under 40 lbs use a car seat aboard the aircraft.

Not only is your child potentially going to suffer serious injuries in the event of a runway crash or turbulence, everyone else in the cabin is at risk. Think about it. You're required to stow your five pound purse under the seat in front of you, but it's ok to have your 20 lb toddler free of restraint? I don't think so! That baby will become a projectile and could hurt other people along with being significantly injured himself.

It's in the works, by the way, to change this ridiculous loophole. Within a few years, in all likelihood it will be required, not suggested, that all passengers have their own seats and that children under 40 lbs be in an additional restraint. Don't wait for the law to catch up with common sense!

(Furthermore, we never recommend renting car seats at your destination. It's too likely they'll be damaged/missing parts/crashed/expired/recalled/inappropriate for your child's size or age.)

The only safe option is to bring the car seat aboard the plane, use it on the plane in a separate seat purchased for the child, and then use the child restraint at your destination.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

is this new? we only flew once w/our son as a "lap baby" and were never asked for proof of age... every other flight we bought him a seat and if i had to do it again, i would always buy the seat! his safety and comfort is worth it!

...

You may not be asked, but more and more flyers are reporting that they are asked.

Periodically over on flyertalk there is a poster ranting and raving about this... the last one I saw claimed they had a 3 month old and SW would not let the child on without a birth certificate! I think the airlines took away the wiggle room because folks were abusing it!

I went with a friend one time whose child was a borderline age. We did buy him a seat, but rented a car seat. NEVER AGAIN. The agency didn't know how to install it right, we didn't because it was not like the one at home and it was dirty. Bring the one you know how to use!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can take both portable DVDs and laptops on the plane. They will have to come out of thier case to go through security and they may not be used during take off or landing. (And honestly if you have child in your lap there really won't be room to use them on the plane!)

If they're to entertain the baby, I'd wonder if the intent is to use them without earphones - I don't know if that's allowed. I have been on planes where there were people who were playing movies at full volume and not wearing earphones. Annoying, but it doesn't happen enough for me to remember if a flight attendant would say you need earphones.