First Time Flying with DS4

[Stephaniecmc]

Any tips for first time flying with DH and DS4? We haven't flown anywhere since before 9/11. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...how to keep DS entertain and quiet...Thanks!

 

[tomboy_m]

We just took or DD 4 to WDW earlier this month. One of the flights was a little over 6 hours She really enjoyed coloring, playing with a couple of disney stuffed toys and reading the magazines and safety cards on the plane. Honestly she handled the trip better than most of the adults. She also took her nintendo DS but really only played with that for a small amount of the time. I strongly recommend snacks and gum. The gum for helping with ear popping. Snacks because it can be a long wait until the in-flight service comes around. The flight crew was great and even gave her her United wings. When she was 3 and was flying one of the pilots took her in to see the cockpit.. something that I thought they had stopped doing since 911. Overall, just relax and be prepared to give up the window seat. I find parents yelling at their small children much more annoying than an occasional kick to the seat.

 

[tinkerbell/pixie]

You can take portable dvd players. I always do this for my son and he watches a Disney movie. I also take his v-smile or leapster portable video game. The creative designs board on here has Disney coloring and fun pages you can print out and bind at Staples.It can make a great fun book to keep them busy on the flight.Link for Creative designs board.

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=105

 

[Perditamarie]

I let the kids each take a small backpack and leave my bag no more than 1/2 full, as their stuff will migrate there anyway. I have great fun stocking the kids' backpacks w/new stuff for the plane -- stuff like puzzles, a book, magnetic playsets, color wonder sets -- but not too much or they will pull everything out and be too overwhelmed to do anything with it! We load up our mp3/video players w/books on cd, music and new shows to watch. Throw in a bathing suit if you are using ME and want to swim when you get to the resort, or pjs if you are coming in late afternoon.

Definately make sure you have some good/filling snacks! I bring an empty sippy cup and get juice after security. I also like to bring a variety of snacks, especially if we will be flying around a meal time. I bring gum and fruit chews for ear popping and also have them yawn during take off/landing. I also carry childrens tylenol in case of earaches.

Be prepared for security -- it is easier if all of you wear shoes that slip off and on and wear socks so you aren't barefoot on the airport floor. Your stroller will have to be folded to go through the xray machine, so plan your bag and child juggling accordingly!! We are a family of 5 w/2 strollers, so I always feel bad for whomever is behind us....usually they make a beeline for another line!!

 

[JohnsonsRUs]

We swear by the portable DVD player, it goes everywhere with us!! Not only does it come in handy on the plane, but also in the hotel room and in the car, if needed. We put the DVDs in a CD case, so that we don't have to bring all of the cases along.

Bring lots of snacks also.

 

[jcc0621]

We took DS4 on his first plane ride to WDW last year. I took a small backpack on wheels (his size) and filled it with Color Wonder Markers/Books, story books, and a mini magna doodle. We also took our laptop and he was able to watch a short movie. It worked out great for us.

 

[AnnetteF]

We flew for the first time with DD last August. She was 3 1/2 at the time. We did bring the DVD player, coloring book, etc. I also brought gummy bear since she wasn't a gum chewer yet. She was fine the whole trip.

But one thing I wanted to mention - when we were going through security, I told her she had to take off her shoes and she gave me a very suspicious look. (It was like she suddenly thought I was trying to pass off a visit to the doctor as an airplane trip ) I could tell she didn't like the idea of it - so I just said they have to make sure you are wearing the right kind of shoes for flying. She accepted that right away and when we got home and people asked her how she liked the airplane, she always had to tell them "I was wearing the right shoes!"

 

[momtomatthew]

DS (4) is a champion flyer- several cross-country trips. The one thing that always works is the portable DVD player. We actually didn't take on our trip to WDW early this year- figured it was a relatively short flight (2 hrs) and we didn't need it. WRONG! That will be the first thing in the bag for our Sept. trip. That and a few snacks, a book, and his favorite stuffed animal.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Agree about DVD and video system if plane does not have individual TV screens on seats. DO NOT BRING SMALL TOYS!!!!! They fall and get lost, same with crayons. Books are great.

 

[momof2boyz12]

We took our DS3 and DS6 to WDW and flew for the first time for both. I bought new backpacks for each of them (size appropriate), and bought several new items for each bag: travel games, Crayola color magic sets, crayons, coloring books, an inexpensive CD player with headphones for each and a new CD. We didn't let them get everything out at once. They could pick something new out every 30 minutes or so (our flight was only 2 1/2 or 3 hours long), so they felt like they were getting something brand new all of the time. It really helped pass the time, and they were both great. No worries! Take suckers too for the take off (ears popping). I didn't let my boys have gum yet, but the suckers worked great. Or the fruit snacks. Anything to keep their jaw moving.