Fly or drive with 3 kids, 2 under 2!

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, if you do fly, since you're adamant about not paying for the two younger children:
as someone stated above, you will not all be able to sit in the same row (only four oxygen masks per row);
you will have to hold those children in your laps (and check or gate-check the car seats) throughout the entire flight or flights, i.e. no cheatin' & seatin'

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Sure. There's even a excellent thread on the Transportation Forum, "if your flight is cancelled". It's about 74 pages long, with lots of questions but even more great advice

Thanks for asking .

And in all those 74 pages, there probably isn't one suggestion that's going to get you 1" closer to your destination unless you're willing to consider alternative transportation

 

[kaytieeldr]

If by 'alternative transportation' you mean a different airline, you're right - I would absolutely do that. Or reschedule my flight on the original airline. Or, worst case, reschedule the trip. WDW is really understanding about weather cancellations.

What I wouldn't do is drive 90% of the way across the country solo, or take an 80+ hour train trip to get somewhere for vacation.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The reason flying isn't a given is because we would have to drive out to Rochester (4.5 hours), or Syracuse (3.5 hours) for a reasonable flight. So if you combine that travel time (plus leaving an hour early in case unexpected delays prevent us from arriving at the airport on time), with how early you have to be at the airport, the flight plus a likely connecting flight (we've always ended up having to get transferred), then drive from airport to Disney i'd estimate that travel time at 12 hours and more stressful because we have to be at places at certain times.

The other major obstacle to flying is the whole taking 3 kids and a stroller on a bus with only two adults.

How about this? Drive a little further to Albany (5.5 hrs) and SWA has non stop flights only 2hr 55 min.?

I agree taking a stroller on a plane is a PITA. We rented them in the parks when our kids were little.

The simplest/most convenient methods are not necessarily the cheapest. You have to weight your time & sanity vs saving $$.

Dh often says sometimes the difference between a mediocre vacation and an awesome one is usually a few hundred $$.

Have you considered going while you're still pregnant? Really, they're much easier to carry that way than as a 4 mo old with lots of required stuff.

 

[Greenfield1984]

How about this? Drive a little further to Albany (5.5 hrs) and SWA has non stop flights only 2hr 55 min.?

Dh often says sometimes the difference between a mediocre vacation and an awesome one is usually a few hundred $$.

Have you considered going while you're still pregnant? Really, they're much easier to carry that way than as a 4 mo old with lots of required stuff.

Many times . But no I won't be going while the wife is pregnant. I want to save up the money first and then go. So us going in January is also contingent upon our having the funds.

And honestly I've never had anything other then an amazing time at the world. I'm really layed back, stress free and can easily adapt to changing situations. Which is why driving sounds good to me. It allows me to adapt.

However you do bring up a good point. Why not just rent a stroller at Disney. I didn't even consider this option because I know they overcharge and I've read that the strollers aren't that good. But if it allows me to take Disney transportation without lugging our own stroller around....wow so simple and yet I'm now leaning towards flying again.

Also thanks for that tip about Albany. Didn't even think about that one either.

 

[Greenfield1984]

...hey completely off topic but do you really have 3 cruises coming up soon?

Wow congrats! I'm excited for you!

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's a thread on the Budget Board right now about all the offsite companies in the WDW area that rent strollers .

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Many times . But no I won't be going while the wife is pregnant. I want to save up the money first and then go. So us going in January is also contingent upon our having the funds.

And honestly I've never had anything other then an amazing time at the world. I'm really layed back, stress free and can easily adapt to changing situations. Which is why driving sounds good to me. It allows me to adapt.

However you do bring up a good point. Why not just rent a stroller at Disney. I didn't even consider this option because I know they overcharge and I've read that the strollers aren't that good. But if it allows me to take Disney transportation without lugging our own stroller around....wow so simple and yet I'm now leaning towards flying again.

Also thanks for that tip about Albany. Didn't even think about that one either.

Wait, I take that back. IIRC, (it's been years since we've used one) they are hard molded plastic, not nice for an infant. The youngest we ever took one of ours was 18 mos. He was old enough to sit up, climb in, etc but it was hard for him to nap in. Strollers were cheap to rent back then. We did once stay offsite, renting a single home, and picked up a double stroller at a yard sale for about $20 and left it at the house when we were done with it so we didn't have to lug it back home again. You would have to rent a minivan or larger to do that which would be expensive too.

...hey completely off topic but do you really have 3 cruises coming up soon?

Wow congrats! I'm excited for you!

Yes, it's very addicting. We loved WDW til we tried the cruise line. It makes the parks feel like work. It's everything we love about Disney but in a very relaxing way. It's a much smaller crowd and with much more character interaction.

 

[Greenfield1984]

darn.
If i went with another rental company doesn't that mean i'd have to bring it back to the hotel with me? Or do they have it waiting at the front of the park for you each day?

I quickly perused the budget boards and that does seem to be the case.
Having to also hold onto a stroller so that it doesn't bounce around the bus really makes it hard to get around with the 3 kids. Although it may not be as dificult as I think. One will be in a baby carrier, another is old enough to sit without us holding onto her so that leaves just the two year old...something to consider.