For those who've taken DVD players on planes

[amsafko]

We leave on Friday for WDW and have a portable dvd player we were going to use on the plane to keep the kiddos entertained. Do we have to use headphones or is it okay to keep it at a low volume? Thanks.

 

[Mister Incredible]

You will want to bring headphones. A plane is relatively loud, and the volume would have to be turned up louder than you may think. Respect the people around you and bring headphones.

 

[Zoemakes5]

You'll need the headphones. With all the background noise, it's impossible to hear the dvd at all. And, if it's going to be loud enough to hear, it will be quite audible to everyone around you. I'd def. recommend headphones/earphones. We have three kids, so we got a "splitter" at radio shack that allows all three to listen at one time, or just two of them, if they prefer.

 

[5wdwfans]

The headphones are a must. You would need to turn the volume up pretty high to hear over engine noise and that would disturb others around you.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We used ours on low volume since it was a DVD DS pretty much knew by heart.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Headphones and a splitter, its the only way to go....

 

[JulieNMM]

We turned the volume all the way up and still couldn't hear a thing! Those planes are loud! Luckily we had headsets but my computer only has one plug but DH had a one-to-two converter thingy (I'm so technical! LOL) so both kids could hear. It might be worth testing out before you go (that you have 2 sets of headphones that work.)

JULIE

 

[HopperFan]

Please use headphones, not only for you to hear well, but so those around you don't have to listen to it.

Last flight we had there must have been 8 dvd players going on in our view alone plus the inflight movie. I can't imagine if they all had their volume going.

 

[kc10family]

Headphones and a splitter, its the only way to go....

I couldn't agree more.Have a great trip.

 

[amsafko]

That's exactly what I thought, my biggest concern was not disturbing others. Thanks!

 

[kstrib]

Actually, you can go to Radio Shack and get a head phone booster. It increases the volume so that you can actually hear it! And it works as a splitter. I have this and use it all the time. I also opted for the foldable big (old fashioned) ear phones. I thought that the surrounding ear padding would help keep the sound in the ear. Ds has no problems now.

 

[Goofygirls4God]

Last May we took our DVD player and 2 new movies the kids had not seen yet! It was a cake walk...me and husbad even got to talk some and then we put on our headphones and zoned out...it was so beautiful-I almost got teary!

Definately use the headphones for the kids...you will be so happy!

 

[K&KsMom]

You will definitely want to bring headphones with you. The plane is so loud that you will have to crank the main volume and then the other rows around you will hear the movie.

 

[las3888]

I understand not wanting to make noise for others around us, but we took DS on his first flight at 8.5 months and there was no way he could or would wear earphones. We did play his DVD on the lowest volume we could and it was really pretty low, but somebody nevertheless complained to a flight attendant. I felt bad because I really want to be respectful of others, but on the other hand I have got to do something to entertain this kid for hours on end and in the end I think people would prefer to hear a low played DVD versus my kid screaming his head off.

If they are old enough, definitely do headphones. We are going in a week and DS is now 13.5 mos. I still don't think he will keep the headphones on.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I understand not wanting to make noise for others around us, but we took DS on his first flight at 8.5 months and there was no way he could or would wear earphones. We did play his DVD on the lowest volume we could and it was really pretty low, but somebody nevertheless complained to a flight attendant. I felt bad because I really want to be respectful of others, but on the other hand I have got to do something to entertain this kid for hours on end and in the end I think people would prefer to hear a low played DVD versus my kid screaming his head off.

If they are old enough, definitely do headphones. We are going in a week and DS is now 13.5 mos. I still don't think he will keep the headphones on.

If kids can't or won't use headphones, wouldn't the passengers on the plane appreciate hearing a movie over crying, whining kids??? Some people just can't see beyond themselves. It sounds like you were being very courteous using low volume. I think some people are just kidphobic and feel annoyed just by their presence and/or they feel that "need" to constantly complain and find fault in everything.

I will be taking my 2 DDs on their first plane trip in a little over two weeks and we are also planning on taking our portable DVD player. I am hoping to get the bulkhead seats to minimize disruption to other passengers but my DD(5) is autistic and may or may not want to use the headphones. I hope noone complains if they can hear the volume because if I can't keep her occupied the whining and crying will be much louder than any DVD player.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I will be taking my 2 DDs on their first plane trip in a little over two weeks and we are also planning on taking our portable DVD player. I am hoping to get the bulkhead seats to minimize disruption to other passengers but my DD(5) is autistic and may or may not want to use the headphones. I hope noone complains if they can hear the volume because if I can't keep her occupied the whining and crying will be much louder than any DVD player.

You may want to check if the bulkheads are in the emergency row (depending on the plane) because if they are you won't be able to have the children sit there. Anyone sitting in those rows has to be able to assist in case of emergency. Have a great flight (and trip)!

 

[las3888]

If kids can't or won't use headphones, wouldn't the passengers on the plane appreciate hearing a movie over crying, whining kids??? Some people just can't see beyond themselves. It sounds like you were being very courteous using low volume. I think some people are just kidphobic and feel annoyed just by their presence and/or they feel that "need" to constantly complain and find fault in everything.

I will be taking my 2 DDs on their first plane trip in a little over two weeks and we are also planning on taking our portable DVD player. I am hoping to get the bulkhead seats to minimize disruption to other passengers but my DD(5) is autistic and may or may not want to use the headphones. I hope noone complains if they can hear the volume because if I can't keep her occupied the whining and crying will be much louder than any DVD player.

Thanks for making me feel better...I really did not want to bother the fellow passengers, especially seeing as it was my DS's first flight. The flight attendant kind of passed along the complaint to me and she didn't seem too sympathetic to me -- probably didn't have kids herself. I just shrugged and turned the volume down as much as I could.

Oh well...good luck on your trip. I hope the flight goes nice and smoothly for you!

 

[nicolem]

las388 -

I totally sympathize. When we took DS to WDW in Dec, he was 17mo and refused the headphones. Luckily, we'd brought his Baby Einstein DVDs, which were so engrossing to him that he didn't need the music. Of course, they only worked for about 30 minutes, and then he was ready for something else!

This is OT, but we, too, had a complaint lodged against us with a flight attendant: when DS had an "accident" on the plane, we had to change him in our laps, as there wasn't a changing table on the plane. There was no one else on our row, and we worked as quickly as possible (it wasn't as if we were enjoying the process!), but a very snooty flight attendant came up to us and said (loudly) that we were going to have to finish changing DS in the bathroom because the other passengers were very offended. By this point we already had the new diaper on, and those tiny little bathroom stalls aren't nearly big enough for me and DS, so we just got him dressed and did our best not to look anyone in the eye for the rest of the trip. It was extremely humilating and really left a bad taste in my mouth for the remainder of the flight.

I later complained to American about the way the flight attendant handled it, as well as the fact that changing tables weren't available.

 

[spiceycat]

my DVD player broke on the plane.... to this day I can't get answer what when wrong. It just stopped and no it was not the battery....

so I would be very carefully taking one....my CD works fine and generally does not bother anyone.

 

[Fionasmommy]

We always take headphones. I ordered some online that are kid sized, as the normal ones are way to big for my DD.