HAs anyone bought or taken a portable DVD player for the kids for the airplane?

[PaulaSue]

Is there anything special I should know about flying with one?

Can you get 3 sets of earphones with them?

Did it seem to keep the kids happy for the wait in the airport and flying time?

We are flying for the first time with the girls and it is about 2 hours to the airport, 2 hours wait and 2 hours flying time. I am trying to plan if it is a good option for us.

Any recommendations of what to buy and how big of a screen to get? I have time and am thinking ahead for the day after Thanksgiving sales time to pick one up.

TIA!

 

[Eeyoreloverforever]

But yes we did purchase a 7in screen DVD player for our last trip. We didn't use it in the car (we have a built in DVD player) and we didn't use it in the airport. We just let them run around and look in stores, have snacks or meals if it was that time. We used it on the plane and it was a godsend. Baby dd was only 1 and it is hard to find something to entertain a 1 yr old for a 3 hr flight. Older dd was 6 and can read or do other things to entertain herself.

The battery only lasted 3 hrs. I am hoping dh can purchase another battery.

We also used it while waiting for food in restaurants, and while waiting for parades or shows to start.

I hope my info was of some help.

It was the best thing we have bought. We now keep it in the diaper bag for when we go out to eat.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

An extra battery would be a good back up. On our battery we get two disney movies (roughly 90 minutes a piece) per charge. You can use the car charger in the car--but some players requires removing the battery--otherwise it uses the battery power even though you are plugged in to the car.

You can get a splitter jack to accomodate two headphones--if one of the headphones has a removable earpiece--then 3 people can listen in.

Other than that--we don't get to try ours out on a plane until December.

 

[billwendy]

Boy have we used ours!!! we have a 7" one and LOVE it,,,,just be careful, they seem to be a tiny bit fragile,,,at the orlando airport they handled mine, and i had to replace it after that( we switched to an earlier flight so were searched extra).

definately get the extra battery, well worth it!! if you need 3 earphones, then either do the thing mentioned above or you could get 2 splitters,,,put one into the headphone jack, and the other one into one of the splitter holes so you will have 3!! we have actually done the single ear piece as well so 4 people could listen when a plane was delayed!! really helped to pass the time and it was fun choosing movies together to watch!!

Got ours and the battery and the splitter all at walmart. Oh, dont forget to pack your charger!!

wendy

 

[all4fun]

We use ours on the plane only. The battery only lasts a few hours and since we have about six hours flying time we reserve use when there is very little to entertain ds going on. It works well on the plane though. We also have headphone splitters. You can get them at Radio Shack.

At the airport we let ds run up and down the people mover belt (like an escalator, only flat - I don't know the technical name, lol). He loved that. He was only 23 months on our last trip though - I'm sure as he gets older entertaining him will become more complicated!

 

[buddy&wooz]

I just picked up a three way headphone splitter at Radio Shack for less than $8 so my kids can watch DVDs in the car.

 

[8 Ears]

Our boys would like one but DH is concerned about the hassle and extra time it would take getting it through security. Could you tell me more about what they ask you to do? Turn it on? Bring a movie up? Thanks for all your in sight!

 

[pdmeroc]

We bought a computer with DVD player. Much bigger screen and can be carried on planes with no prob. Might need and extra battery for a longer flight, but depends on what adapter can be plugged into plane. Works great in car/van as it can be loaded on a seat, between the two front seats (in a van) whereever. We bought a car adapeter and added separate speakers plugged into the headphones jack. The kids watch movies, we listen to books.
Cost of computer is around $600 now for a basic model, plus add $150 for accessories (bag, mouse, adadpters, etc.....). 7" DVDs are quite small, so are more portable, but can't be used as a computer. Computer also can be used in the rooms to watch the movies!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Our boys would like one but DH is concerned about the hassle and extra time it would take getting it through security. Could you tell me more about what they ask you to do? Turn it on? Bring a movie up? Thanks for all your in sight!

My sister travels all the time---don't recall her ever having to do this.

A DVD player isn't considered a laptop--but as with any electronic device, it is subject to search and demonstration.

You can always have a disc in it ready to go if they ask.

 

[billwendy]

never had to open ours going through regular security, just kept it in my back pack,,,,

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We have used our's several times at WDW and on other trips. We have never been asked to open it at the airport. We even use it in the room to watch movies at night (sometimes my dd's are just too wound up to sleep!). I keep ours in my mini-van, you never know when it will come in handy. We use two splitters that way four people can listen. The prices on the portable DVD players have come way down, too. I saw one a couple of months ago at our Sam's club, for a 10 inch screen for $198! I don't know what brand it was our the quality of the screen, but that's cheap!

 

[Windy City Heather]

I have never been asked to open mine at the airport. The only issue I have is you have to shut if off for take off and landing. My toddler just does not understand. Also, some airlines have power ports under the seat and sometimes only on certain seats. Some airlines show them online if not have your TA look into it. Saves a lot on the battery.

 

[homedad]

We take our portable DVD player for all plane trips and its great. The one thing I would look for is a good sound system, they can be hard to here on planes even with headphones. DS and DD do not complain if he/she can't hear their just happy to be watching a movie. Security has never asked us to take it out of the diaper bag. Best $200 ever spent.

 

[8 Ears]

wow, thank you for all the great replies! Will show DH, I am not super hype on flying either so maybe Mom will use it as well

 

[PaulaSue]

WOW, Great ideas!!!!! Thanks!!!!

Lots to think about. I am just wondering if I should get 2 since I have 3 girls and one is the yang to there ying. I am also thinking we all can't sit together on the flight so no one would be left out.

I also pack the kitchen sink. I am the clutter queen's (Emma's) mom.

 

[sanilacjack]

We have used our portable DVD player several times on trips. As stated before its a Godsend. We purchased the extra rechargable battery when we got it. Well worth the extra price. We also got an little wire splicer thingie that you could plug two headphones ii to it at once for about 2.50 at best buy. Also Target has these wonderful fold up headphone that take up no space at all.

I really don't know what we did beofre this stuff!!!!


-Kim

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I am thinking of taking my laptop with me to WDW, it has a built in dvd in it so that we can watch movies on the plane. I do need to get headphones and a splitter so we can both listen. My battery only lasts about 3 1/2 hours though...

 

[cindy21494]

We have used ours for the last 5 years and it has been a godsend for us. My youngest does not sit still on the flights, but as soon as I pull out the DVD player, she sits back and watches it the whole way.

Unfortunately, when we returned from Disney last week, we forgot the case on the airport cart while waiting for a shuttle back to the hotel we stayed at. It was 1:00am and we were tired and my DH wasn't feeling well. By the time the shuttle got back to the airport, the cart was still there, but the case was gone. We called lost and found (my name and address was all over the case and DVD player) but it wasn't returned. So, it looks like I have to shop around for a new one. I'm more uspset that my Mickey DVD case and 12 movies are gone. The DVD player was starting to act up from major use , so I was thinking of getting a new one anyway. I will be checking and double checking we have all our bags with us from now on.

 

[wendypooh]

We got DS5 one last year........... it was the best thing we ever did!!! He loved it!!! I wouldn't hesitate to urge you to go ahead and get one........ we had an unexpected layover, and it saved the day!!!! LOL

Oh, and we didn't have any problem with security, we left it in our carry on, which went thru the security scan....... but we didn't have to take it out or open up or anything............ now with the laptop........ DH had to take it out of the bag, but it wasn't a big deal.........

Tell DH to go ahead and get one........ cause if little one is happy, then mommy is happy, then everyone is happy!!!!!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I was considering taking our laptop for DVDs on the plane but I'm already carrying enough bags, so I opted to buy a portable DVD player as they have gone down considerably in price. I ended up with a new portable player by Disney--it has a small screen and it's perfect for a small child. Best Buy has them for $119 right now (Princess theme, Mickey, Power Rangers) but I purchased mine on Ebay for $85. It's small and cute and works very well. So now I can carry it in my backpack instead of carrying an extra laptop bag.