Help me get through the airport!

[jack'smom]

I am flying in a couple weeks to WDW with my two youngest (1 and 3 years old). It will just be me and the two little ones at the airport/on the plane. I need your suggestions on how to carry all of our stuff. I will have the following:

• a double stroller
• 2 car seats (I have backpack car seat bags for each); 1 car seat will be checked all the way through but I need a car seat on the plane for the 1 year old (I purchased a seat for him)
• a double stroller (compact--a Twin Maclaren)
• probably 1 suitcase, which will be checked
• diaper bag (backpack)
• a backpack for the 3 year old

Once a check the suitcase and 1 car seat, I don't think it will be too bad. However, I need to figure out how to get from parking my car at the airport to check in and from baggage claim to my rental car at the airport with all of this stuff. Any ideas??

I know the two backpacks can go on the stroller handles, I can backpack carry one of the car seats. The stroller is easy to push, so I can probably push it with one hand and roll the suitcase with the other. It's really just the other car seat that has me stumped!

 

[Accident]

Call ahead and let them know you need assistance. airlines/airports are prepared to help and pre-warned, they will be right there ready to help out at both sides of the flight.

 

[Stacyleigh1999]

Leave the stroller and rent one when you get there, lots of places do stroller rentals in Oralndo and will have it waiting for you at your hotel. Get a baby carrier for the 1yr old (tula is a great option) and a very light weight car seat. Wear baby and put the light weight car seat in your bag and put it on your back. You can probably stuff the diaper bag in the bag with the car seat til you get to your terminal. 3yr old can wear her own backpack. That really just leaves the 2nd car seat bag and the suitcase. I'd get a luggage strap and strap the 2nd car seat bag to the suitcase to leave one hand free to hold your 3yr olds hand and pull the suitcase with the other.

 

[tabrizia]

Something like this to connect one car seat to a carry on, then you can use it as a stroller for the elder child as well. Baby carrier on the front for the baby, car seat on the back. Backpacks on the handle of the carry on or on the car seat strapped to the carry on and the 3 year old walking.

 

[quagmire0]

Here's what we usually do with multiple kids:
1. When we get to the airport, we use skycab to check in our luggage. Costs a little money, but well worth it. This leaves us with just carry-ons (usually a backpack and diaper bag), the carseats, and the stroller.
2. Security is going to be the biggest pain, because you're flying solo. Here's where you might ask for some help or hope for some kindness from strangers. Here's also where, if you think you can manage it, going without the stroller and renting one when you get there might be a good idea. I'd recommend a double stroller from Kingdom Strollers or one of the other rental companies. Not having to fold up that stroller and send it through security and then unfold when you get out will save you a lot of time and hassle. I'd say wear the 1 year old and have the 3 year old by the hand.
3. Car seats can either be strapped onto a rolling carry-on or you can buy one of those carriers that you can strap the car seat to. You can then even strap the 3 yo or 1 yo to the car seat and roll them. Or, strap the carseats together and roll them along with the backpacks. If you're wearing the 1yo, you'll now have one hand for the 3yo and one of the rolling pile of stuff.
4. After you land, wear the 1yo and rent one of those luggage carts right away. Stack your stuff on it and then head to baggage claim.
5. Pre-check in with your car rental company so that you can then just push the cart to the rental lot and go. Make sure you are using a company that is actually on site. I recommend Alamo.
6. Toss the kids in the car and then load your luggage. Install the seats and then put the kids in them. And off you go.
7. On the way back, use an extra strap on the luggage to carry the 3 yo/car seat. That way, you'll have 1yo on you, 3yo/luggage/car seat on one hand and other car seat/bags stuff in the other.

My wife and I usually have two pairs of hands, so it makes it easier, but the key for you is to minimize what you are bringing as much as possible. The stroller and car seats will cause you the greatest grief at security, as you have to dismantle everything and run it through. That's why I'd say that if you can manage w/o the stroller, do so. Car seats are a necessity, and renting them is pretty expensive. IMO, the stroller rentals are much more affordable and predictable in terms of quality/availability as well.

 

[kwdw]

Honestly, skip hauling the car seats at all. Rent them with the rental car. Your life just got a TON easier. Yes, admittedly more costly - but easier. I'd take the stroller unless wearing your 1 year old ALL the time is a viable option for you.

Yes - I realize you could have two squirmy kids on your hands on the plane without a car seat - but you will have access problems to one of them on the plane with it.

 

[jack'smom]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am going to think about them and try to come up with a solution that fits us the best.

Unfortunately my 1 year old needs a car seat, I can't rent one. He is only 14 months old, so he can't sit on an airplane seat safely without one. He also has a severe peanut/tree nut allergy and I would be a nervous wreck with him sitting in a rented car seat without washing it first.

 

[Pesky]

Been there, bought the t-shirt! You are right that it is just that brief period of getting to the baggage check-in and getting to the rental car place. Here's what I did:
* park in the remote lot and park as close to a shuttle pick up point as you can. I would keep the kids with me and run bags to the pick up point, dump them, run back to my car, and then get my final load with the kids. Luckily not a lot of thieves roaming a remote lot where they'd have to pay to exit. I'd also drop the unexciting stuff like car seats in the bags first. Once the bus appeared, the driver or other passengers usually helped me get my stuff onboard. At the airport, because we are dropped off a level below, I'd get once of those ridiculously expensive luggage carts, dump everything on there, and have the kids "help" me push it (I'd probably wear the 1 YO in a carrier at this point) so I could keep tabs on where they were easier. This would get me to the check-in counter. Voila!
* to get to the rental car place, I'd rent another one of those carts at the baggage claim. That would at least get me to the rental bus or counter (and if lucky, even to the rental car). Another thing I've done is use my stroller. So I'd put one car seat on my back, put the baby in the carrier, put the other carry-on and carseat bags in the stroller, wheel the stroller with one hand, and drag the wheeled suitcase with the other. Luckily, the rental bus or counter is rarely far, so it is a brief period of discomfort.

So whatever you do, make sure you have a carrier and I'd switch it to carry the baby in front so as to free up your back. And FYI, yeah, I rented car seats once. NEVER.AGAIN. Major airport, major rental agency and they were horrible. I've insisted on traveling with ours since and my DH does not disagree (he was also appalled by what we got). Also, FYI, as your kids get even a little older, they can help pull the suitcases and stuff and that helps a ton. Good luck!

 

[jack'smom]

Been there, bought the t-shirt! You are right that it is just that brief period of getting to the baggage check-in and getting to the rental car place. Here's what I did:
* park in the remote lot and park as close to a shuttle pick up point as you can. I would keep the kids with me and run bags to the pick up point, dump them, run back to my car, and then get my final load with the kids. Luckily not a lot of thieves roaming a remote lot where they'd have to pay to exit. I'd also drop the unexciting stuff like car seats in the bags first. Once the bus appeared, the driver or other passengers usually helped me get my stuff onboard. At the airport, because we are dropped off a level below, I'd get once of those ridiculously expensive luggage carts, dump everything on there, and have the kids "help" me push it (I'd probably wear the 1 YO in a carrier at this point) so I could keep tabs on where they were easier. This would get me to the check-in counter. Voila!
* to get to the rental car place, I'd rent another one of those carts at the baggage claim. That would at least get me to the rental bus or counter (and if lucky, even to the rental car). Another thing I've done is use my stroller. So I'd put one car seat on my back, put the baby in the carrier, put the other carry-on and carseat bags in the stroller, wheel the stroller with one hand, and drag the wheeled suitcase with the other. Luckily, the rental bus or counter is rarely far, so it is a brief period of discomfort.

So whatever you do, make sure you have a carrier and I'd switch it to carry the baby in front so as to free up your back. And FYI, yeah, I rented car seats once. NEVER.AGAIN. Major airport, major rental agency and they were horrible. I've insisted on traveling with ours since and my DH does not disagree (he was also appalled by what we got). Also, FYI, as your kids get even a little older, they can help pull the suitcases and stuff and that helps a ton. Good luck!

Thank you for your advice, especially about the car seats. I figured they weren't in very good condition but that seals the deal.

I am flying out of a very small airport, so all we have is on-site parking. Therefore, I do need to walk from my car to the gate. There are no luggage carts available in the parking garage...I wish there were! I do have a couple carriers for the baby (Tula and Ergo) and I like the idea of using the stroller as a luggage cart. My 3-year old is independent and a bit of a runner, so I'll have to watch her, but maybe she can help push the stroller.

 

[tabrizia]

Thank you for your advice, especially about the car seats. I figured they weren't in very good condition but that seals the deal.

I am flying out of a very small airport, so all we have is on-site parking. Therefore, I do need to walk from my car to the gate. There are no luggage carts available in the parking garage...I wish there were! I do have a couple carriers for the baby (Tula and Ergo) and I like the idea of using the stroller as a luggage cart. My 3-year old is independent and a bit of a runner, so I'll have to watch her, but maybe she can help push the stroller.

Another option for the 3 year old is one of the backpack leashes if you are afraid that she might run. They look like dog or monkey backpacks and the tails have an arm hole so you can put it around your wrist. Then she stays close and you don't have to worry about her running. I used one with my kids mainly when travelling since I often travel/travelled solo with 2 or later all 3 of them when they were littler.

 

[Thing 1]

I agree that you absolutely will want your own car seats. Not a lot more to share except that remember that strangers can be so kind and helpful. I know if my family saw you we would for sure offer to carry a car seat or suitcase etc. The only other thing is making very sure that the three year old is safe by putting him in the stroller or perhaps even wearing him on your back. I hate those child leases but if he is going to be walking, I would absolutely have one on him. Even if you are holding his hand, things happen and better safe than sorry.

 

[Pesky]

Agree on the backpack leash for your 3YO if a runner. I used it frequently at that age in crowded places if I was alone with the 2 of them. Worked great. You can find those at Target, BRU and all other major retailers. Agree that you might have help from some strangers to get to the terminal. At the very least you might have a funny story to tell later.

 

[Thing 1]

Just one addition: I recommend the lease even if he is NOT a runner. Number one....you never trust a three year old . Second, airports are busy, sometimes crazy places. People can be in a big rush and running to get to their gate and people get bumped and separated. If he walks, I would do the lease.