Help with transport of 4 kids in carseats?!?!

[imtheluckyone]

We are traveling to Disney for 10 days in May and are exploring all the options for getting from MCO to our resort Bonnet Creek and back again. Our group is 3 adults and 5 kids. hoped to rent a 10-12 passenger van but cost is more than our budget allows and the need to rent 4 carseats at $50+ each just puts it over the edge. So I made an online reservation with a limo/van transport company and was called and informed they only have 1 carseat and 2 booster seats total. Unless we bring carseats they could not accept our reservation. Come to find out this is common with other transport companies as well. HELP! bringing our carseats from home is really not an option. We are traveling with with 5 children (including 3 that are age 2 and under) and already bringing 2 double strollers.
I am open to any thoughts and ideas.

 

[momof3ds]

why can't you bring car seats?

You either rent them, buy them there somehow, or try to travel without them but then you'd risk being in an accident or having a taxi refuse to transport you.

 

[momto3pirates]

We are traveling to Disney for 10 days in May and are exploring all the options for getting from MCO to our resort Bonnet Creek and back again. Our group is 3 adults and 5 kids. hoped to rent a 10-12 passenger van but cost is more than our budget allows and the need to rent 4 carseats at $50+ each just puts it over the edge. So I made an online reservation with a limo/van transport company and was called and informed they only have 1 carseat and 2 booster seats total. Unless we bring carseats they could not accept our reservation. Come to find out this is common with other transport companies as well. HELP! bringing our carseats from home is really not an option. We are traveling with with 5 children (including 3 that are age 2 and under) and already bringing 2 double strollers.
I am open to any thoughts and ideas.

How is the flight going to work? Will all 3 of the little ones be lap babies or will they have their own seat? If they have a seat they will need carseats for the flight. What airline are you flying? Have you looked into possible checking the carseats as your second piece of luggage? Just make sure they are well protected. I have never traveled with that many young children, but I'm sure someone with lots more expertise will chime in to help.
Have a great trip.

 

[imtheluckyone]

We definately would not travel in a vehicle without carseats (with the exception of shuttle bus from resort to the parks) so we just need to figure out the best option that gets us from point A to point B safely and without huge expense.
Our 2 youngest will be lap children on the plane. The other 3 kids will have their own seats. We are flying Jetblue. We *could* bring carseats... but how would we manage luggage for 8 people, 2 double strollers and 4 carseats all while trying to wrangle 5 kids at the airport? Plus if we use the carseats as additional checked bags it would cost as much as it would to just rent or buy them in Orlando.
Maybe we should just leave the kids home

 

[gigi1313]

have you considered something like this for the carseat/thru the airport?

http://www.theportablebaby.com/gogokidz.html

that way you could bring your own carseats, have a place for the kiddos in the airport and rent strollers (baby's best friend or other companies) to be delivered to the resort.

 

[momof3ds]

Car seats do not count against your luggage on Jet blue:
http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/webisapi.dll?New,Kb=askBlue,case=obj(373795)


You can always pull up to the curb and do curbside checkin or have someone run inside and rent a trolley to pile the car seats and luggage on until you get to the check in counter.

 

[imtheluckyone]

Car seats do not count against your luggage on Jet blue:

You can always pull up to the curb and do curbside checkin or have someone run inside and rent a trolley to pile the car seats and luggage on until you get to the check in counter.

thank you! looks like this might be the way to go. I had no idea we could check the carseats for free.

 

[cel_disney]

Hmm...We are a family of 4 and have had no problem taking 2 kids, 2 carseats, and a double stroller to the airport. I dont think its THAT hard. I also buy plane seats for my kids so I bring the carseats on the plane and gate check the stroller (no charge regardless of the ticket being paid for). You should be able to gate check the carseat and strollers if you need to at no extra charge (you just cant carry on or check at ticketing).

We usually travel with 1 adult backpack, 1 kids backpack, 2 large roller boards, 2 carseats, and the stroller. I put the kids in the stroller, and I am responsible for 1 carseat, and the 2 backpacks. My DH takes 2 roller boards, and 1 carseat (usually wears it backpack style by pulling out the straps or slides the straps over the rollerboard handle). We also sometimes just grab the 5$ luggage cart which also makes things really easy until you ditch luggage at checkin or in the car after!

Since there are 8 of you - have you considered renting an 8 passenger Sienna from Alamo? We rented one last year and it worked great! I installed the rear facing babes in the way back and loaded them in/out each trip through the trunk so it was easy to do! Not sure what the rates are for May, but I got it last September with Visa codes and a 30$ off coupon for about 230$ for a week. It was wonderful to have our own transportation! I think that much harder than what you are concerned with in the airport is being on a disney bus with standing room only with 2 kids and a double stroller that has to be folded!!!

 

[alaska8]

Hello
Heres my advice, take the car seats (they do not count towards your baggage allowance) and although I am a big advocate of having a child in a car seat on the aircraft I would probably just go ahead and check them at the ticket counter. Unless you can find someway to get them to the gate (luggage carts are not allowed to be taken thru the security checkpoints) Do curbside dropoff and have a skycap porter assist you with luggage (so worth the tip!) to the ticket counter. I always take my time going thru the security checkpoint I just tell people to go around me when Im getting stuff organised to go on the "belt".
Also not sure if you are aware but on some aircraft it is not permitted to have two lapchildren in the same row (not enough oxygen masks). The aircraft I fly on are 3 seats either side so only one lapchild per row (of 6 seats) unless there is an empty seat.

 

[imtheluckyone]

Hmm...We are a family of 4 and have had no problem taking 2 kids, 2 carseats, and a double stroller to the airport. I dont think its THAT hard. I also buy plane seats for my kids so I bring the carseats on the plane and gate check the stroller (no charge regardless of the ticket being paid for). You should be able to gate check the carseat and strollers if you need to at no extra charge (you just cant carry on or check at ticketing).

We usually travel with 1 adult backpack, 1 kids backpack, 2 large roller boards, 2 carseats, and the stroller. I put the kids in the stroller, and I am responsible for 1 carseat, and the 2 backpacks. My DH takes 2 roller boards, and 1 carseat (usually wears it backpack style by pulling out the straps or slides the straps over the rollerboard handle). We also sometimes just grab the 5$ luggage cart which also makes things really easy until you ditch luggage at checkin or in the car after!

Since there are 8 of you - have you considered renting an 8 passenger Sienna from Alamo? We rented one last year and it worked great! I installed the rear facing babes in the way back and loaded them in/out each trip through the trunk so it was easy to do! Not sure what the rates are for May, but I got it last September with Visa codes and a 30$ off coupon for about 230$ for a week. It was wonderful to have our own transportation! I think that much harder than what you are concerned with in the airport is being on a disney bus with standing room only with 2 kids and a double stroller that has to be folded!!!

Agreed! It's not that hard to travel with 2 adults and 2 kids. We have done it in the past with 3 adults and 3 kids, carseats, strollers and all and managed to make it work. However, IMO it's a totally different ball game when you are outnumbered by the kids (and they are so young). I will definately look into the Sienna. All the rental companies I have checked so far were quoting 7 passenger minivans not 8. Thanks for the tip.

 

[WicketsMom]

We only have one child, but always gate check his carseat vs. having it tossed around with the checked baggage. You can get a large plastic bag to put it in to protect against rain/dirt at the baggage counter. I would use the two carseats for the older two on the plane, and gate check the ones for the younger kids. Lots to haul, but we did see a family with four carseats doing the same on our last trip. We kept our son in his carseat on the plane until he was four. It raises them up high enough to see out the window and is easier than keeping them from unbuckling the seatbelt. He's old enough now to know that he must stay buckled in for the duration of the flight.

 

[tjmw2727]

Normally I would agree that gate checking a carseat (or even better using it on the aircraft) is the best option in this case it could be difficult.

I would at least bring the baby's carseat all the way to the gate and gate check that one. Especially if it is a "bucket" that can attach to one of the double strollers. This way the baby can ride in stroller in the carseat and you know you have a safe clean comfortable seat for the baby.

Then just check the rest through with the luggage as baby equipment is definately free on Jet Blue.

Check your seat assignments and make sure your set up to have the lap riders in different rows as there are only 4 oxegyn masks in each row of 3.

 

[cel_disney]

I totally appreciate the challenges of being outnumbered by kids! I have traveled with just my 2 alone without DH and know that its not as easy but still doable with 1 adult, 2 kids, 2 carseats, 2 backpacks, 1 stroller...its why I always get them seats on planes - on top of the safety - its really my sanity! Being able to have a place to actually strap them in where they cannot escape is a huge bonus!!

I would suggest that you carry as many carseats as you can to the gate area and bag them up and check them at the gate rather than check them at ticketing if at all possible. They really take a beating thru ticketting and you have less of a guarantee that they will arrive safely, dry, and in on your flight!

If you use the 5$ cart rental thing to get you to ticketting and then ditch your real luggage, the 3 adults/5 kids wont be as daunting...and with 2 double strollers you can put 4 kids in those seats and usually rest a carseat on each stroller hood...

 

[imtheluckyone]

Thanks everyone! I am new to this site and so appreciative of all the prompt and helpful responses. I know it's not easy to travel with kids so all the BTDT advice is super helpful. I have a feeling I will become addicted to these boards over the next few months.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the 8 passenger vans have very little storage. not sure you would be ablr to put 2 double srollers plus luggage on the back. check that out before you go that route. check one out at a dealer or rental near you. also some airlines make you check, not gate check, double strollers. i would not want to travel around Orlando airport with that many small children without strollers.

 

[gigi1313]

Have you considered renting two cars? It may make transporting easier overall...

 

[n2mm]

Check your car seats. Check to make sure you don't have 2 lap babies in the same row (you will be reassigned, so do it now while you have a choice of seats). Rent 2 cars, you will not find something big enough for luggage. If you can't handle the luggage admittedly, your vehicle won't either -- btw a 15 passenger van would be too expensive. Use an airport porter. They are there for situations like yours. Yes, you'll have to tip, but it will be worth it. Remember when checking your carseats, they need to be in bags. Some folks use clear trashbags, or you can buy carseat bags at Walmart/Target for around $20. These bags need to have ID tags attached too. We travel with our 3 granddaughters for years and while they are older now (2, 4, 6) we've had to deal with carseats, lap babies, strollers, and getting 2 cars. But we always have the extra adults (their mom and dad) with us and it can still be challenging. Just getting through security when each of you have to carry a baby through and get your stuff through the machines can be overwhelming. Good luck.

 

[CarrieR]

Please, please *don't* check your car seats! Lugagge handlers are notorious for not being gentle with seats, and believe it or not, having a broken seat upon arrival is not the worst case scenario... worse yet would be a seat that does not appear damaged yet is compromised and fails in an accident. When we have families come into carseat checks, "Have you checked this seat on an airplane?" is on my list of question to ask, and if the answer is yes, we consider it crashed and advise the family to replace the seat.

Here's a video -- the pile to the left of the belt is carseats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmJr1a-BHU

How old are the kids? I would be happy to propose a plan for you guys but having the kids' ages would help.

 

[gigi1313]

Please, please *don't* check your car seats! Lugagge handlers are notorious for not being gentle with seats, and believe it or not, having a broken seat upon arrival is not the worst case scenario... worse yet would be a seat that does not appear damaged yet is compromised and fails in an accident. When we have families come into carseat checks, "Have you checked this seat on an airplane?" is on my list of question to ask, and if the answer is yes, we consider it crashed and advise the family to replace the seat.

Here's a video -- the pile to the left of the belt is carseats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmJr1a-BHU

How old are the kids? I would be happy to propose a plan for you guys but having the kids' ages would help.

The kids ages are in the OPs signature

 

[ain0004]

When we traveled with 3 kids and car seats and strollers. We did the following #1 made the kids walk at the airport. Trust me they need to burn energy #2 We used the strollers as the transporter. We put the car seats and luggage on top of the sit and stand stroller. Less hassle breeze threw check in.