Is It Possible To Fly To WDW With An 18-Month Old?

[becka]

We were originally looking at driving to WDW (which I would still prefer in many ways) but if we fly we could be there for a few more days (more relaxing) and we would have more of a choice of dates - I am not particularly thrilled with going the weekend after Thanksgiving).

My concern is that the amount of "stuff" we would need to bring with us would be insurmountable. We would need to bring our big stroller, his carseat, plus all of our normal stuff (clothes, toilitries, cameras) etc. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed with stuff even when it was just DH and I flying to WDW. If we drive we will have our own car instead of renting an unfamiliar one and lots more room to bring our own pack n' play, etc. Plus we would obviously save on not having airfare. I don't think I would be comfortable with DS just in our laps on the plane so we would need to purchase him a seat. The cost of renting a car and flying certainly do add to the cost and may force us to stay at a cheaper resort.

Any experience from seasoned travelers with toddlers? What would you do?

 

[Rajah]

No kids here so I can't state from experience, but could you mail some of your stuff (things that, should it get lost in the mail, you could easily replace) to your resort so you wouldn't have to tackle flying with it?

 

[mrsmom]

I have four kids and have flown when they were 13 months 18 months, we just took our stroller to the gate, and the car seat , they sat in on the plane, just had a extra suitcase just for their stuff, never had any problems and it seems alot easier once you do it. I hope you enjoy your trip ,
kim

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

I travelled to Florida several times (though not to WDW) when my girls were babies/toddlers. the most memorable flight was when the younger dd was 13 months old and older dd was about 2 1/2. we flew to Ft. Myers to visit my former in-laws. we brought both girls and our dog, and had to change planes in North Carolina.

you are probably not going to want to ride with a toddler in your lap. been there, done that, won't do it again. so you'll be bringing the carseat on the plane, no big deal.

don't bring your regular stroller. buy an umbrella stroller or a lightweight travel stroller (I had one that actually reclined). I don't know what the rules are now, but we were able to bring ours onto the plane -- the flight attendant kept it up front, near the cockpit. even if you have to check it as luggage, you'll be better off with one that is lightweight and that you won't cry over if they lose it or break it.

pack snacks for your child and toys and books to keep him amused. most toddlers will be ok when the planelands if they have something to suck on.

make sure you bring extra clothes on the plane, and more diapers than you think you'll need. you never know what might happen.

don't be nervous, you'll be fine. enjoy.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Becka,

If you really did want to fly, it might not be as much of a challenge as you are thinking. I am not a frequent flyer, but did fly once with DS, and we were able to 'check' his carseat, just like a piece of baggage.... They put it in this like semi-clear heavy duty like plastic garbage sack, tagged it with all our info.... And, thru the luggage shoot it went.... Also, do airlines not 'stow' collapsable strollers for their passengers who need this? Surely other posters who have traveled recently will be able to give you the lowdown on these details.....

Boy, it really hits you you just how much 'STUFF' and work little ones require when you start to think about traveling!!!!
Either way, by Plane, Train, or Autombile..... all those 'necessarys' will have to be lugged with you, either way...

Maybe it boils down to your preferences.... I know that DS did NOT travel well, so the thought of hours and days traveling in the car with him was not a happy one! We flew once when he was still an infant, and he slept thru the majority of the flight!!!

 

[peg2001]

Becka,

People do it every day and you can too! Just scrutinize each item and decide if it is crucial to bring it or not. We went when my younger DD was about that age plus we had DD5. Get the smallest/lightest stroller that has a sun shade and a reclining seat. We bought a Graco Literider just for our WDW trip and essentially retired all our other strollers after that, we loved it so much. Skip the pack-n-play as the hotel will provide one. The carseat and own seat on the plane will be well worth it.

Here's what we did to minimize the hassle: We did curbside check-in. We used the stroller all the way to the plane and gate checked it. We stayed onsite and did not rent a car. We used a towncar service and they met us and helped with the luggage. We did a grocery stop to pick up snacks and extra diapers/wipes, etc. At the hotel, we used a cart for the luggage. We planned to do laundry so packed light.

Good luck!
Peggy

 

[4greatboys]

Becka our last trip the 2 youngest were 2.5 years and 5 months. We didnt take our big stroller. We bought a cheaper umbrella stroller. Ours dont recline but some do and some have little baskets. We pack very lightly for our trips. It seems that everyone has a couple of fav pair of shorts so even though I usually pack more they just wear very few items. My dh and I put our clothes in 1 suitcase, you could probably get in some outfits for Nathan in their too. Then in the diaper bag I put other baby clothes and diapers. You could always use a towncar service for round trip to the airport and use the grocery stop to get a package of diapers if you dont want to pack to many. I would just get a little travel dolly for your carseat (we didnt take ours). One person could puch the stroller in the airport (they take it from you as you board) and carry the diaper bag and the other could pull the suitcase and the dolly. You could even put some stuff in a backpack so you would have one less thing to carry. HTH some

 

[kejoda]

We flew to Philidelphia when Kevin was 8, John was 4 and Danny was almost 2. Yes it can be done but remember this was before stricter reg. started. If your carseat can be used in a Airplane you won't have to check it. The stroller can be checked at the gate. Use the carts! Plan on doing laundry (even if you have to hang up stuff to finish drying). Get in touch with the airline to find out what your limit on luggage is. We didn't buy a ticket for Danny. The plane was full leaving but coming home he had a seat. Worked out ok, he slept the whole way. I had a whole bag of stuff for the kids to do on the plane but they didn't play with them much. When I was picking up the duplos the night before I decided to take them. Best idea I ever had. John played with them the whole time. I counted them so we knew we had all the pieces. Bring quiet toys. We had people thank us for how quiet our kids were. Now if they knew them before they would of had the shock of their lives.

You can do this it just takes a little extra planning.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I flew to Orlando with DS when he was 18 months old, and I did it alone. We were meeting DH who was at a conference down there. It's possible. I used an umbrella stroller and car seat that we checked onto the plane, made sure we had a crib in the room, took along lots of juice and snacks, and put what would have normally been my purse into his diaper bag.

Actually that was one of my favorite trips. It was fun to watch the sparkle in his eyes when he saw all the Disney Magic.

If he has any trouble with ear infections, make sure you have something to drink when you fly. Sometimes a drink or snack will help the ears pop.

 

[KiminChicago]

It requires a little more planning when packing but it's not as difficult as you might think. We got one of the folding luggage carts and an umbrella stroller. You can use bungee cord to attach the carseat to the luggage cart and roll it right up to the gate. Pack a backpack with everything you'll need on the plane (diapers, snacks, toys and a couple of changes of clothing) to help keep your hands free. You can then use the backpack as a diaper bag in the parks. We also bring along one change of clothing for the adults in case our luggage gets lost, then use curb-side check-in for our large suitcase. We packed all the diapers we thought we'd need in our suitcase too, and use the extra space on the return trip for souvenirs.

 

[Deb in IA]

Although our kids are not toddlers anymore, we travelled a lot when they were young.

I agree with the stroller suggestions. Use an umbrella stroller, and gate-check it at the plane.

We've always found renting a car to be a hassle -- going to the rental counter, then out to the lot, negotiating traffic, navigating unfamiliar roads, worrying about filling it up on return, etc. Using a limo service is quicker, more convenient, and not that much more $$.

Forget the Pack and Play. Use the hotel's portable cribs.

And we always bought a seat on the plane and used our car seat. Just be sure the airline knows you are travelling with an infant, as there are seating restrictions (can't sit in an exit aisle, you want to be sure you are seated next to your baby). Seats in the bulkhead are nice for the extra room, but you will not have the storage space of the seat in front of you.

 

[pnelson]

We will be flying over Thanksgiving with our new (adopted) 20 month old. The only advice I disagree with here and elsewhere, is the "lightweight" umbrella stroller. I have a regular stroller and a lightweight one. The lightweight one is harder to steer because of smaller wheels and it's just not as comfortable for him. Our bigger one is much more smooth and will be more navigable at WDW. I am going to gate check it. The only real inconvenience I think is having to carry the car seat throughout the terminal until we take off.

Also, I called Delta and was able to get a discounted infant fare because we are using a car seat and he is travelling with adults.

I hate to fly, but I would rather fly and have it done with than have a long drive there and back.

 

[jel0511]

YES, and I've done it twice now, and the other time I had a 4 year old too!!! Here are the tips. First off, you don't need to bring a pack 'n play. Disney supplies them and they are in VERY good shape, actually better shape than mine! All you carry on the plane is your diaper bag (with small toys to entertain), baby, and car seat. That's it! Everything else gets checked, unless you need medications than carry that on. It makes it MUCH easier getting on/off the plane when you're not trying to carry bags as well. You gate check the stroller, so you wheel it up the jetway, leave it at the plane door,and it will be there when you arrive at your detsination. VERY EASY!! If you rent a car, you really don't have to pack too much in the way of baby supplies, you can stop off at the grocery store and get diapers, wipes, etc. Saves room in the baggage that way. Yes, you'll have a couple more pieces of luggage, but that's what those carts in the airport are for!! Utilize curb side check-in on both ends of the trip. Really helps keep down the lugging from the car, and is SO EASY!!! This way, you check-in, park your car, and then off to security, no bags. It will help you keep everything together. We've always flown to WDW and this year we're actually driving since we're going down for two weeks. We're looking it as an adventure not a cost saving move. If we don't like the drive, we'll be back to flying trust me!!! Traveling with a toddler can seem to be a dauting task, but remember, you'll need about half of what you think, and just CHECK everything. When we first traveled with our first, DD was 8 months. We brought an ENTIRE suitcase just filled with toys for her!! We went to St. John, and of course she didn't play with more than 2 of them. complete waste of space!! You don't need to bring your whole house, just a couple of favorites will be enough.

 

[ahutton]

Actually - I found that when DD was 18 months that was an easy and significantly lighter baggage trip! I pared down a lot of what I carried with me - I took 2 sippy cups and no bottles. We are DVC members so I had a washing machine. I went to Super Wal Mart on our first full day and bought diapers/wipes and such and just used their pack and play.

I must be the master of light packing though - our last trip there were 4 of us (2 DDs now) and we took 2 - 20 inch rolling bags, 2 lightweight strollers, an overnight bag, a diaper bag and my husbands lap top bag and we were there for 10 days. I did laundry every few days and packed "mix and match" but it worked like a dream!

 

[dcgrumpy]

I've flown w/DS to WDW when he was 4mos,1yo and 2yo. I specifically bought a lightweight stroller for vacations. On our last trip he saw the rental strollers at Epcot and kept trying to get in them. the next day at the MK we rented a double stroller for him, he loved it, he thought it was another ride. LOL. The worst part for me is getting from long term parking to the terminal at JFK with all of our crap.

 

[dennis99ss]

We have taken the children numerous times. We always get them a seat so they can sit in their car seats. They are more comfortable, and it gives something familiar to them. bring some chew toys, if the child is teething, etc. for the take off and landing. if not, bring something to eat, or something to suck on, to get their jaws working a bit to help their ears if they need it. bring some easy toys, games, books with you for the plane. something that will take up some time. remember a cup or bottle for the plane. If the child still eats out of a jar, etc. bring a couple of them with you. bring an extra change of clothes on the plane, just in case If you need to rent a car, get one that you feel comfortable with. A car service is just as well, and you already have your car seat.

Get a cover for the car seats, about 15-20 bucks from walmart or someplace. they have handles, and the ones we have you can put it on your back like a backpack. It helps going through the airport. plus, it keeps the seat clean through security.

at wdw, rent a stroller. use the hotels crib. stop at the local store and buy the food you will need, throw away bottles, diapers, etc. that way you don't have to mail them, and hope they find you, or, carry them with you.


have fun. get the child a frequent flyer number, so they can start an account. Some still have no time limits, some require travel within the next three years. southwest requires awards to be earned within a year, but, you never know.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

I've done it with DS when he was 4 months and DD when she was 20 months. Don't be affraid to try it! I don't know how far you live from Orlando, but chances are if you live far enough away to fly then it's probably going to be a long drive. Driving for long periods of time with toddlers is never that fun.

You can take whatever stroller you want...you can stroll it right up to the plane and they'll just take it and store it under the plane and then they'll have it waiting for you when you get off. It's really very easy. We even took our own Pack 'N Play for DS...we just checked it in with our luggage. I used the diaper bag as my carry on and it was loaded with diapers and all hte esentials...including toys to keep him occupied.

About the extra plane ticket for him...you might want to call and see how booked the flight is. If you take an early morning flight, the planes usually aren't that booked (depending on what time of the year you're going I'm sure) and they will give DS his own seat for free! That's how it worked out when we went. We took his car seat just in case they had that free seat and when we checked in they said they were holding the seat next to us for him. Delta is really great about that. When we went with DD when she was 20months, she sat in our lap...they had empty seats but there weren't two together (that was with American) That worked out just fine too.

Anyway, you really should go for it...it's not as complicated as you might think it is and I'm sure in the long run it'll be easier than driving anyway

 

[Jenn Lynn]

DD went on her first flight in February. I was kind of dreading it, but she slept 2 1/2 of the 3 hour flight both ways! We checked all of our luggage except a carry-on with our cameras and a backpack with toys and snacks for DD. We took a spill proof cup and a bottle of water. That worked great! We also had crackers and things for her to eat.
Before we left I went to the dollar store and bought her some sticker books. She LOVED them! I thought she would be too young but they were a hit! Also a few new books were great too.
Let your son stretch his legs a lot before you board the plane. That will help him out.
My Sister traveled with her DS alone and for his carseat she got one of those luagge carries that have 2 wheels and you can strap your bags on them. You can get them in the luggage dept. of any store. She had problems when she got off of the plane because no one would help her, there were no carts, and she had a Toddler a VERY heavy carseat and a backpack. DH carried our carseat through the airport and he said never again!
We also got a half price ticket for DD since she was not 2 yet.

 

[Antonia]

We were in Orlando last week and I noticed many billboards advertising baby items for rent - strollers, etc. Just a thought - I have no baby so no experience with flying with one.

 

[Gette88]

We flew when DD was 6 months and again at 18 months. We didn't have any problems. We gate checked the stroller. Just remember the snacks and toys. It wasn't bad at all.