Is Magical Express OK for Babies?

[disneygrlz]

We'll be traveling in about a month to WDW w/ our 3yr old DD and our 11mos DD. The info on the Disney website says that carseats aren't allowed. I'm a little worried about how safe the buses are w/o any protection for the baby since she'll be in my lap, but we'll be traveling at high speeds on the highway?

Has anyone gone w/ a baby? How safe did you feel?

Anyone have suggestions on how to make the bus ride safe? Also, what about the buses on property? Are these safe for infants to ride in?

TIA!!

 

[fran99999]

The busses used are made for long trips. I think I would prefer having my child sit in the seat next to me. IMO I hate the idea of a child sitting as a cushion for the adult if an accident did occur. My DS6 now was 2 when I first took him to disney. We used the mears transportation. I had him sit on the seat next to me. I had my arm accross the front of him and held at his belly so he wouldnt travel on the seat.
If you can try to get a seat right under one of the TV's this will keep them occupied watching the TV. The DVD they show has Mickey and the gang it is very colorful so it may keep their attention to keep them sitting somewhat still.

Is it 100% safe NO. Is anything that safe NO. Would I trust my kids on the busses YES. The drivers are professional drivers. They drive with the utmost care of the passengers. They know if they have an issue NO TIP LOL. As for the Busses to and from the parks they are usually so crowded if you fell you would probably not hit the floor. But do try to sit on the side facing seats with your kids in your lap again I hate that using your child as a cushion. I have seen the results and as I am sure you do MY kids sit in the back with all safety devices used or the car doesnt move.

I may have a false sense of security, but I feel safer on a disney bus than a local transit bus. The local busses are the same busses and I know some of the drivers but I still feel safer on a disney bus. Go figure.

 

[Mojomanny]

Good Question!



Based on your question, I would presume that you are putting the baby in car seat on the airplane, which is travelling at much higher speeds. When DS (now 9) was a baby, paying for a seat is the only way we could be sure that he was not be on our laps on the plane.

You can then use the car seat that you used on the plane on the bus. There may not be any seat belts on the bus (I do not know if there are or not) but the child would still be better off buckled into the unrestrained car seat than sitting on your lap.

One word of caution: You need to make sure your car seat is FAA certified. It would have a sticker or be stamped into the plastic if it is.

 

[Lewisc]

There aren't any seat belts. I don't think a child seat that's not secured is very safe.

 

[JudithM]

There were no seat belts on the DME busses we were on last week.

 

[goofy4tink]

A few clarifications for you....no seat belts, but I would guess that you could still put your child in the carseat you use on the plane. I would think that would be better than just sitting on the seat. The bus is very safe. As to driving at a high rate off speed on the highways, it really isn't a big issue. I have used DMe for two trips so far, and I don't think the bus ever left the right lane of the highway. We used a lot of secondary type roads also. The buses used on-site seemed to move at a faster clip than the DME buses...go figure.
I think you will be very comfortable on the buses. I never felt unsafe at any time. And would be very comfortable with a young child or baby on it with me.

 

[CleveRocks]

You can then use the car seat that you used on the plane on the bus. There may not be any seat belts on the bus (I do not know if there are or not) but the child would still be better off buckled into the unrestrained car seat than sitting on your lap.

NO NO NO NO NO.

Faced with this choice, it is MUCH safer to hold your 11 month old on your lap/against your body than it is to have that baby in an unfastened car seat on a bus. Your baby is much more secure in your arms. In a collision, there's no way you'd be able to secure the combined weight of the baby AND the carseat if that weight is beside you. The baby/carseat combination would become a missile. Very dangerous.

DME buses and Disney Transport buses have no seat belts. Thus, there's no way to secure carseats to them. This meets Florida's safety standards, and it was okay by my wife, as well (she's a pediatrician). But if YOU don't feel safe with it then your only alternative is to rent a car, drive it to and from the airport as well as to and from the parks, etc. THAT'S the only way you'll be able to have your 11 month old in a car safety seat at all times. Purely from a safety and consistency standpoint, no sense renting a car to get to your resort from the airport but then ride Disney Transport to and from the parks, and similarly no sense in taking DME to your resort but then renting a car on-site and driving to and from the parks.

Again, we were fine with the buses, but if you're not you have another choice. Do whatever will allow you to have the best vacation possible. ENJOY!

-- Eric

 

[goofy4tink]

NO NO NO NO NO.

Faced with this choice, it is MUCH safer to hold your 11 month old on your lap/against your body than it is to have that baby in an unfastened car seat on a bus. Your baby is much more secure in your arms. In a collision, there's no way you'd be able to secure the combined weight of the baby AND the carseat if that weight is beside you. The baby/carseat combination would become a missile. Very dangerous.

DME buses and Disney Transport buses have no seat belts. Thus, there's no way to secure carseats to them. This meets Florida's safety standards, and it was okay by my wife, as well (she's a pediatrician). But if YOU don't feel safe with it then your only alternative is to rent a car, drive it to and from the airport as well as to and from the parks, etc. THAT'S the only way you'll be able to have your 11 month old in a car safety seat at all times. Purely from a safety and consistency standpoint, no sense renting a car to get to your resort from the airport but then ride Disney Transport to and from the parks, and similarly no sense in taking DME to your resort but then renting a car on-site and driving to and from the parks.

Again, we were fine with the buses, but if you're not you have another choice. Do whatever will allow you to have the best vacation possible. ENJOY!

-- Eric

DUH!!! Smack myself upside the head for not thinking about the carseat, with baby in it, being a flying missle!!! Stupid, stupid, stupid!! To think that I have raised 3 children, and not killed one, and I didn't consider that. Thanks for bringing it up. Yep, hold that baby on your lap. Much safer. Thanks Eric! Must have had a senior moment there.

 

[NotUrsula]

The drivers are instructed not to allow carseats onto the busses, this is SOP for motorcoaches. They will take the carseat from you and stow it underneath in the baggage compartment.

 

[dcgrumpy]

You can then use the car seat that you used on the plane on the bus. There may not be any seat belts on the bus (I do not know if there are or not) but the child would still be better off buckled into the unrestrained car seat than sitting on your lap.

Please, do not do this.

 

[nikki213]

how about riding in regular buses with a baby under 1 year old? Are they safe?

 

[mdhkitten]

how about riding in regular buses with a baby under 1 year old? Are they safe?

I've never had a problem, but have seen more than one parent with small babies having to stand and hold them due to the fact that nobody was willing to give up their seat. I was one of the people standing so that my mom could hold my baby in a seat.

 

[dudspizza]

I've never had a problem, but have seen more than one parent with small babies having to stand and hold them due to the fact that nobody was willing to give up their seat. I was one of the people standing so that my mom could hold my baby in a seat.

We could not believe that people would not give up their seat to someone who was holding a baby or a sleeping child. We always tried to wave someone over to us to give up our seat, yet it is almost impossible if you are in the back and the person needing the seat is up front... really pathetic in my mind if no one would give it up. I understand some won't due to their own disability, but many can and choose not to.....

duds