Misty fjords flightplane appropriate for 2 year old

[Jennymom2]

We are traveling August 20th on Disney wonder to alaska. I would love to do the misty fjords floatplane. We have a 4 and 2 year old. I know my 4 year old will be fine but the 2 year old. She doesn't sit still very long not sure she would stay in her own seat. And they say once they turn 2 they have to. She will turn 2 just one month prior. Should I say she's not 2 yet? She'd do better in my lap for sure.

 

[jilljill]

Are you booking this thru DCL or directly thru the vendor? If booked thru DCL they will have your child's correct age, no getting around that. If you book thru the vendor directly it would be best to ask them where your child would be sitting.

 

[jel0511]

The floatplanes are REALLY small only two seats per row separated by an aisle. So you aren't even sitting next to anyone. personally I think it will be tough to control a wiggly 2yo in that situation and possible annoying to your other passengers, as well as unsafe for your 2yo. Even if you can hold her, though due to the law prob won't be able to, it will be really tight. Much less room than a commercial plane. I'd recommend you sit this one out and pick another excursion. Sorry!

 

[Jennymom2]

Don't know who I would book thru. I need to call today. If I remember correctly its a 4 person plane and there would be 4 of us. So I'm not worried about bothering other people. Just worried about safety. I'm going to call today.

 

[luv2sleep]

Don't know who I would book thru. I need to call today. If I remember correctly its a 4 person plane and there would be 4 of us. So I'm not worried about bothering other people. Just worried about safety. I'm going to call today.

Do they allow 2 year olds? When I booked a helicopter tour in Hawaii their was an age limit. If they allow 2 year olds I imagine they are used to them and can treasurer you about safety.

 

[jel0511]

Don't know who I would book thru. I need to call today. If I remember correctly its a 4 person plane and there would be 4 of us. So I'm not worried about bothering other people. Just worried about safety. I'm going to call today.

Most of the planes we saw were 6 passengers and up. If you want to secure only a 4 passenger plane, you'll prob need to pay extra as they were trying to get as many people up at a time to maximize their fleet and pilots. We were a group of 7 who had been told we would get a plane for 8, we ended up in a plane for 10 with another party. Didn't bother us. We booked through DCL though.

 

[Jennymom2]

There is no age limit. At least not what I am looking at. Is there anyway to call the company and speaks with someone? I am travelling 12 people so others are bound to want to come. Must need to find out of its really a good option. We are definitely doing the 15 minute helicopter ride. She will be fine for that long I'm sure plus my son has always wanted to ride in a helicopter like his daddy has. Should I just call Disney and see what they know?

 

[Allabouthemouse]

We did the floatplane through DCL last year with our 7 and 4 year old. The seats are small and can only fit one person. As someone else posted, there are single seats across the aisle from each other. There are a few seats at the back of the plane that are 2-3 wide (sorry, I can't remember the exact number). The flight was fine for adults - beautiful scenery and informative narration - but the kids HATED it. The plane was very loud, very bouncy with sudden drops in the altitude and scary for them. Every child is different so only you can be the judge of whether your 2 year old would be ok on the floatplane. Keep in mind that you most likely won't be able to have a child in your lap and you will have to/need to stay buckled during the trip because of turbulence. In hindsight, we would have skipped the floatplane excursion for a couple of years and picked something else. It was expensive and not fun with terrified kids on board. Unfortunately, we didn't anticipate any problems because the excursion description didn't allude to any of this. HTH.

 

[Weedy]

You may want to consider leaving your 2 year old in the nursery I think you will both have a better time. Now that I have said that I will also say that I don't know if I could have done that when my kids were that age.

 

[AquaDame]

We did the floatplane through DCL last year with our 7 and 4 year old. The seats are small and can only fit one person. As someone else posted, there are single seats across the aisle from each other. There are a few seats at the back of the plane that are 2-3 wide (sorry, I can't remember the exact number). The flight was fine for adults - beautiful scenery and informative narration - but the kids HATED it. The plane was very loud, very bouncy with sudden drops in the altitude and scary for them. Every child is different so only you can be the judge of whether your 2 year old would be ok on the floatplane. Keep in mind that you most likely won't be able to have a child in your lap and you will have to/need to stay buckled during the trip because of turbulence. In hindsight, we would have skipped the floatplane excursion for a couple of years and picked something else. It was expensive and not fun with terrified kids on board. Unfortunately, we didn't anticipate any problems because the excursion description didn't allude to any of this. HTH.

Were the drops much worse than on a commercial plane...? I have been in smaller propeller ones before but never a float plane... drops can be scary to adults too!

 

[srferson]

You may want to consider leaving your 2 year old in the nursery I think you will both have a better time.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Jennymom2]

Thanks! I spoke with Michelle at island wings today and she said they would be fine and my 2 year old would only have to sit for take off and landing. But as One of the posters said they didn't enjoy it with their 7 and 4 yer old. It might not be worth the large sum of money. Do any of y'all have suggestions for something else to do that day?

 

[Allabouthemouse]

Were the drops much worse than on a commercial plane...? I have been in smaller propeller ones before but never a float plane... drops can be scary to adults too!

I have flown smaller express jets quite a bit and have hit air pockets which caused sudden drops but nothing on a commercial plane was as bouncy as a floatplane. I think the difference is that the floatplane is much smaller and the flight was designed to take in the scenery thus flying at a much lower altitude. I've never been in a small prop plane so I have no comparison. To be honest, I am a pretty seasoned traveller and even I had moments where my stomach did some flips. I would have enjoyed it more if it had been just the adults in our group. I was trying to calm down my children and I just felt awful for them. The boat cruise to the Misty Fjords was beautiful so we are all glad we did that. After the cruise, we asked the kids what their favorite and least favorite parts of the trip was. Both kids adamantly said that the floatplane was the least favorite part of the trip. This evening, I asked the 7 (now 8) year old if she would want to go back on the floatplane and she said yes! Go figure!

 

[DisneyBasket]

I am a terrible flyer, hate it, although I have to do plenty of it for business, so I have learned how to deal with it. We did the boat/float plane tour of the Misty Fjords, and I was nervous about the float plane. I needn't have worried. Yes it was a bit bumpy, but no worse than any other flight I've been on in larger planes. And we saw plenty! As it happens, the only whales I saw on our Alaska trip were from the float plane! We did not have any children along ourselves, but there were children on the plane with us. We sat towards the front (hubby sat up front with the pilot ) so I can't comment on how well they did specifically, but it seemed like they enjoyed it as much as we did. No tears or restlessness, anyway. Enjoy your trip!

 

[flexsmom]

There is a Misty Fjords boat tour. I highly recommend seeing the Misty Fjords - it is spectacular and I was shocked that some place so awe-inspiring could be so little-known throughout the "lower 48"! My kids were a bit older, but at least the boat offered the opportunity to walk/run around, had snacks and drinks (including hot chocolate) and we saw lots of great scenery on our way there and back - lots of eagles sightings, which became a huge past-time. If you definitely want a family day instead of leaving your 2-year old on the ship, and you want to see Misty Fjords, I recommend this option. (This was a DCL tour, at least last August.)

 

[taaren]

Thanks! I spoke with Michelle at island wings today and she said they would be fine and my 2 year old would only have to sit for take off and landing. But as One of the posters said they didn't enjoy it with their 7 and 4 yer old. It might not be worth the large sum of money. Do any of y'all have suggestions for something else to do that day?

We went on a seaplane with my DNeph when he was 4. He loved it, still talks about it now and he's 14. Perhaps you or DH could take your DS and the other parent could do a different excursion with your DD?

 

[Inkmahm]

Thanks! I spoke with Michelle at island wings today and she said they would be fine and my 2 year old would only have to sit for take off and landing. But as One of the posters said they didn't enjoy it with their 7 and 4 yer old. It might not be worth the large sum of money. Do any of y'all have suggestions for something else to do that day?

I have flown with Michelle from Island Wings. She is terrific! We did a combination bear watch and Misty Fjords flight. Very expensive but worth every cent. If you will be there during salmon run season, I'd pick the bear watch over just the sightseeing trip without a doubt. First choice is to do both.

I don't think a 2 year old would enjoy the trip though. Personally, I'd leave the child behind in the nursery.