People with kiddies - HELP!!

[Claddagh]

I am asking this on behalf of a friend who will be in Orlando the same time as us. However, she is going with four kids and as we have none, I was unable to help with the following. Hopefully you can!!

1. A few days ago I read a thread about car seats and someone said they hired a certain type of car because it had built in child seats. For the life of me I cannot find this thread. (I may have imagined it ) Any ideas.

2. Character Meals - which would you recommend. Kids are 9, 8 5 and 2. I am sure they are all excellent but does anyone have kids around these ages who have done particular character meals and really enjoyed them?

3. They are flying Britannia who I have read very mixed reports about with regards the entertainment available. What kinds of things do you do on long plane journeys to keep kids occupied?

Any other hints on travelling with kids would be helpful also!

It will be my friend and her family's first time in Orlando and I really want to help them have as good a time as possible.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Maria, you might want to start separate threads for each question

Character meals - I don't think you can go wrong with Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary


For my DDs we always have a ton of books, puzzle books, Gameboy games, colouring etc to keep them entertained. We have traveled with them between ages 3 to 9 so pretty much cover your friend's chlidren's ages

With a bit of luck the youngers ones might have a nap on the plane too

Little snacks eg crisps and those small packs of biscuits etc always go down well.

I will see if I can find the recent thread about car seats for you too.

 

[Claddagh]

Thanks Miffy - advice much appreciated.

 

[MazdaUK]

The old-style Corolla Verso has built-in boosters in two of the back seats, but only seats 5. The new one seats 7 but has no boosters. I don't know if they have them in America anyway.

Crystal Palace would be good for those ages (Pooh and friends), but next time we will only do "family style" meals - served at the table rather than the buffet, such as the Liberty Tree Tavern (MK) or O'Hana breakfast at the Poly. My DSis and DBIL took their 4 kids to Breakfastosaurus and were very complimentary.

Hopefully a 2-yr old should sleep, but I doubt the rest will due to excitement! Pass the Pigs is a good game for small places - you can get it from Amazon. otherwise teach them to play "Go fish" and get some Disney cards from the Disney Store.

 

[jockey]

Cant really help with the car seat question but I think Chef Mickeys is great for character meals and the food is pretty ok also!

As for keeping children busy on the flight I hear stickers and sticker books are great for this!!!

 

[jools]

Hi Maria

One year we had a hire car with child seats built in, can't remember the make/model but it was a 7 seater, however the next year requested the same type of car only to find no child seats in it. Also hiring child seats from the car hire company can be expensive and in my experience the seats they give you are awfull (dirty and sometimes broken). In the past we have taken our own child seat with us, this has never been a problem and the seat is checked in with your luggage. I would suggest your friend takes her own if possible.

For character breakfasts I would recommend Chef Mickey's and 1900 Park Fare we loved both.

To keep the kids entertained during the flight we would buy small compact toys such as polly pockets, cards, small jigsaws, sticker/colouring books. If you can get hold of them without the kids knowing the toys Mc Donalds give out with happy meals are good. Take a coouple of items for each child and see how far you can get into the journey before you let them open one each, keeping the second toy for opening later in the journey when they have become bored with the first. Don't spend too much on these toys as you will be lucky if you get off the plane with all the pieces.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Lots of the 7 seater mini vans seem to have built in car seats. These are the ones for toddlers though, not older children.

Mandy

 

[Madjock]

Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace are excellent fun for all ages and (for girls) the princess storybook in Norway at Epcot is good.

Sticker and coloring books are great for the young ones. Puzzle books are good for the older ones. We also took some travel games, hangman and connect four, with us. Woolworths and Toys R Us usually have a good selection.