Portable dvd player on plane??

[PammyPoppins]

Hi!
We go to Disneyworld alot but we drive and this year we are flying and we haven't flown in years. I am hoping someone can answer a few questions for me. Can my daughter bring her portable dvd player in her backpack on the plane and her dvd's all on her backpack as her carry on bag? Also, we went to the Disney Store this evening, thanks to a great tip here on the sale and my daughter got one of those lighted spinning toys for the dark in the parks for the parade, is it ok to have that in her carry-on bag on the plane?
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

 

[AngieWin]

She can have it on the plane, but it cant be used until they announce that portable electric devices (anything with an on switch) can be used. They were life savers for us!

 

[beachbunny]

Also, please remember to bring the headset. I once spent five hours next to a portable dvd player without a headset. It was pure torture.

 

[DMRick]

Also, please remember to bring the headset. I once spent five hours next to a portable dvd player without a headset. It was pure torture.

And get the $7 ones from Walmart that go into your ear. It's hard to hear over the engine noise..those were so much better than the over the ear ones.

 

[gymnasticscoach TX]

We had no problems at all using the portable DVD on the plane. My daughter only used it with headphones. It helped pass the time. We purchased Narnia and didn't let her watch it untill our trip. Have fun on your vacation

 

[shades]

And get the $7 ones from Walmart that go into your ear. It's hard to hear over the engine noise..those were so much better than the over the ear ones.

I second this! If you don't like the earbuds, maybe look for some noise cancelling headphones. I've never tried them, but - have heard they are great! The cheapest I've seen them is for about $30+/-, though.

 

[brymolmom]

Also, please remember to bring the headset. I once spent five hours next to a portable dvd player without a headset. It was pure torture.

This is my worry. We're doing the portable DVD player this trip for the first time. My kids aren't really good about headsets (especially the 2 year old), so I'm not sure that it will work. Although we're going to try to do some 'trial runs' to get them more used to it.

If not, my opinion is that a Baby Mozart movie (basically just classical music playing) will be a lot better to those around us than a cranky, hyper 2 year old. So, if she gets to that point - I might use it anyway. Am I right? Wouldn't you rather have a calm 2 year old sitting nicely watching a video than the alternative even if it meant listening to music? I'm hoping so - because if all else fails I might go for it anyway.

 

[poohj80]

If you have a long flight, you might want to consider buying a second battery. Our batteries only seem to last for 2 hours max which is not enough on a 5 hour flight.

Something we found helpful in place of the noise canceling headsets is a sound booster. We bought one at Best Buy that plugs into the headset jack of the player and then the headsets plug into the booster. It helps boost the sound to hear the sound above the plane noise.

 

[shades]

This is my worry. We're doing the portable DVD player this trip for the first time. My kids aren't really good about headsets (especially the 2 year old), so I'm not sure that it will work. Although we're going to try to do some 'trial runs' to get them more used to it.

If not, my opinion is that a Baby Mozart movie (basically just classical music playing) will be a lot better to those around us than a cranky, hyper 2 year old. So, if she gets to that point - I might use it anyway. Am I right? Wouldn't you rather have a calm 2 year old sitting nicely watching a video than the alternative even if it meant listening to music? I'm hoping so - because if all else fails I might go for it anyway.

Yes It would be impossible for me to hear a dvd player playing in the seat in front of or beside me because of airplane noise. Cranky kids, on the other hand, can be heard from one end of the plane to the other. I think you have a great backup plan!

 

[jbdreamer]

Yes, you should have no problem bringing the DVD player on board. We do all the time.

And not to be mean, but please teach your kids to use headphones. Yes I don't want to hear them cry, but I don't want to hear their movie either. Watching a movie or listening to music on a plane without headphones is just rude - no matter how old you are.

 

[salmoneous]

If not, my opinion is that a Baby Mozart movie (basically just classical music playing) will be a lot better to those around us than a cranky, hyper 2 year old. So, if she gets to that point - I might use it anyway. Am I right? Wouldn't you rather have a calm 2 year old sitting nicely watching a video than the alternative even if it meant listening to music? I'm hoping so - because if all else fails I might go for it anyway.

No, you aren't right. Playing music without headphones - classic, rap, whatever - is always wrong. If your baby gets cranky - well, I understand that's what babies do. But parents know better. Please, don't plan on playing the music.

If the kid doesn't like earphones, and won't be entertained with no sound (try it - it might work), then you just have to find some other way pass the time with your kid.

 

[brymolmom]

No, you aren't right. Playing music without headphones - classic, rap, whatever - is always wrong. If your baby gets cranky - well, I understand that's what babies do. But parents know better. Please, don't plan on playing the music.

If the kid doesn't like earphones, and won't be entertained with no sound (try it - it might work), then you just have to find some other way pass the time with your kid.

Interesting...hard to say now that I have kids - but I think I would have voted for 'shut that kid up even if I have to listen to music' even before I had kids. I know I've had some cranky kids near me on planes and IMO ANYTHING is better than listening to that.

Sounds like we've got opinions on both sides of this one. I wonder what the people sitting around us would prefer...

I personally think the rude thing is allowing your child to disturb others' flights without doing everything in your power to try to stop that disruption. Obviously, 2 year olds have tantrums and that might not be able to be avoided, but I'm willing to do anything in my power to keep my child happy and entertained so that others around me can have a more enjoyable flight. I guess some people would rather listen to the tantrum for an hour or two. Good to know, I'll keep it in mind. Although my guess is I'd get more sour looks for that than I would for the Baby Mozart video. Just a guess tho.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[salmoneous]

Brymolmom,

Ah, now I get it. I didn't understand that your kid would throw a 1-2 hour tantrum if not allowed to watch videos with the music on for the entire flight.

EDIT - Was that too snarky? Sorry. I guess it really depends on what you are describing.

If you saying that if your kid starts to have a meltdown, you try everything else without success, and then you put on the video for a few minutes to calm down the kid, I think most people agree that is a good idea.

If you just want to plop the kid in front of a video with music disturbing your neighbors for hours to make it less likely that your kid will get cranky, that's altogether different.

 

[TnTWalter]

kiddos enjoying the movies. Plus you can watch shows in the hotel room if needed.

Trish

 

[DMRick]

Interesting...hard to say now that I have kids - but I think I would have voted for 'shut that kid up even if I have to listen to music' even before I had kids. I know I've had some cranky kids near me on planes and IMO ANYTHING is better than listening to that..

I find them both as annoying. I understand the kids, until mom is able to quiet them (and usually when they are old enough for a DVD, they understand being told to settle down), however, I don't understand playing a loud DVD, when there is such a thing as headphones. The kids across from us a couple trips ago had theirs blasting so all three kids could hear it, and the gal in front of them complained. I could have kissed the South West gal, when she told the mom they either had to use headphones, turn it down so it couldn't be heard past their seat, or turn it off. It kept getting louder and louder, and we were over the wings, so that thing must have had some blaster on it to get it so loud.
I'd suggest practicing with it before you leave, and teaching them how to use the headphones. Our grands each have one, so they have to use the headphones in the car, so they aren't competing with each other.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Also, please remember to bring the headset. I once spent five hours next to a portable dvd player without a headset. It was pure torture.

I couldn't agree more. Invest in some headphones and start doing trial runs at home so they aren't something brand new on the plane.

 

[OregonDisneyFanatic]

We just used our DVD players on our flight Orlando. I went to the American Airlines site before we left and found out that on some of their planes they have the "cigarette lighter" plugs between the seats, so we didn't have to worry about the batteries on those planes we could just plug them in. Although you have to remember to bring the addapters ( I forgot one of them at home...Darn it!!) You might want to see if the airline that you are flying has these, it would same the battery for time of need. Have a great trip!

Kristi

 

[Microcell]

We try and try with DS 4 and headphones, and the rule in the car is he does not get to listen to it without them, he would rather sit and say his new fun phrase "Ribbit". So the question is, do airplane customers want to listen to music or 3 hours of variations of "Ribbit"? I will be zonked out on Xanax, so I won't care either way!

 

[razamataz]

Yes, you should have no problem bringing the DVD player on board. We do all the time.

And not to be mean, but please teach your kids to use headphones. Yes I don't want to hear them cry, but I don't want to hear their movie either. Watching a movie or listening to music on a plane without headphones is just rude - no matter how old you are.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I was stuck on a plane in front of a mother with a small child (probably 2 or so) for three hours just recently.

We had to listen to the movie because of no headphones, but then we had to listen to the child tell his mother, "Watch it, Mommy" and then he would proceed to tell her everything that we just heard. (and we all know that two year olds struggle with using an "inside voice" . )


For the OP, Perhaps, you could start training your child to get used to the headphones right now. For ex: Turn on the movie and then start vacumming (sp?). When your child complains that he/she cannot hear the movie, then suggest the headphones. This may help her get used to the idea of using them.

 

[Luv'sTink]

When my DS was 2 & 1/2 we flew to CA it was a two and a half hour flight. Before the trip we went to KB Toys and bought about $10 worth of .99 cent action figures so every time he started to get fussy we would pull out another figure and it would keep him going for about 20 - 30 minutes, he was good the whole flight and we did the same on the way back. The flight attendant said "Gee someone sure is spoiled" to which I replied at least you didn't have a bunch of angry passengers because he didn't disturb them at all! So, I guess no matter what you do some people wont be happy! Traveling with children is never easy. You have to do the best you can with what you have.