Pros/Cons of buying plane ticket, renting car with 9mth old

[Ragnrok23]

Taking our will be 9mth old DS for his first trip in December

We are traveling from Sat-Fri, flying Southwest and staying at BLT and will be doing exclusivly Disney

I keep going back and forth on buying a seat for him on the plane, as well as renting a car-I figure they will go hand in hand since I'll need the car seat for either one

I've only rented a car once, but we were staying at SSR and I'm not a big fan of the busses there. Normaly I'm fine with Disney transportation

I know renting a car would be a plus so we could stop and get diapers, snacks, and water, but since we're flying SW- both my wife and I get the 2nd bag free, so we could always pack and have extra room in suit cases for souviners

Just looking for others peoples thought process when going through a similar situation, like is the extra cost of buying a seat and renting a car worth it?

Thanks in advace

 

[jennab]

You could bring DS as a lap child rather than buy a seat (save a little $$). We brought our DS at 13mo and he did ok. Not the best as he had trouble falling asleep on the plane but ok. I would not have wanted to drive though as he would not have been happy being confined for that long!! You could always have diapers delivered to you at the resort too. We packed ours and it worked out fine because left us sole extra room in the suitcase coming home

 

[2009CAN]

I have always rented a car while at Disney. The busses are just not for me. We took our three kids for the first time last fall and rented a minivan. They all had their own seats, there was not choice with that one because of age. But for us, the flight is two hours and if I had only one child under a year I likely would have had him been a lap child.
I will say that gate-checking our car seats were a HUGE pain. We had to drag three Britax seats through the airport along with carry-on bags and also trying to hold the kids’ hands. On the flight back we checked the seats with our luggage. Everything was fine.
All I can tell you is when I’m ready to go somewhere, I’m ready to go. I do not want to wait for a bus. I don’t want to wait to be drop someone else off first. I don’t want to have to stand. A car rental is certain for our trips, especially when the kids are with us.

 

[JillianLeigh]

For us, buying DS his own seat on the airplane is 100% worth it. He's not a sit still kind of baby, so being confined to our lap was torture for him once he learned how to crawl at 7 months. Bringing his car seat through the airport was a little more hassle, but so worth him knowing he couldn't get out once he was seated, and he naps so well in it.

Having a rental car would also be helpful in transporting your stroller to and from the parks, and it's much faster if you plan on going back to your resort for naps or a midday break.

 

[CraftyMommy]

My son flew twice as a lap child. We didn't have any problems. Our flights were 2 hours each way and he napped most of the time. During one flight he cried for the first 20 minutes or so, but what baby doesn't cry? It was no big deal. I held him until he fell asleep. I did time the flights there and back in the afternoon so he would take his afternoon nap. I wouldn't hesitate to fly again with a lap child to save money...unless it was a long flight. Long flights would be a different story. I didn't worry about buying a seat for using a car seat. If the plane crashes, we'll probably all be dead anyway, so a car seat really won't make much difference, in my opinion.

If having a lap child is out of the question for you, like JillianLeigh's wiggle worm in the post above, then I would pay for the seat. That's just me though. I do not drive to WDW. I wait until I have the money to fly so I'm not wasting the first 24 hours and last 24 hours of my trip driving and recovering.

 

[baseballnut]

We flew with our then 17mo DD from Detroit to Paris, on the red eye, as a lap child. And back on a non-red eye. I would do it again rather than pay for her to have her own seat. She was fine, I had plenty of snacks and distractions for her.

For me, going to WDW, I would absolutely not buy a seat for such a short flight. That few hundred dollars could be better used on other splurges. But if money were no object, that's a different story.

I love, love, LOVE not having to bring the car seat, so I would not rent a car. And we are in the minority but had no issue with the bus system the week before Christmas. That's probably the thing I love most: I don't have to worry about driving, about parking, nothing! Folding up the stroller and waiting for the bus are no big deal to us and well worth it. But then again we did that all around Paris and Europe and look at it as an adventure.

 

[kimbo0569]

I've been traveling with my daughters since my oldest was 8 months old. My youngest's first plane ride was at 10 months. I always buy seats for them and bring their car seats on the plane. It's 2 1/2 hour flight from NY to Orlando and I wouldn't have it any other way. I typically don't rent a car when I'm in Disney...really don't see the need.

 

[scrapquitler]

For us, buying DS his own seat on the airplane is 100% worth it. He's not a sit still kind of baby, so being confined to our lap was torture for him once he learned how to crawl at 7 months. Bringing his car seat through the airport was a little more hassle, but so worth him knowing he couldn't get out once he was seated, and he naps so well in it.

Having a rental car would also be helpful in transporting your stroller to and from the parks, and it's much faster if you plan on going back to your resort for naps or a midday break.

I agree with this poster.

Buy a seat on the plane and put the baby in the car seat. Safer and more comfortable for the baby and more comfortable for you.

I too, would rent a car. When you are ready to leave the park, you can leave, baby and you have a place to sit unlike on the bus when it's certainly not guaranteed.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Taking our will be 9mth old DS for his first trip in December

We are traveling from Sat-Fri, flying Southwest and staying at BLT and will be doing exclusivly Disney

I keep going back and forth on buying a seat for him on the plane, as well as renting a car-I figure they will go hand in hand since I'll need the car seat for either one

I've only rented a car once, but we were staying at SSR and I'm not a big fan of the busses there. Normaly I'm fine with Disney transportation

I know renting a car would be a plus so we could stop and get diapers, snacks, and water, but since we're flying SW- both my wife and I get the 2nd bag free, so we could always pack and have extra room in suit cases for souviners

Just looking for others peoples thought process when going through a similar situation, like is the extra cost of buying a seat and renting a car worth it?

Thanks in advace

We don't rent a car, but we do buy Dd a seat. We plan the flight for her nap time, give her a bottle on take off and she falls asleep for basically the whole flight. I would not want her as a lap child. She's a small child, just yesterday weighed in at 22 lbs, 9 oz at almost 22 months. Even at her small size, I would not have been comfortable with her on my lap throughout the flights at 8 and 15 months (the 2 times she has been to Disney).

 

[Ragnrok23]

Thanks everyone- It's about a 3 hr plane ride, and my wife is hoping to nurse takeoff and landing to help him though those times

as far as Disney transportation, we aren't stay till close people for the most part- we will stay for wishes (can walk back to BLT ) and Fantasmic, but the wife thinks it will be too loud for the baby so we might not even go to that on this trip- so getting a seat on the way home shouldn't really be an issue for the most part

Also I would think it would be more work dealing with a car seat and a sleeping baby, instead of just holding the baby till you get back to the room

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thanks everyone- It's about a 3 hr plane ride, and my wife is hoping to nurse takeoff and landing to help him though those times

as far as Disney transportation, we aren't stay till close people for the most part- we will stay for wishes (can walk back to BLT ) and Fantasmic, but the wife thinks it will be too loud for the baby so we might not even go to that on this trip- so getting a seat on the way home shouldn't really be an issue for the most part

Also I would think it would be more work dealing with a car seat and a sleeping baby, instead of just holding the baby till you get back to the room

Are you talking about dealing with a car seat if you rented a car and then returned to your hotel from the parks and have to transfer a sleeping child? That's a good part of why we stay where we can use hotel transportation (Shades of Green for us, but it would be Disney if we couldn't stay there). We just hold her on the bus on the way back to the hotel from the parks (whether she's sleeping or not).

The only time we have used the car seat is on the plane and to/from the airport..never back and forth from hotel to parks.

 

[tpsh007]

We went with a 5 month old recently on Southwest. We did not buy an extra seat on the airline. A couple in front of us did, and they brought an extra car seat which they attached. They never used the car seat on the plane, their baby stayed in their arms the whole way, same as ours. While landing, some of the babies in the plane started crying/whining (pressure in ear), nursing helps. No problems during takeoff or on the 2.5 hr flight.

We always rent a car. We do sometimes use Disney transport (magic kingdom). For our older one, we packed a small backless booster. I used the AAA/CAA discount on hertz which gives you a free infant car seat. There are lots of threads advising against this, but we have never had a problem. Yes, sometimes the car seat is not very clean. Like this time. My wife layered the car seat with a thin blanket and then we put the baby in. At the hotel, we put the seat cover in the washer.
Another option is to check-in your own car seat securely (with padding, because there a chance of damage). I don't trust the gate check-in either.

I think it depends on the child. Our baby appeared to be fascinated with everything. The sounds did not bother him. We did not stay for the fireworks because it was a very long day already. We did not have trouble with him on the bus. Make sure you have an easy folding stroller.

 

[ccgirl]

Taking our will be 9mth old DS for his first trip in December

We are traveling from Sat-Fri, flying Southwest and staying at BLT and will be doing exclusivly Disney

I keep going back and forth on buying a seat for him on the plane, as well as renting a car-I figure they will go hand in hand since I'll need the car seat for either one

I've only rented a car once, but we were staying at SSR and I'm not a big fan of the busses there. Normaly I'm fine with Disney transportation

I know renting a car would be a plus so we could stop and get diapers, snacks, and water, but since we're flying SW- both my wife and I get the 2nd bag free, so we could always pack and have extra room in suit cases for souviners

Just looking for others peoples thought process when going through a similar situation, like is the extra cost of buying a seat and renting a car worth it?

Thanks in advace

Howdy, neighbor. I would buy an airplane seat for your child. Sitting 3 1/2 hours with a toddler on your lap isn't the most comfortable or the safest. I did it once on an extremely turbulent flight then always bought a seat and used a car seat. My children were safer and more comfortable. The rental car is debatable. It is nice to be on your own schedule and have a guaranteed seat. YMMV.

 

[puffkin]

I am pretty sure if you buy a seat for the baby, they must be in the seat and restrained during take off and landing so she wouldn't be able to nurse then.

The popular opinion on these boards is to buy a seat for the baby. In reality, you hardly ever see car seats on airplanes. Most people lap sit the baby. We fly a lot to Orlando 2-3 times a year so obviously a high percentage of children on our flights and rarely see car seats on the plane. We have flown many times with a lap baby and have had no issues. We tried the seat once (we didn't buy the seat, but the plane was only half full so they said no problem to use the car seat) and it was awful for us.

Any other resort, I would say renting a car is definitely worth it. But since you are staying at BLT, I don't think it is a necessity. The walk in access to MK, especially with a baby, is awesome. We always rent a car, but when we stay at BLT we don't use it nearly as much as the other resorts.

 

[MandiC]

Depends on the 9 month old for buying an extra seat. If it is a 9 month old that won't want to sit still, buy the extra seat so you have somewhere to put baby with some toys. With my own kids, I wouldn't have. Our flight is about the same and they were cuddly/clingy babies, if they hadn't been in my arms around that many strangers they would have been crying. So I would have held my babies the entire time extra seat or not. Even now, though we would have to buy a seat for him, I can't imagine my 2.5 year old would sit in his own seat much at all.

Renting a car, as someone else said, any other resort and I would say definitely yes. This is one thing I plan to do different next time as we didn't this last time but staying at BLT, I'd say there is no need. The only park you will have to ride the bus to is Animal Kingdom and there is usually no rush going back and forth from that park.

 

[ElenaRN]

Like PP said- it def depends on the baby.

We flew twice with ODD as a lap child. Once at 9m (DCL) and once at 11m (WDW). We fly from NY, so the flight is pretty much the same as yours.

If you are planning to do WDW often, I would say try this time with baby as a lap child. Save the $, see how it goes. When ODD was 9m she spent most of the flight in the Ergo with me or hubby walking up and down the aisle.

We rent a car bc we are a 2 park a day family and it makes things much more convenient. We used Disney Transportation for years though without complaint.

If you are staying at BLT, you really don't need a car. You can walk to MK and take monorail to Epcot.

Like I said, if you are going to go a lot, use this trip as a test (and $ saver). If this is a once in a lifetime trip (or once in 4-5 years). I'd def rent the car and buy the seat.

I highly recommend an Ergo or similar carrier. It was a life saver. Not only on the plane but also on line in the parks.

 

[lorenni]

I am pretty sure if you buy a seat for the baby, they must be in the seat and restrained during take off and landing so she wouldn't be able to nurse then.

This is true and flight attendants WILL enforce it. If your child has a seat he/she MUST sit in it during take off and landing - which are much longer Than the actual take off and landing. Presume 15-30 minutes in the car seat on either end of the flight.

Perhaps your wife is more flexible than me, but I was not able to nurse while my son was in his car seat - and that was the only time he had his own seat until we stopped nursing.