Question for those that are flying from cold climates

[sista]

Are you wearing your winter coats on the plane? With three little ones, I am trying to not lug so much around, and winter coats would count as a real pain. I was thinking of just dressing everyone warmer and throwing all our jackets in the suitcase once we arrive at the airport. What are you doing?

 

[MagicPrincess]

I was just thinking about that the other day.
I'm thinking maybe pants or jeans and a sweatshirt over a tee- and a lightweight jacket. Dress in layers so you can remove them once you get to FL!!!

A few years back we went to New Orleans- wore sandals on the way down- took NO SOCKS- no jacket- no sweatshirt. It was kinda warm the day we left for N.O., but we ended up coming home to a blizzard! I was SO cold! I learned my lesson!!!
LAYERS and SOCKS!!!
LOL

 

[Luckymommyx2]

We are going to leave our winter coats in the car and dress in layers~~perhaps a t-shirt and sweatshirt or jacket to wear on the plane. We plan on DH dropping us off at the front of the airport and while he is parking the car we'll check in. I figure we can handle a quick sprint from the curb to the front door, even with my little ones.

 

[WCMouse]

Living way up here in Norht of the border, we have encountered this moer often than we like. IN the past we have done the "Sprint" plan, the "no socks and sandals" plan and also wore our winter coats to Hawaii. Then a couple of times we tried this... but this is really dependant on your airport. At one airport we were leaving they had a coat check service inside the terminal. We checked our luggage in and went over and dropped off our coats. It cost a $1 or so per coat per day...don"t know if this is everywhere or not. Anything we did at another airport was to brind another empty suit case to the airport, stuff all unwated things in it and leave it at the baggage storage. The bag cost about $2 a day. Now with all of the added security I doubt that that may still be done...Nevertheless... just a few ideas

 

[ZachnElli]

Well, we are going in March and the weather can be so iffy in March. But the current plan is sweatshirts and a light jacket. Of course, we have a 3 hour lay over in Chicago both ways too. I thought we might need the light jackets and sweatshirts at night at WDW. Hopefully, I'm wrong about that! But I also don't plan to pack anymore sweatshirts or pants than what we are wearing down.

 

[Susie Bee]

We're flying in from northern Maine and we're guaranteed it's going to be cold when we leave! First, our vehicle is kept in a heated garage so it won't be cold leaving the house. I just planned on t-shirts with a sweatshirt and then our fleece coats--they take up so much less space than our winter Columbia coats. (DH drops us off at the curb) The airport we fly out of is very small so the parking lot is right next to the building--we have a remote car starter and as soon as the plane lands we start our vehicle, so by the time we get off, get our luggage and head out the door (DH ususally goes to get the vehicle for curb-side loading) our vehicle is nice and warm... We usually keep a change of shorts and t-shirt in our carry on for when we get to Florida--God forbid our luggage is lost!!!

Well, that's what we usually do! I hope everyone has a good time on their trips!

 

[CEDmom]

I'd suggest layering and include something fleece and a windbreaker in the layering. You'll probably need that type of jacket down there anyway and you may even need the fleece. Also bring hats and gloves/mittens for everyone. This is what we did going from NJ to San Diego/DL in December and it works really well.

 

[cyndibelle]

i am doing just what you are...putting the coats in the suitcase after we get in the airport....we have to park in long term parking and then catch the shuttle....gonna be cold cold cold standing out there.....

 

[MNT568]

I think putting the coats in the suitcase after you get to the airport is a great idea! We are heading down in 4 weeks and I think I will do that. During our trip in March a few years ago, Florida had record low temps in low 40s during the day, we were very glad that we had our winter coats, hats and gloves with us.

 

[Mainebound]

another Mainer chiming in -- I think it depends on the connection. For us, the connection is either Boston or Cincinnati. In Boston, for certain airlines, we have had to disembark the plane on the tarmac, and walk about 100 yards to a bus depot, then ride to another terminal. To be on the safe side, we bring our winter coats. Also, I have to add -- last year our flight out of boston back home was outright cancelled. we almost had to either stay the night or rent a car to get home (luckily we got on a different airline at the last minute). I hate to think of my kids not having warm clothes in that situation.

 

[tw1nsmom]

The answer to your question really depends on when you're going. If it's within the next few weeks I would bring your coats with you (the suitcase idea is a good one). A couple years ago we went in January. My DH insisted that he wouldn't need his winter coat in FL and would refuse to use it. Well, two days after we got there an unexpected cold front came through and the temps dropped to the lower 40's and upper 30's at night. He quickly changed his mind and wore his coat for the nighttime parades and fireworks. It gets really cold when you're sitting around outside for an hour or so.

 

[DisneyBrat]

TAKE MY ADVICE TAKE THE COATS!!!!!!!!


My family went to Disney end of Jan 1st of Feb 2001 and one of the weeks we FROZE brrrrrrrrrrrr I was soooo glad I had our heavy coats,gloves and the kids had hats.... The weather is so hard to predict. The first week we were there the temps were perfect in the mid 70's and all we wore was shorts THANK GOODNESS we did Disney that week because the next week when we went to Universal we FROZE to death.... Just my opinion from VA (love those cheesy smiles)


Lew

 

[NotUrsula]

Just a note to point out that if you have young kids and you are gate-checking carseats, putting the coats in a bag with the carseats serves the dual purpose of padding the carseats in transit and freeing up storage space in the plane! We have a backpack-type satchel for the carseat, and we always put the coats inside that with it and gate-check it.

Gate-checking has the advantage over regular luggage checking if you have a connection, or in case of flight cancellation; it is very easy to reclaim gate-checked items, and you keep them with you until you actually board the plane. Of course, you can't just gate-check a sack of coats; it's one of the few side-benefits of hauling a carseat all the way to the gate, LOL.

 

[Oh Kay!]

TAKE MY ADVICE TAKE THE COATS!!!!!!!!

I totally agree! Last month, when we landed at MCO it was colder than the weather we'd left in NY.

I did take a large canvas tote bag just in case we would need to shed the coat. I folded it up and put it in the side zippered compartment of a checked luggage. As I mentioned, we ended up wearing our coats but the tote bag came in handy when we did the grocery stop. It was better to have all the grocery bags safely in the tote bag, rather than have the bellman at the YC struggle with them.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

I say don't take the coats. We are leaving in about 5 days, and I am just layering my son and us. There is enough to lug around, I dont want to lug heavy coats too.
We are from Mass. and we have had record lows lately, I figure even if it is chilly in Orlando, it will seem warm compared to here, and we will be fine in sweatshirts and pants.

Jen

 

[vicb]

Just my .02...... in the past we have worn layers like the others (jeans, sweatshirts, light jackets) but last trip in Feb. we wished we had fleece coats, hats and gloves. We nearly froze our rumps off at Fantas. Between the upper 40 degree temps that evening and the spraying mist... boy was it COLD!

This year we will layer and include fleece jackets as our outer layer, pack the light weight jackets instead.

But I refuse to wear my parka to or from a FL. vacation.

 

[bobcat]

Dec of 2002 I was flying solo to WDW and only had a carryon so I would usually leave my winter coat in the car. For some reason I decided to take it and was so thankful I did. The weather in the winter in Florida is unpredictable and one evening the temps dropped to freezing and I had my winter coat to protect me. If you have room to just throw them into a bag do so. It will cost you a small fortune to buy sweatshirts and hats and gloves for everone if you get a cold spell.

 

[akline]

We flew in from Colorado a couple of months ago. I would go with the layers recommedations. Lighter jackets that are easy to pack once you get inside the airport. Nice sweatshirt or fleece shirts underneath .. which you can tie around your waist when you're in the airport. Small (not bulky) gloves and hats that can also be packed.

For us, freezining in the morning before we left wasn't a big deal .. we were going to WDW and would be there soon. The excitment over-shadowed the fact we were cold. However, waiting out in the cold for a shuttle, and then sitting in a cold car waiting for it to warm up is anther story!

 

[DutchsMommy]

NotUrsula - I'm not sure I understand. If you check the carseats, then you are not using them on the plane, just in cars when you get to Florida? Also, if you do check the seat, is it in a bag with the jackets, or do you attach a bag with jackets in it to the car seat? All of this info is especially pertinant for me as we are flying in from Toronto in February!

 

[Vavasmon]

Just a word of warning about the coats in the checked luggage - This will work if you have enough layers in that you could go without the coats in case of delay or lost luggage. If you are flying direct you should be okay. If you are connecting there is always a chance of a delayed/cancelled filght - you can not always access you checked baggae if a flight is cancelled.

I travel often for work - I spent a night in Chicago whne freezing fog moved in - the airline did not pull the checked bags. I have also takem alternate filghts (due to weather) and had my bags catch up - that could be a long 12 hours. I really like the idea of including them in the carseat bag.