Questions from a first timer

[BeaniesMom]

So we are trying to plan a family trip to WDW. We have never been before, so I have some questions.

1. Our children will be 5 and around 5-6 months when we go... how do we work the car seat thing? I know if you stay in a resort hotel they have the shuttle that picks you up from the airport, can we take our baby on that? Also how do you get from the hotel to the parks? We plan on staying at the all star movies resort.

2. Flying with the baby... Im really sorry to ask this, but I seriously dont know. I have read on the airline websites that children under two dont need a seat, so do we just hold the baby the entire time?

3. We would like to go next year, toward the end of Feb... probably the week after Presidents Day week or maybe around the first week of March. Is that a good time to go? Low crowds and okay weather?

4. Do you think its a bad idea taking a baby that young? I guess its mostly the flight im concerned about because we would be flying from Reno and thats a long flight.

Thank you so much for your responses

 

[Aliceacc]

Well, I don't have the answers to any of your specific questions, but someone else is bound to.

This may give your planning a jump-start.http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

 

[bas71873]

So we are trying to plan a family trip to WDW. We have never been before, so I have some questions.

1. Our children will be 5 and around 5-6 months when we go... how do we work the car seat thing? I know if you stay in a resort hotel they have the shuttle that picks you up from the airport, can we take our baby on that? Yes, you can take baby and baby just sits on your lap. I don't belieive they allow car seats on the Disney busses..for space issues I would imagine. Also how do you get from the hotel to the parks? We plan on staying at the all star movies resort. You either use the Disney busses or rent a car and drive yourself. I personnally find the busses really nice because someone else does all the work for you

2. Flying with the baby... Im really sorry to ask this, but I seriously dont know. I have read on the airline websites that children under two dont need a seat, so do we just hold the baby the entire time? Yep. I didn't notice where you are flying from, but I personally would think holding a baby the whole time would be difficult. I have been flying with my DD since she was 16 months old and I have found it WELL worth the extra $$ for her to have her own seat, but that's because she was mobile and wiggly then and it just gave her own space. I would think between you and DH, you could lap-it with a infant no problem 3.

We would like to go next year, toward the end of Feb... probably the week after Presidents Day week or maybe around the first week of March. Is that a good time to go? Low crowds and okay weather? Bear in mind that the week after President's week is Mardi Gras and I live in South Louisiana and the schools are closed here all week. You'll see a lot of purple, green & yellow But, we were there this past Feb during this time and crowds were fine as far as I could tell. Weather was perfect, we wore shorts the whole time, jackets at night and in the AM occassionally and we even swam in the pools. But, the weather can be anything that time of year....just keep checking reports before you leave.....could be really cool, could be really warm.


4. Do you think its a bad idea taking a baby that young? I guess its mostly the flight im concerned about because we would be flying from Reno and thats a long flight. Oh, there you go....from Reno This is only a decision you can make honestly because you know your kiddos. Me, the thought of doing disney with a diaper bag...no way, but that's just me. I understand your desire to go with a 5 year old because by the time the lilttle one is 4 or 5, older one might be "over it"......people do Disney with little ones all the time. We saw lots when we were there in Feb.
Thank you so much for your responses

Good luck with your decisions & planning. You'll have a great time no matter what!!

 

[El&Asmom]

So we are trying to plan a family trip to WDW. We have never been before, so I have some questions.

1. Our children will be 5 and around 5-6 months when we go... how do we work the car seat thing? I know if you stay in a resort hotel they have the shuttle that picks you up from the airport, can we take our baby on that? Also how do you get from the hotel to the parks? We plan on staying at the all star movies resort.

2. Flying with the baby... Im really sorry to ask this, but I seriously dont know. I have read on the airline websites that children under two dont need a seat, so do we just hold the baby the entire time?

3. We would like to go next year, toward the end of Feb... probably the week after Presidents Day week or maybe around the first week of March. Is that a good time to go? Low crowds and okay weather?

4. Do you think its a bad idea taking a baby that young? I guess its mostly the flight im concerned about because we would be flying from Reno and thats a long flight.

Thank you so much for your responses

You should be fine on the buses with a baby. They just sit on your lap. We went to Disney when dd2 was 9 months old. We did not get her a plane ticket, and she just slept the entire way. We were really lucky. I think on the way home, she woke up, I nursed her, and she went back to bed.

I've never been at the end of Feb, but we went when dd1 was 18m at the beginning of Feb. We really liked that time. Low crowds, and great weather for a little one. Summer in FL is not fun with a young child. They get crabby way faster in that heat.

We will be going next May when our new addition will be about 6 months. I think it will be a great time. You just have to be prepared to be on their time, and adjust as needed. The one thing I would suggest is a good baby carrier, (for both Disney, and just in general). When dd2 was 9m at Disney, she was carried most of the time. It was so nice to not have to get her in and out of a stroller, and just carry her from ride to ride. Especially with a younger child, I would imagine that they would just sleep in a carrier while you go about your day. I used both a Babyhawk, and a Hotsling pouch while at Disney and they worked great.

Good luck, and have fun.

 

[Taja]

We took a 14-week-old infant to WDW last December--from Southern California. With connecting flights. He was a trooper!

If you don't purchase a ticket for him, he will be a lap baby, so the adults will have to hold him the entire flight. Expect most flights to be at capacity, with few empty seats. Many people dislike the idea of lap babies, as there is a lack of protection in emergencies. Reality is, even if you purchase a ticket, you probably will end up holding most of the flight, anyway.

You'll also hold the baby on DME to and from the airport and on WDW transportation. Be sure to bring your own stroller--even if the rental fees at WDW aren't an issue for you, the rental strollers are not suitable for infants and very young toddlers.

The weather at the time you plan to go should be pretty decent. Plan on layers--it can get cold, particularly at night, or if the jet stream dips down south. I was at WDW the first week of March in 2007 and the weather was nice during the day, but rather cool at night--by my standards!

 

[adell557]

So we are trying to plan a family trip to WDW. We have never been before, so I have some questions.
You donot need a carseat, you just hold them on your lap.
1. Our children will be 5 and around 5-6 months when we go... how do we work the car seat thing? I know if you stay in a resort hotel they have the shuttle that picks you up from the airport, can we take our baby on that? Also how do you get from the hotel to the parks? We plan on staying at the all star movies resort.

Buses, and you just hold them on your lap. Strollers have to be folded up on the buses.
2. Flying with the baby... Im really sorry to ask this, but I seriously dont know. I have read on the airline websites that children under two dont need a seat, so do we just hold the baby the entire time?

Yes, unless you happen to get an empty seat next to you.
3. We would like to go next year, toward the end of Feb... probably the week after Presidents Day week or maybe around the first week of March. Is that a good time to go? Low crowds and okay weather?

February is nice weather, here is a link to a crowd level chart:http://www.plan-a-magical-vacation.com/disney-crowd-level.html
4. Do you think its a bad idea taking a baby that young? I guess its mostly the flight im concerned about because we would be flying from Reno and thats a long flight.

We took our son when he was that age, they can ride almost everything in fantasy land, and we just "wore" him in our baby bjorn.Thank you so much for your responses

HOpe that helps

 

[jack hannah bananah]

We took our son at 10 months. I was worried about all the same things. I always put my kids in car seats. My 7 year old still rode in a booster (one of two in his class). I ended up just having faith that everything would be OK. He rode on my lap on the plane and on the Magical Express.
I think they sprinkle it with pixie dust so everything will be OK