Rental car carseats??

[hokiesweetie]

Myself, my husband, DD 11 mo old, my mom, dad, brother and SIL are going to disney in a little over a week. We are doing one day at IOA and Universal. We are flying down and staying on disney property, POR. We have pretty much settled on renting a car for the IOA/Universal day. My question is do we bring our own carseat that we'd only need for that day, or do we rent one from the car rental place? We are already bringing her pack and play for we to sleep in plus 2 suitcases and 2 book bags. I don't want to compromise her safety but its a major item to lug around. Has anyone had any resent First Hand experience with renting a carseat?

 

[KalamityJane]

I would not rent a car seat because you don't know how they clean them, IF they clean them, if they have been in an accident, if they are not expired and if they will even have one that fits your child (for instance, they may try to supply you with a forward facing only seat).

Is there any way to take a bus? You wouldn't need a car seat for that - a bus, not a shuttle.

Barring that, I would pick up a Cosco Scenara ($35-$40) and use that as a travel seat. It's lightweight and rearfaces/forwardfaces.

 

[KalamityJane]

The Scenara (or really whatever seat you want) could be purchased online and sent straight to POR. Then you wouldn't have to worry about carting it there. Also, this could be a good time to upgrade to a convertible seat if she is still in a bucket?

 

[gmeh1]

Myself, my husband, DD 11 mo old, my mom, dad, brother and SIL are going to disney in a little over a week. We are doing one day at IOA and Universal. We are flying down and staying on disney property, POR. We have pretty much settled on renting a car for the IOA/Universal day. My question is do we bring our own carseat that we'd only need for that day, or do we rent one from the car rental place? We are already bringing her pack and play for we to sleep in plus 2 suitcases and 2 book bags. I don't want to compromise her safety but its a major item to lug around. Has anyone had any resent First Hand experience with renting a carseat?

I have not rented one, but, I did work for National/Alamo. The car seats are cleaned and inspected after every use. If the vehicle was in an accident, the car seat is thrown away. If the car seat shows wear, it is thrown away. You do not want to be caught not securing a baby in an approved car seat in FL. They take a very dim view of that here. The car rental places usually charge about 10.00 per day for the car seat rental. You will have to install the car seat yourself as employees are prohibited from doing it for you.....liability issues.

 

[hokiesweetie]

I have not rented one, but, I did work for National/Alamo. The car seats are cleaned and inspected after every use. If the vehicle was in an accident, the car seat is thrown away. If the car seat shows wear, it is thrown away. You do not want to be caught not securing a baby in an approved car seat in FL. They take a very dim view of that here. The car rental places usually charge about 10.00 per day for the car seat rental. You will have to install the car seat yourself as employees are prohibited from doing it for you.....liability issues.

Thank you, that makes me feel better. Installing it yourself totally makes sense. I'm going to have my DH call which ever company he chooses to rent from and make sure they have the correct size seat.

 

[hokiesweetie]

I would not rent a car seat because you don't know how they clean them, IF they clean them, if they have been in an accident, if they are not expired and if they will even have one that fits your child (for instance, they may try to supply you with a forward facing only seat).

Is there any way to take a bus? You wouldn't need a car seat for that - a bus, not a shuttle.

Barring that, I would pick up a Cosco Scenara ($35-$40) and use that as a travel seat. It's lightweight and rearfaces/forwardfaces.

These are all things I've thought about which was why I was hoping someone who had rented one recently would be able to give some feedback. We definitely thought about taking a bus but we didn't want to be restricted by their schedule or subject to their delays. We thought about a taxi as well but I'm not sure of the laws regarding baby seats for taxis. I may amazon a cheap seat and leave it.

 

[JessM]

I do a lot of work for a lot of different rental car companies all over the US. Every site I have ever been to has take good car of their car seats. They are stored in a separate room in most cases, cleaned and inspected before they are used. Rental car companies do not mess around with their business, they want every customer who rents from them to be happy, I'd rent the car seat, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Alesia]

These are all things I've thought about which was why I was hoping someone who had rented one recently would be able to give some feedback. We definitely thought about taking a bus but we didn't want to be restricted by their schedule or subject to their delays. We thought about a taxi as well but I'm not sure of the laws regarding baby seats for taxis. I may amazon a cheap seat and leave it.

You would still need a car seat in a taxi.

 

[hokiesweetie]

You would still need a car seat in a taxi.

That's what I figured, thank you.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I wouldn't rent one simply because I've seen the pile of car seats in the garage at MCO fall too many times. Last year we saw the same people from the same company pick up the same pile of car seat (at least 5-6 car seat one on top of the other if not more)to simple have them fall again and pile again. It happened 3 times one after the other that we saw that day. So they might not have been in a car accident but it they fall that often, I can't imagine it being safer then the ones involved in car accidents. I'm not saying the it same with all the companies nor that all the employees do that but just saying that it can happen and it did happen.

 

[MaleficentRN]

I have rented car seats. They are clean. They are in a clear, plastic bag when they give them to you. You get a convertible car seat, the kind that is for 5lbs to 40lbs. They will not install it for you due to liability issues.

 

[sam_gordon]

What are you doing for the plane ride? Lap child?

 

[loveswdw]

I have rented car seats. They are clean. They are in a clear, plastic bag when they give them to you. You get a convertible car seat, the kind that is for 5lbs to 40lbs. They will not install it for you due to liability issues.

This was our experience also when we rented from Avis several years ago. The attendant opened a door to a room in the garage filled with car seats. All were plastic wrapped and clean. The seat he gave us looked brand new. It wasn't anything fancy, your basic car seat. But it was clean, it worked, and it definitely beat lugging DS's monster Britax through the airport.

 

[hokiesweetie]

What are you doing for the plane ride? Lap child?

Yes, I "wear"her on the plane. we have flown several times with her, always on SW, though never AirTran booked through SW which is what we're doing this time, (whole other can o worms). Only once was I told I couldn't wear her and that was the very first time I had done it so I didn't know any better. I feel secure doing this. And please no debates on lap vs carseats on planes, to each their own.

 

[hokiesweetie]

This was our experience also when we rented from Avis several years ago. The attendant opened a door to a room in the garage filled with car seats. All were plastic wrapped and clean. The seat he gave us looked brand new. It wasn't anything fancy, your basic car seat. But it was clean, it worked, and it definitely beat lugging DS's monster Britax through the airport.

Thank you, that is helpful. A friend of mine, also a frequent disney goer, pointed out that this IS Disney (we plan on renting from on property) and while the rental companies aren't owned by Disney, they are used to a big demand for carseats. We're not traveling at peak season so I feel confident that if they first seat they hand me doesn't look satisfactory it won't be the only one available.

 

[gmeh1]

Thank you, that is helpful. A friend of mine, also a frequent disney goer, pointed out that this IS Disney (we plan on renting from on property) and while the rental companies aren't owned by Disney, they are used to a big demand for carseats. We're not traveling at peak season so I feel confident that if they first seat they hand me doesn't look satisfactory it won't be the only one available.

Most rental companies have an adequate supply in all sizes. They also aim to please the customer, so, I feel confident you will get what you need.
BTW, Taxi cabs often have infant seats with them. If that is the route you want to take, just let the person at your resort know this, they will find a taxi with a car seat.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes, I "wear"her on the plane. we have flown several times with her, always on SW, though never AirTran booked through SW which is what we're doing this time, (whole other can o worms). Only once was I told I couldn't wear her and that was the very first time I had done it so I didn't know any better. I feel secure doing this. And please no debates on lap vs carseats on planes, to each their own.

I wasn't trying to start the debate, just wanted to make sure (you know what happens when you assume) you didn't have a seat for her.

 

[hokiesweetie]

I wasn't trying to start the debate, just wanted to make sure (you know what happens when you assume) you didn't have a seat for her.

I know, that wasn't for you, that was a preemtive for others who might like to start one. It always seems to happen over carseats and nursing lol.

 

[KalamityJane]

I mention the cleaning, because cleaning with detergents and/or soaking the straps is really detrimental to them and weakens the straps considerably. So a seat can be clean but actually be unsafe.

 

[gmeh1]

I mention the cleaning, because cleaning with detergents and/or soaking the straps is really detrimental to them and weakens the straps considerably. So a seat can be clean but actually be unsafe.

They are aware of that fact and have a cleaning solution to fit the the procedure. The straps are never soaked to the point that it would weaken them. The safety of the children is a prime concern. Do you seriously believe they would do anything that could open them up to some sort of liablility? Dropping them does not harm them either, if it did, I would seriously wonder just how effective they would be in a crash. They are built to withstand a lot of "abuse". Now, if you dropped one from a third floor onto concrete, I would worry, but, a few feet, I would not worry. Icannot imagine a seat not being dropped one time or another by the owners.