Stowing a car seat question

[MemphisMade]

I will be visiting Disneyland Park with my wife and 2 toddlers next month. My mom will probably accompany us for several as well, with us all riding together. The plan right now is to get there at opening and then she will leave in the early afternoon with the 2 year old, more than likely via uber. That's where the car seat issue comes in. She will obviously need that ubering back to the rental in Newport. I have thought of taking the seat to bell services at GCH, and then scooping it up from there at the appropriate time, with a generous tip of course. I've done similar in Vegas when just flying in for a day with a small carry on.

Does anyone think it's ok in this situation, and if not, what other suggestions might you have? Thanks!

 

[SMD]

Is your mother going to be able to install the car seat into an Uber without assistance? You may want to have her drive the rental car back and then you use Uber and install the other carseat yourself. Or have her come back either for more park time or to pick you up. If you save your parking receipt you can re-enter.

 

[Geemo]

I know taxi's are usually more than Uber.
We have stayed at another hotel and on our last day brought our bags over and checked them with bell services when we went to CB at the GCH.
When it's time to head to the airport we got our bags and a taxi was right there.

If you do it this way you could install the car seat as you send them off for their naps.

 

[ExcitedMama]

Are you just worried about your little one needing a nap? I'm not sure if there's another reason she needs to leave and if so ignore this. When mine were little I was very, very regimented about sleep. Mine wake up too early and never napped in the car. When we went to DL DD had never napped outside of her crib or my arms. She fell asleep all over DL! During Aladdin, on the train and waiting for fireworks. She did great all day and had a wonderful time. If that's the issue you could have your mom put her feet up on the train and go for a ride while she naps.

If she does need to leave I think it's an excellent point about the car seat install. That could be very tricky for Grandma.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was avsoluteky refused to leave anything with Bell at DLH without a room reservation. Good luck.

Aren't there Ubers to request with car seats?

DS stroller napped. It was the best.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I will be visiting Disneyland Park with my wife and 2 toddlers next month. My mom will probably accompany us for several as well, with us all riding together. The plan right now is to get there at opening and then she will leave in the early afternoon with the 2 year old, more than likely via uber. That's where the car seat issue comes in. She will obviously need that ubering back to the rental in Newport. I have thought of taking the seat to bell services at GCH, and then scooping it up from there at the appropriate time, with a generous tip of course. I've done similar in Vegas when just flying in for a day with a small carry on.

Does anyone think it's ok in this situation, and if not, what other suggestions might you have? Thanks!

If grandma is taking the 2 year old back to your hotel for a midday nap, but your wife and other child are staying at the parks, why not have grandma simply drive the car both ways rather than messing with Uber and a car seat?

 

[MemphisMade]

If grandma is taking the 2 year old back to your hotel for a midday nap, but your wife and other child are staying at the parks, why not have grandma simply drive the car both ways rather than messing with Uber and a car seat?

No. Grandma would be leaving for the day while my wife and I close the park down with our 4 year old. We don't want to keep the almost 2 year old until close (more so my wife's wish). I will check to see if some uber drivers provide car seats. *edited to add it looks like I can request an uber with a car seat for a $10 surcharge. Looks like problem solved. Thanks for replies!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would so rather close down the park with a 2 year old than an opinionated 4 year old lol. Ds was easy at 2. The 4 year old version of him was afraid of his shadow until literally his 5th birthday! Soooo many opinions...

 

[SMD]

The option to order an Uber with a car seat isn't in CA, only NYC.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

No. Grandma would be leaving for the day while my wife and I close the park down with our 4 year old. We don't want to keep the almost 2 year old until close (more so my wife's wish). I will check to see if some uber drivers provide car seats. *edited to add it looks like I can request an uber with a car seat for a $10 surcharge. Looks like problem solved. Thanks for replies!

The previous question about whether grandma could install the car seat or not is a valid one. Do you think she's capable of doing it? I install my own car seat a lot and even so sometimes it's a little tricky in a new vehicle. And then there is your original question regarding where to store the car seat until you need it. I think if I was in your position I would have one parent stay with the 4 year old at DL while the other parent drives grandma and the 2 year old back, then returns with the car to DL. It's a little bit of a pain for the parent who will be driving but it shouldn't take *that* long in the whole realm of things.

I will say that my 2 year old does surprisingly well at DL. We have done 12 hour days easy. He actually doesn't nap at DL but he's always happy and not cranky. It's crazy. Usually I'm a stickler for his schedule but he just loves DL so much that he's happy and content all day with no nap, even staying up late. It's amazing.

 

[lcp9]

There are lockers at DL, not sure if they're big enough for a car seat - I haven't used them. I bet if you call Guest Services they would have better suggestions. That said - we have 3 kids (6, 3, 1) in car seats and avoid transportation needing them WHENEVER POSSIBLE. Grandma needing to install/uninstall is a valid concern. Ours are all pricey Britax ones and even those can be a huge pain in the butt. I just saw you're staying in Newport...honestly, I would just suck it up and try naps in the stroller. Even when my two oldest were 3/1 we did 12 hour days and would just find shady spots for them to sleep in the stroller.

 

[MemphisMade]

I'm ok with not sending him home with grandma. The first time my now 4 year old went, 15 months at the time, he was good. Midday nap in the stroller in some shade. He fell asleep right after Fantasmic. Even last summer we opened the park and he didn't fall asleep until just as Paint the Night was starting.
This new one is a different animal though. He's not nearly as chill as older brother. I guess we'll play it by ear. Good to know of options before we head out next month.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Next trip consider staying across the street in a suites hotel. Last trip our 2 yo could take no more than 2.5 hours at a time. And couldn't sleep in stroller. We went to parks first thing. Back to hotel midday for naps. Then back later in the day for a few more hours.

 

[Limeaide]

We were in Disneyland the last week in June (stayed at Great Wolf Lodge) and even UberXL didn't offer car seats. We found out the hard way after it arrived. We did find that taxi's didn't care whether we had a car seat or not.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

We were in Disneyland the last week in June (stayed at Great Wolf Lodge) and even UberXL didn't offer car seats. We found out the hard way after it arrived. We did find that taxi's didn't care whether we had a car seat or not.

While the taxi driver may not care, people should be aware that it is illegal in CA to not have a child under 8 (or 4' 9") in the appropriate car seat/ booster. Taxi drivers should care and I wouldn't bank on them not.

Each family will decide what to do for themselves, but it's important to know the laws of the state.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

While the taxi driver may not care, people should be aware that it is illegal in CA to not have a child under 8 (or 4' 9") in the appropriate car seat/ booster. Taxi drivers should care and I wouldn't bank on them not.

Each family will decide what to do for themselves, but it's important to know the laws of the state.

I would also like to point out that as of January 1 2017 all children under the age of 2 must be in a REAR FACING car seat or be subject to a fine. This is a new law in CA.