Taking pushchair with us ?

[kevin harrison]

When we fly to Orlando, what is Virgins policy on pushchairs ?

Do they count it as your hand luggage or do they not mind ?

Thanks

Kev.

 

[allie5]

Its not classed as "luggage".....you dont check it in (although you get a tag), but keep it with you till you board the flight and its taken down to the hold then. Be warned they dont treat them very well, so if you have a nice/expensive one, then you might want to think about a cover. Ours was torn and filthy when we picked it up at MCO.

On our return to Gatwick, it was raining and the buggy was soaked through so DD couldnt sit in it.

 

[vernon]

Depending on the age of your kids, a workable option could be to visit somewhere like Walmart on your first day and buy one of the cheap "umberella" style strollers and use that for the holiday. It's likely to cost about $20. For a very small child you may want/need something more substantial than this type, but for a toddler the UK ones I found were too hot for the Florida summer as they don't let the air pass through very well. The thin material ones that are locally available are much cooler than the UK ones. They are also usually a hell of a lot easier carrying on and off busses,trams, trains and boats.

 

[SidB]

Originally posted by vernon
buy one of the cheap "umberella" style strollers and use that for the holiday. It's likely to cost about $20

Just recently we were amazed when we found one for £8 in Walmart.

 

[BevS97]

a workable option could be to visit somewhere like Walmart on your first day and buy one of the cheap "umberella" style strollers and use that for the holiday

I wouldn't recommend getting a really cheap one - you are going to be pushing the thing all day every day for 14 days - you want something that's easy to push, and also something your child can sleep in. Even last year when Katie was 4 1/2 she slept a few times in her stroller.

We used a basic Maclaren for our 2 trips, it was £30 and I added a net basket underneath so we could carry some junk with us, it worked quite well and was easy to take on trams etc. Even then, if we weren't too far from the entrance, or the stroller was heavily laden (quite often), then one of us (ok Phil) would walk back to the car with the stroller while Katie and I would take the tram.

We will be taking an expensive one this year, because we will have baby with us, so I am planning on getting a bag to put it in - it is true they don't treat them very well, and I have had one broken, but BA were extremely good and reimbursed me the full price of teh stroller on the spot. Still a hassle to have to go and buy another one if it happens on your way out to Orlando.

If you do need something more substantial for a younger child, then the 'telescoping' ones are very good, Chicco 2003, M&P Pliko etc - they are nicer than an umbrella when in use, but still collapse to a smallish size for ease of use on trams.

Bev

 

[BevS97]

PS - I didn#t even answer the question - duh - got so excited on my favorite topic.

You can take both a pushchair and a carseat and neither count as part of your baggage allowance.

Bev

 

[vernon]

Bev said

you want something that's easy to push

Do the cheaper ones come with square wheels these days then? LOL I've never had a problem with moving them around in the past. There is a massive choice and they are much cheaper than in the UK. I'm certain you would find something that suits you for a relatively cheap cost.

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

We took our chicco trekking last year for dd who was nearly 3 then she is now 3 (going on 4) so i'm looking at a cheap one seen a princess buggy (in pink they also do blue for £30) in mothercare as the chicco is a little bulky for my liking,esp for holidaying,it is easy to push and good for storing bits on the bottom..so im split decision at the moment.
They dont class them as hand luggage we took a buggy and car seat last year
Car seat we had to put in a bag (bin bag).

Buggy we just put it down for them,it did come back a little battered not too much though i have to say!

I agree a easy to push one is needed,we have a mothercare dakota (also bev im also a pram queen) lol, and it has big wheels and its horrendous to push!! needless to say its in the attic! with the other prams! in my collection,lol.

Beth

 

[allie5]

Question for Beth: We are taking our M&P Pliko for the baby, but we are almost certain DD (3) isnt going to go the distance without a buggy also. Problem is she is big for her age and weighs 40llb+++. One of those cheapo Wal-Mart jobs probably wouldnt be anygood for her. Do you reckon those Mothercare Princess ones would do for a large 3 year old? I havent seen them myself yet, so would appreciate an opinion!

Our orginal plan was to put the baby in a sling and let DD use the Pliko when she gets tired, but the he now weighs too much for my sling.......aaaaaaaarrrgh!!

 

[BevS97]

vernon - the really cheap ones might as well have square wheels, some of them have fixed ones which don't swivel and they are awful to push. Also, they have different bearings or something in them, I don't know, but there is definitely a difference in the quality, they can be very hard to push with the wheels having a mind of their own - think dodgy supermarket trolley.

I saw the Mothercare Princess ones last weekend but didn't take a close look, as a general rule I don't like Mothercare own brand pushchairs, but it looked similiar to my Cindico which is a very basic Maclaren (not branded Maclaren but came with Maclaren instruction booklet), I don't know the weight limit on it, but my dd was fine in it at 3.5 and 4.5 and it was very easy to

We are taking a Chicco 2003 which is like a trekking this year, They are a bit bigger than a basic umbrella, but much better for a small baby imho.

I would check out Walmart or babies r us on the web before waiting until you get there, most US pushchairs are of the Graco shopping basket variety and are quite bulky. On the Family board, most people wish they could afford to buy a Maclaren to take, as they are generally regarded as 'the best' for Disney but they are very very expensive in the USA - eg, on Babies R Us right now (the USA version) the Daytripper is on special for $129 - you can get one from www.kiddicare.com for £39.99

Bev

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

I'm not sure allie this is why im split decisioned.I may take a visit in the next week or so and have a look,i have heard a few people have bought them princess pushchairs and etc,so i had a gander through my mag and thats when i seen them,it looks nice and bright,and simple,but i may visit and put dd in it lol to make sure.
Other than that im just on kiddicare the link bev has posted going to see what they have.. quite fancy a maclaren! (if i can persuade dp)!!

Will let you know what i come up with though etc..

Beth