Taxi ride without a car seat?

[mrsincredible3]

Let me start off by saying our children are always in an appropriate car seat when riding. We would like to do ohana breakfast while staying at animal kingdom lodge and will need to take a taxi to get there. What are the rules in disney world for car seats in taxis? Our kids will be 6 (he's tall) and 15 months. When you've taken a taxi ride at disney world with small kids what do you do about a car seat? We weren't planning to bring one. Also for the magical express would we just hold the baby in our laps? A CM told me car seats aren't allowed in magical express. A taxi is the most reasonable and efficient way I see for the route we want but will they let us ride without a car seat for the baby? Thanks. Any suggestions welcome to maximize efficiency and safety.

 

[mrsincredible3]

Just read that if you pre arrange a taxi you can request for them to bring a car seat? Anyone had experience with this?

 

[Happyjen27]

Contact your concierge at AKL. S/He should be able to arrange for a car service with an appropriate seat.

It is legal according to FL law to bring a baby in a taxi without a car seat, however, from the sounds of it, you already think that's not advisable.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The CM was right; car seats cannot be used on ME.

Vehicles in WDW follow Florida State law, not Disney rules!

 

[Gracie09]

Contact your concierge at AKL. S/He should be able to arrange for a car service with an appropriate seat. It is legal according to FL law to bring a baby in a taxi without a car seat, however, from the sounds of it, you already think that's not advisable.

This isn't true. Car seat laws are still applicable to taxis but the driver of the taxi is not responsible for providing a car seat the parents or guardian of the child is. Many taxis have car seats available. Talk to the front desk at the hotel for assistance.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Just bring your own car seat; that is the safest thing to do.

 

[Gracie09]

No, what you posted isn't true. The law requiring car seats does not apply to travel in taxis: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

Section 6 of the law you quoted a parent or guardian is responsible for complying with the law.

The child restraint requirements imposed by this section do not apply to a chauffeur-driven taxi, limousine, sedan, van, bus, motor coach, or other passenger vehicle if the operator and the motor vehicle are hired and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. It is the obligation and responsibility of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for a childs welfare, as defined in s. 39.01(47), to comply with the requirements of this section.

 

[Happyjen27]

Ooops, sorry. Happens all the time in NYC. Heard FL had similar laws.

Anyway, my original advice of working with the concierge at AKL is the way I would go anyway. Wouldn't put my kid in a cab without a car seat.

 

[leighi123]

Do you think the word "Taxi" of the roof changes the laws of physics? Even if its legal, is DANGEROUS. Don't risk a child's life just for Disney, its not worth it.

Use a carseat (6yr old can ride in a booster, 15month old needs to be in a rearfacing carseat) , or take a bus (buses are safer than cars, and are designed differently, they work without seatbelts/carseats)

I'm a certified carseat tech and have a 6yr old, I would never ever ever transport him without a proper safety seat for the sake of convenience.

 

[mrsincredible3]

Thank you for the input. No, I don't want to ride in a taxi without my children in appropriate seats, hence my posting here! So AKL can arrange for a taxi with a rear facing seat? Can they also arrange for the taxi to have a booster seat? I have a bubble bum booster seat, but the only time we would need it on the whole trip would be for this drive over to the poly. From the poly we would take the monorail over to magic kingdom, so we'd have to carry to booster around with us the rest of the day. If the taxi could come with a rear facing seat and a booster that would be ideal! Is this possible? Thanks.

 

[jmrothermel]

Thank you for the input. No, I don't want to ride in a taxi without my children in appropriate seats, hence my posting here! So AKL can arrange for a taxi with a rear facing seat? Can they also arrange for the taxi to have a booster seat? I have a bubble bum booster seat, but the only time we would need it on the whole trip would be for this drive over to the poly. From the poly we would take the monorail over to magic kingdom, so we'd have to carry to booster around with us the rest of the day. If the taxi could come with a rear facing seat and a booster that would be ideal! Is this possible? Thanks.

Id take the Bubble Bum and have them only get you the 5 point seat. Less to confuse

 

[*Seanaci*]

After reading your plans for after your meal, my suggestion wouldn't be much help. I was going to suggest renting car seats from abbf.com They rent everything, even car seats.

That being said, I'm also a parent that always puts my 6 year old in a proper carseat. However, if he were 15 months old and I didn't want to bring a carseat for that only taxi ride, we would just put him on our lap. Every one is different in their choices on how to transport their kids safely, and shouldn't be flamed if they choose NOT to use a car seat in a taxi.

Just my two cents.

 

[bumbershoot]

The bubble bum is great to get that almost-big-enough kid up to fit into the seatbelt (the whole point of a booster, of course). And since it's a short trip he'll likely be awake to not slouch, etc. It's only a pound, or even less, and it comes in a carrrying pouch (of course first you have to let all the air out of it and roll it back up to fit it into the pouch) so you can just carry it for the day.

The baby, though, I would SEE if the lobby concierge at the resort could arrange for the carseat.

Because we almost always have a car at WDW, and because those times we haven't we have gotten cab rides, we KNOW how utterly bananas people go on those roads. They drive too fast, they stop too fast, they don't know where they are going, they don't know what they are doing. The WDW roads are ripe for disaster. And while an experienced taxi driver on Disney property will likely be able to avoid problems, you have no guarantee of getting one of those experienced drivers. We certainly didn't on our last trip. We knew the place better than he did!


As for DME and the WDW transport buses, those are coach buses and rules for coach buses apply. Some DME buses have seatbelts but not all, and you aren't allowed to take the carseat into the passenger area anyway; they have to be stowed under the bus. So yes, just like on a typical American (said because I've read that some countries actually do have seatbelts for buses) Greyhound coach or city bus, you will hold the baby.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You can request a taxi to come with car seats. The problem is you have no idea what type they will have or what condition they will be in. We did let our 5 year old ride in a taxi at WDW with just the seat belt but I was quite anxious doing so and we never did it before that trip he was 5. My suggestion would be to just choose a different breakfast or use the buses. You can take a bus to MK and the mono-rail over to the Polly without too much trouble, or if it is a early AM ADR and that might be too early a start for you, maybe try to get CP at the MK instead.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Is the time of your breakfast prohibitive of you using Disney transportation to get there?

For an 8am breakfast at a monorail resort, we just take the bus to MK, then get on the monorail. Concierge at AKL should be able to tell you if a bus will come early enough.

I have traveled with my son at 10 months, 21 months, 2.5 and 3. If the breakfast is really too early to use Disney transportation I might consider a later time, although I understand people wanted to eat and make rope drop.

 

[mrsincredible3]

Is the time of your breakfast prohibitive of you using Disney transportation to get there?

For an 8am breakfast at a monorail resort, we just take the bus to MK, then get on the monorail. Concierge at AKL should be able to tell you if a bus will come early enough.

I have traveled with my son at 10 months, 21 months, 2.5 and 3. If the breakfast is really too early to use Disney transportation I might consider a later time, although I understand people wanted to eat and make rope drop.

If we left AK Lodge at 7am, would it be quicker to bus to the MK and then take the monorail, or bus to the TTC and walk through the Poly grounds to get to Ohana? How long would each method take? Thanks. Id prefer to do Ohana and the spend the rest of the day at the park rather than leave and then come back. I have a 7:45am reservation.

 

[luvmy2babies]

If we left AK Lodge at 7am, would it be quicker to bus to the MK and then take the monorail, or bus to the TTC and walk through the Poly grounds to get to Ohana? How long would each method take? Thanks. Id prefer to do Ohana and the spend the rest of the day at the park rather than leave and then come back. I have a 7:45am reservation.

You will need to take the bus to MK. Resort busses don't go to TTC that I'm aware. They run as early as 6:30 to give people time to get to early breakfasts. When we have had breakfast at a monorail resort, taking the bus to MK is always how we do it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Whenever we've taken taxis (which, admittedly isn't that frequently) we request a van since there are 5 of us. There is often a car seat(s) in the back. The ones we've seen have been of the "regular" variety (ie not and infant seat and not boosters). Which is not to say that they don't have those, just that we haven't seen them. It's been a few years, so that may have changed. Don't know if they carry them regularly in the back of the regular taxis or not.
You would most likely have no trouble getting a seat for your toddler. Not sure about the 6 year old. Whether or not you let the 6 year old ride with just the buckle is up to you. I have done so in both NY and WDW, but I know others would disagree.

 

[mrsltg]

Do you think the word "Taxi" of the roof changes the laws of physics? Even if its legal, is DANGEROUS. Don't risk a child's life just for Disney, its not worth it.

Use a carseat (6yr old can ride in a booster, 15month old needs to be in a rearfacing carseat) , or take a bus (buses are safer than cars, and are designed differently, they work without seatbelts/carseats)

I'm a certified carseat tech and have a 6yr old, I would never ever ever transport him without a proper safety seat for the sake of convenience.

Do you think the word "bus" changes the laws of physics? Going from 50mph to 0mph in an abbreviated amount of time is not safe (apply the same rules to any speed and abrupt stop). Buses do not work without seatbelts and carseats. People die in these accidents same as they die in car accidents. The likelihood of fatal damage being done in a rear-end between a bus and a car are small, but not absent. Taking the bus in Disney is the same as taking a calculated risk. There is nothing wrong with doing so, but be honest with yourself when you're doing it. All you need to do is be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, expert or not, if you transport your child without the proper safety seat, you are taking a risk.

OP - Do what you need to do. Request a carseat if possible if that makes you feel more secure. Children ride in public transportation every day and they are not in safety seats. Whatever you decide, it needs to be in your comfort zone. Good luck deciding, and enjoy your vacation!

 

[Gracie09]

Do you think the word "bus" changes the laws of physics? Going from 50mph to 0mph in an abbreviated amount of time is not safe (apply the same rules to any speed and abrupt stop). Buses do not work without seatbelts and carseats. People die in these accidents same as they die in car accidents. The likelihood of fatal damage being done in a rear-end between a bus and a car are small, but not absent. Taking the bus in Disney is the same as taking a calculated risk. There is nothing wrong with doing so, but be honest with yourself when you're doing it. All you need to do is be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So, expert or not, if you transport your child without the proper safety seat, you are taking a risk. OP - Do what you need to do. Request a carseat if possible if that makes you feel more secure. Children ride in public transportation every day and they are not in safety seats. Whatever you decide, it needs to be in your comfort zone. Good luck deciding, and enjoy your vacation!

Actually buses are designed differently than cars. They are heavier, the seats are higher, they are higher on the road. All those mean that although physics are the same the results of the physics are different. A child in a car without a seat belt may fly through the front window. The same child may fly into the back of the seat in front of them on a bus. Both are not good but the first is much more likely to kill or cause great harm to the child. The heavier bus means in a bus vs ( car, light pole etc) situation, the bus will "win" causing much more damage to the object it hit and absorbing damage. It's higher which means if it's hit by a car the major impact is below the passengers . Again designed to protect the people on board.