taxi Service with a almost 3 year old

[ALYGRACESMOM]

Can anybody out there give suggestions about taxi service and a almost three year old. Do we have to have a car seat or can we use a seat belt any other suggestions. I was hopeing to use a taxi sometimes to get around a little faster (than buses)

 

[Edd]

Three year olds in taxis are required to be in a child seat. There are some Mears cabs at Disney that have that equipment. Most of the Mears vans have child seats. So when you request a cab from a Disney area request the child seat. A lot depends on you, because the cabs will put you in their car without a seat belts if you don't say anything. The child seat is required in a taxis under Florida law, but only the driver will suffer if the child is caught not in a child seat.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Can you request the cabs with car seats at the front desk of your resort? I was hoping to use a cab to get to some of our early morning ADRs and then remembered that we wouldn't have a car seat with us.

 

[Minnie824]

I didn't realize this was a FL law. Last year we took a cab from Beach Club to Poly and the staff outside flagged down a cab for us, we got in and left. No one ever asked if they needed car seats or told us that. We had our 2 DDs w/us. I didn't even think of it either, cuz we've been in cabs w/them in Chicago before.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, this is a flaw in the Florida law. Many states exempt cabs, but Florida doesn't.

It leaves parents sort of trapped, in my opinion. If you're in a situation where you have to take a cab unexpectedly, then all of a sudden you're a lawbreaker. It's ridiculous.

 

[Edd]

There is no flaw in the law. They are trying to protect your children. As I said before request a cab with a childseat and you shouldn't have any problems, except for a small wait. The way some of the cab drivers drive I would think you would want a seat for the little one. You are not the lawbreaker. The driver is for not providing sufficient protection for your children.

There are still accidents on the Disney property, even though they (Disney) would like you to believe seatbelts are not necessary on their property.

 

[jodifla]

There is no flaw in the law. They are trying to protect your children. As I said before request a cab with a childseat and you shouldn't have any problems, except for a small wait. The way some of the cab drivers drive I would think you would want a seat for the little one. You are not the lawbreaker. The driver is for not providing sufficient protection for your children.

There are still accidents on the Disney property, even though they (Disney) would like you to believe seatbelts are not necessary on their property.

I've been stuck twice needing a ride without a car seat. Once was in hurricane conditions (a friend had to come and get us), once after my dad got lost getting to the train station (the taxis didn't have car seats). I didn't appreciate becoming a "lawbreaker "just because of the situation.


Most big cities don't require car seats in taxis; Florida shouldn't either.

 

[Edd]

I guess you weren't thinking to much about the welfare of your child. They make restraint seats for a reason you know. Actually you didn't break the law, but allowed a driver to continue to break the law by not providing a safety device for a child under the age of 4.

 

[jodifla]

I guess you weren't thinking to much about the welfare of your child. They make restraint seats for a reason you know. Actually you didn't break the law, but allowed a driver to continue to break the law by not providing a safety device for a child under the age of 4.

Actually, in each case I WAS thinking of the welfare of my child. Getting out of the current situation was more important than than not having a car seat. In both cases, our original plans fell through and we were left without access to a car seat. In the first case, our DCL cruise was diverted and we were left in a different port, without our car. Because a hurricane passed through, there was pandemonium. The friend who could come get us didn't have access to a car seat. All stores were closed.

In the second case, my 80 year old father got lost and left us stranded at a train station in 95 degree heat with no water, food or bathroom. We needed to take a cab to his place, then start the process of trying to hunt him down. (My father's car has a booster seat.) There isn't much cab service in the area we were in, and the ones that were there didn't have car seats.

Things happen. People get stuck. You need to get over the rigidity of your thinking.

 

[helenk]

Can anybody out there give suggestions about taxi service and a almost three year old. Do we have to have a car seat or can we use a seat belt any other suggestions. I was hopeing to use a taxi sometimes to get around a little faster (than buses)

I can not help you with the car seat issue, but taking taxis to the parks maybe more aggravation that it is worth. For the MK you can not be dropped off at the park, you are taken to the Ticket and Transportation Center and from there you need to take either the monorail or the Ferry to the MK. With the other parks you are taken to the parking lots, but you are still further away from where the buses drop off.
Just my opinion, but if you do not have a rental car you maybe better off taken the buses. If you want to go to other resorts for dinner or breakfast the taxi would be a good idea, it would cut down on your travel time. I know we've taken taxis from our resort before and we just had bell services call or if you are at a resort that has a valet they will call for you. Have them ask for a van as the ones we rode in did have a car seat.

 

[kathi29]

Actually, in each case I WAS thinking of the welfare of my child. Getting out of the current situation was more important than than not having a car seat. In both cases, our original plans fell through and we were left without access to a car seat. In the first case, our DCL cruise was diverted and we were left in a different port, without our car. Because a hurricane passed through, there was pandemonium. The friend who could come get us didn't have access to a car seat. All stores were closed.

In the second case, my 80 year old father got lost and left us stranded at a train station in 95 degree heat with no water, food or bathroom. We needed to take a cab to his place, then start the process of trying to hunt him down. (My father's car has a booster seat.) There isn't much cab service in the area we were in, and the ones that were there didn't have car seats.

Things happen. People get stuck. You need to get over the rigidity of your thinking.

Okay, you had exceptional circumstances. Either way, Florida's law is flawed only in that it fails to protect our children ENOUGH. Seatbelts are designed for a 250 pound man, not a 40 pound child. In general, the "inconvenience" of having to haul around a car seat and provide adequate protection for ones child should be a distant concern. Crash dynamics do not change just because we are on vacation.

 

[Edd]

Exactly and that is the reason for the child seat. 40 pounds and under children are usually under 4 years of age and should be strapped in a child seat that puts the pressure on the whole body, rather than the arms and waist. Plus the back and seat belt restraints slow down the forward push of the belted child seat.

 

[mom_of_2_princesses]

What is the law? How old do they have to be to need a car seat? How much do they need to weigh? We are going to WDW this summer and then the cruise. I am not bringing a car seat. Anyone with any help would be appreciated.

 

[tjmw2727]

What is the law? How old do they have to be to need a car seat? How much do they need to weigh? We are going to WDW this summer and then the cruise. I am not bringing a car seat. Anyone with any help would be appreciated.

Here you go,

"Florida carseat law:

All children 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child safety seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used. (FL Statute 316.613)."

HTH
TJ

eta - we always used a carseat or booster for our kids on vacation as long as we were using one at home. MA law was 8 and 80lbs so my dd's used seats for a long time. IMHO if your still using one at home then its a good idea to use one on vacaton esp in a rental car. You don't know the area nor do many of your fellow drivers.

The exception would be if you are using ME, and Disney Transporation exclusively or hiring a towncar for airport transportation. A towncar will provide a booster/carseat if you request in advance and most at no extra charge.