Taxi w/ infant?

[PLUTO2]

I read on another thread that carseats are not required for taxis in Florida. I will be traveling with a 13 month old and am wondering if anyone has used a taxi without a carseat?We would be using the taxi to go to church, which will be the only time we would not be using Disney transportation. Does not seem very safe to me. With all the children at WDW you would think some taxi service would have some kind of carseat. Thank you.

 

[tjmw2727]

For about the cost of a taxi or maybe a tad more you can use a transporation company with a sedan and most include a carseat. Hit the transporation board below for recommendations of reputable companies.

We have used Tiffany Town Car and Quicksliver Transporation for round trip transportation from the airport to WDW and both have had good condition CRS's for our children.

A quick search for either company will lead you to the website and I would imagine they would provide transportation to church. Booking in advance will assure they are there for both legs and have the carseat you require.

TJ

 

[PLUTO2]

I emailed FL Tours so we'll see what they say. I just do not like the idea of riding without the carseat.

 

[crisi]

Many of the taxi's at WDW will have a carseat in the trunk. However, it will likely not be an infant seat. You can always bring one as well, especially if baby has his own seat on the plane.

 

[Machta]

I wonder if you emailed the pastor or staff at the church if you might not be able to get a ride from someone in their congregation who has carseat/s. It seems like people are ready to help, but asking is the hard part! Good luck!

 

[solferino]

I understand and respect that church is extremely important to many people, but my personal feeling is if you are so concerned about not having a carseat for your son, a VERY valid one at that, could services be forgone the week you are on vacation, or perhaps just you or your DH go and one stays behind with DS?

I'm really nutty about carseats and kids and nothing is more important than their safety, IMO. G-d of all people should understand and respect that!

 

[wlweems]

why would you not have a carseat? if he is 13 months wouldn't you need it for the airplane? we are taking my 2 1/2 year old in two weeks and we are taking his carseat?

however, airplanes do not let my 4 and 6 year olds use the booster seats on planes, so we are still wondering what to do about that? take them or leave them at home? will they need it on magical express? they are 45 and 50 pounds....any suggestions?

 

[solferino]

why would you not have a carseat? if he is 13 months wouldn't you need it for the airplane? we are taking my 2 1/2 year old in two weeks and we are taking his carseat?

however, airplanes do not let my 4 and 6 year olds use the booster seats on planes, so we are still wondering what to do about that? take them or leave them at home? will they need it on magical express? they are 45 and 50 pounds....any suggestions?

booster seats won't make a difference on an airplane because there's no shoulder harness. With the regular carseats, hopefully with a 5pt harness, they're strapped onto the seat and then the child is secure with its own harness, whereas a booster brings a child up to a safer level with a standard seatbelt so the shoulder part does not interfere with the neck and head.

And no, magical express does not allow carseats. I believe it says that any carseats with guests are stowed underneath. THe ME busses don't have seatbelts. At least if they're anything like the DCL bus we took back to the airport on our last trip.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I've taken a taxi with my son not in a carseat at that age. In our case the other options were limited (he fell ended up in the emergency room far from home, by the time we were released it was the middle of the night). To be honest, it didn't feel safe to me.

If at all possible I'd take the carseat -- you might be able to use it on the plane, and you never know what else will come up while you're there. I used to use bungee cords to attach DS's carseat to his stroller so I didn't have to carry it through the airport (don't check it, the chance that it will be damaged are too great).

If you can't bring the seat for whatever reason, then keep this statistic in mind. A child in a carseat is about 1/2 as likely to be killed or injured as a child without one. So if you're driving 20 miles to church it would be like driving 40 miles without one.

 

[PLUTO2]

We are bringing his carseat and using it for the plane, I just did not know if that would be a problem with the taxi. I suppose we could always just store it on the side at church.

 

[lovehoney]

Just take your car seat with you. I'm sure you can leave it somewhere in the church where it will not be in someones way. I've used my own car seats in Taxis before - never been a problem.

As a person who was in a rollover accident and seen her DS (2 at the time) hanging upside down from a carseat - I am a firm believer in there use.

Isn't it too bad that they don't have services somewhere on property?

Have a great time!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

If you're bringing it you shouldn't have any trouble using it in the taxi. I don't drive so we did it all the time when he was younger. As a single parent the easiest way to manage the taxi was to strap DS into the carseat and then put it in the cab and install it -- that way he was "contained" while I was buckling him in. If you're using an infant seat practice installing it without the base a few times so that you know what to do.

One thing that's important is to make sure the driver knows what you're doing. I had an incident where I buckled DS in and then went to walk around the car and get in the opposite side. When I shut the door on DS's side the taxi driver drove off. He didn't mean anything, just heard the door slam and assumed everyone was in, but needless to say I was panicking. We were at a hotel and the doorman heard me scream and stepped in front of the taxi to stop it. The driver was very apologetic. So now, I always tell the driver what I'm doing -- "I'm going to buckle him in on this side and then walk around" or "I'm going to get out on this side and then walk around and unbuckle him on the other side". Haven't had a problem since.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I agree with most other posters, town car service, skip church if you don't have one. I think emailing and asking for a ride a great idea.

However there is another option, if your child is big enough.

http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.js...oogle&cm_cat=Top100&cm_pla=Top100&cm_ite=null

I think it is for 20 pounds and up. Many 13 month olds are (my 13 month old is only 16 pounds, so not us.)

We got stuck one year at WDW when my BIL meet us there with a rental car and didn't bring the car seat we asked him too. We ended up driving in a major rain stom (safer then sitting in the lightining waiting for the bus) with out it and 2 year old DD sitting in the back seat between 2 adults. I was not comfortable with it, but like much like Mickey'snewestfan, we had limited options. I was kicking myself after this trip for not getting this. It would have made me much more comfrotable, and easier to take with us then a normal car seat. I am not sure why the price isn't on the link, maybe it is no longer avilable. It was around 25$ at the time. Sorry.