Traveling alone with the kids!

[WDWdream]

Ok, so this is my family's first trip to Disney world. We found out last week that my husband had to change his flight and leave at a later time. I'm now going through the airports, the plane ride and loading up on magical express solo with my kids. I have a 6 year old daughter and a 2.5 year old daughter who is special needs, so her capabilities are that of a 1 year old. I'm kind of in panic mode at the moment but I can do this. most of my questions are about the buses.

I have a double stroller and a carseat that have to come with me. How easily will those fit under the Magical Express buses? Is there anyone there to help get the stuff in the storage compartments so I can keep track of my kids at the same time?

Any advice about this or anything else that might be helpful for this little adventure would be appriciated! I have a feeling this is going to be the biggest "thrill ride" of the whole trip!

 

[JavArmy]

Have your kids ever flown before? If so, this will make it a bit easier, since they will know the routine. I have flown several times with just me and my kids, they are a year and 4 months apart in age and we've been doing it since they were born (they are 4 and 5 years old now). My advice is to tell your oldest what to expect at each leg of the trip (okay, now we have to go through security, we put the stuff in the bucket, and when we get through, we have to grab it quick so other people can get their things, etc.) You will also be suprised at how helpful other people are when they see you alone with the kids. It's not too bad, just remember to keep calm and it will all work out in the end. If things ever get hectic for us, I always tell the kids "it's kinda like an adventure" Best of luck to you!

 

[tjmw2727]

Are you using the double stroller in the airport and are you using the carseat on the aircraft? If so then you will have the carseat with you and the stroller will be waiting for you at the door of the aircraft when you deplane and it won't go to the carosel.

In this case I would wait until most of the passengers have deplaned and then take the 2you out of the carseat and deplane yourself. Holding the carseat upside down will help get it down the aisle.

If you are checking the stroller and carseat through as luggage then they will arrive via the carosel. If you want them at the airport don't use the yellow DME tag or they will be shipped directly to your resort separately from the bus ride. There are always sky caps waiting to help you with your bags at baggage claim (for a tip !). The sky cap will help you to DME and then the driver will load your things under the bus and retreive them for you at the resort (another tip !).

Unless you are getting rental at some point during the trip you may not need the carseat - not allowed on DME or Disney bus transportation.

 

[mom2brooke76]

If you'll only be using the carseat on the plane, then I would recommend looking on ebay for a CARES harness for rent. It works like a carseat, but you can fold it up and stick it in a carryon bag.

 

[CleveRocks]

Are you talking about bringing the stroller and carseat to the DME bus? Once you get to the bus, the driver will stow them under the bus for you ... you wouldn't be allowed to load them under the bus by yourself even if you wanted to. Same with unloading them when you arrive at your resort, the driver will do it for you ... and if you're staying at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, Bell Services can assist you from that point if you want it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if using car seat on plane, how are you going get car seat in place plus get young daughter on? do not see how you can get both car seat and daughter on at same time. is your older daughter able to get younger one on behind you? you will have to leave stroller at the door of plane before you get to your seat something to remember. the same off the plane, you will have to get car seat and daughter off. after you get to bus will be easy. from what someone told me be sure your airline allows you to gate check a double stroller.

 

[sven1277]

I wouldn't worry too much. Get to the airport with plenty of time so you can take your time and not feel rushed. Getting through security will probably be the biggest hassle, having to deal with the metal detector, etc. Just let the gate attendant know your situation. You will probably be able to seat first, making things easier. I also agree its a good idea to explain to your older daughter what to expect at the airport if this is her first flight. I remember our girls getting upset when they had to take their shoes off. Good luck. Everything will be fine. DME will really make it easier.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

would not count attendent help. will have to leave stroller at plane door. mom will have to get car seat and 2 year old to seat. she is not going to be able to carry both at same time, not enough room. not sure if older child can get younger to the row without mom's help. at security, most likely have to fold stroller and send thru scanner. carry younger one thru. not sure how it would work if stroller used and has to be screened separately. could be away from older child. my adult daughter has to be screened separately and kids could not go with her. it is done out of sight, privately. could not use leash backpack for our runner, had to send backpack thru scanner. not to scare you, i to take 3 boys including the runner i could not catch up if he had run. worker could not touch him even with me able to see but not able to go with him. mom was taken thru a different gate that we could not go with. should say this was a Make A Wish trip, which could not help at TSA.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I remember our girls getting upset when they had to take their shoes off. Good luck. Everything will be fine. DME will really make it easier.

Children 12 and under have not been required to remove their shoes to go through security for some time.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Okay, what kind of car seat is it? How are you carrying it through the airport? What kind of stroller is it? Is it easy to fold. Can the stroller hold hte car seat and your 6 year-old walk through the airport or will you have to carry the seat and push a stroller? Is your husband or anyone else going to be able to see you at least to the point of getting your luggage checked?

I have done this twice. Once with a 7 year-old and a 10 month old and once with an 8 year-old and a 21 month old.

I've traveled twice with my son's carseat and it's doable. But when my son was 10 months old, I had a backpack as my carry-on I put over both shoulders until I checked the luggage. I wore my son in front and pulled a suitcase with one hand a pulled a Cosco Scenera car seat in a bag with the other hand.

Once I checked the luggage, I just had the backpack and car seat going through security. Before we got on the plane, I took it out of the bag and carried it in front of me. I was still wearing my son in a carrier. My dd sat in the aisle seat. I put my son in the middle seat until I got the seat installed, then I put him in it. I sat between them because car seats have to be at the window. Once we arrived, I put him back in the carrier, the car seat back in the bag, and we went to the bus. I did not have a stroller. We rented.

On our 2nd trip he was 21 months, I had the car seat I could carry on my back. But the one time I posted about the seat on here, I was told despite the glowing reviews it got on various sites, the car seat isn't good, so I don't mention it on here any more. But there are other ways to carry your seat on your back. I carried my backpack in my hand and pulled our bags with the other. I had a small stroller. However, my dd was old enough to push my son until I got the luggage checked. Your child isn't that old and I would not have given my dd that responsibility at 6.

The stroller was small and we gate checked it. The trickiest part was making sure he did not run off when it had to be folded at security. I actually packed our toiletries in checked luggage so I didn't have to deal with that ziplock bag you have to pull out there. I did this both times. I also wore crocs so I could just step out of them and back into them. So it was just putting my backpack and shoes onto the belt, dd putting hers on. Taking ds by the hand, folding the stroller and walking through. Always sent my dd through first and had her get on and off the plane first.

We are going again in June and I've got a City mini partly because of how fast it folds. He's still a runner. Also consider the stroller you have and the airline you are flying. Some airlines are no longer gate checking strollers that weigh over 20 lbs.

Since you are taking Magical Express, I'm figuring you are just taking the car seat for the plane ride. Like someone else said, I'd consider a CARES Harness instead of a car seat but not sure if the special needs you mention mean your younger child requires it. Our first trip, my son was too small for a CARES Harness and on our 2nd trip, we were taking a cab to a Sea World hotel so I needed his seat. This time we are getting a CARES harness. Several people on ebay rent them. Especially since you have a double stroller, an alternative could be a good idea.

I hope things go well for you. At 6, I'd let the older child carry his/her own backpack. Children can (as someone else mentioned) keep their shoes on now, but I had several talks with my daughter on what would happen. And be sure to dress everyone to avoid setting off the alarm.