WDW Magical Express Carseat Question

[Wendi2000]

I am traveling with my almost 4 year old in Sept/Oct and we will be using Magical Express transportation to/from the airport. Can anyone tell me if this is a bus or shuttle with shoulder seatbelts, or something without seatbelts. I just need to know if I should bring a booster seat. This is the first time Max won't be in a carseat on the plane... just need to know about the ground.

TIA!!!

 

[akamom]

If it still like how the Mears buses were, there are no seatbelts and no carseats needed.

 

[vacationsareamust]

I used the Magical Express coming home. It is a large bus with no seat belts but it was 5:30 am and I was half asleep.

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

I sent an email to Disney online asking if carseats are required and if they can be used. Their response today was:

Dear Karla,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World. Resort.

Car seats on motorcoach transportation is not required by law. Car seats will not be permitted on the Disney Magical Express motorcoaches, but they may be stowed underneath the motorcoach in the luggage compartment.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Mary Czachorowski
WDW Online Communications

Why wouldn't a car seat be required on a motorcoach? does anyone know? At my country, carseats are not required AT ALL, it is a personal choice. However, I would have thought that in the US, carseats were required in anything that moved!

 

[adisneymama]

Most busses or large coach transporters do not have seat belts. Therefore, you can't install a car seat. I agree that I wish they would install seat belts on busses. But for now that is not required by law.

 

[Dani&Pao'sMom]

oh! that makes sense.... kind of hard to attach a carseat without seat belts!!! now that you mention it, none of the shuttles I've taken at different airports (mostly for rental cars) have had seat belts... yeah, it should be required by law. Anyways, no carseats in ME.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Plus they probably don't want the carseats in the seats without a belt because it can become a flying projectile, which could hurt other passengers.

I wonder if I could use the hip hammock or Bjorn for the baby on there?
Or a Baby B'Air vest...at least then if we stopped suddenly I'd have a grip on her, yk?

 

[Ardenne]

I'm sure you could use the Baby Bjorn or some other kind of attached-to-parent carrier, as long as you can sit while wearing it. I used a Baby Bjorn front carrier with my daughter in a similar situation when she was about 2 months old, and it worked great. She was very secure, even when the ride got very bumpy... I felt a lot better about her safety at that point than I would have with her just held in my arms, and it was good to be able to have my arms free to brace us both.

 

[Wendi2000]

Thanks for all the info and research on this!!! I appreciate it. Although I'd feel much safer with Max in a carseat, I'll admit I'm relieved that it's one less thing to pack and deal with. Thanks again! I'm getting really excited about our first WDW trip!!!

 

[tlbwriter]

I wonder if I could use the hip hammock or Bjorn for the baby on there?
Or a Baby B'Air vest...at least then if we stopped suddenly I'd have a grip on her, yk?

I would *not* wear your child on the bus. In a crash, or even a sudden stop, you will be flung into the back of the seat in front of you, and she will be crushed. And the Baby B'air is a joke - the tether is so long that even if it did stay attached to both of you, she could still be flung far enough to suffer a serious injury. Give her her own spot on the bus so she can take advantage of the safety features it does have.

 

[CleveRocks]

Don't be so concerned about no car seats on DME. Think about it -- there are no car seats on Disney Transport (the buses from the resorts to the parks), either, and those buses aren't plushly upholstered like the DME buses!

-- Eric