Trina....What To Do?
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive January-June 2005:
Trina....What To Do?
Hi Trina! We're headed to Disney in August and are staying at the Polynesian hotel onsite which means we will be able to get to and from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot via monorail. But that leaves Disney buses for getting to and from the Studios and Animal Kingdom. How do you and your fellow CPS friends feel about that method of seatbelt-less and carseat-less travel? I guess that doesn't bother me TOO much because they're all large buses and on Disney roads for the most part. It still kinda bothers me though...
Also, because we are staying onsite we get free transportation to and from the airport. That is about a 30-45 minute ride from what I recollect. That would be on a Disney/Mears bus which they have described as a large motorcoach like Greyhound, only nicer. No seatbelts, no carseats, and traveling on actual Florida roads and expressways. What do you think of that? My kids, btw, are nine and four.
Obviously using all Disney's free transportation would save us several hundred dollars for renting a car. The biggest issues would be the travel from and back to the airport, as I suspect most of our time will be on the monorail to and from the Magic Kingdom, altho my nine year old is psyched about ALL the parks and may end up more keen on the Studios or something.
Is using the bus system a responsible thing to do or a careless and reckless thing? I realize that my husband and myself are also in danger with no seatbelts on the buses, but I put more stock into the girls' lives  . Opinion??
I fretted over the same questions when we went to WDW two years ago. DD was still in a harnessed car seat at the time, but it was the Britax Super Elite, which is not aircraft certified. She was 5 yrs. and 38 lbs. so I was OK with her flying in just the aircraft belt but was not comfortable with her riding unrestrained other than that. We ended up bringing a backless booster for DS and a Britax Laptop for DD, putting them in the overhead compartments on the plane and using them in the Mears Towncar we rented to and from the airport.
The busses, well there are no seat belts so what can you do? I was uptight and worried about it at first but had to get over it. LOL! We stayed at the Contemporary and did ride the monorail several times but we learned it was actually easier and quicker to catch a bus right out in front of the hotel.
The Poly is nice. You'll have to eat at the Ohana restaurant. FUN!
Thanks, Trina! I'm still up in the air about renting a car or hiring a service or taking the free Disney bus. I think you are saying you would use the interior Disney transportation but would use a vehicle that allows carseats for the trip to the hotel?
Another question...do you know if this particular seat is FAA approved?
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=2-3/qid=1118060848/ref=sr_2_3/601-6651481-5563360?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0002TEA8M
Is there any list of FAA approved seats? It should SAY so right on the seat, right? A sticker somewhere? Thanks so much!
Kate, yes, I *think* the Cosco combination car seat at Target is aircraft certified. Most traditional car seats are. There is no FAA approved car seat list that I know of. There is supposed to be a label somewhere on the seat, but to be honest, I've never looked specifically for that information. LOL!
Why are you considering the Cosco seat? Is your 4 yr. old currently in a car seat? Is she in the Fisher Price Safe Embrace still? Depending on her size it may be easier to bring along a backless booster. Although you won't be able to use a booster on the plane it will come in handy if you rent a car or take a Taxi, etc.. If you still want to get a combination seat there are better options, like the Graco Cargo or Evenflo Chase for example. They have higher harness slots and less twisty straps.
I was OK with Disney transportation (busses, monorail) but did not want my kids to ride unrestrained to and from the airport, which is a good 30-45 minute ride on highways. I took some comfort in knowing the size of busses alone make them safer than passenger vehicles.
Thanks, Trina! I really appreciate your prompt, expert advice all the time!!
Well, the transport I am looking at from and back to the airport are actually huge Greyhound type buses. I agree we'll be on highways and I'd prefer restraints, but it WOULD be easier to not have to bring anything along and it would be cheaper, as I would be using 'Disney's Magical Express' which is a promotional freebie right now. So I could save on renting a car or hiring a service....still thinking on that one!! Vacations are supposed to be FUN, right?? Disney ones always seem like WORK with all the planning you need to do and the priority seatings and beating the crowds, and the PRICES, etc.!!
The Cosco seat question was for a friend traveling next week to Disney with a 32 pound 37 inch 3-in-July child. That's her current seat and we didn't know if it was FAA approved or not. I thought they all had stickers on the base but she hasn't found one yet.
You're welcome.
More info here:
FAA - Flying With Child Safety Seats
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