My husband, daughter and I ar flying to Disney World on Saturday. We've got a 3 hour lay-over in Dallas. We're going to be using the car seat for our 2yo on the airplane. We're undecided on whether to take a stroller or not.
We're meeting my in-laws there, so we'll have them to help carry Penny if she gets tired at DW, and we could always rent a stroller there. But I was thinking more about the airport. We're going to have a tired 2yo and a car seat to lug around. Should we bring a stroller so that it can either carry her or the car seat?
What have you done in the past?
Stroller for sure. You will be happy that you did. Especially if you are running late and need to get to the gates in a hurry and the toddler doesn't feel like going faster. Just take a cheapy so that if you feel you want to ditch it you can.
Good Luck!
I would suggest using a stroller, just one of those little ones. I brought one last time I flew and it was a life saver. When my daughter wasn't in it I put our carry on luggage in it and it made the time in the airport so much easier. My daughter is also 2 and she was suprisingly willing to be pushed around.
I had the same question when my husband and I were flying to Mexico with our 6 month old. I took the carseat/stoller system. The airlines were VERY accommodating! We checked the car seat up front with the baggage since she was on my lap during the flight. From there on, we kept her in the stroller the whole time until we were ready to board. Once we were boarding, they took it and stored it in the cargo area and once we arrived at our destination, they had it waiting for us when we walked off the plane. It was much easier than I had thought. It really helped having the stroller so you don't have to carry everything! My husband also looked into the attachment where the car seat hooks to a rolling system but we just decided to use what we had. The stroller was also useful during the vacation shielding her from the sun. Good luck!
We just got back form Disneyland with our daughter who just turned 3. We took her Marathon to use on the plane and the shuttle from the airport to the hotel and back. We also took her Graco Mosaic stroller. At the airports, the carseat was pushed around on the stroller and our daughter walked.
If I had it to do over again, I would go get a cheap ($20) metal luggage cart for the carseat at the airport and rent a stroller at Disney.
I have an attachement that I purchased that makes the carseat like a stroller- it is a life saver! I have flown to San Diego several times with my two year old, with or without stroller. The stroller attachement to my carseat is totally the way to go. Since you are limited time right now (I assume by Sat you mean 2/23), you may not be able to find the carseat wheels, but I have seen people attach luggage carts to their car seat and use it that way.
You can also gate check the stroller.
I like having the stroller as a way to feed my 2 year old in the airport, without the risk of him getting down and lost under someone's feet.
Yes! I would definately bring it! It 's much easier to say, push it holding something, rather than hold your child, and the car seat and whatever other luggage you may have. We went and bought an up-graded unbrella stroller before our trip and it worked out wonderfully! (not as bulky as a full sized stroller, but still had nice features) It's also better than having to depend on others to help lift the load! You never know what may or may not happen! Better to be safe than sorry.
We just took a trip to Ft. Lauderdale, FL to visit my sister. This was my 4 year old and 1 year old's first flight ever! We didn't take a car seat. The 1 year sat in our laps and the 4 year old had his own seat. We had a 2 and a half hour layover in Atlanta and I am so glad that we took the stroller. I would suggest a smaller umbrella stroller though. We would not have made it through without it!! All you do is take the stroller with you to the gate and then leave it at the end of the breezeway. They will load in the plane and take it back out at your layover destination. Again, I highly suggest taking it with you. Hope this helps. Have fun!! Have a safe trip.
oh, take the stroller. it doesnt sound like a big deal now but you will thank yourself once your in the airport. i dont want to sound like a "debbie-downer" but these days you never know how long your lay over might actualy be.we flew thru atlanta a few months back. what went from a 45 min.lay over, turned into a 8 hr one. i was so glad that i didnt have to lug my 2 kids around atlanta airport that whole time, plus its a great luggage cart for everything else. you just check it at the gate. no problem at all. oh,about the carseat, i just put the it on top of the stroller umbrella shade. its worked for me. i travel alot with my kids,i mean alot. i am always glad to have it. just my advice... i hope you have a wonderful trip full of beautiful memories with your 2 kids and family. safe travels
