Renting a Cart at DFW Airport

First, I would recommend that you cut back on the items you are taking with you. Most of the parks that you may visit in Orlando will have strollers for rental. The rental car companies have car seats you can rent. It is likely that any costs associated with rental will be cheaper than the cost to ship the items both ways. As I am sure you know, the airlines now charge for shipping items. Are you prepared to pay $25 for the first item and $40-50 for each of the next items (must pay for both flights going and coming). Some items you could purchase when you arrive in Orlando.

The fewer things that you try to carry on to the plane with you, the easier it will be for you to care for your twins and to get thru security checkpoint.

The ideal way to get to the airport would be to have someone drop you off - and this will save you the cost of parking your vehicle. You can either go to the lower level (designated on signs as "All Departures") where you can have Sky Caps check your luggage and items to be shipped there OR you can go to the upper level (designated on signs as "All Arrivals") where you can walk directly into the counters and check your luggage and items there. The difference is that you will have to pay an additional fee per bag if you check them downstairs (this is besides any amount that you may want to tip the Sky Caps).

If you decide to drive and park your own car, then I would suggest that you drive to the terminal and let one of you go in to check the luggage (either downstairs or upstairs again) while the other waits in the car with the children (one person can be dropped off right at the door and then the other can pull around to wait right there in the short term one hour parking). Once luggage is checked, you can all drive to the remote lots or one of the offsite parking facilities (I tend to use "The Parking Spot" because the buses are yellow with big black spots and they are easy to identify.....they have a website that you can check out. They are cheaper than airport parking and are nearly as close as the remote lots....either way you will have to take a shuttle bus.)

At that point, you will only have to worry about the twins and the carry-on items. Again, I would limit carry-on items to the things that you will really need during the trip (e.g. items to keep the twins occupied, food items - but no liquids - purse with personal items, etc.).

I think you will find that the trip begins much more pleasantly if you and your husband are not having to fuss with moving so much stuff, keeping track of it all while trying to keep track of the twins. There will be so many new sights and sounds and things that will attract the twins, that no matter how well-behaved they are, they may be tempted to wander off to investigate.

I wish you a safe and fun trip.

I don't think you can rent a car inside DFW. My thoughts are:
Attach the carseats to wheels and put the kids in them like strollers as you go through the airport. Make sure your carryons are roller bags that you can attach together and pull like a train. Have your personal items be backpack and check your strollers for free at the luggage check-in. Good luck!

I have never been to an airport that did not have them. Also airporters can help if nothing else. I think you tip them. I am not sure where they would be but used to be bel caps took care of you out side before all this security. G. W

Are you parking in Remote or Express parking? The bus drivers will help you load what you need to. Even if you have someone dropping you off, have them take you downstairs so once you're there, you can curbside check everything you need to. It's way worth the money and your sanity. Otherwise you've got to truck everything upstairs on the escalators, there are no carts where the bus drops you off they're upstairs by the baggage carousels. Also, are the 3 year olds riding in car seats on the plane or are you going to check them? Have you considered renting car seats in Orlando instead (bring sanitizing wipes to make sure they're to your cleanliness standards)? Orlando airport does have the carts.

Yes they have them or too make it easier do curb side check in and tip the Guy a small amt of money. Orlando does have them also for rent, I was just there yesterday.

I work in the Engineering dept of DFW.

As a customer service, smartcarts are available outside the terminals (right next to the skycap desk) and next to the baggage claim areas.

They take both cash and debit cards. You can also request a skycap to help you get a smartcart for your luggage if you like.

Most major airlines have the smartcarts available for passenger use. My suggestion is to check out the airport's website (ours is www.dfwairport.com) and look for terminal maps. The maps show where certain items are located, including smartcart carrels.

Hope this helps. Safe travels!

When you depart at D/FW check your luggage and carseats at the curbside check-in so the only thing you're hauling through the airport are the little strollers. In Orlando they're going to be within view of the luggage carousels.

Hi K., the luggage carts are always for rent by the luggage carousels, but I agree - it's just as easy and worth it to have a Sky Cap help you. They are quick and efficient, then you and your husband can handle the twins to ensure they are with you. Give him $2 per bag and it'll be worth every penny. Do curbside check at DFW or whatever is easiest.

If someone is dropping you off at DFW, that's simpliest (downstairs drop off). If leaving your car, do the same thing, then you or your husband go park, then that one person gets on the shuttle and meets the rest of the family at the gate. We've done that when traveling with our kids too. Have fun!