Hi Mommies!
We are going to Disney next month and thinking about staying at a hotel close to Metro airport. We are thinking about doing a “Park and Fly”, where we would stay the night before in the hotel, then get shuttled over to the airport. One hotel I called said we would have to bring our own carseats and install them. Another hotel said we don’t need to bring carseats and people just hold their kids in their lap-they do it all the time. On the map, the hotel looks like it’s pretty much across the street from the airport, but I am nervous about not having car seats-even for a 5-10 minute drive. But, we have no other need for car seats-once we are at the airport, since we are staying on Disney Resort & we will be taking the Disney busses. We have 2 kids in carseats. I don’t know what hotel to choose-I know we could avoid all this and stay at the Westin attached to Metro but it would cost us an extra $100+.
So…what would you do? Have you ever stayed at one of the hotels near the airport, then taken the shuttle van-any recommendations?
Thanks!!
I have done this. When he was smaller I wore my son in a front carrier which made me feel safer about it. It is all service roads from the airport to the parking lot. I was scared when I did it! On those shuttles, most adults don't put on their seatbelts either. I'm not saying it's the safest thing... just commenting here so you know that people do do it.
If you are flying out of McNamara, Stay at the Westin. We did that with our boys quite a few times. They share the terminal and even have a seperate security entrance. Very cool! They have good park & fly deals. Go to the westin's website or call their 800 number directly. seperate methods result in seperate prices quite frequently.
You could also do Airlines Parking. They seem to have the most shuttles. We did that once with the boys and I used them all the time when I had to travel for my job.
I have ridden the shuttle without a car seat with a 15 month old. I am a paranoid mom but for some reason I felt this was okay. I guess I figured we aren't wearing seat belts either. Have a great time.
I have never used a car seat on the shuttle from the hotel to the airport in Detroit but once you get to Orlando, usually the resorts are a bit away on busy freeways, so I would be more hesitant to go without a car seat there. You can check your car seats for free and they attach to your suitcase so you don't have to try to carry them around with a million other things. It might be a bit of a pain, but safety would be more important than convience for me. How old are your kids? You can also bring the car seats on the plane and they could sit in them on their seats if you wanted (I've never done that but have seen others that have). Hope that helps! Good Luck!
Have fun at Disney!!!!
My daughter is 4 now and the first time she was on a plane she was 9mths old. I was so very very nervous about the shuttle ride and having to hold her, but I have since done it about 10 + times and it has been fine. It is really service streets and the speed is very slow and it is a small bus (which kids don't even where seat belts in school buses) and you are only in it for 5 min. It takes you longer to load and unload than to get to the airport. You will be fine, on just about every ride is a child! Focus on your fantastic vacation you have planned and don't worry about the quick bus ride!! I know it seems so strange to not have car seats but it will be ok.
I guess I don't don't understand why the worry over the infant on the airport bus/van and no worry about the Disney busses. Does Disney busses offer car seats? Or is the infant on your lap then too? I totally love the idea of having the baby close to your body in a baby sac or carrier that you could also at Disney. Have fun! We enjoyed it w/3 kids age 18months, 5 and 8 but we rented a car in Florida so that we could see other sites too. We took a car seat with us.
I would either stay at the airport that has the shuttle where you can hold your kids. I'm sure its like a limo bus where you don't need seatbelts by law anyway. Or I would stay at the hotel at the airport for the extra $100. Taking car seats just seems so unnecessary if you aren't going to use them past that point.
Personally I would skip the airport hotel idea. It seems like it is more work to pack up and move to another hotel for just 1 night. Disney resorts are great at helping to get to the airport, no matter what time your flight is.
We have stayed at the hotels by the airport and used the shuttles. We did have to bring our carseats though. Honestly you would wasting alot of time and you may not even have adequate room to install them. Save yourself the hassle and don't worry, it is a very short ride all things condsidered with the upcoming plane ride.
Safe travels!
T. k
I think it's worth a try to call the Westin and explain your situation. Ask them if they can match the price of the nearby hotel. You never know...
I think holding them on your lap is fine for the quick trip over to the airport. We flew in to Florida last year and needed to take a taxi to our hotel. Haveing never traveled with our kids, I NEVER even thought about the carseat factor! We were staying in a hotle for one night and then taking a cruise, so a car was not part of our trip. We had a VERY hard time catching a cab that would allow me to hold our 2 year old on my lap...they were all worried about a $500 fine. Finally caught a cab that was ok with "risking it" and we made it safely :) Have fun!
I have done the Shuttle to Disney and held my 3yo on my lap and didn't think anything of it....it is like being on a bus and you just don't wear seatbelts on a bus so I don't think it is odd to not have the child in a carseat....we did Chicago and took taxis mostly everywhere and were only turned away by one cabbie for not having a carseat
