Car seats with TCD

[washy]

We have booked an eight seater BUS! for our visit to WDW.

The booking was made with Travel City Direct, just tried to call the customer service department but they were closed.:(

Does car seats come free with the package or do you reserve/pay for :wacko: booster/car seats?

What is the legal age of a child being in a booster seat in the States?

[jarretth]

You don't normally get car seats with your booking unless you have purchased the top end insurance package which often (but not always) includes car seats. However, be aware that they are nothing special - a bit of mouled polystyrene is a fair description.

I believe that any child under 6 must be in a car seat. That said, you should use your own judgement as if you have a small 8 year old, would you want them travelling without a car seat? As a rule of thumb, if you put your kid in a seat or booster in the UK, why wouldn't you do so anywhere else?

Finally, depending on how many kids you've got you might want to check the costs involved in renting seats as they often charge $5-$6 as day per seat. Over a two week holiday that will cost you more than buying one from Halfords and taking it with you. Even if you left the seat out there once the holiday was over, it could still save you money (and leaving the seat behind leaves more space for shopping!

Last time we took our own car seat (lightweight) out with us in a barrel bag and fitted it ourself. Many people just wrap up their car seats in bubble wrap and check them in. Not only did it save us money, but we knew our child would be safe. Only proviso on this is your luggage allowance but again, as the kids get a full allowance use part of theirs for their seats.

Enjoy the holiday.

[clare24]

We're going with TCD and I don't think car seats are included. Law states in the US any child 5 and under must be in a car seat. My children are 4 and 10mths. I'm taking a lightweight car seat that i use at home for my eldest - he's got 40kg luggage so I'm gonna include it in that. I've paid for a seat for my 10mth old so again he's gotta be sat in a car seat on the plane so I'll be taking one for him aswell. The first time we went i remember it being fairly costly to hire from the rental place - thats why we bought one from babies r us over there and then brought it back with us. Works out cheaper.

Clare
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[KerryAtter]

The first time we went i remember it being fairly costly to hire from the rental place - thats why we bought one from babies r us over there and then brought it back with us. Works out cheaper.


Hi Clare - can I just ask you what you did until you'd bought one out there? Did you rent one for a couple of days from Dollar then buy one from babies r us? It's just that we're in the same boat and I really begrudge paying $6 a day to rent a grubby car seat when you can buy a brand new one for half the price at Walmart! :unsure:

[clare24]

Hi - the first time we went we had a grand voyager which on one seat has a baby seat built in - not very good though.....we went babies r us straight away and got one.

Hope that helps

Clare
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[KerryAtter]

Oh right, thanks Clare - I'm still not sure whether to buy a cheapy one here before we go and take it with us or try and hire one for just a day and get one out there...:shrug:I wonder if they'll let us do that?

[jarretth]

Oh right, thanks Clare - I'm still not sure whether to buy a cheapy one here before we go and take it with us or try and hire one for just a day and get one out there...:shrug:I wonder if they'll let us do that?

Might be worth checking with Dollar through their website. Usually, if you buy 'extras' you get a 24 hour cooling off period so if you hire a seat and then return it to a Dollar depot within 24 hours you could be okay. There are several Dollar locations around Orlando so you shouldn't need to drive back to the airport.

If you buy one before you go at least you have the advantage of being able to ensure you have one that is safe and that your child likes (our's hated the rental one as it was uncomfortable). Given some of the deals at Halfords at the moment, it is unlikely that you'll save much by buying one in the US. However, it may depend on your luggage allowance as to whether this is practical for you.

[JuniorMickey]

to be totally technical:

(1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined herein, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 years of age or younger, provide for protection of the child by properly using a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. For children aged through 3 years, such restraint device must be a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer's integrated child seat. For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a seat belt may be used.

[jmac]

Its worth checking with you villa provider too. We have child seats available at our villas so guests don't have to hire them.

[KerryAtter]

Thanks Guys - Actually we've just been down to Toys-R-Us to get some birthday prezzies for DD and we came accross a fantastic deal! We got her one of those car seats that you can have as either a car seat or a booster seat and it was only £20! (sorry someone is gonna have to teach me how to insert these links properly!) http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/BruHome/BruTravel/BruTravelCarSeats/BruTravelCarSeatsBooster/711810 I honestly don't think we'd find a cheaper one out there!

I don't know about you Washy but we got the extra baggage allowance and as this car seat is so light and comes apart we're gonna put it in one of the suitcases to fly out (we take the bare essentials then shop like mad whilst we're out there!) then we can either bring it back with us (if we can squeeze it in somewhere!) or we can leave it there.

SORTED!!!:thumbs:

Hope this helps you too Washy!

Kerry xxx

[washy]

Spot on,many thanks.

We have gone for the double baggage and priortiy seating, so weight should not be an issue, well on the way out, DW does go slightly mad in the shops!

[clare24]

Thanks Guys - Actually we've just been down to Toys-R-Us to get some birthday prezzies for DD and we came accross a fantastic deal! We got her one of those car seats that you can have as either a car seat or a booster seat and it was only £20! (sorry someone is gonna have to teach me how to insert these links properly!) http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/BruHome/BruTravel/BruTravelCarSeats/BruTravelCarSeatsBooster/711810 I honestly don't think we'd find a cheaper one out there!

I don't know about you Washy but we got the extra baggage allowance and as this car seat is so light and comes apart we're gonna put it in one of the suitcases to fly out (we take the bare essentials then shop like mad whilst we're out there!) then we can either bring it back with us (if we can squeeze it in somewhere!) or we can leave it there.

SORTED!!!:thumbs:

Hope this helps you too Washy!

Kerry xxx

Thats similar to the one that I'm taking for my eldest.
Glad u've got it sorted Kerry.

Clare
x

[KerryAtter]

Spot on,many thanks.

We have gone for the double baggage and priortiy seating, so weight should not be an issue, well on the way out, DW does go slightly mad in the shops!

A woman after my own heart!!! :wink:

I'd definately recommend these car seats - they're cheap and cheerful (although I would spend a LOT more if we were going to keep it and use it on a daily basis) but viewed as 'disposable' you can't go wrong!

I think that these are on sale at the moment so if it's right for you I'd try to get one quickly before they sell out

How old is your little one? These are designed for kiddies aged 3+ , Our Faye is nearly 2 but is more like 3 (she's always been big for her age and was 9lb 7 when she was born!) Anyway - what I'm getting at is you'll need to check that you have the right one for your kiddie-wink!

Anyway - Good luck!

Kerry xxx

[KerryAtter]

Thats similar to the one that I'm taking for my eldest.
Glad u've got it sorted Kerry.

Clare
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Thanks Clare - I'd started to get stressed about this again this morning after reading and joining this thread, but now I'm all sorted and feeling excited again! :thumbs:

We've also been out and bought us each a new bag so that we can use them as hand luggage. Isn't it great when you buy stuff for your hols?! We're not buying clothes etc as it's half the reason why we're going to Florida - SHOPPING!!! :excited:

[washy]

Thanks Kerry I will get my wife to check it out, when she gets back from shopping!

My son will be four when we are at WDW and my daughter is just 6.

Thanks for the advice.

[clare24]

LOL - exactly - hardly take any clothes with me - more room to bring loads of stuff back - plus that 40kg baggage allowance is gonna go down a treat!!!

Woo hoo!