How much should I expect to spend at Disneyland?

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millertcrn

I am taking my son to Disneyland this summer. I've already figured costs for travel, the hotel stay and tickets, but am wondering if anyone who has been somewhat recently knows how much I should expect to spend in the park? My son is only 3 years old and this is the first trip for both of us. I'd like to buy a souvenir or two and we will be eating lunch and dinner at Disneyland. There will be a bunch of people in our group, but I will only be spending money on myself and my son. Any idea how much I should plan for or any money saving tips?

Answer
I'll start with the Food, there are several places in Disneyland that are a great price for Lunch and Dinner and because the meals are so big at some of these places I would share with your 3 year old, I go to Disneyland quite often and I share all my meals with my boyfriend and we both end up really full. If you really don't feel like sharing and want to get kids meals for him allot of the restaurants and counter services have a Kid's Meal and a Toddler meal depending on how much you son eats the Toddler meal is about $3.50 and the Kid's at $6.50 and they both include a drink. Honestly once you see the size of the meals at Disneyland I'm sure you will end up deciding on sharing.
My Favorite places for Lunch and Dinner are Rancho del Zocalo it is mexican food and is great portions if you were to get a meal and a drink and share with your son, because they also have refills you would spend about $10-15 for everything.
Cafe Orleans is great for lunch because even though some of there meals are about $15.00 a piece I go there and get a couple of starters for lunch like Gumbo & Pommes Frites and get a lunch for $10.00. It's an idea you can use at allot of places get a couple of starters and it is sure to fill you and your son up for lunch.
A great spot for Dinner is PCH Grill it is at Paradise Pier and is about a 10 minute walk but they have great food and great prices. Here is a great site that I've always use it has the menu's for all of the Disneyland Resort and prices this way you can look at it and decide what you think is best.

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

A money saving tip is to bring along a water bottle for you and your son so one you stay hydrated and also so you don't have to pay for drinks the whole time. If your son doesn't like to drink just water you can get a box of a flavored drink and mix it into the water.
Another thing would to bring a snack that he like's that way if you are standing in a line or take a break you can pull out a snack.
If you are a Coffee drinker you can get a reg. coffee at Blue Ribbon Bakery and if you save your receipt you can get a free refill al day that is sure to save you money.

As far as souvenirs there is and such there are a couple things you can do one is if you what an autograph book you can make one for allot cheaper then they sell them, go to Target or Walmart and get a notebook then decorate it in the characters your son like's he'll have something more personal then the books that they sell.
If you want to get a shirt there it is about $15.00-35.00 depending on the shirt your are looking for, Toys can be anything from $5.00-50.00 depending on the toy of chose, if you have your heart set on getting something from Disneyland I would plan at least $50.00 for each of .
There is a Character Warehouse about 10-15 minutes away and they have allot of stuff that Disneyland sent to them and there shirts and toys are allot cheaper you could get something for your son there and then surprise him with it mid way through and that way he still has something special to celebrate the time at Disneyland.
Also a couple of free things he may like if you are celebrating something Special make sure to go by City Hall in Disneyland and get your free button, also you can ride the Fire engine down Main Street and after they will give your son a Jr. Firefighter Sticker with Mickey on it, I am sure he would love what little boy doesn't want to be a Firefighter.

Well I hope this helped you and enjoy your trip! *Jena

What do you do about car seats & strollers when you travel?

ck

I'm thinking of packing up the car seat and checking it in. Then taking an umbrella stroller on board. The problem is hauling the car seat around along with the rest of my bags plus the baby! Is there a better solution? I'm traveling with my 20 month old toddler. Thanks!

Answer
This sounds like Deja Vu! I just flew in May when my daughter was 19 months old and I had to think about all of that as well. Here's what we did and it worked great!!! We checked her luggage in with all of the other suitcases because we didn't need it on the plane. She sat on our laps, we didn't buy her her own seat. Is your toddler in their own seat? If so, then they'll have to sit in the carseat. However, at the end of each flight, I would ask the flight attendant if they're able to transport the seat to the connecting flight's plane, that way, when you arrive at the gate to board the plane, it's there and you just have to install it. I would think that they could easily do it! They move luggage to the connecting flight after all!!! As for the stroller, I brought my normal full size stroller because it was more comfortable for my daughter so that she could lay back and sleep. When you check in explain to them that you need to "gate check" your stroller. They'll give you a tag to put on your stroller so that you/they can identify it. When you go to board the plane, you just take out your toddler, break down your stroller, and leave it right there. They'll take it and store it in a special compartment below the plane. When you land, they automatically bring your stroller out so the moment you step off the plane into that connecting hallway, it's right there! It was so convenient and hassle free to fly that way. I know you didn't ask about this...but here's some other flying pointers that worked for me. I went to the dollar store and bought cheap little toys and stuff and I wouldn't let my daughter see it until the day ofthe flight, that way it was something new for her to play with. Also, if you have a portable DVD player I recommend you bring it. My daughter just sat on our laps and watched her movies most of the flights. Good luck flying!!!

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Anyone have suggestions on what to prepare for flying +20 hours to Indonesia with a 10 months-old baby boy?

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A_ing

My son will be 10 months old in October and I plan to travel to Indonesia. It will take more than 20 hours flight with 1-2 layover in HongKong and or Singapore/ Tokyo. I may be going by myself with baby as daddy may goes later and fly back home to The US together. Anyone has experiences and suggestions what to prepare?

Answer
Apa kabar!

I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lot with my own three children. We usually travel between Europe and California about twice a year. I also used to live in Asia and work the routes in that part of the world, although I haven't flown with my children there (yet!).

I recommend going before he hits toddlerhood. You may have him crawling all over the place but for the most part, you'll be able to keep up with him. When they run, it gets more complicated...

First of all, I really recommend bringing a car seat and using it onboard. Make sure your car seat is approved for use on aircraft. If you're flying on a U.S. company, see the below link for information on if it's approved. Most car seats, including infant buckets, sold in the U.S. are.

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

If you are flying a non-U.S. company, see the information for your airline. If you search with the name of the airline, followed by "children", that will usually give you the right page.

This way, the seat will get to your destination without risking it being damaged or lost in luggage. On my last transatlantic with my kids, three of our four bags didn't make it but since we had the car seat with us, my daughter was safe for the 2 hour drive home (the bags arrived 2 days later). I saw at least two other seats while looking for our luggage. Wonder how they got home?

If you don't have a seat for him, request it at check-in. Ask if the flight is full, and if not, they can "block" the seat next to you, only using it if they really need it. They often do this for families.

Bring the seat to the gate, even if they are unsure that you'll get a seat. This way, if you don't manage it, they will "gate check" your seat, sending it down with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is gentlier than checking it in at the desk.

If you actually buy a ticket for him, which is what I did when I flew alone with my babies, IF it is a U.S. company AND your seat is FAA approved, it CANNOT BE REFUSED. It's your right to use it onboard. Here is the documentation if you need it;

http://web.nbaa.org/public/ops/ac/AC120-87A.pdf

Babies under 2 are allowed on laps because air travel is so safe. It's unlikely anything will go wrong but if it does, these children have no protection. It was also infinitely easier to have them in their familiar seat, comfortable and safe. I could get up and use the restroom at least! Obviously, I didn't leave them for long times when asleep but I could get a drink, etc. and I could sleep more soundly with them next to me instead of jiggling them on my lap.

I also recommend trying to sit at the bulkhead. These are the seats with the wall in front, located in different places depending on the aircraft. Bulkheads are easier with children since no one is leaning in front of you and there's probably room to crawl on the floor. Some airlines have wall-mounted bassinets that your son may or may not fit. They are no replacement for a car seat for safety and the bassinets have to be stowed for take-off and landing.

If you have a travel system, you can use the stroller until you get to the door of the aircraft and then it'll be "gate checked". If not, use a stroller frame for a infant seat. You'll have it again, by the door of the aircraft when you arrive. If you have a convertible car seat (going to 40lbs), there are a number of contraptions you can use to wheel it around. I simply strap mine to a small metal luggage cart and that works great. Some parents manage to bungee cord their seat to their stroller. Experiment at home to see what works with your specific products.

These are just examples!
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html

Since this is a long flight, there are a couple of products you may want to look into. I had one of these and it worked great. It's expensive though but for such a long journey, might be worthwhile;

http://www.lillygold.com/

By contrast, this is a cheap, FAA approved seat which is light and easy to travel with. I used one when I flew with my son, or more precisely, it's predecessor;

http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Scenera-Convertible-Point-Seat/dp/B000GY5OBA

Sometimes you can find it on sale for as little as $40 and you can then use it as a extra car seat at home for babysitters, grandparents, etc. Do not buy the version with the overhead shield!

If you do have a stroller, bring a bungee cord and double secure it before leaving it at the door of the plane. They can get damaged if they pop open en route. Make sure the claim ticket can be seen and isn't squished or hidden. Be sure to ask when disembarking where the stroller is.

Bring at least 1/3 more diapers than you think you'll need. I saw so many parents run out on flights when I was working! Wrap them in plastic bags and throw a bunch of rubber bands around them to save room in your carry-on.

For a formula fed baby, I really recommend using the bottles with plastic liners. Traditional bottles are too difficult to wash onboard because of the kind of sinks on airplanes. I premeasured the powder and rolled them up, placing the rolls in a ziplock bag. Then you throw the liners away as you use them and only have the ring and nipple to clean.

If you use bottled water, be sure to give yourself enough time to buy some once you're past security. Make sure you have enough! The water on the aircraft is filtered tap so decide if you're comfortable using that for your baby. If it is not potable, this fact will be clearly marked. Bottled water runs out fast on flights and we never had any extra for baby bottles.

Be sure your baby does not need the bottle warmed. Get him used to a room-temperature bottle before leaving. This is unnecessary health-wise and a real pain to do while travelling. I warmed many bottles on my flights but I wasn't there in the check-in line, the security line or the waiting area! Babies do great with room-temperature bottles.

Make sure you have at least one change of clothes. I would bring two. At that age, I simply dressed mine in sleep suits for flying. No one will care so keep him comfortable. Bring extra socks if he crawls so that he doesn't pick up anything nasty on the floor and to keep his hands clean.

I have never used any sort of medications to get my children to sleep on any of those flights. At that age especially, they do nodd off at some point of the journey, more if it's at night.

I also think he's too young for a portable DVD player. I got one when my youngest was 3 years old. They are kind of heavy to cart around and could easily break. How much screen watching does he do? Mine were not very interested, especially with a small screen, at that age.

Bring a few quiet toys but a small selection. Again, short attention spans and he'll be more interested in his new surroundings.

Hopefully you have a good baby carrier. They're so useful for flying, especially at this age. I had a sling but other parents swear by their wraps and pouches. The Ergo and Beccos are other popular carriers for travel that go on the back. The badly designed front packs like the Bjorn and Snugli are probably too small for him.

I liked the sling because I could slide my babies from into and out of a stroller or car seat without waking them. It also doubled as a blanket, baby changer, breastfeeding cover-up and sunshade! My sling was magic for calming my babies during the flight. Other parents wanted one when they saw how easy it made my travels. A good carrier should go to at least age 2 so he should still fit in the good ones.

Many flying tips say to make the child suck on something or drink during take-off and landing. This isn't accurate. ENT specialists say to have the child awake about an hour before landing (top of descent, landing or touch-down is too late).

http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
The AAP says the same;
http://www.aap.org/patiented/flyingbaby.htm

I can confirm that is when I saw problems at work. Take your child to the doctor in the last few days before you fly to make sure his ears are clear and infection-free. Heathy ears can handle pressurization changes. If there is an infection, sucking will not prevent pain.

About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web.

Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
my contact infomation is at the end if you have further questions.

Have a good flight!

Do I need a carseat for my 3 yr old while traveling by taxi in Chicago?

annie

I'm traveling by plane to Chicago w/my 3 year old son and we'll be getting around the town by taxi. I have a large convertible carseat but I don't know if it would work to bring it but I want him to be safe! He is almost big enough for a backless booster, which would be smaller & easier to tote along.

Any suggestions? What do people w/ toddlers do when they have to travel by taxi???

Thanks! We leave in 2 days!

Answer
He is NOT almost big enough for a backless booster. Children should *never* ride in a booster before age 4, and that is a bare minimum to ride in a highback booster. The NHTSA recommends keeping children in a harnessed car seat for as long as they fit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or moving to a booster at age 8. A backless booster isn't an option until he's at least 5 years old- and that would only be for emergency trips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04

If you don't want to tote the convertible around, an option is the Ride Safer Travel Vest, which is a wearable 5 point harness http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/ It requires either a lap/shoulder belt for installation, or a lap belt and the top tether attached.

Another option is the Safety 1st Go Hybrid http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/products/travel/car-seats/booster-car-seats/details/2384-22256ahe-go-hybrid-booster-car-seat

Or, you may be able to strap his current car seat to your stroller, if you're bringing that.

Sadly, most people assume that since in most places taxis are exempt from car seat laws that it's okay to not use a car seat. Taxis are just as likely to crash as any other car, and there is no force field around a taxi. If the child would be injured in a regular car in a crash unbuckled, they will be just as injured unbuckled in a taxi.


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Depending on if you take your car seat, (vs the RSTV) you should use it on the plane, as long as it is FAA approved. Not only is it the safest way for your child to fly, he'll be used to his car seat, he won't be able to wiggle out of the lap belt, your car seat will arrive at your destination with you, and you don't have to worry about the baggage handlers damaging your seat- even just tiny micro-fractures that can't be seen with the naked eye but can render the safety seat useless in a subsequent crash. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
http://carseatblog.com/8037/guest-blog-flying-with-a-car-seat-know-your-rights/

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