Hello All! I will be using Shuttle service from LAX to DLR for the first time ever. I usually drive to DLR or rent a car. But this year is a spur of the moment trip and we will be flying and only going to DLR so we don't want to rent a car just to park at the hotel.
So anyhow, to make this short, do I need to bring my (just under) 2 year old's carseat for a shuttle thingy? Does anyone know if they require a carseat?
Sorry if this is in the wrong section, I didn't know where else to put it, hehe!

We brought our three small children on the Super Shuttle, which is basically a van, and the driver made us pack their carseats in the cargo area. Since our children were only 5, 3, and 1, this really bothered me, especially when they made us put all three kids on our laps so they could cram more people in. So, I guess the answer is, no, you do not need your child's carseat. But as a parent riding down the LA freeways, it is a frightening experience not having your child restrained in some way. Also, be aware that the driver may drive all throughout residential areas in Orange County, dropping off other passengers at their front doors, before finally stopping at DLR. Sorry to sound to crabby about this, but our experience with Super Shuttle was not a good one...Hope yours is a better one...Have fun!

Trina

Wow, that does sound scary! I am a stickler for carseat laws, but I figured if they didn't require one, I don't want to cart it around with me for nothing. I guess I better check with the actual shuttle service that we will be using, as my Mom called the airline and asked and they said Karmel Shuttle DOES require carseats. I am not sure which service we will be using yet though.
Thanks for the info!

Just a note, if you're like me and the car seat isn't optional...and you paid for the children to ride in the shuttle, the shuttle service HAS to allow the car seats to be 'installed', granted with the new systems I'm not sure the vans will accomodate the new car seats with the teathers, but several years ago we flew down and I had reserved shuttle seats for all of us, I paid for the 2 year old specifically because we wanted his car seat 'space' available, the driver tried that oh you don't NEED a car seat blah blah blah and we did the thanks for that but we want the car seat, he then did the we don't have ROOM cuz we have more stops and I looked at him and said excuse me? We reserved and PAID for 5 seats, to include the car seat, you will put the car seat IN a seat, our toddler will be IN his car seat or I'll be on the phone with your boss. I"m not sure if they get to keep the 'extra' if they managed to squeeze extra passengers by 'lap seating' toddlers, but if you paid for space for your children then I'd be raising a stink if they tried to shove the car seats in the cargo area.

We used a car seat on the shuttle for our (smallish) 7YO last August. When the driver arrived, my wife installed the seat while I oversaw the loading of the luggage. We did the same thing when we were out there when he was 2.5YO. If the driver had even considered telling us that the car seat was unnecessary on either trip, my wife would've taken his head off. (I'm only being slightly facetious.)

Are you using a shuttle (like super shuttle) or the airport bus? If you are using the big bus, then NO, you dont need car seats. If you are using super shuttle yes, bring it.

We have used super shuttle twice, from orange county. The first time with an under 2 year old and a 5 year old. The next time with a 3 and 7 year old. We used car seats and booster seats both times with out a problem. The trip prior with one under 2, we used the bus from LAX and did not require a car seat

Under no circumstances should a under 2 year old (or child under 60 lbs for that matter) be riding without a car seat in a shuttle van, plain and simple. I don't give a rat's *** what the driver tells you, it is illegal and imo immoral to have anyone tell you differently. LA freeways and the ride TO disneyland is not the place or time to be testing your fate/luck with your child's life. A large bus? I would still use one personally, but I am a car seat nut if you can't tell? My wife works in an ER and I cannot tell you the horrible stories she comes home and tells me about kids being ejected, killed or horribly injured because they were not properly restrained.

We did a shuttle thing a few years ago (ok- probably 10 as the kid involved is now 12) and what I did was when I made the shuttle reservations, I told the agent that I had a toddler that needed a carseat. They told me that they had some carseats and would make sure one was installed when they picked us up. Sure enough, there was a carseat all ready for my son. We just crammed ours in the back with the luggage.
I don't know if things have changed, and I don't remember the name of the company, but there is no way on God's green Earth I would risk lap seating my young child in LA traffic, or any traffic for that matter.
AS:)

One more tip- be sure you bring a locking clip. I know that most newer cars dont need them because of the way restraints are now made- but the shuttle and buses dont have those ratcheting type and you'll need a locking clip. The family that we rode with didnt have them, which left their two childrens seats not installed safely.

I have ALWAYS used a carseat on Super Shuttle for my son who is now 4. I can't believe they would not allow someone to use one!!! Yikes. Anyway, a few times that we've used SS we've been with other families whose kids are not in carseats, so I don't think they will tell you that you can't bring your kids without a carseat, but I personally wouldn't do it.

We've gotten to the stage that Max doesn't need to use a carseat on the plane anymore, so I'm considering getting him one of the boosters that is just the seat (w/o the back) just for travel since it will be so much smaller and easier to carry, but I'm not sure how safe they are for younger kids... I've gotta figure it out before the end of the month.

We've gotten to the stage that Max doesn't need to use a carseat on the plane anymore, so I'm considering getting him one of the boosters that is just the seat (w/o the back) just for travel since it will be so much smaller and easier to carry, but I'm not sure how safe they are for younger kids... I've gotta figure it out before the end of the month.
Just be careful. They recommend that the child must not be higher than half of their head above the seat back when using a backless car seat. This is to avoid the possibility of whiplash. Check the recommendations that come with your booster seat to be certain.

Edited to add: The booster also must be used with a shoulder belt. They can't be used with just a lap belt.

We are using the Disney shuttle service. What about this one? We have a 10-month old, and not renting a car. We are staying at the GRAND and I need to know if we should bring his car seat.

Thanks.

The disney shuttle is a large bus, simular to a greyhound bus. I dont believe they are required (by CA state law), but its personal preference. You might be required to buy a seat for the child if you are using a car seat.

Because of the size of a bus, and the way the seats are designed, they are safer then a car or other vehicle on the road. Which is the reason school buses dont have restraints. But, if you would feel more comfortable, then by all means use one. If you do use one, be sure to bring the locking clip, you'll need it with the bus seat belts.

The other plus to having the seat with you, is if you decide to take a cab somewhere you have a seat for the baby.

We are using the Disney shuttle service. What about this one? We have a 10-month old, and not renting a car. We are staying at the GRAND and I need to know if we should bring his car seat.

Thanks.

I don't know about the Disney Shuttle Service, is that the Airport bus thing? If so, I would imagine there are no seatbelts... full-sized buses rarely have them. However, sounds like you are flying in... I wouldn't dream of taking a 10-month-old on a plane without a carseat, so you should bring it anyway IMO.

If you haven't done so already, invest the $30 in a car seat bag. I found one with wheels on it...so we were able to simply pull it behind us through the airports and such. Carrying a car seat is a major hassle and a rolling car seat bag will save your back. I think I got it at either Babies R Us or Target. (it's been a while since I bought it).

We are using the Disney shuttle service. What about this one? We have a 10-month old, and not renting a car. We are staying at the GRAND and I need to know if we should bring his car seat.

Just to clarify, are you going to Disneyland and staying at the Grand Californian or are you going to Walt Disney World and staying at the Grand Floridian? The reference to "Disney shuttle service" makes me think you might be referring to WDW and the Disney's Magical Express service.

-Jeff

Disney has taken over the airport bus, and it is now the Disney shuttle service.

Disney has taken over the airport bus, and it is now the Disney shuttle service.
I'd think that it's more like Disney's Magical Express in Florida, where they contract with Mears to provide the service. I doubt that Disney wants to get into the bus service business in California.

No, we are staying at the Grand Californian. It is a Disney bus that picks us up at LAX. Never used it before.

I'd think that it's more like Disney's Magical Express in Florida, where they contract with Mears to provide the service. I doubt that Disney wants to get into the bus service business in California.


Yeah, its actually operated by Grayline. It was formerly the "airport bus" and that is what most people still think of it as.

I am appauled that anyone would even consider putting a child, that the law requires be in a carseat, on their lap, or belted in a seat belt. Then to have some stranger drive your child through the streets of LA without them belted in, well that is insane! I would tell the van driver to kiss my a$$ ande demand a supervisor, as well as a new driver. I guarantee they wouldn't want to be held liable if something should, God forbid, happen to your child.
On our trip in November, my youngest is 2, so he was free, he was in his carseat, as was my 4yo. Like I said, NO WAY would I put my kids in any van without a carseat. Laws are laws for a reason.

I just thought I'd post one more time on this topic. My children did ride on our laps from LAX to DLR because we felt we had no other choice. The way it was, we waited for almost an hour for the super shuttle to arrive, and with three children who had already been on a four hour flight from Minnesota, we were happy to be finally leaving LAX. Under normal circumstances, most of my friends and family would consider me a carseat fanatic. Even my almost-seven year old is still in a harnessed seat, and all three of my children ride in a properly installed harnessed seat even if we are only driving a couple of blocks away from our home. I am not insane for what Super Shuttle subjected us to. We considered not taking the ride that evening, but like I said, with three tired children looking so forward to going to Disneyland, we just didn't want to continue arguing with the driver. I regret that now, but I wouldn't consider myself insane or even a bad parent. It was a difficult situation that almost ruined our whole vacation, not to mention the rest of our lives if the unthinkable happened. We did call Disney Travel and Super Shuttle the minute we checked into our hotel room to complain, and they were not willing to admit what they did was wrong. Both places said that since the driver was technically driving a "bus," that carseats were not required. Of course, we will never use their service again--EVER. I take any oppurtunity to tell anyone about our experience with Super Shuttle and tell them not to use their service if they value their children's lives. I don't want to sound defensive or anything like that, but I just didn't want anyone on this board to think I was a bad parent or "insane" for what happened to us.

Trina
Disney Fan and Carseat Fanatic

I just thought I'd post one more time on this topic. My children did ride on our laps from LAX to DLR because we felt we had no other choice. The way it was, we waited for almost an hour for the super shuttle to arrive, and with three children who had already been on a four hour flight from Minnesota, we were happy to be finally leaving LAX. Under normal circumstances, most of my friends and family would consider me a carseat fanatic. Even my almost-seven year old is still in a harnessed seat, and all three of my children ride in a properly installed harnessed seat even if we are only driving a couple of blocks away from our home. I am not insane for what Super Shuttle subjected us to. We considered not taking the ride that evening, but like I said, with three tired children looking so forward to going to Disneyland, we just didn't want to continue arguing with the driver. I regret that now, but I wouldn't consider myself insane or even a bad parent. It was a difficult situation that almost ruined our whole vacation, not to mention the rest of our lives if the unthinkable happened. We did call Disney Travel and Super Shuttle the minute we checked into our hotel room to complain, and they were not willing to admit what they did was wrong. Both places said that since the driver was technically driving a "bus," that carseats were not required. Of course, we will never use their service again--EVER. I take any oppurtunity to tell anyone about our experience with Super Shuttle and tell them not to use their service if they value their children's lives. I don't want to sound defensive or anything like that, but I just didn't want anyone on this board to think I was a bad parent or "insane" for what happened to us.

Trina
Disney Fan and Carseat Fanatic

We have always used Super Shuttle and have had great experiences with them. The last time, we had a driver who tried to charge us for our 2yo, because when we made the reservation we said we had 4 people, which we did. Guess they don't consider him a person. He tore up my DH's $20 bill in front of my kids and threw it at him, right outside the airport. He is lucky my DH didn't deck him. I called SuperShuttle as soon as we were checked in for our flight. They not only reimbursed us for our entire ride to the airport, including the $20 that the driver tore up, they also gave us vouchers for a free ride next time.
It wasn't your fault that the driver wouldn't allow you to use your carseats. I travel often with my 2 boys, and I understand how kids can be, I just would never take the chance, tired kids, having to wait another hour etc., and not have my kids buckled in in their carseats. Heck, I was disgusted that AWA, whom my DH is a pilot for, lost my 4yos carseat, I will NEVER check his carseat at the ticket counter again, and I had to use a carseat I knew nothing about, until his arrived. But I wouldn't have opted to not have him in a seat. As I said, if a driver told me I couldn't use my seat, I would make him not only call his supervisor, BEFORE he left me at the airport, I would also make them find me another ride. When it comes to my child's safety, NOONE will tell me what to do.
I am sorry for your bad experience. I was remembering that I don't think we have used SuperShuttle out of LAX but just one time. We try to fly in to SNA if possible.

I just found out that the shuttle service for our hotel will be Super Shuttle. I am going to call them in a day or two to see about reservations, but thought I would ask you folks first. Is there an age that they don't charge for? In other words, if I throw a stink and say I WILL have my almost 2 year old in a carseat, are they going to charge for her? Fine if they do, if she is taking a seat, I expect to pay for it. I am a bit apprehensive that they are going to try and make me put her on my lap, as one of you said happened! Is there any chance of them having 'rental' carseats through the shuttle service? I am not overly eager to cart my own carseat around, especially having it checked in at the airport, but of course I will do what is safest and best for my baby!

I just found out that the shuttle service for our hotel will be Super Shuttle. I am going to call them in a day or two to see about reservations, but thought I would ask you folks first. Is there an age that they don't charge for? In other words, if I throw a stink and say I WILL have my almost 2 year old in a carseat, are they going to charge for her? Fine if they do, if she is taking a seat, I expect to pay for it. I am a bit apprehensive that they are going to try and make me put her on my lap, as one of you said happened! Is there any chance of them having 'rental' carseats through the shuttle service? I am not overly eager to cart my own carseat around, especially having it checked in at the airport, but of course I will do what is safest and best for my baby!
They say under 3 is free. Like I said, we have used them before, and have never been told we could not use our carseats. And I wouldn't let them tell me that. They cannot first, tell me to break the law, and second, put my child in harms way. I never game them a chance, I just started installing my seats.
I would be leary of using a rental seat. First you don't know if it had been in an accident before or not. Second, who knows what kid pooped or puked in it before.
I recommend if you check your carseat, with the airline, take it and gate check it. Less likely it will get lost.