Tips for flying to Orlando with kids

[Juanbablo]

We are going to Orlando in April. None of us have ever flown long haul so I don't know what to expect. 3dcs who will be 10, 8 and 4 at the time. Eldest DC has ADHD and possibly ASD so I'm most worried about how he will cope with no physical activity for 9 hours!

I know there are TVs which will occupy the younger two for a little while. Any tips for keeping the kids happy on the flight? Is there room to walk around?

We flew Ba, eldest has various issues and 1/2 hr in decided she was getting off! Air stewardess was brilliant and showed her where they kept the biscuits and fruit so every half he or so we took a wander round plane and got a snack. Dh slept the whole way and still says what a good flight it was!
I'd suggest snacks, iPad, colouring and any small fidget toys. Good luck!

Sticker books, travel sized games and lots of snacks!
If your DS is into football there is a FIFA World Cup sticker book (you can buy extra packs of stickers) that kept mine occupied for a good hour.
Also, could you get a guidebook about Disney and make a list with them if all the rides/shows you want to do?

Thanks both. Ds1 loves football so the sticker book is a good call. And so is the guide book idea.

There isn’t room to walk around as such, but you can walk up and down the aisles. If you’re flying BA or Virgin they have seat back entertainment that 8nckudes films, tv and games (but always take alternatives in case it’s not working).

I’d suggest snacks and activities to break it up

We use the kids' hand luggage allowance to pack as many books and activities as possible. So lots of sticker books, drawing and colouring stuff, packs of card games, and lots of snacks. The trick is to ration the stuff rather than let them have it all in the first 2 hours.

We are also flying to Orlando in April and I can guarantee you that the plane will be full of kids. And a tad noisy at times. So may be worth taking decent head phones if your ds will find them useful to cut out distractions/ reduce stimuli.

Another vote for stickers. I produced them every half hour or so throughout our flight to Oz. Magazines and cheap puzzles and toys that you can bin at the end of the flight.

And the mantra ‘it won’t be as bad as you think’.

We’ve flown long-haul a few times, from 10 months old with 2/3/4 children, the youngest being a poor flyer. I use mindfulness with her (she’s 10 now) and focusing on breathing and calming techniques is an enormous help during take off and landing. It’s never as bad as you think (repeat as required). Good luck.

Thanks all. We are flying with Virgin. My younger two will watch TV and dd would watch hours if she could so she will be thrilled. Ds1 doesn't really watch TV but might be enthralled due to the novelty factor of it being his own screen in the back of the seat in front.

I've picked up a few tips so I will be packing my bag with a few secret items as well as their own bags with books, magazines and toys.