Flying with toddlers

[Mommabear20]

DH and I are looking to go to Disneyland Paris with our 3 children who will be 3,2&1 at the time of travel. We've never flown with children before and while we know our youngest will be sat on my lap due to her age, everything we read says that the 3&2 year old will have their own seats, but they just seem too young to me to be sat with just a lap belt 🫣 can anyone that has traveled with kids this age give me any reassurance?

I've only flown with one, and it was difficult. I don't want to dissuade you, but I think flying to Disneyland will be a stressful and expensive trip, and I'm not sure the 1 and 2 year old would actually enjoy it? We have a two year old and aren't travelling much this year. We did two international trips last year and it was stressful and difficult, I wish we hadn't done it. This year we're taking a week off of work and staying home while our daughter is in nursery!

Lots of people do seem to love travelling with children, but given the ages of your children, I personally wouldn't.

If you do go, I'd recommend letting them watch screens + bringing headphones.

DS flew for the first time at 10 months. 9.5hr flight and he was a dream. Flew with him several times after that and never any issues. DD took her first flight(4hour) at 9months and did the same flight at 21 months and was nothing short of a living hell both times. I will not be flying with her again for a few years. It all depends on the child I’m afraid. No one can tell you how they will be on the flight. In regards to them sitting in their own seat, DS had barely turned 2 and had his own seat and was absolutely fine. If anything I think it’s better as they have their own space.
min regards to going to Paris, we went many times from DS being 12 months old to 2 years and he absolutely loved it and throughly enjoyed himself each time. We finally went back last month with DD who was 22 months and she hated queuing, hated being in her pushchair. Since covid it’s incredibly busy no matter when you go so I would be inclined to agree with PP about going there.

Have done lots of flights ranging from 8-18m and all have been fine, but then I always prepare for the worst!

To echo a PP, I’m not sure Disney will be worth it for age range though, I’d go somewhere else and wait until they’re old enough to go on rides and enjoy it, especially as one of you will be stuck with the younger two children.

Been on 20 flights with my almost 2 year old and my my niece who is 3 has been in 4 of these flights with us and her mum.
niece sat in own seat no bother and tbh my daughter as she gets bigger hates being on my lap and the best flights we’ve had are when there was a spare seat beside us so she could sit alone.

also gives space for them to lie down on your Lap if they need a rest or whatever

It will be fine honestly

Depending where in the country you are it could be easier to drive - can use the Eurotunnel or ferry to cross

We flew with my 2 year old for a 3.5 hour flight and the actual flight was fine as we had plenty of snacks, an iPad, crayola no mess colouring, books etc.
what was a lot trickier was the airport - queuing for everything, DD being grumpy due to flight times.
Have you thought about logistics of carrying children up the stairs to the flight with having three, managing three children and the luggage before and after the flight, managing them through security etc?
I know this isn’t what you asked but I can’t help thinking that Disneyland will be a bit lost on the younger two.

The older 2 will be in their own seats. What is your concern about the lap belts? They will need guidance and parenting to sit properly. And then entertaining to keep them fairly still and quiet.

Personally, it's much less stressful traveling with 4+ ages. I'd wait a few years, and go then.

Thanks for the replies! My main concern I guess is that they just seem too young to sit on a seat without a car seat 😂 I'm just used to them being fully fastened in I guess 🤷‍♀️
I appreciate that it would seem a waste to many people doing Disney with such young children, but DH and I are both massive Disney fans and have done Disney together prior to DC and don't much care if they remember it as we will have those memories, and sure they will enjoy it when we're there 🥰
Logistically flying makes more sense as we only have luggage to manage for a short time vs trying to get it and DC on and off the trains at each end, plus there would be an over night stay in London due to train/Eurostar times, and DH gets awfully sea sick.

Flown loads with my 2 year old, she sits just fine and she's pretty naughty generally! We practice it before we go, watch videos of people flying, play 'going on holiday'. Then I just make sure I have snacks and it's done. It's hardly a long flight.

Also, took her to Disney at 1.5 and she LOVED it. So not a waste at all.

You might find it a waste of time because the rides will only let you take one child with each adult. You can't leave one alone so it means taking turns to ride with one child each time, while the other parent is wrestling two bored kids.

Flying with under 3s is hard unless they sleep ime.

I think a much bigger issue would be whether you can actually enjoy Disney. You’d have three small kids to manoeuvre on and off rides, when the transfer time is often very tight. Plus for many rides the one year old will be too small and possibly the two year old. Sounds like there would be a lot of hanging around and not much fun.

Personally I’d take them to legoland this year and wait a couple of years for Disney.

Sorry but I really don’t think any of you will
enjoy it. Can you go without them, or wait a few years? Otherwise I’d definitely recommend the Eurostar or euro tunnel / drive

Plan your hand luggage well, and take a little bag with wrapped toys and books they haven’t seen for a while to help keep them entertained and sitting still. That along with snacks and the entertainment of being on a plane itself and you’ll be fine.

We went when our dc were 3 and 1 and it we all enjoyed it. We made more use of the hotel and the pool and entertainment there than we would have done without small children but there was still plenty in the parks for them to enjoy. The 3 year old became a bit too obsessed with the small world ride,

I agree, it will be a PITA, they’ll be whingey and bored at Disney. They’re too small to enjoy any of the decent rides or shows.
Train would be better (you can get the train direct to Disney) it’s a bit of a trek too from the airport.
if someone can babysit the 2&1 yo I’d leave them at home and go with the 3yo

I don’t know that Disney is the best idea because they will each need an adult to ride with them, but someone has to wait with the baby so they can’t go on anything together, and as a result it’ll be so much hanging around.

As for the flight, mine have sat in longhaul business/first class flatbeds where I couldn’t even see them from aged 2 and on their own in economy/premium seats with me next to them from 18 months including for take off/landing (EU airlines don’t allow this until they’re 2 but US ones do). I really don’t see the issue. Of course they can sit and you’re talking about Paris not Florida! Take an ipad and headphones for each child and plenty of snacks.