When traveling with a Baby, be sure to pack the essentials.

When preparing to fly with a baby, it is important to pack some items that are critical to staying comfortable and safe.. Not only do you have to pack for yourself, but you also need to pack for the little one.   Babies generally require more stuff to keep them clean, safe and occupied on the trip.

Feeding Supplies. When packing for a baby, food is probably the most important thing to remember. It is critical to pack enough food to keep the little one calm and content, and not hungry.  A little extra food goes a long way. Clean bottles, extra nipples, water, formula/breast milk and cereal are all essential items. If you are breastfeeding, be sure to pack any supplies required to accomplish this (sometimes in inconvenient locations).  Be sure to calculate the time from when you leave your originating location, all the way to the time that you reach your final destination.  Add a little extra to cover any delays you may encounter. Have a sufficient supply to cover a long delay at the airport, or even in the air.  Also consider the food you may need when you reach your destination.  If it will be late in the evening when you land, are there stores open where you can buy food, or do you need to carry this with you?

Portable Crib. A portable crib or Pack-and-Play is often a must for an overnight stay.  Your baby needs a safe place to sleep during your time away from home. The crib should be tested at home before you travel.  Be sure to know how to unpack, setup and break-down the unit.  When you arrive at your destination is not the time to unpack the unit for the first time.  Another tip is to bring a familiar item with a house-hold familiar smell.  A blanket that is used at home that has the smell of home may make it more comfortable for your child.  Pack an extra blanket and  some type of bedding for the portable crib so your little one isn’t sleeping on a hard mattress. Portable cribs also provide a nice and safe place for your child to play as well.  If you plan on renting or using a provided crib, be sure to bring some cleaning (bleach or antibacterial) wipes to give the unit a good wipe-down.

Clothes. When it comes to babies, you really can’t ever pack too many clothes. Spit up, food spills, and diaper mishaps will cause you to change clothes frequently.  When you think you have packed enough, pack more and you still will not have enough.  If you are staying somewhere with a washer-dryer, you may get away with packing a little less.  Clothes can be packed neatly in Zip-Lock bags which can be labeled by the outfit.  If you squeeze all of the air out the bags, they will take up less room when you pack.  As the clothing gets wet or dirty, you can repack them in the zip-locks to keep the other items clean.  Just be sure not to leave the dirty or wet clothing in the bags for too long or you will have moldy extra gross clothing to deal with.

Teething Essentials. Teething can start at any time, especially if your baby is close to four months old.  Teething rings, baby chew toys, Orajel, Motrin and/or Tylenol are great for relieving the pain.  Bibs are necessary to control excessive drooling.  If you happen to be traveling with a cooler, throw a frozen teething ring into the ice as you never know if it might save the day.

Diapers and Wipes. Finally, forget the baby diapers, wipes and changing supplies. Diapers can take up a lot of space, but they are must-have items and can often be difficult to find in the right brand and size at your destination.  Be sure to bring any rash creams or ointments that you may need should your baby develop a rash.  Often times you travel includes a change in climate, or frequent trips to a swimming pool which can lead to a diaper rash.  Regular diaper changes are essential to keeping your baby comfortable.

If you pack these items in your carry-on luggage and keep them within quick access, you will be sure to have what you need to get through most situations.

Bringing your Furred Friend to Disney? Disney Offers Pets A Place to Stay.

Why leave your puppy at home, when you can bring him or her with you. While most children will quickly forget about everything at home when touched by the magic of Disney, some are very attached to their pet and there is no need to be far apart. Disney has an on-property kennel service which allows families to vacation with their dog, cat or small pet. Now it is possible to take your entire family with you when you vacation, which makes traveling much more feasible for many.

Disney Kennel

There is one central kennel located in the Walt Disney World resort. The kennel is operated by Best Friends Pet Care Inc., which is a member of the American Boarding Kennel Association. It is located on Bonnet Creek Pkwy. just outside of the Epcot Resort.

Only service dogs are permitted within the theme parks, hotels, buses, or monorails. All other pets are prohibited from these area. In order to transport your pet, you will need to provide your own transportation to and from the kennel.  You may want a soft sided pet carrier to transport your dog or cat safely.

The pet care facility is full of Disney style as this resort for pets offers daycare, overnight care as well as multi-day stays. Accommodations include Indoor and Outdoor units with many different size pet suites and villa. Depending on how much you want to spend to pamper your pet, your pet can go from basic accommodations all the way up to a VIP luxury 220 square foot villa, equipped with a flat panel television and webcam. Overnight boarding comes in handy if you are planning on staying for more than a day. Of course, Disney style means that your pets get a large air-conditioned area to run and play in. Your extended family member will get tons of attention, primping and pampering, and the best veterinary care possible if anything should be needed.

Packaged Amenities

The luxurious kennel has packages which include potty walks, large flat screen TVs, webcams, play groups, a turn-down biscuit, and so much more. Your pet will experience Disney treatment at its best! If the basics are simply not good enough, you can add-on Cuddletime, a Walk & Explore experience, Bottled Water, a Bedtime Story, an Ice-Cream Break, a Premium Bed or even in some seasons a Holiday Meal

So What Does It Cost?

Kennel fees are priced per animal, per day. The kennel is large and can accomodate almost 300 dogs, but this does not mean you should depend on having an available spot. While reservations are not required, the kennels do fill up quickly, so be sure to call in advance and make a reservation for the boarding of your animal.

Depending on the type of animal and the amenities that you select, prices range anywhere from $20 to about $100 a day. Kennel fees are priced per animal, per day. Boarding is available to all Disney guests, irregardless of whether you are staying on or off of Disney property. Discounted rates are available for resort guests (about $3-5 less per day). The basic prices are not much more than boarding your furry friend at home and you get the added benefit of being able to see your friend whenever you feel so inclined. A la carte items such as playgroups, cuddle time and even an ice cream break range from $3 to $15. If you have one or more dog, the kennel offers discounts for multiple animals sharing the same space. Dogs and Cats cannot board together. The kennel is large and can accomodate almost 300 animals, but this does not mean you should depend on having an available spot. While reservations are not required, the kennels do fill up quickly, so be sure to call in advance and make a reservation for the boarding of your animal.

• A current vaccination and health record from your veterinarian is required in order for your pet to stay in the kennels.
• Dogs must be up-to-date on Rabies, Distemper and Bordatella vaccinations.
• Cats must have FVRCP and Rabies vaccinations.

Disney World installed their kennel so that you won’t have leave your family friend at home. After a long day of park-hopping, you can spend time with your pet playing in the dog park or enjoy a walk around the grounds. The kennel is open one hour before the theme parks open to one hour after closing.

Best Friends Pet Care
2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 209-3126

Have you ever brought your pet with you on vacation? Please share your experiences below:

At the age of 2, my son made his fifth trip to Disney World.  On this trip we gave him his very own carry-on luggage.

Disney themed luggage is perfect for carrying items for your children to use in-flight.  It easily fits in the overhead compartment on most planes, or under the seat in front of you.  These Heys Hard Side bags are made of polycarbonite composite material which makes them durable for even the toughest of baggage handling.  They come with in-line wheels for easy rolling through the airport.

These bags are available in many Disney themes.  Toy Story, Cars, Mickey, Minnie and others.

I received an email from Delta that my flight time has changed.  This seems to happen often to me and the airline doesn’t matter.  In one of my first blog posts, jetblue changed my flight time – now what I wrote about this same subject.  Now that Delta has notified me that ” Your Delta itinerary has changed “, I figured I would summarize their policy as best as I understand it.

Delta offers a free reporting tool called Delta Messenger.  This tool will send you an email if your flight info changes. It will update you if:

• Your first ticketed flight departs within 0-60 days.
• A schedule change occured and has adjusted a flight by more than 15 minutes later or more than 10 minutes earlier.
• Your flight is arriving more than 45 minutes later than previously scheduled.
• The aircraft type has changed.

You may receive a refund on a non-refundable ticket(s) when:

• Your flight is cancelled and there is no Delta flight with a comparable route available within 90 minutes of the original time of departure.
• A change in your flight departure time exceeds 90 minutes.
• A change in the route of your flight adds one or more stops to the original itinerary.
• A change in the route of your flight results in an arrival time of more than 90 minutes later than the originally scheduled arrival time.

As always, check with your Travel agent and confirm using the Delta.com website.  The information provided above is only as accurate as the research performed as a paying customer.  Call Delta if you have any specific questions regarding your flight.

I recently purchased and used a CARES Child Aviation restraint for a trip with my 19 month old son. The restraint is a great way to secure your child into the aircraft seat when you are not traveling with a carseat, or your carseat is checked luggage. The restraint is designed for use for children over the age of 1 and weight between 22 and 44 pounds.

The restraint loops over the top of the seat and sits behind the passenger tray table. The two shoulder straps connect to the seatbelt strap. At 18 months and about 24 pounds, my son was comfortably held into his seat. We were flying on Southwest Airlines and the restraint fit the seat well. Southwest seats have a bit of a curve to the back of the seat. This prevented the strap from wrapping flush to the seat and caused the strap to hold my sons head a little bit forward. It looked was not perfect, but it was much better than traveling without it.

CARES is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was recognized by the flight crew on our flight. It was certainly not the first time they had seen it. I was concerned before our flight that this may be new to them, but it was not. The harness weighs about 1 pound and rolls up to fit nicely in your carry-on luggage. It comes with a storage sack.

The CARES harness requires the child to have their own seat, so this does not help lap-seaters in any way. The strap is visible to the passenger in the row behind yours, as it wraps around the seat and tucks behind their tray table. It did not disturb the passengers behind my row. They were traveling with small children as well and were more intrigued than anything else.

I recommend CARES as an alternative to bringing your child’s car seat on the plane. For less than $70 using the link in this article, give it a shot and post feedback in the comments section below when you return from your trip.

Attention all wireless device addicts – you connection is live. Free WiFi is now available at the Magic Kingdom theme park. As of August 2nd, Disney has rolled-out free WiFi access for all guests. The service called “Disney Guest” will allow access to your favorite websites and social media venues. After accepting the terms of service, you are online and connected.

We are yet to see if the service can handle the mass of wireless devices that will look to connect to high bandwidth sites. Speculation indicates that Disney is about to release a series of mobile apps to make the park experience more enjoyable. Disney announced “My Disney Experience”, a new mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

You will have no shortage of things to carry when flying with an infant.  From the stroller, to the car seat, the diaper bag to the child, these items will assist you with carrying and protecting all your items.  These are products that I purchased and highly recommend.  The Gate Check Bags fold up neatly into a zippered pouch.  They can be carried to the gate where you can put your stroller or car seat before it is taken and stowed under the plane.  After a flight to Orlando, I was very glad my new MacLaren stroller was protected.  The gate check bag was much dirtier when it was returned to me… that’s dirt that did not get all over my stroller.

Teens are not totally out of luck in Sin City.  There are plenty of affordable attractions and things to do to keep them busy and out of trouble.  You can build a full day itinerary of events from the top to the bottom of the strip.  Here is a list of my favorites:

1. Mandalay Bay Shark Reef:  The Shark Reef is a 1.6 million gallon aquarium full of sharks.  Over 100 sharks, along with sea turtles and other fish are spread across 14 different exhibits.  The reef is open from 10Am to 10PM daily.   Adults $18, Children 5-12 $12, Under 4 Free.
2. NY-NY Roller Coaster:  At 67 mph, this coaster rips you through the heart of the Manhattan skyline, through buildings and through loops and turns.  This roller coaster is actually built all around the NY-NY hotel at the bottom of the strip.  Individual ride tickets are $14, and an all day ride pass is $25.
3. Bodies the Exhibit at Luxor:  This may be the most fascinating exhibit ever.  Human bodies, frozen in time, three dimensional and naked.  This exhibit gives you a glimpse inside the human body, without the smell of an anatomy lab.  A little more expensive than other attractions at $32 general admission, $24 Children 4-12, 3 and under Free.
4. CSI: The Experience at MGM Grand:  This attraction is based off of the hit TV Show CSI.  It allows you to be the crime detective in a simulated crime scene.  Put your forensic science skills to the test from the briefing area, into the crime scene, back at the lab and make your report to Grissom.  General admission is $30, Children 4-11 $23, Family (2 Adults & 2 Children 11 and under) $75.  The whole experience lasts about 50 minutes to 1 hour in total.  Discounts are available for return visits.
5. Top of the Stratosphere: 4 incredible rides, literally at the top of the strip.  The Stratosphere towers over the city at 1,149 feet in the air where 4 rides sit atop the tower.  SkyJump, Insanity, X-Scream and Big Shot will leave you fearless.  SkyJump is the newest of the rides and is the closest you can get to free-fall skydiving, while still connected to a bungee.  A 108 floor drop will scare the pant’s off you.  Ride prices: Big Shot – $13, X-Scream – $12, Insanity $12, SkyJump – $109.99 and up.  For the less-daring, an observatory at the top of the tower provides great views of the city both day and night.  Tower Prices: Adult – $16, Child – $10, Senior – $12.  Packages: Tower Admission + All Day Unlimited Rides – $34, Tower Admission + 3 Rides – $31, Tower Admission + 2 Rides – $26, Tower Admission +1 ride – $22, Express Pass – additional $10.00.
6. The Adventuredome Theme Park at Circus Circus:  The Adventuredome is an indoor theme park with over 25 rides, an arcade, roller coasters, water rides, video rides and more.  This pay-one-price all-day location gives you big bang for the buck.  $26.95 covers anyone 48″ or taller for all-day fun.  Currently the park is open from 10AM to Midnight.  This park is located right on the strip, connected to the Circus Circus hotel.
7. Fremont Street Experience:  Viva Vision on Fremont Street is an overhead show of lights and sound.  Every night 12.5 million lights illuminate the street with a video and sound show.  This free show typically happens every hour on the hour in the evening, with more frequent shows during busy seasons.  Walk the streets of old Las Vegas and view the traditional neon vegas features.  While you are on Fremont street, be sure to enter the Golden Nugget hotel and check out the Hand of Faith; An actual golden nugget worth over 1 million dollars.  It is located in a wall mounted showcase near the lobby of the hotel.  Head across the street to Binion’s Horseshoe hotel and take your picture in front of 1 Mil in cash (in a showcase of course).
8. Pools, Pools, Pools:  Every hotel has an outdoor pool which is open during the warm months.  The pool at the Mandalay Bay hotel includes a real sand beach, a huge wave pool and a lazy river.  It is most definitely the best pool in vegas for kids. Cabanas and beach bungalows are available for a rental fee. Keep in mind; you usually need to be staying at the hotel in order to use the pool.  Many people book a room at the hotel, just to use the pool.  Don’t overlook the significantly discounted room rates – they often come with perks.
9. Shows, Shows, Shows:  Vegas is certainly known for the risque shows – but many are teen appropriate.  My recommendations include Blue Man Group at the Palazzo, Cirque du Soleil – ‘O’ at Bellagio and Lion King at Mandalay Bay.
10. Food, Food, Food:  Teens like to EAT, and there is plenty available in Vegas.  My top picks are:  Sundays – Le Village Buffet in the Paris Hotel, The Rainforest Cafe (one of few still open), and Margaritaville at the Flamingo (I realize the name doesn’t sound Kid friendly, but the atmosphere is perfect… and so are the volcano nachos!

So you have booked your flight, planned your car service to or from the airport and now you receive an email from your airline:  “We want to inform you about a change to your scheduled flight“  Now what?  This just happened to me and here are some helpful hints to make the experience less painful.

1. jetBlue will attempt to contact you via email and telephone.  You will receive a telephone call with an automated recording telling you that your flight has changed.  As you were not expecting this phone call, you scramble to find a pen and paper and miss everything they were saying.
2. Go check your email.  Be aware that both legs of the flight could have changed.  The email I received was a little cryptic, so read it thoroughly.
3. Browse over to jetblue.com and login with your reservation info to print a new confirmation.  This is the only place that will be accurate up-to-the-minute.  Everything else can change at a moments notice.  (General tip:  It is always good to log back into your reservation <24 hours before your flight to make sure you didn’t miss the phone call or the emails.  jetBlue also gives you the option to check-in from home).

jetBlue changed your flight time(s) – and your not happy with the new flight times;  I called jetBlue and spoke with a helpful customer service agent who explained the options:

• Flight time was changed by less than 30 minutes: You need to stick with the new time.  No free changes are available.
• Flight time was changed by more than a 30 minutes but less than 4 hours:  You have 2 options.  You can change your flight to any flight on the day of original travel, one day before or one day after your originally scheduled flight without incurring any other fee.  You can select any flight, including one that is more expensive than the original.  They will change you to an available seat on an alternate flight with no fees.  -OR-  You can cancel your flight and you will receive a credit in the full amount of the canceled flight.  This credit is put into the jetBlue Travel Bank and is good for use on future travel within one year.
• Flight time was changed by more than 4 hours: You can change your flight according to the same rules as >30 < 4 Hours  -OR- You can cancel your flight and jetBlue will credit your credit card for the full amount of the canceled flight.

While all of the above options are an inconvenience, the remedies are pretty reasonable.  Look at the bright side – may be you can use this as an opportunity to switch to that flight that was originally too expensive.