Double Stroller

[candyht]

I am contemplating between taking my side by side Graco double stroller or buying 2 Kolcraft umbrella strollers to WDW. I'm worried that the Graco might be too wide. My twins are 3. The advantage of the double stroller is that it reclines all the way, has a canopy and a large storage basket. The Kolcraft has no canopy and no storage basket. There's a storage bag in the back of the stroller. I will be using my rental car except at MK, I will be using the boat from WL that day. Anyone with experiences taking a double stroller to WDW?

[dkfogt]

I would like to know this also. We will be going with an infant and a 3 year old later this year and I don't know if I should bring one umbrella stroller (reclining) for my 3 year old and a bigger (but lightweight) stroller for the baby OR my double (Babytrend Trendsport) side-by-side.
I am planning on staying at the Poly right now (though we may end up at the Boardwalk if DH gets his way) so we will have the monorail.......

[jesse]

We brought our double stroller on two trips, however, it was not a side by side. I NEVER went anywhere without my double stroller when ds was an infant/toddler. It reclined and had a canopy for each child, features that are essential IMHO. If I were going to give advice, I would recomend bringing the stroller that is "time-tested" and that you know your children are comfortable in. For the poster on the monorail route, you can just wheel your stroller on without collapsing it.

[erica_mutterer]

we have the graco side by side double and have used it several times there. kids now 2 and 4. glad we had it. works great for marking your parade spot, afternoon naps for the kids and you actually can fit on the monerale with it in the handy cap. section (just may have to pass up one or 2 rides if some one in a wheel chair is there too). i wouldn't go to disney without mine!!!

[babslittleones]

I took our Kolcraft side by side double stroller on our last trip and plan on taking it again in August. It was great except I had to bypass alot of shops because of it. It was just to wide and bulky to take into alot of the shops and stores because the aisles were to narrow and small. As I stated at the beginning, I still plan on taking it on our next trip but I also plan on buying a couple of cheap umbrella strollers once we arrive in Florida. There were many times all I wanted was a singe stroller just for the convenience. I will just pass the strollers onto another family when it is time to head home since these strollers are so cheap.

[beattyfamily]

We brought a side-by-side double umbrella stroller last trip and it was good but our problems was it didn't fit on the monorail so we had to fold it up right before we got on which stinks when the little ones fall asleep. Also had to bypass a couple of stores.

This time, I think we are bringing 2 umbrella light weight strollers.

It's so tough to figure out what's best!

[tiggersmomof4]

I would suggest taking the two strollers, it is difficult enough to manuever a single through some of the crowds never mind a side by side! Enjoy your trip!!

[Pooh93]

We took the graco double stroller and my husband's only complaint was that by the end of the week, he got tired of opening and closing it for the the bus rides back to the CBR. Other than that, it was good for the kids. It is a little difficult to manuever in the crowds. JMO.

[TerriBelle]

I'm a big fan of two cheap, light weight umbrella strollers. We took two for our twin boys when they were 2. We have a double stroller but I never use it. It is big and hard to get through crowds. I like to be able to move quicky through the crowds and I can't do this with the double. The 2 small strollers were easier to fold and park also. We didn't worry about reclining because our kids never nap in any stroller. Instead we took breaks in the middle of the day back at the hotel. We will be returning in Oct. and the boys will be almost 4. I plan on bringing the 2 stollers again.

[tinaluis]

I, too, would suggest two strollers or a double (front to back). We've taken a double (front to back) and a double (side by side) on different trips. The double (side by side) was an umbrella type and definitely more lightweight, but it was a little harder to maneuver through the crowds and we did have to fold it up to get on the monorail. The CMs that we encountered, didn't think we qualified to ride in the handicap car of the monoral even though there weren't any wheelchairs waiting. They simply didn't open the gate for that area, so we ended up taking the kids out, folding the stroller and getting on the next monorail.

The double (front to back) was a bit heavier but definitely worth it when it came to going into stores and onto the monorails. We're taking it on our next trip, bulky or not.

[LMHB]

I would take a double side-by-side. We are taking our double jogger for our 1 and 3-year-olds later this summer. If you think about it, two strollers is actually more work, both adults have to push at any given time. with just one stroller, only one has to push, you can switch off, and especially if it is a jogger, that is easy to push! You will only have to fold it up either twice or four times a day (depeding on if you take a nap in the mid-day), so in my opinion it is much more important to be comfortable during your visit, not just on the bus. Also, I would NEVER do WDW without a sun canopy for my kids, but then again they are blond and fair. A sunburn would make things miserable! And, it is cooler under a canopy. Some people have suggested (I have seen in the past) that doubles make it incovenient for other guests - don't worry about that. As long as you are a considerate pusher and are polite, you have the right to push a double stroller. One other note, JCPenney DOES have umbrella strollers with canopies - they are $20 each instead of WalMart's $10, and Babies R Us sells clips that connect them, making them into a double. I have the clips and two of those umbrella strollers, they do not work NEARLY as well as a regular double, but better than two umbrella's alone. Good luck!

Lynn

[wdisneyaholic]

Candyht,

I too have twins, although I was pregnant with them when we were at Disney last year. We took our then 1 year old. My best suggestion would be take the side by side stroller that reclines. I am sure that your kids will be more comfortable in them. WE decided to take our big stroller with us last year and we definately made the right decision. Canopies are great especially with the hot Florida sun and sometimes suddon storms.

We drove to all the parks for the number one reason of convenience. The busses are crowded and getting on the bus with 2 kids and a stoller is the last thing I want to do on vacation. We just parked in the parking lots and walked to the parks, was easier than taking the trams.

I think your kids will be more comfortable in there own stroller that they are used to.

Have fun!!!!!

[wdisneyaholic]

LMHB,

Where do you find those clips? I would love to know, I have twins and a almost 2 year old. Sometimes we only want to take lightweight strollers with us to the mall etc.

Do you know if toys r us or kids r us sell them. Would love to know.

Thanks

[LMHB]

WDisneyaholic,

Here in NC, we have Babies R Us, and that is where I bought mine. I think they were about $10. It is three clips, one for the handle, and one for the front and back wheel. Like I said, I do not think they work WONDERFULLY, certainly not as well as a double stroller, but those clips do come in handy. Sometimes my older one wants to walk, and sometimes he shouldn't, so if he is walking I only have to push the one. Maybe there is a Babies R Us (a division of Toys R Us) online. I also know that they are at Burlington Coat Factory's Baby Depot. Good luck!

Lynn

[wdisneyaholic]

Thanks so much Lynn, I do have a Burlington Coat Factory here.

Thanks for your help!!!

[musical2]

We also have twins. They are 16 month old girls. We just got back this past Sunday and we used our Graco side-by-side double stroller all week with no problems whatsoever. We had plenty of storage space in the baskets underneath and the stroller reclines well enough that both took their naps in the stroller all week long with no problems. Even our almost 4 year old daughter took her naps in the stroller during the day.

I think the small inconvenience of having to fold it up to get on the tram was well worth the conveniences that stroller afforded in the parks. I wouldn't have gone without it.

Bart

[DisneyBound4Ever]

I would say the two strollers too... I took a double, front/back, I enjoyed it but it was cumbersome, I will look for a lighter stroller this time.

[friskykitten]

We have gone using both our Graco front-to-back and then we took our Graco side-by-side this past time. We are leaving on Friday and will be taking the side-by-side again. I don't know what we would have done without the storage space and the fact that both seats recline fully. The side-by-side is a lot easier to push and turn than the front-to-back and we have never had any trouble going with the flow of traffic. On the other hand it is more difficult to use in the shops. BUT......it shouldn't be. Double strollers are made to be the same width as most wheelchairs so anywhere that can accomodate a wheelchair (doors, sidewalks, shops) can also accomodate the double stroller. It certainly does give you an idea of what those in wheelchairs have to deal with. When you can't get between a rack of clothes or get onto a sidewalk. You will have to fold it up to get on busses and the monorail but it is well worth the hassel!! We had to fold the front-to-back just as much as we did the side-by-side. You can roll a single stroller directly onto the monorail but that isn't really fair to others around you. Still........

Anyway, from taking our four kids to WDW over the years using all kinds of strollers my top vote would be for the side-by-side. Have fun!!

[Manatee]

Another vote for the side by side, we used ours for our 2yo boys last November, we had no problems, even though we stayed at the FW cabins and took the boat across each day to MK, we even took it on the illuminations cruise(the boys were fast asleep the whole time), it also came in handy for the two 5yo who stood on the back when they got tired towards the end of the day. go for the graco you wont regret it. Another point if you have two strollers you need two pairs of hands to push them, with the double one of us could push the boys around whilst the other took the older kids on the bigger rides.

[SueM in MN]

If your double stroller is less than 34 inches wide, you won't have trouble getting thru shop doors; standard door width considered accessible for wheelchairs is 36 inches. With clearance for the door, a stroller or wheelchair bigger than 34 inches wide will be a tight fit.
My DD's small adult wheelchair is 23 inches wide (total width, tire to tire). We sometimes can't get thru aisles in the stores without hitting into things and if it's crowded it is hard to move around.

[candyht]

Just an update... First off, thanks to everybody that responded to my post. DH and I bought 2 Kolcraft umbrella strollers from Toys R Us a few days ago. They were about $20 each. Yesterday, we went to the mall with our twins. It was their first time in their new strollers and they hated it. They kept complaining that the stroller didn't recline when they wanted to nap. I'm going to go try and return the strollers tomorrow to Toys R Us. We're going to bring our Graco side-by-side to Disney with us. It's big and bulkly, but at least our kids will be more comfortable.

[steph73]

We just got back, and we took our side by side double Combi Travel Savvy. It worked well for us, we did have to fold it up for the monorail but it was ok. As far as size goes, anything that was wheelchair accessible was plenty of room. It was nice to have two canopies (helpful for both sun and rain) and both sides reclined. Our 3 yr old took a few naps in it, and even our 6 yr old took a couple in there. As far as maneuvering through crowds, it was a little cumbersome at times but then again even the smallest single stroller can be. It was also nice that only one of us had to push (usually DH was blessed with this), so the other one had hands free. Also, our 6 yr old didn't ride very often, only when tired or during rain so the other seat was nice for carrying things. I debated whether to bring a single and just rent another single if needed for the 6 yr old and I'm glad we brought the double. The fact that the kids were comfortable far outweighed the inconvenience (small really, especially if you rent a car like we did). I have to say I saw alot of miserable kids (infants thru preschoolers) in umbrella strollers, the type that don't recline or have a canopy.

[Mic]

I don't know if you would consider a double jogger that folds, but that is what I have been taking to WDW since October. We had an old-fashioned jogger/bike trailer that did not fold(huffy) but had a 100 lb capacity. It was intended for kids 6 months and up, and our 2 youngest were 1 and 3 when we purchased it. When the same 2 lazy kids were 6 and 7, we purchased the double jogger that folds by Baby Trend at Babies R Us for @ $200. It, too, has a 100 lb capacity(50 per child) that DS is very close to outgrowing. It reclines(I recently used it for a friend's 6-month-old, and the child slept fine in it), has a bottom basket made of cloth, and a pouch and zipperer pocket on the sides of the canopy(park maps fit great in the pouch). I spent several weeks on the internet researching the features of various brands, and this model yielded the most for the least amount of $$. We had the employee of Babies R Us get the thing down from the display, and I had my DS and DD sit in it to be sure they were not too tall for the canopy or too long for the footrest. The employee did not bat an eye, so perhaps you could do the same! ;)

[crella debille]

My tandem stroller is so heavy I could never take it with me. I would never be able to take them out, maneuver 3 DS's 5 and under, and get my stroller in too. I was thinking of a double jogging stroller-somewhat lighter, but wider. Last year we had 2 umbrella stroller we bought in Orlando -- very over priced and the handles were too low for my 6'3" DH

[PrincessPoppy]

We took the Graco side-by-side on our last trips in Sept. '99 and Nov. 2000 and never had to fold it up for monorail trips -- we always waited in the handicapped line and just loaded that way. If there was someone there in a wheelchair, which wasn't often, we just waited for the next monorail.

My 2yr old DS napped almost every day on his side, while my 4yr old DD rode along. And the storage underneath was the best!!

[Barringer75]

I just want to say thank you all for your opinions. My DH and I have been debating about bringing our Graco side-by-side for our twins who will be almost 4 when we go in Sept. They are pushing the weight limit on it, but they still love to go in it for walks around the block. I thought I would be out of place with a side by side in WDW, but now I think we will bring it. It will save us a few $$ and as you know it has a great basket underneath as well as a canapy.

This will be our first time at the airport with the stroller. Did you have any trouble gate checking it at the airport? Did you cover it with anything when you checked it or just folded it up and used the little clip on the side to keep it together?

[crella debille]

I was told by USAir that a double stroller should be checked with luggage. If you a 2 single umbrella strollers they would take those at the gate. She also suggested checking the stroller in some kind of bag

[PrincessPoppy]

We flew American and United with the Graco and both checked it at the gate. In fact the kids were in it up until the time we had to board, and when we went to board we just folded it up, put the clip on, and checked it just outside the plane (you know, in that little walkway/hallway thingy). When we got off the plane, the stroller was in the hallway waiting for us.

[candyht]

Does anyone know Delta's policy on checking double strollers in at the gate? I'll be flying out of LaGuardia.

[musical2]

When we went on USAir in May from Dulles with our double stroller, we checked it down at the plane walkway right outside the plane door. It was there waiting for us when we got off the plane.

Bart

[LMHB]

We have the same double jogger stroller as Mic! Actually, if anyone is interested, they have it at Babies R Us for $170, I think. It is a Baby Trend and ours is navy. We have yet to take it to WDW (we will in Sept.) but take it every place else. I was wondering, Mic, or anyone else who has a double jogger, do you find the front wheel, which does not pivot, hard to manuever? I wish it did pivot, but then I guess it wouldn't be a jogger, and the gigantic wheels make it SO easy to push....nice because my kids are quite heavy. One note, the newer jogger strollers fold up MUCH easier than the old ones. We almost bought a used one from a friend, and it was so big, even folded up, that it would not fit in the back of my 2000 Ford Van!!!!! Also, just in case anyone wants more questions (LOL) has anyone seen a reasonably priced double jogger stroller cover for rain? I would like to spend $15 or less. Thanks!!!!!!!