Traveling with a big stroller

[misslissa]

I got a big fancy stroller, specific for travel. We've taken it on numerous trip but are looking forward to our first Disney/Disney Cruise trip in less than 2 weeks. Has anyone traveled with a big stroller? Not really big in size, but a Bugaboo that comes apart in 2 pieces. I understand we'll have to get my Little Man out of it when we get on the bus... but have you had any issues with it?

 

[angelmom27]

I dislike two piece stollers. My cousin has the kolcraft contour and you have to remove one seat to fold it up. The only good thing was when the baby was sleeping daddy would hold the seat with her in it while she carried the rest of the stroller and the bags.

 

[Kona65]

I beg of you, for all of the rest of us, please, please, buy a smaller stroller. Leave the big stroller at home. TDBIASWS.

 

[CourtneyL]

Have you considered renting a car? It's gonna be a pain to deal with a 2-piece and/or large stroller on a bus, especially if its crowded.

 

[teacup princess]

Ugh. We made the HUGE mistake of bringing a two piece stroller on the last trip. I thought it would be ok with both of us taking a piece but THEN unplanned things happened and we had to split up. I was left to wrestle both stroller pieces and the baby by myself on a crowded bus. It was a nightmare. That stroller immediately got dumped and we were stroller less for the rest of the trip. I went to the store after that trip and bought the smallest possible but sturdy umbrella I could find. LESSON LEARNED.

 

[twinboysmom]

Obviously someone thinks they speak for all of us but I think you will be fine with that stroller. There will be far bigger more cumbersome strollers than yours. Just be polite (which I am sure you will be). Have your little guy out and have the stroller folded and ready to go. You take your baby and sit down and your DH stand towards the second set of doors with the stroller (unless you take an uncrowded bus).

Btw, what does TDBIASWS mean? Doesn't seem to be a usual dis abbreviation.

 

[melifeld]

Have you considered renting a car? It's gonna be a pain to deal with a 2-piece and/or large stroller on a bus, especially if its crowded.

I agree with this. I must say that having a rental car when you have ANY stroller with you makes your life much easier. There is nothing worse than standing on a crowded bus holding a folded stroller and trying not to fall over every time it stops, while your spouse holds the child.

It also happens to be extremely convenient when dining at resorts other than the one at which you are staying. Taking 2 buses to get back to your resort after along day can take awhile and is no fun!

Good luck!!!

 

[wnoelw]

We bought a city mini just for disney. We usually use a britax b-ready. If yoi want to consider a smller faster folding stroller, Target has had the micro (basically the same as the mini with smaller wheels) on clearance (around 100 now).

 

[akcire]

I got a big fancy stroller, specific for travel. We've taken it on numerous trip but are looking forward to our first Disney/Disney Cruise trip in less than 2 weeks. Has anyone traveled with a big stroller? Not really big in size, but a Bugaboo that comes apart in 2 pieces. I understand we'll have to get my Little Man out of it when we get on the bus... but have you had any issues with it?

I have a stokke which is bigger than a bug.

I love having the stroller in the parks, nothing is better. The boats are ok, because we can enter via wheelchair access, and then she just sits on my lap.

The bus was a bit challenging by myself. If anyone was along it was fine. One person for the stroller one for the baby. Now that my daughter is older, I could have her sit next to me on the bus. I never rode the bus at night. When she was really little I had the carrier with me and just put her in the carrier and brought the stroller on folded. I never had any problems. A couple of times bus drivers asked me to fold the stroller, I had to explain that was folded.

The one thing that was horrible was the parking lot trams. I never rode them, instead I just walked from where the car was parked. My daughter and husband usually rode the tram--my daughter likes the trams, trains, etc.

I also have a stokke bag for the airlines. I am pretty certain bugaboo makes a similar thing. I normally just checked the stroller, they are fee free, but I could have gate checked. For me it was just easier to let her walk around a bit in the airport or when small just keep her in a carrier.

 

[tigger51276]

For 10 years I've done WDW with a huge jogging stroller. While lugging it on and off the buses is not always easy (and as a single parent I was able to do it, although mine was just one piece) it was doable. I would carry my DD in a hip carrier on one side and on the other hip lug the stroller on. Having the air tires made getting up and down sidewalks so easy, being able to manueveur with one hand so that I could take a drink and not have to stop was wonderful and having the storage space was amazing. That being said, last year I did buy a city micro stroller. The last two trips I have actually traveled with both strollers and I use the jogger during the day when I have more stuff with us and the Micro at night so that I am able to carrying DD4 when she falls asleep and can easily fold the stroller and carry it on the bus as well.

 

[Schmeck]

I got a big fancy stroller, specific for travel. We've taken it on numerous trip but are looking forward to our first Disney/Disney Cruise trip in less than 2 weeks. Has anyone traveled with a big stroller? Not really big in size, but a Bugaboo that comes apart in 2 pieces. I understand we'll have to get my Little Man out of it when we get on the bus... but have you had any issues with it?

If you are prepared to stand on a bus and juggle the stroller and the child, and the bags, you should be all set.

 

[maxiesmom]

Unless you are prepared to either stand on a bus juggling your child, and all your stuff, and both pieces of the stroller, or step aside and wait for a bus with seating open, I would bring a smaller stroller. Not only will you have to handle all of your stuff, you will need to do it without bumping into the other people on the bus. Keep in mind too the Disney buses have more standing room than sitting room. Odds are you will have to stand at some point.

 

[nat8199]

Trust me, your stroller will be smaller than ours! We do not have a choice but to bring our double stroller with the added toddler seat that turns it into a triple! The base itself is actually smaller than a wheelchair, but it is obviously quite tall.

Fortunately, we will have six adults with us so we will have plenty of people to watch the kids while others handle the stroller. We also are not going to attach the toddler seat until after we are at the park.

We will have two two year olds and a three year old so no stroller/a smaller stroller is not an option.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Which bugaboo do you have? Do you only have the option of a 2 piece fold? I know each model is different.

I don't think it is the actual size of the stroller that could cause frustration, it is the 2 piece fold. IMHO I cannot imagine juggling 2 pieces of a stroller, the baby, and all of the associated gear (diaper bag, purchases, blankets, bottles, stuffed toys, etc - we always seem to end up with random loose items that we have to shove in a bag) on a crowded bus, or worse yet, a parking lot tram. I do think driving would be easier with a stroller like that but I wouldn't even try to use the trams in the parking lot, I would just push the stroller to the entrance.

When DD was 4 months old we took her to WDW for the first time, it was the first time we ever had her in the stroller without using the infant carrier (car seat) insert. I was nervous that she wouldn't do well with it and we would need to lug around the car seat to put on the stroller too but she was fine. That being said, we stayed at BWV and drove so we also had a car. We walked to Epcot and DHS, drove to AK, MK and DTD. We also acquired a AAA diamond parking pass so when we did drive to the parks we were able to park very close and there was no need to deal with the trams

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

We used our Phil & Ted Sport in November and when the second seat is under the main seat it has to be removed to fold the stoller.

Was it a hassle to fold? Yes. Was it easy moving the stroller down the aisle to the back of the bus as everyone was loading? No. But, for these small inconvieneces, which only happend about 4 times a day, it was well worth it to have MY stroller at the airport and in the parks.

I'm sure the Citymini is a great stroller, but I purchased my P&T for a reason and I didn't spend all that money on a stroller only to leave it at home when it would be most beneficial to use it!

I was never in anyones way, I never had trouble "fitting" on the bus with my family, either.

I will say that I also never did it alone - I always and H or another family member to help me get the little girls out (it was a double afterall) and on the bus safely while I managed with the stroller on my own. H has no clue how to work that beast, lol.

By the 2nd day we had the routine down pat -- which your co-riders will appreciate.

While waiting for the bus I made sure the basket was empty. When we saw the bus coming we took the girls out and removed the second seat. I was able to quickly fold the base when I got to the bus door and then I walked to the rear with both pieces. I used a "mommy hook" to secure the second seat to the base -- can you use something similar on the bug so that both hands hold the base?

Just make sure you start getting the stroller ready to fold BEFORE the bus arrives. It will save a lot of time - and stares

 

[misslissa]

I beg of you, for all of the rest of us, please, please, buy a smaller stroller. Leave the big stroller at home. TDBIASWS.

LOL... It is actually about the same size as most folding strollers... So, the size isn't really the issue. I also don't intend to drive over anyone.

Obviously someone thinks they speak for all of us but I think you will be fine with that stroller. There will be far bigger more cumbersome strollers than yours. Just be polite (which I am sure you will be). Have your little guy out and have the stroller folded and ready to go. You take your baby and sit down and your DH stand towards the second set of doors with the stroller (unless you take an uncrowded bus).

Btw, what does TDBIASWS mean? Doesn't seem to be a usual dis abbreviation.

As I mentioned, we've travelled alot with this stroller and gotten in and out of many cabs in NYC, vans in Nassau, and all around various city subway systems. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

While waiting for the bus I made sure the basket was empty. When we saw the bus coming we took the girls out and removed the second seat. I was able to quickly fold the base when I got to the bus door and then I walked to the rear with both pieces. I used a "mommy hook" to secure the second seat to the base -- can you use something similar on the bug so that both hands hold the base?

Just make sure you start getting the stroller ready to fold BEFORE the bus arrives. It will save a lot of time - and stares

Great. This is sounds like what we usually do. I have the mommy hook and we will only be going to 2 parks, for 2 days... So, I'm still undecided so I'm going to think on it still alittle more.

Thanks all!

 

[SueM in MN]

Obviously someone thinks they speak for all of us but I think you will be fine with that stroller. There will be far bigger more cumbersome strollers than yours. Just be polite (which I am sure you will be). Have your little guy out and have the stroller folded and ready to go. You take your baby and sit down and your DH stand towards the second set of doors with the stroller (unless you take an uncrowded bus).

Btw, what does TDBIASWS mean? Doesn't seem to be a usual dis abbreviation.

That poster adds it to almost every post without explaining.

 

[Schmeck]

Some info and a bit of foolery here about the acronym:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=46965715&highlight=tdbiasws#post46965715

 

[hpsalb]

I can't speak much for the parks, since DS will be going on his first WDW in a few months, but we have taken him on DCL. I am considering taking our larger stroller to the parks and sticking with a small umbrella for the cruise. Space is at a premium onboard, so I would consider the smallest option for that. We are driving, so it won't be hard to leave one in the car during the cruise - I don't know what your travel plans are, so that may not be possible.

 

[Marionnette]

LOL... It is actually about the same size as most folding strollers... So, the size isn't really the issue. I also don't intend to drive over anyone.



As I mentioned, we've travelled alot with this stroller and gotten in and out of many cabs in NYC, vans in Nassau, and all around various city subway systems. Thanks for the vote of confidence!



Great. This is sounds like what we usually do. I have the mommy hook and we will only be going to 2 parks, for 2 days... So, I'm still undecided so I'm going to think on it still alittle more.

Thanks all!

It sounds as if you have plenty of experience handling this stroller. You might want to also give it a go on a crowded bus before you commit to taking it to Disney. Dragging a stroller of any size up the bus steps and then balancing it in the aisle while the bus rounds corners is a big challenge when you've got a little one in your lap (or worse, while you're standing and holding the child in one arm and grabbing a bar for balance with the other). I'm not saying that it's impossible. It will just be easier if you have some practice.