Anyone do WDW with toddlers/babies without a stroller?

[Sarah_Rose]

NO WAY. Bring a stroller. I babywore too, but it's imperative you have the option to use both. Sometimes carrying is better, sometimes stroller.

Think of it this way. Do you typically walk 12+ miles a day with your child on your back? For several days in a row? You will get tired.

Bring the stroller, you can leave it somewhere for a few hours and come back when you need it.

Do you typically walk 12+ miles a day at WDW with young children? I've run a couple marathons and many half marathons, so I know exactly how far 12 miles is, and I'm sure I don't walk a quarter of that at WDW with small kids. But we generally do a 3 hour stretch in the morning and a 3 hour stretch in the late afternoon, with a long break in the middle. And we don't zig zag around, we tend to stick to one area at a time. I probably do walk more than that during a trip to the zoo because we're constantly walking, not standing in lines or sitting in shows.

Edited to add: The zoo I'm talking about is the Toronto Zoo, which is one of the largest zoos by size (710 acres - Bronx Zoo is 265 acres, San Diego is 100 acres) in the world. It's a lot of walking.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I agree.

Or if you need to put on a poncho, you guys will start to stifle. If it gets super-hot (I'll be there around the same time, and we are hoping for unseasonably warm weather FYI, so just in case we get our wish, you'll be hot!) you'll want a break from sweating on each other.

(oh wait, I used the stroller up at Woodland Park once...a squirrel jumped in and stole the food DS was eating while we were looking at the penguins!)

. If you can make the hot weather come for that week, you'll be my hero. Seriously. We have traveled in January for the past few years and its always been hat and glove weather. Except for the 2010 marathon weekend, where it was parka and snow boots weather. I've never worn shorts at WDW. Not once.

Oh, and I love Woodland Park Zoo, but I big pink puffy heart love the Point Defiance Zoo. I could let my son roam free without a stroller or carrier, even at 16 months - for a small zoo, it's exceptional.

 

[ADVentive]

I'm a babywearer too, and I hardly ever use a stroller, but I think I would use it for Disney. At those ages, I'd probably be wearing the little one on my back and the stroller would be for the 2yo to get in and out and also to carry our stuff. I would just bring an umbrella stroller though.

The main disadvantage to me at that age of having a stroller is that my 2yo would want to push it around, which ends up being more of a hassle than it's worth.

 

[AshleeH]

Do you typically walk 12+ miles a day at WDW with young children? I've run a couple marathons and many half marathons, so I know exactly how far 12 miles is, and I'm sure I don't walk a quarter of that at WDW with small kids. But we generally do a 3 hour stretch in the morning and a 3 hour stretch in the late afternoon, with a long break in the middle. And we don't zig zag around, we tend to stick to one area at a time. I probably do walk more than that during a trip to the zoo because we're constantly walking, not standing in lines or sitting in shows.

Edited to add: The zoo I'm talking about is the Toronto Zoo, which is one of the largest zoos by size (710 acres - Bronx Zoo is 265 acres, San Diego is 100 acres) in the world. It's a lot of walking.

I wasn't the one who said that about the 12+ day, but we do 5 miles a day at Disney (easily). This year, the kids were older and we had park hoppers, we averaged 7 miles a day (DH wears a fuel band that tells him distance).

I honestly couldn't imagine Disney without a stroller with babies and toddlers. Our first trip, we bought a brand new stroller for my sons (7 and 4 at the time). It was a Joovy Sit and Stand Caboose and well worth the money! Although, truth be told, it wasn't a huge amount of money. The 7 year old got to ride in the back and "steer" and the 4 year old had a place to sit whenever he needed to. It was also a nice seat for them for parades and when we stopped for snacks. And it was a lifesaver when we were leaving the park at night in the crowds - one night in particular, we made my 7 year old get in the stroller because we were worried we would lose him (it was a massive surge of people).

 

[GoldieLocks5]

My 5yo had not been in a stroller for years- but passed out in our stroller EVERY DAY that we were in the parks - he was exhausted - so i can't imagine doing it without a stroller.... if for nothing- to have a place to hold diapers, water bottles, etc... we have a double + ride on board and i see nothing bad about having a stroller- only good!

 

[Fjobe]

We went last summer when our youngest was 3.5 and the summer before when she was 2.5. Last summer we didn't have a stroller for the majority of the trip (7 day trip, and stroller stolen on day 3), and she was okay. The summer before, when she was 2.5, she rode in her stroller a lot. During the time that she wasn't riding and didn't want to walk, it was really hard on me carrying her (I'm not in bad shape and I carry my kids a lot when they're young). By the end of the trip I had shin splints really bad (only time in my life I've ever had them). It took a week for my legs to feel okay again. I would bring a stroller. If your son walks, and you don't need it, that will be great, but at least you'll have the option.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think I would also want it to carry all the STUFF. Even 3 water bottles when added to everything else gets heavy.

I agree. Just don't leave any "STUFF" in it that you can't replace. There are thieves at WDW, just as there are in the real world. I lost a new camera than I once stupidly left in our stroller.

No way would I do WDW with children that young and no stroller.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I'm bringing our double stroller for our 2 and 3 year old. I can't imagine baby wearing for that long personally, as much as I love my ergo.

 

[heather4Disney]

Your Maclaren Triump sounds good for the two choices it sounds nice and compact to fold up to take on the buses or monorail.

I too need to convince my husband but it helps when I can say EVERYONE on the forums recommends bringing one.

I googled "walt disney world stroller pictures" and I could see a pic of their rentals which are hard plastic. From the blogs it seems the under 3 is to bring your OWN stroller since they are smaller and easier for a child to crash into plus moving into and out of the parks. (your Maclaren sounds great)

For the kids 3 and older, many recommend Disney rentals since they are large but need some padding of blankets you will need to bring. It seems MK has many strollers for rental and that time of year it should be easy for us to get one. Bring your Maclaren and then rent a Disney one if both your kids konk out.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We just got back from a 9 day trip with out 3 1/2 year old. I wasn't sure if we would need a stroller but went ahead and orderd one. I AM SO GLAD WE DID! At home we don't use a stroller. Our daughter loves to hike. She'll do a 2 mile hike at 9,000 feet. Loves the mountains but Disney is a whole other kind of "mountain". We are going back in May and plan to rent one again.

 

[garjanjones]

I would take a stroller. We tood our MacLaren, but were unsure how much DS would use it since he had not been in one in about a year. (He was 4 at DW). He ended up using it every day, with no fuss. Take it. If your oldest doesn't want to use it he doesn't have to, but you will have it for your stuff. Another thought? Will DH wear a backpack for your oldest? DS was to heavy last year for that, but that had been an option I would have considered doing DW without a stroller, because there was room in the backpack for our stuff as well.