Best Strategy for Little Legs?

[Hoku]

I have seen plenty of threads in the WDW section with folks all worked up about people using strollers. Check it out- pretty entertaining.

I didn't think you were being negative about it at all. I just wanted to expand on your comment by adding that strollers are more acceptable at Disneyland for older kids than other places. And they are! But you'll always find people that frown upon others for all sorts of reasons. Using a stroller is such a trivial one.

I think I'll pass on those other threads. People that have no compassion for children and their parents - especially when they don't know individual circumstances - make me grumpy. Nothing we can do will please everyone. I say, have a good time and do what you need to assure the group is happy! I work for my family, not the judgmental grump that sneers at me for it.

 

[twopeasonepod]

Maybe just rent strollers on those days that you really need them, like when you plan a long day or want to do a lot of parkhopping.

This might be the best way to go! I just feel like I'm missing something when I leave with nothing haha. That's why we have loved the Ignite -- used it on two 10-day trips so far, and it was the best $120 I've spent! But they are just getting too big.

Here's a link to the first one I could find. I've seen others like it (not "Jeep" brand) at Wal-Mart for under $20. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Jeep-Wrangler-Sport-All-Weather-Umbrella-Stroller-Turq-Glow/16439811

The weight limit for this particular model is 35lbs. Don't know about the others, but not only have I seen this 13-year old sit in it, I've seen other older kids, around age 7, ride in them, too - quite a bit actually.

And, oh my gosh! Just noticed you're in Honolulu, like me!! When are guys going? I've been hoping to make a meet up with families with other kids while we're there. You've got boys, but our daughter would love to run around Tom Saywer Island with them.

The biggest problem is my kids' height (well and the one that is 55 lbs.), cuz he is all scrunched up in the Ignite already. If he falls asleep, his legs are dragging on the ground. So I don't think he would do well in an umbrella other than the Ignite.

Yup, been here my whole life (well, except undergrad and internship) and never leaving! We would totally meet up, except you are going way before us. We usually go for Halloween and in May (before everyone else gets out of school). But maybe next time!

I feel your pain. My son is also large (now 7.5, 90 lbs and 53" tall). We used our maclaren umbrella stroller with a 55 lb weight limit until he was probably 65-70 lbs and it was fine. At that point, we bought a single jogging stroller for our now 4.5 year old and figured we could bring that and they could switch off as needed but it really ended up working ok with him walking (from about 6 years old on). You could always bring the umbrella for one and rent a single disney stroller as needed. Or look into a used single jogging stroller and have one in that and one in the umbrella. I found a used Bob Revolution for $200.

We might just try both in the Ignite (with a 50 lb. limit) and rent one if needed. Or if I can score a used Revo, that would be awesome for that price!
But can your son still fit in it? In our Revo Duallie, the boys are super squished and can barely get their arms in the straps (but they can't buckle them -- we just make them put on the arm straps).

You can also rent equipment. This is what we plan on:

http://www.rentittoday.com/baby-equ...t-Anaheim-Double-Jogger-Stroller-Rentals-2513 $66/week

or

http://www.travelbabees.com/Locatio...-Strollers/Premium-BOB-double-jogger-stroller $96/week

They deliver to your hotel

Hey, I noticed that you have twins, too! And the same age! We already have a Bob Revo Duallie, but they barely fit in it now, and are basically right at the weight limit. They won't fit it in October -- at least not comfortably for the whole day. For now they only sit in it when I want to go running and they want to come with me. Or if we walk them to school (which is less than a mile away). Your boys are still under 100 lbs. combined? If they are anywhere near 46-48", they will be squished into the seats on a Bob.

Thanks everyone for the help! I still am torn between going for it with the Ignite strollers we already have or.....any of the other options! Totally indecisive.

 

[todzwife]

The Aprica Presto is $120 on amazon and holds up to 70 pounds...

 

[twopeasonepod]

The Aprica Presto is $120 on amazon and holds up to 70 pounds...

Whoa! Been researching it now, and am willing to do the crazy lime green for a $70 discount (x2), especially since we will never use them other than Disney or other theme parks. But the maximum height is 45", so I am gonna do more reading. The max for the Ignite is 40", and they are bumming out in it, but then I was thinking that I could save $240 and just have them struggle through this trip and *maybe* start walking in May....or buy the two Prestos and have them in them for two trips????? Ugh, I suck at this!

I'm not even tall (hello, Asian!) and my kids are ginormous. In some height-predictor thing in parents magazine, I can plan on them being 6'4" or taller. Wowza!

 

[Judy from Boise]

I vote for training walks, always worked for me . I guess because we never used a stroller, it wasn't even considered. But, for at least 6 weeks prior to DL we did nightly family walks.

 

[DisSarahK]

I vote for training walks, always worked for me . I guess because we never used a stroller, it wasn't even considered. But, for at least 6 weeks prior to DL we did nightly family walks.

Unfortunately these just don't work for all children. As I said earlier in the thread, my daughter can walk for miles (and has been able to do so for years) and my son just physically can't do it. Both children come from the same parents--prior to my son, I would have been voting for training walks too!

 

[nik76]

Hey, I noticed that you have twins, too! And the same age! We already have a Bob Revo Duallie, but they barely fit in it now, and are basically right at the weight limit. They won't fit it in October -- at least not comfortably for the whole day. For now they only sit in it when I want to go running and they want to come with me. Or if we walk them to school (which is less than a mile away). Your boys are still under 100 lbs. combined? If they are anywhere near 46-48", they will be squished into the seats on a Bob.

Thanks everyone for the help! I still am torn between going for it with the Ignite strollers we already have or.....any of the other options! Totally indecisive.

Height-wise they are... 43", weight... Over 100. That is so not what I wanted to hear...

What dates are you going and where are you staying?

 

[nik76]

It looks like the other stroller from the rental place is: "Baby Trend Expedition Jogger: Recommended Use: 6 months ~ 50 lbs (each child) or up to 42"

argh...

 

[twopeasonepod]

I vote for training walks, always worked for me . I guess because we never used a stroller, it wasn't even considered. But, for at least 6 weeks prior to DL we did nightly family walks.

The boys never use a stroller, except at theme parks. It's more because I want to move more quickly than they are able, they space out and run into everything, and because they are way too heavy if they fall asleep. They are super active and can walk for miles. It's just the grouchy factor when they are tired that I try to avoid haha.

Height-wise they are... 43", weight... Over 100. That is so not what I wanted to hear...

What dates are you going and where are you staying?

Oh man, you are totally in the same boat now! Having two makes it more stressful, yeah? I'm still looking at the Prestos, but that is a lot of money (but I guess less than renting....) Hmm, would the Ignite strollers work for you?

We are going 10/30-11/8 and stay at GCH!

 

[twopeasonepod]

The Aprica Presto is $120 on amazon and holds up to 70 pounds...

I was going back and forth about getting these, and put them in my cart on amazon just to save them there......then the brown color (not the crazy lime green) went down to $80 EACH! I snagged two and will figure out whether I like them or not later.

 

[Coconut36]

We wondered this same thing on our most recent trip with a 5 and (just turned) 7 year old. The first two days were fine - we did not rent strollers. On day three we wanted to do a longer day with a lot of park hopping so we rented two strollers that day (they are 2 for $25). It worked out well because they were tired from the two days before and also we could take them to fireworks and let them crash in the stroller if they were too tired. (The night before we had to leave WOC early b/c they were falling asleep and we wished we had rented a stroller for it!) The last day was a half day so we again went without strollers. If you plan to do a bunch of attractions/rides in one area in the morning, and then again in the afternoon, it is pretty easy to go without. (For example, we spent one morning entirely on one side of DCA - Soarin', Animation building, Muppets, Monsters, Aladdin; and another on the other side - Golden Zephyr, Goofy's Sky School, Symphony Swings, Jumpin Jellyfish, Little Mermaid, etc.) Since we stayed in one area for several hours it was not too much walking for them and it was in smaller spurts, so it worked out great! Maybe just rent strollers on those days that you really need them, like when you plan a long day or want to do a lot of parkhopping.

Have fun!

Your kids are close in age to mine and I was wondering how this would work as well.

Are strollers hard to come by at DLR? What I am getting at is if the kids start complaining about being tired can we go rent some or is it first come, first serve and they then have limited amounts or none? If they are plentiful I think we will just play it by ear and if they start dragging but want to stay in park we will wander over and rent a stroller(s) and if they do fine we will not worry about it.

We have a small umbrella still I think (that my youngest has used for more than a year) but I really really really don't want to take it with us so renting is my only consideration (besides youngest is going to have feet dragging in it if we used it).

ETA-My 7 year old I feel is least likely to tire..his energy is endless and while his legs might tire he tends to push through it. My 4 1/2 year old is more likely to tire..he is different from his brother for sure. We are sort of doing "training walks" in that we now walk just shy of 2 miles round trip Mon-Fri to pick big brother up from school so I think that will help him but I know Disney exceeds any normal walking..I know as an adult I am always exhausted so I imagine little legs are too.

 

[pinktink83]

Even my (at the time) 6yo had a bit of trouble walking all day, so I'd say 6.

I'd just rent a stroller over buying one. Its only $15-20 ish a day right? Not worth spending $700. You do NOT want a $700 stroller to get damaged or stolen at the park. Just rent.

 

[ddwlms]

I was going back and forth about getting these, and put them in my cart on amazon just to save them there......then the brown color (not the crazy lime green) went down to $80 EACH! I snagged two and will figure out whether I like them or not later.

would you mind giving a link? i'm not seeing any for $80. (maybe you got the last two. )

 

[twopeasonepod]

would you mind giving a link? i'm not seeing any for $80. (maybe you got the last two. )

Yeah, as soon as I bought them, the brown color went back up to $179. There was something like a 3-5 week wait for shipping (perhaps that's why they were cheap?), but we don't mind because we only use these strollers for theme parks and we go to DLR for Halloween so there is plenty of time.

I would suggest putting the color you want (or all of them so you can see if one goes really cheap) into your cart. Even if you put it in "save for later", Amazon always tells you when prices go up or down as soon as you go to your cart. So just keep going back to check. That is how I saw the change.

 

[starshine514]

They are just so tired and carrying them is so not fun. Perhaps we will do the Disney Visa route (even though we won't get any miles ) or rent one Disney stroller for the bigger one and keep the other in the Ignite that we already have?

This is a great idea! However, if your larger twin is only 5 lbs over the limit, I'd consider just bringing your own stroller. they can actually handle more weight than they are rated for. For example, last Sunday, we were at DL w/ friends who didn't bring a stroller for their 3 & 4 yr olds. I had brought our double Combi b/c our hotel was over half a mile away, and I knew it'd be rough on my 6-yr-old at the end of the night. (The 6-yr-old let the 3-yr-old use her seat all day.) At the end of the night, however, all 4 kids piled into the stroller. I'm guessing this was at least 50 lbs over the weight limit on the stroller, but it held up just fine.

Edit: I see you have height issues w/ your current stroller. That is a factor (and goes a long way towards contributing to the "too big" look). I hope the strollers you purchased work out great for you!