Big stroller on busses?

[slbeaute]

We purchased a larger stroller this year because 3 yr old dd was making the old one squeak! We have an InStep Safari which is kind of a cross between regualr and jogging. It has big back wheels, but the front wheel is smaller. It does fold up, but not as small as a regular stroller. It really works great at amusement parks and outside, and dd is very comfy in it, but my concern is getting it on the busses at Disney. Has anyone taken a large stroller on the busses? Any advice?

 

[krissyre]

Great thread!! We did this a couple of years ago when DS was 2.5. The only time we had problems was at night, after Illuminations or Fantasmic, trying to pack onto those crowded busses to get back to the resort. A couple of times we let other folks pass us in line so that we could wait for an emptier bus. We definitely weren't the only folks in that situation, but it was still a pain. I remember DH found that it was easiest to camp out in the rear stairwell-area, to be as out-of-the-way as possible.

This year, we'll be taking the jogging stroller for DD, so I'm hoping others have some good advice!

 

[2DDprincessesforever]

I would love to know the answer as well. My DD is 2 1/2.

We are going Jan 25-Feb 1 and I am agonizing over WHICH stroller to bring or to buy a new one just for the WDW trip??

I love my big one - it is easy to push - it has a GREAT BIG basket underneath to put all the STUFF in - my daughter is comfy - it reclines, she can sleep if need be, etc.

My only concern is what will it be like trying to get on and off a bus with it - and of course it would be by DH that would be doing that.

We are going during value season and everyone is telling me that there will NOT be crowds but I still dont know.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You guys know more than me - I havent been to WDW since 1988.

THANKS!!!

 

[slbeaute]

I think we'll go ahead and take it. My big concern is the crowds since we'll be there in June. DD is just so comfy in it; it lays back and the air wheels really help with big bumps etc. Plus, she's very tall for her age and her little legs just get all scrunched in a regular stroller! Any other advice using these strollers is certainly welcome!

 

[Kahana-ri]

Great thread!! We did this a couple of years ago when DS was 2.5. The only time we had problems was at night, after Illuminations or Fantasmic, trying to pack onto those crowded busses to get back to the resort. A couple of times we let other folks pass us in line so that we could wait for an emptier bus. We definitely weren't the only folks in that situation, but it was still a pain. I remember DH found that it was easiest to camp out in the rear stairwell-area, to be as out-of-the-way as possible.

This year, we'll be taking the jogging stroller for DD, so I'm hoping others have some good advice!

We had the exact situation. We had our larger travel stroller and learned that if the bus was getting full to take the next one. Sitting near the read exit door is so much easier and more room. Plus DH was the first off when we came to our stops. I am glad be brought a bigger, durable, more comfortable stroller for our DS.

 

[BuzzLightYear3]

We took a double stroller when our kids were younger....wasn't a jogging style, but it definitely didn't fold too compactly. (Was a double stroller with "stadium seating" ) It worked out o.k.....it was a pain getting on/off the bus, but not as much of a pain as it would have been carrying 3 kids from the bus to the park entrance! As the other posters have noted, it's most difficult when the buses are crowded, so you may want to use the buses during non-rush times (e.g. avoid park closing if possible.) If you can't or don't want to do that though, just don't worry about it.....the kids in combination with the stroller probably still only take up as much room as 2 adults, and they have as much right to be there as anyone else. Afterall, it is Disney.....people have got to expect there will be strollers!

All that said, once my kids were old enough to walk from the buses to the gates, it was nice to graduate to being able to rent strollers. Eventually the kids got big enough that Disney rented strollers were the only ones they'd fit in anyway.

Have a great trip!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My sister bought a Jeep stroller for her older DD, and it worked GREAT! It is REALLY easy to use, even though the wheels aren't that big. It also folds up very compact, very easily, is lightweight, and I think she got a good deal on it at Costcos or Sam's. Sometimes big strollers can be difficult. If it is small enough that it can slide under the seats (even part way - there is quite a bit of room there) that is a big help. If there is no hope of it fitting under a seat, it might be a pain, but if it is that big...won't packing it be a problem?

Also, I don't know about your stroller, but the more light weight and easy to fold the better. My sister had a jogging stroller that had very heavy wheels. Ugh! You'll have to carry the stroller, plus the kid, plus all the disney goodies, jackets, drinks, etc. on and off the bus. (They make you fold the stroller BEFORE they let you on the bus.)

In a side bar, we saw a lady on our last trip with one of those really expensive Peg-Perego strollers that was all shiny and new. All the moms oohed and aahhed, when she got on the bus, "Nice stroller!" Then everyone tried to help her figure out how to make it fold...we were at the hotel before they had it fully figured out. It was kind of funny. To get off the bus, of course, she had to figure out how to open it again.

 

[Danno Magee]

We just got back from Disney the other day. We went the dreaded week between Christmas and New Years...on a side note, I really didn't think it was THAT bad. Granted, it wasn't always the most pleasant, but I would definately go again. Anyways, we took a jeep stroller for a our little one. It didn't fold up as small as our other stroller. It has the air filled tires (2 in the back, one in the front) but more importantly, it has a foot rest that doesn't really fold up. So it can be a little bulky. I didn't have much trouble with buses. We took the buses everywhere we went. The only problem I had was that in the older buses (the ones that don't tilt down), the aisle coming from the front door was too narrow to get the stroller down. I would have to lift it above the seats. If you have to get on one of these buses, I would try to slip in the back door where the seats are different and there is more room. I stood most of the time with stroller and it wasn't really an issue. We are definately glad we took that one and even though it was bigger, it wasn't the hassle I thought it would be.

 

[Mom Possible]

slbeaute, We had the earlier version of the stroller you are talking about. It is really a great stroller! We took it once and yes it was a pain but it was worth it in the parks. We have graduated to a maclaren volo now but I miss the safari. I would take it.

 

[SCBuzz]

We carried a big Graco stroller on our last trip and will carry it again although it is a pain to fold/unfold and load/unload on the buses. This trip there will be 4 of us instead of 3 so DS6 will have to lend a hand with some bags .
I don't really care for the look of the strollers that the parks offer and would just rather DD2 ride in our very own.
Make sure that you get a bicycle cable lock for your stroller so it doesn't walk away .

 

[madalynns mom]

I'm having the same problem; should I use our huge cadilac stroller (that I love but is heavy)so my daughter is comfortable or buy a new smaller one?? She'll be 3 and 1/2 so I hate to spend $$ on a new stoller now that she's older. I could just make my husband deal with folding up and carrying the stroller.......

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Great thread!! We did this a couple of years ago when DS was 2.5. The only time we had problems was at night, after Illuminations or Fantasmic, trying to pack onto those crowded busses to get back to the resort. A couple of times we let other folks pass us in line so that we could wait for an emptier bus. We definitely weren't the only folks in that situation, but it was still a pain. I remember DH found that it was easiest to camp out in the rear stairwell-area, to be as out-of-the-way as possible.

We used to lug our double stroller. It folded up great but was a lot more bulky than just a regular stroller. Camping out in the back stairwell worked out great for us as well. If the buses are empty and of course, as long as this space is not needed, the little area for a wheelchair also works well - and please note before you flame me - I would not hesitate to give up this area and stand on the roof with my stroller for someone who needed it!!!!! I am only suggesting this, if and only if, the space is NOT needed!!

The last trick was getting all the way in the back of the bus.

 

[slbeaute]

Thank you for all the advice. I'm sure we'll take the stroller now. I think the bus hassle will be worth it; it's just such a smoother ride for her and the handle bars are high enough for us (both tall). We aren't going until June but I'm getting so excited! It's been 5 years since we've been!

 

[PrincessLindy]

I would recommend you take the big one from home. With young ones it is much easier to have the big comfy ones from home.

One tip is that when the bus was a little crowded we would ask the bus driver if we could take it on the handicap door. This was you are at the spot and haven't knocked everyone in the head on the way there. Also a lot easier to get off.

 

[blessedby3]

When we were there in Nov., I saw many people with large strollers on the bus. Mostly they took the folded up stroller and put it in the "back door" area so it wasnt in the aisle. The dads usually stood with the stroller in front of the rear door of the bus and jumped off first when it got to the bus stop. Take whatever stroller works best for you because if you take something just because it is smaller, you might be kicking yourself the whole time you are there.

 

[reeanna]

We took our side by side jogger last year- as the bus approached, my husband would fold it up, then we'd ask the driver to open the back door and he'd get on and sit in the back area of the bus with it (if anyone in a wheelchair was waiting, we waited for the next bus or got on using the front door if the bus wasn't crowded). We always stay at the Boardwalk area for that reason. The only time you have to take a bus is to go to AK. MGM and Epcot are within walking distance and MK can be reached via Monorail (again- if no one using a wheelchair was waiting, we would ask the conductor to let us on the wheelchair accessible car). It was a pain but having that stroller was great. Its so easy to push. We have the kind with the pivoting front wheel under the front of the stroller so its very easy to maneuver and you don't have to worry about running over anyone. The only difficult part is getting the dbl jogger through the exit turnstiles at MK. Its a tight squeeze!!!