Bring a stroller in the airport??

[KarenAylwood]

I know this maybe belongs on the family board or something but we're leaving early tomorrow morning and DH and I don't see eye to eye on the stroller thing...

We have a large 2 year old (3 in June) and we're flying nonstop from here to Orlando (2 hour flight). No layover to deal with either coming or going which is nice. The last time we flew with DS he was 14 months and a stroller was essential since he had just started walking. He's a good walker now (not too horribly slow) and stays close to us in strange places. DH will have a roller bag, I'll have a bag over my shoulder and DS has a little roller backpack (let's be real, I'll probably end up with that one too).

We have rented a stroller from Kingdom Strollers. Do you think an umbrella stroller is essential for the airport?? DS does not sleep anywhere but in his crib or a quick catnap if it's a long car ride (I'm not kidding, we drove 11 hours when he was just 2 and he slept for 30 minutes). So it's not like I think he could just pass out in the stroller if he wanted. DH thinks the stroller will be more of a hindrance than anything but I'm always in the camp of "if there's a chance you'd want it- bring it."

Thoughts??

 

[CanadianAli]

We just went through this and decided to get a double umbrella for our 2yr old twins. Although they love walking everywhere, and we really considered renting with the cribs we are renting from Kingdom Strollers, we felt that the airport might be just too hectic to try and manage without it, so that we can put them in and move through as best we can. Took us a while to really reach at a decision, but we think this is the best one for us. We head down in less than 3 weeks and also are flying direct, use DME, etc.

 

[kamik86]

I will start this point with I don't have kids so feel free to ignore what I say.

I'm going at this more of what we did for my mom who walks very slowly with a cane for the airport. If we have a tight connection we get a chair, because while I can speed walk through the airport if my flight is late she can't. However if there is no huge rush we don't.

That being said:
I would think that if you wanted to avoid the hassle of having to carry it around that you could but you would probably want to leave a bit more time for the airports then you normally would. If you had a tight layover I could understand.

Unless of course your concern isn't getting him from point A to point B but with keeping him contained (your afraid he will wonder off etc) then I would understand, however you said he doesn't normally wonder off.

 

[china mom]

We, sadly, just said goodbye to our stroller but I did used to claim that I would probably end up taking it to my daughter's wedding. Sure, she is 11 but she never sat in it anyway. It has always been my airport luggage cart. I missed having it this past trip.

 

[Skywise]

(As a guy) For arrival I'd say no - especially if you're taking DME. The walk isn't that long and you're not going to use it for the rest of the trip.

Now DEPARTURE is another story... You might be stuck in the airport for several hours and then there's the whole TSA line which doesn't have any interactive entertainment like MK! A stroller at that point would be a Godsend.

 

[Vijoge]

As a mom of 3 and a grammie of 17 I can only say I'm not going to anybody's airport with a two year old and no stroller!

 

[piccolopat]

Ask yourself, if your child decides he doesn't want to walk in the airport, or it becomes a problem because he is walking too slow, will you or your DH be able to handle all of the carryon luggage while the other carries your child? Can you eliminate your son's roller backpack and just add his stuff to the other bags?

 

[Mikie]

I'm the voice of dissent, I guess. We've taken each of our kids at that just before 3 age and they really enjoyed rolling their own bag, walking through the airport, I liked them walking a bit more before they *had* to be confined in their airplane seat, AND I thought TSA lines are bad enough with just bags and hand-holding, much less removing from a stroller. We rented strollers for some of our Disney days, but didn't use them in the airport.

However - mine are pretty docile kids, have never been runners, are not so adventurous that wandering off was a concern, AND I gave up on carrying them pretty much as soon as they were really good walkers, we just go at their pace.

My niece and nephew, on the other hand, I can see needing a stroller longer for them in the airport. They are "too brave" and likely to get distracted by . . . Everything. Still get carried a lot, so I wouldn't be confident they wouldn't ask for their own suitcase, then turn around and make me carry both them AND the suitcase. If your son is more like this and/or if you have really early or really late flight where he might be tired, I'd go with the stroller.

 

[LadyRayado]

I rented a stroller last time and decided against a stroller at the airport for my 2 yr 10 month old. We had a nonstop flight and I had a backpack, he had his small roller suitcase. Huge mistake. I ended up carrying him through the airport, dragging the suitcase which wasn't tall enough for me to pull comfortably, and carrying my backpack. I'll never do that again. When he did walk, he wouldn't pull the suitcase. Plus without being strapped into the stroller, he was free to dart and run off while I was trying to do things like check in. We're renting again, but I'm still taking a small stroller next trip.

 

[SunTravels]

If for no other reason than sitting in the security line, I would recommend it. I have also been at the airport during delays where there are no chairs and really no place to even sit on the floor. Just in case I would bring it. I would never travel without one in the airport with my toddlers.

 

[Lvsdisney]

I debated about not taking our big stroller and renting one instead when we were down there, but having the stroller in the airport was awesome. We actually took our stroller last year (DD 18 mos) and this year (DD 2 1/2). She has little legs and I would have had to carry her through the airport, which is not ideal. It was a little annoying at security (had to get her and everything else out) but not a big deal. We gate checked it (for free, which I think all airlines do) and had it quickly after landing. And then I save $$ by not renting, which was also good!

 

[amberpi]

I don't have kids but fly every week and the process of TSA dealing with strollers kinda sucks for everyone. I'm pre-check and A+ preferred companion status, but seriously, I just see how this causes problems.

That said, sounds like you've got it under control after that and you'll have a blast!

 

[bumbershoot]

We only ever used strollers for Disney (land...though we brought the Volo for our first WDW trip, letting him choose if he wanted to use it, and he did not) or jogging (separate jogging stroller), but I will tell you it was NOT fun dealing with airports with a kid who is only walking or being carried.

We had an extra mode of transportation, in that I was an avid babywearer. That was nice on family trips. Plunk him in a back-carry in my Ergo, and we were good to go. But since you don't mention that, I doubt you partake in the babywearing. Therefore, bring the stroller.

Let's say the 2 year old is tired and simply refuses to walk. Talk it through with your husband. Who carries the baby? How irritated will the parent be? How much will that impact the day? (the one denying the child will get tired is the one most likely to be very very irritated) Compare the irritating of carrying a 5 lb umbrella stroller vs a however-much-your-2-year-old-weighs child.

DS and I flew to Disneyland a couple days ahead of hubby joining us. DH convinced me that the stroller would be such a huge pain. But he didn't have to carry the sleepy kid back and forth to Disneyland from our hotel, to pick up the onsite rental stroller we used inside the parks. He's not the one who ended up with a really messed up spine and hips *for years* despite lots of chiro and acupuncture, from doing that.

I say bring the stroller. You can carry it if it's not used. DH can carry the kid if you don't bring the stroller.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I don't about your airport, but in Atlanta if you have a stroller you go through a different line for security. It is much shorter.

Just food for thought.

 

[quagmire0]

I don't know how DS is in terms of behavior/energy, but I'd say you could skip the stroller at the airport. I always end up walking around with our younger kids until it's time to board anyway, so there's no real advantage IMO to having a stroller - unless you think he'll need to be strapped in at some point. Skipping the stroller at their airport takes one less thing off your plate when it comes to going through security and checking stuff at the gate. As a father of four though, I have to say I like your odds.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Granted, I usually fly with three kids, without help, and travel an average of 10-12 hours (usually 3 flights with 2 layovers), but I ALWAYS bring a stroller. We usually get put into a special (family) line at security, and the wait is significantly less than the regular line. I've also had gate agents only allow families to board early if they have a stroller (instead of anyone with young children).

 

[Dis703]

Slightly different scenario, but I just took one of my 4 year old twins to WDW by myself a couple months ago. We rented a stroller for use at the parks, but did not have one for the airport. I'm going again with the other 4 year old next week and I'm not going to the airport without a stroller this time. I searched for a used one that I could bring along because the trip back in the airport without it was no fun at all. I'd bring it.

 

[Beamerball]

I always ask myself this one question, I'm I ready/willing to carry the child if I don't bring a stroller? If you are, than great! If not, bring the stroller. Consider this question for the way back as well.

 

[Duckiedee]

I will have a 5 year old. I'm bringing a stroller. He hasn't used one in a few years, but I know when he crashes when he's tired.... That's IT! And I'm not carrying a 50lb kid with our luggage, dealing with tickets/security etc. Same for when leaving the parks at Disney.

 

[tjmw2727]

Since you already have a lightweight umbrella stroller I would bring it. Honestly its a long time in the airport each way and what if he does fall asleep on the flight or is tired when you arrive at Orlando? Is he small enough that you would rather carry the dead weight (so to speak) of a sleeping 3yo if you don't have the stroller or risk pushing or carrying a 3lb stroller? Gate check is free!