Bring or Rent stroller???

[jdjbright]

I have read so many posts about people taking thier own strollers, and others saying the best way is to rent. I am totally going crazy over this. I own a pretty light weight, compact, and easy to push stroller. It also has good storing capability, with a sun shade. Although, If I bring this for my DD 20 mo. old and she wants to walk for a few hours, I still have to push this around. If I rent I can return it and get it again later. What do you all think?

Thank you!

 

[elemusing]

Bring an UMBRELLA stroller. It is much smaller. You can even fold these up and take them on the train with you. You won't have to wait in line to get one wasting precious time in the morning when crowds are lighter and you can find it a heck of a lot easier when you come out of a ride into a sea of strollers.

Be sure to tie some bright ribbon on it and you will be able to find it that much easier.

 

[whalewatcher]

I wouldn't even consider going without my own stroller with a 20 mo. old. You can use it in the airport up until you step on the plane, in parking lots, going to bus stops, etc. Also keeps your child corraled when necessary. Trust me, she won't be doing that much walking - too tired, too hot, too overwhelmed. My kids are 3 and 5 and we'll still be bringing our own double umbrella stroller in May.

 

[jdjbright]

Whalewatcher, I plan on having a stroller for my DD. In the airport I will be using a backpack child carrier. Unless I bring my own stroller. I am not to worried about the airport, bus stops, or etc.. We will have 5 adults to hold or walk with her in most of these cases. My real worry is the parks. Like I said I will have some sort of stroller, I just can't make up my mind as to all the pros and cons to bringing my own stroller or renting one. I am very curious to the storage space in the rental strollers. They also seem very bulky in the pictures.

I am very sorry if I miss lead you Whalewatcher. I am also very thankful for the reply. If you have ever used a park stroller, and your own stroller, which one did you prefer?

Thank You again.

 

[cgajdzisz]

My DD was 4 1/2 last year and I still used my own stroller. It was easier to keep an eye on her at the airport and it really was no trouble. You just leave it right before you board the plane and it is waitng for you when you get off. It saves aggravation you don't have to worry about your child keeping up with you . While at the parks they do get tired and I think it helped that she was in her familiar stroller. Also when you leave the parks sometimes it is a far walk to your room and if she fell asleep on the bus it was so simple just to put her in the stroller when we got to our resort. This year we are returning with my 8 month old DD and we purchased an attachment that lets my 5 year old sit or stand at the back. Hope this helps.

 

[JulesMom]

DS used a stroller until he was almost 7. We bought one for about $30 from Wal-Mart. It was a larger umbrella stroller with a sun shade and storage in the bottom. It was fabulous.

We used it for 3 years--only at WDW. We definitely got our money's worth.

Don't forget on busy mornings, you have to wait in line to get the stroller. If you cahnge parks, I don't think you have to pay again, but I believe you'll have to wait in line to get another stroller.

 

[Kimkimba]

We're bringing our umbrella stroller with us when we go in September for my ds who will be almost 5. Whoever invented umbrella strollers derserves a gold medal - they are so inexpensive, fold up compact, and easy to use, that I wouldn't dream of leaving home without it.

 

[ncbyrne]

I cast my vote for "bring"...however, I would only bring one that lays down with a full sun visor for a smaller child who needs to nap. This year, my DGD is 4 and doesn't sleep during the day anymore. I'll be renting one of the strollers for her at the parks. And, to tell you the truth, I like the stroller more for ME - it's a place to keep all our "stuff".

 

[2boys'mom]

Last year we took our double heavy stroller for ds2 and ds 5. This year they are both too big. We needed our own stroller for the airport and parks. This year we are driving. Ds6, now, will need a stroller in the park, or he will wear out. DS2 is very motor and will only collapse at the end. At the zoo where we live , they have the strollers like at WDW. I have gotten them before for the kids and they can hop in and out with ease to look at the animals. My plan is to spend the money and rent the double stroller at WDW this year as it will be big enough for ds6 and ds3. We can lug around our stuff in it too or hang our bags on it with our stuff. If I had a smaller child, I would think completely different. For a small child, I'd take a stroller where it could lie down. For one toddler, I'd take a Combi. For a child a bit bigger, I'd take an umbrella stroller. But for two, when one is fairly big, I think I'm renting this year.

 

[Gillian]

You could always try the rental for one day & take your own the rest of the time if it doesn't work out. I have found a stroller to be easiest in the airport. The take it away at the airplane door & bring it back there when you land. You don't have to worry about stowing it like you would a backpack (unless they do the same thing as with the strollers?).

With 5 adults you should be ok, but as cgajdzisz said, it can be a very long walk from the gates to the busses (or car) and then from the bus to your room. I just stayed at the AKL lodge, and it was uphill from the busses to the hotel, then a trek through the lobby to one of the back corridors, then down the hall to the elevator, and then down another hall to my room. At the end of the day it was hard enough to lug my own body that far, let alone carrying a small child!