Bring stroller to airport?

[TheBigQ]

We have rented a stroller from A Baby's Best Friend for DD2 and we're debating on whether to bring one just for the airport. We do have to change planes so it would be helpful to not have as much stuff. On the way to Orlando we only have a 45 minute layover so we probably wouldn't even use the stroller. DH would carry her. But on the way back we do have a 3 hour layover in Philly and possibly would need it then. If she was tired she could nap in her car seat.

I am concerned w/the crowds at the airports and trying to keep track of everyone - we also have DD4 and DS7. With the stroller (if she'd stay in it) we'll know where she is. DH says he'll just carry her and then we can let her run around once we get to our gate.

We have a Mac Quest and it would fold up easily but we are trying to cut down on stuff we need to lug. Any thoughts on this? Thanks for your opinions!


DS7 is just playing w/symbols:

 

[all4fun]

I find the stroller very useful at the airport - especially since we always bring the car seat. DS can walk and I can push the seat in the stroller or we can carry the seat and ds sit in the stroller and w/our old car seat I could even hook the seat on the back of the stroller and ds could sit in it and push both at the same time. That is just me though... How compliant is your dd when she's walking - in a new/different place...does she stay with you or is she prone to "exploring". When ds gets like this the stroller is a lifesaver. Especially when you have to be somewhere - like catching a flight that isn't going to wait for you. Just some thoughts.

Maybe instead of bringing the Quest, you could buy a $10 cheapie which will be really small & lightweight and won't take up much space at all. Just a thought.

 

[TheBigQ]

I find the stroller very useful at the airport - especially since we always bring the car seat. DS can walk and I can push the seat in the stroller or we can carry the seat and ds sit in the stroller and w/our old car seat I could even hook the seat on the back of the stroller and ds could sit in it and push both at the same time. That is just me though... How compliant is your dd when she's walking - in a new/different place...does she stay with you or is she prone to "exploring". When ds gets like this the stroller is a lifesaver. Especially when you have to be somewhere - like catching a flight that isn't going to wait for you. Just some thoughts.

Maybe instead of bringing the Quest, you could buy a $10 cheapie which will be really small & lightweight and won't take up much space at all. Just a thought.

DD2 does walk with us but once shes comfortable she does have a tendency to wander - one of us is usually assigned just to her and the other one keeps track of DD4 and DS7. They hang around us anyway.

We were also thinking of purchasing a stroller at Disney if we really thought we might need a stroller on the way home. From what I remember reading on these forums Disney has a red stroller for about $40. We could also buy a cheapie like you suggest. We went stroller shopping this weekend (didn't buy anything) and DD2 really liked this Dora umbrella stroller. That might work! Thanks for the idea.

Do you think we need a stroller bag?

 

[jessica52877]

I personally would want a stroller for the airport. I find it so much easier. DS is in it and I know where he is, I can hang bags on it, diaper, small carry on (if needed) and then I can carry the laptop. We also usually have the carseat, DH can carry that but with unloading and loading everything it is easier to have someone with almost free hands. Also love it for the gate. He can sit right in it. I also live near Atlanta and that airport is huge so you can end up walking a LONG way! Then you have the train.

 

[Mazz]

We found the stroller to be a godsend for us. We debated if we should take it or not and we did. It made like so much easier. Sitting in the airport we always knew where our daughter was and it was much easier to find our own stroller in the parks as it stood out from the sea of identical strollers.

 

[Rustysmom]

We're planning on bringing a stroller from home because I know my DD is going to say "I can't walk" and we don't need to carry her and haul our luggage too.

Not to hijack the thread, but does checking in the stroller work? Is it different if I get a stroller bag for it? I have a nice MacLaren and I don't want it to get mangled. If I get a stroller bag, does that count as luggage then?

 

[Topo Bella]

We were worried that a stroller would be too much for us in the airport the first WDW trip we took and so we left it home and rented once we got to the park. Because my DD was only 10 months for the next trip, we took the stroller mostly because we wanted our own stroller for the park. Having tried it both ways, I can say that having the stroller is much better. The older kids tended to hang onto the stroller as we walked and it was much easier to keep the diaper bag, etc., under the stoller.

 

[Dawn414]

We always have our stroller at the airport...Even if the kids aren't in it, we can pile their tiny suitcases, a car seat or even coats on it...

GOOD LUCK!

Dawn McG

 

[HotMama]

Yes! Take your stroller. We debated it and are sooo glad we did. The flight crew makes it so nice. You can stroller up until you get on the plane, fold it down, and when you step off the plane it is sitting there waiting for you or maybe a sleeping toddler.....

 

[SmallWorld71]

I say take the stroller and have DH carry the stuff. Seriously, we always bring ours as DD4 thinks that hide and seek is a great game. Checking it at the gate is really easy and if your little one really wants to walk or you think needs the exercise, the stroller is useful for holding carry on bags.

 

[bnorm27]

Gate check your stroller. It is a lifesaver, especially when you get off at your detsination!