CBR and Stroller on the buses?

[MNT568]

For those of you who have stayed at CBR with a toddler that required a stroller, how was it getting the stroller on and off the buses?

My sister and her son (22 months) are joining me and my DS(9yo) on our annual summer trip this year. We currently have a package booked at the Poly. We choose the Poly for the convenience of the monorail with the stroller. Well, the final payment is due this weekend and I am having a hard time justifying the cost. My DS and I stayed at CBR last year and we loved it. I never paid attention to the stroller issue. If we switch to CBR it would be $1008 cheaper!

 

[happypooh]

We stayed at CBR and disliked the long ride around the resort stopping at all the stops. The stroller issue is not too bad as long as it is not a big stroller...get yourself an easy umbrella stroller and you should be fine (esp if you are saving $1000!)..but if you have the money to splurge and don't intend to do disney for a while then do the Poly...we go a couple of times a year so we tend to go for the cheaper option!

 

[Colinsmom]

I don't find the stroller on the bus to be that big of a deal - it's not like you are doing it 10 times a day. It helps if you have a plastic grocery bag in your basket to throw everything that accumulates there during the day - makes folding the stroller go that much faster!

 

[tjmw2727]

When my dd's were little we never had the $$ for a deluxe and always stayed moderate including CSR and CBR. I never minded the buses even when traveling alone with both dd's. I had a light weight umbrella type stroller (sometimes a double!) that was easy to fold and I used a backpack instead of a diaper bag.

Just take a minute and step aside to fold everything up and pack up when you hit the bus stop or just before. Since you have two adults and a child old enough to help out you should have plenty of hands to get the stoller on and off the bus.

TJ

 

[ljcrochet]

We did all star music last year with 2 umbrella stollers. It was not hard at all in fact we are going back soon.

 

[desireech]

We stayed at the Poly in May with two little ones (two strollers - easier to manage than a huge double). It was so convenient to just wheel them right onto the monorail. We went to AK one day and had to take the bus - it was not a good experience! My hubby had to fold up two standard-size strollers (we didn't want to use umbrella strollers - we wanted kids to be able to nap and we wanted the big basket underneath), had to load one onto the bus (he couldn't manage two while trying to get past all of the passengers), then go back and get the other one. Then there really wasn't anywhere to put them. He just had them in the aisle, which got in everyone's way. Then one got stuck on the other, and when he tried to pull them apart, a wheel came off! And I was no help - I had to carry the toddler and hold the pre-schooler's hand. Anyway, we are going back Labor Day week, and we are staying at the Poly again. I will never stay anywhere else as long as I have to have strollers! It is totally worth the extra cost in my opinion. Yes, we will have to deal with the buses again when we go to AK and MGM, but at least it won't be everyday, several times a day (the monorail was so convenient, we went back to our room for a mid-day break/nap for toddler).

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I would recommend using a lightweight umbrella stroller no matter where you stay. We've used them for years with no problem. (We're down to only one child still in a stroller. Yea!!!) As previous posters have noted, there really isn't room for larger strollers on buses; so it's hard to hold onto them comfortably. Also, they are very, very annoying to other guests.

 

[kileybeth]

uumm, I've never found strollers to be annoying to other guest unless the other guest allowed them to be

we have used the bus systems and found most guest who could see us struggling to fold our double stroller up and hold onto kids and bags downright helpful and kind. Also once on the bus, it is best to just seat one adult holding the stroller right in front of them, no blocking of aisles this way. And this was our observation with a huge double which we had to have for our infant on her heart moniter and our very small toddler.

that said, we are down to 2 Maclarens this trip nice lightweight fold up umbrella type that will hold way more than the 55lbs. it is rated for and still fold down to tiny and wieghs practically nothing. My DH, my older kids and I can all fold these things with one hand and carry them on our shoulders (carrying strap) while guiding a small child and carrying a bag or two so, that would be my suggestion.

last note: we are staying at the Poly this time, specifically to be on monorail but if it was $1000 more??? I might stay at a mod! But even at the Poly if you want to go any place but parks and even some of those, you are going to be on buses anyway.

 

[REW91599]

For the past six years everytime I've gone to Disney I've brought a double stroller that folds up easily. Aslong as you have someone to hold the baby and someone to hold the stroller, it will been fine!! I have even been on some pretty crowded buses and most people don't mind. Have fun and spend the extra money on yourselves and the kids!

 

[Girly_Qs]

uumm, I've never found strollers to be annoying to other guest unless the other guest allowed them to be

Ditto.

We'll be taking our Phil & Ted's w/ doubles seat while staying at CBR.

If my options are:

1) Spend $1000 more for a monorail hotel (and it would really run us quite a bit more, as we're going as a Grand Gathering with at least 3 rooms)

2) Endure a week with a miserable preschooler (who never rides at home, but will likely at the parks), a hot/tired baby who hasn't had a stroller to nap in, and a horrific backache from carrying said miserable baby for 8+ hours per day . . .

OR

3) "Annoy" another guest for 30 minutes on the bus

Well - there's really no question in my mind about that one!!!

Honestly, anyone who's going to get "annoyed" with our stroller will likely be more "annoyed" with the massive gang of us taking up so many spaces on a bus anyway! IMO, they'll get over it!

 

[MNT568]

sorry I double posted!

 

[MNT568]

Thanks for your replys everyone! We decided to keep our stay at the POLY, the new code that just came out helped us decide, it is saving us $600! I know we will be taking some buses and I will be the one folding and carrying the stroller while my sister takes care of my nephew, so I am talking her into getting a new light weight stroller. I always rented a park stroller for my DS when he was younger but I remember seeing people struggling with their strollers and gear on the buses. I don't want to do that. Another reason we kept the POLY is that my DS is 9 years old and hers is 2 years old, there are going to be times when we will want to split up and this way my sister can take my nephew to Magic Kingdom on the monorail and it should be easy for her alone. Plus I figure this will be our last deluxe resort for awhile.

 

[ozzyla]

We have twins and after trying to get a large stroller onto a crowded bus decided to go with the rentals. The rental strollers are almost like having a 4 wheel drive, they manuever easily.

If you are staying at a large resort, request a building close to a bus-stop. We did this last time at POR, and it was the best tip I got.

We once stayed at Coronado Springs and endured a 10 min walk with two 13-month olds, -- never again.

 

[northriver]

Hi OP! I bought a new Maclaren Volo for our last trip, for DD also 22 months. I had an older model and wanted a new one with a canopy LOL. It was worth every penny. It folds up so easliy and really is tiny when folded. I keep everthing in a backpack and DO NOT let stuff pile up in the stroller, so when needed I can fold that baby down in 15 seconds. I do fold mine if the monorail is crowded, or if we are in any kind of crowd really since people bump into the storller. We also stayed at the Poly and loved the convenience of walking to the TTC. It is a long monorail trip all the way back around to the TTC - MUCH quicker to walk. The great thing about the Poly is that is is so quick and easy to get back there to take the toddler for naps. The bus service IMO was much better that the CBR. You'll love the Poly and you made a great choice IMO!

 

[kileybeth]

see you at the POLY!

go get that Maclaren girl, you won't be sorry! love love love ours! never to big or bulky, never in the way!