Do you need strollers at the resorts?

[MarcyMouse]

I have two small children, so I'm planning on renting strollers from the parks. But I'm thinking that after a long day, they'll be too tired to walk once we get off the busses. Also, we may end up in a room far from the bus stop. We're staying at WL and Pop.

If you've brought your own stroller, is it a pain to fold/carry onto the busses? Is it worth it to bring when you want to stroll the kids back to the hotel room? Or should I just rent the ones in the parks and save myself the hassle?

Thanks!

 

[Wendi2000]

I really appreciate having my own stroller the whole time - it comes in handy at the resorts (we've only stayed at Pop and AKL - but the walks can be long), especially if you are getting back to the resort after a very long day in the parks and the kiddos are crashed out. I use a compact stroller for travel and have never felt like it was inconvenient at all to carry it around on buses, etc. I use a Combi Ultra Savvy, it's very lightweight and folds down about as small as an umbrella stroller but it still has all of the features of a full-sized stroller. If you have a very large double stroller, you might feel like it is a pain to lug around - the Pop buses when we were there were ridiculously crowded, so that could make a difference for you. If there are at least two adults going, you could take two lightweight strollers... the lines for the Pop buses were sometimes an hour long too, which is another great reason to have a stroller outside the parks - your kids can sleep while waiting, or at least be contained because when my son gets bored or is tired he is NOT patient and will either try to run off and find something to do, or he will complain and cry and crumble to the ground... hahaha

 

[mkycrzy1971]

We brought ours and it broke half way through the trip...we debated buying one of the folding strollers they sell in the gift shops but decided against it. We rented one the rest of the trip and they are a breeze to push compared to other strollers...plus no hassles of folding and carrying or trying to find a place for it on the bus when they are packed! We did not find that we needed one at the resort at all...our little guy always wanted to walk! I guess it depends on the child...I would say you would be fine renting one unless you know that your children will not walk at the resorts.

 

[Treacle44]

We always take our own, they're very handy at times. the hire ones don't recline and are made of hard plastic, not comfy looking at all.

T
x

 

[annie1995]

Yup definately would need one after a long day in the parks, unless you are prepared to carry them! My 2 older ones still complain about having to walk to the room at the end of a long day, but I am soooo not carrying them

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I wouldn't dream of going to WDW without one!!

DS was 2.5 on the first trip and we brought a BabyTrend lightweight (piece of crap that was thrown away after the trip )
Last year he was 3.5 and we took the Mac Techno XT. It was a piece of cake on the buses!
This year he is 4 and we are still bringing the Mac. He'll probably do some walking, but at the end of the day when he's tired, I am so-o-o-o-o glad I won't have to carry him!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) A full-time available stroller is a good idea.
2) The walk to the room from the bus can be LONG.
3) Especially after a day at the parks.
4) The other idea is a oxen-yoke you wear across the shoulders.
5) Suspend a kid from each side.
6) In the event of one child, put souvenirs on one side and the kid on the other.
7) In the event of more than one kid, you are one your own for ideas.
8) I like the idea of strollers, instead.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

1) A full-time available stroller is a good idea.
2) The walk to the room from the bus can be LONG.
3) Especially after a day at the parks.
4) The other idea is a oxen-yoke you wear across the shoulders.
5) Suspend a kid from each side.
6) In the event of one child, put souvenirs on one side and the kid on the other.
7) In the event of more than one kid, you are one your own for ideas.8) I like the idea of strollers, instead.

 

[MisMikiNikiLynne]

NO question! YES!!! Bring a stroller, even a umbrella type stroller is better than none. The lines for the busses are long, the walk to transportation is long, the walk once at your resort can be long. Need I say more. I would never even think of going to Disney without a stroller. Not to mention if you are flying you can gate check your stroller to use while you are in the airport. Once at MCO it is a long walk and a tram ride to transportation and then another wait....
I would do 2 strollers rather than 1 double. You can also get the stroller connectors (Toys-R-Us) that will connect even the umberlla strollers together. If you cannot find the connectors, PM me and I will see what we can work out.
Good Luck!

 

[dizneyluv]

We brought a simple, reclining umbrella stroller for our toddler for both of his trips.

Except for one bus driver telling me I better hurry up with the stroller or he would leave me I had no problems. I reported that bus driver. I had a sleeping toddler (alone) on my hip, bag and the stroller already folded when he pulled up. I was just struggling a little.

Anyway we loved having our own stroller but I could see where the kind of kid/situation you have would really determine this.

 

[madalex]

I always found the hardest part about bringing a stroller was not anything at WDW, but the gate check at the airport - I hated waiting on the jetway for the stroller to be delivered (which happened often).

We never had any problems with the strollers on the Disney transportation and having the stroller always available was definitely convenient when the kids started getting really tired, whether we were at the parks or at the hotel when this happened.

 

[Ellasgirls]

I may be the lone ranger here but I brought our stroller last time and after the first night I parked it at the resort (AsSports) and never used it again and rented a double stroller. Here were my reasons:
1. 2 kids (4 & 1 1/2) and 1 stroller =1 kid always whining and tired
2. I was at WDW w/out my dh (he was working) so trying to fold up a stroller when you get to the busses and hold a sleeping baby and pick a now sleeping 4 year old off the pavement is pretty much impossible . It would have been great IF they would have let me just wheel the stroller onto the bus with dd sleeping in it.
3. When I rented the stroller at the park I would take a sling with me and at the end of the night I would put dd in the sling and ds would walk (now more rested) to the busses and we could just hop on and go.

 

[MommySiobhan]

Absolutely bring your stroller.

If there are two adults going I'd say there are no problems.

Dh & I had a double stroller last year and also a single stroller for my 4 month old. (4 kids 5 & under) We got it down to a teamwork science.

Once the bus was in sight, we'd get the kids out, I'd hold the babies, he'd fold the strollers and I'd carry on the light one with the youngest baby and he'd do the double and the bags, herding the kids between us.

It became slightly more difficult at park close when everyone was falling asleep in the stroller but it was so nice to get off of the bus and let tired kiddies get into the stroller for the walk back to our room.

The only real problem we encountered sometimes was other rude guests that would trample right past us to get on the bus, regardless of the line. Very often we would let the first bus go by so that we did not have to stand and wait for the next bus so we could ensure some seating at least for myself and kids. Dh always usually gave up his seat for someone that needed it more, and even though we'd wait, people regardless would push right past.
We didn't hold up the line, we were pretty quick but for those extra few moments of gathering up folded strollers, bags and toddlers people just assumed it was their own right to hop line in front.
I have to add that we did encounter some magical guests that lent out a helping hand and one guy that even said 'Hey can you wait til they're on'

This year I think I will try and become pleasantly more assertive and ask the same thing.

Definately bring your stroller! Sorry for the ramble there.