Double stroller misery ... help me decide

[caribou47]

I've been to Disney many times, but never with kids before. We're going for a week starting Nov. 15.

I have a 2-year old and an almost-5-year old and I was distraught to just learn about the big jump in stroller rental fees! So much for the plan of renting a double stroller. :-(

I have some options but I have no idea how to decide. And I feel like screwing up this seemingly minor decision might have a major impact on how much enjoyment we get out of the parks!

I could bring our Joovy sit-and-stand ... but it is SO HEAVY. The thought of flying with it and struggling with it the whole week is depressing. (Staying off-site, driving to parks.) We only need a stroller for my older son inside the parks, he walks everywhere else.

I could rent a double stroller in Orlando but it seems silly since we already own the sit-and-stand. And pricey. But if there's one that works really well in the parks (double jogger???) and is easier to push than our stupid sit-and-stand, I could do that.

Someone suggested I bring TWO single strollers -- a regular one and an umbrella to fit under the regular one when not in use. I hadn't even thought of that. Would that be easier than dealing with a double stroller or the sit-and-stand? My husband could push one and I could push the other. We already have both of those strollers so cost would be zero.

I know there's some kind of stroller swap on these boards but I didn't really understand how it works and I think my dates are probably coming up too quick for that to work.

So what should I do??! Thanks for any advice!

 

[daisyduck123]

If you already have 2 single strollers, I would go with that idea. I think your 4yo might want to sit more than you think....at night, that long walk back to the car AND at the resort can be tough.

 

[anabelle]

When my kids were little, we took 2 umbrella strollers. They fold easy and are comfy. I don't know how much your 4 year old weighs but most $20 umbrellas can carry 40 lbs. There are some high end brands that go to 50 lbs. Honestly, I drove my cheap umbrellas until my boys were well over 50 lbs.

My daughter was a little peanut so we used an umbrella until she was almost six. After that my husband told me that a six year old didn't a stroller at Disney. I made him carry her when she passed out at 11 PM.

IMO, you need strollers that are easy to use at Disney. Umbrellas are easy open and close. It is tempting to make strollers into pack mules, but you have to get all that stuff off to close them up and get on a bus or tram.

Good luck with whatever you decide and enjoy your trip. !!!

 

[MJAJmom]

I rented a double stroller for my DS3 and DS6, we just got back on Sat. I wrote up a review of my rental with Orlando Stroller Rentals. Here is the link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1995724

 

[My2Angels]

I rented a double stroller for my DS3 and DS6, we just got back on Sat. I wrote up a review of my rental with Orlando Stroller Rentals. Here is the link:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1995724

I rented from Orlando stroller rentals also! We haven't gone on our trip yet, but I also referred a friend who used them last week. She said it was the best stroller ever! She paid $80 for the whole week and said people were asking her where she found it! They bring it to your resort and you turn it in when you check out and they will come back and pick it up!

 

[tanyaandallie]

I am not a fan of cheap umbrella strollers so I would not choose 2 of them over a double. If I didn't have a double, I would seriously consider renting from Orlando Stroller rentals. They have the Citi Mini and it is an awesome stroller! Then you don't have to worry about hauling a stroller through the airport!

Of course, if you already have the 2 singles then you are not out a dime. Just make sure your oldest fits in the singles.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

When I went to WDW with my cousin who had at the time a 5 yo and a 2yo. She had a double jogger, and it was great. She also brought her single jogger just in case. It was SOOO easy to use, and so simple to manuver, but personally if you already have the other, I would use that. Thats more money saved for DISNEY!!!

 

[teacup princess]

When we went in June I bought the Jeep double umbrella stroller for my 2 and 4 1/2 y.o. I had low expectations for it and considered it a disposable purchase because my children are way over the weight limit for it but I have to say I loved it and still use it all the time. It folds up really small, is lightweight, and was only around $65.

 

[caribou47]

This is tough, lots of good suggestions. I'm in love with that orange rental stroller after reading the review, but my husband wants me to choose from our two *free* options: Bring our sit-and-stand or bring two umbrella strollers.

So I'm trying to picture which is less of a hassle: Pushing the heavy Joovy around -- but at least only one of us has to push at a time ... or pushing two umbrellas -- lighter but we both have to push.

My almost-5-year old can walk pretty far, but given the choice he'll ride every time, so I know if we bring two umbrellas, he'll be in one the entire time. The good thing is we could split up easily at the parks that way, and if we go out to the boardwalk or somewhere, we can just bring the one little stroller.

Sooooo ... I don't know! Who would have thought this would be such a major decision. Thanks for the ideas, this board is the best!

 

[all4fun]

Is the Joovy hard to push or is it just bulky/heavy when having to fold and pick it up to stow it? Because you will only be doing that when getting in and out of the car (and the trams), right? And since it sounds like your dh is making the decision that you will just take something that you already have, if the Joovy is easy to push but difficult to 'haul' then I would take that and tell him that getting it in and out of places where it must be folded (the trunk, the parking lot trams) then that will be his job. And actually dh and I have this agreement w/our big jogger. To us, it's worth the hassle of hauling the big stroller because it's the most comfortable one for us to push, and it's a better size for ds too (he's 5 now so his stroller days are pretty much over, except when we're at WDW). We also travel by air so that means hauling that thing through the airport too. I'll be glad when one day we won't need it however knowing ds and his stamina level, we would really regret not having one at this point. Just some food for thought.

 

[katie111]

I've done both the Joovy sit n stand (the ultralite version) and the two umbrella strollers. I think the two strollers were much easier. You can always just park one somewhere in the parks and then pick it up when you need it, that way your DS won't be in it all the time. And if you're doing something at night or just for a short time, you can always just bring one of the strollers. I found the Joovy got very tiring to push and its not really that comfortable for either passenger.

 

[2carsboys]

I don't know if it is too late or not but on the budget board there are quite a few stroller swaps available. I am in one that is $20 for our 5 days at Disney World and I don't think that is bad at all. Most of the double strollers are double joggers and most of them have pictures on their threads. this is just an idea so you don't have to hassle with one in the airport and all over.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I just started a stroller swap so pm me w/ your dates and I will let you know if they are available and how it all works if you are interested. On another note I own a baby jogger city mini and absolutely love it I use it daily for my 5yr (she doesn't walk) and it is so easy to push even w/ one hand. She can sit in comfortably and so can my 8yr old. I really don't think you can go wrong w/ the baby jogger.

 

[JTDisney]

We rented from Orlando Stroller Rentals as well in August and the stroller was awesome. The service was great and we will do it again. Shannon was very accommodating on our times which helped us on our first and last day. There was no waiting for the stroller since it was at our hotel waiting for us. I am not sure as to how the strollers get clean with a swap and how easy it would be for delivery at our hotel. The $85 for the week for a double was worth no headaches.

 

[danilynn19]

I've gotten in a stroller swap on the budget boards. Have you tried looking over there to see if your dates are available on any swap. I'm in on a single one and it's $20 for the week. You meet up with the person before you and they give you the stroller you use it for the week and then meet up with the next person and hand it off. You don't have to lug it through the airport or on the plane. Most importantly you don't have to worry about if it's going to fit into the car with all the lugage.
Try looking.... http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

Have fun!!!

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

We had a sit and stand and we had a hard time pushing it too. I would recommend the two umbrella strollers.

Those sit and stands can be hard to steer. Mine was hard to fold and very bulky on the bus and on the trams in the parking lots.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[kimmylaj]

fwiw heres my 2cents. i loved the double from orlando stroller rentals for my 5 and 2 year old but i get your hubbys point. i have done the 2 singles umbrellas also. believe it or not if you bring one nice umbrella with a decent basket and one really cheapy one from toys rus or walmart (like 10 dollars) with no canopy. you can fold the second one stick it in the basket of the good one and push only one stroller when your big kid decides to walk that happened quite a lot and it worked out fine for me. it sounds crazy but it really worked

 

[brockash]

I used our baby trend sit n stand for our trip. It was for my 17 month old and 6 year old. I thought it worked really well. The only thing that was a pain in the butt was dealing with the stroller and the buses, but since you won't be dealing with that I don't think it'll be that bad. Good luck to you, but really pushing our sit n stand in the parks and gate checking it ect. was really pretty easy for us.

 

[caribou47]

I can leave the Joovy behind, whew. Someone local loaned me for free her side-by-side Combi, which looks basically like a double umbrella stroller. It's definitely lighter than the Joovy and it's kind of cool how it folds two ways, first forward and then sideways. I put both kids in it and pushed them around the living room -- not much of a test, but it seems easier than the Joovy.

I'm going to take tray/bar off and leave it home I think, so they can just pop in and out at will, without the bar in the way.

The only decision now is whether to also bring our cheapie single umbrella, for the airpot and Downtown Disney or wherever, so we don't have to bring the side-by-side places that the 5-year old won't need it. But it's lightweight and seems easy so it would probably be fine either way.

Whew!