Double stroller on buses

[Hockeyman]

Heading up to WDW tomorrow with our two little ones and their double stroller. We are staying at POP and plan on using the buses as much as possible but worry that it will be such a hassle folding it up and carrying it along with the two little ones and the bags. Stroller itself folds up pretty well and is manageable but just curios what everyone else has done in this situation?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Heading up to WDW tomorrow with our two little ones and their double stroller. We are staying at POP and plan on using the buses as much as possible but worry that it will be such a hassle folding it up and carrying it along with the two little ones and the bags. Stroller itself folds up pretty well and is manageable but just curios what everyone else has done in this situation?

Leave as much junk as possible back in your room. Have your packages sent to your hotel (as long as you aren't leaving the same day) and then you don't have to carry them.

Have the kids out of the stroller and the strioller packed up and readly to load when the bus opens the doors.

Don't stay too late and then you have to manage two sleeping kids and a stroller.

 

[mom2maggie]

What kind of stroller is it? Tandem or side by side? How compact is the fold?

I agree that you need to have the stroller empty and folded before the bus arrives. It helps a lot! I've never done Disney without a stroller, so I'm used to it. The last time we went, we rented a Baby Jogger City Mini double from Magic Strollers and it was amazing, because the fold is SO fast and so compact.

 

[DannysMom]

Agree w/ PPs have kids out & stroller folded when the bus starts to load. Travel as lightly as possible w/ your kids -- 1 bag (preferable a backpack) w/ only the essentials for the day, change of clothes, diapers & wipes (if needed) sippy cup, a few small snacks-- that's it. One parent wears backpack & wrangles stroller, other parent wrangles kids.

We never stay til closing / post fireworks & so do not deal w/ crazy packed busses and/or sleeping children.

 

[Hockeyman]

Thank you all for your input and ideas to help us.

Heres the monkey wrench lol, we have a 1-1/2 and 5 month old so one we have no choice but to keep in her car seat and buckle that into the stroller and carry her when need be, which may make carrying her around a little easier but means bringing that in with us to the parks and on buses with us.

We have a Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem stroller and folds ups sort of compact but even more so since we will only have the one seat on it. My plan was to have a backpack on with all our camera stuff and anything else for us and then my wife will have the 1 diaper bag and thats it. I can carry the stroller and one of the kidos with my backpack while my wife has the other and diaper bag. Will be a little work but manageable.

 

[tms295psu]

just my opinion... skip the carseat and use the regular 2nd stroller seat. And there's nothing like a carseat going MIA...

 

[DannysMom]

Thank you all for your input and ideas to help us.

Heres the monkey wrench lol, we have a 1-1/2 and 5 month old so one we have no choice but to keep in her car seat and buckle that into the stroller and carry her when need be, which may make carrying her around a little easier but means bringing that in with us to the parks and on buses with us.

We have a Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem stroller and folds ups sort of compact but even more so since we will only have the one seat on it. My plan was to have a backpack on with all our camera stuff and anything else for us and then my wife will have the 1 diaper bag and thats it. I can carry the stroller and one of the kidos with my backpack while my wife has the other and diaper bag. Will be a little work but manageable.

With a baby that young, you may want to consider some sort of baby carrier or baby wearing in general, especially as for rides or eating or some pavillions you may need or want to park the stroller.

Also I seem to recall that the contours is one of the beastly heavy double strollers -- not great for carrying on & off of public transit, IMO. Have you considered renting a lighter weight double, like a baby jogger city mini double & just not using the carseat, as they do recline pretty flat, not all the way though. I prefer the seat belt system on the (slightly heavier) baby jogger city elite.

Another option might be to see if you can find a secondhand lightweight double stroller to buy on Craigslist that reclines pretty well -- like a Maclaren Twin Triumph or Techno, or Graco Twin IPO double or Combi Twin Sport.

 

[aLLpInK]

We did a double both times we went and it really isnt that much trouble on the busses, although we didnt have a baby that small but i'd have to agree with the person that said to skip the carseat... I would leave it in the room. I really dont think you would need it in the park (other than maybe when you go into a resturaunt as most 5 month olds arent completely sitting on their own well). But still you could take the stroller in and let baby sit or hold her while she eats.

 

[ccgirl]

I, too, would bring some sort of baby carrier. I used the Baby Bjorn but the slings look wonderful too. The babies can get heavy holding them in line. Plus, you can hold them in that in the restaurant if need be.

 

[mom2maggie]

Oy, that is a monster stroller! Seriously - if I were you, I would rent a different stroller. I loved the BJCM double, and the seat does fold completely flat for infants/napping. I wouldn't take the carseat into the park either - it always makes me sad when I see babies sitting in the infant carriers for hours and hours - they aren't designed for that.

 

[ccgirl]

Oy, that is a monster stroller! Seriously - if I were you, I would rent a different stroller. I loved the BJCM double, and the seat does fold completely flat for infants/napping. I wouldn't take the carseat into the park either - it always makes me sad when I see babies sitting in the infant carriers for hours and hours - they aren't designed for that.

While I agree with you that another stroller might be a better option...there is no reason to feel sad when you see a baby in an infant carrier for hours and hours. What about those that make a 12 hour drive to WDW? Or those that sleep in them at night? Due to some breathing and digestive issues, it was recommended my DD's pediatrician that she sleep in her infant carrier. It did wonders for her.

 

[luvmy2babies]

I would definitely be wearing that baby in lines and on the bus. The Citi mini has a really good recline and so do some other double strollers and will be fine for a baby that young. Carrying that seat onto the bus would be more trouble than it is worth IMHO.

First time we went, my son was 10 months old. I wore him in lines and on the bus. As soon as we got to the line for a bus, I’d take him out of the stroller, and put him in the carrier. My dd would sit in the stroller to rest until the bus came, then I’d snap it closed and walk on to the bus. The citi mini folds with one pull. If you have the right carrier, each of you can have one and the 1.5 year old can be worn too if they are cooperative with the concept.

I have an Ergo and can still wear my nearly 23 month old son. The carrier(s) can stay in the storage underneath when not being used. The Ergo at least is really easy to put on and remove once you have the hang of it.

 

[Hockeyman]

Our youngest one isnt really ready to graduate yet to the regular stroller seat. Shes still a tiny little thing and not able to sit up on her own yet. I would love to be able to leave the car seat behind. I could try and tilt the seat all the way back and find a way for her to be supported in there. Will have to try it out tonight and see how that works. We do have a baby carrier so she will b in and out of that, the stroller and our arms. We took our 1-1/2 year to WDW for her 1st trip when she was 7 months old and had left her car seat since she was able to sit up on her own. With just her and her single stroller its sometimes more of a hassle bringing it in so with this double I will leave it outside when ever possible.

@mom2maggie its not that all that bad when folded up lol. It folds up with one seat and then metal car seat attachment a lot better than with two seats so have to see how she does in just the seat.

 

[dmoore718]

We have 3 kids and last year, we stayed at Pop with a double and single stroller and used the busses everyday. We had no issues, you get used to it. Have a great time!!

 

[ccgirl]

Our youngest one isnt really ready to graduate yet to the regular stroller seat. Shes still a tiny little thing and not able to sit up on her own yet. I would love to be able to leave the car seat behind. I could try and tilt the seat all the way back and find a way for her to be supported in there. Will have to try it out tonight and see how that works. We do have a baby carrier so she will b in and out of that, the stroller and our arms. We took our 1-1/2 year to WDW for her 1st trip when she was 7 months old and had left her car seat since she was able to sit up on her own. With just her and her single stroller its sometimes more of a hassle bringing it in so with this double I will leave it outside when ever possible.

@mom2maggie its not that all that bad when folded up lol. It folds up with one seat and then metal car seat attachment a lot better than with two seats so have to see how she does in just the seat.

You may want to check out the positioners. That might help support her enough that she will be okay in it. Have a great trip!

 

[jennilouwho]

I agree, the carseat is going to be a huge pain. We had my 5 month old nephew in our group at Disneyland and my sister in law wore him most of the time. It was just so much easier and if your daughter is tiny, it shouldn't hurt your back too much. We'd get him out of the carrier for shows and stuff, but otherwise he was pretty happy being worn in line and on rides.

 

[SweetMissy]

I agree with Dannysmom....use a carrier for the baby! Since you're going so soon, run right now to TRU or even target has moby wraps, lol! Since my older son, I never use a stroller for a child under 1....wraps/carriers make life so much easier...wish I made that discovery with my 1st!

 

[Hockeyman]

I agree with Dannysmom....use a carrier for the baby! Since you're going so soon, run right now to TRU or even target has moby wraps, lol! Since my older son, I never use a stroller for a child under 1....wraps/carriers make life so much easier...wish I made that discovery with my 1st!

lol we have a baby carrier already so we are all set. We have it from our 1st daughter and she didnt care for being in it all that much. Havent tried yet with our youngest one buy will tomorrow

 

[SweetMissy]

lol we have a baby carrier already so we are all set. We have it from our 1st daughter and she didnt care for being in it all that much. Havent tried yet with our youngest one buy will tomorrow

Awesome! Best thing is to get them in it as young as possible so they're used to it. I got my sling when my daughter was 4 months old and luckily didn't have a problem with her not liking it.....we used it all the time, she loved it! Now with my new baby, he was in the wrap at maybe 2 weeks old, lol. Loves it! We don't do the big strollers and the carrying the car seat around anymore....much easier. Have fun!!!

 

[melodyka]

I definitely agree with pp that using the stroller seat instead of the carseat would be most ideal, so you are not carrying the big stroller, bags, 2 kids + a carseat on/off the buses. I had the Kolcraft stroller, and really think it shouldn't be a problem for a 5.5 month old. the seat can tilt back enough for young baby.


good luck and enjoy!