Double Stroller or 2 Single strollers

[KathyB 0911]

We will be taking DS 1 (5 years old) and DS 2 (3 months) to WDW in November. I will want a stroller for both kids. Is it better to get a double stroller or 2 single strollers? We will have 5 adults with us in the parks so there will be enough people to help push 2 stollers. And I am thinking I might want a different one for the infant. But a double stroller may be easier so I am just not sure what is the best.

 

[Thing 1]

With that age I would do two strollers. There will likely be times that you will need to take care of the infant's needs while the older child will be doing an attraction with someone else. You may want to head to the baby center with the baby or even return to the room for a rest with the baby while the older child continues to tour in the park. Many doubles are not large enough to comfortably accommodate a five year old. A stroller with just a boogie board on the back might be an option if you think your older child will just need an occasional ride, or renting as needed in the park for the older child. I would say that 75% of five year olds need a stroller most days at WDW. Perhaps taking a baby wrap ( a GREAT idea for WDW anyway) and let them share the one stroller with you wearing the baby when the older one needs a ride.

 

[Cajun_country]

Not sure if you are driving or flying, but we drove and brought our single stroller and rented a double stroller. I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 19 month old and the 19 month old goes to bed much earlier than the 3 year old. During the day we used the double for both and at times one would want to get out. My single stroller we used at night for the 3 year old because we would park hop and bring him to see the fireworks. He got to ride way more rides at night too. My single had cup holders unlike my rental, which was really no big deal. Next time, if we rent, I will bring a cup holder for rental and a stroller hook to hang our backpack. I didn't find the double that we rented to be monstrous (It was a city mini).. but not sure how a 3 month old would do in it. I like the protection from the sun that it offerred.

 

[RachealM]

I've never taken a baby that young (3months)to the park, so I haven't fiddles with the stroller adjustments much. But, you might want to check and see ahead of time of the stroller is even capable of holding a 3month old comfortably/safely ahead of time. My kids never use the straps in the double we usually rent (ages 5 and 4), but I think it might just be lap belts in the park strollers and not a full harness.

If the stroller can accommodate a harness, then I would still recommend doing separate strollers rather than putting them together. Chances are, your 5yo son will want to be up and down seeing the sights. The double strollers are still pretty small, and he might accidentally bump into the baby quite a bit in the process.

Good luck to you and have fun on your family trip!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'd bring whatever stroller the baby is comfortable in, and bring or rent a separate one for your toddler. Your youngest is too small to be comfortable in one of the park strollers, imho.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I would do the 2 singles as nothing is worse than getting the little one asleep and the older ones jumps out excited to do or see something and the movement wakes baby up. plus say you are somewhere feeding baby and older one wants to go somewhere on other side of park, are you going to carry baby or is the older one going to walk that far in the crowds

 

[cjparker0110]

Another thing to consider is steering. I've never used a WDW double stroller, but I have used a double and depending on the set up (side by side or one in front of the other) it can be hard to steer. Also, the bigger stroller may be harder to maneuver if it's crowded whereas two singles will be easier.

 

[ilovebassets]

I also vote for two strollers, especially if you have five adults to push them around. Mostly because a 5 year old will likely walk a significant amount of time and will not always need a stroller. Alternatively, you may find that carrying the 3 month old around in a wearable pack like the Ergo is easier than pushing him or her around in a stroller and again, you may find yourself only wanting one stroller. Double strollers are almost always obnoxiously large to push around in a theme park and are often unnecessary with kids those ages. FWIW, we have done three trips with a 1 and 3 year old, a 1.5 and 3.5 year old, and a 2.5 and 4.5 year old, always with two single strollers. So I have some experience. We have never found it difficult to manage though I will say that we rarely use the buses. Don't know how that factors in for you.

 

[andiraye]

With that many adults I agree, two strollers. It will give you more flexibility, and single strollers are WAY easier to maneuver than doubles. I'd also bring my own, rather than rent, especially if the stroller for the 5yo is a good umbrella stroller, like a maclaren. Easy to travel with and useful at the airport.

 

[lolobug]

Not sure if it's been mentioned (or even how well it works) but they make connectors that can hold two single strollers together if you want them together or they can be separated.
When we went in 2014, we had 2 adults a 2 year old and a 5 year old. We brought our BOB Dualie.... I LOVED having it! It was a huge convenience! Good luck!

 

[TulipMom]

Not sure if it's been mentioned (or even how well it works) but they make connectors that can hold two single strollers together if you want them together or they can be separated.
When we went in 2014, we had 2 adults a 2 year old and a 5 year old. We brought our BOB Dualie.... I LOVED having it! It was a huge convenience! Good luck!

Hi lolobug -
I was doing a search for info on strollers and came across this thread. We'll be traveling with 4 adults and my 3yo DD & 5yo DS in mid-September. We have a BOB Duallie, which we love for reasons that it sounds like you understand! I was concerned, though, about using it at WDW. We're flying, but I'm not really so concerned about that part of it, as we're comfortable traveling with kids and strollers. But, I'm worried that the Duallie will make it difficult to walk around slow moving people, or find a place to park it, also we'd probably lock it any time we walked away from it. So, I'd considered bringing two strollers instead (a MacLaren and cheaper stroller that grandma has). But, my kids would prefer the Duallie. You think all of the potential negatives are worth the advantages of the Duallie? TIA!

 

[nat8199]

I have never understood the appeal of two strollers. I would rather shoot myself in the foot and hobble through Disney than take two separate strollers, and this is coming from someone who pushed a triple stroller through Disney on my last trip. Granted you have a lot of adults, but it would be much easier to take the 5yo off without a stroller than to HAVE to have one all the time.

 

[DoleWhipMomma]

One double!! less to keep track of, lug on and off the bus, only one person has to push...

 

[tjug409]

Two single umbrella strollers. Easier to fold up, easier to navigate around crowds, and the kids won't wake each other, etc.

 

[HaveKidsWillTravel]

we went when our DS was 5 and DD was 18mo. i debated this same question for months! we ended up taking two strollers and i was so happy i did. first, DS was too heavy for most double weight limits (and he was 'average' weight). plus we ended up splitting up at times and it was so nice to have two strollers. we had a 'nice' umbrella for DD and a 'cheapy' for DS. because cheapy didn't have a 5 point harness and DD could shimmy out of it. we just left it unhooked and DS got in and out on his own. there were also times when we 'parked' DS stroller and he walked a bit and we picked up the stroller later. and there were even times i used a child free stroller to get us meals at the food court and wheel them back to room. we're going again and DS will be 7 and DD 3 - and i'm still taking two stroller. (yes, i'm taking a stroller for my 7 year old. i'd rather push a tired kid than carry a tired whiny kid!!)

 

[quakechicago]

We love the doubles. We rent one and I only have one kid! They're super easy to wheel and I do however have a huge purse and a husband who likes to take his little bag off about mid day and a friend with a kid who sometimes meets us with her 3 yo but doesn't bring a stroller -- ever -- and a kiddo who likes to bring 2 autograph books, one that is hardback, and then always finds a giant stuffed animal so the other side? Packed and my back is spared. They're super fast to fold and weigh less than my big honking single here at home (that I never use here because kiddo is 4 and hasn't been in one since she was walking -- except at WDW! There we average walking 15 miles a day and kiddo, who never naps? Naps in the double.).

 

[amerikiwiroo]

I've been flip flopping on this issue frequently. We also have 5 adults so extra hands to push. I think I'm leaning towards two singles for my 5 and 3 year old. The main reason being minimizing bickering and successful napping. If the 5 year old is in there it's because she's tired and the close proximity of little brother in the double could very well lead to bickering. At 3 and 5 they fill in all available space in the double without much room to spare. Additionally, my two are less likely to nap if they're sitting beside each other. Each in their own space and they'll probably both nap when needed.

Edit to add: just saw your DS2 is an infant--I misread that he was 2. Personally I'd def. have him in a different stroller that your older child is not climbing in and out of.

 

[quakechicago]

Oh do know that your strollers will often be moved and not placed together. You will need to mark both to find them after every ride and meal.

 

[OhanaBreadPudding]

I'm always saying double, but in this case two singles. That way you can take he baby for walks around the park if he is asleep and the 2yo can go off with other adults and do things. The age gap isn't much but the difference between an infant and toddler is. Plus what was said about the toddler waking up the baby. That will be an issue for sure!

 

[khertz]

We had the same age children and ended up going with a double. My thought was, if DH wanted to go ride something and left me with both kids or vice versa, we wouldn't be able to push two strollers. It was not a problem at all. We rented a City Mini Double from Orlando Stroller Rentals, and it reclined almost flat so DD (3 months) could lay in it all of the time. But with that many adults going along, it may be easier in your situation to have 2 singles. But I would not recommend a park stroller for the baby. The City Minis are great! Like I said, lays pretty much flat and has a huge canopy. We have used it for all 3 trips with DD at 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months, and have one reserved for our upcoming trip when she will be nearly 10 months.