Double Strollers at Disney World Resort (yes, another stroller question)

[tommygirl79]

Yea! My first post on this site. My family growing up went to Disney ever couple of years or so and my husband and I went on our honeymoon. Well, 5 years and two children later we are going again with my children and my parents.

My question is this:

We have a 3 1/2 year old and a 16 month old. We currently just have separate strollers for them but are contemplating purchasing a double stroller for this trip. We feel it would make it easier than having two.

Does anyone have experience with using double strollers at the WDW parks? Do the back to back or side to side ones seem to work best for you? Are the "umbrella" style double strollers worth anything at all. I don't want to strain my back pushing them while are are there for 6 long days.

Does anyone suggest just taking the two strollers??? We are flying and thought that just having a larger one would be easier but we're just not sure.

Help me please!!!!

 

[lemondog]

As the mother of twins, I have a lot of experience with double strollers.

First and foremost, if you are wanting to be able to let the backs down in the strollers so the kids can nap, DO NOT get a back/front tandem-style stroller. Only the back of those lets all the way down, the front one only slightly reclines. Not to mention the front seat, where you might stick an older child who does not need to sleep, is VERY small and my 3.5 year old can barely fit in there comfortably.

Most side-by-sides allow both seats to fully recline, not to mention they are so much easier to steer. The only downside is that they can sometimes be a hassle in doorways and store aisles, but most models will fit, even if a bit snugly.

There is a nice Jeep side-by-side umbrella stroller right now at Toys R Us. Both seats recline, and there are canopies for the kids if it gets really sunny. I think it's $79. I am not sure, but it might even have baskets. It's a bit heavy, though, not like a typical umbrella stroller. Another tip -- do not buy 2 umbrella strollers and attempt to attach them with one of those thingys that is supposed to turn it into a double stroller. They don't work worth a darn.

Good luck!
Angela

 

[riggins]

A second vote for a SBS double!! We've been to WDW many times with my girls and our SBS double has been great. Our last trip was in November and they were 3 1/2 and 21 months. We've had no problems getting through crowds or on transportation.

Good Luck!
Leslie

 

[Disfreek]

We have a Peg Perego Aria Twin LB stroller. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. It has come with us on three trips now. I am bringing it down on the next trip to the Poly.

It is only 30 inches wide (as wide as most wheel chairs)so it was never difficult fitting in doorways)

It has a snack tray for the kids and a very flimsy cup holder for us.

There's a large large basket under neath the seats. (not two separate baskets--but one big one)

There are separate folding canopies.

The stroller is all of 14 lbs. It fits on the trams if you drive to the park. & it is very easily foldable for transporation on Disney bus system.

It will fit in the monorail only in the handicap cars, though.

Overall a great stroller

 

[dcgrumpy]

We have the jeep sbs, it doesn't have a basket. the only problem we had on our trip was getting through doorways. it took some maneuviring and was a pain if one of us was alone with the kids

 

[tommygirl79]

Thanks for all the advice. I will definitely keep that in mind. The only thing we need to worry about now is how much to spend...we are on a strict budget right now preparing for Disney so if we buy something it HAS to be really reasonable - but I don't want something that "cheap" either.

Has anyone ever had luck buying strollers at consignment shops like Once Upon A Child? I would buy carseats and other safety stuff at one since I don't know the history but are strollers usually okay???

Thanks for the extra advice in advance!!!

35 days until our Disney trip!!!!

 

[lemondog]

Tommygirl, I would definitely buy a stroller on consignment if I could. The twin ones can be pricey, and I don't think you have the safety issues there like you would with a carseat.

Disfreek -- were you worried at all that your Aria might get taken while parked outside rides? I would love to use a Peg or Maclaren SBS in the parks but was a little worried about taking such a nice stroller.

Angela

 

[riggins]

Tommygirl- I've bought several used strollers over the years from consignment sales. Its been a great way to save some $ and I haven't ever bought one that I thought was a safety issue. You can also check out stroller swap . Its a Yahoo group of moms (and some dads) where people buy/sell/trade strollers. I've had great luck getting advice and strollers from the folks here. There is database on the left side that will take you to a list of strollers that people have for sale.

Lemondog- We've taken a Maclaren Twin Traveller on 3 trips and I've never had a concern or issue with it being stollen. I'm sure it happens, but we didn't have any issue and I saw tons of people with expensive Macs and Pegs.

 

[Disfreek]

No, we haven't been worried about someone taking the stroller while on rides, at restaurants, etc..

 

[mmounsey]

Just another vote for the SBS strollers...although I don't know if I'd recommend the one we have...Instep/Schwinn model where the canopy broke apart.

It will work for now, but I'd love a maclaren or peg!

 

[riggins]

This isn't my auction and I can't vouch in anyway for this stroller or seller, but here's a Mac Rally Twin on eBay BIN $75 and $2.49 for shipping. Pretty good deal if its actually as descibed. Here's the link I'd jump on it if I didn't already have a Twin Traveller.

 

[mjmcca]

I have the Mac twin rally. It is my third double stroller. The others were all tandem strollers. The main reason i had to get a third stroller is that my oldest is large for his age and heavy and the macs can take the added weight. Both seats fully recline and there is a basket undeneath albeit a small one compared with the ones i ahve had with my other strollers.The other reason i needed a third new stroller is that i go go go with the kids and my strollers take a lot of beating.


The best testamonial I can give the Mac is that i was able to take it on the NYC subway system easily when i took the kids into the city to see the Christmas sites.( I live in one of the outer bourghs)


I tookthe Mac to WDW in October and i had not trouble with it. No one took it though if you cant find your stroller right away it is ususally a CM who has rearrranged the strollers rather than it being stollen. I ususally dont use the recline feature because my oldest will not nap and the youngest will not lay back in the stroller everytime i try and let it down so she may sleep she sits straight up. If i try and recline it after she is asleep it wakes her up.

 

[bubbasmom99]

We took a Graco DuoRider side-by-side last year, when my kids were 4 and 1. It worked fine but felt a bit wide (though it does fit through doorways - harder inside stores).

If we thought we were going to get more/longer use, I would have gotten one of the more expensive side by side umbrella strollers, but as it is, the parks are about the only time we really used that stroller. My son gave up his stroller habit shortly after that trip and my daughter prefers to be held.

 

[Schmeck]

Are the kids always going to be together, or are you planning on splitting up at all? What if the 16 month old needs to go back to the room and nap, but the 3 1/2 yr old has a few more hours of park time left in him/her?

We always ended up splitting up at least once during our day at the park, even when the kids were little. It would have been a big pain to have a double stroller at that point.

 

[HillPete]

We went a year ago when our DS were 3 1/2 and 15 months. We borrowed a Sit n stand from a friend. It worked great for us. Our older DS hadn't ridden in a stroller for quite a while and didn't really need to. We were, however, able to convince him to ride in the back when we had long disntances to travel or we needed to move quickly or we were in a huge crowd (that only happened once, it was the end of January after all!). He could sit or stand in the back and still feel like the 'big kid' and we could keep an eye on him and travel at our pace. It doesn't steer all that well, but we only had it for the week we were there so we didn't have a chance to really get angry with it. I would recommend trying to borrow something if you don't normally use a double at home. Why spend the $$ if you may not like it or use it at home? Have a great trip! --H

 

[ebarj1098]

I recently went to a nice consignment store looking for a double stroller. I found a tandem one that was a Graco something or other for $85. I then went to Wal-Mart and found the same strollers for $89! Sometimes the prices just aren't that good, since two parties are wanting to make money!

 

[MissionMouse]

The last time we went we used a Graco side by side umbrella stroller with canopy. It allowed us to adjust their seating position so they could take a nap in the stroller too.

Take the stroller right up to your airplane's gate and check it in there and the stroller will be available right after you get off the airplane in Orlando.

There were times cornering through a doorway was made difficult when the front wheels where not aligned forward, but rather sideways. This is the only shortcoming with these style of stollers we found. The width of the stroller is not any wider than a wheel chair, so the stroller will fit through doors in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Despite this you may run into people a collection of rude people, especially during large Main Street events (parade, fireworks).

If the crowds allow and the room is available within one of the monorails' disability cars (no wheelchair passengers) you may also be able to roll your stroller right onto the monorail.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Thanks for all the advice. I will definitely keep that in mind. The only thing we need to worry about now is how much to spend...we are on a strict budget right now preparing for Disney so if we buy something it HAS to be really reasonable - but I don't want something that "cheap" either.

Has anyone ever had luck buying strollers at consignment shops like Once Upon A Child? I would buy carseats and other safety stuff at one since I don't know the history but are strollers usually okay???

Thanks for the extra advice in advance!!!

35 days until our Disney trip!!!!

We bought this stroller: Avalon Double

For disney four our 4 and 2 year olds. Love this stroller. Easy to fold, easy to maneuver, fits standard doorways, semi-reclines, decent shade, good baskets. And CHEAP!!! Our girls loved it and it held up very well.

 

[smoochie]

but we are going and last time I brought a double stroller. Very hard to push and get on and off the bus. This time our daughters will be 6 1/2 and 3. Even though the 6 yr old can walk most of the time, there are times when i hear the dreaded (CARRY ME). Anywaymy question. I want to buy 2 cheap umbrella strollers that I can then leave for someone else. But I don't know of any that will hold a 60 lb child. Any ideas? THANKS

 

[Brina]

When I took my twin 3-year olds I did not want to deal with my double stroller, plus, I knew there were times when dh and I might want to split up. We brought 3 combi single strollers with us and a set of stroller conectors. You can get these at most baby stores. Your two single strollers need to be very close to the same size - two of the same model is ideal. You simply snap the conectors to each stroller (there are three of them in all) and the stroller acts like a sbs double. It is a two wide for doorways, and doesn't steer quite as well as an actual double stroller, but we found for getting around the parks it was nice. Most of the time we kept the strollers apart, but when we needed to connect them the option was there.