Double Strollers in Parks...

[CRSNDSNY]

Which are better? Front and back or the side-by-side?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think either one would be fine but we like a s/s better. The kids are more comfortable.

 

[Perditamarie]

I think an umbrella s/s that folds up small would be handy for the buses and the seats are equal, but may be awkward going through stores. The tandem ones are heavy, can be heavy/hard to push and a little awkward on buses and sometimes the kids argue who gets what seat. My dream stroller is a Maclaren s/s.

 

[rt2dz]

Whichever makes you and the kids happier. Are they going to fight if they are next to each other? Better off with the tandem. Is one always having a hard time seeing over the other? Go for a side-by-side. Do you prefer one over the other? If you have a harder time moving one around, it isn't going to matter much about anything else.

We have done it all ways with all types of strollers and it really just depends on what the kids needs are for how well it has worked. I would not base any stroller decision on the 5 mintues getting on and off busses. You need to base our decision on how you are spending the other 99.5% of your trip.

 

[surfer_ed]

Just bought a Joovy sit and ride. Just back from Beach Club. Stroller is great, compact for the bus. DD does like to ride too much so we were worried a double would be a waste.

Only issue is it is hard to sleep in.

 

[Disneyolic]

On our last week-long trip we brought our Graco Duo-Glider stroller with us. It is a tandem stroller. While we loved having it in the parks, it was very cumbersome taking it about the busses, especially when the busses are crowded. We have opted to rent the double stroller since that trip.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Well, our youngest (yet to be born) will be about 5mo for our first trip and almost 1yo at his second. His sister is now nearly 2yo and tiny.

I think a recline feature will be important to us. We don't use busses all that much so getting in and out of one isn't too important to us.

Maneuverability (sp?) is important as well as weight and ease of collapsing.

We've looked at the Peg Perego (we have a Pliko 3 we love now) and the Graco Dual Glider (love our Graco travel system). We just can't decide on which variation would be best.

 

[Disneyolic]

Well, our youngest (yet to be born) will be about 5mo for our first trip and almost 1yo at his second. His sister is now nearly 2yo and tiny.

I think a recline feature will be important to us. We don't use busses all that much so getting in and out of one isn't too important to us.

Maneuverability (sp?) is important as well as weight and ease of collapsing.

We've looked at the Peg Perego (we have a Pliko 3 we love now) and the Graco Dual Glider (love our Graco travel system). We just can't decide on which variation would be best.

What is nice about the Duo-Glider is that the back seat reclines all the way and has a part that snaps up so as to make it sort of like a bassinet. Your 5-month-old would nap nicely in that seat while your 1 year old could use the front seat. Also, we found that we just did not attach the trays in the front, making it easier to get in and out of but I'm not sure if that is good or bad with an almost 1 year old.

I see you live in PA - want to drive up Route 81??? I'll sell you my Graco really really cheap - and throw in a free stroller rain poncho!!!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We have a graco s/s and we love it. Both seats fully recline and it has a nice big basket. We have taken it to WDW 6 times so far and it will more than likely be going on more trips there. The seats are also very comfy and it is a durable stroller.

 

[my3squeals]

I can't speak of side by side, but I can tell you that I don't like front and back double. My 2 DD that use this stroller are 21mos apart. Back seat is designed for younger child, but in our case, younger sister wants to reach up pull hair and generally disturb older sis. So switch them around right? No, now younger sister doesn't sit as well in front seat because it was made for older child. Very Bundlesome. Would never even dream about taking this stroller to WDW. We bought lightweight reclining aluminum stroller, that actually folds up and has a shoulder strap for carrying. Rented Double in the park for two older girls. That way everyone was "contained." You know 3 on 2 we have to be smarter than them!!!!

 

[write2caro]

Not sure if you've heard of it, but we have a Phil & Ted's e3 stroller. It's of the front/back variety. It's definitely on the pricier side, but with some neck/back issues that I have, the fact that I have to maneuver the thing around a city a lot, and how long you can use it for it was worth it to us. We LOVE it. Super maneuverable and comfortable for the kids. It converts from single, to double-infant/toddler, and then to double-toddler/toddler. The 2nd seat is removable easily, so you can convert to a single if you're going out with just one child. Ours is BRIGHT RED, which was a godsend when it came to finding it easily in the park in the sea of parked strollers! I'm told that kids like both front and back seats, sometimes even fighting for the back one (they can see really well out large spaces on either side). Here's where I got ours if anyone's interested... http://www.babybungalow.com/phandtee3foi7.html

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We have a jeep side by side. Our kids are 3 and 5. It folds up easily and is easy to maneuver.

 

[SnowWitch]

We have the Peg Perego, side by side, and love it! The girls are comfy, it collapses with ease, great moveability, and a huge storage area.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Go front to back. Side by side can be real annoying in crowds. Also side by sides have a hard time in stores. I know some say leave them outside but most take them in. Personally I hate the side by side. They take up too much room and for some odd reason you notice all the side by sides as most ppl with them seem to always stop in the middle of a walkway to read there map. Yes I have kids 2 of them. Yes I had strollers. No I never had a side by side. We had a double one in front of the other. Kids don't really care where they sit. They can take turns in the front. Mainly it's a parent prefference. Reguardless have a great time while on vacation. I figure i'm now going to be slammed for my opinion. Keep in mind we were asked for our opinion. Thats what I gave.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Go front to back. Side by side can be real annoying in crowds. Also side by sides have a hard time in stores. I know some say leave them outside but most take them in. Personally I hate the side by side. They take up too much room and for some odd reason you notice all the side by sides as most ppl with them seem to always stop in the middle of a walkway to read there map. Yes I have kids 2 of them. Yes I had strollers. No I never had a side by side. We had a double one in front of the other. Kids don't really care where they sit. They can take turns in the front. Mainly it's a parent prefference. Reguardless have a great time while on vacation. I figure i'm now going to be slammed for my opinion. Keep in mind we were asked for our opinion. Thats what I gave.

See, it's the maneuverability in stores, through doorways, crowds, etc. that was making me rethink the side by side type.
Thanks for your opinion.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

See, it's the maneuverability in stores, through doorways, crowds, etc. that was making me rethink the side by side type.
Thanks for your opinion.

whewwwww i'm happy ya saw that part. It's alot easier keeping control of the kids when there strapped in. The only thing is there hands grab everything lol. Oh and decorate your stroller too. It's easier to find after you get off a ride. CM"S sometimes move strollers around to make it more tidy. One ride our stroller was 20 ft from where we put it. and fantasmic at mgm our stroller ended up on the other side of the parking lot of strollers. Easier to spot if you decorate it.

 

[akamom]

I've taken my front/back with very little problems with crouds.

 

[princessjv]

I have the MAC Twin Traveler (side by side). It is a DREAM to push around and get through crowds at the Mall (fits easily through doorways), Disney or walking around the block! It is an umbrella fold, so it is easier to hold on a bus or load in a car. Also it has a full recline, so infants can use.

As a PP suggested, just make sure to mark whatever stroller you have with you. We use a nice LG Ribbon for ours!

 

[beattyfamily]

I always preferred the side by side umbrella type of stroller because, IMHO the front/back ones were just to big, bulky and heavy compared to a side by side umbrella stroller.

I used an double side by side umbrella stroller for many Disney trips and had no problems except once in awhile I did have to fold it up for the monorail due to it not fitting on. It can only fit on in the handicap car. But we almost always folded our stroller anyway before it came just in case it was crowded so it wasn't a big deal for us.

I had no problems maneuvering it in stores, through doorways, crowds etc...not at all.

 

[Dawn414]

We have twins and have both types of strollers. Although the side-by-side take more room up walking through a crowd, getting through a door and (usually) have less storage space, they are SIGNIFICANTLY lighter and easier to deal with. That's what we'll be taking when we go...

Dawn McG