double vs 2 single strollers?

[ammag]

So my original idea was to bring our maclaern and rent a second stroller, DD5 DS15m, thinking my Dh and I may want to separate sometime during the days at the parks (7) On the planning board people were recommending we rent the double. What do you think? DD is 49lbs DS is already 24 and hes 11 months. are the doubles awkward to use? what do you do at the parks with 2 kids? I know DD will walk a lot but I definitely want to let her sit when she needs. Please tell me any opinions or info you have! i want to set up the rentals soon thanks!!!!

 

[LaMickey]

We rented a double Citi-Mini for my 5 & 3 yo on the recent visit. We also had a 6 yo on a glider board and older kids, but the stroller was great. It was only a little awkward in really heavy crowds. But, if you are using Disney transportation - especially buses - it allows one person to hadle the stroller and the other to handle the kids.

 

[tripletsmama]

When my girls were younger, we did a double and a single. The double was hard to move through heavy crowds (exiting after fireworks, trying to walk on sidewalks on main st when they have the actual street closed for parades, fantasmic, etc). It it also a little tricky to fold and hold on the bus, especially if there aren't seats available. If I had the choice, I would do 2 single strollers.

 

[goteamwood]

I have twins so I have only ever had double strollers, so I don't know the difference in real life. In Disney planning, though, we briefly considered just getting two smaller umbrella strollers and separating. Ultimately, we decided on the double since we're used to navigating it, no biggie, and there is ample storage on the bottom. I also like the idea that one person handles the kids, the other the stroller, and if Daddy wants to ride something too big for the tikes, I can manage both kids, not trying to push two different strollers. We opted to rent, rather than bring ours. It was $100 for a week w/ insurance, a drop in the proverbial budget, so to speak.

 

[starsweeper]

We have virtual twins (3 months apart) that we took to Disney around 2.5 years and 3.5 years. Both times we opted to bring Combi Urban single strollers--trifold very compactly for buses/carrying, weigh 10lbs. We liked being able to separate for diaper changes, finding a table at eateries, etc. so neither of us had to manage both toddlers at once. We still have the Combis for a future trip with all four kids when the younger two are toddlers/preschoolers.

 

[amylynne01]

I would do a double if you plan on taking the Disney buses. It's hard enough to have one person take the kids and stuff and another to take the stroller - I couldn't imagine leaving my hubby with two strollers to fold up and hold during the ride! If you need to separate, the 5 yr old can walk, and the toddler stays in the stroller. Or you park the stroller for a while and do your thing.

The other option is to not bring a stroller for the 5 yr old and rent one if needed (the last couple days in your trip or on an Epcot day since the park is so big).

 

[ama223]

I always recommend two singles. They're easy to maneuver and if you want to split up, one person can take one and the other can take the other..

 

[LuLuO]

We've taken two Ignite single strollers on both of our trips. Easy if one of the kids wants to stay at the hotel or go back early, or if they want to go on separate rides. For instance, my DS wasn't big enough for Splash and BTMRR so DH took DD to those rides and DS and I stayed in Fantasyland and met up with them later. The same with DHS. DD and DH went on ToT and DS and I went to see a couple of shows.

 

[danceintherain]

I would do a double if you plan on taking the Disney buses. It's hard enough to have one person take the kids and stuff and another to take the stroller - I couldn't imagine leaving my hubby with two strollers to fold up and hold during the ride! If you need to separate, the 5 yr old can walk, and the toddler stays in the stroller. Or you park the stroller for a while and do your thing.

The other option is to not bring a stroller for the 5 yr old and rent one if needed (the last couple days in your trip or on an Epcot day since the park is so big).

How tall is the 5 year old? Thus, how much will you actually want to be separating? There are only a handful of rides that your 5 year old will be able to do that your 15 month old won't.
In general, the 5 year old is old enough to walk quite a bit, so I doubt you will need to put her in the stroller for the few times you split up. Generally speaking, most of the stuff you'll want to do with the 15 month old, you'll want the 5 year old to do with you. Alternatively, you may want to do Rider Swap and let the 5 year old ride twice. There are also very few attractions that you can actually take the stroller into, so it will be more likely that the stroller gets ditched altogether as soon as you enter each land.
If one of the reasons is so one of the adults can leave the park with the younger child, then I suppose it may be more practical, but if the 5 year old is too tired at this point to handle walking around the park, then she's probably too tired to be staying in the park at all, or you can bring a soft carrier and carrier the younger child out of the park, so you don't have to deal with the stroller at all.

Obviously, you know you're child best, so make your own decision, but I would go with a double or even just one single.

 

[Schmeck]

We have virtual twins (3 months apart) that we took to Disney around 2.5 years and 3.5 years. Both times we opted to bring Combi Urban single strollers--trifold very compactly for buses/carrying, weigh 10lbs. We liked being able to separate for diaper changes, finding a table at eateries, etc. so neither of us had to manage both toddlers at once. We still have the Combis for a future trip with all four kids when the younger two are toddlers/preschoolers.

Why would you need to split up to find a table? Wouldn't you be sitting there together once you have your food?

 

[mjkacmom]

I always preferred a double over 2 singles. If you split up, it won't kill a kid to walk. This way, you can send your DH for a fastpass, or one of you can take a run to the restroom, and the other can keep moving.

 

[sp0ngem0nkey]

double. loved it. I maneuvered just fine and never clipped anyone's heels.

get $5 battery operated christmas lights for the stroller bar so you can find your stroller faster at night after rides, dinner and shows.

 

[lsulindy]

I've done it both ways. Both have pros and cons. Since your son is older, I'd go with the double b/c if you do split up, he's old enough to walk.

Double pro:
You and DH can take turns pushing. One person gets a break and has their hands free.
One person can fold up while other gets kids onto bus, monorail, train, etc.
Don't have to worry about strollers getting separated when CMs move them during shows, etc.

 

[andieb0602]

I had the same question when planning for our trip with our 5 and 2 year old. We wound up renting a double. The only time I wished we had 2 singles was when we were walking in a crowd on Main St. It was a little tough to maneuver around the trolley lines and the tires liked getting stuck in them.

That being said I loved having the double. We never really separated while in the parks and it was nice that one of us could handle the kids while the other handled the stroller.

 

[treemi01]

Add me as fan #2 of the Combi strollers. We take two singles. They weigh about 10 lbs. each, fold in seconds, and have a strap on the back. We each just carry one on our back and hold the kid (or kids) hand. I do bring a $10 stroller connector also, just in case I need to turn it into a double for any reason (DH goes on a roller coaster alone or we actually have 3 kids, so if we need to rent a stroller for the oldest who usually walks, one of us can take him and one of us take the connected singles). The Combis are as light as an umbrella stroller but have a nice canopy, cup/snack holder, and a basket underneath for storage. I LOVE them! They are also about $130 each, so much cheaper than the Maclerans, etc. out there!

 

[J3nn78]

A double
We did singles once and never again. It was such a pain if one of us needed to run ahead or back for something or wait in line for food or get fast passes for the group, etc...

We love the city mini double.

 

[Reddy]

I was wondering about doing a sit & stand for the ages of the kids - my boys are way too old but I'm thinking the 5 year old won't want to be in the stroller alot, alot of them walk so a sit & stand where you could have them stand to keep everyone there in the crowds would be good or at night then you just have the 1 stroller to deal with instead of the really big or 2

 

[ejrj]

double. loved it. I maneuvered just fine and never clipped anyone's heels.

get $5 battery operated christmas lights for the stroller bar so you can find your stroller faster at night after rides, dinner and shows.

lights=stellar idea!!!

 

[Dancing Queen]

I was wondering about doing a sit & stand for the ages of the kids - my boys are way too old but I'm thinking the 5 year old won't want to be in the stroller alot, alot of them walk so a sit & stand where you could have them stand to keep everyone there in the crowds would be good or at night then you just have the 1 stroller to deal with instead of the really big or 2

I find my sit and stand really hard to steer in crowds (joovy caboose). Also, it would be more cumbersome to take on buses.

We rented a double before and probably renting a double one more time.

 

[sp0ngem0nkey]

A double
We did singles once and never again. It was such a pain if one of us needed to run ahead or back for something or wait in line for food or get fast passes for the group, etc...

We love the city mini double.

city mini double is what we used. it was perfect. even for monorail.