Drawbacks to bringing a double stroller?

[RobertaMomof2]

Hello everyone!

I have two kids, a 20 month old and an almost 5 year old. I am thinking of bringing our side by side double jogging stroller which is way easy to push and both kids can nap in. I am just wondering if there are any down sides to bringing a bulky double stroller? We really could not fold it up easily, so the train is pretty much out of the question, but the good thing is both kids can take a nap in it without having to go back to the hotel for an afternoon break. When we are there the park will be open from 10-8 only (10-6 for CA) so I want to maximize our time in the park.

Thanks so much!

Roberta

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Other than it being so big and bulky I think it'd be fine. It is just tough because it takes up a good portion of the walkway so you might find getting through crowds difficult. Also as other posters have mentioned you cannot fit through the gates into the park...you will have to go to a special gate and wait for someone to let you through.

 

[tracer]

We take a smaller side by side all the time and it's not a problem on walk ways. I know joggers are bulkier so it may slow you down a bit, but not enough to count it out IMO. The doubles, mine anyways, is slimmer than the width of a wheel chair. Most walkways at DLR are wide. The one time any strollers/wheel chairs become a problem is trying to shuffle to and from during high periods of traffic (ex: parade, fireworks, rush hour, fantasmic, etc.). I think you'll be fine and your mind will be at ease because your two little ones can nap when needed....that is HUGE for a mom!

 

[Disney Dreams]

They (side by side strollers) make it more difficult for your family to find a spot for crowded parades or fireworks as you need more space to squeeze in amongst those already there. Of course, getting there early and camping out can make this a non-issue.

 

[leslie_537]

I have a jogger and have never had to go through a special entrance. Mine is a Schwinn. I go right through the middle of the turnstiles entrances. They are wide enough for most wheelchairs and are at every turnstile entrance. I was also able to take mine on the monorail and the train. Just fold and try to sit right in the back in the middle so people don't have to get up for you when you get off. I love my double stroller at DL and would not do it any other way. I have a 6 and 3 year old and they get tired fast so a seat for both of them is very important.

 

[abouley]

We have always taken our double jogger (since having 2 kids) and we love it! It's so easy to push and we don't get tired pushing them around and they are super comfy in it. We also fit in the gates so problem. There are 3 downsides to me: Shopping (hard to fit in the stores when crowded), the bathroom (I've had my younger sleeping and older off with DH to ride a ride and getting in the bathrooms are a pain), and the train/monorail (we just usually don't do it with the stroller but you could). We did take 2 Maclaren umbrella strollers on our last trip and it had good parts but also bad parts. I'd be inclined to do the jogger unless I was staying at the DL hotel and wanted to monorail a lot!

Alison

 

[disheadz]

We went in December w/ our 12 month old and 3 year old. Are you sure that your 5 year will nap? Our 3 year would probably have to pass out to take a nap. We have a joovy caboose (kind of like the sit n' stand). It served us very well and manuevers very easily.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

We used our double maclaren on both trips - no problems. We fit right through the little gate inbetween the turnstiles - no extra waiting involved. I wouldn't dream of doing Disney without it - but then we open and close the parks on our trips and the little ones need somewhere to crash! Plus, it was great for carrying extra water, snacks, jackets, shoes for water rides......

I'm not looking forward to the new NO STROLLER policy that DH has implemented for our next trip. He won't carry a backpack, either... good thing the rest of the family is going to be there, too!

 

[RobertaMomof2]

Thanks so very much everyone!

I dont know that she will nap, most likely she really wont. BUT she is a real "I am tired, pick me up, my feet hurt" kind of girl, so not having to lug her 45 pound self on our shoulders or hear how she is tired of walking is, well, kind of worth it I think.

I am hoping there wont be much traffic in the park. We are going to be there on a Monday - Wednesday, specifically to not be with the masses, but who knows what will happen the day of.

I agree about the monorail, and we are staying at the DLH but the pro's are it seems outweighing the con's at this point, all around.

Thanks so much everyone.

Roberta

 

[RobertaMomof2]

Caligirl Stuck in VA: When is this happening???

"I'm not looking forward to the new NO STROLLER policy that DH has implemented for our next trip. He won't carry a backpack, either... good thing the rest of the family is going to be there, too! "

For real NO STROLLERS? How can people with kids survive? It isnt kicking in at the end of the month is it? Thanks!

Roberta

 

[Queen Elisabeth]

I think that she meant that it is her husband's new policy.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

I LOVE my stroller! I will post a pic with my post.
I bought it for Disneyland last year and the only place I didn't fit was DCA and they just let me in this side gate ...no biggy! We even got our stoller packed onto the trolly car and got to ride it!! We had to leave our stroller and ride the train all the way back to where we got it! Which was ok!
My stroller comes with pockets behind the seat in additon to the basket under each seat. I did not bring in a diaper bag instead one pocket became my diaper bag one pocket my "purse". Then I bought disposable Hot/Cold coller bags for a dollar at my local grocery store. We froze our water and put them in one bag with all of the cold stuff our string cheese, salame, gogurts, and our pre packaged apples. Then the other side with one more bag and in there we put all of our gronola bars, chips, homemade "trail mix", ritz crakers and fruit snacks. The kids are pretty picky so not only do I save money on stroller rentals but on food and lockers too.
No one ever bothered our stroller we even forgot our very expensive digital camera on the umbrella of the stroller while we walked through Mickey's house in Toon town. I think that was probably lucky but..ya know! :thumbsup

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i have been using one since its what we had. we saw it big an still is an we are going to try to change that. trying to get a sit an stand one maybe

 

[Brady's Mom]

We use our Instep Safari double jogging stroller all the time at DLR. The only *problem* we have is waiting at DCA since our stroller won't fit through the turnstiles there. They just call someone to open the floodgates and we go right through.

We won't go w/out our stroller. Right now we are figuring out how small of a rental car we can get away with and still fit the stroller in the trunk!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

If you'll have at least 2 adults why not bring 2 single strollers? Your 5 year old might not need to stroll the whole time so you could ditch (park) one of the strollers for some time and let the 5 YO walk for a bit. DD's Disney (we only use it there) stroller is a Mac Volo ~ it's perfect for her.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I LOVE my stroller! I will post a pic with my post.
I bought it for Disneyland last year and the only place I didn't fit was DCA and they just let me in this side gate ...no biggy! We even got our stoller packed onto the trolly car and got to ride it!! We had to leave our stroller and ride the train all the way back to where we got it! Which was ok!
My stroller comes with pockets behind the seat in additon to the basket under each seat. I did not bring in a diaper bag instead one pocket became my diaper bag one pocket my "purse". Then I bought disposable Hot/Cold coller bags for a dollar at my local grocery store. We froze our water and put them in one bag with all of the cold stuff our string cheese, salame, gogurts, and our pre packaged apples. Then the other side with one more bag and in there we put all of our gronola bars, chips, homemade "trail mix", ritz crakers and fruit snacks. The kids are pretty picky so not only do I save money on stroller rentals but on food and lockers too.
No one ever bothered our stroller we even forgot our very expensive digital camera on the umbrella of the stroller while we walked through Mickey's house in Toon town. I think that was probably lucky but..ya know! :thumbsup[/SIZE]

Linda, I love mine too. But I don't think I can fit it in the car with 4 kids and my mom too!

 

[MichaelColey]

We have a double jogging stroller that we just love. It's so easy to push and turn, even with one hand. There's tons of storage space. It's big and durable. But lately we've been going with two umbrella strollers instead.

It can be really tricky fitting a double stroller in the trunk of a rental car (even larger cars) along with with several suitcases. Two umbrella strollers fit MUCH better.

We had a problem at one airport (sorry, don't remember which one) gate checking our double stroller. Most airlines just have you leave the stroller at the end of the jetway when you gate check it. At one airport, however, they had something like a combination between an elevator and a metal shelf. You put your gate checked bags on the shelf and once it was full, they lowered it and the baggage workers below took the stuff off and loaded it into the plane. The only problem was that the stroller didn't fit on the shelves. No matter how you oriented it, it stuck off the edge, so they couldn't send it below. They eventually got it, but it was quite a hassle for them.

If you're going anywhere other than Disney, you might have problems. Disney is one of the few places that seems designed to accomodate a double stroller. We took ours to NYC once. Huge mistake.

The gates may or may not be a problem. With some gates, we had about an inch of clearance. With others, the tires rubbed on both sides as we pushed it through. With some (at MK in WDW I think), we had to fold it down to get through.

Getting two kids to nap in one stroller when they can touch each other... Maybe your kids, but certainly not mine!

If you want to split up, someone is going to have to walk. (Although I agree with the husband above -- kids should walk more.)

Seriously consider two umbrella strollers, or at least make sure that the issues above don't apply to you or that you can work around them.

 

[bumbershoot]

No one ever bothered our stroller we even forgot our very expensive digital camera on the umbrella of the stroller while we walked through Mickey's house in Toon town. I think that was probably lucky but..ya know! :thumbsup

Very very very lucky. I wouldn't count on that again! We had a hat stolen from the stroller basket on one trip, and on another one of us set down DS's brand new build-your-own lightsaber and left it, and then it was GONE between 5 and 15 minutes later when we realized it wasn't with us. And that was in ToonTown. It was never turned into L&F, so someone got a free lightsaber.



I saw one woman waiting at the gates of DCA one night, waiting for a CM to let her *out*. She looked like she had been waiting awhile, as it was closing time and the CMs were busy letting others out. That looked like a pain.