First timers (w/kids) questions...

[babyblues68]

Okay, the wife and I are discussing the trip, December 01. We will be playing the part of the Griswalds, minivan trip from Memphis to Orlando with 3 kids - DS, 7 and 2.5, and DD, 4. Our debate rages over types and numbers of strollers...well, that's one of our raging debates over this trip.

I think two unbrellas would be fine since we will be going from ride to show to ride, again. We plan to break middays and head back to the room for resting.

She is of the opinion we should have one really nice stroller since DD is a big 4, she's 3.5 now and is 40lbs.-40 inches, AND one umbrella for DS 2.5 and we can play swapsies for naps. 7 year old can walk on his own with rests to sit. BTW, 7 and 4 year olds are having birthdays onsite...

Where do all you oldtimers stand on this?

p.s. One day, we will be off property, 3 others on. This is also our first trip to Disney and we are SOOOOO nervous. The wife is a nervous wreck already and 'visits' this board daily...

p.s.s. How do you all feel about harnesses? We've never used one anywhere...and wanted opinions.

Thanks for any help. It will greatly appreciated.

 

[jdsm]

I've never done DW in December, but we did take kids this past January. People seem to be really divided over the great stroller debate. The first year we went we had a baby and took a big stroller from home. It was a major pain taking everything out and collapsing it every time we needed transportation. (busses, monorail, etc.) This last trip we had 2 toddlers and I debated about bringing the twin stroller from home. I didn't mainly because I thought it was to wide and didn't want to take it on the plane. We rented a DW double and actually ended up renting a single each day also for the 6 year old. I like the strollers. They were very durable for toddlers. (probably not usable for babies) They are hard plastic with a roof and large pocket in the back. (except AK - the packets are smaller.) The strollers at MGM are umbrella type. I liked the convience of not having to haul our strollers on the buses. Also, if you rent a stroller at one park and move to another park later in the day, save your receipt and you can pick up your stroller at the second park free.

I've never liked to see kids in harnesses, but if it was a question of keeping my child from getting lost, I wouldn't hesitate. Although, when we went in January the crowds were light enough we didn't need anything like that. We could always keep everyone in sight.

Hope this helps and have a good trip!!!

 

[Mamatipo]

Regarding Harnesses...

I never liked the idea of harnesses, but that was before I had my very energetic 20-month-old toddler! I just went with my son last week to WDW, with a friend and her toddler. (We left the husbands home.)

For the trip we both bought baby "fanny packs" that have stretchie leashes attached to them. It worked extremely well. My son could get out of his stroller and walk "with us" and I didn't have to be afraid that he would split in a blink of an eye. (He's a runner!) It also worked well when we waited for parades to start. He could wander only about 7 or 8 feet in any direction.

Plus, because it was a fanny pack, he felt proud that he had a fanny pack just like Mommy. When I didn't need the leash part, I rolled it up and tucked it in the pocket of his fanny pack.

If you do get one, make sure the "leash" part is made of a stretchie material, so your baby isn't whipped back if they run ahead too fast.

As for the stroller, I vote for the regular reclining stroller plus the umbrella.

Finally, enjoy the trip on your kids' pace. I realized that we didn't have to do EVERYTHING, and our trips to the pool were the best possible breaks from otherwise hectic and exhausting days. There are several Disney for kids books available that might be helpful to you as well.

Enjoy!

 

[babyblues68]

I think we are going to go with a Graco front-back double we already have. We had reservations due to its weight, but our DD fits well, as does younger DS.

I'm sure you will see other questions from this login as we get closer to GO time.

 

[Gretchen]

My vote goes for at least the big stroller and the umbrella stroller. We've been to WDW 3 times with our daughter. Stayed at the Poly when she was 18 mos. I almost didn't bring our "little" stroller (old graco strol-a-bed). Lemme tell ya! What a saving grace that thing was. We put her in it and didn't take her out till it was time to wait in line for a ride. We didn't have to fold it up for the monorail...the bus was a little hard the first trip. Next trip was the contemporary...took the thing with us, no prob on the bus this time. I took a backpack and put all the junk from the basket in that. Last trip was the Carribean beach. Same stroller, bigger kid! She was just 3 then. Same back pack, all busses this time! People tend to forget how spread out the resorts are, and when you need to get to the bus,food court, pool, etc, a stroller (or 2) come in handy.

Oh, we did DisneyLand last August...same stroller! Time to retire the ol' stroll-a-bed!
I don't like harnesses. I always "label" my daughter when we take her anywhere. I've used luggage tags from the airline....attach them to her shoe, and lace over. That way, she knows it's there and it's visible without being too visible
Gretchen

 

[mchames]

Our DDs were 3 and just turned 1. It was great! A little cumbersome on the buses, but since we rode the buses at uncrowded times it wasn't too bad. DD3 walked alot of the time but it was nice having the double for when we needed to get through crowds quickly and for getting from the parks to the transportation and the transportation back to the hotel.

We will probably take it again on our trip this upcoming November when the girls are 4 and 22 months. We recently discovered that my DD3 who used to ride up front is more comfortable in the back with the back tray removed using the fabric harness to restrain her, it gives her a little more legroom and the baby can sit up front with the full tray for her cheerios.

Though I've never used a harness before, I plan on getting one for the little one for the November trip. DD3 has always been good about holding on to the side of the stroller and walking with me, but I have a feeling DD1 is going to all over the place.

Have a great trip!
Mary

 

[2boys'mom]

when we took our ds's age 2y and 5y. There were times when I wished that I didn't have to push the heavy stroller, but it saved the kids energy to see and do more. My older ds was really cramped in an umbrella stroller but fit in the big double. Forget about getting my kids to sleep in any stroller. If your older child is big, consider renting the WDW stroller for her as it looked comfy for an older child. Maybe use the umbrella for the smaller one. Also remember that your stroller is like your workhorse pack animal. Any diaper bags, coolers, camera bags, shopping bags that you must carry all get tacked on the stroller. Make sure the one that you use is strong enough to take it.

 

[KimRaye]

I just posted another reply to someone else's stroller thread so, I won't go there except to say, bring your own (please look for other thread, you'll see why I say that).

As for harnesses though, in the true "old" version, IMHO, NO WAY! They've made newer versions for us younger (and not so younger) generations to use. I have 2 fanny pack versions as well for my 3yoDD and was looking for just the wrist-to-wrist type stretchie strap. I like the Fisher-Price one which comes with a water bottle but, if your kids are under 3 I'd suggest the other one, just a kinda "fake" fanny pack which connects to you with the stretchie band around your wrist. (Of course, after I bought both, I found the wrist-to-wrist strap at the $1 store, I almost screamed! )

Have a great trip! If you want to PM or email me, feel free to do so! We leave in 4 days!

 

[babyblues68]

KimRaye

Where did you find the fanny packs small enough for kids. I like the idea of using them instead of the harness. I want the kids to be able to walk as much as they want and if DD is walking then DS (2.5) will want to walk too. I would be crazy after 15 min of walking, DD would go one way and DS the other.

4 Days, I wish I was saying that. Have a great time!

 

[Mamatipo]

I got my fanny pack harness from BuyBuyBaby -- at the actual store here in NY. They do have a website, though, and it may be available online.

 

[KimRaye]

It's called Tag Along by Basic Comfort. www.basiccomfort.com They're in Denver, CO. It's billed as Toddler's First Fanny Pack and Safety Strap - The Friendly Alternatice to Harnesses or Wrist Straps - Detachable elastic strap extends up to 5ft. I think the site will have a picture, though. Good luck, I hope it works for you!

P.S. It's under the Safety category

 

[babyblues68]

Thanks for your help guys. These boards are so great!!!

 

[mainey-mouse]

I would say - bring one umbrella for the 2.5 year old, from home. This is to make your life easier outside of parks.

Bring the umbrella to the park everyday for the 2.5 year old.

On days when your older two end up tired in the parks, rent one double. The 4 and 7 year can fit in it. Both my 4 and 7 year did several park days without at stroller. But when we did a few park days in a row, we rented a double for them on the second or third day. It made the trip a whole lot nicer. They never had any problem traversing resorts, parking lots or airports on their own two feet. They did fall asleep on the Disney bus going home after the MK fireworks (tip - drive if you are going to be out late).

This is not the most economical method, but it gets you out of the hassle of lugging more strollers around than you need - and you won't have to face duelling kids arguing over who gets to sit in stroller #2.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We havn't had to deal with the two child issue yet - but we will this Novemeber and will be bringing a double front/back stroller.

We have always brought a comfortable stroller from home for our DD. It really helps to give her a place to relax and nod off if needed. We also always go back to the hotel for a mid day nap/break. Having your own stroller makes it so easy getting around outside of the parks.

As far harnesses - I don't care for them. My DD is not an animal so I don't want her on a leash. She is well behaved and we are very watchful and have never had a problem. Will my thinking change when we have more than one child to keep tabs on? Perhaps - but I don't think so. No offense intended to those who like the leash idea. Just my opinion, and you know what they say about opinions - they are like........... eveybody has one.

 

[missymouse3367]

Ok we didn't take a stroller for our 2yo DS, he ended up getting a bad cold that made him really sleepy. We ended up renting I believe it was $8 a day, it added up. we could have went to the store and bought one for what we paid in rental fees. Since you are driving I suggest buying some Disney cds or tapes to play it will help to keep their minds off the long drive. Have fun