Handling stroller, toddler and bag on buses by myself?

[merlinspride]

Have any Moms tackled taking a stroller & toddler on the buses alone? I am going with my DH, but if we separate for any reason ( he has a heart condition and may go back to room to rest) how hard is it handling the buses on my own with a stroller and toddler and a small diaper bag? Has anyone done this before. Is it a nightmare or does the bus driver take pity on Moms in this situation?

BTW...we do not take our Graco Quatro Tour stroller, but we do take a Graco Literider. We couldnt justify buying an expensive umbrella like stroller when they dont meet ALL of our needs. The main ones being a DECENT sized basket, cup holders and a good canopy.
Thanks
Steph

Editing to say I specify Mom's as if my Husband was taking DD by himself, he is much stronger than me and wouldnt have near the trouble. Didnt mean to offend any Dad's taking it on their own.

 

[mickeymouse1017]

I have done it before and it is doable. I found that people were very nice and always had someone that would offer to help. I was worried that I would be taking too long and holding someone up but I never felt that way once we got there. You will be fine.

 

[eyor44]

I have done it twice. Once when each of my younger children were one. First time I had a big double stroller (I carried everything and was very prepared. Second time regular stroller and not quite as big of diaper bag. Just make sure you don't have a lot of extra packages with you. I am a do-it-for-myself kind of person, but there was always someone wanting to help me. Even a few bus drivers would come down and carry the stroller on board for me.
When we stayed at the Contemporary and I rode the monorail, a couple of the agents would make the train wait and carry the stroller down the stairs for me. I never expected it nor ask for help, but some people are just naturally nice.

 

[riley2008]

I just did 2 strollers and 2 4 year olds! I know the 4 year olds could get on/off the bus themselves, but the two strollers and them were okay. I waited until the last minute to fold the strollers too.

Like a PP noted, it's doable as long as you aren't carrying lots of extra stuff. (It'll also be easier if it isn't after the park closes - too many people.)

[After fireworks one night, I had the strollers and one DS seated next to me. There were young men sitting in front of me and a couple of mid-30ish women behind me. No one got up for a lady with a stroller and her 1 year old. A man did offer to hold the stroller. I put DS on my lap and he propped his feet on the seat in front of us so she was able to sit. This was the first time she had been in a filled bus. So, if you get a filled bus, and you have time, you may want to wait for one that you can be sure to have a seat. That's the only problem you might incur.]

 

[Inda]

Totally doable! But, I'd get a backpack in place of the diaper bag. So much easier.

 

[happymommy]

Don't worry - if people around you see you need help, they always seem to lend a hand at Disney!

I went myself with my kids when they were only 4 and 6, flew down, stayed at AKL, went to all the parks (brought a full size single stroller for them to share) and we did fine! You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[laughinplace199]

How old is the toddler? Is she walking? Will she stay put if you put her down to fold up the stroller? We bought a Peg Perego Aria OH for our last trip - got last year's model on sale for a good price. It has a one-handed fold that makes it so much easier. I can fold the stroller without putting DS down. Also, as someone else suggested, a backpack diaper bag would probably be best to keep your hands free. Good luck!

 

[merlinspride]

Thanks for the responses. I really hate dealing with the stroller on the bus. This will be my DD's third trip (fourth in you count when I was PG with her )
So while we are not taking the HUGE Graco which came with us for the first two tips when she was 4 months and 16 months, we have decided to stick with the Graco LiteRider, which is still probably 20lbs. Thankfully it folds pretty easy and automatically latches when closed, but it is def. NOT an umbrella fold, so there is def some bulk there.

I just tend to get all anxious when it comes time for the bus and the stroller. Thanks for the tip of taking a backpack diaper bag. I am going to try and see if I can get away with only my baggallini. If not, I have one of those quilted stroller totes that hooks onto the handles.

As for my DD she will be 28 months this time around and is in love with all things Disney. I started the brainwashing in-utero with her. She is a good walker, but still loves her stroller. And we love the convenience of letting her take a break in her stroller for either a quick nap or a quick snack while we are still on the go.

 

[frtchr]

I just did 2 strollers and 2 4 year olds! I know the 4 year olds could get on/off the bus themselves, but the two strollers and them were okay. I waited until the last minute to fold the strollers too.

Like a PP noted, it's doable as long as you aren't carrying lots of extra stuff. (It'll also be easier if it isn't after the park closes - too many people.)

[After fireworks one night, I had the strollers and one DS seated next to me. There were young men sitting in front of me and a couple of mid-30ish women behind me. No one got up for a lady with a stroller and her 1 year old. A man did offer to hold the stroller. I put DS on my lap and he propped his feet on the seat in front of us so she was able to sit. This was the first time she had been in a filled bus. So, if you get a filled bus, and you have time, you may want to wait for one that you can be sure to have a seat. That's the only problem you might incur.]

Last time we went, our DD was 16 months old, and I was pregnant. (Still am!) There were a few times on buses that people wouldn't move for me to sit down. My DH was holding the stroller, and I was balancing a squirmy toddler on my preggo hip! Most of the time, though, people went out of their way to be helpful with all the baby stuff and even playing peek-a-boo with the baby while I got situated.

 

[geogirl0626]

Have any Moms tackled taking a stroller & toddler on the buses alone? I am going with my DH, but if we separate for any reason ( he has a heart condition and may go back to room to rest) how hard is it handling the buses on my own with a stroller and toddler and a small diaper bag? Has anyone done this before. Is it a nightmare or does the bus driver take pity on Moms in this situation?

I have done it and it was no big deal. We have a lightweight Maclaren Quest, but I think I could have managed with our bigger Graco. I usually have someone with me, but there were times when I'd take one of my girls back to our resort by myself. Nine times out of ten, someone in the bus line would help me with my stroller while I held the baby.

 

[Manda]

I didn't go with a toddler, but I did go with a 4 year old and a stroller by myself. The toughest part was when he would fall asleep on the bus. It's hard to get the stroller out while hauling a sleeping child. As someone else said though, there seemed to always be someone offering to help.

 

[Schmeck]

Last time we went, our DD was 16 months old, and I was pregnant. (Still am!) There were a few times on buses that people wouldn't move for me to sit down. My DH was holding the stroller, and I was balancing a squirmy toddler on my preggo hip! Most of the time, though, people went out of their way to be helpful with all the baby stuff and even playing peek-a-boo with the baby while I got situated.

There's two great solutions for not getting a seat on a bus - either wait for the next bus or rent a car.

 

[3girls4me05]

There's two great solutions for not getting a seat on a bus - either wait for the next bus or rent a car.

Wow..I hope this came out wrong! I hope you are not saying that a pg woman should have to wait for another bus because no one should have to get up for her. Seriously this is one of my great pet peeves. If you have health issues that require you to remain seated then please do. But any able bodied man or woman should ashamed of themselves for not offering their seat to a pg woman. I will also go so far as to say if you see woman with a young child (0-2 or so) that you should also offer the seat so she can sit with the child on her lap. Good karma can get you far!

 

[Navywife508]

I left HS last year with DS after lunch. He was just a bear. So DH and DD stayed at the park. I thought to myself I could have him get out of the stoller and walk on. Well he fell asleep walking to the bus stop. The bus driver got off though and helped me fold the stroller and carry it on the bus for me. At my stop DS was still asleep so he opened it for me. Now getting him up the stair when their was no elevator was a challenge but I did it! After that I needed a nap too.

 

[ChristusG]

Just be prepared BEFORE you get into the bus line. For example, one evening we were coming out of Disney really late....we had thrown things into the basket in the bottom of the stroller (you know, toys, bag of wipes, half empty water bottles). While standing in line for the tram to exit Disney, we were trying to clean out the bottom of the basket, stuff everything into our backpack, hold two sleeping children, and fold up a stroller. All this was difficult with both me and my husband.

If you clean out the basket, have everything in the backpack, and fold up the stroller before you get into the bus line, you should be fine. Your toddler is old enough to stand right there next to you for a sec while you fold the stroller.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Wow..I hope this came out wrong! I hope you are not saying that a pg woman should have to wait for another bus because no one should have to get up for her. Seriously this is one of my great pet peeves. If you have health issues that require you to remain seated then please do. But any able bodied man or woman should ashamed of themselves for not offering their seat to a pg woman. I will also go so far as to say if you see woman with a young child (0-2 or so) that you should also offer the seat so she can sit with the child on her lap. Good karma can get you far!

I agree! I will always offer my seat to a pregnant woman, a man or woman holding a baby/toddler, or a young child. To me, that's just good manners.

To the OP, I have experienced Disney alone with a toddler when DD was 18 months old and then 3 years old. As others have mentioned, a backpack is a huge help and in my experience, most people are very glad to help a woman alone with a young child and stroller, especially in the evenings when the young child falls asleep on your lap! This happened just about every night on the trip when DD was 3 and someone always offered to carry the stroller off the bus for me and open it so I could put her in.

 

[Schmeck]

Wow..I hope this came out wrong! I hope you are not saying that a pg woman should have to wait for another bus because no one should have to get up for her. Seriously this is one of my great pet peeves. If you have health issues that require you to remain seated then please do. But any able bodied man or woman should ashamed of themselves for not offering their seat to a pg woman. I will also go so far as to say if you see woman with a young child (0-2 or so) that you should also offer the seat so she can sit with the child on her lap. Good karma can get you far!

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

 

[3girls4me05]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

Actually in some states pregnancy is a classified as a disability. And what did that mother not plan for? That the bus would be so filled there would be no seats? How do you plan for that? You are a piece of work. Are you a man? Have you ever been pregnant?

Now I see you are from my neck of the woods. Great..just a disclaimer to all other dissers. Most MA residents are not like this one.

 

[3girls4me05]

Also it is about common courtesy and treating a fellow human being with kindness.

 

[PoohHappens]

Nope, it didn't come out wrong at all - pregnancy is not a disabling disease, and if you need to have a seat, for whatever reason, you need to have a plan and not expect others to have to do without because you did not plan well.

L&D nurse--pregnancy is not disabling nor does it require you sit, however, a pregnant woman's stance if off balance already and they should never stand in a moving bus. There could be bumping of others around her to her abdomen or she could lose her balance while the bus is moving both of which could cause injury to the woman or pregnancy. Soooooo, if you ever see a pregnant woman standing on a bus, PLEASE offer her your seat. Similar to the reasons there are restrictions for pregnancy on certain rides.