Have any of you taken side-by-side double strollers?

[detroitmama]

Hi, I'm leaving in a week, and am trying to decide what stroller to bring. My kids are 7, 4.5, and 1.5. I already own a Graco DuoRider, which is a side by side. I really like it for walks outside, etc, but I am a bit concerned about whether I can check it at the gate of the plane (it's pretty wide when folded), and about how hard it will be to manuever thru crowds at Disney.

I know for sure that I want a stroller for the two youngest, and maybe for the 7 year old at times. I was thinking to bring a sling for the toddler, so then my 7 year old could take some breaks in the stroller (yes, amazingly she still fits in this beast.) We are staying off site, so I don't have to worry about Disney buses.

So, any of you who have brought a side by side, how was it trying to manuever thru the crowds? Did you regret bringing it?

My other option is to buy a lightweight umbrella style single, then rent a double at the parks. Sadly, we are there for two weeks, and I would rather have the $200+ for something else.

Thanks for any advice you can give me. It's our first trip!

 

[GinRob]

We couldnt find one in our town before going so we went to TRU (might have been BRU?) in Orlando when we got there and bought a double umbrella stroller.

I dont know how it compares to the one you already have, but this is lightweight (well, lighter than the double stroller we have here at home).. and it fold easily.. has 2 canopies on top and a net bag thing on both sides in back to hold junk..

We didnt fly so I cant comment on the plane part, although this one would be easy enough to take to the plane I would think..

and as for the parks, we didnt have any problems manuevering it around.. and I only ran into my own kids ankles

We had our 2 yr old and 8 month old using ours. The 5 yr old walked the whole time.

by the way, the one we bought is a kolcraft side by side reclining stroller. (each seat reclines individually)

I also picked up a stroller cover while at the store to use when it rained!

hope that helps ..

Ginger

 

[TiffJ]

Our 1st 2 trips we took our Graco Duoglider(front & back) but it was so heavy, hard to push thru crowds w/both kids in it & a pain to fold up for train/bus. For our last trip we bought the Kolcraft double umbrella stroller. LOVED IT! It was a side by side, but because of its light weight it was easier for me to manuver thru crowds. Did not take it into any of the shops, though, just left it outside for that. My DS (5, 2) were fine in it. I would highly recommend it!

 

[wuv tigger]

The double strollers that Disney rents are side by side, so I do not think there is any problem manuevering in the parks. There are some tight places in the stores though.

We gate checked our Eddie Bauer double stroller and had no problem with United. I don't think they come much bigger than that. I felt sorry for the guy who had to lug it up the stairs The big stroller was a pain on the parking trams, but we found that in most parks we parked close enough to walk and just skipped the trams. If you are using Disney buses a large stroller is a pain.

I would definitely buy a stroller at Walmart or Babies-R-Us rather than rent one for $200. You can buy a nice one for less.

David

 

[winniedapooh]

We took our side by side Graco-have no idea what model-several times. It folded flat not compact umbrella style which is what I think you mean. Anyhow I loved it. I had no trouble and the savings alone was a factor for us. It finally died a peaceful death the last time we took it in January of 2003. The wheel broke off. If that thing had a mileage reader I am sure it would have measured around two thousand miles or more! Hope this helps and pixie dust!

 

[3kidsdisney]

We took our graco- side-by-side to disney last time for our 2 yr old twins and it was great--we were able to take right up to the airplane they they took it and it was waiting for us as soon as we got off the plane---no problem in the parks at all--stroller even fit fine in the monerail--we are going again and plan on taking it--much easier to keep track of kids while in the airport and the parks--also good since we could store all of our stuff in the back--good luck

 

[detroitmama]

This is exactly the kind of encouragement I needed! Thanks for all the good replies so far. I now know that I don't need to spend a penny on buying/renting another stroller. My husband is happy about that. Our five year old Graco DuoRider sidebyside beast hopefully will last us our whole trip. If not, at least it will die in a happy place.

Hopefully the parks won't be too crowded when we are going, so maybe all my stressing about being able to cut thru crowds will be for naught.

Wish us luck! My kids we're so happy tonight going to bed when I told them only 5 more days.