Help!! Stroller - Rent or Buy?

[connorok]

We leave Sunday for WDW and had originally planned to just rent a DW stroller for our 5 yo DD, but now I'm wondering if we should buy one, based on some threads I've read. She's tall for her age and weighs about 50 lbs., so I was worrying that she might be too big for the single DW stroller. Didn't want to have to buy one just for this trip, but if it would be better to do so, I guess I will run out and get one (too late to get one on the internet). What do you think?
Thanks!
(Mom who is now starting to panic!)

 

[mickeymaker2003]

If you think your child is going to need one each day (or each night), I'd buy one. It is cheaper in the long run and you would have it available at night when you go to leave the parks. You might be able to buy one online and have it shipped directly to your hotel so it meets you there if you can't find one locally. Once you get home, you can resell it and get some of your money back. Make sure the model you choose is able to handle the weight of your child--you will probably want to bring your DD with to help choose if you buy it at home.

Have a great vacation!

 

[MaryKLady]

I always bring one. I find it easier having my own. You can keep all your stuff in it all the way to your room. Also, consider she might not be overjoyed about walking back to your room after a long day at WDW. When we let DD4 walk, which is rarely for her anyway, I find it slows us down especially in the airport when we're usually in a hurry.

 

[kathi29]

When DD was 5, I bought a stroller just for the trip. I wasn't sure we would need it, but I was sure glad to have it. Strolling a sleeping child to the resort bus was a lot easier than carrying her would have been!

 

[labdogs42]

Buy. you don't even need an expensive one. Just go to BRu and pick out something lightweight and comfy for her.

 

[HM]

My opinion is that you should try to do without and just rent when it's truly needed. My 4 and 6 yr olds (back in 1999) were able to do the parks without one pretty well....we only rented one one day in Epcot. We made sure to take our time, not rushing, and used indoor shows for breaks and cooling off. The next year, we didnt get one at all.

 

[sunlover13]

When DD was 5, I bought a stroller just for the trip. I wasn't sure we would need it, but I was sure glad to have it. Strolling a sleeping child to the resort bus was a lot easier than carrying her would have been!

Ditto!

We bought a Mac Triumph for DD who was a very tall 4 yr old. Best decision we ever made. She fell asleep a couple of nights and would have been a big pain to try to carry her along with all our stuff. Plus, we move a lot quicker when she is in the stroller vs. her walking. I plan on bringing it this year too and she is 5 yrs old, close to 50lbs.

 

[ceecee]

By 5, our DD was walking most of the time, we still took an umbrella stroller along which I bought new the previous year for our trip. I paid $20 for it and it was great for carrying our bags in the airport and having the basket for the backpack at the park. Fine for the buses because it folded small and fast, some of the strollers these people take are massive and it takes forever and extra room for them to ride the buses. I sold it at my garage sale for $10.00 so for $5.00 a year it was a bargain!