Help us settle a stroller debate!!

[eangel12]

I was originally going to rent a double stroller from one of the stroller rental companies. We would need a 10 day rental. I think we need a double stroller because we have a 4 year old and 2 year old. Both will want to ride the double stroller at some point I'm sure.

We went when my oldest was 2 and we took our Bob stroller in our Bob storage bag.

My husband completely disagrees with the need for a double stroller. He remembers having to park the stroller A LOT and carry our then 2 year old. We really only used it to move from area to area of course.

We are renting a minivan and driving to the parks...no Disney transportation with exception of trams as needed, monorail from TTC, etc.

So, what is the opinion. Should I rent a double (we own a Bob double, but I REFUSE to travel with it...too big, bulky and not a bag big enough to really really secure it!!) or take our single Bob and use our shoulders for the 4 year old?? The other idea was two single strollers...but the idea of finding two Bob single strollers in the masses is too difficult!

 

[North of Mouse]

I would rent a 'sit & stand' if it were me. They are not so bulky, but yet you have room for the 4 year old to rest his legs when necessary!

 

[ChitownFamily]

I was originally going to rent a double stroller from one of the stroller rental companies. We would need a 10 day rental. I think we need a double stroller because we have a 4 year old and 2 year old. Both will want to ride the double stroller at some point I'm sure.

We went when my oldest was 2 and we took our Bob stroller in our Bob storage bag.

My husband completely disagrees with the need for a double stroller. He remembers having to park the stroller A LOT and carry our then 2 year old. We really only used it to move from area to area of course.

We are renting a minivan and driving to the parks...no Disney transportation with exception of trams as needed, monorail from TTC, etc.

So, what is the opinion. Should I rent a double (we own a Bob double, but I REFUSE to travel with it...too big, bulky and not a bag big enough to really really secure it!!) or take our single Bob and use our shoulders for the 4 year old?? The other idea was two single strollers...but the idea of finding two Bob single strollers in the masses is too difficult!

sigh the stroller debate! LOL. i highlighted the bolded- is this your husband solution to not using a stroller- HE will carry kids?

I'm on your side- Team Double stroller! kids will get tired & cranky, they will have a nice place to take naps, rest etc.

 

[tourguide81]

I'd absolutely get a full double, not a sit n stand. If you have a side by side w/ full recline (like the city mini) they can both rest/sleep at nap or bed time.

Yes, you do have to park the stroller and do some walking/standing, but w/o the stroller you'd just be walking the entire time. They will both walk some, especially the 4 year old, but in a crowd or when they're tired I think you'll be really happy you have the double.

 

[eangel12]

sigh the stroller debate! LOL. i highlighted the bolded- is this your husband solution to not using a stroller- HE will carry kids? I'm on your side- Team Double stroller! kids will get tired & cranky, they will have a nice place to take naps, rest etc.

He did volunteer his shoulders!! Haha!! He said he carries them all the time anyway!

 

[letsgoreds]

Double stroller. I would gate check my BOB (bring some sort of lock for the park). Never had an issue with Delta. Easy to take in and out of the back of the van. No disney transportation makes the double (either yours or rented) sooooooo much easier. Except for the trams to/from the car, but we usually get there early/late and get to park close and don't use the trams.

 

[mrsp1030]

I would get the full double!!! We went when our kids were that age and they both used it. Even this spring when our 6 year old could walk everywhere, at the end of the day he was exhausted and wanted in the stroller.

 

[squirrel]

I'd go with a double then they can both nap in the stroller and you can still enjoy the park.

I have taken my nieces quite a few times and even at almost 6 my niece still would nap in the stroller. We do long days for a few days and then have a break day for hanging at the resort or DTD.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Double. We went numerous times with my kids when they were stroller age. If you take a single your kids are going to fight over who gets to sit. Mom and Dad's shoulders are going to be dying by the end of the trip! You do have to park the stroller often, depending on what park it is but to me it is 100% worth it to have a place for both kids to sit.

 

[eangel12]

So I was right....haha!! Okay, now to decide if we are going to rent a stroller while there or try to take our Bob double. I'm leaning towards rental because the idea of taking 2 carseats, 1 Bob double stroller, bags, 2 kids, etc. Thinking less hassle if we could eliminate a bag and by the time we purchase a double stroller bag the cost would be the same anyway.

 

[tanyaandallie]

We always took our own but I didn't want to pay to rent when I already had one. We usually gate checked it. The airport was always craziness but we made it through.

 

[brockash]

I was originally going to rent a double stroller from one of the stroller rental companies. We would need a 10 day rental. I think we need a double stroller because we have a 4 year old and 2 year old. Both will want to ride the double stroller at some point I'm sure.

We went when my oldest was 2 and we took our Bob stroller in our Bob storage bag.

My husband completely disagrees with the need for a double stroller. He remembers having to park the stroller A LOT and carry our then 2 year old. We really only used it to move from area to area of course.

We are renting a minivan and driving to the parks...no Disney transportation with exception of trams as needed, monorail from TTC, etc.

So, what is the opinion. Should I rent a double (we own a Bob double, but I REFUSE to travel with it...too big, bulky and not a bag big enough to really really secure it!!) or take our single Bob and use our shoulders for the 4 year old?? The other idea was two single strollers...but the idea of finding two Bob single strollers in the masses is too difficult!

At those ages I'd for sure take/rent a double.

 

[mm1971]

So I was right....haha!! Okay, now to decide if we are going to rent a stroller while there or try to take our Bob double. I'm leaning towards rental because the idea of taking 2 carseats, 1 Bob double stroller, bags, 2 kids, etc. Thinking less hassle if we could eliminate a bag and by the time we purchase a double stroller bag the cost would be the same anyway.

Agree that a double would probably be the best option. My answer to rent or bring your own is really a financial one. Do you have to pay luggage fees to bring it with you? Are you afraid of it being lost/stolen? In no to both, then I would bring it from home. It's not all that bad to travel with it from our experience. If the answer is you will have to pay fees and such, then I would rent one.

Have a great trip.

And coming from a husbands perspective. Aren't you always right.

 

[Crystal824]

No way would I go to Disney with any child under the age of 6 without having a stroller for them to sit in when they get tired. I know others disagree. With kids those ages, I would bring your double and gate check it or rent a double.

 

[eangel12]

Agree that a double would probably be the best option. My answer to rent or bring your own is really a financial one. Do you have to pay luggage fees to bring it with you? Are you afraid of it being lost/stolen? In no to both, then I would bring it from home. It's not all that bad to travel with it from our experience. If the answer is you will have to pay fees and such, then I would rent one.

Have a great trip.

And coming from a husbands perspective. Aren't you always right.

I'm afraid they will damage my $500.00 stroller!! We have a great, sturdy bag for our single Bob stroller. Bob makes it and it can withstand a lot of abuse...the bag that is.

They do not make a double stroller bag and we always check the stroller with our luggage. We have these: https://www.gogobabyz.com/product-i14550-c26-gogo_Kidz_Travelmate_.aspx for our carseats so carseats are easy. We strap the kids in and roll them right through the airport to security. Then unbuckle them, request a scan of the carseats, strap the kids back in and off we go. I usually carry a bag on my back, hubby carries a bag on his back and the boys two little carry on bags go around the long handle.

I think we will just rent but the $150.00 charge is a bit hard to swallow when we already own the stroller...haha!

 

[Tardisblue]

We rented a City-Mini (I believe) from Kingdom Strollers last year when DDs were 6 and 7. Yes, a little old, I get that, but they are both small kids and it really came in handy not for just getting them around, but storing bags, etc.

Going back this May and my DW would like to rent one again, but I absolutely think they are now too old for a stroller (7 and 8) and we'll just take more breaks.

 

[Sheaboys]

In 2012, we went our kids were 14, 12, 10, 6 and 3. DH was dead set against renting a double, that the kids can walk just fine. Which is very true, as I do our Six Flags parks all the time and all the kids always walked. The youngest had not been in a stroller since he was about 18 months old.

However, in August, with crowds to me it was a no brainer. Rent a stroller have the oldest push, other 2 on the sides, all 5 kids accounted for, walking in front of us. Simple.

But like I said dh wanted to go with out. Ok day 1, head to DHS for the first half of the day, dh is literally dragging the 3yr old, his little legs just slumped along, all he saw was the behinds of people. We did not move in lightning speed, just our normal walk, a little slower, but still, he was done, done, done.. So from that point we rented the double, for length of stay, picked it up at Epcot, gave it to a family coming in, and left. Picked up another one at Magic Kingdom, when we left did the same, gave it to another family coming in, picked up another stroller when we park hopped, etc. It was a win for us, kids were all in 1 place just about, easy to move around, easy to keep the 2 youngest fairly dry in the August rain, easy to run from pouring rain if need be, kids were happy little people, which made happy teenagers and happy parents. Along with happy families that were entering the parks and we paid it forward.

We hopped on the bus to the resort with no folding of the stroller, dragging it on the bus (as I have done that with a single, a double and a sit n stand during previous trips), no trying to make it fit around the crowds on the bus etc.

But I know each person looks at stroller use differently. Like I said, we went at the end of August and had Hurricane Ivan during our day at Animal Kingdom. Many days of rain for short periods and hot days.

 

[maplevale]

So I was right....haha!! Okay, now to decide if we are going to rent a stroller while there or try to take our Bob double. I'm leaning towards rental because the idea of taking 2 carseats, 1 Bob double stroller, bags, 2 kids, etc. Thinking less hassle if we could eliminate a bag and by the time we purchase a double stroller bag the cost would be the same anyway.

Depending on the airport you are flying out of - can you get away with no stroller to take down?

We have a 2.5 year old and 6 year old and we rented a double (City Mini) - however we aren't taking a stroller in the airport (flying out of Syracuse, NY which isn't huge and we have no connections). In the past at larger airports we have had a stroller and we usually put all our stuff in/on it and then have the kids walk to tire them out!

Just make sure you have lots of time to get to your gate!

 

[Disney44please]

We rented a double for a 2/4 year old kids in December and are doing it again in April. We rented from Apple so for 10 days it would be less than $90.

It was worth it for me to not have to deal with whinny kids who are tired or a whinny husband because we are walking too slow. : )

 

[eangel12]

So the decision has been made. We are taking our Bob double. I just ordered a travel bag and we are going to check it with our other luggage. We did this with our single and it worked out great. I also remembered that we took all of our beach towels in the stroller travel bag for "extra padding" around the stroller but it was SO NICE to have our own big beach towels to use at Disney.


We have these:

[/URL][/IMG] that the kids ride in to the gates. My husband pushes one child, I push another and we have our carry on bags on our backs. The boys carry on bags go around the long handle. We just ask security to scan them so we don't have to take the wheels off.

We normally fly out of PHL and every single time we have gone, they are super helpful...they have a family lane that is usually pretty empty so they whisk us through there. The only issue we had last time was my almost 2 year old was scared to walk through the scanner but the agent on the other side was great and told him he would go through and show him it didn't hurt. Then he waited on the other side for a high five so it worked out fine.