how much to rent stroller in parks or should I just buy umbrella stroller?

[AnnetteF]

I am planning our trip for August and thinking about what to do about a stroller. DD will be 3 1/2 at the time and doesn't always want to be in a stroller except when she is tired. DH is tired of lugging around our Peg Perego Pliko 3 as on our past three trips with her and also we are flying this time as instead of driving like we have in the past. I was wondering if anyone who has rented a stroller recently can tell me how much it cost? Also can you pay one price for your stay ( ours will be 7 days) or do you have to pay every day? I don't like the idea of having to go rent the stroller each time we enter a park and I know they can't be taken out of the parks. I'm also considering buying a Maclaren Volo. That's really my only option if I buy one. DD is almost 40 inches tall and looks more like a 4-5 year old and according to what I've read, the little umbrella strollers for $20 won't be large enough for her. Just trying to decide what will be more convenient and at the same time be more cost effective. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[5fordisney]

Hi! When we went last August, my kids were 7, almost 5, and almost 4. We bought the Volo for our youngest and also rented a double stroller in the parks for the older two. I'm not sure about the cost of a single, the double was $18 a day or $15 a day if you rented for more than the one day. We bought 6 days worth and paid $90 b/c we didn't need a stroller for the waterpark day. I thought the singles might be in the $8 range but not positive. Pre-paying for multiple days saves you time each morning as well as the money b/c you will go to a separate line and give your ticket and get a stroller.
As far as the Volo goes, we LOVE it! We needed one that would accomodate a greater weight too and this does. It's light to carry plus has a shoulder strap, folds up small, and is comfortable to sit in. It wheels great! We used it for our 4 year old going to and from the buses (the walk can be long at times), in the airport, in DTD, etc. We were glad we had it. We still use it all the time now for him as well, so we have def. gotten our money's worth out of it!
Have a fun trip!

 

[all4fun]

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/strol_faq.htm

OK, so, how do I rent one?

Strollers may be rented in each of the theme parks or at Downtown Disney.

Disney has a Length of Stay rental ticket for strollers and wheelchairs. With the Length of Stay rental, you make a one-time payment for as many days of rental that you will need. Upon visiting a theme park, show your receipt at the stroller/wheelchair rental location and you will be directed through the queue with little or no wait. There is a slight discount when purchasing the Length of Stay rental ticket. The Length of Stay option is NOT offered during peak attendance times, however, such as Christmas.

Stroller rentals cost (prices current as of April 2007):

At the theme parks:

Single or infant (newborn to 9 months) strollers: $10/day (no deposit)

Double strollers: $18/day (no deposit)

At Downtown Disney:

Single or infant (newborn to 9 months) strollers: $10/day (with $250 credit card imprint required for deposit); $8/day Length of Stay rental (limited quantity) Note: Double strollers are not available.

Reservations are not accepted. If you want to visit more than one park in a given day, retain your stroller receipt and present it at the second park to obtain another stroller at no additional cost.

In addition, for $40 you can buy a simple Kolkraft umbrella in the parks. We were staying at the BWV and they were selling them at the store by the international gateway entrance. Other places had them too but that's the one I remember well because we walked by it several times during our 1wk stay last week. It's a pretty decent looking stroller for the price and looked about the same size as the Maclarens IMO. It basically looks like this one HERE except it's red & black.

Hth

 

[2dogmom]

You really should consider bringing one instead of renting. Those little legs tire easily. My almost 7yo is requesting that I bring the double for our December trip. It is especially convenient in the airport, walking around the resort, to/from the bus. I don't know where you are staying, but it if is a monorail resort, you can just wheel the stroller on and off without waking a sleeping child.

 

[all4fun]

I forgot to add to my pp if you decide to buy the red/black Kolcraft stroller in the parks make sure you bring something to tie to it to help set it apart since a lot of people were using them and I could see stroller mix-ups happening a lot w/these. I also wanted to say that we just got back from our trip and we found our stroller (Kidco LS2000) very helpful in getting thru the crowded airport & to our gate on time, as well. My ds is just turned 4yrs & about 42.5" tall so size wise very similar to your dd.

 

[solfan68]

We plan to take the family umbrella stroller on our upcoming trip. Any thoughts on getting it from point A to point B if not occupied by the child ? Do ya just roll it, anyway... Or is there a way to strap it on ? TIA

 

[PiperPizzaz]

I don't think the ones at MK look very comfy. I would rent for an older child though. Flying is no big deal with a stroller. Just gate check it.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

This past February we just bought rental tickets on our first day for the entire 6 days. It was about $53. We liked the idea of not having to worry about lugging a stroller to and from the parks. And if someone takes your stroller, you just bring your ticket back to the counter and get another one.

 

[bkreitzel]

i vote to BUY and BRING your own. we used ours for our girls who were 1 and 3.5 all the time. we used it to get from our room to the tram, into the park, etc.... especially after a long day when they are soooooooooooo tired. it really helped a lot...and not to mention when you are in a dead sprint to catch your transport bus to animal kindgom or somewhere, those little legs just can't run that fast.

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

I bought a Maclaren Triumph for this trip. Well use it a few more times after tis as well AND Ive heard that they have a high resale value too.

 

[mikamah]

If you can, I would buy one to bring. We just rented them in the parks, but really needed them when my son was tired to get to the bus, and we stayed at ASMu, and it was a very long walk from the bus to our room carrying an exhausted 55 pound boy. I did burn a few more calories that way for mickey bars, but wished I had brought an umbrella stroller. I'm planning to go next year and he will be 6, but think I'll buy an umbrella stroller for that trip.

 

[blessedby3]

The Maclaren Volo is a GREAT stroller- we have one and have used it on the past 2 Disney trips. It holds up to 55 pounds so you would get MANY years of use out of it and it is lightweight and so convienent. The basket is not huge, but with a 3 1/2 year old you wouldnt need to haul too much. When our DD wasnt riding in it we just put our backpack in the seat and pushed on. We loved having it for the late nights when we were leaving the parks and DD was asleep. No carrying her to the busses and holding her while we waited for the bus to get there. I much prefer to have my own stroller and it is much more comfortable than Disney's hard flat strollers.

 

[trennr]

I'm in the minority here...but I'm used to that.

We found it better to rent a Disney Stroller over multiple days.

One less thing to have to pack and haul around.

It wasn't cheaper...but it was easier.

Here's the Direct quote from the Disney website on the pricing....

"For your convenience, strollers are available for rent. Quantities are limited and subject to availability. The stroller rental fee is $10.00 per day for a single-passenger stroller and $18.00 per day for a double-passenger stroller.

For Guests who require a stroller rental for multiple days, we offer a Length of Stay rental ticket where you make a one-time payment transaction for as many days of rental that you will need. Single-passenger strollers are available for $8.00 per day and double-passenger strollers for $16.00 per day. Upon visiting a Theme Park, simply show your receipt at the stroller rental location and you will be expedited through the queue with little or no wait time."

One Warning...if you goto DTD...they charge you $250 until the Stroller is returned.

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

My only words of warning for you are this:

When we took my older one at age 5 1/2 (her first trip) we didn't have a stroller for her any longer. I only wanted one for the trip because I knew all the walking would tire her out and she would be whiney when she got tired. Our younger child wasn't going with us and we left her stroller with her and her grandparents.

I bought a cheap umbrella stroller to use on the trip. She loved being able to sit down when she was tired. The downside came when dh tried to carry her in the stroller up a couple of stairs at MGM. We were used to the sturdy stroller we had at home. This one bent when he lifted it. He was able to straighten it out and we used it the whole trip. But a 5 1/2 year old liften in the air in the umbrella stroller was more than it should have handled.

 

[Madisonsmom926]

We always rent the double when we are there, my DD are 3 & 6 and both have pretty long legs, so they like the fact that they can sit and stretch out there legs in the Disney strollers. My DD3 always complains because her legs are too long for a regular umbrella stroller!

 

[hddanis]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet. I have 2 who n eed the stroller, my 4 and 6 year olds. I haven't owned a stroller at home for at least a year and a half. I'm renting a stroller from A Baby's Best Friend. It's a double jogging stroller. I'll have it for the entire length of our stay and not have to worry about getting one each day at the parks, or turning it in at night. They deliver it to the hotel and it will be there when I arrive and they pick it up after I leave.

 

[trennr]

... not have to worry about getting one each day at the parks, or turning it in at night...

Actually If you rent a Disney via Length of stay you don't have to wait in lines...

And as far as turning in a Stroller...that's not nessicerry either. We just abbandon the Stroller out of the way near the exit...it's not like you get a security deposit back or anything.

Sounds like your idea is great though!

 

[hddanis]

Actually If you rent a Disney via Length of stay you don't have to wait in lines...

And as far as turning in a Stroller...that's not nessicerry either. We just abbandon the Stroller out of the way near the exit...it's not like you get a security deposit back or anything.

Sounds like your idea is great though!

Oops, didn't come across right. I meant I still had it at night when I was leaving the parks..In case the kids were sleeping.