Is a stroller really needed?

[DisneyPhD]

This is what we do. We bring the stroller to Fantasyland, leave it parked somewhere central (like the Carrousel), and then do a bunch of stuff in Fantasyland. When we leave Fantasyland, we then take it to the next place and do the same thing. That way we have it close by, don't need to move it from attraction to attraction (which is a pain), but still have it when we need to move large distances quickly.

I would not dream of going to WDW with out one, but then again my kids have always been stroller babys ( youngest like the baby bjion, never got the hang of the sling.)

I would have to agree with agoldber, even if you don't use the stroller as much, it helps to hold things and there is a lot of walking to be done. Make sure it is one that would work for either child if nessasry.

I don't worry about it getting stolen, but I wouldn't bring a very big one if it wasn't one you planed on using too much.

At least bring it with you on the trip, better safe then sorry. (rather like bringing your umbrella you know if you forget it, it will rain.)

 

[egoldber]

Does anyone get nervous a left stroller might get stolen?

Honestly, no. I know it can happen, but lots of things can happen. I've taken a stroller to WDW half a dozen times and never had an issue. I don't leave anything in the stroller thats irreplaceable or super expensive. I see people leaving video cameras in their stroller baskets, and I do scratch my head at that one. But I have no problem leaving waters, snacks, drink cups, extra clothes and jackets in the bottom of the stroller. Sometimes I do find that a stroller has been pushed to the side or to the far end of an attraction, but I've never not been able to find it.

 

[Colinsmom]

We're at WDW right now with an almost 3 year old who rarely rides in the stroller at home. We are using it a fair amount down here!! There is so much to see that he doesn't want to stay close by us all the time, and the stroller keeps him contained and us a bit more sane. Plus, it is HOT down here now (and will be very hot at the end of May when you are there) and I don't want to carry more than I have to - including a 3 year old or even a diaper bag backpack! The heat definitely wears him out faster than at home, meaning that he needs to sit more often.

That said, we haven't used a stroller at DTD where you spend more time in air-conditioned spaces and there aren't as many people to worry about.

I personally would not travel to WDW with a three year old without a stroller - or at least a stroller rental in the budget!

 

[Lesley]

As far as theft, the main place I've heard of it happening is from the stroller parking area at Rainforest Cafe in DTD...we did leave ours there once, but it was raining so hard I don't think the stroller theives were working that evening!

We have a Maclaren...which retailed for about $300 when we first bought it. We've taken it to WDW 11 times, and to many other places as well, parked it as often as we needed to and have at times left it sit most of the day. Granted it is no longer in perfect condition, but I see plenty of people with these and equally expensive strollers in the parks and it doesn't seem to be much of an issue. We've even left WDW bags in our stroller (usually only containing our ponchos or water bottles...) and not had a problem with those walking away on their own. Granted, I wouldn't leave my camera in there...

There are also plenty of ways to mark your stroller in a way as to be a theft deterrent....from a colorful flag, a bike lock through the wheels, painting on some sort of decoration or identifier, a bag with a cola soaked diaper attached (simulating...well, you know ). Decreases your chances of a simple mix up as well.

Yes, anything can happen...but you're probably more likely to lose your stroller to damage from a car accident than by theft in the parks.

 

[travelitis]

I can't fathom Disney without a stroller. Forget the kids having to walk. I couldn't carry a baby for days through the parks! Disney takes much more stamina than the zoo. Disney vs the zoo is like a marathon vs. strolling around the neighborhood.

My 7 yr. old dd is small (wears 5's), and we just bought a stroller for her so we could stop renting. It really adds up fast now that we can go 1-2 Saturdays a mo. I would take that stroller, and do what the poster who moves theirs land to land does. I told my SIL to leave the umbrella stroller at home and just bring the big one that her 18 mo. old will be able to lie down in and sleep. It's so much better to have it and not use it than to leave it at home and need it. You can make a rental more comfortable with a pillow, so that gives you another option.

 

[missymagic]

I still take a stroller also. My youngest DD is 5 now and will still use it at night when she is tired or at the end of the week. Also great for parades when the older one wants to sit & take a break. Never had any problem having things taken or loosing it. I usually put some kind of tag on it with a big M so someone else doesnt mistaken it for theirs. All comes down to personal preference. My girls always loved to relax and watch everything around them.

 

[MommaX3]

My friend has a 2.5 year DS who is a big walker. They told us that we did not have to get a stroller. When the kid passed out at the end of the day, they would carry him to their rental car, and go home.

I have three very small kids(4,3, and 1). I took a double stroller and a single umbrella stroller. Aside from the hassle closing it on the buses, we were very glad that we did. It is a LOT of walking for an adult, nevermind a little kid. I thought about bringing the Baby Bjorn for my 1 year old, but I am glad that I did not. Of course, we did not take a break back at the hotel. We let the kiddies nap in their strollers when they wanted to.

Keep in mind that the average person walks about 10 miles a day at WDW. If you find that you are not using the stroller, then put it in your car's trunk. It is better to be safe than sorry.

HTH

 

[NotUrsula]

He's 28 mos. and already over 35 lbs?! Yikes. I would DEFINITELY bring a stroller. You really don't want to have to carry around a child that heavy when he conks out from exhaustion as you're leaving the parks. It will be at least 90F every day when you are there; I don't know what climate you are used to, but that high-humidity heat also really saps kids, especially those who are not used to it.

Despite his well-known ability to fight sleep, I don't know any child that age that has ever managed to successfully fight it at WDW past the first fireworks show. DS also has always been able to cheerfully stay awake forever if he's having fun, but exiting through that turnstile after fireworks is apparently the best sleep aid ever devised; this year, at age 8, was the first time he managed to stay awake all the way to the car, but he was asleep before we got back to the onsite hotel.