Land/Sea and a stroller

[ndavis]

We are planning on 2 days in the park followed by a 7 day Fantasy cruise, our son will have just turned 4. We have never been to the parks, and when he was 2 we didn't use a stroller on our cruise-but it was on the Magic. Would anyone recommend bringing an umbrella stroller? We will have to fly, so there's that. We don't typically use a stroller, but he is willing when necessary, ex-going to the zoo he walks, even at 3, while I still end up pushing it, but at Dollywood he eventually climbed in, reluctantly. The only time we wished we had it on the magic was when we were waiting to check in, there was some sort of Coast Guard issue and we all waited 2+ hours to check in, I understand this isn't normal though. I appreciate all thoughts!

 

[mernin]

We are on the Dream for 4 nights in just over a week and doing WDW 2 days before and after. We also have a just turned 4 year old (daughter) who never uses a stroller. I tossed around not bringing one but the parks are big and they get tired. We are bringing our travel stroller (it's a big bigger than an umbrella but not a full size one - has a sunshade and a small basket under) for the parks. On the cruise we will store in under the bed or in the closets as I don't think she'll need it there.

 

[99Wendy]

For me Yes! I can't imagine going to Disney world with a preschooler without a stroller. It is A LOT of walking. Much more than a zoo trip.

I don't think you would really need one for the cruise, but I haven't taken a small person on a cruise - my girls were older on their first trip.

If you don't want to hassle with a stroller on the plane you can always buy a cheap one at Walmart or Target when you get there or rent one in the park if you want to see how it goes without for a while.

 

[KristiMc]

I would just rent a stroller at the parks - then you don't have to worry about taking it on the ship.

 

[ndavis]

Thank you everyone for your input! I will look into rentals as well.

 

[tgarre06]

Absolutely bring a stroller. We just went in Dec with my 4.75 year old, and we all would have been miserable without a stroller. There is so much walking, as an adult I wish I could hop in a stroller at times!

 

[bumbershoot]

We didn't use a stroller at home (except the jogger when I went jogging) but had a stroller specifically for Disney. We used that through 5 years old.

But some families don't do that. The big factor that I've noticed is what the adults are willing to do. Are you like me, where it's hard to slow down and you want to just keep moving, so having the stroller helps that? Are you unwilling (like me) to take sit-down breaks on benches etc? Then use the stroller. If you ARE willing to move slowly, to stop on benches, to take things at the child's pace, then maybe the stroller isn't needed.

 

[ndavis]

We didn't use a stroller at home (except the jogger when I went jogging) but had a stroller specifically for Disney. We used that through 5 years old.

But some families don't do that. The big factor that I've noticed is what the adults are willing to do. Are you like me, where it's hard to slow down and you want to just keep moving, so having the stroller helps that? Are you unwilling (like me) to take sit-down breaks on benches etc? Then use the stroller. If you ARE willing to move slowly, to stop on benches, to take things at the child's pace, then maybe the stroller isn't needed.

Good point, I am willing to slow down-but I have a bad back, and absolutely unable to carry him-where my husband normally will. I'm thinking we need a stroller.

 

[FigmentSpark]

The only downside to a stroller is having to park them outside the rides at 'stroller parking'. Otherwise, especially on busy days, you know where your child is. There's no getting caught in a crowd and his hand slipping from yours. When there are no seats, he has a seat.

And, you have a bad back, hang your (light) purchases on the handles. When you're pushing (and holding on) you can hang your purse on the handle. Also, sometimes having some stability in something to hang on to helps with a bad back. Make sure you aren't hunched over to push it, though. Some umbrella strollers are one size fits short only. We have a good one that has handles that stretch to 3 sizes so my tall husband can comfortably push, as can I.

 

[ndavis]

The only downside to a stroller is having to park them outside the rides at 'stroller parking'. Otherwise, especially on busy days, you know where your child is. There's no getting caught in a crowd and his hand slipping from yours. When there are no seats, he has a seat.

And, you have a bad back, hang your (light) purchases on the handles. When you're pushing (and holding on) you can hang your purse on the handle. Also, sometimes having some stability in something to hang on to helps with a bad back. Make sure you aren't hunched over to push it, though. Some umbrella strollers are one size fits short only. We have a good one that has handles that stretch to 3 sizes so my tall husband can comfortably push, as can I.

I hadn't thought about parking outside rides...and yes! I love having a stroller for my purse with my back, I'm 5'8", so most umbrella strollers don't work-we have an uppa baby that I love-but something to consider if we rent one.

 

[Heart82381]

You need a stroller at the Parks. We went this summer with a 6 & 4 year old and our trip would have been awful with out it. We rented a citi mini from Orlando Strooler Company. It's the best stroller for Disney. We go every year and use this stroller.

You do not need a stroller on the ship. Castaway Cay is a lot of walking but they have strollers and wagons (first come first serve) on the island. But you still shouldn't need one.

 

[CathyCU03]

I don't think you want a stroller on the ship. We just took our 4 year old on the Fantasy and didn't take one and wouldn't have wanted one. There is a lot of tight spaces and dealing with a stroller would be a pain. Just rent one for the park portion of your trip.

 

[Partyof4LA]

We did a cruise followed by the Christmas party at magic kingdom when my daughter had just turned 3 and did not bring her stroller. My son was 7 at the time. I did miss having the stroller in the airport. We had to change terminals and her little legs couldn't keep up so DH had to carry her. We did not miss having a stroller at any point on the cruise, it really was never needed. We figured that since the Christmas party is not a full day, they might be able to handle all of the walking and we would play it by ear. Both kids pooped out and were tired pretty quickly. We rented a stroller in the park and still ended up taking turns holding the 3 year old when we were in lines. The park stroller was big and bulky and much harder to steer in the crowds than the city mini we normally use.
We are flying in and doing a day at a park then a 7 night cruise next month. DD is now almost 5. I plan to bring her city mini stroller this time. It folds flat and I'll keep it under the bed on the cruise. I do worry how it'll work pushing around the ship until the rooms are ready since the spaces are tight, but it'll be worth it to have in the airport and park.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you have a bad back and you're tall you don't want to mess with an unknown stroller. Umbrella strollers don't take up that much room. I would bring my own and just tuck it away in a corner on the cruise.

 

[Melissa S]

Consider the type of excursions you are doing too. DS was too young to cruise this past summer so we spent 2.5 weeks in Europe. We purchased a sit and stand stroller so DD could ride in the back even though she hasn't used a stroller in years. We spent a lot of time walking in cities and when we were in crowded areas I would make her ride in the stroller. It gave me more peace of mind having her contained in the stroller due to her not being able to wander off and get seperated from us.

 

[5Texans]

Take an umbrella stroller for the parks!! It is so nice to have a place to hold all of your stuff (and cup holders). Plus, at the end of the day at the parks my girls are always falling asleep and don't want to walk another step- if you rent a stroller they have to walk all the way to the bus stop or monorail and then to the room. We took our Maclaren double umbrella stroller in October (DD 5, 3 and 15 mo) then stored it under the bed on board the Fantasy- we didn't need it for the ship or excursions. On CC they have wagons and strollers to borrow if you want to save your back, but we didn't need that either. I considered renting one from an independent company, but the cost adds up quickly and I liked having the stroller at the airport too.

 

[Pagosa Springs]

We are going on 4 day cruise followed by by 3 days in the parks. Our DD is 3 and we will be taking a stroller not only for the parks but to help in the airports. Our plan is to stow it under the bed during the cruise. We like the convenience of having a place to put drinks and bags while we do the parks.