Maclaren strollers-What's the appeal?

[StratMan]

Do you think any Orlando stores would have the Maclaren stroller and be able to ship it to WDW, so it would be there when we arrived at our resort?

I personally wouldn't mess with any of that if you can avoid it. If you're flying, you can roll your kid right up to the gate, check the stroller as you board, and have it back as soon as you land.

 

[J&J'sMOM]

I just purchased one yesterday on ebay!!!

 

[dlstc]

Another great thing about the Quest and other Macs is the one hand fold. I can fold mine up while holding DS.

The newer ones (mine is a 2006 and I've had to improvise) have a strap to carry the Mac over the shoulder. Again, another nice feature of being able to carry the stroller and DS on and off the buses.

The weight limit (55lbs) and recline features (on the Quest and higher models) is also unique for such a lightweight umbrella strollers.

They are also very reliable and durable.

Diana

 

[blessedby3]

The Quest is definately better for recline. I have this and use it for DD7mos, and had a Volo (no recline) for our older DD just for Disney. The Triumph only has one recline position if Im not mistaken. I got my Quest on www.albeebaby.com and free shipping. They have the pink Quest like mine for $109 total. They also have a triumph for $109. I agree with the PP's that say they wish they had found this stroller YEARS ago. My oldest is 18 and I have been through MANY strollers and wasted so much money. These are great for Disney or around your own hometown!!

 

[kellyf2626]

Just throwing this out there while you are looking at strollers....a snack tray is a MUST for my little guy. He will be 1 when we bring him in September, and I can't fathom taking a stroller that didn't have a snack tray (buys me LOTS of extra time when he is cranky, etc.. with snacks on the tray, or a place for his sippy cup). I know Combi makes a decent one, as well as the Peg Perego Aria OH or the Pliko P3 (both on sale right now at Albee Baby). Just your preference, though....if you think you will need a tray! If not, Maclaran is a great stroller! Good luck!

 

[jmcross]

Thanks again for all of the help!

I ended up getting the Peg Perego Aria OH from Albee Baby. I got the orange color for only $109 marked down from $199 with the free shipping. I liked this model better because it is lighter than the Maclaren and has the snack tray and cup holders.

I hope I made a good choice.

Does anyone have this stroller and can comment? Does it recline all the way down?

Thanks,

Joanne

 

[abouley]

We also love our Mac but my favorite stroller by far is our Peg Perego Pliko P3. It has most of the features of a big stroller (snack tray, cupholder, decent basket, comfy totally reclined seat, large canopy) but folds like an umbrella stroller! It's not as light or as easy to carry as the Mac. My favorite feature of the P3 is that it has built in footpegs on the back for our older child. He hops on and away we go! I think for our trip in Dec (DS almost 5 and DD2) we'll take our P3 and Mac and a lot of time just use the one stroller if we are just going to be in the park for the morning and back at the hotel to rest. Take both strollers in for the evening when kids might fall asleep.

I think the Aria will be nice. It folds larger but is super light weight and Peg makes a great stroller in general.

Alison

 

[kellyf2626]

Thanks again for all of the help!

I ended up getting the Peg Perego Aria OH from Albee Baby. I got the orange color for only $109 marked down from $199 with the free shipping. I liked this model better because it is lighter than the Maclaren and has the snack tray and cup holders.

I hope I made a good choice.

Does anyone have this stroller and can comment? Does it recline all the way down?

Thanks,

Joanne

You will LOVE this stroller! My girlfriend has one, and just bought another one b/c they were on sale! I think if you take out the silver tabs in the back (put in US models) you can recline the seat all the way down! It's soooooo light and easy to use!

 

[jmcross]

I picked the Peg over the Mac because the Websites said that the Peg is 10 lbs. while the Mac Quest I was looking at is 12 lbs. I know 2 lbs. isn't a lot of difference but every little bit helps. Is the Peg more bulky than the Mac?

 

[Alison_in_Wonderland]

I can't speak for the single Aria, but we have the double Aria and is by far the worst stroller I have owned (and I've owned 5.) It is impossible to push one handed and we have to replace the basket after less than a year of minimal use since it was dragging on the ground.

I hope the single works better for you.

(we also have a Mac Techno (bigger than the quest/triumph) and as ADORE it.

 

[abouley]

I picked the Peg over the Mac because the Websites said that the Peg is 10 lbs. while the Mac Quest I was looking at is 12 lbs. I know 2 lbs. isn't a lot of difference but every little bit helps. Is the Peg more bulky than the Mac?

For folding, The Maclaren is an umbrealla stroller so when folded it collapses down and into itself (like any other umbrella stroller) and has a carry strap so you can easy carry it on your shoulder. The Aria is not an umbrella type stroller. It is super lightweight but folds like any other graco stroller so the width is the same width as the unfolded stroller and therefore is harder to lug on an off the buses. It shouldn't be too bad becasue it is so light but that is the difference. The Peg Pliko P3 is more like the Aria in features but folds like an umbrella stroller and has a carry handle on the side. However, it is probably 2 times as large as a normal umbrella stroller when folded. It's heavier as well but still very easy to carry.

Hope that helps. I have not heard anything bad about the single Aria but like a PP said, I have heard the double is terrible.

Alison

 

[juliana_sd]

I had a single Aria and it had awful steering with a heavier child (over 25-30 lbs). It was also too short for my son's dad to push. The weight limit is much lower than the Macs too. It does have a tray, but I ended up selling mine after I got the Mac. Sorry

 

[las3888]

We have an Aria and I used it for DS when he was probably from ages 1-3 when we went to Disney. At home I was used to a more full-sized stroller with cupholders, trays, etc. I couldn't have seen giving all that up at age 1. I was pleased with the Aria...it is nice and very light. It doesn't fold up as small as Mac, nor does it have a shoulder strap, but it does have a carrying handle. I felt it was a good fit for our needs at the time. However, as DS approached 3 and got heavier, I found it to be more and more difficult to steer (steering was never all that great). DS feet also drag over the footrest, so it was time for a new stroller and we did finally end up with a Mac. I am not sorry I had the Aria for this time period though. I probably wouldn't have done it any differently. I don't think a Mac would have been right for us at all at age 1.

I don't know how far it does recline back...we never use recline for DS. Sorry!

I would say that it's my guess you'll be pleased with the stroller, just don't have super high expectations about steering!

 

[Pei4ever]

I hope I made a good choice.

Does anyone have this stroller and can comment? Does it recline all the way down?

Thanks,

Joanne

I have this stroller and love it! It does recline down and I have used it with the Peg carseat attached and without the carseat with my little guy snoozing away! Very light weight and easy to fold one handed while holding your little one. Does not have the carry strap but does have a handle that comes in handy.

 

[jmcross]

I'm really having regrets about not getting a Maclaren now. I thought the Peg folded like an umbrella stroller. I really liked the tray since my DS will be 13 months at our time of travel.

I thought the Peg was very well liked on these boards, too. Now I've read that it doesn't do well with bigger children when I was hoping to use it for years, that the sunshade stinks, and that you can't reach the basket when the seat is reclined.

Should I call and try to do an exchange? I'm making myself nuts over this!

Joanne

 

[abouley]

Yes, the trays are really, really nice. That and not having a cupholder are the 2 things I do not like about the Mac. But, the Aria is definitely not an umbrella stroller. The P3 that Peg makes is. If I were going with a Peg that is the one I would get. This one does support a high weight limit (my son 48 lbs rides on the footpegs while my DD 28 lbs rides in the seat and it still pushes great).

It sounds like the Aria really isn't getting great feedback. I've never used it so can't really say...

Alison

 

[katied]

I have a 12 month old, and the Maclaren. We're fine without a snack tray - I have a snack cup that has a plastic type lid that he can reach in and take things out of. It has handles, and I use that to attach a strap to the cup and the stroller, so even if he throws it, it doesn't hit the ground. For a cup holder - I just don't use one - but I did get the organizer that attaches to the back, and it can hold water bottles just fine for me. For DS, again, I have a sippy cup strap I attach to his sippy cup and the stroller, so that if it gets thrown, we're OK still. So, overall, I'm sticking with my Mac and I'm thrilled. I did learn my lesson though - the Quest is better than the Triumph for my 1 yr old.

 

[Elmo888]

I'm really having regrets about not getting a Maclaren now. I thought the Peg folded like an umbrella stroller. I really liked the tray since my DS will be 13 months at our time of travel.

I thought the Peg was very well liked on these boards, too. Now I've read that it doesn't do well with bigger children when I was hoping to use it for years, that the sunshade stinks, and that you can't reach the basket when the seat is reclined.

Should I call and try to do an exchange? I'm making myself nuts over this!

Joanne

Peg Perego makes different strollers. The Peg Perego P3 has an umbrella fold and is probably what you were thinking of. I have an older version of this stroller (Pliko) that has been great and has really lasted. It is great from newborn through toddler hood. It has a tray, too. It is pricier than that Peg Perego Aria.

The Peg Aria is a different stroller and, as others have mentioned, it doesn't have an umbrella fold. It also doesn't seem to be as well liked (universally).

Maybe you can call and cancel the order while you re-think?

 

[blessedby3]

I really dont think that trays are all that important. After having 4 kids, my experience is that they throw most things off of the tray anyway. I do miss not having a cup holder for me up top on my Quest, but there are so many plusses to this stroller I am willing to give that up. I did order a cup holder "glove box" that hooks on the handles and holds 2 cups and my cell and snacks.
I have read many threads about some of the Pegs not pushing well. I also had that experience with the Combi stroller. They are very unstable and also are very short. Once the child gets heavier- 22-25 pounds- it is very hard to push. The Peg sounds like it may be the same. Too bad you cant get to a store and test drive them both and then decide.

 

[las3888]

No offense to anybody here but your post is attracting all the Mac fans. There are a lot of Peg fans as well...both the Aria and Macs have pro's and con's for sure. If you posted a thread that said 'please tell me what you like about your Peg Aria' you might have a slew of different responses. Please keep that in mind.