Ordered THE stroller (and a question)

[missEm]

Well, after much tinkering with my ressie, I dropped the "automatically added" trip insurance for $130, and used that money to order my new fancy-pants Maclaren Triumph stroller and nifty attachable drink holder! Found the Triumph on clearance for $109 (granted it would not have been my first color choice--navy with a yellow sun shade, but it's not bad). (at www.albeebaby.com incase anyone's lookin')
After three kids, if only I had known what I know about strollers now and just ponyed up the money for nice strollers in the first place, I could have saved so much money! My DH has learned to not even ask me about strollers. He just accepts my obsession.
Ok, here is the question. The new Mac will be for DD 9 months. My two DSs, 3 and 4 are the tricky ones. Do I bring one other umbrella for the 3yo and expect the older to walk, do we rent a double at the park for them, or do I bring my Phil and Teds E3 Double (not sure how this one would travel on airplanes and fold quickly for busses with the doubles attachement)? I would also be nervous just letting the P&TE3 sit unattended. I had to liquidate all my other strollers on Craigslist to afford it, and I would freak if someone snatched it!
Emily

 

[Disneylush]

I would just like to say I am so happy to hear someone else has a stroller obsession!! I am in the same battle but I need a good double for buses.

Other than that I have no advise.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Well, after much tinkering with my ressie, I dropped the "automatically added" trip insurance for $130, and used that money to order my new fancy-pants Maclaren Triumph stroller and nifty attachable drink holder! Found the Triumph on clearance for $109 (granted it would not have been my first color choice--navy with a yellow sun shade, but it's not bad). (at www.albeebaby.com incase anyone's lookin')
After three kids, if only I had known what I know about strollers now and just ponyed up the money for nice strollers in the first place, I could have saved so much money! My DH has learned to not even ask me about strollers. He just accepts my obsession.
Ok, here is the question. The new Mac will be for DD 9 months. My two DSs, 3 and 4 are the tricky ones. Do I bring one other umbrella for the 3yo and expect the older to walk, do we rent a double at the park for them, or do I bring my Phil and Teds E3 Double (not sure how this one would travel on airplanes and fold quickly for busses with the doubles attachement)? I would also be nervous just letting the P&TE3 sit unattended. I had to liquidate all my other strollers on Craigslist to afford it, and I would freak if someone snatched it!
Emily

I would not expect the 4yr old to walk all the time, it's a lot of walking at Disney! I would either bring a double from home, like Jeep used to make a not great but decent for the parks side by side double that wasn't too expensive, definitely less than $100, maybe less than $75, I would get something like this if you are concerned about your expensive stroller being stolen, though WDW typically has all kinds of strollers, even really expensive brands so I wouldn't worry too much about it being stolen, but anything's possible I guess. I would rather bring something so you have it all the time and not just the parks, but at the very least, I would rent a double.

 

[afinnteach]

I too have a stroller obsession! You know your kids best, but if you think your oldest could handle the walking to and from parks/busses, then I might be tempted to bring the umbrella for the middle child and rent in the parks as needed?

As a disclaimer, I've only got a DD 2.5 years old and DS 3months - so I know nothing about the older kids!

I am going this Sunday to purchase stroller #........ 5! Yep, you read that right, I've got 2 kids and will have 5 strollers buy Sunday evening!

I've got the obligatory Graco (that was my first), a cheapo umbrella for quick trips (when the grandma's complained about the Graco's size), the single jogging stroller (which my DH uses with DD), and when DS came along the Graco double stroller (I know many think it is too heavy, but I LOVE it! We have a minivan, so it is very easy to get in and out of the vehicle!)

This time I am going to get a decent ($50 to $75) umbrella stroller for DD specifically for Disney. We're going with MIL, FIL, and SIL so we want to be able to split the kids AND get on and off the bussees easier! Any ideas would be appreciated!

Good luck with your decision,
A.

 

[missEm]

I decided it's dumb of me to have a nice stroller like the P&T E3 and NOT use it at WDW. After all, I bought it to have something nice to schlep the kiddos around it, and so I would not spend the whole time thinking, "Man, I hate this stroller." I'm sure if I practice folding it a few times before we go I'll be fine and not feel pressured at bus loading time . I agree that the 4 year-old will need a seat eventually, so it only makes sense to take it rather than a second umbrella.
Emily

 

[mrsborr]

I am a new Mom to DS(5.5mo) and I already have 3 strollers, with a looming purchase of #4....potentially this weekend. We are leaving Wed. for WDW and were considering taking the jogger because my other two are a snap'n'go and Peg Perego Venezia. My only concern w/ the jogger is folding it up for bus rides????

I am going shopping this weekend for last minute "stuff" (I'm an eternal procrastinator) like a rain cover for the stroller (the weather report is calling for rain next weekend in WDW ), inflatable bath tub, disposable bibs, etc....and maybe a *new* stroller. I was looking at the Maclaren Techno. What do you think? I want my little guy to be comfortable. We are staying at the BWV and plan to do a lot of walking to Epcot & MGM.

missEm- I def think you should bring your P&T for your DS's.....

 

[SiClone]

I'm no stroller expert by any means but I just dropped the cash on a Techno XLR for DS2 for our March trip to wdw next year. He won't turn 3 until after the trip, so we put what woulb have cost us in a 7 day pass into a new stroller. DS2 weighed in at a stocky 50 lbs last week, so we needed the XLR over the XT. I bought it brand new off of ebay and can't wait to get it!!!! We'll do our practice walking at Mall of America in the next few months to get ready.....

 

[overthemoon4mickey]

I too am a stroller obsessed mom. I have 3 (umbrella, regular, jogging) and considered getting a new one for our upcoming trip. I totally "get" it. That being said let me tell you about how the trip insurance saved us money....

We had our return flight canceled because of a hurricane hitting Houston the same day we were slated to return. The airlines waited 3 days to start the first inbound flights to Houston. Because we had the insurance we got to stay an extra 3 days in "The World" with out stressing about money. the insurance covers $200 per day/per person not to excede $800 per family. We were able to upgrade to a WL villa and still have enough $$ to cover all our food. Oh and adding the extra days on to our tickets only cost us an additional $18 for the 3 days for 3 people. If you can swing it I say add back the ins.plan...it saved us!

 

[peemagg]

I'm another one who is stroller obsessed. The only difference is that I don't have any kids. I currently have 3 Combi City Savvy strollers and 2 Graco double strollers. I had 4 of the Combi's, but I sold one recently. I love the Combi's. We will be taking them in Jan. for my 2 nieces and nephew. They love riding in them.

People quite often make the Combi's out as flimsy, but they really aren't. What they find is that the stroller has this side to side movement when you move the handle. That is a steering system that they have built into the stroller. It aids in making turns. The strollers are nice and light and fold up like a umbrella stroller. They even have a small storage area underneath. I don't think I would buy any other brand after using this one.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't understand why you bought a single Maclaren - and not the double Maclaren.

 

[tiggernpooh]

We had a stroller stolen at Disney World. The next time we went, I brought a long style padlock that I could lock the wheel from moving, locking it to the stroller frame. That way the Cms could still move the stroller if necessary but I figured it would be enough of a deterant if someone tried to steal it that once they found the wheels wouldn't go around, that they would leave it alone and move on to someone elses.

I recommend you protect your investment.

 

[TJA]

Excellent decision! We have a double jogger that we still take to WDW and our twins are 4 now and yes they still need it, though mainly just at night. So many people say their kids could never doze off or rest in their stroller, and my thought is always "did you bring a comfy stroller from home that the kids have grown to love." Our jogger has individual reclining seats and individual canopies and fun storage pockets for each child. Our twins LOVE this stroller and do like to take rests from the heat during the day, and I'll bet every single night they cuddle up in the stroller and sometimes fall asleep after a night show or a late night at a park.

If you stay at an Epcot resort, you can let the kids sleep/rest while you walk back to your resort from both Epcot and MGM. Or if you stay at a monorail resort, you can just roll your stroller right on the monorail w/o having to wake the kids. If you stay at a bus-resort, then you can at least let the kids rest right up until you get to your bus stop.

To us, a good stroller makes or breaks our trip. Maybe because we have twins and they both tend to have the same needs at the same time.

Have lots of fun!

 

[kileybeth]

Hi my name is K. and I am a stroller addict. Before I found my love for Mac's I would purchase and often return strollers for weeks at a time trying to get it right.

I have made dozens of trips to Disney with strollers and while I am sure it happens, our strollers have never been taken (at least not on purpose I don't think) I often see $800 plus strollers sitting around as well so I don't think a $150 or $200 one is gonna be a top prize for a theft kwim?

love the look of those Phil and Ted's I think it is? out of my $$$ range tho.

Mac doubles are not as wide as the singles for someone who asked why not a double. also those clippy things work on 2 single macs quite well.

Happy Strolling!

I am buying my DD2 another play stroller this Christmas, sheesh, they cost nearly as much as the real deal! good thing I can craigslist her old ones!