parking vs. busses w/ stroller & RV question

[CrusinLattas]

We are staying at AKL and I just realized that I have to take a bus to get anywhere! I thought I could at least walk to AK! I have heard horror stories about strollers and busses and we need to take either our double jogger - which I prefer but does not fold down quickly - or a double umbrella. My other option is to take our RV, which we will have parked not camping, to the different parks and not hassle with the busses. We are going during New Years so crowds will be at an all time high! What is my best option for getting to the parks with the small children and strollers and crowds?

I did see where RV parking at Epcot may not be too bad - has anyone done this and used the Monorail to get to MK? What about RV parking at MGM and AK? I think we will be going early and leaving early where ever we go due to the crowds and ages of the children.

Please share any experiences/ideas you may have!

Thanks!

 

[thepeach80]

We just got back, but the crowds aren't what they will be when you go. We have a monster of a stroller though and we found it was easiest to have the stroller broken down (one of the seats has to come off to fold!) and ready to go when the bus got there. Then we tried to head to the back of the bus so people didn't have to walk past us. Some buses had a perfect spot bewteen the seats where the fit great and was out of the way. IT's Disney, you have kids, I don't think anyone will have problems w/ you taking the stroller and it's way easier I would think than taking the RV. We had a car while there and just took the transportation anytime we did anything Disney.

 

[auroraarielella]

You don't say the ages of the children - but I vote for the double umbrella.
Or two umbrella's with stroller connectors. I did this when my children were 18 mos and 4 and it worked out fine. Sometimes they would be connected to keep someone's hands free, sometimes they would be sererate to "make tracks". We had removing children and folding the strollers down to a two second drill.
The bigger and heavier and wider your load, the slower the going. And, even though it is Disney, people are anxious to get to the parks or to get back to their hotel and they are not always the most polite while waiting for a large cumbersome stroller to fold and load/unload. (Not me, of course (lol)....but I usually give my trips enough time and realize that I am not going to see everything)

 

[badblackpug]

I always hear people say they have heard of "bus horror stories," but I have never heard the actual horror stories. I have stayed at several "all bus" resorts (I will be at AKL this year, too) and I have never had trouble with the WDW bus system. I have always found it timely and convenient.

 

[mikymouse]

We loved the bus transportation from AKL... no sharing with other resorts and they came quite frequently. There were plenty of strollers on the bus with a special storage area if you were first on. The parents seemed a little less stressed if you broke down the stroller during the wait time. We had two umbrella strollers that works great except for post fireworks at MK when the children were sleeping and we had to hold the children and fold up the strollers. I would definately seek other transportation if you plan to exit the park immediately after fireworks (or just hang out in park until crowds are gone). Highly recommend umbrella or easy to fold strollers for the parks.

 

[CrusinLattas]

Thank you so much for the ideas. I think I may purhcase two umbrella strollers that connect. I have a double umbrella that does not disconnect but it is not very sturdy and can be quite wide in crowds! My children are a young 3 and 1 so I really don't see them walking for very long times.

Thanks again!

 

[thepeach80]

For that young, I'd make sure whatever you brought could be slept in easily. Evan took a nap each day at the park (almost 3) and of course Ilana took 2 usually (10 mos). Evan AJ took a nap at Epcot and he stopped napping 2 yrs ago.

 

[Hannathy]

I would go with the umbrella's also because once you get to the park at that time of year it will be shoulder to shoulder people, you will not be able to turn around with out someone being there so hard to push something big and bulky. There will be times you will literally be standing still because there is no where to go. Stores will be at an impasse and if you have the smaller strollers you will have more maneuverability. If you take the big one HAVE IT FOLDED before the bus or tram gets there!!! not as everyone else has to stand and wait on you.