Please tell me all about bringing your own double stroller to WDW.

[BeccaGrace]

So I think I talked my dh into bringing our double stroller (front/back Graco) rather than renting at the parks so we a) save some money, b) have the stroller for the resorts and other activities and c) we know the girls will be comfortable and will likely rest better in it. Has anyone used the same thinking and then found they would have been better off renting? Or did you rent and wish you had brought the double? DH is okay with brining it as long as it doesn't end up being more trouble than it is worth--so I'd like to have a good idea of what to expect so I can try to make the best of the situation and not stress him out

From what I understand we can have the girls in it at the airport except for when we go through security and then we check it when we get on the plane. Is this right?

How does it work with ME? Can they put it below the bus or do we lug it on with us? It isn't horrifically heavy (around 20 pounds) but it is bulky since it is a double...How about the park busses--will it be a nightmare? Does anyone have any experience bringing one? Where do you stow it on the bus--do I take up a seat with it or can it sit in the aisle (doubt it for safety reasons). That is the only drawback I really see to having it with us and I'd like to hear how it went for others.

Also, is it easier to take the boat at the WL rather than the bus if we have the stroller? And can we keep the kids on it for the boat (heard differing accounts on this) and for the monorail when we are at the Poly?

Thanks for any tips and advice!!!

 

[Disney_1derland]

We took our side by side double last year. After lugging it on and off of busses all week I decided that next time we would just rent. Renting was really nice and easy and I did not once miss lugging the stroller about.

I guess it's really an individual choice but we much prefer renting with our kids ages 2&4 at the last trip. They were definitely a pain on the busses, have to fold them up and then one of us would have to juggle both kids while the other would juggle the stroller, not an easy feat, especially on a crowded bus.

 

[CBoysMomLovesDisney]

I am also interested in this question. When we are out my boys 4 & 3 like to ride in the stroller. Is it really that bad to get on/off the bus. We will be staying at wl.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

We took our side by side double stroller each time & it was wonderful - our stroller was lightweight & easy to fold up. I think you will find the front to back strollers are very heavy & would not be as easy to get on and off buses. We liked having our own stroller because the rental strollers are good only in the parks. If you go outside the park or to the resorts, you have no stroller. Good luck!

 

[CBoysMomLovesDisney]

Thanks for the info - one more question. what kind of side by side to you use. the Umbrella type or the jogging type. I currently have a front to back and really dislike it. I would like to buy a new one before going to disney.

 

[Mainebound]

We took our side by side double last year. After lugging it on and off of busses all week I decided that next time we would just rent. Renting was really nice and easy and I did not once miss lugging the stroller about.

I guess it's really an individual choice but we much prefer renting with our kids ages 2&4 at the last trip. They were definitely a pain on the busses, have to fold them up and then one of us would have to juggle both kids while the other would juggle the stroller, not an easy feat, especially on a crowded bus.

That's funny, we felt just the opposite. Bought a side by side umbrella stroller for the boys, and used it 3 years running, both on and off site. We had no trouble with buses, cars, boats, monorails, etc. They were ages 1+3, 2+4, 3+5.

Oldest is now just too big -- we'll rent a single in 2006 just for tired moments.

I didn't find it hard to close up, but I am fit and healthy and have a fit and healthy DH, and we do not bring much besides the stroller to the parks, so our experience would not fit everyone's needs.