Question about renting vs. buying stroller...

[blondemom]

Hi. I am sure this has been asked before. I cannot find an appropriate thread. Can someone tell me what the current cost of renting a single stroller at WDW is? My son does not use a stroller anymore, but I'm anticipating him needing one during the brutal heat of August 2009. I'm just not sure if I should buy one before the trip - he's on the light side, but too big for an umbrella stroller - or play it by ear and rent if I need one.

If I do break down and buy one, I would not want to keep it. I guess I would post before my trip and offer it up for someone else visiting when we are leaving!

Thanks for your help.

Lisa

 

[tjmw2727]

Once my kids stopped using a stroller at home I rented as needed at WDW, usually just for late evenings or Epcot. However the prices have increased quite a bit over the past few years and it may be worth it to bring your own.

Here is an FAQ on strollers you may find helpful,

http://allears.net/pl/strol_faq.htm

TJ

 

[budbeerlady]

For the $31 a day I would bring my own.

We did that before the cost was so high, just took a used umbrella stroller and left it for someone else to enjoy. I think I paid $5 for it at a 2nd hand kids store.

 

[tjmw2727]

For the $31 a day I would bring my own.

We did that before the cost was so high, just took a used umbrella stroller and left it for someone else to enjoy. I think I paid $5 for it at a 2nd hand kids store.

Just to clarify - the cost to rent a single stroller is $15 with a $2 discount for a multi day rental. The double is $31 with a $4 discount for a multi day rental.

TJ

 

[Bren's Mom]

We've just returned from our trip with my 3 year old. It was myself and my mom. Even if the cost were identical (renting v buying) or if buying were more expensive; I'd buy one anyway. (And if you're staying 6 days or more buying is more economical. Plus you get to keep it afterward or resell. )

We had our Maclaren Volo with us and thank goodness! At 35lbs I can't carry my son for too long. And we really needed the stroller for when we were not in the parks; at the Boardwalk after a late Flying Fish dinner, every night at Pop for the walk back to our room, sometimes even from the park to the transportation area. It was a lifesaver and it was no problem whatsoever to quickly fold and carry onto the buses. On the few occasions we took boats we didn't even need to fold it up. We strolled it on and parked it in the back.

I'd look into buying a Volo. I got mine a few months ago on ebay, bought from a retailer, brand new in box for $72 including shipping. They also sell them at lots of online stores (sometimes great bargains on 'older' patterns/covers) and at Target ($99). It has a fairly decent sized basket underneath to hold things. It also has a huge sunshade that is sturdy enough to lay a large beach towel over in case you need to completely block light (for napping). I had a backpack at the parks and hung it from the stroller. When ds was walking I put the backpack in the seat. It was very convenient. I have to say that I'm not a stroller person. And I was skeptical about the 'great' stroller everyone was talking about. Now that I have one, and have used one with ds on vacation twice...I'm sold! It has a carry strap for when it's folded and fits easily into an overhead bin in the plane. (Or can be gate checked. If you're flying, that is.) I am 5'3", my dh is over 6'. Both of us can push the stroller with ease. The handles are alot taller than on a cheapie umbrella stroller.

Here's my ds in his. He's 3, about 38" and 35lbs. He's got plenty of breathing room in it and finds it very comfy.

 

[blondemom]

Thanks all!!! I will weigh my options (and my kid to see what stroller he will need!!)

 

[tzolkin]

We were planning our trip right before the stroller prices went up. At the old prices is was slightly cheaper for us to buy two volos (like pp's picture) than to rent a double for our 9 days. The prices went up right before we arrived, so wound up saving a lot of money. It was also nice to use the strollers to walk from the bus to the room in the evenings. We kept our strollers and are planning another trip, so they were definitely worth the money.

We also bought our strollers on ebay. They were new and cost about $50+shipping each. Both my kids were too heavy for a cheap umbrella stroller and since we needed two, we didn't want to bring anything huge.

 

[blondemom]

May I ask those of you with the Volo, what is the maximum weight it can accommodate? I am trying a search but don't see that.

Thanks.

 

[twinmom2]

I am pretty sure it is 40lbs. I have two for my girls and one of them is close to 40lbs and she still fits fine in it and it pushes very nicely.

 

[shelby101301]

I agree with bringing your own, just for outside the parks too. Walking around the hotels, to and from transportation, all that is way too much for them, especiallly at night!

When we went to DL last fall, my son was actually 4 and too big. But I bought a second hand double umbrella stroller at a thrift shop for $20, beat it to heck, he even broke the foot straps with his weight (he's very tall) but it did the trick for the week.

Feb should be interesting as I have joovy caboose and will have my 3 mos infant with me, a 3 and 5 yr old. 3 and 5 yr old will have to take turns standing on the back! hope it's enough as I don't want to rent a single on top of everything too

 

[shelby101301]

I agree with bringing your own, just for outside the parks too. Walking around the hotels, to and from transportation, all that is way too much for them, especiallly at night!

When we went to DL last fall, my son was actually 4 and too big. But I bought a second hand double umbrella stroller at a thrift shop for $20, beat it to heck, he even broke the foot straps with his weight (he's very tall) but it did the trick for the week.

Feb should be interesting as I have joovy caboose and will have my 3 mos infant with me, a 3 and 5 yr old. 3 and 5 yr old will have to take turns standing on the back! hope it's enough as I don't want to rent a single on top of everything too

 

[Bren's Mom]

May I ask those of you with the Volo, what is the maximum weight it can accommodate? I am trying a search but don't see that.

Thanks.

The max weight for the Volo is *55* lbs. NOT 40. That's one of the reasons they're so great for older kids. (And many people use them beyond 55, it's not like a car seat, you can choose to go over the weight limit if the child is still comfy and you can still push it! LOL)

http://www.maclarenbaby.com/us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=491

Click on Features, and then down below on Specs...that will confirm the weight limit.

 

[staticgirl50]

I joined a stroller swap- Check out my siggy. I am so glad someone started a single stroller swap

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

You still have three other options as the pp said they have several stroller swaps on the bugdet board one is for a mac volo as well as a baby jogger city (not the mini). You can also check out www.orlandostrollerrentals.com or www.abbf.com good luck w/ what ever you choose but I would definitely put your name on stroller swap list at least for now until you decided.