Rent or Bring stroller & car seat for 2 year old?

[anneb9397]

I am on my first trip with DD. We are flying for the first time. I can't decide either or not to bring my own stroller or rent. I have a nice umbrella stroller that folders up fairly small. I can push her in it all the way up to the gate correct? I'm afraid that she won't be comfortable in one if we rent it. Also I'd like her to be able to nap in it if she wants to. She doesn't ride in a stroller much at home but that is because of her 8 month old brother who isn't going. How hard is it to dealing with on the buses?

Also I can't decide about the car seat. My uncle who we are meeting there MIGHT rent a car. I think we would rarely be in it. Do I lug it through the airport for in case we ride in the car? Those of you who have used it on the plane, was it worth it? My hubby is no hep. He says I overthink everything. He would go with nothing, but he's not going! It will be me, my 2 yo DD and my dad.

Thanks for the advice
Anne

 

[stacy6552]

YES! bring the carseat for the plane. Buy a carseat dufflebag for it. The are worth every single penny.

and YES! bring your own stroller. A child that young will crash and you want to be able to keep going. You also want to be able to move quickly when you want to. There is soooooo much walking at WDW. Older kids, including my own who are long past using a stroller will sometimes need one at WDW.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Bring your own stroller and your car seat. If your child will be riding in the car, you have to have one. It is simply too dangerous to put your baby in the car without one. If you don't and then everyone decides to take the car, you are stuck not being able to go.

If your child has a seat on the plane, I'd take it on. You can strap it to a luggage cart and wheel it through the airport. It's really not that bad.

 

[GoinToDisney]

Yes, bring both. Get a $40 scenera car seat which is light and easy to carry. Use your stroller to wheel it through the airport. It was so much easier when we had our car seat on the plane. The rental strollers don't look very comfy to me, and I always wonder what do you use when walking to your hotel room with a sleeping child at the end of a busy day? My dd napped in the stroller too. They are not too bad on the bus, but are you going to be handling the stroller and the 2 yo on the bus alone? I still think it is doable, but maybe not easy.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Having a carseat on the plane will help keep your DD2 in her seat. I don't know how long of a flight yours is, but ours will be 3hours and w/o a carseat I have know idea how to keep her little butt put.
Also, if you end up having to rent a carseat from the rental co. they are $9 per day.
I would recommend bringing your own stroller too. The rentals really don't look very comfy, plus what the other posters have said about having to carry her outside of the parks if you do rent.

 

[5 for WDW]

Yes, bring both. I have always put my kids in a car seat on the plane until they were 4. They are safer and never ask to get down. Only for a restroom break. Everyone will be much happier.

The rental strollers are hard plastic. I think your DD will be much more comfortable in her own stroller. Especially if she falls asleep. We always liked ours for walking to the buses and letting DD stay in it until we saw the bus pulling up. It is nice to have for the resort too.

Have a great trip!

 

[mdurette]

Ditto for me - bring BOTH. The car seat is super easy in the airport - just put it on the stroller - DONE.

The strollers in the park are hard plastic - not too comfy for naps in the park. My 2 year old also won't go to sleep on her own while we are away so we are always taking her for a stroll around the resort.

When we went a couple of months ago my daughter got sick and needed to go to the ER - was I VERY happy we had the car seat - cuz there was no way I wanted to take in a taxi without one.