Rent or Bring Stroller

[amy390]

Which option is the most convenient for 5 yro DD? We have a Combi stroller which I hate because it basically steers itself. Should I buy a new one for our trip or just rent at the parks? Thanks.

 

[litlpixie]

What we did last year, and will be doing again, is bringing our umbrella stroller AND renting at the parks......the reason? Well, when we get off the bus at POR and its hot or its late, we can always throw her in our stroller (please note-not actually "throwing the girl" ). Is it a pain to lug around an extra stroller in the parks when we just end up renting? NO, we have other kids who utilize the "owned" stroller for either themselves or things they buy or dont feel like carrying around. They are light and can be folded in a flash!!
You just reminded that I have to pull mine out of the closet and put with our luggage!!

 

[GettinReadyforDisney]

This is a tough call. If your child is going to be too tired to hike to and from the bus, you better bring your own BUT it can be a pain (and exhausting because you're trying to hurry) getting your stroller on and off the bus/boat or other Disney transportation.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[Desnik]

We have always brought our own stroller. We have been taking the kids since they were babies and it has always been better to have our own. DS is now 4 and we have the Mac Triumph and it is awesome. You can find them online or at places like Babies R Us. You may have luck finding a 2006 model on sale because the 2007 models just came out. It folds single hand umbrella style, very light at 11lbs, has a canopy, reclines and has a basket! It also has a strap to carry on/off the buses. It holds up to 55lbs and has a lot of head room for a taller child. I have always felt that having our DS in his stroller helped us move faster rather than walking at his pace if we were in a rush. You can roll the stroller on/off the boats and monorails, you only have to close it up for the bus. Believe me you don't want to be carrying a sleeping 5yo after touring a park all day. It also is helpful at the airport, resort, and at DtD.

 

[hogue123]

We always take our own stroller. I did go buy a cheaper stroller just for trips to Disney. So far it has lasted 3 trips and we will be taking it again in May. I find it more convenient to have my own for the trips to the bus and if you have to sit and wait after park closing for a bus, it's easier to let them sleep in the stroller until the bus comes than to stand there and hold them.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

This is the stroller that we used with my dd6 it worked out great for us it also comes in pink the only thing my dd said was wrong with it was she couldn't lay back. Boy its tough to be a kid.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...83.2256189.2256203&view=all&parentPage=family

this one I would recommend if you want the recline feature.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3989247

I found that the first one was just fine for us b/c the only time dd was in it was if we were in a hurry to get somewhere in the park, when we were leaving the parks or when she was tired.

 

[loopner67]

We've always just rented a stroller. I personally don't want to bring the stroller on the plane and then I don't feel the need for it to and from the buses. I like to just rent one and have it in the parks, where my boys need it the most.

My boys are now 6 & 9, but they've been to Disney twice when we've rented. The first time they were ages 4 & 6, then last year they were ages 5 & 7.

I suggest you think about whether or not your child will want/need a stroller for any other time than in the parks and if you'd want to have to have the stroller the other times. You can also factor in the cost if that'll be an issue for you. We just happen to love the big ole Disney double strollers - I especially like the cup holders.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are renting a stroller for our DD3, eventhough she will want to walk most of the time, it will be good for when she gets tired. Also it will be great to have so we have a place to put our backpack and other things.

 

[RainbowsMist]

We just got back and we rented a double stroller for our DD 4 1/2.

It's been a long time since she's been in a stroller however we thought it would be easier on everyone if she had one at the parks. It was the BEST decision we made! Besides DD not being tired and us keeping up the pace, it also allowed us to throw our bags in there as well rather than carry them around all day! Definitely will do this again!!!

 

[laura74]

We rented a stroller this year for our 5-year-old DD. She's too tall for the umbrella stroller but not quite big enough to walk all day. It worked out really well for us. Much easier to deal with transportation without carrying a stroller.

 

[joellyn23]

We used an umbrella stroller the last time we needed one and much preferred it over our regular heavy duty stroller. It was just so easy to fold up and I would think it wouldn't be too much of a PITA on the bus. I think you may want a stroller outside of the parks (especially if the bus service is running slow which was our experience the only time we used the busses -- maybe we just had a bad week).

 

[mjh8955]

Two different trips we did this and it worked out great. Our youngest was passed the stroller age and we had actually gotten rid of all of our strollers. But she was small and we knew she wouldn't be able to walk the whole time. I bought a used good quality umbrella stroller with sunshade at a garage sale, spent $5 one year and $7 the other year. They were soft cloth instead of plastic. We checked them through with our baggage. Because they weren't brand spanking new they didn't blend in with everyone else's when we parked them and we could always spot ours easily. And because they were used and not "beautiful" we didn't care what happened to them. And when we were leaving we just offered them to another family coming in without a stroller. This was WAY cheaper than renting one. Our kids could walk through airports, etc. without them, we only needed them for the parks and this worked perfectly for us. This obviously would not work for someone toting diaper bags and lots of equipment, nor would it work for children toddler age or younger. But it was great when our youngest was 4 and 5.

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

I brought mine, only because I knew we had a long walk thru the airport. Otherwise, I probably would have rented one