renting a stroller in park

[pschro1]

I am taking my 3 year old son to Disney for the first time at the end of February. We have not been using a stroller for him at home. However we plan on using one when we are in the parks. We feel like we will not need one when we are out of the parks and at the resort. To save some money we might rent from Disney. Has anyone rented from Disney before? What are the pros and cons from renting from Disney versus a 3rd party?

 

[Marthasor]

We have rented both from Disney and from off-site providers. The biggest cons to the Disney strollers are they are not very comfortable for the child, don't recline, the pushing bar felt low to me (and I'm 5'2"), you can't take them out of the parks and there is no place in the stroller to store extra stuff. They also don't come with rain covers (many rental co.'s will provide these) or snack/drink trays. Also, instead of going directly to attractions/rides, when you enter the parks, you have to stop and rent the stroller.

My DS7 doesn't use a stroller in the parks anymore, but when he did, I much preferred the outside rentals.

 

[cel_disney]

I am taking my 3 year old son to Disney for the first time at the end of February. We have not been using a stroller for him at home. However we plan on using one when we are in the parks. We feel like we will not need one when we are out of the parks and at the resort. To save some money we might rent from Disney. Has anyone rented from Disney before? What are the pros and cons from renting from Disney versus a 3rd party?

It's far more expensive to rent thru Disney - ~15$ a day vs the 5-7$ a day from an outside agency. And honestly - we have needed the stroller more when out of the park vs in the park. In the park, adrenalin helps everyone...but when leaving the park, no one is inspired to hoof it to the car/room!

 

[MSSANDRA]

With a three year old, I really think you want a more traditional stroller and one that you will have outside of the parks. The end of the day walk from the gates to the bus or to your car and then to your hotel can be very long carrying a sleeping child. You will appreciate the comfort of a more traditional stroller in the parks as well when your child really want and needs to fall asleep. If you are flying, you may want to bring one from home to have at the airport as well.

 

[pschro1]

Thanks for the reply. Bringing a stroller is out as my son is too big for our umbrella stroller.

Renting through Disney saves me about $15 if I prepay for our 4 park days. If I rent the stroller from Orlando Stroller just for the park days (Not for our arrival and departure days) it will save me money. Maybe that is the route I take. Hopefully I can have it by 8am though on our first park day.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Thanks for the reply. Bringing a stroller is out as my son is too big for our umbrella stroller.

Renting through Disney saves me about $15 if I prepay for our 4 park days. If I rent the stroller from Orlando Stroller just for the park days (Not for our arrival and departure days) it will save me money. Maybe that is the route I take. Hopefully I can have it by 8am though on our first park day.

If it is anything like scooter rental, you will be fine.

They are delivering my scooter the night before I need it. And they won't pick up until the morning after I am through with the parks.

 

[pschro1]

Kingdom stroller can deliver at 7am which is perfect. I just need to have it back by 5pm on our last park day. This might be the way to go.

 

[AspenLL]

A friend of ours just got back from Disney and used the Disney strollers. As a user stated above, they aren't the most comfortable. She said that she would rent from an outside party next time.

We are taking our son in April for the first time and plan on using Kingdom Strollers based on the reviews on this board.

Good luck!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

esp at MK, are you prepared to carry 3 year old to bus, boat or monorail at end of day? it is a walk and Disney strollers even with sleeping child, will not be allowed past gate. offsite is way to go

 

[cel_disney]

Apple Strollers is the absolute cheapest I believe (5$ a day).

We always schedule for an early am pick up and all 3 times we have been able to get it the night before regardless of the company (we have used kingdom, Orlando, and apple - I pick depending on my needs for each trip).

 

[pschro1]

thanks all for the advise. I have to sit down with my wife and see what makes sense. I have a hard time picturing using it though when we get out of the park but we will see.

What is the rental page for apple? Their website says that their stroller rentals are free...http://applescooter.com/Stroller.asp?U=&Reservation=&Venue=Orlando&Stroller=YES

This feels sketchy. Plus they do not have the bigger single stroller which we would need.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You will walk 6-10 miles per day on average at WDW. After walking that much you will most likely have to carry your 3 year old out of the park to transportation, and then from transportation to your hotel room. Those can be REALLY long walks when you are tired from walking 10 miles during the day and having to carry an extra 35 lbs of tired toddler. it's bad enough when you have to take them out of the stroller if you ride the bus. But to carry them all that way would be torture. But you always see that parent who refuses to bring a stroller struggling to get back to the room at the end of the day. Don't be that parent.

 

[pschro1]

well said

 

[cel_disney]

thanks all for the advise. I have to sit down with my wife and see what makes sense. I have a hard time picturing using it though when we get out of the park but we will see. What is the rental page for apple? Their website says that their stroller rentals are free...http://applescooter.com/Stroller.asp?U=&Reservation=&Venue=Orlando&Stroller=YES This feels sketchy. Plus they do not have the bigger single stroller which we would need.

Their rentals are free - you just pay for the insurance.

Are you sure your 3 year old would not fit in the BJCM? The weight limit is 50lbs and it's pretty roomy especially for a kid that's going to walk some of the time. My 70lb 7 year old could fit in it (we just didn't let him) ...

 

[cel_disney]

thanks all for the advise. I have to sit down with my wife and see what makes sense. I have a hard time picturing using it though when we get out of the park but we will see. What is the rental page for apple? Their website says that their stroller rentals are free...http://applescooter.com/Stroller.asp?U=&Reservation=&Venue=Orlando&Stroller=YES This feels sketchy. Plus they do not have the bigger single stroller which we would need.

It's unlikely that you will need to be tied to your stroller in the park with a child that age - you will be able to park it somewhere in a land and go back when you are done with all of the attractions there. You are most likely to appreciate that it's a place to store ponchos or extra clothing and a soft cooler with water and kid snacks. It will be during tired times of day, in large crowds(like entering and exiting) that you will really want to use it.

My 4 year old is much more independent and stroller free than my 8 year old (he would still use a stroller in the parks if we let him!). Even though DD wasn't using her stroller at home - when she was 3 we went to Disneyland. That park is much more compact compared to WDW. She did better than I expected but decided that it was much more important to be rested than tired and ended up using the stroller for the longer walks/lines that we were in - and sometimes just to have a break from all of the hustle - she would climb in and pull the shade down for a few minutes and come out a refreshed kid again!

 

[twinboysmom]

thanks all for the advise. I have to sit down with my wife and see what makes sense. I have a hard time picturing using it though when we get out of the park but we will see.

What is the rental page for apple? Their website says that their stroller rentals are free...http://applescooter.com/Stroller.asp?U=&Reservation=&Venue=Orlando&Stroller=YES

This feels sketchy. Plus they do not have the bigger single stroller which we would need.

They are completely legit. We have rented from them several times. The citi mini is more than adequate for your 3 year old. However, after our recent experience with Apple in August we will no longer use them. Our stroller was filthy and in terrible shape. They replaced it but it was only a bit better. For our May trip we are using kingdom. And no way would I use the park strollers for my boys when they were 3. Even at 5 we are renting a citi mini.

 

[deedeew80]

Anyone have any suggestions on a double stroller? We need one for our upcoming trip the end of April. I have a DD4 & a DS2. They are both small so max weight/height won't be an issue. TIA!

 

[twinboysmom]

Anyone have any suggestions on a double stroller? We need one for our upcoming trip the end of April. I have a DD4 & a DS2. They are both small so max weight/height won't be an issue. TIA!

The regular double citi mini should suit you all just fine.

 

[cel_disney]

The regular double citi mini should suit you all just fine.

Agree!! You could upgrade to a BJCMD GT but I don't think you have to have one unless you WANT one

 

[deedeew80]

The regular double citi mini should suit you all just fine.

Agree!! You could upgrade to a BJCMD GT but I don't think you have to have one unless you WANT one

Thanks! I know nothing about either of those strollers so I couldn't even say which is better! Lol!