Renting a stroller??

[OBDisney]

We have a 3.5 and a 6 year old, we no longer own a stroller since we haven't used one in almost a year, both girls love to walk, but we know Disney will be too much walking for them so we want a stroller for our 3.5 year old and the 6 year old can even take turns when needed. Since we no longer own one our plan is just to rent one but now reading they can't go past the two parks so getting back to our Disney hotel we wouldn't have it, which isn't the end of the world we could deal with that but we will be going back to the hotel most days for a rest would we have to give it up and then rent again when we go back in the evening?

Dh doesn't want to just buy a cheapie umbrella stroller since he's tall and finds them too short unless you spend a little more and get a good one.

Decisions decisions, there are so many for first time disney visitors, thank goodness for these boards and all the helpful people!

 

[karelle]

When you rent the stroller in the morning, just save your receipt and the little name card they give you, and you can drop off and pick up strollers without having to pay again for that day. They also have something where you can pre-pay for a stroller for the days you know you'll be in the park. I haven't looked in to that, so not sure if they give any kind of price break or if the draw for doing that is just that you don't have to stand in the stroller rental line each day.

 

[goldies 5]

I have done the rental without bringing a stroller before. For me it just does not work in the evening. Because we really like to hang out in DTD and they don't let you take the rentals out of the parks. Having a stroller in the evening is very important for our family, because a little one can sleep if need be, or at least rest while you enjoy shopping etc.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

How many days will you be visiting? It may be worth buying 1 or 2 *DD's Disney stroller is a Mac Volo* the rentals cannot leave the parks and if your hotel is within walking distance *which I totally reccomend * you'll want it for the walks to and from *especially from* the parks.

 

[joelybelly]

We have a 3.5 DD and 6(soon to be 7) DS and we always rent at DL. My DS has trouble walking & my DD falls asleep around lunch so it really comes in handy!

 

[starshine514]

I have a couple suggestions.
1. If you want your own stroller, check craigslist. We bought a used full-size stroller for $15 - the same amount we would have paid for a cheap umbrella with a wimpy cover from Walmart. I agree, umbrella strollers are too short to be comfortable pushing all day.

2. If you do decide to rent, it would benefit you (if you have the time before your trip) to get a Disney Rewards Visa. Use it and you'll cut the rental price down from $15 a day to $7.50 a day.

I know WDW has external stroller rental companies, but I'm not sure about DL...

 

[davidsprincess]

Here is what we did for our trip in September:

1.Prepaid for the stroller on the first day for all 5 days. No discount given for pre-paying.(I also don't have the Disney Rewards Visa). I just had to save my receipt to show the CM when I went to pick up the stroller every day. They then initialed to show that we had used it that day.

2. Don't know if the policy has changed since Sept. or not, but we were allowed to park hop all day using the same stroller. We didn't need to get a different one each time we changed parks.

3.We didn't go back to the hotel during the day for a rest and then come back. We too stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. At night we would head to Tomorrowland, leave the stroller and hop onto the monorail. It was easy peasy to then walk to the hotel from there. So that is an option for evening time. If we were in DCA at night, then we would take the stroller as far as the GCH and cut through there to DTD and walk to the hotel.

It is nice to have a stroller with you at the hotel because they are great for carting the kids to and from the park and also any gear that you are taking with you. There are pros and cons to both renting or buying. Whatever you are comfortable with. Hope that this has given you guys a couple of things to think about when making your decison!

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[OBDisney]

Thanks for the info and the suggestions. Our preference is to not bring one since we will be flying and we find it such a pain in airports, but I am check Kijiji for second hands ones in case.

We will also look into the visa that would help for sure.

Davidsprincess- You said you leave the stroller at Tomorrowland or GCH, are there places you can drop it off other then where you pick it up, that would be great, because we'd love to be able to take the monorail back to the hotel but wondered about that part.

Can you tell this is our first visit, so clueless- thanks for all the great suggestions!

 

[starshine514]

Thanks for the info and the suggestions. Our preference is to not bring one since we will be flying and we find it such a pain in airports, but I am check Kijiji for second hands ones in case.

They can be a pain to shuffle in the airport (especially if you're cheap like me and don't like to pay for checked bags...yeah, you know who has to manage the carry-ons for everyone...), but luckily, I think every airline lets them check for free. So, if you don't need them in an airport, checking them is usually an option.

 

[davidsprincess]

Davidsprincess- You said you leave the stroller at Tomorrowland or GCH, are there places you can drop it off other then where you pick it up, that would be great, because we'd love to be able to take the monorail back to the hotel but wondered about that part.

Can you tell this is our first visit, so clueless- thanks for all the great suggestions!

In Tomorrowland we just left them with all of the other strollers near the Finding Nemo ride. (the walkway to the monorail is right there)

And at the GCH we just left them at the entrance to the hotel when exiting DCA.

One thing to remember if you do decide to obtain a stroller before you go is that it is nice to have it throw all your junk into when at the airport or have the kids sit in if you have to hurry to your gate.

 

[FireflyJar]

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[tzeitel]

How many days are you there for? Just asking so you can figure out how much buying a stroller would come out per day as opposed to renting one at DLR. There is a Target near DLR and there are some pretty cheap strollers that are not the backbreaking umbrella ones - I would check them and WM. It is so nice to have it at the end of your day and little ones don't want/can't walk

When at WDW in '08 we figured we would just rent one but it turned out to be cheaper and more convinient to buy one. We got it at WDW, it was a really nice but basic stroller (had canopy, under basket, cup holder) and was $40 - we were there for 10 days so it was worth it. At the airport we put all our carry-ons on it and then at the gate they just put it with the luggage, it made it back home intact!