Renting Stroller vs. Checking

[brizzie93]

Alright y'all I am bringing my children for the first time in Febuary and I am conflicted on how we will be carrying them around the parks.
I know strollers are available to rent but that is another purchase to budget in. Do y'all recommend checking one via airline or renting from the parks??
I want to make the smartest finacial decision to get the most of their first trip.

Also, I considered bringing their little red wagon because they sit so well in it due to being a little old for a stroller..
..ages five && three!

Feedback?

 

[Karenj2]

I have a four year old (and 1yo twins), and I'm renting strollers... For me it was a no-brainer, because the stroller we have at home and LOVE is too big/heavy for us to use on the busses, plus we'll need 3 seats, which we don't have with our stroller.

Some quick comments:
1) I don't think that your wagon is the best option - wagons don't usually have sun protection, there's no way to recline if they need a nap, and it's probably not allowed on the busses.
2) I wouldn't rent from the parks themselves - when you rent from them, you only have it while you're IN the park - not for the walk to the transportation, not for the LONG walk back to the car/hotel, etc. We rent from Orlando Stroller Rentals (and there are other companies too) - they deliver the stroller to the luggage center (or meet you in person), and you keep it for the duration of your trip.
3) The third option is to bring a stroller from home.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I also have a 5 year old and 3 year old. We retired our double stroller almost a year ago but if you find it would be easier for you then I would just take your own. Does your 5 year old still use a stroller? Maybe you'll just need a single?

I don't think it's really that big of a deal checking it at the airport (it's free). I'd save the money and take my own.

 

[snoopy5386]

You cannot bring a wagon into the parks, it's not allowed. We've done both, rented and brought our own. Bringing from home is really no big deal.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had a cousin who lives in Orlando direct us to where a thrift store was and bought one for 7.00 for our trip there and then we hooked up with someone else we knew who was going right after us and gave it to them there when we were done with it.

 

[bbak3030]

I recommend renting one from an outside company. It was around $80 for a week for a single and I think around $100 for a double. Delivered to your resort, and they will pick it back up. The brand usually rented is called a City Mini and we find them really easy to push, fold up and store. The kids enjoyed them as well.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

If you are looking for a cheap rental, you can try Apple Stroller. The company delivers to the resorts too. "Free" rental plus 5 dollars each day for insurance. They have City Mini single and double. Their stroller is not as new as other company and they don't offer accessories. If you can spend a little more, I will recommend to use other company, mine rental last year came with a fixed seam. However, Apple is great if you're on budget. You can't find them any cheaper for a City Mini.

 

[amomma23]

We have always brought our own. Checking one is easy peasy, and it's nice to have one to use in the airport, too.

 

[bettymae1121]

We check ours too, but we only have one child and we use a lightweight umbrella stroller. But there is such a thing as a double umbrella stroller (or at least there used to be, my SIL used one about 10 years ago). If you know someone that has one, maybe you can borrow it for the trip. I like to travel light and the idea of bringing a huge bulky stroller on vacation (Disney or otherwise) would drive me up a wall.

 

[tomeaine]

Same position as you. I have a 7 & 5yr old and first timers for Disney.
When we go to smaller parks (santas village / storyland) we typically need the park stroller as we tend to do full days with them.
When looking up rental strollers available from the sites it doesnt seem like they will work for my 7yr old as he is quite tall.
thinking of getting decent 2 umbrella strollers with us for almost the same cost

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Bring yours and gate check it. Super-easy and you'll be happy to have it in the airport.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you think you will want it for around the resort, or going back and forth to the buses, bring your own. If you don't want the hassle of having to fold up a stroller, and hanging on to it on the bus or won't really use it at the resort, rent one.

Wagons are most definitely not allowed. They are listed on Disney's banned from the parks list.

 

[ceecee]

We have always brought our own. Checking one is easy peasy, and it's nice to have one to use in the airport, too.

AND the resort. I bought a cheapy easy to carry and fold up at Walmart for like $15 the crazy thing lasted for 3 trips and I sold it at my garage sale for $10! We used to gate check it, I think they still do that.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

Bring yours and gate check it. Super-easy and you'll be happy to have it in the airport.

Depends on the airline. I had to rent last year, because AA has 20 lbs limit on gate check stroller. I didn't feel comfortable with check in, which turns out to be quite right-one of the booster seat with back came back to us backless. I took a lightweight umbrella stroller with me for the airport and rent a double for my stay.

 

[scanmom]

At least not from disney. The prices are outrageous!! When I went with DS, DD and 3 DGkids, ages 11 mos, 4 mos and 2y, we bought cheap umbrella strollers (disney themed) at Walmart. I think the disney ones were $20.00 each (we got 3). We checked them at the gate (southwest airlines and united airlines) and had NO problem. It was also helpful to have the strollers in the airports to change planes. We still have those strollers and they are in good shape. It would have cost us 4 times what we paid to rent from disney.

 

[fluffykalie]

Hello my children will be 5 and 4 on my next trip and we are going to bring one lightweight stroller and an umbrella. We are going to gate check them. This is our first time flying so we will see how that goes. But our third trip to disney using the bus's. we bought our double the first trip. It was hard to get through the crowds and get on and off the bus. But the single/umbrella strollers worked much better. My kids can sleep in an umbrella so depending on your child that is something to consider.

 

[MikeP22]

Our daughter is 6yo, 51in and 60lbs.. Ostensibly too big (and mature) for a stroller under normal circumstances. So we sold our strollers at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago.

We're planning to go 8/26 - 9/2 and reconsidering using a stroller; it's going to be hot and this child will be exhausted from time to time, even with breaks and the like. I know last summer we brought one to Busch Gardens (VA) and she hardly used it but when she needed it boy were we all glad we had it.

So, I'm torn as to what to do...
Buy an umbrella stroller (which she'll probably be too big for) before for around $60 (I'm guessing) and check it at the gate (which may not be the most comfortable option for her)?
Rent one (of the right size for her) from a company for about $100 and risk not needing it and having that $ go to waste?
Play it by ear the first day or two and if needed go buy one somewhere for around the same cost as the first option?

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Our daughter is 6yo, 51in and 60lbs.. Ostensibly too big (and mature) for a stroller under normal circumstances. So we sold our strollers at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago.

We're planning to go 8/26 - 9/2 and reconsidering using a stroller; it's going to be hot and this child will be exhausted from time to time, even with breaks and the like. I know last summer we brought one to Busch Gardens (VA) and she hardly used it but when she needed it boy were we all glad we had it.

So, I'm torn as to what to do...
Buy an umbrella stroller (which she'll probably be too big for) before for around $60 (I'm guessing) and check it at the gate (which may not be the most comfortable option for her)?
Rent one (of the right size for her) from a company for about $100 and risk not needing it and having that $ go to waste?
Play it by ear the first day or two and if needed go buy one somewhere for around the same cost as the first option?

Play it by ear and rent if needed or buy one somewhere if needed.

We went when DD was 5 1/2. She hadn't used a stroller in over a year.
I debated on taking a stroller or not. We ended up going without it and just said if needed we would rent a single stroller for the day while in WDW.

She did perfectly fine for 7 days and never needed a stroller. We did go in August, in the heat, took midday breaks and she never once asked to be held or that she was tired.

 

[maxiesmom]

At least not from disney. The prices are outrageous!! When I went with DS, DD and 3 DGkids, ages 11 mos, 4 mos and 2y, we bought cheap umbrella strollers (disney themed) at Walmart. I think the disney ones were $20.00 each (we got 3). We checked them at the gate (southwest airlines and united airlines) and had NO problem. It was also helpful to have the strollers in the airports to change planes. We still have those strollers and they are in good shape. It would have cost us 4 times what we paid to rent from disney.

Just be careful when getting a cheap umbrella stroller. If you are average height or taller, you may end up hunched down while pushing your stroller, most have such short handles. Saving money is great! Ending up sore and with back pain is not.

 

[LONES]

Just be careful when getting a cheap umbrella stroller. If you are average height or taller, you may end up hunched down while pushing your stroller, most have such short handles. Saving money is great! Ending up sore and with back pain is not.

I totally agree with this! I'm 5'11", and a cheap umbrella stroller can't even be considered. I will say that in the last few years some of the mid-range models have gotten better... but the cheap ones are still a nightmare! Ease of pushing is probably my #1 consideration. We've always brought a full size Graco from home, and never really had an issue. It's a little bigger than I would like on the busses, yet it's cheap enough that I wouldn't be devastated if it got lost or ruined. It can be a pain going through security if they make you fold it up. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they've let me push it through. Still... I think it's been more of a help in the airport than not.