Sorry...Another stroller question!

[sara74]

We are headed to WDW in April with DD4 and DS 21 months. We know we need a stroller for both kids and want one that reclines for potential naps. So am I correct that the park strollers don't recline? Is my double Graco going to be too big to get on buses and the boat (staying at WL)? Is there a double reclining umbrella type stroller out there? And if I bring a stroller from home and check it at the gate at the airport, does it count as a piece of luggage?

Oops, and another question. DS has his own seat on the plane. Does bringing his carseat count as luggage? Does anyone fly with a toddler in their own seat without a carseat or is that less safe?

Sorry for so many questions but I am so confused about what to do!

I should add that I don't really mind having to buy a stroller if need be as we are also TTC and would certainly use one for a few more years!

 

[Grumpy24]

The Disney park stollers do not recline. If you want to rent and nice reclining stroller, look at A Baby's Best Friend www.abbf.com They rent all things needed for trraveling to WDW with children. We have used them in the past and were very impressed with the cleanliness of items and ease of rental. They delivered to our resort before we arrived and picked up after we had left. Very professional experience and the items we rented we great.

Have a great trip!

 

[Woodcourt]

We just went through all of this....we went last May with our 2 1/2 year old and 1 year old. We have a double Graco, but it is so heavy, we didnt like the idea of having to drag it around since it is so heavy. After a lot of research, we decided to purchase a Peg Perego Aria Twin. It was worth the money to have a lightweight, easy to use, double umbrella stroller. It fits through doorways..although sometimes the wheels need to be turned sometimes and the girls loved it. Our one year old took lots of naps. So, we love it and are pleased with our investment and use it all of the time.

Hope you find what works for you!

 

[suezpqt]

Hello Sara74 - I know that the strollers at WDW do not recline. Can't make any recommendations for you regarding any other type of stroller. As far as the carseat for DS and the stoller - I don't believe that either will be counted as luggage. The stroller should be able to be checked at the gate for you so you will be able to use right up to the minute you board and than be available for you as soon as you exit. Good luck and enjoy your trip!!

 

[MareSINY]

My sister purchased a new Graco stroller right before our September Disney trip. It was a side by side, we loved it because it's smooth rolling and wasn't too heavy. I don't know what the model was.

Basically, we had no trouble anywhere with the double. We rode the bus to different parks only once, and we took it on the monorail several times. It was a bit cumbersome to hold onto (folded up) on the bus and/or monorail, but other than that we had no problems with it.

 

[smazarluvsdis]

I too used to have a double Graco stroller...never ever would I take it to Disney. The first time we went dd was 3 and ds was 1 1/2. What we did was bought two Chicco Caddy strollers. They recline slightly, have rain covers, have a shoulder strap and fold up extremely compactly. It is nice to have 2 strollers, so that if you want to take one to the bathroom and the other to get a drink, etc. it is easy to do. Also, with the crowds it is so much easier to get around, especially in the shops. We find it is much easier for one parent to be responsible for one child/one stroller.

Question about gate check...nope it doesn't count as luggage. Again, we check both at the gate and we can walk quickly through the airport. About the carseat, once my kids are 4 I don't take a carseat on the plane. They are able to sit in the seatbelt and do great. If you check a carseat, it does not count as luggage. I hope I answered all of your questions. Good luck, whatever you decide.

 

[jaded]

The Disney park stollers do not recline. If you want to rent and nice reclining stroller, look at A Baby's Best Friend They rent all things needed for trraveling to WDW with children. We have used them in the past and were very impressed with the cleanliness of items and ease of rental. They delivered to our resort before we arrived and picked up after we had left. Very professional experience and the items we rented we great.

Have a great trip!

thank you so much for this tip. I just called and she was so easy to talk to, easy to make the reservations w/ etc. I ended up reserving a nice comfy full size crib and jogging stroller for the 2 year old! I was going to go w/ the double jogging stroller, but since we'll be headed back to the hotel for naps at lunch time, I figure the 6 year old will be ok.

 

[amarberry]

Is my double Graco going to be too big to get on buses and the boat (staying at WL)?

DS has his own seat on the plane. Does bringing his carseat count as luggage? Does anyone fly with a toddler in their own seat without a carseat or is that less safe?

The double Graco might be a bit of a pain lugging in and out of buses, but when we were there in Sept., we kept running into a family on the buses that had the Graco Duo Glider. Watching them, it didn't seem to be too bad taking it in and out of the buses and I'm sure that there kids were much more comfortable throughout the day being in a comfy and familar stroller. We always traveled during non-peak times on the buses (early before park opening and returned home usually before 7pm). I would think it would be less of a problem during non peak, non packed buses times.

As for the carseat on the plane, it doesn't count towards your luggage. There are a couple of reasons why I prefer my DD to be in a carseat. First of all, the 5 point harness is much more secure than the airplane seatbelt for a young child. I also think that my DD is more comfortable in her carseat. She at least knows what to expect in her carseat. I think that if she was in the regular seat, she'd be much more squirmy and trying to explore more. I'm also pretty germaphobic and I prefer my young DD to be in her relatively clean carseat. Well, at least I know that the germs and grime are ours!

 

[jennifer293]

We took our side by side Graco on our trip in May and it was a LIFE SAVER!!!!
It is big but DH became such a pro at how fast he could break it down and snap it shut as soon as he seen the bus coming down the road..LOL

It is almost like he was timing himself...

 

[chris7]

We leave in 11 days and are planning on bringing our double jogging stroller. We're planning to gate check it. Any one know how much of a pain (if any) it is getting a big stroller through security? We'll have it folded in advance of going through but it's still big. We have a 3 and 6 year old so not many strollers can hold the weight, but the In Step Safari TT can and it handles amazingly. I worry that the airport part will be a pain but since we own it I figured we might as well bring it rather than renting.

 

[mmiller]

DS is 4 years old and 54 pounds (yes 54 pounds) Not fat just 100% for both height and weight.....anyway......will he fit in the strollers that you rent at WDW? I went to Babies R Us to check on a lightweight stroller to take and he was past the weight recommendations for all of them....but he will be a pain in the butt if he can't get in the stoller sometimes...otherwise he wants to be carried.....will he fit?

 

[tinytotrn]

We just got back from Disney on Friday and my sister and I both took our big Graco double strollers (not side-be-side, but the big front/back kind) and had no problem getting them through security. They just made us fold them up and put them on the belt through the machine. I really didn't think it would fit (about 2 1/2 yrs ago our car seat got stuck in the machine, so I thought no way would the stroller make it!!) but the security people said it would and weren't concerned.

 

[crazywig]

DS is 4 years old and 54 pounds (yes 54 pounds) Not fat just 100% for both height and weight.....anyway......will he fit in the strollers that you rent at WDW? I went to Babies R Us to check on a lightweight stroller to take and he was past the weight recommendations for all of them....but he will be a pain in the butt if he can't get in the stoller sometimes...otherwise he wants to be carried.....will he fit?

yes he will fit. adults can almost fit in the disney strollers

pics here: http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/strol_faq.htm

 

[sara74]

Thanks for all the advice! I am going to run the info by Dh and see how he feels about separate strollers. Especially with one in diapers and one that is potty trained, it would be easier to be able to split off from one another.

Now for the funny part... suezpqt is either not paying attention or being very discreet in her reply! She is my older sister and didn't mention a thing about DH and I trying to conceive (which was in my original post)!!! Our secret is out! DON'T TELL MOM!!!!

 

[dcgrumpy]

We've used this one our last few trips. http://www.specialtybaby.com/kojewrtwspal.html

 

[pooh4evr]

We took our DDs 4 and 23 mos last May- we rented a side by side double from Baby's Best Friend and it was great!! I think it was $75 for 8 days(?) Be perepared for the 6 yr old to want a stroller too- there is alot of walking- Our stroller was perfect because both seats reclined, it had a great basket underneath and it had a canopy. We did not take breaks because the girls both slept in the stroller. It was nice to have it at Sea World and DTD too

We also had seats on the airplane for the girls and did not take a carseat (we had shuttles to all parks and hotel) it worked fine for us they stayed in their seatbelts, we brought along coloring books, stickers, small quiet toys, juice and snacks. We did take an umbrella stroller just for the airport (gate checked) DD2 used it I pushed her with a couple of carry on bags on the handles, DH carried camera and backpack and DD 4 carried her carry on bag- until we got our big luggage (4 more pieces)

 

[KristiMc]

We took our DDs 4 and 23 mos last May- we rented a side by side double from Baby's Best Friend and it was great!! I think it was $75 for 8 days(?) Be perepared for the 6 yr old to want a stroller too- there is alot of walking- Our stroller was perfect because both seats reclined, it had a great basket underneath and it had a canopy. We did not take breaks because the girls both slept in the stroller. It was nice to have it at Sea World and DTD too

We also had seats on the airplane for the girls and did not take a carseat (we had shuttles to all parks and hotel) it worked fine for us they stayed in their seatbelts, we brought along coloring books, stickers, small quiet toys, juice and snacks. We did take an umbrella stroller just for the airport (gate checked) DD2 used it I pushed her with a couple of carry on bags on the handles, DH carried camera and backpack and DD 4 carried her carry on bag- until we got our big luggage (4 more pieces)

I was looking at renting the side-by-side double from ABBF. Does it fold easily and it is hard to put on the shuttles? We are going in Feb. with our 4 year old and 23 month old. We have been thinking about renting a WDW stroller but this one looks like it would be more comfy. I'm just worried about the stress of getting it on the shuttle busses.

 

[sara74]

Looked last night at the side-by-side double from ABBF as well. Any comments? How far does it recline? Do many of you have success with stroller naps in the parks?