Speaking of strollers: Should we bring our own?

[abckid]

We are bringing our 4 kids, ages 2, 3, 7, and 9. We have a nice double stroller that we love and dh wants to bring it to Disneyland. I know it will make our days in the park so much better. However, I just want to make sure this is the right decision. The stroller is pretty heavy when it's folded up, I think almost 50 pounds. My worries are #1) the airline and #2) the airport shuttle. I think it is within the weight limit to be able to take it on the plane, and we would definitely gate check it. I'm worried that the person having to take it down the stairs from the gate to the ground will have a hard time carrying it (it's big/bulky). Also, the last time we took a double stroller on a plane they didn't treat it very nicely. I would hate for my nice-ish stroller to get destroyed. As for #2, I'm not as concerned because we will need a private shuttle and we won't take very many bags with us. I'm still unsure if they will try to charge me extra for the stroller though.

Our other option is to buy an inexpensive umbrella stroller to bring with us. It would be so much easier in the airport and on the shuttle. But it will not have storage space, which would be a nice thing to have with 4 kids in Disney. Also, I'm not sure my 3 year old can last all day on his feet. What do you think: bring double stroller or buy umbrella stroller?

Also, while we're talking kids' equipment....what about carseats? I'm trying to decide whether to bring the carseats for the younger 2. I know we've brought them on trips in the past when we were renting a car because I prefer to use my own seats. However, now that we have 4 kids and we are not renting a car, I can't decide! I think the kids are more comfy on the plane in their carseats, but our flight is also only 2.5 hours. I am also looking into the possibility of renting carseats from the shuttle service. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[ballarinamom]

Cheap umbrella strollers can be a drag. The handles are shorter and the wheels do not roll as smoothly. I would definately bring a stroller. You will get some here that might say get a Disney Visa and get the free stroller. But getting to and from the hotel would be hard. If you can find a double umbrella stroller that rolls ok and has high enough handles for you, you can take a cheap or old backpack and loop the straps over the back of the stroller. We've done this many times. We bought a JEEP stroller at Walmart for about $40 and it serviced us well for multiple Disney trips and day trips to Seaworld and Fiesta Texas here in San Antonio
As for the car seats. Some shuttles provide them. Call and check
Good luck!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

As a mom of girls that are 19 months apart - Bring the double!!!!!!!!!

The fact that it is a familiar object that your children will have comfort with, makes it a valuable tool when they are tired and beyond themselves. You own stroller is a piece of home.

My girls are around the same ages as yours and we could not live without our double on the nights we stay over. Don't be lured in by the call of the umbrella. You can't lay the little ones as far down when they are exhausted and you have the two older kids to deal with, too. The weight won't be an issue on the plane.

Shuttles and most airlines do not charge you extra for them. Strollers are something they deal with and they don't charge you for them being overweight. It's a stroller.

Regarding car seats.... If you take the Disneyland Express bus, you don't need the carseats at all. It's also cheaper and safer than many shuttle services. it is a large cushy tour bus. Just a thought....

 

[bumbershoot]

Bring your stroller.

When gatechecking (or checking) a stroller there's no weight issues...it's just a stroller. And don't worry about the baggage people; they are strong, they have to be! Perhaps you could get some sort of cover for it to help protect it while gate-checking it?

If you're taking a shuttle like Super Shuttle, I don't know that they rent carseats. I wouldn't rent a carseat; who knows how gross, old, inappropriate it is, ya know?

I decided DS was OK to not have a carseat on the plane when he was 3.5 (though really the decision was made out of exhaustion and not wanting to bonk all the heads on a full airplane as we made our connecting flight), but before that, I liked the carseat on the plane. He seemed to be happier in it, and I was happy b/c of the 5 point harness instead of the wiggly dude in a lapbelt.

But if you don't want to lug the seats on the plane, I'd go with YMP's thought of the Disneyland Express. Added bonus, big luggage space underneath, so you can be less worried about the stroller taking up room!

 

[specialks]

A few things from a mother of 2 (were ages 4 an 1.5 for our trip last Sept):

- The strollers are a big help getting to and from the gates at the airports. If you can manage you airport travel without them then they just cause more trouble when it comes to transportation.

- Umbrella strollers don't have much room for storage. We had 2 strollers we took (one was a large style that can hold the infant seat and one was a little upscale umbrella version -- we also have a sit & stand double but we wanted the storage the large stroller provided and we had the ability to split off from each other with one stroller/kid each)

- As the person above said, depending on where you are staying the strollers are going to be a big help in getting to and from the parks. The walks to the parks from the hotels are a bit much for a 2 and 3 year old.

- I would think that your 2 year old would require a car seat for the airplane because unless he/she is big for their age the airplane seatbelt will not fit them very well and be completely safe and secure.

- You could look on this board to see if there is a "stroller leave behind" posting or start one of your own. Some people buy supplies (like toasters and then they just get left behind for other people to use). Maybe someone would be staying at your same hotel or one near and would be willing to leave it at the front desk for you when you check in.

- And finally (sorry this is so long), you might look on craigslist.com for local anaheim people selling their strollers. Maybe they would be willing to meet you at your hotel or you could even pay with paypal and maybe they would drop it off at your hotel.

I hope some of this helps. We are using our Disney visa card to get rentals at the parks because we drive to the parks from our hotel and getting on and off the trams with the strollers just about did me in. Good luck!

 

[abckid]

Thanks! It seems that most people agree that bringing our double stroller is a good idea. We brought a double stroller when we brought the older 2 to Disneyland when they were 3 and 4, and it was a lifesaver IMO. I'll just hope the baggage handlers don't toss it around too much and break it, at least not before Disney. If it breaks after, it will be a lot easier to deal with

As far as the Disney bus, it's actually cheaper for us to get a private shuttle because there are 8 of us including my inlaws. We won't have to wait for anyone or drop anyone off, so that will be nice. But I don't know about the carseats. I need to call and see if they have any before I make my decision. I'm thinking I might bring a carseat on the plane for the 2 year old and not the 3 year old, but I would have to see if I could rent one for the shuttle.

Any other advice/ideas are greatly appreciated

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

YES!!!

The strollers there are not conducive to sleep IMO (my kids never DID sleep in the stroller however...) - It's also easier to find your stroller when it's you're own.
It's nice to be in a different place w/ your comfy stroller when you're a kid. When we went DS was 3.5 - never sat in the stroller by that time but I took it & the crowds alone had him in his seat for the sheer feeling of security!

We had the Chicco stroller...not cheap, not expensive & bc it folded up (umbrella) it was perfect for traveling.

 

[Brady's Mom]

I LOVE, love, love having our double jogging stroller at DLR. My kids are bigger than yours, but we still use it. We contemplated not bringing it this trip and then decided for peace of mind and a place to store things (water bottles) and to go faster from "land" to "land", and to have everyone safely where I can see them it will be soo worth schlepping it through the airport and fitting it in the rental car.

Our kids like the stroller, even though they don't use it very often anymore. I think the security aspect of it is very nice for them. And when they get tired they can just sit in it and have a little rest. They do a lot of walking on their own, but having the stroller just makes things a little easier. Also, DH and I are fast walkers and 4.5 yr. old and 7 yr. old legs don't always keep up.