Stroller advice from the experts please!!

[LucasandMickey]

We are going to DL in May for DD's 1st birthday. DS wil be 2.5. We have two double stroller options.

Double BOB. Love, love, love my BOB! Pushes so easily, each seat reclines for kids to nap or not nap simultaneously. Great parent cupholder etc. We took this stroller when we went in September the width was not a problem AT ALL. My only hesitation with it is, with two small children, we have to cart quite a bit of stuff with us into the park, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes, snacks binkies, etc. I find the storage on double BOB less than par. The underneath basket is small and hard to access when the kids are in there. Last time, we ended up bringing a stiff reusable bag that sat on the foot rest of the stroller which was a PITA. The BOB would hands down be my stroller of choice if there was better storage. Does anyone have a solution? Any attachment ideas that might hook onto the stroller to shove more stuff in? I DO NOT want to walk around the park with a big ol' backpack. Part of the beauty of the stroller is having a place to store stuff!!

Contours Front/Back I love this stroller as well but it isn't as easy to push around. And the seat is fine for DS to sit in, but he couldn't comfortably take a nap in it. And he still naps. Fell asleep in the stroller every afternoon on our last trip. The storage is much bigger and easier to get to on this one.

Obviously, I would prefer the BOB, but does anyone have any storage solutions?

Something else to consider, we are flying. I've only ever taken a single stroller on a flight before. Will a double be a problem?

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Ok so I took a look on Babies r Us for your strollers. I think I found the right ones. Here are my thoughts as a mother of 5. I would go with what every they are the most comfortable in. As for bringing things with you. It looks like they are both about the same it's just that one has a divider in the middle. To add more storage look for something like this that would be compatible with your stroller I'm getting one for my trip! http://www.target.com/p/JL-Childres...cency&lnk=Rec|pdp|ClickCP|item_page.adjacency Or just search stroller organizer and see what they have for you. I like the idea of this kind of an organizer because you can put all of the baby needs at your finger tips. Binki bottles, zippy cups, snacks, even a few diapers and wipes. Then under neath you could put all of the bulky items. Just a thought. I have also seen something called the Mothers carabiner or something like that. It's basically a huge carabiner you could put bags on the side of the stroller I searched for it now and couldn't find it but I have seen it at my Target. Don't forget to got Dissigns side of the boards and look for a stroller License plate so that your stroller is easy to find and hopefully detour someone from accidentally taking the wrong one! :good vibes:good vibes I hope that helps a little! Have a great trip!

 

[BayAreaMom]

When we take our 2 kids to DL we use 2 Macs for them. We haven't brought a double but think it would be really hard to manuver through the crowds and also to park.
I would not fly with a nice stroller. It may get ruined. I also think I read about some airlines having new policies for strollers. Something about limiting the size or weight, or requiring them to be fully collapsable. I only fly with my Macs, but they were only about $100 and are super compact.

I don't leave anything valuable in the stroller. But with kids, even diapers / food is 'valuable' because they are must haves for a day at the park. I lock my bag to the stroller frame using a carabiner lock. The strap could still be cut but at least its not easy.

I would worry about a nice stroller getting stolen. You can weave a lock through the wheels but you can't lock a stroller to a fixed object at DL. The CM need to be able to move it if neccesary.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We flew to Orlando with our double. Not a problem, just check it at the gate.

I agree with PP about using the most comfortable stroller and the Mommy Hook. Also we stuffed the stuff we didn't need to access as often in the bottom (extra clothes, waters, diapers, etc) and took a smaller backpack/bag for the things we wanted to take onto rides and needed to access regularly. We kept a few diapers in the backpack that was easier to access and if I needed to get more out from underneath I'd do it when the kids were out of the stroller when we were about to go on a ride. We prefer a double over 2 singles (we've done it in an emergency when my double busted the first day of one of our DL trips). It allows one parent to run and get FPs or drinks or run to the bathroom while the other parent can still push both kids to the next destination.

 

[LucasandMickey]

Thank you so much for the advice! I think for us, since it's just DH and I and the two babies, a double stroller is best. We took BOB in September and it was fairly crowded and we never had a problem pushing it through crowds or parking it.

I like the idea of a license plate. It's a popular stroller and could easily be confused as someone else's. I had thought about the carabener. It'd be perfect for bags if we make purchases! (If? So silly, WHEN we make purchases)

And that stroller organizer is great! I will definitely be buying that or something similar!!!

I think BOB is the way to go. I think all of us would be the most comfortable. The other downside is it doesn't fit through the hotel room door so when you get back late at night and we're all exhausted, we have to take the sleeping kids out, take out all the stuff and collapse it to get it through the door! Oh well. Everything has it's pros and cons!!!!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thank you so much for the advice! I think for us, since it's just DH and I and the two babies, a double stroller is best. We took BOB in September and it was fairly crowded and we never had a problem pushing it through crowds or parking it.

I like the idea of a license plate. It's a popular stroller and could easily be confused as someone else's. I had thought about the carabener. It'd be perfect for bags if we make purchases! (If? So silly, WHEN we make purchases)

And that stroller organizer is great! I will definitely be buying that or something similar!!!

I think BOB is the way to go. I think all of us would be the most comfortable. The other downside is it doesn't fit through the hotel room door so when you get back late at night and we're all exhausted, we have to take the sleeping kids out, take out all the stuff and collapse it to get it through the door! Oh well. Everything has it's pros and cons!!!!

Where are you staying? Our double jogger didn't fit through Hojos doors (it barely fit through the door in the handicap room) but fit fine through most other hotel's doors.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

Where are you staying? Our double jogger didn't fit through Hojos doors (it barely fit through the door in the handicap room) but fit fine through most other hotel's doors.

YOUR RIGHT Shannon! I had to prop the door open and pack the stroller in the hallway. I just reversed all the way up to the door way. Unload it in the hallway collapse it and brought it back in! It was a little annoying. But I got a great deal so I over looked it! But we did fit just fine in the first tower entryway (I believe that's what it's called) both doors were just propped open when we went.

We brought our double jogger twice. There were very few places we didn't fit and we were able to navigate just fine inside the park! So excited that I could pay it forward with some advice on the disboards! I don't always know all of "Disney" going ons! BUT ask a Mommy question and I've got your back!!!

 

[LucasandMickey]

Where are you staying? Our double jogger didn't fit through Hojos doors (it barely fit through the door in the handicap room) but fit fine through most other hotel's doors.

YOUR RIGHT Shannon! I had to prop the door open and pack the stroller in the hallway. I just reversed all the way up to the door way. Unload it in the hallway collapse it and brought it back in! It was a little annoying. But I got a great deal so I over looked it! But we did fit just fine in the first tower entryway (I believe that's what it's called) both doors were just propped open when we went.

We brought our double jogger twice. There were very few places we didn't fit and we were able to navigate just fine inside the park! So excited that I could pay it forward with some advice on the disboards! I don't always know all of "Disney" going ons! BUT ask a Mommy question and I've got your back!!!

@Shannon! HOJO!! LOL Can't go wrong with the entertainment card rate and DS would probably prefer to be at Castaway cove over DL. haha.

@Californiamom- Couldn't agree more! Thank you!! I knew some DIS mamas would be on here to help a girl out!

 

[californiamomof4grls]

@Californiamom- Couldn't agree more! Thank you!! I knew some DIS mamas would be on here to help a girl out!

No prob!! My kids would have rather stayed at Castaway Cove too!!


Okay I edited this post because I was looking for my trip and I found the carabiner and more types of organizers on Amazon. Just thought I would share! http://www.amazon.com/Stroller-Hook...H2/ref=sr_1_69?ie=UTF8&qid=1328559272&sr=8-69

 

[Jperiod]

I have an old style BJ city elite so it has a tiny basket. Some accys we liked (of course these fit a single BJ, but they might have similar options for your dualie):
locking carabiner for bags/diaper bag: http://www.amazon.com/Buggyguard-B-...s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328560513&sr=1-2
hooks for holding diaper bag and other things: http://www.amazon.com/Think-King-St...s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328560565&sr=1-1
stroller net bag for side: http://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress...s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328560601&sr=1-5
parent tray fits larger cups: http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Buggy-B...s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328560680&sr=1-2
small cooler attached to the bottom: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Jogger-J...s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1328560734&sr=1-1

As for flying, it depends on which airline. Some charge for strollers. Def always gate check because they're less likely to get mangled. Buy a stroller bag or huge thick plastic contractor's garbage bag (like 3 mil or thicker). Write your name on the inside and outside, plus "gate check" really huge. Take the wheels off and make it as small as you can. Bungee cord it shut (I even attached the wheels to the bungee so they weren't flying around in the bag). If it's winter, wrap a jacket or two around it, then bungee, before putting in the bag. Then do lots of praying!

You could also weigh the cost of renting a dualie when you're there as opposed to airline fees or risking loosing your stroller. Airlines will NOT buy you a new one.