Stroller Advice

[amylevan]

Can we talk strollers for a moment? I'm debating what our best options are going to be...

We have 2 potential stroller riders:
DS is 4.5 and is very "stollers are for babies" so I'm not sure how much he is actually going to be willing to catch a ride. He was 2.5 the last trip to WDW, and even then, did a fair amount of walking.

DD will be 13 months. Currently she is still taking a morning and afternoon nap, not sure if that will still be the case when we go in 7 weeks.

Our touring habits are not particularly commando. We have 10 day tickets, so we usually hit rope drop since the family is early risers, stay until just after lunch when we head back to the campground for naps, swimming and play. Go back to the parks for dinner and either evening entertainment or a few more rides. Other than 1 night each for Wishes/MSEP, Ill, & Fantasmic, we will try to be back at our campsite by 8pm each night for DS's normal bedtime. We do have a day planned at Universal which will be all day though.

I have a carrier that I will have with us to carry DD should she want up.

I have 3 strollers at my disposal:
Chicco Capri Umbrella Stroller: Average umbrella stroller that folds easily and is lightweight. Has a small under storage, a very slight recline, a small sun shade and I have a bag that I hang on the back to increase storage and to hold beverages. This is the stroller DS used when he was 2.5. He didn't nap in it, but he did fall asleep during Ill, so despite the total recline, it must be somewhat comfortable. DS still fits in this one, and obviously DD is fine in it.

Graco Travel System Stroller: We refer to this as the Cadillac stroller. It has full recline, large under storage, parent organizer, full sun shade and is probably the most comfortable one we own. The problem is that it is huge, and would probably be a pain on the busses. DD is the only one who would fit in this one.

Joovy Sit and Stand: This has room for both kids. Full recline for front sitter, understorage that is a pain to get into, full sun shade, parent organizer and a place for DS to stand and/or sit. This is also huge and likely a pain on the busses.

We are taking our camper, so I can logistically take the umbrella and either the graco or Joovy but not both. We could also rent, but I originally did not consider that in our budget. (Not that it can't be done...)

Anytime that DD is in the carrier, DS could theoretically ride in the umbrella. We have 6 adults going, so pushing 2 strollers is not out of the question.

Would you:
1. Take the umbrella only, assuming that DD will ride in it most of the time and DS can have access to it when DD is in her carrier?

2. Take the umbrella and graco. Use the graco for DD and bring the umbrella along when we think DS might need it.

3. Take the joovy. Both kids can use it as needed.

4. Rent a single city mini to use in conjuction with our umbrella.

5. Rent a double city mini and be done with it.

 

[atomik_momma]

If they find the umbrella stroller decently comfortable and it's comfortable for you (or the other adults) to push it, then I'd go with taking the umbrella and the carrier. When we went when my oldest was 4, he ended up sleeping quite a bit in the stroller by the time we hit day 3, but every kid is different of course and if yours can hang better than mine then I'd think the umbrella and the carrier would be sufficient. We rented a double city mini and had a beco carrier (similar to an ergo) with us, but we also had a 4 yr old, 3 yr old (both who had *just* turned that age) and an 8 month old and all three used and slept in the stroller. Sometimes I just didn't feel like wearing the baby because *I* was tired, so it was nice to have a double to use but with one less kid I don't think it would have been a necessity.

So that was long winded and ramble-y, lol, but I'd go with option one as my first pick.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Considering your touring style and when you are going, and the fact you don't want to deal with the graco on the bus and have a carrier for your 13 month old, I think I'd pick a variation of #4.

I'd either only rent a single city-mini for them to share or I'd likely bring the umbrella stroller on the trip, but rent a single city mini. But I would also only go to the park with the city mini at first and see how the 4.5 year-old would do before bringing both to the park.

I say this because your 4.5 year-old is alreay anti-stroller, so no need to lug both to the park in the beginning. You'll be taking breaks and it shouldn't be hot. Also I believe when your 13 month old is in the stroller, she might need more comfort than the umbrella can provide since she is still taking a morning snooze.

Other option (like you need another one) is the city micro, which is currently marked down to $99 on albeebaby.com. That's probably comparable to renting for the length of trip you are taking.

That's how I ended up owning a city mini. I rented in 2010 and in 2012, someone mentioned they were on sale on Albeebaby. They had them marked down to the point the price was going to be the same as doing another rental.

http://www.albeebaby.com/baby-jogger-city-micro-single-stroller-in-grey-black.html

 

[amylevan]

Other option (like you need another one) is the city micro, which is currently marked down to $99 on albeebaby.com. That's probably comparable to renting for the length of trip you are taking.

That's how I ended up owning a city mini. I rented in 2010 and in 2012, someone mentioned they were on sale on Albeebaby. They had them marked down to the point the price was going to be the same as doing another rental.

http://www.albeebaby.com/baby-jogger-city-micro-single-stroller-in-grey-black.html

Yikes, that's a good price! Hmmm....

 

[Jimbeaux28]

Having 2 kids myself, #5 is the way we went. Easy in and out for the kids when they wanted to ride and prevented the inevitable "death march" out of the parks with us having to carry 2 tired kids. As a plus, the stroller was our rolling storage container allowing us to bring all the extra stuff that comes with kids. Your little tough guy who is testing his independence will wilt under the pace and distance that comes with a visit to a Disney park and will gladly accept rides in the stroller. Also, as an unpaid endorser, I highly recommend Magic Strollers. Always impeccable service. Have fun!

 

[cjbcam]

Considering your touring style and when you are going, and the fact you don't want to deal with the graco on the bus and have a carrier for your 13 month old, I think I'd pick a variation of #4.

I'd either only rent a single city-mini for them to share or I'd likely bring the umbrella stroller on the trip, but rent a single city mini. But I would also only go to the park with the city mini at first and see how the 4.5 year-old would do before bringing both to the park.

I say this because your 4.5 year-old is alreay anti-stroller, so no need to lug both to the park in the beginning. You'll be taking breaks and it shouldn't be hot. Also I believe when your 13 month old is in the stroller, she might need more comfort than the umbrella can provide since she is still taking a morning snooze.

Other option (like you need another one) is the city micro, which is currently marked down to $99 on albeebaby.com. That's probably comparable to renting for the length of trip you are taking.

That's how I ended up owning a city mini. I rented in 2010 and in 2012, someone mentioned they were on sale on Albeebaby. They had them marked down to the point the price was going to be the same as doing another rental.

http://www.albeebaby.com/baby-jogger-city-micro-single-stroller-in-grey-black.html

Do you know if you can order it and have it delivered to your resort?

 

[luvmy2babies]

Do you know if you can order it and have it delivered to your resort?

The micro? I imagine so. People have other things sent to their resorts all of the time whether they send it from home via UPS or an order from amazon or diapers.com.

I was thinking there is a thread on here somewhere about having things shipped to your resort. I found it on the resort forum. It is a sticky but here's the link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2437212

 

[ABCastillo]

I think I would lean towards the last option. The city minis are easy to fold for the bus, aren't crazy huge and even if only one little one wants to ride it's not a big deal because you now have some extra storage for snacks or jackets and such.

 

[englishteacha]

Perhaps you could get another umbrella type stroller (craigslist, maybe, or buy one of the Kolcraft ones at the parks?) to take with you, or rent a small double. I wore my daughter while hiking when she was 13 months, and it was very tiring. I don't think I'd want to wear her for too long in Florida. I'm very frugal, and I'd find it tough to rent a stroller when I could own one for the same price, but convenience wise, renting the small double seems like a good idea. Maybe you could find one secondhand before you go and take it with you, then sell it when you get home?

If you want to do 2 strollers, then maybe buying an inexpensive small stroller is a good direction to go. If I were buying a stroller for a trip, I'd get the First Years Ignite. (They even have a Minnie print on Amazon!) It's around $60 at Walmart for a black and red one. My friend has one and really likes it for when they travel. It folds up almost as small as the cheap umbrella strollers.

We have the Jeep Cherokee Sport stroller which doesn't fold quite as small as the Ignite or an umbrella stroller but is still very small and light. It's around $50. We have this one: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Jeep-Cherokee-Sport-Stroller-Siren/17783191

I like it a lot. There's a drink spot for us, a tray for my daughter, and a small basket underneath. It holds to 50 pounds. I can fold it with one hand and it stands up on its wheels when folded, which I found I really like. It doesn't have to lie on the ground when folded so it stays pretty clean.

I had lunch with a friend who had a small umbrella stroller and their stroller hung off the handle of mine while their son was walking, so you might be able to hang your smaller stroller off the handle of one stroller if your son isn't in it.

The Graco ones like what you have are very nice, but I agree that they are very bulky, even folded. My sister had one for my nephew and it was great in the parks, but we drove and didn't deal with buses. I remember my brother in law closing it up and it took a lot of space on the tram. Luckily the tram was mostly empty.

 

[englishteacha]

I see Apple Strollers is still doing their promo rates. I've never used them, but here's their link: https://www.applestroller.com/

 

[worm761]

If the 4 year old is anti stroller then I would take one of the strollers the little one can recline and sleep in.

DD is 4. She went at 22 months and walked most of it. She was only in her stroller when she wanted to nap. And she only napped at Disney at that age. At 3 she didn't want to be in the stroller at all until she got to not feeling well. She caught a virus at Disney. At 4, she can easily hike/nature walk for miles (up to 6) and won't go in a stroller.

So, if your DS is not wanting one then I would take one for the little one and if DS needs a break then let him ride and carry DD. Though when my DS was young I found that a break for ice cream or a show worked for a break. Or running around at one of the playgrounds. I found that it wasn't necessarily that he was wore out but rather a little too overstimulated and need to just play for a bit.