Stroller advise for 6yo, 4yo, 1.5yo family

[francisca2022]

Hello!!!

We've booked a 10 day trip for February 2023. My kids will be 6, 4, and 1.5 years old. This is our first trip to Disney with the kids and my first trip since I was a teenager. I would love some advise on stroller logistics

We don't ever use a stroller for the 6 year old but based on other posts I am thinking she might need one for this vacation. The 4 year old doesn't usually need a stroller but doesn't do great on long walks so I am thinking he and the baby will definitely need a stroller.

My plan is to get a double and have them take turns during the day, but I am a little concerned that I'll end up carrying the baby in my arms all day because the other 2 are tired. However, I think if we bring a double + an umbrella it would be too difficult to move around, find stroller parking, get in the bus, etc.

We have a double stroller (Joovie Caboose) that we love for shorter days as the baby sits in front and the other 2 walk/sit/stand on the bench as they like. However, it is not very sturdy/super comfortable for a sleepy second kid. Do I need to upgrade to a nicer double for Disney?

We are flying from South America so it is a long flight + layover. I would love to have the double stroller with us but I am guessing it will need to be checked. Should I risk sending as checked bag? Haven't done that before but I am guessing it might break.

Appreciate any advise you have for us!! Thanks so much!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My kids are similar ages, 7, 4, and 2.

We have a sit-stand that's very similar to the Joovy Caboose and that's what I'd recommend. Baby in the front, middle in the back, 6 year old walks, but can take a quick break in the back if necessary. The 6 year old doesn't need a "full time" stroller.

I wouldn't worry about "sleepy second kid," I would recommend midday breaks with real naps pretty much every day, and bed at a decent time. When Disney families hit meltdown mode, it's almost always due to not getting enough sleep. Don't try to push them too hard. On a ten day trip, you'll be able to do an see everything even at a slow pace. If the kids are melting down because they're so tired that you have to carry the baby constantly, I'd say they're too tired, period, and would recommend taking breaks before you get to that point.

This is the one we use: Graco RoomFor2. Very similar to yours.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We are flying from South America so it is a long flight + layover. I would love to have the double stroller with us but I am guessing it will need to be checked. Should I risk sending as checked bag? Haven't done that before but I am guessing it might break.

You should be able to gate check it so you have it through the airport. You keep the stroller with you until you board the plane, then you leave it at the end of the jetway and they stow it under the plane. Then when you land, they'll unload it back onto the jetway rather than sending it through to baggage claim. I would buy a cheap bag to store it in, as it's more likely to get dirty than broken.

 

[tinkerjo]

I don’t have kids that small anymore but I do have grandkids around that age. I would think 2 strollers would be awful. I would use a double and let them trade off. Also, since you are there for 10 days, I would definitely take my time. No need to rush through any park. Take an afternoon break if you plan on being in the park late so everyone can recharge. If your older 2 get too tired just rent a stroller for a day. My 6 year olds did pretty good but we never went rope drop to close and I can see my grandkids needing a stroller for Disney (and they are 4,7,8)

 

[francisca2022]

sorry double post

 

[francisca2022]

You should be able to gate check it so you have it through the airport. You keep the stroller with you until you board the plane, then you leave it at the end of the jetway and they stow it under the plane. Then when you land, they'll unload it back onto the jetway rather than sending it through to baggage claim. I would buy a cheap bag to store it in, as it's more likely to get dirty than broken.

Thanks for the reply!!

I have gate-checked many times but in this case it's going to be 2 flights. Do you know if I'll have the stroller with me during the layover? I believe that once I board my first flight, the stroller will be checked for the final destination... Just guessing here as I haven't done it before. Thanks again!

 

[francisca2022]

I don’t have kids that small anymore but I do have grandkids around that age. I would think 2 strollers would be awful. I would use a double and let them trade off. Also, since you are there for 10 days, I would definitely take my time. No need to rush through any park. Take an afternoon break if you plan on being in the park late so everyone can recharge. If your older 2 get too tired just rent a stroller for a day. My 6 year olds did pretty good but we never went rope drop to close and I can see my grandkids needing a stroller for Disney (and they are 4,7,8)

Thanks for the advise! I also think 2 strollers would be awful so it's great to hear other people agree.

We are planning to take things slow and enjoy our time. 3 days will be rest days at the hotel or DS. Park days might be a full day or just a half day if we are getting tired

 

[francisca2022]

My kids are similar ages, 7, 4, and 2.

I wouldn't worry about "sleepy second kid," I would recommend midday breaks with real naps pretty much every day, and bed at a decent time. When Disney families hit meltdown mode, it's almost always due to not getting enough sleep. Don't try to push them too hard. On a ten day trip, you'll be able to do an see everything even at a slow pace. If the kids are melting down because they're so tired that you have to carry the baby constantly, I'd say they're too tired, period, and would recommend taking breaks before you get to that point.

THANKS!! we are planning on afternoon breaks and if we don't feel like going back to the parks that's fine too.. no need to see everything. Hopefully this will be one of many family trips to Disney.

Since your kids are similar ages, which are their favorite parks? We are thinking 6 park days and 3 rest days (1 travel day) : 2 MG, 2 AK, 1 EPCOT, 1 HS. Thanks again!!

 

[CinderEmma94]

Thanks for the reply!!

I have gate-checked many times but in this case it's going to be 2 flights. Do you know if I'll have the stroller with me during the layover? I believe that once I board my first flight, the stroller will be checked for the final destination... Just guessing here as I haven't done it before. Thanks again!

You’ll check the stroller right before you get on the plane. When you get off for your layover, you’ll pick it up where you dropped it off (right by the door of the plane) and do the same thing again for the second flight. You’ll need to get a gate check tag from the customer service desk at your gate and they’ll put a tag on it for you.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Thanks for the reply!!

I have gate-checked many times but in this case it's going to be 2 flights. Do you know if I'll have the stroller with me during the layover? I believe that once I board my first flight, the stroller will be checked for the final destination... Just guessing here as I haven't done it before. Thanks again!

You should get it back in between.

When they check bags through to the final destination, it's usually because they expect to be short on overhead bin space. In those cases, they usually tag your bag with the same white tags as if you had checked the bag at the check-in counter in the first place. The gate check tag for strollers is different, it's usually neon pink.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

THANKS!! we are planning on afternoon breaks and if we don't feel like going back to the parks that's fine too.. no need to see everything. Hopefully this will be one of many family trips to Disney.

Since your kids are similar ages, which are their favorite parks? We are thinking 6 park days and 3 rest days (1 travel day) : 2 MG, 2 AK, 1 EPCOT, 1 HS. Thanks again!!

We go super slow so we don't take any days off completely. A typical day would be a park 8am to lunch, break 1pm to 4pm, park 4pm to 8pm, bed by 9. We usually stay for 8 nights and don't do anything on travel days, so that leaves 14 half-days:

4 Magic Kingdom
3 Epcot
3 Hollywood Studios
2 or 3 Animal Kingdom
1 or 2 off

 

[juxtapose]

A double should be fine! My kids could both walk a significant portion of the day by age 4 and were out of the stroller by 5 unless we were traveling with a stroller and then they occasionally got jealous of their sibling using a stroller so we’d just switch off if that happened.

 

[francisca2022]

Thanks so much! I agree that jealousy might be the only reason my 6 year old will ask for a stroller hahaha

 

[ElenaRN]

If I were you I would rent a double stroller. If you use a baby carrier I would bring that also.
I have gate checked strollers before and they have gotten damaged. We prefer to rent once we get to FL.
The 4 & 6 yo can take turns but having the carrier gives you another option if one of the older ones fall asleep.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

We are planning a two week trip in Feb 2023 with a 7 and almost 3 yo with only 5 park days. I am going to rent a sit-stand stroller as I don't own one (well ok I do, but it's old and it's about 2 miles long). I don't think my 7yo will use his seat much but I wanted the option especially if it's particularly crowded or we need to move from a to b quickly.

 

[Anna131517]

With international flights you probably will not get a gate checked stroller back between flights. I wouldn’t count on that at all but you can ask the airline what they do at that particular airport. That means the kids won’t have a place to sit during layovers or customs. If that’s a problem look into travel strollers - they collapse small enough to fit in an overhead bin on the plane.

In terms of stroller(s) for the parks, at that age we rented two strollers - a double citi mini for the two youngest and a citi mini GT for the oldest. And yes they all fell asleep in the strollers at various points, particularly coming home from fireworks. If you’re staying at a monorail resort (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian) or at one of the Epcot resorts (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin) then that’s a big deal. You can just wheel your sleeping children back to the room. If you’re staying somewhere that always requires use of buses or skyliner then they have to get out anyway and the stroller isn’t as beneficial.

We did not find having two strollers to be difficult at all. You just park them in stroller parking at the parks when you’re not using them. The citi minis are so easy to fold too so they’re not a problem on the buses. What I find intolerable is sleepy whiny kids who don’t want to walk and I have to carry!

 

[JacksonAcreWoods]

We have a 6, 4, and 2 year old. We were in the park back in May. We used our double Bob and a pockit stroller that folded so small it fit into the basket under the Bob. It was perfect. Especially when it rained. We put the 4 and 2 year old in the Bob with a rain cover and the 6 year old in the Pockit with its own single rain cover. We busted out our umbrellas and pachos and flip flops and were as portable as ever! I highly recommend having a stroller accommodation for each child. It was actually kind of nice having the kids “trapped” in the stroller. We bought some Jeofreys and had a walking in the rain coffee date!

 

[francisca2022]

We have a 6, 4, and 2 year old. We were in the park back in May. We used our double Bob and a pockit stroller that folded so small it fit into the basket under the Bob. It was perfect. Especially when it rained. We put the 4 and 2 year old in the Bob with a rain cover and the 6 year old in the Pockit with its own single rain cover. We busted out our umbrellas and pachos and flip flops and were as portable as ever! I highly recommend having a stroller accommodation for each child. It was actually kind of nice having the kids “trapped” in the stroller. We bought some Jeofreys and had a walking in the rain coffee date!

That pockit strollers sounds awesome. Did you rent in Orlando? If so, could you please share the link?

 

[JacksonAcreWoods]

GB Pockit Air All-Terrain Compact Stroller​

They sell it at buy buy baby. It won’t let me post the link but if you google it, it pops right up. It’s super nice because it fits in the Bob basket perfectly!

 

[francisca2022]

With international flights you probably will not get a gate checked stroller back between flights. I wouldn’t count on that at all but you can ask the airline what they do at that particular airport. That means the kids won’t have a place to sit during layovers or customs. If that’s a problem look into travel strollers - they collapse small enough to fit in an overhead bin on the plane.

In terms of stroller(s) for the parks, at that age we rented two strollers - a double citi mini for the two youngest and a citi mini GT for the oldest. And yes they all fell asleep in the strollers at various points, particularly coming home from fireworks. If you’re staying at a monorail resort (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian) or at one of the Epcot resorts (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Swan/Dolphin) then that’s a big deal. You can just wheel your sleeping children back to the room. If you’re staying somewhere that always requires use of buses or skyliner then they have to get out anyway and the stroller isn’t as beneficial.

We did not find having two strollers to be difficult at all. You just park them in stroller parking at the parks when you’re not using them. The citi minis are so easy to fold too so they’re not a problem on the buses. What I find intolerable is sleepy whiny kids who don’t want to walk and I have to carry!

I was thinking the same about international gate check so it's probably not worth it to travel with my own stroller.

We are staying at French Quarter. I don't think 2 strollers would work for the bus ride. I am leaning towards 1 double + baby carrier for now.

Thanks!!