Stroller dilemma

[l_kelly]

Hi folks,
We are traveling to Disney for 7 days in January and I am trying to decide what type of stroller I will need. I have 3 girls ages 3, 6, and 8. I know I will need a stroller...the 3 year old still likes to use one sometimes. I am planning to rent one from Orlando Stroller Rentals because I don't really have a decent one at home anymore and don't think it makes sense to buy one at this point.

So, what I'm stuck on is whether I should rent a single or a double. Is the double much harder to maneuver? Or is it worth it to be able to have the 3 and 6 year olds use the stroller if needed.

Thanks so much for any input!
Lisa

 

[HLAuburn]

It's hard to say, b/c a 6 year old could go either way, in my opinion. We rented a double from Magic Strollers, and it was the best decision we made! DD is almost 5 1/2 and she never rides in one at home, but rode almost the entire time at Disney. It was a lot of walking, and I think it would have been too much for her. I also liked having them both "confined" while we were trying to get through crowds etc.

We have a single Baby Jogger at home, and although the double is bigger and more bulky on the buses, its really easy to push. I felt like people generally were polite and "made way" for us. Of course, just about everyone there has a stroller, so people are understanding.

My only suggestion (and again, this depends on the kid) is maybe to talk to your older kids and come to an understanding ahead of time. I talked it over with DD, explained it would be a lot of walking, but if I rented a double, she would need to ride some of the time. She liked the idea of being side-by-side with her little sister, and she loved reclining and pulling the shade over...I think it was fun for her honestly, and who wouldn't want to be pushed around!

And one other suggestion...I'd look into Magic Strollers, simply because they offer a rain cover with the strollers. It only rained one day on our trip, but with the cover that was designed for the Baby Jogger, it made it possible to go to the park that day and the girls stayed perfectly dry and warm while Dh and I were miserable! I saw people with ponchos and bags over the strollers, but it just isn't the same. It's not something you think you need until you DO need one, then its a life-saver. All you have to do is request one with your rental, and it will be included in the bag. They also come with a parent console. The accessories are what sold me, and I'm glad we had them.

 

[sunburnin]

We rented the Citi-Mini Double from Magic Strollers last week for our "almost" 5yo and "just turned" 7yo and it was AWESOME! Very easy to push, turn, fold and carry on the bus. It's not super small when folded (take out all the stuff in the pockets before you fold it), but its smaller than a lot of others we saw. Plus it literally takes 2 seconds to collapse and open up. We did get the rain cover and organizer from Magic. Not sure what Orlando Rentals offers, but either way, get the double. You'll love it!

Side note, on our first day I kept having trouble turning it a few times. Turned out that there's a small lever on the front wheels that my kids would bump getting in/out that would lock them up straight (for jogging I assume). Easy fix after we figured it out. Hope that saves you my headache for a few hours. hehehehe