Stroller:Double or Two Singles

[TheSpooph]

For our upcoming trip, I am debating our stroller situation. I could bring our City Mini GT double or our City Mini single and then rent an additional single in Orlando. I'm not sure if the double is worth the hassle through the airport.

And, is a double a pain in the parks? I know they are popular from the rental places, but are they terrible to push around crowds? I've used our double at Silver Dollar City quite a bit and love it. Easy on hills and I can maneuver crowds but SDC is not as busy as MK. I'm thinking there might also be a chance that we will take DD and not DS so a single might be handy.

And, just so you have the whole story, we will be at SSR so definitely the bus or car for us.

Thanks for thoughts and opinions!!

 

[jmccoy18]

How old will your kids be? Which is easier to fold? I've never used a double in the parks before, but I will be in our upcoming trip. I just don't know if it will be our city select w/ the double seats or a rented city mini double (so either tandem or side by side.) But I might think that keeping track of one stroller is easier than two.

 

[DznyPrnces]

I would bring a double instead of 2 singles. I used a double at WDW in May 2013 and it was fine. Keep in mind if you have 2 singles, they often rearrange stroller parking near rides, and your 2 strollers may not end up together after they organize.

 

[disny_luvr]

We used two single strollers when our twins were two-years-old and again when they were four. It was great and I'm so glad we didn't lug our double along. Our double is very bulky and I would've hated to have to drag that on and off the busses especially when holding a child in your arms. Also, I remember on more than one occasion I would go one direction (maybe to rest on a bench) and DH would push the other stroller to a ride with other DS. They do move strollers around but I don't recall our strollers never being together. I say go for two - easier to move among the masses.

 

[Hezzy04]

We had the same dilemma last year, and wound up renting two single strollers. For us, it worked perfectly! Honestly, part of why I was happy with our decision was that it separated our girls. They get along generally, but if stuck together a double stroller every day, I just imagined them bickering all the time!

 

[ElenaRN]

Unless one of your children is old enough that you arent sure if you will need 2 seats, I would say the double for sure. Why have the need for 2 people to be pushing at the same time when you can take turns. The Citi mini is the model most places rent out. We have rented one the past 2 trips. They are easy to handle and it folds quickly and easily. It manuevers well around the park.

 

[khertz]

We debated the same thing for our October trip for my 4 year old and 3 month old. For us, we decided to rent the double. We knew there would be times DH or I would go off on our own to ride attractions the kids couldn't do, so two singles would be a pain. I don't own a double as my son has no need for a stroller in everyday life anymore, and I found the City Mini to be very easy to push around the parks, even when it was quite crowded at times. And I loved the easy fold!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

If you anticipate going somewhere with one and not the other (we took DS back to the resort most days for a nap) take two singles. If not and your double is easily folded go with that. We had a single and double last year (going with one single this year) and it was sometimes painful and sometimes very handy so it's hard to say.

 

[DisneyDreamer04]

Jmo but I like the feature of being able to have to singles. Easier to maneuver around crowds, I also like the fact if we need to split to take one to the bathroom. Etc.. The other parent can help with the other younger. Just what worked for us Will say, that two strollers getting on/off the bus was a little tricky.
Hope that helps

 

[roseaster]

If you have 2 children that will need to ride, then definitely the double. I've done WDW and the airport with bot a single and double stroller, and one really insn't any less of a PIA than the other.

The difference is with a double, if you decide or need to split up for whatever reason a single person can push a double stroller, but a single person cannot maneuver 2 single strollers.

 

[TheSpooph]

Thank you for all the replies! Lots of stroller savvy and smart DisBoarders out there.

DD is 6 and DS is 2. I don't need the stroller for DD in the airport - although I know she will want it if we bring the single!! We have enough adults that we should have enough hands to push two vs one. And, nap time might mean splitting the kids.

On the other hand, the double has a bigger basket and the kids like to be next to each other. Plus, I could save the rental fee and put it towards our character meals.

The engineer in me feels like a spreadsheet is coming...

 

[kohlby]

Any chance you could do a single and have them take turns? A 2 year old could also ride in a carrier, like a sling. If you know you need stroller room for two and there's no way around it, then I'd do two singles. It will make it easier if you split up. Also, you may find the 6 year old doesn't need it much, making it easy to park one and come back to it when needed.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

Also - one adult person can maneuver two singles. We were a little late to DHS so my husband, sister-in-law, and brother helped me get the two kids (4 and 1) off the bus, into the two strollers, and then they raced ahead to RnR and Tower. I pushed two city minis into the park, through security, and over to Star Tours to meet up with the rest of the family. If you have two strollers that aren't too bad to push like the city minis, it is doable in a pinch.

There were more times we were happy we had two singles than times we wished we had a double. It made it easy for the kids to split up, especially if one was napping. Overall, I am glad we had two singles.

However, this is a very debateable topic and very much dependent on your travel party, your habits, and your kids. You'll make it work either way, so good luck.

 

[epsmith921]

Husband and I decided last night actually that we will rent two strollers. (He kind of laughed at me not wanting to spend an extra $100 on the rental considering the total cost of the trip).

My daughter is 4 (will turn 5 on the trip) and is quite tall for her age, most of her height is in her torso. So city elite it is for us. Then my son will be 18 months of the trip, so he will go back to the room more and there is no way either of us wants to push a double half empty.

We also decided not to bring a stroller because we could either bring our umbrella stroller for the airport (not exactly suitable at Disney) or bring our city elite, but then we are bringing a car seat for the little guy so we figured that's plenty of stuff for us and the big stroller would be in our way.

I would have done a spreadsheet too but husband helped me figure out what was best (for us).

 

[mjkacmom]

I have 5 kids very close in age, and when we did strollers, it was always a double, so only one pusher. If we split up, than someone would have to walk a little - no biggy!

 

[roseaster]

With a 6 year old and a 2 year old I would take the single. By 6 none of mine used a stroller in WDW.

I would take whatever full sized single you have. With a 2 year old you will probably want it to recline if they are still napping.