Stroller Experts: Help Me Decide-City Elite vs. City Mini GT

[DisneyGirl07]

I thought I would ask the experts for some help.

I have a 4 year old DD with hypotonia and gets tired really easily. She has outgrown her stroller and we need a new one (her last one I hope). It will be used mainly for vacations, trips to the mall, zoo, Disney, amusement parks and long walks. I have narrowed it down to the Baby Jogger City Elite or the new City Mini GT coming out in March. The seat specs are basically the same except the Elite is much heavier (but the wheels are much bigger for a smoother ride). Does anyone have the elite and uses it with a larger/older child? How hard is it to get around? Is it too big for our next Disney trip?

Thank you for all your input.

 

[ScrampShopper]

I'm not a stroller expert since I have only ever owned the City Elite, but I know many with a city mini. I think the elite will be a better choice for an older child since it is bigger (the seat looks bigger when I've seen the two strollers side by side) and it is easier to push due to the larger wheels. I love my City Elite and it has been to Disney World with me last Feb and going again this Feb. One thing I did notice last year was that I had no problem locating my stroller in stroller parking areas because it towered over all the rest and almost all non-Disney stroller rentals were City Mini's and there were a ton of them and people had to look up close to figure out which was theirs. The City Elite is heavy, but that is my husband's problem at Disney! If you have a USA Baby or some other baby specialty store in your area, you can call and ask if they have both in stock so you can compare. I went originally to buy a City Mini, but when we saw them together and tried them both out, we chose the Elite.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I can't really comment completely on the new mini but since it is just basicly the off road version of the original I would say go w/ the elite if you want it to last long. To be honest I would recommend a city classic if you can come across one. I have/had the mini, classic, and elite. The classic actually has a taller seat than the elite and not adjustable foot rest but since they are older they have the true air tires which IMO pushes way better than the new foam style. Yes the seat dimensions of the original mini and elite are identical the new mini is a bit wider but height I believe is the same. When it comes down to the mini gt and the elite here are my pros and cons.

Pros
Mini GT~ smaller more compact fold and lower seat for kids to easily hop in and out of, and a wider seat not by much but a couple of inches can make a big difference.
Elite~ higher weight limit, bigger tires, better push, angled seat makes it look bigger and deeper so kiddos don't look as squished, the foot rest is a plus but not huge to me its fairly inadequate for my dd but it does allow for more access to the storage beneath

both have the adjustable handles now and the canopy is pretty much the same so that cancels out imo

Cons
Mini GT~ like the original it bears its weight on the front tire which means the closer you get to the weight limit and exceed it the harder it will be to push (not sure if the air tires will help this or not but I can't see it helping that much),
Elite~ a bit bulky but not as bad as my mountain buggy so I can't really complain its just not as flat as the mini but only b/c of the foot rest.

 

[DisneyGirl07]

Thank you for the information. That helped a lot. Can you tell me how the Elite was getting on and off the parking lot trams at Disney. Does it fold small enough to fit in fount of you? or do you have to store it somewhere else? Is it too big to fit in the stores, doorways, etc?

Thank you again you have been so very helpful.

 

[stairstepmom]

I have never had those two, but we just went through a purchase/return of a City Mini (double) for several reasons but mostly because our 4 year old (who has DS - and so also hypotonia) was WAY too big for the narrow seats. He is 40" and 42 lbs, so not a huge kid, but the seats are so narrow he had to hunch his shoulders together to fit - he also hated the wedged-in deep seating (as did our other two little ones - our 11 month old screamed nonstop when in it at the mall LOL) that those strollers have. I must have weird kids or something, as I know everyone else seems to just love the City strollers LOL - mine hated it.

We just ended up buying the new version of the double stroller we were trying to replace - a Zooper Tango - it's 3 lbs heavier than the City Mini double (29 lbs - not sure how that compares to the singles you're looking at) but the seats are so much more comfortable, wide and allow complete freedom of movement since they're not that slanted recessed seating type on so many jogger type strollers today. It pretty much had everything else I loved about the City Mini, except the cool fold - which of course seemed almost worthless to me because there was no locking mechanism. I think they've added that though to the GT version?

Anywho, we also bought a Zooper Waltz single stroller which is just like the Tango, same wonderful wide comfy seat, a FULL canopy - even bigger than on the City series - easy access basket and not as cool a fold but pretty quick and painless. The Bolero also looks nice but is a bit bigger/heavier and $100 more.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

If you position the front wheel just right it shouldn't be a problem using disney transportation and since I haven't used one of the parking lot trams in 20yrs I really can't give a good size judgement on that one (I was only a kid). IMO it doesn't really fold any bigger than some of the graco and evenflo strollers out there. We don't use disney transport b/c my dd is handicap and we have a handicap parking tag so we drive to the parks MK is a bit of task but its manageable. I use the stroller for the same uses as you and have no problems going in and out of places w/ it at all some places are a little tighter than others but mostly b/c of the way they are set up but honestly I wouldn't make it through them w/ her wheelchair either so I get annoyed period,lol. If it helps I didn't mention before my dd is 8 she weighs 72 pounds of dead weight and is about 46 inches tall transferring her is too hard so that is the reason for not using transport.

Both my mini and elite have a lock not sure about the classic as I regretfully don't have it anymore. Most people don't realize they have locks b/c its not click or auto lock underneath the fabric on the side is a small clip that you have to manually hook on to a peg to lock it.

 

[ScrampShopper]

We did have to take the city elite on a parking lot tram the first day before we discovered the joy of AAA parking. It will not fit in front of you because half of it will be hanging over the seat and it is not easy to get through the door of the tram.

 

[tiffsix]

I have the City Elite Double. It has been on many trips to Disney. I have a soon to be 5 yr old boy, 2 yr old girl and a new baby on the way. I bought it when my daughter was a baby b/c I wanted something my son could sit in and be comfortable. He was way too big for the Mini. Yes, the Elite is very heavy. It fits in any standard door opening just fine. It is a hard shopping stroller but I have done it. You can't beat the features and how comfortable the kids are in it. Esp. in Disney! You will definitely get your money's worth with the Elite! We typically rent cars in Disney but have taken the buses and my husband lifts it in and out. and usually just holds it in front of him.

 

[DisneyGirl07]

Thank you all for the replys. I think I am leaning towards the Elite after hearing what you have to say. My DD is starting Kindergarten this year and we will be walking the 1/2 mile to school every day so I'm thinking that this might be better than the Mini for those purposes also. I am so fixated on our trips to Disney (it is so hard not to be) that I guess I should make the best decision for our day to day needs and not worry about the one or two times we will be using it there.

You have all been so helpfull. Thank you again.