Stroller for Parks and Cruise Trip?

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Staying at Boardwalk for one night then doing the 7-night Eastern Caribbean on the Fantasy, then back to WDW (Beach Club) for 3 days. (Flying in to MCO, DME from MCO to WDW, then Disney transport to port and back.) Two adults, 4 kids (10, 4, 2, 1).

We usually bring either two small (umbrella) strollers (Chicco Liteway) or one double jogging stroller. The younger two ride most of the time, although sometimes our 4 yo rides if he gets especially tired; he fits in the umbrella strollers but is more comfortable in the double.

This is our first time on a cruise ship, and I have no idea which stroller(s) we should opt for. We have two (adjoining) deluxe family ocean view staterooms (cat 08D), so hopefully storage isn't a huge issue (although we will need one pack n play for our one year old).

Also, can/should we take strollers on shore excursions? We have the See & Sea Island Tour (SM10) booked for Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and the St. John Island Tour (ST02) in St . Thomas.

TIA!

 

[Dug720]

I would say the 2 umbrella strollers. I honestly do not know that the halls are wide enough for a double stroller even without room service trays, housekeeping carts, etc.

 

[DCSWO]

I would say the 2 umbrella strollers. I honestly do not know that the halls are wide enough for a double stroller even without room service trays, housekeeping carts, etc.

Agreed, and if I remember correctly, on the ships in the MDRs there is no place for strollers beyond hanging an umbrella stroller from the back of the chair. No stroller parking or anything like you have in the parks.

 

[Weedy]

Another vote for the umbrella strollers on the ship. The hallways are narrow and the elevators are small are always crowded. It’s nice to have a stroller that’s easy to fold up and carry if the wait for the elevators gets to long.
Also instead of the pack and play you may want to request a bed rail for the couch that folds out to a twin bed. It’s low to the ground and much more comfortable than the pack and play.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Is there any sort of storage at the port? Would we be able to bring the double and leave it there? (Again, using Disney transportation so no car to store things in.)

I don’t really have a good concept of how big the ship is. If we were just going to dinner, I’d assume DH or I would carry the 1 yo and the other three kids would walk instead of taking a stroller (or strollers) to dinner. But if it’s so big that we’re “out and about” all day, we’d prob want the strollers w us. (We don’t usually take any breaks back at the resort when we’re at WDW - we do parks from ~10 am or so til closing most days - and the babies at least end up napping in the stroller(s). I’m guessing the cruise will be more laid back, and easier to go back to the room for naps?)

 

[DCSWO]

No storage at the port. As for the ship, you are never more than a thousand feet from your room

 

[SailingScout]

Without thinking about this a ton, I would say rent strollers for the park (we did this as we don’t own a double stroller and it was awesome, waiting for us at the resort). Definitely umbrella if you bring anything on the boat. However, I do believe they have (larger) strollers available onboard if you put down a deposit. This would give you an option for when you went off the boat.

 

[daedelus]

My kids are long out of strollers, but we did have a wheelchair this last time and it was a royal pain. One family had a double stroller that was the back-to-back type, and they were always stuck in the hallways between people and the scads of housekeeping carts that are always there at busy times.

Your only storage option onboard is in your room (closet, under the bed, etc.) and there's precious little space to spare.

I agree with others about renting one at the parks. MUCH easier!

 

[hpsalb]

I would not bring the double jogger onboard. It will not fit through the cabin doors and navigating the hallways will be a nightmare in it. It will also be challenging to store in your cabin, even if you have two cabins. There is no where else on board to store it while you cruise.

I think you will definitely need the umbrella strollers for the airport, port, and excursions...possibly around the ship. I don't think your 4 year old will need one on the cruise, with the exception of any long excursions. But with kids that age, I don't think you will want or be able to sign up for any of those type of long excursions. Depending on how old your 2 year old is (closer to 3 or more like 24 months?) you might not need one much there either. For what it's worth, I find that a baby carrier or sling is really helpful on the ship for the littles.

I do think your 4 year old will need a stroller in the parks though. If this were me, I would bring the umbrella strollers and plan to rent a double in Orlando to accommodate whoever needs it or you could do the double + one of the umbrellas for the park. You could rent a hard plastic one in the parks or arrange for a rental of something more similar to what you use at home from an outside vendor. I'm not sure from your description if you are going to the parks your first night or just the days following the cruise, but you could probably get by without the extra stroller until you get back following the cruise.

As for breaks, you will be able to head to your room much easier than at the parks. We only stroller nap on cruises when we are in port.

 

[Quellman]

Tote umbrella strollers for the cruise if you need them for the littlest. If you want a double then rent one when you get back to WDW for the final 3 days. Disney Bell Services will keep items if you have a hotel stay cruise and hotel stay.

 

[mmouse37]

The umbrella stroller will easily fit under the beds in the cabin. I would opt for those. We brought our 2 year old GD on the Magic in October and we used the stroller in the terminal but let her walk onboard and she didn't really use it much at all on the ship. She loved walking everywhere with us. We had a WDW day so wanted it for that day (port stop). She napped in the stroller while we had lunch at the Poly. On the ship we did use it a few times but not much....the Fantasy is larger though so you may use the stroller more....especially if you have the other kids to wrangle and strollers are great for holding stuff when a child is not in one!

MJ

 

[hdnyc]

I think it is better to have two separate strollers at the parks instead of the double stroller (as long as you have 2+ adults). It makes it easier to split up the kids if necessary. One kid can go on rides, the other one can take a nap and go somewhere else.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

We used Kohl’s cash to get a cheap cosco folding umbrella stroller for the cruise (maybe $25 tops). Fit perfectly through the halls. The liteway may JUST fit. May be too bulky for the room - I had that stroller and it’s a beast. I’d get two cheap umbrella strollers for airport and cruise, and rent nice double ones in Disney. We used baby carriers on the excursions. You can probably get away with the light umbrella strollers, but most of the operators use open-air buses and so there’s not a big bus belly. Just something else to juggle. Baby carrier left arms free and one less thing to carry around. Dd was 18 mos.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

Just wanted to add that yes everything is close on a ship but the stroller is nice to corrale the little ones if you need a rest from all the chasing around!

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We used Kohl’s cash to get a cheap cosco folding umbrella stroller for the cruise (maybe $25 tops). Fit perfectly through the halls. The liteway may JUST fit. May be too bulky for the room - I had that stroller and it’s a beast. I’d get two cheap umbrella strollers for airport and cruise, and rent nice double ones in Disney. We used baby carriers on the excursions. You can probably get away with the light umbrella strollers, but most of the operators use open-air buses and so there’s not a big bus belly. Just something else to juggle. Baby carrier left arms free and one less thing to carry around. Dd was 18 mos.

Unfortunately, neither our 2 yo or 1 yo (who is actually bigger than our 2 yo) will go in a carrier.