Stroller for storage

[ladybugsister]

This will be our first trip without a stroller. Our last trip the kids really didn't ride in them except for the end of the night walk back to the buses and resort room. I am kind of going to miss it. I was thinking about bringing one just to lug around our stuff. We always go in the summer so we bring in water and drinks in a cooler. I can't imagine not bring in water in the summer and that seems too heavy to carry around in a backpack. I also thought about renting a locker for the drink however that would be inconvenient to go back to get them. I could also rely on CS free water.

Has anyone ever used a stroller strictly as a sherpa?

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! Forget the stroller! You will be so happy without it. We last used a stroller when my DS was 5yo. When we returned the following year, we brought it, didn't use it once, and left it there. You will be so happy to see how easy it is to navigate the crowds & parks without having that thing to push. The parks are honestly SO MUCH easier without it!

As for storage, don't bring so much. We go to WDW every summer (just got back last Thursday from a 10 day trip) and we just stop and ask for a paper cup of ice water whenever one of us needs it. The only other stuff we need fits in my bag (hand sanitizer, Dollar-store ponchos, & camera). We do not bring in ANY snacks. Heck...it's WDW...who wants pretzels from home?? LOL

You will not miss it. Honest!

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I completely agree with @daisyduck123. This is the first year I will have to use a stroller. Before, I always had everything in my old Mickey drawstring backpack. I kept it as light as possible, only dollar store poncho packs, autograph book (if any), and Ziploc bags to put things in for water rides.

 

[Baklava]

The problem with stroller as storage is that you have to take everything out to fold it. That has always made it less ideal than I imagine it will be.

 

[maxiesmom]

Forget the stroller. Have each person carry a refillable water bottle. Or just get water from the water fountains, or from the counter service restaurants. Each child can wear a small string bag or waist pack if they want to have a few snacks with them.

 

[Kimosabe]

Also remember that the water won't be heavy all day...you'll be drinking it, so it will, by definition, get lighter as the day moves on. Having at least a couple of bottles for the morning keeps you from having to worry about stopping for free water (although we certainly take advantage of that same option when we can).

We were there in late June, and it was hot enough that some of the restaurants actually had water coolers set up outside just for people passing by. We got stuck in a Haunted Mansion line when the ride shut down for a while, and two people in line ultimately passed out from the heat. The EMTs that were coming in to help were reminding everyone as loudly as reasonably possible to stay hydrated.

In short, we like having our own water at the start of the day, but we don't try to pack it in for a full day.

 

[AshleeH]

I love strollers, but I wouldn't use one for just storage. We rented one when my son was 6, from Orlando Strollers, but only used it on the walk back to Bay Lake Tower. Don't get me wrong - it was worth it's weight in gold by the time we needed it at the end of the night, but if you're not walking back to your hotel, it would just be a waste of space.

 

[AT2136]

I am debating this as well, as we'll be going with a (just turned) 4 year old and 7 year old. Do you think the 4 year old will need the stroller? Any thoughts on bringing a stroller vs renting one there? If you rent it, do you get to take it out of the park? Staying at the Polynesian.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am debating this as well, as we'll be going with a (just turned) 4 year old and 7 year old. Do you think the 4 year old will need the stroller? Any thoughts on bringing a stroller vs renting one there? If you rent it, do you get to take it out of the park? Staying at the Polynesian.

I think your 4 year old will need a stroller. If you rent a stroller at the parks, it stays at each specific park. However there are a few companies you can rent from where you get to have the stroller for the length of your stay. I've never used them, but many people post good things about Orlando Stroller Rentals.

 

[Linda M]

We did a five night trip last week with a five year old without a stroller. In that heat, and with those crowds, it would have been a nightmare to have to navigate with a stroller. The other issue is that if you're using Disney transportation, you have to fold it up to get on. In the summer heat, travel as lightly as you can or you will regret it!

 

[AT2136]

Thanks for the advice. Can you take strollers on the monorail and is that inconvenient or do you just roll right on and off with it? Going in mid-April for reference.

 

[maxiesmom]

The vast majority of the time you can roll them right on and off the monorail. On rare occasions they may ask you to fold them, but the monorail has to be crazy busy for them to even ask. If you roll your stroller on, please make sure your child stays seated in it. It is not polite or nice to roll your stroller on and then have your child get out and sit on one of the benches.

 

[AshleeH]

I am debating this as well, as we'll be going with a (just turned) 4 year old and 7 year old. Do you think the 4 year old will need the stroller? Any thoughts on bringing a stroller vs renting one there? If you rent it, do you get to take it out of the park? Staying at the Polynesian.

Yes. Our first trip my boys were 7 and 4 - we bought a Joovy Sit and Stand stroller and it's still my favorite stroller of all time (and we've owned several). The 7 year old had a place to sit or stand when he started to get tired or when the crowds were heavy or just a place to sit if we stopped to get ice cream or watch the parade. The 4 year old was in it the vast majority of the time. Disney is incredibly hard on adult legs - imagine the wear and tear on growing muscles? Add to that, imagine holding your hand above your head for the vast majority of the day (since a 4 year old would have to hold hands most of the time). It's exhausting to think about. My kids have never had a meltdown at Disney - the stroller is a huge reason for that.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

As a grandma, I schlepped it along. Threw a small cooler on the seat, ponchos and jackets under. Just an umbrella type. I choose to do this because I ended up lugging the tote or backpack, my back isn't built for it. Having the stroller to lean into as I walked kept the back pain down to a minimum.

 

[bluezy]

I agree with the others who say you will love the freedom of not having a stroller. Even though we started taking our kids to DW when they were 4, we never used a stroller for them. One year we had to rent a stroller because our 6 yo was battling seasonal allergies and needed to take meds that were making her very drowsy. The stroller saved our trip that year. However, having traveled to Disney a few times before that with no stroller, we found that using the stroller was a PITB on many levels. We were very happy to not need a stroller on the next trip. We actually go to the parks bag free. We buy water when we want it (we have tried the free water at CS locations and just don't like the taste of it even though it's filtered. We prefer to buy bottles of water in the parks.). I had no idea how liberating it felt to not carry anything (other than what fits in our pockets) to the parks until I tried it. Now I can't imagine *why* I used to carry all that stuff with me that I never used.

That being said, when we were there 3 weeks ago I saw plenty of people who were pushing strollers or wheel chairs full of so much stuff that it was obvious they were only being used for the hauling of junk and no one in the party actually needed them for transportation.

 

[sprousehouse]

We are renting a double for our 5 & 7 years old in December. I know my kids will use it some (we are going for 8 days and while we will likely do RD and leave late afternoon/early evening most days I know they will get tired). We also do want it for storage. I will be bringing stuff for heavy snacks and even lunch many days as we eat really healthy and I am picky about food (would rather have my own organic fruits and veggies then snack on junk for that long). Given the weather during our visit we will likely want sweaters or coats for the morning/evening.

 

[Mousemommy1]

My God! We were so happy to be stroller free once our girls were old enough (we stopped when they were 5 and 7). We always just carry stuff in a backpack and it works out.
But then we had another baby this year and we are back to strollers, LOL. Yes, they are good storage but such a PITA. I wouldn't bring it unless I had to.

 

[wzwild]

My God! We were so happy to be stroller free once our girls were old enough (we stopped when they were 5 and 7). We always just carry stuff in a backpack and it works out.
But then we had another baby this year and we are back to strollers, LOL. Yes, they are good storage but such a PITA. I wouldn't bring it unless I had to.

We're at the stage where can probably leave the stroller too. Just wondering if the backpack is a PITB on rides? Where do you put it on rides like Splash Mountain? Wear it/put it on the floor? That's my only concern.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We're at the stage where can probably leave the stroller too. Just wondering if the backpack is a PITB on rides? Where do you put it on rides like Splash Mountain? Wear it/put it on the floor? That's my only concern.

There is plenty of room on the floor. It's fine. On RNR, I stick one of my legs through the arm straps and it's always fine.

 

[AT2136]

Thanks for the Joovy Sit and Stand stroller suggestion. I think my 4 year old will definitely need it and we will be on the monorail so I think it's the right choice for now. Will look forward to when we don't need it anymore though.