Stroller help- 2 singles or 1 double?

[lezammer]

Hi everyone! Going to WDW in 2 weeks and still haven't figured out my stroller situation. I have a 5yo, 3yo, and a 2yo . The 3yo likes to walk alot, but his little legs understandably will be tired by the end of the day. The 2yo definitely needs the stroller, but he too likes to walk alot. Question is- do I bring my double Maclaren double side-by-side stroller or 2 singles? I like the ease of bringing 2 singles as it is very easy to maneuver around the parks (DH gets one and I get the other and the 5yo can walk). However, I dread the thought of one of us pushing an empty stroller for half the day . And I don't think I could even fold one stroller up and hang it on the other as I have read some parents have done (don't see how I can with my single Maclaren Techno). On the other hand, the double is obviously bulkier than the single and not as easy. Also, I refuse to rent as it's expensive.
Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

[LISAVWL]

My kids are about the same ages as yours -- DD6, DS4 & DS 3. We have taken every imaginable combination of strollers to Disney! We've been vacationing there every year since the youngest was 6 mo old
Anyway, this year we are taking two singles -- I just bought two new Volos and LOVE them! DS4 is a walker but he'll get tired by mid day. DD6 would rather sit in the stroller than walk, bit of a diva & DS3 is a runner -- he'll be in the stroller most of the time. Last year we took a double and single Mac. We used both strollers during the day and at night only the double for the boys. I'm looking forward to not pushing around the big double and having the convenience of two singles -- one for me one for DH in case we split up. HTH & have a great time!

 

[tzolkin]

OP- Have you been to Disney before? I only ask because my kids (4&2) had never used strollers. We actually bought two mac volos right before our trip. I didn't know how they would handle it, but they both rode in the strollers pretty much the entire time we were at the parks. It was so much easier to walk through the crowds and they really didn't mind. They enjoyed being wheeled around and looking at everything around them. They had never been before, so they just throught all kids their age were supposed to ride around in strollers instead of walk. We would park the strollers in one spot and walk between a few attractions (like in Fantasyland), but for actually moving around the parks they were always in the strollers.

We liked having two strollers because our DS2 could not ride any of the attractions with a height restriction, so we could split up if we wanted to (although they usually just waited outside the ride). A few times one of us was left with both the strollers (we have an older DD who could do Everest and Rock'n'Rollercoaster), but we had bought the stroller clips to clip them together. It was especially nice to have two strollers because once DS got sick at the bus stop, so I was able to take the other kids to the park while DH took him back to the room to nap.

 

[SLK1]

Bring the double AND the single! Just imagine...late at night, after the fireworks, the crowds are massive...and your three kids are dead tired. Nothing like carrying a heavy, sleeping baby out of the parks.

 

[brymolmom]

I have done both and prefer one double. BUT, it depends on the way you tour. DH and I like doing child swap for some rides and it made this a lot easier for the other one to go window shopping or go down the street to find a Mickey ice cream bar vendor while we waited for the other adult. With 2 singles - we would have been stuck just waiting right outside the ride.

Not sure about you but with 3 kids those ages you might want to consider start telling the younger 2 now that stroller riding is required (at least whenever mom or dad says). For safety concerns, when my kids were younger, even though they liked to walk - getting into the stroller at certain times was required. Knowing they are right there - in front of you - even while you maneuver through the crowds always give me peace of mind. And, we like to do things out of order so waiting for my pokey ds wouldn't have been an option. When their legs needed some exercise we would go to Ariel's Grotto or similar and let them run around for awhile, but they were never allowed to walk from one end of the park to the other. Too many people around and too easy to get lost in the crowd.

 

[sage10]

I am glad you asked this question. Last year when we went, we took 2 doubles for 3 kids. This year the youngest isn't going with us, just the 4 year old twins. So I was up in the air as to which strollers were best. I think we are going to take 2 singles and a package of the connectors, so if we have to put them together we can. But they will want to walk quite a bit too. In that environment we are probably going to do the harnesses on them as well. So when they are walking around they can't wander off. But I haven't quite decided yet on that.

 

[lezammer]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I forgot to mention that this will be my 7th trip to Disney. Two yrs ago I traveled with 2 kids and preggers with my 3rd. At that time I brought my double stroller as I had a 2yo and a 9 month old. It was not bad at all, but it was also November so the crowds were lighter.