stroller help needed!

[dizneefamily5]

I am looking for a stroller to purchase for my 4 year old. She is 40 lbs and literally never uses a stroller! But we are going to DC/Williamsburg for Spring Break and Disney in June so I'd like a comfy, inexpensive stroller to use just for these 2 times. Any ideas?? I'm open to anything!!!

 

[Maude4Disney]

We were looking for an inexpensive stroller as well, however, our 5 yo was too tall for most of them. (47 inches and 43 lbs) We bought the Maclaren Volo this past weekend for $100. More than we wanted to spend, but the weight goes up to 55 lbs so we will get some use out of it. I thought it pushed very well and I liked that it only weighs 9 lbs. so very light to carry. We had been hoping to go w/out a stroller this year, but DS has been quite sick this past winter and is still building up his strength. Didn't want to wear out the poor kid. Good luck on your search.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Maclarens are the only strollers that hold kids over 40 pounds.

 

[mommyarewegoingback]

I second the Volo. My 5 year has been to WDW 9 times and we couldn't go without a stroller. However my last umbrella stroller died on our last trip (because I think he was too heavy for it). So I just bought the volo for our next trip. Like someone else said, it's the only stroller that goes up to 55 pounds. Yes, it's a little expensive, but think how much you'd spend on the rental strollers. And nothing can beat being pushing my some from the tram to the car or hotel room (it's a long walk from the All Star bus stop to our room) after a long, hot day.
-Virginia

 

[mdhkitten]

I would also go with the Maclaren.........I couldn't imagine traveling without it! I actually have the Quest because my daughter is a little younger, and had a wonderful experience getting it off of Ebay. A lot of people sell new ones that were last years colors (they change colors it seems yearly), so they sell them at pretty substantial discounts. I got mine that retails at $169 for $99!

 

[kushball21]

We bought a Graco umbrella stroller from our local toys r us store for $20 it was pink and had little girls on it with princess hats (I think). It said it was good for up to 30-35 lbs but we put my DD who is 4 and 40lbs in it and it held up for a week at disney. If you would like I can go to my local toys r us store and see if they have any left, and if they do I'll buy it and you can send me the money for the exact cost of stroller and shipping and I'll send it to you. Just pm me and let me know.

 

[kushball21]

I found a picture of the stoller it's a (Kolcraft not a Graco) but it doesn't show the pink one that I have.
Here's the link
http://www.kolcraft.com/products/onthego2.cfm?id=144&p=umb

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Babies R Us online has '04 Volos for 49.98.

 

[KimberlyC]

I test drove every single lightweight stroller at babies r us the weekend before last. I decided on the chicco because it folded easier and I preferred the basket to the mclaren, but my DS is not yet 2. As stated above, the McLaren is the only stroller that was for bigger kids and went to 55 pounds. The Truimph came in a bunch of colors but it was about $160.

 

[Maude4Disney]

We tried DS in the Chicco, before we decided on the Volo. I found the Chicco difficult to push. Maybe the weight difference?? DH thought it might be easier since the wheels on the Chicco were bigger, but even he didn't care for it.

 

[ashleyl]

This will be my first time with family at Disney. Boys age 7 and just turned 4. My 4 year old NEVER rides in a stroller, but I know he will be tired. Do you recommend taking one anyway.
May/June 2006

 

[KimberlyC]

This will be my first time with family at Disney. Boys age 7 and just turned 4. My 4 year old NEVER rides in a stroller, but I know he will be tired. Do you recommend taking one anyway.
May/June 2006

If you really need one, you can rent a stroller at WDW. I'm taking my own because DS isn't even 2 yet and I will need it for the airport and basically everywhere. If he never rode in a stroller I'm not sure that I would invest in a good umbrella stroller (and deal with carrying it on the plane) just on the off chance that he may need one.

Maude4Disney: It may be the weight because we haven't had any problems yet with DS in the Chicco, but it only goes to 37 pounds so its definitely a short term solution. If I was looking for long term (more than a year) I would definitely have gone with the McClaren for the weight factor. But by the time my DS turns 4, we hope to have another child. At that point he'll either have to walk or I'll be looking at a double stroller.

I checked out the Combi, but the seat looked really narrow. The McClaren's and Chicco's have wider seats. The Chicco is deeper and has a leg rest that lifts up for smaller ones. Bottom line, for smaller kids, you can shop around to see what suits your needs. For older kids, McClaren is about the only option I've seen. Fortunately, there are many McClaren's to choose from and they really do come in some nice colors.

 

[tcolbert]

This will be my first time with family at Disney. Boys age 7 and just turned 4. My 4 year old NEVER rides in a stroller, but I know he will be tired. Do you recommend taking one anyway.
May/June 2006

I would definitely consider bringing a lightweight one. The rental prices are $10/day for a singe and $18/day for a double. OR you could see how it goes and if you need one, you can pick one up at Once Upon a Toy in Disney Marketplace for about $40.

 

[Tiger926]

Just bought our Macleren Triumph (hubby liked it better than Volo) - we love it! We purchased at The Right Start in Michigan, and there was a Combi stroller (I think) that went up to 45 lbs, so Maclaren is the only stroller that goes up to 55lbs., but there is at least one other one that goes up to 45 lbs - it was only $50.00 as well - brand new for '06.

Sorry I couldn't give more specific description as my DD 2.5 is crawling up my arms to DIS - LOL!, but if you go on their website, you should be able to find it.

A word of caution though for people using online baby vendors to do research, many of them (The Right Start, Albee Baby, etc.) have the wrong max weights listed - for example, they have 2005 & 2006 Triumps listed to a max weight of 40lbs. I've been in contact with them several times, and they insist I'm wrong, so I sent a copy of email from Maclaren (I emailed Maclaren to tell them that many of their vendors were incorrect on their websites) as well as quote from my Triumph manual.

Always contact the stroller manufacturer by email or phone for specific instructions, but your best bet based on your child's age and weight is a Maclaren - fabulous strollers!!

Good luck, Tiger

 

[jjoobrien]

If you are flying, DON'T spend the money on the Macleren. Go to Target and look at the "Safety First" strollers. We have been happy with ours. I looked for something inexpensive, but looks and feels like Macleren. The Safety First rides pretty good, has basket and cup holder. Pretty light weight for all it has. If, however, you are not flying AND plan to have other children, I would definately recommend the Macleren. I so wish we got one from the get go. I would never put something that nice on an airplane, though. Check out other threads for strollers and planes....you will see all the bad experiences about them tearing up from lack of care. I was going out to buy a Macleren for our October trip until I read that thread about strollers and planes. I'm not going to spend the money for it to get dirty and/or tear up from Delta employees.

 

[dizneefamily5]

Thank you all so much! I have had sick kiddos so haven't been able to get out to shop. I am not going to spend a lot on this stroller as we may just leave it there. We need to buy rather than rent from Disney because we need the stroller for the DC trip coming up in a few weeks. I am going to go check the TRU and Target for the strollers mentioned here. I know a lot ofthe time the stroller will end up with a stuffed animal or baby doll in it, because she hates riding. I want to have one, though, so when she does get tired, it's available. I am hoping to spend less than $50. Thanks so much!!!

 

[rparmfamily]

I just ordered a Maclaren Volo 2004 edition from BRU online for $49, plus I found a code for additional $5 off. It doesn't have a shade, but the child I'm using it for ripped off the last one anyway.

I'm buying it for a 3 1/2 yr old 33 lb 40" boy. He is very "busy" and my Graco Citilite was just too small for him, but yet there are times he needs to be in a stroller. I basically needed a lightweight stroller for Disney, the airport and our vacation in Hawaii in May.

I plan on reselling it afterwards and should make at least half what I paid!