Stroller help needed

[Goseethemouse]

I really need some help to decide what to do about strollers for our upcoming trip. I am planning to take my two boys (4.5 and barely 7) to Disney for 20 days in Aug/Sep. Now, we walk quite a bit at home and I think the seven year old will be fine walking - at least most of the time. However, the heat/humidity, the time difference (we are traveling from Europe) and all the excitement might be a bit much for him - so he MIGHT need a stroller occasionally. My younger son is getting pretty good about walking but I think he will definitely need a stroller about half the time (e.g. Epcot, AK etc.). For our last trip we took a very cheap umbrella stroller and rented a Disney double stroller on a couple of days. I don't want to take our cheap umbrella stroller anymore as a) ds is probably too heavy for it and b) I HATED the way it handled. Anyway, originally I thought we would just rent a Disney stroller (single or double) as need be. However, now I found out that the price has increased out of all proportion No way am I paying that amount of money!

Now here are my options:

1) Buy a new single stroller that is lightweight but better than the old one
Problem is that I don't think we need another one at home. DS has one (too heavy to take on the trip) and probably won't need one at all much longer

2) Try to get in on one of the stroller swaps
This might be the way to go. Not sure though whether I should try for a single or double. As I said, older ds might need one at times. But we will rely on Disney transportation and I don't want to have to drag a heavy stroller on the bus, especially as the boys are pretty big and won't need one at the hotel etc. Also, I am a bit worried about something happening to the stroller.

3) Go without a stroller
We could try and maybe rent a Disney stroller just on one or two days. May work but I also like the idea of being able to have at least one of the boys settled in a secure place when there are crowds etc. Also like the stroller for putting bags etc. on.

So what do you think? How often do you think we'd need a stroller in Aug/Sept, considering that the boys are fairly used to walking but not to the heat (we will take it easy though during this trip)? Should I go for a single or a double?

 

[teachallday]

You could also check out an off-site stroller rental place like:

Orlando Stroller Rentals
http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

You said your trip was in August? I'd scour consignment stores and yard sales for a double stroller or better yet, a double jogger. You might get a good deal!

My girls will be almost 4 and almost 8 years old when we go in August and I'm bringing my Sit and Stand stroller for them. I can see them BOTH needing to sit in it with the heat!

 

[Goseethemouse]

Thank you both for the info. Thinking it over, I realize that the first question I have to decide on is whether I will need a double stroller or a single. Without a question, a double would be nice for my seven year old (especially in the heat). However, we are planning to take it easy (maybe just spend mornings in the park and afternoons at the pool etc.) so there won't be a huge amount of walking most days. The main issue I have with a double stroller is that I would have to lug it on the bus. Not sure how heavy a double is (?) but am just not sure whether the bother of dragging it around will be too much (especially if we only use the second seat occasionally).

Anyone can tell me how difficult a double will be to handle on the buses etc.? Also how much time do you think realistically an older child will spend in the stroller?

 

[2mickeysandaminnie]

We went a year ago w/ DS7, DS4 & DD2 I rented a double jogging stroller from a local rental company (can't remember the name). Although it was fantastic to have when the kids got tired and wanted to take a snooze it was also heavy and cumbersome to carry on and off the buses. Especially by the end of a long, hot day my DH was not happy. The other thing about the jogging stroller size was sometimes when the buses were packed there was no room for the stroller and twice my husband had to catch the following bus!

We are going back this year and I'm certainly not going to pay Disney's stroller rental fees. I'm hoping to get in on a stroller swap or borrow a friends Maclaren twin. BTW we paid around $150 for the double through the rental company.

Hope this helps!

 

[Gina35]

Can someone be so kind as to tell me how to get into a stoller swap? We haven't gone with "little ones" in a long time & are bringing our DGD on her first DW trip, so we also need help on the stroller situation. Thanks so much.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I'm guessing your 7 year old will be fine with no stroller. I think in your shoes I'd go with a single. When the 7 year old is tired and needs a ride, the 4 year old can walk. I would definitely not go without.

If you don't have a stroller at home that works, I'd rent from Orlando STroller rentals. They rent awesome strollers that have high weight limits so would be ok for a bigger kid too. They are also less expensive than the Disney rentals.

 

[pennymom]

When we went last in Sept. '07, DSs were 3 and 5. We rented a double stroller from A Baby's Best Friend, and they delivered to the hotel. The 3-year-old used it a bit, but mostly not, and the five-year-old was only in it once. All in all, it was a waste of $ and energy getting it on and off the bus 2x a day. We'd do a few hours in the parks, back to the hotel for a nap, and out to the parks again. I'd say rent an inexpensive single for the younger child, but the older probably won't need one, especially if you plan on a mid-day break.

 

[tribus121]

Can someone be so kind as to tell me how to get into a stoller swap? We haven't gone with "little ones" in a long time & are bringing our DGD on her first DW trip, so we also need help on the stroller situation. Thanks so much.

Stickey at the top of the Budget board forum http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1885802

 

[Aliceacc]

Here's what I did:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2145078&highlight=Volo

You could wait until fairly last minute to order it, then have it delivered to your resort. It's a glorified umbrella stroller, with a weight capacity of 55 lbs.

Then, on the days when you think you might need it, you could consider renting a second one for your older child. Or, if it's really for end-of-the-day exhaustion, you could let the older child use the stroller while one of you carries the 4 year old out of the park.

 

[Iott Family]

You could also check out an off-site stroller rental place like:

Orlando Stroller Rentals
http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/

With our 3 and 5 year old we went this route. She runs a great service and I highly recommend her company. A+

 

[Goseethemouse]

Thank you everyone for the advice. Part of the problem is that I will travel on my own with the kids. That's the main reason why I am not too keen on a double stroller. It will be me dragging it on and off buses. On the other hand, there is no way I can carry one of the boys for any sort of distance (well, I guess I could do it but it would be pretty hard).

Still, I think I have pretty much decided what to do. I will probably get a MacLaren Volo for ds4. We will probably use it some at home and if not we can always sell it after our trip. In addition, I will try to get a double stroller with a stroller swap. If it turns out that ds7 needs a stroller most days, we can use it, otherwise I will take the double only on those days when I anticipate a lot of walking (eg Epcot's WS).

Thanks again for all the input!

 

[scootch]

I take my girls alone everyyear and rent the double strollers. I know they are way too pricey, but it keeps the sun off the kids and keeps them contained. I usually do a photopass swap to save money and then put that money toward the double stroller. The ones at disney are so, so easy to push. I got a double this year for my kids 6 and just turned 9... mainly for the 6 year old(as we have lost her before, ugghhh)..... but my 9 year old climbed in several times and they are still easy to push. I know there are people who bash people like me.... but truly taking your kids by yourself, you need some extra help and if the double stroller helped me, that is all that matters.

 

[bkreitzel]

hi. I vote you use a stroller, however you do it!
we are just back from 10 days at DisneyWorld...we have 3 DDs age 6 1/2, 4 and 3 mo.
We used a Maclaren Twin Traveler for the older girls. I am SO glad we did. It made for peace of mind w/ the crowds, we were able to get places faster and they did not get as tired.
We also do parks in am, rest in afternoon and sometimes go back in the pm. The kids are still exhausted!
We stay at SOG so the stroller is REALLY handy as the walk to the monorail is long for little legs. It is nice that they can sit in the stoller on the monorail and also for parades/fireworks; it is easier to get them to drink and eat on the run in the stroller.
A mac fits thru doorways, folds up really easily and is lightweight so that probably makes a difference..

I will admit that :
=the double was HEAVY to push and mostly pushed around the baby in her zooper
=we mostly take the monorail and avoid bussing. one poster recommended bringing a large bag to throw all the incidentals into at the end of the day when you need to fold it up for the bus...this worked great for us.

 

[Figaro's paws]

Hi there

I had exactly the same problem a couple of weeks ago, except only one child (3.5yrs). We have two at home 1) used when she was young and she is now too big for it and 2) a cheaper lightweight one used for short trips/ shopping etc, but awful to push any distance with her in, no storage, no drinks holders and sunshade not big enough....but we needed one for our trip...options were to rent (too expensive), stroller swap etc.

In the end I actually bought a new one -

http://www.mothercare.com/Silver-Cr...ing=UTF8&m=A2LBKNDJ2KZUGQ&n=42764041&mcb=core

which was in between the other two but had all the things we needed for the trip - obviosley you may not want to spend this much - I did not mind as I plan on having more kids and I know I will use it! It's excellent to push around with swivel front wheels, large sunshade, reclining seat, drinks holder, storage AND lighweight for buses (also had a v.handy carry strap!)

Just an idea anyways!

 

[zbugs3mom]

Wow, great posts! I was wondering if we should take a stroller for our 3 yr. old for our upcoming trip!

 

[Goseethemouse]

Though I am still a bit unsure about what I will do, I would strongly recommend a stroller for a three year old. On our last trip, my boys were almost three and five and my little one really needed the stroller a lot. Even my older son used it quite a bit. Touring the parks is no fun if you have a child that is crying/grumpy with exhaustion. So for that age I really think a stroller a must (with of course rare exceptions).

I don't really doubt that ds4 will need one either. Just not sure how necessary a double stroller will be for us.

 

[scootch]

Wow, great posts! I was wondering if we should take a stroller for our 3 yr. old for our upcoming trip!

Absolutely, positively, no question about it, get it ready immediately..... get my drift.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I think the Volo will work great for you. VERY lightweight so easy to get on an off the bus.

 

[Gina35]

Stickey at the top of the Budget board forum http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1885802

Thank you!! Didn't want to hijack the thread...but I'm a newbie with this.
Thanks so much again!!