Stroller help

[bw52]

Help me pick an inexpensive stroller to buy for WDW, please. LO will be about 1. We only have a the Vista and aren't taking that. We're flying, too. Should I just find a cheap (I'm talking $20-30 used one) and then not have to worry about it getting stolen? If it's this cheap, then I don't really have to like it after WDW. Any rec? All I know is I want a decent basket to hold our stuff and a recline so she can nap in it. We're staying on property, but not connected to the monorail.

Or should I get a little more pricey one and then turn it into my car stroller after (which I need also). I'm just so worried about it getting stolen and can't afford to lose a $100 stroller.

 

[tloveswdw]

I would go try out strollers at a store, as some are just not comfy or light.

Why would you not take the Vista? I take out Phil and Ted Vibe, and my sister takes her Bugaboo...

Never an issue with the plane, (good stroller bags, put in at the gate), and never an issue at the park...

Plus, comfy for the children.

GL... but, go try them out

 

[GrtWtNorth]

We found a cheap Tigger umbrella stroller, the kind with the ears on the sun-shade. It was regular price $35, but we took advantage of sales and discounts to get it for just under $15. We bought at Zellers (similar to Kmart).

Pros:
* very, very light and compact. Easy to carry with one hand. Easy for DD to push around as she started walking.
* reasonable protection from hot sun and straight-down rain
* a flat sunshade, rather than arched. While it can't hold a lot of weight, it's doubled as a cafeteria tray holder in several different amusement parks.
* tough, virtually indestructible fabric.
* IT'S TIGGER!

Cons:
* handles are little too low --I'm 5'9" and I hunch over a bit when I push it.
* the shoulder straps were manufactured too long -- even at their shortest length, they never held our DD snug. We eventually clipped them to the loops on the side so they would stay out of the way.
* childs legs are exposed to rain, especially if there's any hint of wind.
* over-zealous gate-check luggage handlers broke the 'stay closed' lock by trying to force it open. Now, we use a bungy cord to keep it closed when flying.
* we frequently hung bags on the handles when vacationing. If we removed DD without removing the bags, the stroller would do a back flip.

 

[monkey30]

Well i have used a cheap umbrella stroller there and then I have used my expensive (it was 250 at the time) fisher price sit n stand and never had a issue in the airport or disney having it stolen.

Something that u may want to consider is napping do they need to lay right down or are they good with just a slight recline? The ones the recline just a little maybe (not always!) a little more inespensive.

Also its garage sale and yard sale season, maybe see if u can find a cheap one u want to buy.

 

[AmyBWV99]

I take and fly with our nice strollers all the time and just lock the wheels if I'm worried about it 'rolling away' I've taken Bugaboos, Phil & Teds, Macs, Pegs, BOBs, etc and haven't had issues yet with theft but did have one episode with airline damage gate checked on United years ago on a Peg. That was a long time ago and every other airline has treated our strollers with care and not one other issue ever with them.

For us its important for the kidlets to be comfortable and for us to have a smooth push. You see the poor wee ones with no recline all bent over trying to nap and the parents with broken backs hunched over pushing some of the cheap stuff.

You could try consignment stores too we have tons around here and you may be able to pick up a used Mac or Peg for a really cheap price to use for travel. Our Babies R Us has the 2009 colorways of the Macs on clearance for about $99 including the Triumph and Quest and they are also running a 20% off 1 baby item coupon you can use on it to get more off.

 

[squirrel]

I'd keep an eye out at Garage Sales, Second hand stores and Craigslist.

Go to a store and try out some strollers to narrow down what you want and what you don't want.

You can get cheap strollers, but they aren't very fun to push. I have a single handle small stroller that I took to DL. It was okay. It had a few more extras that the regular umbrella strollers didn't have. Basket underneath and a mesh parent tray. Folds in half.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

If I were you, I'd look on craigslist.

 

[zeltoo]

If you have a Vista now I'm wondering if a cheap stroller would drive you nuts? Uppa does have a cheaper umbrella that you may be able to find used though.

I took my Vista down there and tried my hardest not to worry about it. It was perfectly fine and my son was very grateful to have some comforts of home. Ha, I was grateful when it started pouring and my stroller handled it like a champ. Everything was bone dry.

 

[bw52]

Thanks for the replies. I'll go back to BRU and try out what they have there. Prob is that's the only baby store here and they don't carry many options. And our Craigslist here is terrible in terms of finding any good strollers. They just don't come up EVER. But I'll see what they have and see if I can find anything good there--and then keep checking craigslist. I've been checking it daily.

We're not taking the Vista, b/c I'm too worried about it getting stollen--or broken on the plane--but mainly stollen. I know, it prob wouldn't happen, but I'd worry about it the whole time and wouldn't ever want to leave it to go eat, go to a show, etc. So for my own sanity (and my family's), I'm getting a cheaper one. I'm thinking I'll try to find one that's just under $100 (hoping to find something good on ebay) that'll double as my car stroller for when we return. So that means I want something lightweight (for the car), a decent basket (for WDW), and I just realized I should prob invest in something with a rain cover (is this possible?) since we're going in August. I'd hate for LO to get drenched! Oh, and somewhat of a recline for naps. I really wish we had a better selection of strollers here, so I could try out a few options!

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Best tip I can offer for storller: Just a dad's opinion: weather you go for cheap or decide to spend a little money. Kill 2 birds wth one stone. after you buy the stroller, stop by home depot, buy a $5.00 can of a either neon yellow or green spray paint and paint the back legs or handles of the stroller. this will #1make it easy to find your stroller quickly so you ca make a quick dash to the next ride and #2makes it a little more unique and less likely to be stolen. Hace fun!

 

[apirateslife4us!]

I just wanted to chime in and say with a 1yo you'll be grateful if your stroller reclines. When we went with my son (then 2yo) we were VERY grateful for that!!

 

[dmoore718]

We borrowed a double stroller for our kids when we went last year. I used a bike lock and, whenever possible, I found a place to lock it too. This worked fairly well. I really didn't want it to get stolen since it wasn't ours. I have only heard of one person I know who had their stroller stolen, and who knows if it is just a mistake. We tied a bright pink scarf to ours to distinguish, in case there were others. Now we have 3 kids so our dillemma now is to bring the double and then a cheap umbrella that we can fold up underneath if one of them wants to walk a little? Or bring our nice Chico umbrella and have to possibly push an empty stroller.....and have not hand free to hold a childs?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Thanks for the replies. I'll go back to BRU and try out what they have there. Prob is that's the only baby store here and they don't carry many options. And our Craigslist here is terrible in terms of finding any good strollers. They just don't come up EVER. But I'll see what they have and see if I can find anything good there--and then keep checking craigslist. I've been checking it daily.

We're not taking the Vista, b/c I'm too worried about it getting stollen--or broken on the plane--but mainly stollen. I know, it prob wouldn't happen, but I'd worry about it the whole time and wouldn't ever want to leave it to go eat, go to a show, etc. So for my own sanity (and my family's), I'm getting a cheaper one. I'm thinking I'll try to find one that's just under $100 (hoping to find something good on ebay) that'll double as my car stroller for when we return. So that means I want something lightweight (for the car), a decent basket (for WDW), and I just realized I should prob invest in something with a rain cover (is this possible?) since we're going in August. I'd hate for LO to get drenched! Oh, and somewhat of a recline for naps. I really wish we had a better selection of strollers here, so I could try out a few options!

There are a bunch of Maclaren Volos on ebay for $100-$105. I've used the seller BabyProductStore twice, they're great.

 

[2binak]

For us its important for the kidlets to be comfortable and for us to have a smooth push. You see the poor wee ones with no recline all bent over trying to nap and the parents with broken backs hunched over pushing some of the cheap stuff.

I 100% agree with this statement. A comfortable child is a happy child, which makes for happy parents, which makes for a happy vacation for everyone! I cringe everytime I see a child hunched over in those cheapo, no-recline strollers with no footrest & no sunshade.

 

[maryserv]

Thanks for the replies. I'll go back to BRU and try out what they have there. Prob is that's the only baby store here and they don't carry many options. And our Craigslist here is terrible in terms of finding any good strollers. They just don't come up EVER. But I'll see what they have and see if I can find anything good there--and then keep checking craigslist. I've been checking it daily.

I must second and third all the comments about using a good stroller - they hold your child when they are tired (this upcoming trip is the first we'll do w/out one & DS will be 8 in July), holds your beverages, your snacks, your bag you don't want to carry anymore, your balloon, stuffed animal, etc...

We're not taking the Vista, b/c I'm too worried about it getting stollen--or broken on the plane--but mainly stollen.

I leave our stroller with stuff in it at the stroller parking all over Disney - and I've never been concerned that it would be taken. I used to have a really off-color good stroller but my DH broke a latch on it and tossed it (I was NOT HAPPY!) so that one was always easy to find and I'd know if someone else took it 'cause I've never seen another one. But, REALLY, REALLY - I've never seen anyone have their stroller stolen, or anything taken out of their stroller. There seems to be some unspoken code of respect for the strollers out there (WDW). People watch out for other people's strollers (at least that has been my experience).

I know, it prob wouldn't happen, but I'd worry about it the whole time and wouldn't ever want to leave it to go eat, go to a show, etc. So for my own sanity (and my family's), I'm getting a cheaper one. I'm thinking I'll try to find one that's just under $100 (hoping to find something good on ebay) that'll double as my car stroller for when we return. So that means I want something lightweight (for the car), a decent basket (for WDW), and I just realized I should prob invest in something with a rain cover (is this possible?) since we're going in August. I'd hate for LO to get drenched! Oh, and somewhat of a recline for naps. I really wish we had a better selection of strollers here, so I could try out a few options!

You will want to make sure that it is comfy to push and that you can put all your hand-carry items in it securely (like a drink). Both of you will want to be able to push it easily. We took an umbrella stroller one time when DS was under 2 y/o. Our backs killed us (and we are shorter people) and the boys was not very comfy at all. I advise taking your regular stroller, but marking it somehow with colored electrical tape/duct tape, putting a balloon on it, and personalizing it. And frankly, don't keep it too clean! Who wants to take some yucky stroller ??

 

[mickeyfan2009]

I love my Maclaren strollers, I have the triumph and the techno!! I have a 2 and 5 year old and they still use them. Great to push, lightweight, but durable. It is the only stroller we use now. We took both of them last year on a plane to disney and had no problems. This year we are renting, since we are driving..trying to save space in the car!! Good Luck

 

[labdogs42]

Chicco makes some nice umbrella strollers that won't break the bank. They have them at BRU. Just don't buy one of the really cheap strollers that have no sun shade and don't recline!

I would just take the Vista. I see Bugaboos, Orbits, Baby Joggers, etc down there all the time.

 

[squirrel]

There really are so many different strollers.

You need to find one that works for you.

I tried out the Maclaren's everyone raves about. I didn't care for them. They looked and seemed the same as a regular umbrella stroller only they do hold a higher weight.

I tried out the Perego Plinko P3 and all the features it came with. I would have had to get one of the more expensive Maclaren's to come even close to having the same things. I felt my niece would be more comfortable in the larger Perego stroller. Yes it's a bit bigger, but she was able to cover herself up with the large canopy, recline and go to sleep, grab a drink from the side stroller bag that I made-she didn't use the cup holder part.

 

[cel_disney]

No recommendations for you other than to try to find a used one??

A *good* stroller that will be helpful at Disney in that price range is really going to be hard to find.

We own a Mac Quest (200$) and an Inglesina Zippy (300$) - I could never handle taking the quest with us - its way to tippy and has poor storage and my DS cannot nap in it anywhere near as well as he can the zippy. We take our full size (but only 17 lb) zippy every time (3 going on 4 trips now). I am sure that sometimes strollers are stollen in Disney but I cant be bothered to worry about this since pushing and trying to use a less than helpful stroller for my time there is just not worth the risk of ruining my vacation.

Whatever you do decide - spend the 15$ on a stroller bag for the airplane...it will keep it dry and the handles from getting scratched!

 

[loveswdw]

What about just renting one? We are renting one for our upcoming trip from Magic Strollers. We're renting from Friday to Saturday and its $76 total. Much cheaper than renting one from Disney. And, less expensive than buying a new one. We have a Combi Soho that we've used in the past and its perfect for travel (easy foldup and carry strap). We are taking that for the plane and airport but renting a jogger for DS2 in the parks. I don't need yet another stroller especially since DS2 doesn't really use it much anymore except for Disney.