Stroller Issue

[la79al]

DH has informed me that we will be renting strollers next year at DW, not so much for DD who will be barely 6 and has not been in a stroller since last years Disney trip, but so we can take a cooler in filled with bottled water. I feel that the added expense of the stroller, the annoyance of retrieving the stroller and the difficulty in filling up the cooler in the first place would be worse than any possible benefits. Which one of us is wrong here?

 

[jellydisney]

Yeah, I would rather pay the $3 for a bottle of water at the parks. Or bring one (ONE) with me. Why does he feel this is necessary? Does he typically guzzle bottle after bottle of water every day in the parks?

 

[cvjw]

I think that having a stroller at DW is an added inconvenience. I was so glad when my boys were finally big enough to not have to use a stroller. It just frees you up so much without one. I would not deal with a stroller just to have water, I would buy water.

 

[mcgrawfan]

Are you allowed to bring a cooler in??

 

[KimWDW]

That sounds ridiculous! I definitely side with you. There's no way I'd let my DH do something that ridiculous. If we can't afford to buy water in the parks, we can't afford to go to WDW in the first place.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I agree - that is one crazy idea!

Tell him if he wants to do this, he will be 100% responsible for pushing the stroller all over the park.

 

[Princess1967]

I'm taking a risk here given the other posts....but I have to say that I agree with DH. If your family does drink a lot of water (say family of three drinking even just 2 bottles of water a day--more if it's really hot), that's roughly $15-18 a day x 6 days = $90 - $108 just for water. Also, the stroller is awfully nice for when DS does need a break--not necessarily a nap-- but just a chance to rest during the walking, waiting for parades, fireworks, etc. I dread the day when my DD (5 now) is ready to lose the stroller. Just another opinion, I guess. Either way...have a great trip!

 

[disneyde]

I'm taking a risk here given the other posts....but I have to say that I agree with DH. If your family does drink a lot of water (say family of three drinking even just 2 bottles of water a day--more if it's really hot), that's roughly $15-18 a day x 6 days = $90 - $108 just for water. Also, the stroller is awfully nice for when DS does need a break--not necessarily a nap-- but just a chance to rest during the walking, waiting for parades, fireworks, etc. I dread the day when my DD (5 now) is ready to lose the stroller. Just another opinion, I guess. Either way...have a great trip!

I've never taken a cooler to the parks but I'm with this poster about dreading the day that my girls don't need a stroller........with a stroller I'M not the pack mule the stroller is.......we bring our own I have an old Mac double and it's very sturdy I got off ebay......holds my girls I tie my backpack to it too. And we can move much faster with a stroller in off season crowds where it's not wall to wall people......we've never been during peak season this may make a big difference..........I hate going to the state fair with a stroller due to the crowds and people suddenly stopping in the middle of walkways day dreaming with no room to pass and other self absorbed behavior.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'm taking a risk here given the other posts....but I have to say that I agree with DH. If your family does drink a lot of water (say family of three drinking even just 2 bottles of water a day--more if it's really hot), that's roughly $15-18 a day x 6 days = $90 - $108 just for water. Also, the stroller is awfully nice for when DS does need a break--not necessarily a nap-- but just a chance to rest during the walking, waiting for parades, fireworks, etc. I dread the day when my DD (5 now) is ready to lose the stroller. Just another opinion, I guess. Either way...have a great trip!

Deduct the cost of the rental at $10.00 a day and IMHO the savings may not worth it. I was SOOO happy when we didn't need a stroller anymore at WDW that I woudn't use a stroller just for carrying water.

We usually bring one bottle each with us using a fanny pack or neck strap and budget for the rest. You could even re-fill from the fountains or get ice water from the counter service restaurants to save some $$.

TJ

 

[HayGan]

It would be much cheaper and easier to buy a refillable bottle that filters water.

We took a stroller last year and it was very handy and a burden at the same time. This year we bought a cheap duo glider off of craigslist to take with us. We only have to use it one day to make it pay for itself. So if we use it great but if we find it to be too much of a problem then we will just leave it behind.

 

[Hannathy]

It is so incredibly freeing when you don't take a stroller! You can just go from one attraction to the next and going thru the crowds is so easy. We didn't take one for our 5 yr old and it worked out great. You also find out you really don't need all that junk you haul with you when you have a stroller.

I certainly hope you "informed" your DH that if that is what he wants to do HE and HE alone would be in charge of obtaining the cooler, getting it to Disney, filling it with ice, buying the water, filling cooler getting it to park, standing in line to rent, ( while you get to get in a ride on SM or RNC!) handling said stroller all day, carrying cooler back to car or bus, you get the drift. You have to buy 5 bottles of water just to cover the stroller cost. only then will you save money and then how much will you save. to me it is too much work to save only a few dollars.

 

[addicted2disney]

If your DH insists on bringing water, what about leaving a small, soft cooler in the locker? Its half the price of the stroller, but you would have to walk to the entrance to get it.

 

[reginaastralis]

The ONLY way I'd do this, is if my child was small enough to need to ride in the stroller. I saw a couple with their small child *around three* in a double stroller with a cooler next to her. That I thought was perfect.

However, your child is old enough to walk, let them walk. They're not going to be really happy riding in a stroller, even when they get tired.

I agree, buy a refillable water bottle. The water fountain water is nice and cold ... and taste great.

Amanda

 

[snjmorrison]

We brought a couple of water bottles in and filled them at the park. We also brought those little flavored pouches to pour in. That worked great.

 

[babiesX2]

That sounds ridiculous! I definitely side with you. There's no way I'd let my DH do something that ridiculous. If we can't afford to buy water in the parks, we can't afford to go to WDW in the first place.

I think there is a difference between being able to afford things and being wasteful.

My girls are spaced out so I've been through the various phases of stroller use. I've always looked at a stroller as a convenience item and not some inconvenience I needed to overcome.

The last WDW trip we needed a stroller for was when DD13 was 7. We found that we could move much faster with her in a stroller so we rented a double. It was worth every penny!

With the twins, their double stroller (front to back seats) stays in the car at all times and we use it for everything! It is very much a help and not a hindrance.

We have always carried a water bottle for each of us in our backpack and refilled at water fountains. To each their own. . . but I wouldn't be arguing with my DH now about something he wants to do next year.

 

[Karnak]

I think it's unnecessary to bring any water into the park, and especially unnecessary to rent a stroller to roll it around in.

There are water fountains at every restroom location in every park, and one can get a free glass of ice & water for the asking at any food location.

Enjoy.