Stroller Question

[lightweight]

We are leaving for Disneyland on Saturday and I am still unsure about the stroller. My daughter will be 3 the end of June and my son will be 6 in August. Generally I do not use a stroller anymore but still have my sit and stand. I would like to leave it at home because I don't want to have it in the airport and I HATE it when I am pushing a stroller while the kid walks! However, I love that I would have that big basket to store everything and although my kids walk everywhere now, Disneyland is a lot more walking then they are used to. Would you guys suggest I stick with the stroller this year or is i a waste of time?? Thanks in advance

 

[DisSarahK]

The last time I used a stroller was in September in Disneyland when my little boy was 4 and my daughter was 6. I'm planning on bringing that same stroller this September--even though we NEVER use it, I know it will come in handy in Disneyland!

 

[Shimmer]

Take the Sit-N-Stand. You will be glad you did. My kids were 3 & 5 when we were there last and we used it a lot. It was great for holding all of their gear and snacks as well.

We would often park it in a land and do all the rides in that area. Then, we'd go back for it. But for moving from hotel to park and any distance around the park it was wonderful.

We hadn't used a stroller for over a year and were really glad we brought one.

 

[skiingfast]

I'd bring it because it is handy to hold things like water and sweatshirts. Somone will come around and say don't leave souvenires or valueables in it because they will get stolen.

Two options for your dilemmas.

Rent one there if you need it.
If you don't need it for a while, leave it in a stroller parking area midpark, get it when you need it again.

 

[specialks]

Agree with the others! We took ours last Dec and it is great. It is a lot of walking for kids and having a spot for snacks, bandaids, jackets, etc is great.

 

[Dash&Maggie]

I would definitely take it! I will be taking my Maclaren again this June for my 5 year old. I wouldn't leave home without it for big day excursions such as Disney! As someone else posted, you can always rent! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[smiles33]

I was going to rent one, as neither of my girls use a stroller now, but our hotel is within walking distance and you can't take the rental strollers out of DLR. Thus, I am just going to bring ours. Worst case scenario, it is a pack mule for snacks/diapers, etc. and we only use it for the kids at the end of the day for the walk back to the hotel.

 

[amycarter]

We were there in march and used our stroller for DS5. We never use it at home but it was a lifesaver! He fell asleep in it a few times which was much easier than carrying a 5 year old back to the hotel. We carried coats and snacks etc with ease. We parked it without problems all over.
Check your airlines regarding your stroller. I kept it with us for our layover on the way there, but checked it for free on the way back. I also was able to check his booster seat for free (we flew Alaska). They put them in large clear plastic bags at the airport after security checks them. It was nice not having to deal with them. I should have done that on the way down but we didn't want to check bags and take the time to retrieve the stroller.
The rental stroller looks ok, but I have a BOB which I love and paid good money for, so when I was able to take it for free, why rent?? Then you can use it to walk to your hotel, which is one of the best reasons to have it!
I started a thread on this same subject months ago wondering about if I needed to take a stroller, and everyone told me to take it (3pages of feedback all saying yes) and thank god they did.
Have a wonderful trip and by all means take your stroller! Your kids will be so much happier and less tired and grouchy!

Amy

 

[mama2dutchies]

See I'm the opposite my 5 year old wouldn't have gotten in the stroller even if we had one for her.. SHe would of been offended (diva! LOL)

so we went with the double (phil & ted) for the littles, and the diva walked all day like a trooper and I swear, come bedtime she was still willing to go.

So i guess it depends on your kids, and only you know them.

 

[Mama Who]

See I'm the opposite my 5 year old wouldn't have gotten in the stroller even if we had one for her.. SHe would of been offended (diva! LOL)

so we went with the double (phil & ted) for the littles, and the diva walked all day like a trooper and I swear, come bedtime she was still willing to go.

So i guess it depends on your kids, and only you know them.

Ditto. My son would have been outraged if we'd tried to stroller him at 5.

The 3 year old, though? I'm thinking a stroller will be a mighty fine thing. I might go with a small cheap umbrella stroller and absolutely would park it and leave it when not needed for a few hours.

 

[mama2dutchies]

Yeah, we go in two weeks and we'll be almost 3, 4 and 7 this time.. But different kid dd2 will still crash in the stroller, and therefore it's handy to have.. DS(almost3) will too.. but at 4.. it would of questionable if DD1 would of used it..

The phil N ted is my best investment

 

[nemofans]

I have been contemplating this question myself. My boys will be 2.5 & 6 yrs old for our next trip. Our last trip to WDW, DS (6) was 4.5 yrs then & he didn't ask for a stroller til after 3 days. I think now he would be fine walking for 4 days at DL. I will be bringing my cheap umbrella stroller for my 2 yr old for airports & at the parks. If DS (6) wants a stroller too after a few days, then we will just get the double disney stroller then.

 

[CrystalS]

I also have a sit n stand and ds will be 4.5 and dd will be 13months. I thought of not bringing it because of the bulk, but decided that the benefits much out weight the bulk. DD will need a stroller for sure, and I know ds will get tired and want to use it too, at least part of the day.
My only other concern was that I don't want it stolen as I paid a good price for it!
Then I read some get tips to use a bike lock of some sort (they also sell stroller locks) to lock up the wheels to the frame so that it is hard to push, which will deter anyone from stealing it (they will go for an easier to take one). Only thing to remember when locking your stroller is that you can't lock it to something stationary since Disney sometimes likes to move and rearrange strollers to make better use of the space. But locking the wheels to the frame will work

 

[Mama Who]

I have been contemplating this question myself. My boys will be 2.5 & 6 yrs old for our next trip. Our last trip to WDW, DS (6) was 4.5 yrs then & he didn't ask for a stroller til after 3 days. I think now he would be fine walking for 4 days at DL. I will be bringing my cheap umbrella stroller for my 2 yr old for airports & at the parks. If DS (6) wants a stroller too after a few days, then we will just get the double disney stroller then.

Double check me on this, but I *think* DL may not have double strollers.

 

[DahliaRW]

DL does not have doubles.

We brought, TWO strollers when we went last with my kids (at the time 6, 3 1/2 and 18 months). I had a single lightweight that we took around with us pretty much the whole time with my 18mo. My other stroller, a sit and stand, we would bring in in the morning, leave coats (not expensive ones) and lunch in it, and just park it near the hub. We'd go back and get it if we needed it. For the most part we didn't use it much in the park until evening. And we definitely used it to walk back to the hotel, for all 3 kids. The one day we didn't bring it my FIL ended up carrying my 3 1/2 yo the whole way back and my poor dh had to carry our 6 yo back because they were too tired to walk!

 

[allgrownup]

We went in 2009, 5 month old, 4 yr 3/4 years, and 6yr2months. Parents felt two strollers would be overkill, but gramma won the battle. Guess what. Both strollers got a lot of use. If the baby was in one, the other two would take turns in the other. If baby was being worn, both bigger kids would take breaks.
Mom was sure the older two would be just fine since they are avid hikers.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I'd bring one. Do you have (can you get) an inexpensive umbrella stroller? I doubt you'd need 2, the kids can always switch off. Also after a long day at Disney that walk back to your hotel, especially off property, is awfully Looooong!

 

[twopeasonepod]

I always advocate for bringing strollers. My sons are barely 5, but tall. We have this stroller and it is a lifesaver:

http://www.amazon.com/First-Years-I...2GB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306570915&sr=8-1

It goes to 50 lbs, has longer handles (so you won't have to lean over -- my DH is 6'), and has a basket underneath. Even if they don't want to sit (sometimes one likes to push his), you can put stuff in it. It's much much much better than having a cranky kid that you have to drag around the park.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Does anyone have a picture of the stollers Disneyland rents?

 

[mama2dutchies]

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/plan/guest-services/stroller-rental/