Stroller - rent or bring

[DebMcDonald]

We're heading to WDW in August and we have three kids, but two who could use stollers, 4 and 2, do we bring our own or rent disney's. If bringing my own I would just do two umbrulla type.

Debbie

 

[beattyfamily]

I prefer bringing my own. I like having it everywhere we go. I like saving money!

Some prefer the convenience of renting (not lugging the strollers on the bus).

I like having it while waiting for the bus at the end of the day when they are asleep. I like having it for DTD. I also like having it for any offsite places too.

The rental ones aren't that comfy either.

It's all a matter of preference. Good luck deciding.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

I have a 7,5 and 2 year old. We always bring our own - it's a double and we have no problems. It's so much more convenient and with ours, our baby can take a nap and it carries more. Bringing your own also lets you tote them into and out of the park. This helps, especially at night.

 

[KristiKelly]

Everyone will have different opinions on this. We have taken & we have rented. DH loves the rental strollers becasue he hates having to lug strollers on & off the bus, esp. when crowded. Our trip in 2003, we took our stroller but ended up renting the entire time. DS was 6 so we were hoping to only rent a single stroller for DD3 until DS ended up with a huge blister on his foot the 1st day. They both prefer the rented stollers as well because they can just climb in & out of them easily. They are a hard plastic & look like they could become hot but we brought a towel from the hotel & would drape it over the stroller when we were away from the stroller for awhile. Our kids never complained.

ETA: If you rent, keep your stroller receipt so if you park hop you can get another stroller later that night.

 

[ceecee]

If you're flying, they are a plus at the airport. The umbrella strollers are so much easier to push around than the rentals. Cost is a factor too, since umbrella strollers cost so little. We even used ours at the resort.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My kids were 5, 3 and 21 months on our last trip. I brought a single stroller that had a running board on the back for an older child and rented a double in the parks for the older 2-at least that's what I thought. The nearly 2 year old LOVED the rentals so she rode in that and one of the older kids would ride in her stroller. We also have a double umbrella (that my baby HATES-doesn't want to share her space with anyone). I could have brought that along but I LOVED the convenience of the rentals because I was already lugging one stroller. And the rentals are very easy to push.

You can do a multi-day rental and save 10% but more importantly save time waiting in line-you only have to pay once.

Another option for you may be to rent a double stroller from A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com). They deliver it right to your resort.

 

[cl1067]

We just went in December. My kids were 3 and 8 at the time. We brought our umbrella stroller from home for the younger one. I had thought the older one would be okay walking most of the time. Boy was I wrong. She would get whinny without the stroller and it was so much easier having a double stroller. We did a multiday rental, which worked great. But I am also glad we had the umbrella stroller for the airport and when we went to Downtown Disney.

 

[cepmom]

beattyfamily~
How old are your girls? They look to be about the same age as my two younger girls that are 4 and 7 (will be 5 and 8 when we go to Disney this summer). How does your older girl do with all the walking? I am bringing a stroller for the 5 yr old (Chicco Caddy) because I know there's no way she will walk the whole time. I bought it for this trip (on clearance $25) so I know I'll be able to save money vs the rentals, but I'm a little concerned about the 8 yr old needing to ride too (she does not fit in the Caddy). I'm starting to second guess myself and wondering if I should scrap the whole idea of bringing the Caddy and rent a double instead so they can both fit if needed.

What type of stroller do you use for your younger girl?

BTW ~ I love her gorgeous red hair!!

 

[beattyfamily]

beattyfamily~
How old are your girls? They look to be about the same age as my two younger girls that are 4 and 7 (will be 5 and 8 when we go to Disney this summer). How does your older girl do with all the walking? I am bringing a stroller for the 5 yr old (Chicco Caddy) because I know there's no way she will walk the whole time. I bought it for this trip (on clearance $25) so I know I'll be able to save money vs the rentals, but I'm a little concerned about the 8 yr old needing to ride too (she does not fit in the Caddy). I'm starting to second guess myself and wondering if I should scrap the whole idea of bringing the Caddy and rent a double instead so they can both fit if needed.

What type of stroller do you use for your younger girl?

BTW ~ I love her gorgeous red hair!!

Thanks about the hair!

My girls are now 5 and 8 1/2.

This has been my experience so far.

I used a double (umbrella type) stroller for both of them until our 2002 trip so my oldest was 6 and my youngest was 3. Then in 2003, we went with their cousins who were 7 and 10 so my then 7 year old felt embarrassed using a stroller since those two wouldn't be. So I brought my single stroller which I paid $70 for; it's lightweight, folds really easy, has a canopy and a basket and two cup holders. My then 7 year old did whine a little but not that much; no blisters. We did have a hard time on the MVMCP night and so the following year, for MNSSHP (this past Oct) we got a double stroller for that (and left the younger DDs stroller at the resort). For the rest of the trip she walked but whined a lot. I believe she even got a blister towards the end of our last trip in Oct/Nov. She walked the whole trip last August and did complain a little and I think she got a blister towards the end then too but we didn't have any late nights so I never rented one for her and we survived.

Sorry to be long-winded. Just wanted to explain that she did it, but complained and whined, it was tough for late nights (she's really hard to carry!), and I'd rent one for late nights but I still only brought the single stroller for the younger one, although now she's getting too tall for it.

This December's trip when they will be 6 and 9 might be the first time I rent the whole week just because they are really both too big for a regular stroller but not for the Disney ones.

Hope this helps!

 

[cepmom]

Thanks Beatty family
I am still going back and forth over this stroller issue ~ DH says just bring the Caddy for the younger one, the older one will be fine, and normally I would agree, but I just keep thinking she'll be exhausted especially with all the heat and humidity in August. Oh well ~ sadly, I have plenty of time to figure something out. Thanks again!!

 

[Jennyvelaz]

BRING!!! another option if still quandering...
Our last trip we left it in our parked car at a different lot and so we got on our plane without one, knowing we could just rent....
If you have a car....I ended up buying one at the WinnDixie, a single umbrella that we shared among my 3yr old twins ($16).***** It was easy and staying at the Beach club, you needed one to get to Epcot! Here's the catch...we did just rent a double one when we stayed all day like at Animal Kingdom. That was fine. I strongly reccommend taking one. There is a lot of walking and although it is a pain to carry and lift it will help their little legs at the end of a long day!
****This was after searching supertarget, superwalmart, every pharmacy and Publix around! Can be hard to find one in August!

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks Beatty family
I am still going back and forth over this stroller issue ~ DH says just bring the Caddy for the younger one, the older one will be fine, and normally I would agree, but I just keep thinking she'll be exhausted especially with all the heat and humidity in August. Oh well ~ sadly, I have plenty of time to figure something out. Thanks again!!

You are welcome. I think maybe you should bring one for the younger one and rent when needed for the older one. That's what I'm going to do if my younger one still fits in the stroller that is!

It will be HOT in August and it does make them more tired and miserable then normal. So either rent a double all week or bring one and rent as needed!

Good luck!

 

[KaylaKristen]

We were in WDW in October and did the Stroller Swap that I found on this board. It worked out great! We have a 3 year old and 19 month old. We brought one stroller with us for the baby and we met the stroller from the swap at our hotel. The stroller was very comfortable and clean. It worked great for us. Good Luck!

 

[doodlebug]

Wow I leave in just 4 days and we can't decide if we should bring our sit n stand stroller for our 4 & 7 yr old kids or just rent at the park????? It would be save a bit of money for our 10 day visit if we brought our own but then dh isn't liking the idea of having to lug it onto and off Disney transportation back and forth from the hotels... Any input on if it's that much of a hassel would be greatly appreciated.... Is it a long way from the park entrance to where buses are to take us back to our hotel??? Thanks so much!

 

[crisi]

We like the rentals. For one, I have two kids a year apart and I don't own a double stroller. We've used a wagon since they were old enough to sit - and the wagon doesn't work at Disney. They don't LIKE traditional strollers - but they like the rentals. They can get in and out of them easy. I don't need to haul it or worry about it getting stolen or move it around on buses. They are really sturdy. I watched the neighbor boy sit in a stroller when he was about six and have it break underneath him - (granted he was a big kid and it was an old cheap stroller).

I do have a pair of umbrellas and connectors at home, but the umbrellas with the connectors are a real pain to push loaded down with kids. It wasn't bad when they were little, but once preschool age hit, they were too heavy to make cheap umbrella strollers pushable.

With babies, (younger than 18 months or so) you really want to bring your own for napping and the cushions.

 

[KristiKelly]

Wow I leave in just 4 days and we can't decide if we should bring our sit n stand stroller for our 4 & 7 yr old kids or just rent at the park????? It would be save a bit of money for our 10 day visit if we brought our own but then dh isn't liking the idea of having to lug it onto and off Disney transportation back and forth from the hotels... Any input on if it's that much of a hassel would be greatly appreciated.... Is it a long way from the park entrance to where buses are to take us back to our hotel??? Thanks so much!

We have a Sit n Stand also. We took it in 2002, DH was so irritated with it by the end of the 1st day that we ended up renting the rest of the week, larger strollers are a real pain on a crowded bus. We took it with us in 2003, it NEVER left the room, we rented the whole time. We started out only getting a single but DS ended up with blisters so a double it was (they were 3 & 6) Some like to take their own stroller so if the kids are sleeping when you leave the park, but I think your kids are old enough that you won't have to worry. Also, play it by ear, on our Oct. 04 trip our kids were 4 & 7 and we didn't rent one at all. We decided that if they complain about being tired that we would rent one but they never complained at all. I would say take it, if it's a pain then rent, I think (but not 100% sure) if you pay in advance for your stay you get a 10% discount. Your 7 y/o may not need one the entire time either, you might could just rent a single and let them take turns. I hope this helps.

Edited to add: The WDW busses are really close to the park entrances not a long walk.
Also, are you driving or flying? That would make a difference as well. We always drive so it's easy for us to take it along. Might not be as easy to take along on a flight, I don't know though.

 

[doodlebug]

Wow KristiKelley thanks for your detailed response... We are flying from Seattle if that helps.. We usually go to Disneyland every spring break and take the stroller with us because we like to do the all day thing and my older child does get tired and likes to ride.. We usually stay at Disneyland Hotel so we don't have to lug the stroller onto a bus (but we did stay offsite once and thought it was okay but not a lot of fun... Just seems like a large added expense if we alread have a really good stroller but that being said I have never been to WDW so I don't know what a hassle it will be for us or not!!!

 

[DebMcDonald]

I've been checking e.bay and am looking for a side by side umbrella, you can get them through walmart for about $57, we are going to WDW in August with three kids, 4, 2, and 11 and thought about renting, but between the airport the week with my MIL, and then a week at disney figure it will be cheaper in the long run to have our own stoller, besides getting back and fourth at the end of the night with sleepy kids. We already have a double, but it's a front to back and I figure with a side by side the kids will stay in it better because they will have each other right next to them. I went round and round with this one, but figure I am better off in the long run with my own. Hope this helps.

Debbie