stroller - rent or buy ?

[nuzmom]

We are taking our DS3 1/2 and DS8 1/2 on a 10 day WDW trip. We'll be staying on WDW property and making a Walmart/grocery store trip the first evening.

We were planning on renting a double stroller for the length of stay, but I think that's going to be about $140. I'm not sure if DS8 1/2 will even use it. Probably just when he's extremely tired of walking. Even if we just do a single stroller it's going to be about $70. We just starting to think that for that much money we could probably buy one instead.

I like the convience of not taking a stroller on the buses and monorail, but I'm not sure that convience is worth the money or not. Also, by keeping the receipt, there's no worry if your stoller "walks off", but does that really happen to people who bring their own?

Questions:

How much is stroller rental? (Length of stay discount? Double vs. single?)

Would you recommend a double or single?

Do you rent or buy?

What can we do with the stroller when we're done? We really have no need for one at home and don't really want to "fly" with one.

I'm anxious to hear your opinions. Thanks.

 

[campingcorgi]

I doubt your 8 will even ride in the stroller more than a little bit--the rental doubles would be tight for two those ages.

Check over on the Budget Board--there is a stroller swap there and maybe you can work it out for your little one. You'll want a stroller for that one!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We used the strollers at the parks last week while we were visiting. DD and DS, ages 3 and 4, were just fine in them.
DH and I decided it was worth the money not to have to drag our double on Disney transportation system. The only time I recommend bringing your own is if you have a very young child.

 

[turnlisa]

I agree that your 8 1/2 year old will probably not use the stroller. My older DS 7 does not need one any longer. He started doing all the walking when he was 6. As for the 3 1/2 year old, I take my own stroller for my own DS who is that age. It is nice to have at the end of the day when you are leaving the parks. The stroller rentals are near the front of the parks. If you are staying on property, this means carrying a sleeping child to the bus stop or monorail stop and then back to the room. Just so much more convenient to have your own stroller to push.

In the 5 times that I have been to WDW with a stroller, I have never had one disappear. If you are interested in getting something cheap for the little one, there are umbrella strollers at WalMart for $20. This would more than pay for itself.

 

[nuzmom]

turnlisa, that's sort of what I was thinking about - a cheap stroller from Walmart. It seems that a small umbrella stroller wouldn't be too hard to carry on the buses and stuff.

Does anyone know how much the stroller rentals are at WDW? I read something about a discount if you pay for multiple days and I would want to do that. I'm thinking it's about $7 per day? That would be about $70 for our stay vs. a $20 stroller from Walmart.

Can anyone tell me how much the stroller rentals are?

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

I believe I just read on another thread the single stroller rate was about $7/day.

If you plan to stop at Wal-Mart on the way in, you might as well check out their selection of strollers & if you see what that meets your needs & it what you're willing to pay, buy it. Rather than you standard umbrella, you can get ones that fold back, have a shade cover & basket underneath for storage for about $30-$35. Check out their website to get a general idea of what a store would have -- there's even one online with a Mickey & Minnie pattern! Then, you would have a stroller to use not only at the parks, but around the resort, Downtown Disney, etc.

If you don't see anything you like, you know you can rent one at the parks, no problem.

If you decide to bring the stroller home, great. If not, you might post on the budget board that it would be available to another family to use. I was lucky enough to find another DISer leaving one behind & plan on using it during our stay. She'll leaving it with bell services with my name/arrival & then I will pick up. You might also run into a family on the way in to the resort who could use it. I can imagine if you said "free stroller" you'd get some takers for sure.

Good luck.

Mickey & Minnie Mom

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

Nuzmom,

We will be down there at the same time, with the same stroller dilemna (rent vs buy).

I am ordering an umbrella stroller from Walmart.com, for about $25-$30, and having it shipped to the resort that I'm staying at.

That way, I don't have to worry about lugging it down with us, and it will be boxed for shipping, so I can just check in the box for the return flight.

Wish we were going a week apart - I would have been happy to go in halvies with you.

Good luck,

Mrs. Poohbrain

 

[HitchhikingGhost]

We always rent our things from A Baby's Best Friend in Orlando (www.abbf.com). I am not sure about the cost of a double stroller for 10 days, but I am sure it would be a lot less than the $140.00 you mentioned for a Disney stroller. We have used ABBF and have always been very happy; everything is very clean and delivered to our hotel before we get there. We especially enjoy getting our strollers from them rather than the park because we have it all the time, like if we go shopping or for walks.


Have a great trip!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You can purchase an inexpensive one from Wal-Mart & have it for the entire trip. When you are thru with it, you can donate it to the Give Kids the World Village (Make a Wish Foundation). Here is the link:
http://www.gktw.org/ I am sure they would be happy to have that as a donation. Or maybe a Ronald McDonald House ???