Stroller revolt!

[rt2dz]

I always bring a stroller from home because I was too cheap to pay the "cheap" price. I can't imagine even thinking of paying they new prices. Of course, WDW can now rent fewer strollers and make more money.

As far as a 7yo needing a stroller... I have a 7yo who does not use a stroller at home, and hasn't since he was 3. He walks to and from school, which is almost 2 miles each way, so he is used to walking. WDW is a different animal though. He gets wiped out. Last trip, at night, he needed the rest. He is very tall for his age--his height is closer to the average 9 year old.

We took a jogger, with a swivel wheel (very important) and the wheel was under the stroller (foot rest) v. sticking out. Our jogger is no bigger than the rentals, but came with a big basket, side pockets, cup holders, soft seats, 5 point harnesses, removable seat cushions, individually reclining, rain cover, sun shade, folded fairly flat, hooks for bags, large sunshade with peek-a-boo window... You get the idea. It holds 75-80 lbs per side, I think. I had no problem pushing it with any combination of our 3 kids (a tiny 4yo and an average size 2yo) in it--and it does push like a dream. And, boy, was I happy to have it at DtD & on the Boardwalk!!

I would look into starting a stroller swap. Or maybe reselling later. Or see about renting from A Baby's Best Friend. I would NOT rent the one's from WDW at those prices. You might still be spending the same money, but at least by not giving it to WDW for an uncomfortable stroller, you stand a possiblity of recouping some of the cost--if you don't rent from ABBF. Or spending less if doing a stroller swap. Especially now too, that you have to put down a $100 deposit. Oh, I so disagree with that on so many levels, especially since you can't leave the parks with the stroller.

 

[tycopj]

Unless your 7 year old has a medical need, can't they just walk?

I can see strollers for the 5 and under set but school age is a little big for a stroller.

My DS will be close to 6 during our trip. He does not have a medical need, and yes he can just walk, but where is it written that strollers are just for the 5 and under set? Why does this have to be an issue? If you don't have a suggestion for the OP, why bother posting at all?

OP, my suggestion is to buy the Maclaren Volo. We bought one specifically for our trip to WDW last year. It was great during our trip and DD 9 even sat in it a few times oh, the horror!!! (usually just for a 10-15 minute break, but it held her too) Once home the stroller went back into the box with the intent of selling it.....but since we are fortunate to be returning I will be taking it again, yes for an almost 6 year old! So I say, buy the Volo, you will get your use out of it! I think they would be fine sharing, and you can always resell the Volo.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Jennygt]

Hi all, check out a babys best friend, if you plan to rent. I used the service last year and it was great. I agree, disney is out of control, but I just want to give people another option to consider.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

The price of stroller rental at WDW is just crazy. I too was too cheap to rent one and have always brought my own. I'm still definitely bringing my own this trip. There is no way they'll get my money for a stroller rental.

 

[DVCJEN]

My DS will be close to 6 during our trip. He does not have a medical need, and yes he can just walk, but where is it written that strollers are just for the 5 and under set? Why does this have to be an issue? If you don't have a suggestion for the OP, why bother posting at all?

OP, my suggestion is to buy the Maclaren Volo. We bought one specifically for our trip to WDW last year. It was great during our trip and DD 9 even sat in it a few times oh, the horror!!! (usually just for a 10-15 minute break, but it held her too) Once home the stroller went back into the box with the intent of selling it.....but since we are fortunate to be returning I will be taking it again, yes for an almost 6 year old! So I say, buy the Volo, you will get your use out of it! I think they would be fine sharing, and you can always resell the Volo.

Have a wonderful trip!

That is what happens when you ask on a public forum for opinions--your get opinions.

 

[MKB419]

Hi all. I am new to the boards. We will be traveling to WDW in Oct. with DD 4 and DS 3. I gave my double stroller away so was planning on renting one but the prices are a little steep. Do they have a stroller exchange or swap like they have for the fridge exchange? Not sure how it works but I would be interested.
MK

 

[mykidsintow]

Our sons first trip to WDW he was 3 (3 months before he turned 4). He walked. I have never taken a stroller for any kid. My daughter does have a wheelchair, but that is different. Our son has walked all 3 trips. We took a Medical Missions child we were hosting. We took her when she was 3.5. She also walked the whole trip. At the very end of the day my DH would offer to put various 3 yr olds on his shoulders, none have ever needed it.

Our friends take a stroller for their 5 yr old. I don't get it....

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I've noticed a lot of "why do you need a stroller, can't your kid walk???" comments, and they make me laugh. I mean, I would never think to question a parent's decision regarding what they think is necessary for their trip to Disney to be a stress-free as possible for everyone in the traveling party. Particularly first-timers.

My 4 year old probably won't need a stroller, but the fact of the matter is, we don't spend our days wandering all over the place in 85 degree weather, so I don't know how he'll hold up. We're not at all interested in carrying him when he poops out, and there's no way Disney's getting $18 desperation dollars from me. If we bring it in to the park 2 days in a row and he never puts his tush in it, we'll leave it at the hotel on day 3, 4, 5, etc.

 

[bzzymom]

On our trip with DS was 7, it was the first trip taking DD 11mon. I only rented a single stroller for her, and he walked along side me, often standing right beside me holding on to the handle as well. I was nervous about him getting away from me, and I drilled him on what to do if we got seperated, but he was very good.

 

[mickeymousemom]

I'm having a hard time with all this also. My youngest will be 5 when we stay onsite in Oct. The past two trips I've rented a stroller and loved it. She only used it about half the time, if that, but it was there when she needed it and a Godsend at times. I refuse now to pay that kind of money to rent a stroller at WDW! I don't even have one for her here anymore, so would have to buy or borrow.
We will be there for a couple days in June and I think we'll do a total walking test then. If she can do it all day, then we won't lug one down and will only buy one at the parks in Oct. if we get desperate. If we have to, we'll rent one in June and I'll buy a used one here to take in October...I guess...

I fully believe its ok for a 7 yo to rest a bit in a stroller if need be. Those days can be very long and trying for us adults, let alone a child with little legs.

 

[rt2dz]

While this certainly does not apply to all kids, I have seen more than one young child with a look of total misery on their face. I’ve heard the parents threaten to get a stroller and the kids beg and plead not to, but if the parents actually looked at their child, they would see they needed one whether or not the child wanted one--or the parent(s) for that matter. The kids were walking at a very brisk pace (sometimes practically running) despite the parents walking quite slowly (for themselves). I really think some—not all—parents are a little clueless to just how hard their child is working to keep up, and actually miserable, being caught up in the moment themselves. I think it is part of the reason why some kids are having those meltdowns and those “mid day naps, even for older children” are so needed.

I don’t blame parents one bit for realizing *their* child would be one of those kids, and avoiding it. Good for them!! Heck, my DS7 walks two miles (each way) to school, has PE everyday where they are required to run ½ mile each day, we live in the Deep South where he is used to the heat & humidty, and he still gets exhausted at WDW! That is when one of our other two little ones take a break from the stroller and he gets in. His first trip he was 3.5, and I brought a single. Good thing I also brought a front pack for our then 7 month old DS because it turned out he needed the stroller a lot.

One should never judge or give "opinions" in a snotty, condescending manner.

 

[EltonJohn]

Does your 7 year old really need the stroller?

Very good question

 

[laginog001]

Do the double jogging strollers fold up small enough to fit on the buses? They look pretty large to me. We are bringing our 3 nephews, 7, 4 & 3...and my husband will have an ECV for himself....and I have leg braces!! What a challenge, huh?? The 7-year-old will probably be on his own, unless he needs to sit and rest for a minute because I know his brothers won't be able to go all day long (we'll probably work a nap in if we can). We were planning to rent a double but with the new prices, ....I think we'll buy one now and sell it when we get home. We were considering the sit 'n stand but maybe the jogging one would be easier to push? We'd like to keep it under $200, if possible. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[disnut1149]

Does your 7 year old really need the stroller?

Hi
I'm 58 and by the end of the day, I'm ready for a stroller!!!!

 

[rt2dz]

Do the double jogging strollers fold up small enough to fit on the buses? They look pretty large to me. We are bringing our 3 nephews, 7, 4 & 3...and my husband will have an ECV for himself....and I have leg braces!! What a challenge, huh?? The 7-year-old will probably be on his own, unless he needs to sit and rest for a minute because I know his brothers won't be able to go all day long (we'll probably work a nap in if we can). We were planning to rent a double but with the new prices, ....I think we'll buy one now and sell it when we get home. We were considering the sit 'n stand but maybe the jogging one would be easier to push? We'd like to keep it under $200, if possible. Thanks for any ideas.

My jogger folds flat, but it is still large. I can carry it through the bus while DH takes the kiddos and have never hit anyone--I'm careful though. Most times, the bus driver will open the handicap side and tell me to just go in that way. I sit it in the center, in front of my family. In your situation, I would not recommend a jogger. It will be hard enough. I'd look into ABBF or a stroller swap. In your case, you might want to think about two umbrella's or a small side-by-side double.

BTW--I HATE, HATE, HATE my sit-n-stand. I think I've used it only half a dozen times. It is much harder than a regular double or a jogger to maneuver, isn't good for sleeping, and the storage is impossible to reach if it is in use. I have the baby trend one. I know some people are happy with it, but I find more that think it is a big of a nightmare as I do.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I actually think all the strollers for older children are clogging the walkaways, etc. (so yes it does affect those who do not have kids in the strollers--and yes I am a parent and yes I toook the kids to Disney MANY times as youngsters and they have both walked since before they turned 4 and both adore Disney so it is doable though I can understnad why a parent may prefer to simply push a stroller for an olde rchild as well).

So my THEORY is that Disney is making the price so very high to discourage having so many older kids in the strollers to help ease congestion in the parks(ie now you won't rent one unless you REALLY need to--and many people with babies bring their own anyway).

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Hi
I'm 58 and by the end of the day, I'm ready for a stroller!!!!

You know- I was wondering about why older healthy children would need a stroller as well- but this comment made me LOL True, true!

That being said, my 7 year old walked and we usually keep a pretty brisk pace. Of course, all kids are different. Me, instead of taking a stroller for an older child, I'd rather slow down if I'm going so fast I'm dragging my kid behind me!

Good luck whatever you decide The prices in and of itself are frightening now!

 

[logansmummy]

They have got to be screwing themselves by doing this? I can't see the need, they don't take GASOLINE? What is the deal, how do they justify that high of an increase? I would be jacked if I was there during the price hike! They are giant pieces of plastic?????

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I've noticed a lot of "why do you need a stroller, can't your kid walk???" comments, and they make me laugh. I mean, I would never think to question a parent's decision regarding what they think is necessary for their trip to Disney to be a stress-free as possible for everyone in the traveling party. Particularly first-timers.

Why are you laughing? Its the people who are asking, " Oh my what should I do, double strollers are now $31.00 a day? "

They are asking for opinions, and mine among other posters were let the older kid walk. Gees

If they are so deadset about their kids being in strollers, then pay $31.00 a day or bring a stroller from home. Its not rocket science.

I'm just confused what kind of opinions do these people want? There is no magic answer, it is what it is.

 

[tspann]

I have saved for 3 years to pay for our 8 day 7 night trip to WDW next week. I am litterly counting penny's to be able to feed the four of us wile we are there. By increasing the rental prices so unexpectly is ......................... I can't find the words.