Stroller. Worth it?

[Dis703]

We take our own stroller. We bought a nice double Citi Mini with the big canopies with Disney in mind. It's super easy to fold and while it may be a slight pain on the buses I have no desire to spend money on a rental in the park each day. The stroller we have is much more comfortable for sleeping and has better shade anyhow.

 

[mco65]

I'm debating on whether I should bring my own stroller or rent one from Disney.
My friend said the double strollers are $27 per day, and I doubt a single is much less.
We have our own, and it isn't much trouble to bring it with us to Disney, but dh says that it will be difficult getting it on and off the Disney buses when we travel from the resort to the parks.
He mentioned we could drive our vehicle to the parks, but don't you still have to get on some other type of transportation to get from the parking lots to the park gates?
I've never been. Dh has been, but he has always taken the Disney buses to the parks.
What would you do? What is most reasonable?

Bring your stroller.. its worth it. We had a double stroller (twins) and always brought it with us on the WDW busses. As long as the stroller folds up, you should have no issues with it..

 

[drstrangelove]

I'm debating on whether I should bring my own stroller or rent one from Disney.
My friend said the double strollers are $27 per day, and I doubt a single is much less.
We have our own, and it isn't much trouble to bring it with us to Disney, but dh says that it will be difficult getting it on and off the Disney buses when we travel from the resort to the parks.
He mentioned we could drive our vehicle to the parks, but don't you still have to get on some other type of transportation to get from the parking lots to the park gates?
I've never been. Dh has been, but he has always taken the Disney buses to the parks.
What would you do? What is most reasonable?

Buy an umbrella one cheap. If you have a car, buy one locally when you arrive. If not, buy it and take it with you. I would never rent one for $30 per day. Its crazy.

 

[Silvermist999]

If your child is younger than 2 or 3, I'd bring your own stroller (more comfortable for napping). We rented a WDW stroller for our children when they were 4 -5 years old. They didn't nap in it, just rested their little feet, and we could navigate the crowds easier! It cost more, but was more convenient for us. You will see once you get into the park, and check out the "stroller parking areas" in Fantasyland, that the majority rent the WDW strollers.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Thanks for replying.
Most of you have me leaning toward bringing my own. We will be taking the family minivan from Texas to Florida; there will be five of us in it. Packing the stroller will make luggage a tight squeeze, but it can be done. I'm not concerned about transport from home to the resort; it's from the resort to the parks.
I currently have a Graco stroller that originally came with the infant car seat. It is big and bulky, but comfortable and has undercarriage storage. Would it be better for me to bring an umbrella stroller?
ETA: planning to bring a soft-sided cooler in; not sure if that will not work with the umbrella.

I probably have a similar Graco as you. I have absolutely no problem opening and closing it with one hand. It is big but I prefer to have the cup holders and the storage bin underneath than using the umbrella stroller. IMO it is easier to have the big stroller all day and dealing with it on the buses than to have the ease of an umbrella stroller on the buses and then not having the convenience of the stroller in the parks. I also feel it is more comfortable for the child if they need to take a quick nap. I have also always used the stroller until my kids were about 6 because the parks are a lot of walking. They walk as much as they want or can and it is nice for them to be able to sit or nap when they need to. I probably like to use the stroller more than the kids to carry things.

 

[hakepb]

I probably have a similar Graco as you. I have absolutely no problem opening and closing it with one hand. It is big but I prefer to have the cup holders and the storage bin underneath than using the umbrella stroller. IMO it is easier to have the big stroller all day and dealing with it on the buses than to have the ease of an umbrella stroller on the buses and then not having the convenience of the stroller in the parks. I also feel it is more comfortable for the child if they need to take a quick nap. I have also always used the stroller until my kids were about 6 because the parks are a lot of walking. They walk as much as they want or can and it is nice for them to be able to sit or nap when they need to. I probably like to use the stroller more than the kids to carry things.

There are inexpensive strollers that are a step between an umbrella and "full sized" with under compartments and cup holders...you can even get an extra "back standing/seat" attachment for an umbrella.

You can also buy cup holders attachments for umbrella strollers, and I like to attach a mesh bag for some storage (mesh/clear makes the security lines easier ) and its easy to hang the backpack on the stroller.

 

[Love Tink]

I would definitely bring your own stroller. I don't think the few minutes of stress about getting on and off buses outweighs the convenience of having your own stroller from door to door. This is especially true if you have a car and don't even have to take the bus every day.

As for whether to bring your Graco or an umbrella, I think you should consider two things:

1) Is your child going to nap in the stroller? If so, the Graco might be better for that - bigger, softer, reclines, sunshade. Only you know if your kid will nap at all, or if maybe he/she could nap even in the umbrella stroller.

2) How much stuff do you need to bring with you? If you have a lot of stuff - you mentioned a cooler - dealing with the Graco will be worth it because of the basket underneath (and the cup holders).

We usually brought an umbrella with us, and my kids would all snooze in the umbrella. But we brought our bigger stroller on one trip because it was a freezing cold December and we needed the basket just to be able to port around all of our heavy jackets, hats and mittens. It was worth the bus inconvenience to have the "cargo hold" the rest of the day.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If you have a car, then you always have that option over the buses. Sometimes the bus/boat/monorail is fun/best, but sometimes the car is a good option too.

I think it makes sense to avoid renting one at WDW.


If your stroller is heavy, then find an option which is light, easy to maneuver, and is the proper height. If you - or your spouse- is tall- an cheap umbrella stroller will be a thing of misery to push all day. Heavy and bulky is also no fun.

I don't know what you are spending on this trip, but I'd strongly encourage you to consider investing is a higher quality easy fold stroller with very good wheels. "Umbrella stroller" is a highly variable term: could weigh 100 pounds, could be super-flimsy.

Ideally you need: storage, shade cover, recline, good ball bearings, easy folding! you MUST have a RAIN COVER of some kind! (a plastic poncho plus rubber bands can work) You might well be able to borrow one or buy one second hand!

Conversely, the ideal at WDW is not to have a super high end stroller.

Ideally, you'll want to personalize your stroller- tie bright colored ribbons, bright stickers. At every attraction, you'll park it in a lot with 1000 other strollers. (all the same make and style!) While you are on the ride CM's will MOVE it!!!!! It is not enough just to remember where you parked it. It REALLY helps to have some sort of CLEAR visual marker!!

No matter what, at the end of the day, when you are tired, you'll mostly need to be able to fold you stroller and stow it. (either in the bus, or your resort room, or the car) You'll very much appreciate a stroller that is lightweight and easy to fold.

In the parks, you'll constantly have to navigate crowds and stores, and find parking spots to leave your stroller. Having a compact stroller is a little like having a compact car in a busy city. It's just so much easier to find parking, and so much easier to drive in alleyways!

 

[TandLMommy28]

Unless your umbrella stroller is a higher-end umbrella stroller, I'd say it's more headache than it's worth. those cheapie ones don't roll well, have no storage, and tend to have low handles which mean you are hunched over all day pushing it.

Yes, taking a stroller on the bus is a huge pain. HUGE. But it's worth it to have it all day. We don't use it a TON, we tend to take it to whatever area we are going to be in for awhile and park it. But it's nice to have a place to put your crap, a cup holder for your drink, etc. I was sad because my kids were too old for a stroller anymore but now we have a new baby so I can use one again!

I like Orlando Stroller. It's nice to have a stroller waiting for you when you get there and it's nice to have it all the time, not just in the parks. Plus it's so much cheaper than Disney.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think unless you have very young children it is much easier to rent a stroller in the parks. No worrying about holding it and keeping it out of everyone else's way on the buses. No worrying about trying to stand and hold the stroller and keep your arms around your kids if all the seats are full. No worrying about trying to get you, your kids, and the stroller quickly situated in the tram.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Don't flame me but our DD who is 9 still rides a stroller. But in her defense she is the size of the average 5 year old. She is very, very small for her age and does not have the stamina for walking thru the parks all day. We have tried renting a Disney stroller, renting for a stroller company and bringing our own. We like brining our own much, much more than renting. When we are in line to get on the bus I go ahead and fold the stroller so we won't hold up the line when we get onto the bus. DH always stands with the stroller so we don't take up a seat with our stroller.

Yup, same here. We have a 6 yo and she cries that her ankles hurt no matter what shoes I buy, just walking the mall. She will be 7 when we go next and we are going to bring one, but try not use it. Doctor has no explanation as I bought the shoes he suggested. I don't care if people don't like it, they don't have to listen to her cry.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Yup, same here. We have a 6 yo and she cries that her ankles hurt no matter what shoes I buy, just walking the mall. She will be 7 when we go next and we are going to bring one, but try not use it. Doctor has no explanation as I bought the shoes he suggested. I don't care if people don't like it, they don't have to listen to her cry.

If it keeps her happy, it's no one else's business.

Our last trip my kids were 5 and 7. I rented a single stroller for the five year old because I knew he'd wear out. We live up north and it's not the walking that gets my kids, it's the sun. The heat just wears them out, they are just not used to it! Well, by day 3 the 7 year old, who instisted before the trip that sitting in a stroller would be humiliating, was BEGGING us to trade for a double. Which we did. And the rest of our trip was a lot happier!

This trip we are bringing our own stroller because I love it so much more than the rentals available from any of the companies and so the big kids are out of luck. The baby gets priority. Although I do plan to wear him part of the time so the middle child might get lucky and get a ride now and then!

 

[china mom]

Don't flame me but our DD who is 9 still rides a stroller. But in her defense she is the size of the average 5 year old. She is very, very small for her age and does not have the stamina for walking thru the parks all day. We have tried renting a Disney stroller, renting for a stroller company and bringing our own. We like brining our own much, much more than renting. When we are in line to get on the bus I go ahead and fold the stroller so we won't hold up the line when we get onto the bus. DH always stands with the stroller so we don't take up a seat with our stroller.

Next time we are there together, we will have to rent a double for our nine year olds to share My little munchkin is still trying to break the 50 pound mark at 9 1/2. A stroller is a must.

Bus hint: most strollers will fit in the space between the handicapped seat and the regular bench seat - out of the aisle and not taking up passenger space.

 

[disneybliss2]

We prefer to bring our own. For one, there's no way I'd pay that price to rent one for a week. Most importantly, I wanted one that was comfortable and would slightly recline back so that my daughter's would take their nap while I strolled them around. I also knew our stroller would be more comfortable and cooler with the netting. It was nice to have the stroller when we left the park. It's a long walk with a tired little one from the park out to the buses. It was nice to have it for the entire distance. The slight hassle we had of hauling it on & off the bus was worth it to have our own stroller.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think unless you have very young children it is much easier to rent a stroller in the parks. No worrying about holding it and keeping it out of everyone else's way on the buses. No worrying about trying to stand and hold the stroller and keep your arms around your kids if all the seats are full. No worrying about trying to get you, your kids, and the stroller quickly situated in the tram.

Once upon a time, the trams did not have doors, now they do. Even still, if you drive to the parks, or arrive early you won't really use them.

As for holding it on the buses, that can be an issue. I have seen plenty of folks just try to leave it , unfolded, unsecured near the back exit of the bus. Everyone who has to stand in that area then gets periodically pummeled!

If however you have a stroller that is lightweight and folds compactly, then you can usually stow it very easily under the seats or between them. Even if you don't have your own seat, it's usually pretty easy to find a stash spot. Even a good quality double stroller will fit, if it is the compact folding kind.

 

[Kellykins1218]

Thanks for replying.
Most of you have me leaning toward bringing my own. We will be taking the family minivan from Texas to Florida; there will be five of us in it. Packing the stroller will make luggage a tight squeeze, but it can be done. I'm not concerned about transport from home to the resort; it's from the resort to the parks.
I currently have a Graco stroller that originally came with the infant car seat. It is big and bulky, but comfortable and has undercarriage storage. Would it be better for me to bring an umbrella stroller?
ETA: planning to bring a soft-sided cooler in; not sure if that will not work with the umbrella.

We always bring our Graco. It's way more comfortable & has more storage than an umbrella stroller. It's very easy to get on & off the buses.