Stroller

[FamilyShortyAJP]

I have a 4 year old and even though she doesn't use her stroller at home anymore I'm thinking it is a must for Disney with all the walking. So now the question is ... to bring one or to rent one? At first I was thinking rent all the way but now I'm leaning towards bringing because it would have more storage space for the day. Definitely a lighter weight collapsible one.

My biggest concern with bringing our own is how to get it on the plane? Has anyone dealt with this? What if it is a light collapsible one but not as small as an umbrella stroller? We are flying AirTran if that matters and I have not found anything about it on their site.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

You check it at the gate and pick it up on the jetway when you land. Very easy to travel with a stroller, although a little awkward to get through security, as you have to take everything out, fold it up, and put it through on the belt. Otherwise, you can hang purses on it, and stow stuff under it to get through the airport. If our DD decides she wants to walk, we'll toss her carry on on there, and prop her carseat upside down over the top, which makes getting through the airport SO much easier.

I highly recommend the Maclaren strollers. Maybe you can pick up a used one cheap at resale or borrow one since your DD doesn't use a stroller anymore at home. They are just so lightweight and they are also easy to fold quickly to get on the busses.

I would not rent one, at least from Disney. You could buy one much cheaper than you would pay them. Heck, I know people who have bought Maclarens, used them for a week at Disney, then sold them on Craiglist and recouped all (or more, if they bought it on sale) of their money.

 

[nessalee77]

Check out orlando stroller rental, they are very reasonable and they deliver and pick up from your hotel. We are going to usethem for the first time this August, I thought about renting from disney, but then would have to haul tired kids from the park exits to the hotel, I figured this would cut down on them whining and save my sanity!!

 

[scarlet_ibis]

For perspective though, a 7 night rental from Orlando Stroller Rentals is $70 (I don't know if there is delivery or tax on that). You can get a very nice Chicco stroller on Amazon.com for $69.99, delivered, and then you'll have it to use in the airport PLUS you can sell it when you get back and recoup a bunch of your money.

(Ebay has some good prices on the Maclarens, too.)

 

[tassma]

I have seen some people purchase them online and have them sent/shipped/delivered to their resort. Then they only worry about whether they are taking them home. Personally, we took an umbrella stroller this last trip. I was prepared to rent if the umbrella didn't work. It was fine and saved us a bundle (which I spent elsewhere).

 

[FamilyShortyAJP]

Great info! That is exactly what I was looking for. When you check it in at the gate... it doesn't count against the number of carry-ons allowed does it? It's like an extra freebie item since you aren't actually taking it on the plane with you?

 

[Commando2319]

One big problem to think about. Finding your stroller in the park.

The stroller parking gets very packed on busy days or busy areas of the park and cast members frequently move them to make room for others. So your stroller is usually not where you left it.

So having a very distinct looking stroller is very helpful in finding your stroller. This is a strong reason not to rent one from Disney as so many people do. So it will be very hard to find your rented stroller in a sea of others that look the same.

 

[Big_Disney_Fan]

We just tie a balloon to it so we can quickly find the stroller. Strollers rock.. and they cut through a crowd really well too.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Glow sticks help you find your stroller at night.

My friend just told me today that Babies R Us (ours, anyway) has the nice Combi strollers on clearance for $50.

 

[noahdove]

We are planning on using Orlando stroller rental next April. We will need a double one, and for the money and they deliver and pickup, we can't go wrong. Good luck I will have to check out our Babies r us, well, it's an hour or more away, but I will call tomorrow to see if they have them on clearance...thanks for that tip

 

[Kat&Dom]

Great info! That is exactly what I was looking for. When you check it in at the gate... it doesn't count against the number of carry-ons allowed does it? It's like an extra freebie item since you aren't actually taking it on the plane with you?

I was told in August by the check in that Strollers and Car Seats are considered Safety Items and that airlines are not allowed to charge for them. I had both items and did not have to pay any extra.

How it works at the gate is that you drop it off just before you get on the plane. When you get off the plane on the other end, it is usually waiting for you as soon as you de-plane. Sometimes, it is even set up which is awesome if your child has fallen asleep on the flight. It is very simple and easy.

 

[r&kmommy]

We recently purchased the Uppa Baby G-Lite Stroller and could not be happier!

I can't post a link, but if you go to uppababy . com you can see it there

We got it in "brooke" and the color is true to the website - a deep rich blue. Dd is almost 3.5, 30lbs and 39" with VERY long legs and she fits perfectly.

I did a lot of tests comparing this one and the maclaren and this one won hands down (borrowed my friends for a day). Basket is a smidge bigger, it needs a LOT of weight hanging on the handles to tip backwards when there's no kid in it - Maclaren tipped with a heavy diaper bag, this one tipped with a heavy large vera bradley backpack and my pocketbook, and it's more comfy for BOTH my husband and I to push around (I'm 5' and he's 5'10")

Checking car seats and strollers at the gate should NOT count against your carryons, as they don't go into the cabin of the plane. However if you check with the rest of the luggage at the ticket counter or at the sidewalk it does count. I am going to see if I can get some sort of travel bag to put this in to check it at the gate...

Good luck

 

[FamilyShortyAJP]

I did end up finding the AirTran policy on strollers if anyone needs it.

"You may bring a stroller to the gate for ease of travel through the airport. The stroller may be gate checked just before boarding the plane and will be returned to the aircraft jet way upon arrival at your destination. Car seats and strollers may be checked free of charge; any other items are subject to standard baggage fees (i.e., portable crib, high chair, etc.)."

So it looks like for this airline at least, strollers are free of charge even if you check it.

I went to BRU last night and my DD sat in the strollers there and I loved how the Maclaren folded up but she was a little tall for it (as she is with most strollers) with the shade down. We went home and tried our Peg Perego Aria and she still fits the best in that so I think we are taking it even though it is a little bigger. It is lightweight but doesn't fold up like and umbrella stroller, instead folds onto itself more in half.

Has anyone taken a Peg Perego stroller or similar stroller with them through security to the gate? I'm wondering if it will fit through the scanner.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Your biggest frustration will be how quickly and easily you can fold that stroller, possibly with one hand or while holding all of your other possessions, in order to get on the bus with a line of people behind you. Also, folding compactly is important because you will be holding it while riding the bus. (Also, folding compactly is important because you have to store that stroller in your room when you're back there!)

 

[FamilyShortyAJP]

I've actually had this stroller at Disney before and was fine folding it up on the buses and even the train in Magic Kingdom. It folds really easily and is lightweight so it hasn't been a problem. Just worried about the airport personnel allowing through security and gate checked due to it being bigger than an umbrella type stroller when folded.

 

[FamilyShortyAJP]

I found the answer I've been looking for and turns out I just needed to search in a different forum. But, for others who need to know:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25116375

Looks like I'm all set! Thanks guys!

 

[debrose]

Thanks for the link. That's exactly what I was looking for too.

DD