Strollers... a must or skip?

[smithmom]

I have a 3 & 4 (almost 5) year old going to Disney for the first time in September. Do I need a stroller?

I was not thinking of bringing one at all... I would not look forward to bringing it to the parks on the busses or pushing it around the place when they are not in it.

Is it a must? They do tend to get tired, but I figured they'd power through because they are at Disney...

If I do need a stroller - do you recommend renting one down there from a service that will drop it off at the hotel for us (for about $100 for the week)? Renting them from Disney??

I thought I remember a stroller swap on the boards. How might that work??

 

[katierae81]

I would most definately bring/rent/swap a stroller! Your kids will get tired, it is ALOT of walking...heck I get tired. If you don't want to push an empty stroller around while they walk there may be a way to leave it at guest services and then go back for it when they get tired...not sure, but it's worth a shot. Otherwise you can use your empty stroller to carry around bags and your park purchases!

 

[SandrA9810]

I would go for a stroller swap... look for it on the budget board. The new disney strollers are awful (and I thought the last ones were bad), and a double is 30 bucks a day. Of course if you purchase the entire week at once, you save 2 bucks a day.
The only perk to rental a stroller at disney, is the fact they'll pop out a new one if you lost yours. And there's five locations around the magic kingdom park that they keep extra strollers at.

If you feel like you're pushing an empty stroller, you can always park it say in the middle of whatever area you're in. Like in Fantasy Land park it by Mickey's philhar and then as you get done with peter pan or pooh hop back for it. The great benefit to it, is being able to bring a cooler and storing extra drinks in it. The smallest drink you can buy is a 22oz soda... and well kids usually don't finish a drink that big. And of course it's easier on little hands if they have a bottle or box drink that's more thier size.

And they would never make it through epcot or animal kingdom without your own arms being tired. That's like 2 miles of walking in a day.

 

[sohappy]

Last year my boys were almost 3 and 5.5. They needed the stroller for sure. They never use a stroller at home.ever. I can count on one hand how many times I have used the stroller with the youngest (with the exception of Disney). It is just tooooo much walking. This year, we are doing a swap because I can't deal with a stroller, 2 boys and all of our baggage in the airport. If dealing with the stroller and 2 boys is too much on the bus, I will leave it in the room and rent. The Disney strollers are a dream to push, but they aren't all that nice for napping.

This year, we plan to use the stroller to get to the general area (fantasyland for example), park it and just ride all the different rides there. Then hop back on to go to the next area.

 

[veraletta]

You will definately need a stoller. There is a lot of walking at Disney unless you only go for a short while, like a few hours and really don't plan on seeing much.

 

[LisaNJ25]

A must! I have a 3 and 4 yo also. I wouldn't even attempt it without out. The dont use one a home anymore but disney is different. My last trip we took two single umbrella strollers. Ones that reclined and had sun shade. It was so much easier than attempting to bring a a double stroller.

 

[TinaLala]

The question is how badly do you want to carry them?? Honestly my kids are 6 and 9 and when we went last year, yeah I got a stroller! I knew they ould fall asleep and I didn't want to carry them so I made sure I got a stroller.

Now we leave in August and they'll be 7 and 10 - I'll still probably get a stroller! I know they'll fight - so I'm bringing duck tape to run down the middle of the stroller, but I'm probably going to get one.

I pay for the stroller for the week right up front then I don't have to wait in line every day to pay for it. I just show my ticket, get it stamped and we're on our way.

 

[laceemouse]

We quit with the stroller by the time they are about 5, but we don't burn the candle at both ends at WDW.
If I were you I would play it be ear and rent if you need one, much easier than fooling with folding up a stroller or two on the buses. We loved the Disney strollers for bigger kids.
Remember it will be HOT in September!

 

[james'mommy]

You need to rent or bring a stroller. We just stopped using a stroller and DS is almost 7. It's a lot of walking and kids tire out fast especially in the heat.

 

[crisi]

It really depends on your children - but I would say its an exceptional three year old who can walk through Epcot or Animal Kingdom without needing a stroller. The almost five year old - if he is a good walker - maybe.

Why not bring a cheap umbrella stroller? The will fit your three year old - and your almost five year old for short jaunts. They fold up fast and easy and are light enough to carry (lighter than your kids).

One thing us big people forget is how short their legs are - they take two or three steps for every one of ours. And while the Magic Kingdom has a lot of stuff close together and is a pretty small park - the Animal Kingdom, DHS and Epcot seem to have MILES between attractions.

The Disney strollers are great for bigger kids - and that was what we used - but they've doubled in price since our kids were stroller age.

 

[AmyBWV99]

If you don't think your 4 year old will ride much you may consider a Sit N Stand they aren't horribly expensive and would cover anyone wearing out with out pushing 1 empty stroller. I have a 4 year old and there's no way I'd go without a seat for him.

Some days even in off seasons can get warm and you just watch them melt after a while.

It's also nice for crowd control leaving in dark after fireworks it's nice to have them in the stroller during the cattle call to the gate.

Not to mention when they pass out you don't have to wrangle bags and carry limp sleepy kidlets. My 4 yr old weighs 40lbs I swear he weighs 140 asleep.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you don't bring a stroller or two, put it into the budget that you'll need to rent one or two. Disney wipes kids out, and I've only been to DLR, not the vastness that is WDW.

My husband convinced me that when DS was 3.5 I shouldn't bring the stroller on the trip b/c it would be such a pain...what was a pain was carrying the little sack of potatoes back every night! Took a year for my hips to recover. Ouch.

 

[brockash]

I would most definately bring/rent/swap a stroller! Your kids will get tired, it is ALOT of walking...heck I get tired. If you don't want to push an empty stroller around while they walk there may be a way to leave it at guest services and then go back for it when they get tired...not sure, but it's worth a shot. Otherwise you can use your empty stroller to carry around bags and your park purchases!

ITA. There's no way I'd ever go to Disney without a stroller for a 3 & almost 5 year old. Our first trip my DS was turning 4, and even though he didn't use one at home very much, he used it at Disney A LOT. Last year I bought a sit n stand just so my DS (6 at the time) had a place to sit (we also had a 1 year old DD.) We'll be bringing it again this year. The other thing I really like about having a stroller, is when it's crowded or at closing, you can just put your kiddos in the stroller and know where they are and that they're safe. You don't have to worry about making sure they're with you and try to navigate the crowds. We bring a stroller from home -it helps in the airports, but if you're not wanting to do that, I'd try a swap or a rental place that will deliver to your hotel. Disney's rentals are really expesive, especially for a double, and although it's a PIA to deal with strollers on the buses, it's worth it for me to have somewhere for them to sit/sleep while we're waiting for buses.

 

[smithmom]

The question is how badly do you want to carry them?? Honestly my kids are 6 and 9 and when we went last year, yeah I got a stroller! I knew they ould fall asleep and I didn't want to carry them so I made sure I got a stroller.

Now we leave in August and they'll be 7 and 10 - I'll still probably get a stroller! I know they'll fight - so I'm bringing duck tape to run down the middle of the stroller, but I'm probably going to get one.

I pay for the stroller for the week right up front then I don't have to wait in line every day to pay for it. I just show my ticket, get it stamped and we're on our way.

HA HA HA - I read this quickly and thought you would be using the duck tape to strap them in... I've been there before.

Thank you ALL for the great advice. I looked into a company who rents strollers in Disney - they'll drop a double jogger off to my hotel for a week for $100. Not too bad. Although I am cringing about carrying it onto the busses... But it would be an excellent addition at the end of the night getting out of the hotel and waiting in bus lines. I'll just have my husband carry it on...

How do the stroller swaps here work... is there a thread? I'll look.

I can't believe it would cost $210 to rent a double stroller everyday. I could have bought a BOB for that money! : )

I do have a very nice double stroller, but I'm really not sure I want to bring it down with me... It's quite bulky... but then again it is SUPER comfy for the boys...

Oh! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cooler Idea. I have a great small fold down cooler I could pack in my suitcase for just an occasion!

 

[Miss Ang]

You need a stroller. The first time we took our kids they were 4 and 8 and we rented a double stroller every day. On our recent trip they were 10 and 14 and joked almost every day that we should rent them a stroller so they could sit down and be pushed like a baby. They were tired!

 

[mickeyncldkd]

Bringing a stroller is a must for your kids age in my opinion. I just came back from Disney with a 4 and 6 year old. Me and my son thought he did not need it. We were really wrong. By the second day of the trip, he was complaining on how he was tired and his feet were hurting. So, we bought a stroller at Disney which was not cheap. But, we enjoy the trip more because he quit complaining and more refresh for the whole day.

 

[Madisonsmom45]

I would bring the stroller....Even if they want to walk,you have a place to put your things. We are coming in September with 2-7 year olds and we intend to have strollers...When kids are worn out or want to sit down, they want to do it now....hee hee.
Bonniehttp://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/thumbsup2.gif

All Star Sports 1994
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[smithmom]

Ok, I'm convinced. I am so glad I asked. I looked into the stroller swaps for a double stroller - but my dates are all taken. I'm going to have to dip into the mommy pool I have here to see if someone might let me borrow theirs for a week - maybe they'll swap my double jogger if I say "pretty please"

Would you recommend a stroller for the airport? ( I have a lot of questions for one little lady - huh )

If I can make it through the airport - I can always rent one from a company down there...

 

[dd50]

When my kids were young I bought my 4 year old a stroller because she hadn't used one in a year and I also had a 2 year old. The 4 year old didn't sit in the stroller through the 3 days of parks at all. She said she was to old and we stayed from opening to closing every night. I guess it depends on the kids.

 

[NotUrsula]

I know you're already convinced, but let me add one more reason: the heat. September is still quite hot, and it's hurricane season, so the humidity is also high. You are looking at temps in the low 90's with humidity averaging about 88%, except when it's raining, which will probably be fairly often at that time of year.

Trust me, that humidity is almost certain to knock your New England kiddies for a serious loop. If you don't make a habit of spending time in humid climates you will discover that it seriously saps your energy.