Strollers at Disney World

[gg060571]

I have a dilemma, my son just turned 5 and we are going to Disney in August, I know we will have to use a stroller for some parts of the day because of the heat and walking he just won't make it, and hes way to big for me to carry. So I know I do not want to rent Disneys stroller for the fact being they are hard plastic and look very uncomfortable, I want to purchase an lightweight stroller that will hold a child 45 inches tall and weighs 50lbs....any suggestions

 

[Mousemommy1]

FWIW, we have rented the Disney double strollers on our past two trips. Yes, they are hard plastic, but our children were very comfortable in them (and last year my oldest DD was 6 and 50" tall). They are surprisingly lightweight and maneuver very well, IMHO. As a matter of fact, one night we staked out a spot for the electrical parade and everyone sat on the curb but I decided to sit in the stroller, and I fit!!!

 

[vicki_c]

Consider renting from an outside vendor - cheaper, nicer (or more traditional) strollers and you can have it at the resorts with you. And then you don't have to buy one.

If I was to do this, I would recommend Magic Strollers just because they are the same folks that run the Owner's Locker service and they are wonderful people with excellent customer service (I have not rented a stroller from them though just used the OL service).
http://www.magicstrollers.com/

 

[goofgal31]

When in August will you be there? I have purchased 2 strollers for my neice and nephew (5yrs and 6yrs old) and don't really have the need/want to take them back home with us. If the timing works out maybe we could meet and I would let you have one of them. I will be there August 7 to 13.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We rented the City Mini Double last summer for our girls (rented from Magic Strollers)...you might want to look into the single. Our girls thought it was super comfy - DH and I found it lightweight and easy to handle.

 

[hollypoast]

I'd like to see the responses to your question too.

 

[gg060571]

When in August will you be there? I have purchased 2 strollers for my neice and nephew (5yrs and 6yrs old) and don't really have the need/want to take them back home with us. If the timing works out maybe we could meet and I would let you have one of them. I will be there August 7 to 13.

Oh that would have been so nice of you but we don't arrive until the 28th...thank you

 

[gg060571]

I did consider renting from outside but I thought maybe for the cost to rent one I would be able to buy one since we go at least once a year sometimes twice...thought I would maybe get 2 uses out of it.

 

[hollypoast]

I'm planning on buying this one from Amazon and them passing it to a friend who arrives the day we leave. We are splitting the cost. She will then pass it on to a family who is just arriving to spread a little magic

http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Yea...2G9I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337820732&sr=8-1

 

[ThumpersWorld]

We just returned a couple days ago and we brought an inexpensive JEEP umbrella stroller for our 4 year old DS. There were occasions our 6 year old DS took a break in it too. It was really easy to bring on the plane and was great to have outside the parks later at night. For instance, if you rent a stroller in the parks you won't have one for outside walks to the buses at night, for trips on the Boardwalk, etc. I found that the places we needed it the most were on the way home outside the park.

 

[ThumpersWorld]

Forgot to mention. That JEEP umbrella stroller holds my 48 inch, 49 lb 6 year old just fine...

I also tied a bright ribbon on it which made it very easy to find. The cast members love to rearrange the strollers which makes finding them again challenging!

 

[heartse]

Two words - consignment sale! That's where we got our simple stroller that we used last December. We won't be using it anymore since our daughter will be almost 6 next time we go and it's only a 2 day trip. So it will be going back into the sale.

 

[goofgal31]

Well to bad timing won't work. If anyone else is in need of one and will be arriving on the August 13th please send me a note. I would love to pass these strollers on to help make someone elses trip a little easier

 

[MissionMouse]

... So I know I do not want to rent Disneys stroller for the fact being they are hard plastic and look very uncomfortable, ...

We brought our own and rented from Disney. The comfort component is important when your child is very young and normally travel in a stroller at home. Otherwise they work out very well as a quick in and out home base. The difference between the stride of a 5yo and an adult has high potential of making your child tired and possibly stressed if their always walking in a catch-up mode. The last thing about renting a Disney stroller is if you hop between parks you can just show your reciept and get another stroller in the next par. This illustrates that once you leave the park you no longer have a stroller. Under specific situations you may find yourself needing to carry your child starting at the stroller return all the way back to your resort. This could be a challenge...

 

[akl-fan]

I am not sure about US makes but I would recommend that you don't go for a black stroller. They absorb so much more light and heat than other colours and can be really uncomfortable for a child. August at WDW will be very very hot. Some rides allow you to leave your stroller in the shade but many places in Fantasyland for example do not have any shade. I would also make sure that the stroller has a sun canopy and a storage net at the bottom.

 

[noahdove]

I rent a double city mini last April for my 2 grandchildren and I am renting a single of for my DGD this August. Try Orlando Strollers and Babywheels.
Both great people to rent from Good luck and magical times.

 

[smiths02]

We just returned a couple days ago and we brought an inexpensive JEEP umbrella stroller for our 4 year old DS. There were occasions our 6 year old DS took a break in it too. It was really easy to bring on the plane and was great to have outside the parks later at night. For instance, if you rent a stroller in the parks you won't have one for outside walks to the buses at night, for trips on the Boardwalk, etc. I found that the places we needed it the most were on the way home outside the park.

That is what we did when we went with my 5 year old in July. I got a Jeep Umbrella stroller for under $40 at Walmart (we were driving, so it was easy to bring). For $40, I could have thrown it away at the end of the trip and still saved money over renting a Disney stroller.

It had a sunshade and a storage part on the bottom.

My son is significantly smaller than yours...he is about to be 6 and only weighs about 40 lbs, but for only mild use, I think it would be fine.

 

[jollygreengirl]

We are in the same boat. My ds(4) is about 45 pounds and very tall. On previous trips I have used my Combi Flare, but we had really worn it out, so I got another one from Kohl's at a great discount. If you can find one on sale or on consignment, it's a great lightweight stroller that goes up to 55 pounds. I was amazed how much easier it was pushing my kiddo in the new one...the tires weren't bald! I love that thing, especially at Disney because it folds up very quickly and you can just throw it over your shoulder with the strap. THere's enough room in the small basket to stow extra clothes or ponchos, too.

First Years Jet and Ignite are similar strollers, but I went with the Combi because I really loved it AND got a good deal.

Combi made a "toddler" stroller a few years ago called a Strolee that is a lot like the Flare, just no bar in front, but it folds up the same. It's discontinued, but I found them on Ebay a month or two ago. I think it goes up to 55 pounds. I like the Flare better since I don't have to strap my big kid in. He just sits in it behind the bar and is fine.

Good luck! We are hard chargers at Disney, so a stroller is essential to keep little bit in the game.

 

[mlg32]

The best stroller IMO for the size of your son and your comfort pushing is a Maclaren Volo. I have owned 3 of them and they are super light weight, easy to push( you don't have to hunch over to push them), and a nice fit for a larger child. FYI If you overload them with shopping bags they will tip when your child gets out.

I just bought one for our Disney trip this past Dec for my 4yr old son and it was great. On a previous trip I had a Volo(pink) and a blue graco, no comparison the graco although it seemed lightweight and easy was a pain in the butt to push.

I got my most recent one in Dec on ebay it was a few years old but brand new and I think I paid $68 shipped. The are about $120 for this years model brand new.

 

[boscov]

We bought this last year before a Baltimore trip and our WDW trip and I have to say it's a great little travel stroller. It folds into a long box shape and has a backstrap so you can throw it over your shoulder. It worked out GREAT. And, you can take in a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond and use it here.
http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?SKU=18785994&RN=7031&