Strollers on busses?

[Chase121698]

HI,

We have two kids so two strollers will be going with us to the parks. We have the Graco strollers that do fold up but not that small. Will we have a hard time getting on the bus and out of it with the strollers? We aren't going to purchase any smaller ones and can't afford to rent one everyday. Thanks for all the help that I have been given on these boards!

 

[Disneyolic]

The last time we went we took a Graco Duo-Glider stroller. This thing is quite large. It was a pain getting on and off the busses but I couldn't imagine not being with it during our visit to the parks. One problem you may run into by bringing 2 strollers is carrying both strollers into the bus and managing your kids. Don't know how old they are. My husband usually managed the stroller and I got the kids on the bus along with all the other things we had to carry.

~DawnMaree

 

[HappyMommy2]

Hi! Yes, you will have some trouble getting two strollers (even one is not easy!) on the bus. However, it is doable! After a few times it will get easy; it just takes some practice. A question, though--is your party two adults and two little kids? If so, it may very difficult for each of you to manage one stroller and one child unless both kids are able to walk independently themselves. It will probably take both hands to lug one of those strollers onto the bus; you won't have a spare hand to manage a child.
It could be done but it would be really hard. If that were my situation I think I would find an alternative--save up some money to rent one stroller at the parks, buy cheap umbrella strollers, etc.

DH and I traveled last summer with our two kids 3 and 1. We had a Graco tandem double stroller (huge!) and we rode the bus 20 times. After the first couple of times we got the bus process down to a science and could get on and off in a flash. We always tried to stay out of the way and we went straight to the back of the bus to inconvenience others as little as possible, but it did take lots of energy and we did hear a couple of muttered comments about "big strollers on buses" but overall it worked out fine!;

 

[lwestwise]

I have always used an umbrella stroller(at WDW). I know the other more expensive strollers have more room for storage, but I don't think you can beat an umbrella stroller at WDW. They fold so easily and you can take them on the bus and SOME rides (Folded). They aren't so cumbersome so they don't take up a lot of room and they are so inexensive that if something should happen to it, you aren't out that much.
Even when the kids are a little older, I use them. They get tired of walking and can just jump in when they want to.

 

[Nanu57v]

Yes, you probably will have trouble with the stroller on the busses, but don't worry about it. Its Disney. You are supposed to have young children and bring strollers.

When my husband and I were there I didn't mind at all being slowed by parents and strollers. Its a part of Disney and I think about being able to do the same thing with my future potential children some day.

So don't feel stressed if it slows you down.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We came back from Disney on 05/08/04 with a double side-by-side stroller and two small kids (4 and 1) and like the other posted said it is doable, but not easy at all. One night was extrmely difficult - both kids fell asleep and I had to carry them while DH had to colapse the stroller and carry the stuff - that was the most difficult and challenging night we had.

What we would normally do is I would carry the 1 year old, and help DD 4 on and off the bus and carry the stuff while DH would collapse and carry the stroller.

Some of the busses are better than others - the newer busses are wider and seat people along the edge so you are not bumping into everyone with the stroller while the older ones are harder to get down the aisle to the back of the bus and can't help bumping into people - we said sorry soooo many times!!

Hope this helps. Have a great trip!!

Lisa

 

[sharonk]

Maybe you could compromise and take a cheap umbrella stroller AND one of your big strollers. That way you will still have the storage in at least one of your strollers.

Or, maybe you could convince a friend to let you borrow a double stroller for your vacation?

I just know how much trouble we had dealing with 2 little kids (aged 2 and 4) and ONE stroller on the Disney buses...I can't imagine having to deal with two big strollers.

It wasn't that other people were mean or impatient with us...many people even offered to help us. It was just a physical ordeal to fold the stroller, lug it up the stairs, find enough seats on the bus that we could sit near each other and hold onto the stroller, etc. When the bus was crowded, it was almost impossible not to WHACK someone with the stroller when getting on/off the bus.

Anyway, I think you'll end up being much, much happier if your don't take 2 big strollers. Either borrow a double or take one little umbrella stroller (or even two!)

Good Luck,

Sharon

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Originally posted by lwestwise
I have always used an umbrella stroller(at WDW). I know the other more expensive strollers have more room for storage, but I don't think you can beat an umbrella stroller at WDW. They fold so easily and you can take them on the bus and SOME rides (Folded). They aren't so cumbersome so they don't take up a lot of room and they are so inexensive that if something should happen to it, you aren't out that much.

This is what we did for our 2 DD's a long time ago. Our 2 DD's are now 16 & 17....

 

[patsal]

I guess I was a meanie I made DS 5 walk--no walk no go! and DD I purchased a cheap (under $20 umbrella) stroller that was simple to collapse and carry. Much less than renting, but far easier on DH and me. Even if the children were both uner 4 I would strongly suggest the smaller strollers--in the scheme of what you paid for the vacation $40 for strollers is not that much. For the stress and strain on you and DH I think it would be worth it--no heavy lifting and carrying at the end of a long day in the parks. When you get back home you can probably sell them for half what you paid anyway.

 

[xmatt0926x]

I agree with what most here are saying. Yes, it can be done, but by all means, if you can somehow come up with the money to get the umbrella strollers then do it!!! We had just one larger stroller and I dreaded getting on the busses with it. And its true that eventually you get a routine down and all, but still, I'd do anything to avoid all that stress. Its worth the extra money if you have it to avoid that headache at all costs!!

 

[Credit Man]

This Aug. will be our first stroller free trip to the World. I think it is the one thing I am most looking forward to.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

As a former bus driver, here are some tips I have based on what I've seen with guests:

• Bring only what you NEED. The only thing worse than lugging a huge stroller onto a bus, is lugging tons of junk that you probably won't need.
• Take advantage of Resort Package Delivery! Instead of lugging that huge toy back to the resort, have it delivered. It's free! Just inquire about it prior to the cashier ringing it up.
• Be prepared. Don't wait until you get to the front door of the bus before you start organizing and folding. While you're waiting for the bus to arrive, start organizing everything. Be familliar with your stoller, and how it folds. Once you see the bus approaching, start folding and getting ready to board.
• For the RTS standard floor bus, if you have a huge stroller, ask to board through the rear. These buses have narrow front doors, and huge wide rear doors. Some rules for it though -- You must have reached the front of the line. You must ASK to board through the read. And only the person with the stroller may board through the rear. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BOARD THROUGH THE REAR WITHOUT ASKING THE DRIVER FIRST. The doors WILL end up closing on you.
  For the Nova low-floor bus, the rear door is narrow, while the front door is extra wide, and so are the aisles. Boarding through the front is the way to go.

 

[SB in KY]

Speaking as a mom who made several 2 stroller trips. then several more 1 stroller trips and finally graduated to no stroller trips...can I PLEASE beg you to NOT take 2 kids, 2 adults and 2 strollers that are bigger than my first car and fully loaded with paraphanalia!!

We made our first trip with the mega stroller and 1 umbrella, and it took me until about the 3rd day to decide that it was a mistake. Thereafter we always took 2 basic umbrellas.

The kids spend only short periods of time in the stroller without getting out for rides, etc. They can hop in and out faster, the umbrellas are MUCH easier to navigate in crowds (only a problem for all those people you plow into in those huge vehicles) and some bit cooler in hot weather.

For under $20 at Walmart you can get an umbrella stroller with a shade canopy and a decent sized basket under the seat. they weigh about 3 pounds, can be folded with 1 hand and easily carried over 1 arm while carrying a sleeping toddler...if money is a huge concern you could take it to a consignment store when you get home and sell it for $10 or 12...but by your second bus trip you will be patting yourself on the back for being so clever and getting them.

It will only take 1 bus ride on a crowded bus when you and hubby are hanging on to 2 huge strollers and 2 kids and trying to remain upright before you would feel the umbrellas were worth the investment!!

Our last trip I was behind a couple trying to get 2 gigantic strollers folded (of course they didn't start unloading the 14 bags and 6 sippee cups until they were in the door of the bus), then there were not nearly enough hands to hold kids, and stuff, much less the strollers, so Dad makes 3 trips onto the bus to drag it all on (while 40 other hot tired people wait) by the time they are loaded the entire line is either highly amused or totally annoyed.
The lady behind me had 2 toddlers in 2 umbrella strollers, they hop out, she kicks the strollers shut, hangs both of them over one arm, grabs one child, hands the other to Grandma and they hop on as fast as everyone else. We are chuckling at the family still trying to rearrange and the woman with the umbrella tells me she ran to Walmart in Orlando after their first day at the parks because she said "she could not take another day lugging the Graco"

 

[timandlesley]

O.K., these posts really have me thinking, the advice has been great. We will be traveling in 17 DAYS!!!! (can you feel me smiling : ) to WDW for 7 days with a 3 1/2 year old and our 8 month old. We were planning on taking our Graco duo glider, so our infant can sleep in the comfy seat and our 3 1/2 year old can sit up front and hop in and out for the attractions easily. We are very familiar with the stroller and can fold it quickly - we won't have anything except a backpack with it (for formula, etc.) so we can carry that and won't have to mess with it on the buses. But is this what you would do with children these ages? Would you a regular stroller (we have a Century) and an umbrella stroller, or just do the DuoGlider and fold it up in line as not to hold anyone up?
Thanks in advance for the help.
Lesley

 

[momsully]

For that age I would do the duoglider. Although it is bulky it is one stroller and you do need a place for the baby to rest. We did two trips with the duoglider and now use just one Volo and my five year old walks. The only real problem we had with the duoglider was if a bus was really crowded.

 

[Disneyolic]

timandlesley I would definitely do the DuoGlider. As I mentioned in a previous post, we used it and, although it was bulky for the busses, it was still much better for our situation. You can roll it right onto the monorail and the ferries although you must take the kids out, at least for the ferries. At least no folding there! One think I like about the DuoGlider rather than side-by-side strollers is that I believe they are easier moved through crowds.

~DawnMaree