Strollers on WDW busses

[RED23]

We are staying at the ASMo in Sept. and have two DS 2 1/2 and 4 1/2. We are not renting a car and will have a front/back double stroller with us. How hard is it getting on the bus with the stroller? Do you take it on in the passenger section or is it stored below?

 

[beattyfamily]

This is one of the tough things about bringing your own.

We always bring our own but last year we rented a car.

It's also hard to get it on the monorail.

There is no storage below the bus. You must carry your children on while your husband or whomever folds up the stroller and holds on to it for the trip.

Even last year with our car we ran into trouble on the monorail.

Even with this little inconvenience, it was better than renting for the times the kids fall asleep. You can use them walking to the bus and walking to your room at night.

 

[Wendy]

My kids are 4 & 6 and are out of the stroller years, (Thank goodness!) but I had many, many trips where we had to lug along a big front-back double stroller. It is a bit of a pain to get it on and off the busses, but it can go right on with you in the passenger section. I took the kids, my DH took the stroller, and we never had any major problems.

We never found the monorail to be difficult at all, because you can wheel the kids right up and down the ramps in the stroller, and you can push the stroller right on without folding it up.

 

[lisapooh]

Strollers must be folded for the bus and the monorail. Sometimes a monorail castmember will allow you to just push it on but not always. If you are in one of the cars designated for wheelchairs and it is needed for that you will be asked to fold it, if you have not already done so.

 

[ny'er]

BUS:
Providing that you have 2 adults and the children can get on the bus themselves it should be no problem.
Ypu must fold up the stroller to bring on the bus and head for the seats that face opposite the backdoor of the bus. These face towrdas the side of the bus (instead of the front). It is a little easier to store the stroller. CAUTION: watch for crowds and DO NOT let the stroller roll away on the bus!
Side note: When at the resort waiting for the bus, if possible keep the stroller closed up and this will allow you quick access onto the bus.

MONORAIL:
If it is not busy you should be able to push the stroller right onto the monorail. In more crowded times they will ask you to fold it up and again it should be easier if the kids are aready standing.

The biggest benefit of bringing a stroller (aside from tired kids) is a place to store all your stuff!

Hope it helps

 

[SueM in MN]

The seats just opposite the back door (the ones that face the back door) are the ones that fold up to make a place for wheelchairs or ecvs to be tied down. There is a sign above them that indicates that you will be asked to vacate those seats for a wheelchair. If you go a little farther back to the actual rear of the bus, you will still have more room and will not have to move if someone in a wheelchair or ecv gets on.

 

[ztbz]

You may also place strollers in Between Seats or in the
Back of the Bus. Strollers can not be place in the walkways or at the exit doors.

 

[KProuty]

Strollers and buses are the absolute WORST at Disney. You MUST fold them up. I have seldom been able to find a seat and people do NOT give up their seats for a woman with a child. As a result, we ALWAYS rent a car. While you must also fold up your strollers to get on the tram to your car, you always get a seat on the tram.

I have never been asked to fold up my stroller for the monorail, but we usually go at off peak times. You don't have to fold your stroller for most boats either.

The best resorts for transportation are the Epcot resorts. (You can walk to Epcot or take a boat. You can walk or take a boat to MGM.) We always try to time a visit to Epcot after the MK so we can take the monorail from MK and NOT have to get on one of those buses. (Easy to do most times because Epcot closes later than MK when we go.)

On our next trip, we have abandoned Disney hotels altogether because of the severe price increases we experienced last January for the deluxe hotels. It is a numbers game for Disney -- they charged EXTREMELY steep prices when the economy was good. When the economy goes down, they give out discounts. Well, they also lose good customers -- like us -- in the process. We expanded our minds and bought a timeshare. I had experienced one when I had to go down for work. And, surprise, surprise.... it worked out just fine.

Look, I am pro business, and my 7-year old daughter owns Disney stock. If they can get away with it for the long haul, we'll benefit with the stock increases. However, with the transparency of the Internet and some true off-site experiences explained in full, the pro-onsite religion might diminish with a more sophisticated audience. (I am quite sure that Disney monitors these boards, BTW. They would be idiotic if they didn't. And, of course, it is Disney's job to make sure that the "religion" for onsite only grows with its fervor.)

Good luck, and I hope you don't experience the bus rides from hell that we experienced leaving from MK. (Especially after Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party, etc.)

And, BTW, if my husband wasn't there to fold and unfold the stroller for me each time, we just wouldn't go to Disney until my youngest was 5 or 6. Some of those hotel rooms are a LONG way from the bus stops or the parking lots.

Katherine

 

[robinb]

Red,

I wouldn't let any of this discourage you. I've seen double strollers on the busses. Yes, they're heavy and a pain in the butt. However, your kids are more comfortable with their own stroller and you'll save on stroller rental.

 

[Master Gracey]

Before we get too critical of the "fold up the stroller" policy, we should recognize that the buses are governed by DOT rules, not Disney rules. Bus drivers are paid by Disney, but licensed by the DOT. There are two full time DOT inspectors at WDW who conduct spot checks. A bus driver who allows a stroller to block the aisle or an exit could be fined or loose his license.

 

[PIRATEPOLY]

Originally posted by KProuty
[

And, BTW, if my husband wasn't there to fold and unfold the stroller for me each time, we just wouldn't go to Disney until my youngest was 5 or 6. Some of those hotel rooms are a LONG way from the bus stops or the parking lots.

Katherine [/B]

In my opinion, KProuty hit the nail on the head. I just can not see doing Disney with children smaller than 5 or 6 years old.

 

[pajamommy]

Do you have to bring your double stroller? We also have one, but did not bring it to Disney, we purchased 2 inexpensive umbrella strollers, they sell nice ones with a basket, etc. for a resonable price. We brought those with us, and they worked out just fine for our kids ages 4 and 2, and were easy to fold and carry on the busses.

 

[KProuty]

Since I did have my husband, we were able to go to Disney with the double stroller. I just had to endure a muttered "under the breath" curse once in a while. (It is a must to go with the long double strollers. They get through turnstyles, on monorails etc. The wide ones just won't work.) I have big kids, so it would have been impossible to carry them from the car and/or the bus to the hotel rooms every day. If I didn't have him, we couldn't have done it.

(One good thing about the double stroller. My youngest is now 4. He is a BIG kid. I just make the double stroller a single stroller by folding the middle seat back down and it works just fine for him. He lounges in it and I don't have to worry about squishing his feet through the wholes and losing a sneaker. My 7-year old daughter can walk just fine now.)

If Disney does want to appeal to the parents of younger kids, then they should devise a safe way to get strollers around without having to take the kids out and without having to fold them up. It would be a SURE hit!

Katherine