Strollers: Rent or Bring own?

[Max Rebo]

For out June '07 trip to WDW, we are tentatively planning on bringing our lightweight umbrella-type stroller we bought at Wal-Mart. The thinking is that it gives us a place to cart DS, while saving us any money that we would otherwise spend renting a stroller.

That said, I'm wondering if anyone has experienced significant advantages by going the rental route instead. Or vice versa.

Thoughts?

 

[TENIA66]

a subject with a lot of strong opinions, but here's mine:

with three kiddos, i've done both rent and bring own and i prefer rent

1) it saves you travel space if you are driving
2) it keeps your's cleaner than taking your own did i say filthy
3) umbrella type strollers are way too uncomfortable for that length of time for both the passenger and the pusher if they are taller than say 5 7 or so, hubby is 6 1 and i'm 5 10
4) you can't store much on the back of an umbrella stroller
5) you are incentivized to take less to the parks in the first place because you don't want to pack it in
6) if you go to more than one park in one day, just pull your rental slip, take it with you and hand it to the stroller rental personnel at the next park and you get a new stroller for free...
7)napping is impossible in umbroller but fairly easy in rental
8) if stolen just report and they replace for free
9)no stroller to deal with on monorail or tram

on the other side of bring your own:

1) if you are flying, getting around the airport might be easier for all, kid will be easier to track
2) unloading vehicle might be easier with conventional stroller as you can use it as a luggage roller or whatever
3) no rental fees
4) you can pre load your stroller in room night before and plan ahead which they will make you unload anyway to get in park
5) you can use the stroller to get around the resort and other places where one might not be available
6) although your own will get filthy, it will be your filth and i've never had a dirty rental but i guess it's pretty possible



anyway, we'll be renting next trip let me tell ya......it used to be 7 for single 15 for double and we always got the double for the space

 

[mom_of_5]

That all depends on if your child can sleep in an umbrella stroller comfortably. We brought our own stroller and rented a double and the kids slept in both, we never thought that would happen but the sun and the parks do wear them out.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If I had a baby or toddler, I'd probably bring my own (but good luck getting me to WDW with a baby or toddler!)

If the kid was old enough to make it through parking lots and such without slowing me down too much and always needing to be carried, I'd rent one.

 

[disnut1149]

We just got back last week and we took a $20.00 umbrella stroller with us. It worked out great. My DGD 3 1/2 fell asleep on the bus going back to Pop, and we put her in the stroller to go back to the room. We could've never carried her. Also, she fell asleep in DTD in the stroller. It was convenient since it was lightweight and easy to fold. We wheeled in right onto the monorail. My DD and I were glad that we had it with us.

 

[LizAgna]

We had planned to rent but DH threw our umbrella stroller in the van just in case we needed it on the way down or back. The first night we took it to the Contemporary for our dinner at Chef Mickey's and then decided to take it with us everyday. We liked the convenience of not having to stop at the rental place on our way into the parks, having it with us when we went to other resorts for dinner, having it with us at the bus stops...DD always fell asleep waiting for the bus AND at the resort. Just like the previous poster there is no way we could have carried DD from the bus stop at Pop back to our room at night. DD was 2 1/2 at the time and we drove.

When our oldest DD was 4 1/2 we flew and rented a stroller that time. It worked out just fine because she was older and didn't fall asleep so easily. However she did nap in the rental several times.

So I would say that it depends on the age of your child. Also, if you are driving I would say take it with you so you will have a choice of what to do.

 

[Dimap]

I have a similiar question. I'd love your opinions. I have 3 1/2 year old twins and a almost 5 year old (who hates to walk!) We are throwing around a few different options (we are staying offsite and won't be going to parks everyday)

1) Rent double stroller at parks.
-Won' be able to bring it out of the park to car with us

2) Buy two single unbrella strollers at a Walmart or Target when we get there. (Our double umbrella doesn't work for us anymore, kids too heavy!)
-cheaper then renting
-not very roomy/comfortable

3) Bring our double jogger (third kid can sit up on top if necessary...just holds on tight.)
-hard (impossible) to fit through doorways
-heavy
-can we gate check for the airplane?
-comfortable for the kids
-takes up lots of space in rental car...

So what do you think?

Pam

 

[waltsgirl]

Our DD is 6 and and just gets tired of walking around the parks. We have done both rent and bring. We like bringing our own better. We like having the stroller at the resorts and having the stroller to get her to the car, monorail or buses.

We bought a new umbrella type stroller for our last trip. It is not a cheapier one and actually can be laid down. It was worth it in our opinion.

We will be taking it in Dec!!!