Strollers To Take or Not to Take, That is the Question!

domesticdiva

I'm a Disney addict :) .... and proud of it!!!
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I am going to WDW from May 23-30, we have 3 kids aged 9, 6 and 2. WE are taking/renting a stroller for sure for our 2 year old, but do you suggest getting a stroller for our 6 year old too? Possibly a tandem? She gets tired fast so any suggestions? Would you take your own or Rent one out? :surfweb:
 
If you're driving, I'd take one. If you're not, I'd just rent one out in the parks. It's a lot of hassle folding and unfolding a big stroller on the busses. Plus, if you lose a park stroller, who cares? You just show your receipt and get another.
 
We are taking our double stroller for our 3 kids 5, will be 4 and will be 14 motnhs. We are also taking a small bike lock to lock the wheels tobether (NEver to a fence or something). the rental strollers are plastic and do not recline AND you can't take them out of the park. We figure we will need them most getting to/ from the transportation. Mine is a graco and has one hand folding. We are also taking hte sling so I cna carry the baby hands free if needed, and then will free up the 2 seats for the girls.

If you are flying, you can gate check the stroller and use it in the airport, too.

We are actually considering taking the umbrella stroller, too. it fold small enough that we can actually keep it in the basket on the double stroller!

As long as you are practiced int he folding/ unfodling, it really isn't too much of a hassle to get it on and off the buses and other transportations.

BEst of luck to you!
 
I'm not sure if they allow you to lock your bike wheels together. At certain rides the CM are constantly stroller managing. Which mean they move the strollers to fill in holes as people retrive there strollers.

I used a stroller at disney for 7 yrs. I never ever had any issues with my stroller or stuff being messed with. Personally I think the locking and unlocking would become a pain in the butt to do at every single ride or attraction.
 

zurgswife said:
I'm not sure if they allow you to lock your bike wheels together. At certain rides the CM are constantly stroller managing. Which mean they move the strollers to fill in holes as people retrive there strollers.

I used a stroller at disney for 7 yrs. I never ever had any issues with my stroller or stuff being messed with. Personally I think the locking and unlocking would become a pain in the butt to do at every single ride or attraction.


I agree that never in all of our years of going to Disney has our stroller been stolen. I would just suggest that you attach something to your stroller that quickly identifies it for you. When you exit an attraction, there are sometimes many strollers that look just alike.
 
We have brought and rented. It's cheaper to bring, but a pain to manage. Our son who was 7 at the time of our last visit loved the "kid-Kart" as ew called it. He wasn't embarassed and we made GOOOOOD time!
 
We've done both and I prefered renting. It's much less of a hassle for us to rent. I rent for the whole week and can just walk up and get a stroller. Yeah, couple of times my DH ending up carrying my son to the car but we would have had to move him out of the stroller ayway before we could get on the tram.
 
How much are the "kid carts" to rent? Can you get them at all the parks?
Thanks!
 
Carrie772 said:
We have brought and rented. It's cheaper to bring, but a pain to manage. Our son who was 7 at the time of our last visit loved the "kid-Kart" as ew called it. He wasn't embarassed and we made GOOOOOD time!

You could really get booking in Disney's too. Their wheels always ran a bit more freely than the home ones. Plus the hard plastic fronts make better battering rams than the cloth ones brought from home. And they're perfectly possitioned just above the top of the shoe at achilles tendon height too.
 
we take ours. It hand folds and my husband never has an issue on the buses. It's a godsend at the airport and at the hotel as well. I always get a bright colored ribbon and tie it on the handle so I can find mine easily in the sea of strollers. As for locking it. Two years and never had an issue. Plus the other poster is right. The CM's are constantly moving them around.
 
When our two children were under 5 (they are 53 weeks apart) we always took two strollers. Over 5, we rent when one is needed. For younger children, I think it is important to have a stroller during the whole trip--not just at the parks.
 
If you are looking for a tandem stroller - we enjoy our Joovy Tandem Stroller. The weight limit is 45lbs for each passenger, so depending on the size of your 6 year old this may work for you.
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As far as renting versus bringing your own - that is entirely up to you and I suggest you do whatever you feel most comfortable with.
 
There are pros and cons to taking vs. renting...so you'll get less hassle in one area with one method and in a different area with another. I'll try to summarize my experiences:

Renting:
pros:
1 - big strollers - better for bigger kids
2 - easy to maneuver
3 - don't have to fold up for trams or bus transportation
cons:
1 - EXPENSIVE - $18 per day for a double
2 - no basket for storage
3 - Depending on crowds - sometimes a hassle to get into the park, get the stroller, get the kids situated, etc. I prefer to do this right after getting off the bus so once we're through the gates - we're on our way to the first ride.

Bringing:
pros:
1 - CHEAPER
2 - much better for napping if you have a child who might possibly nap in a stroller
3- Easier to distinguish in a sea of blue rented stroller
4 - Love, Love, Love the basket
5 - Can collapse for rides like WDW railroad
6 - Can take the kids all the way to the bus stop or to the car if they're sleeping (and you parked close enough to walk)
cons:
1 - need to collapse to take on buses, trams
2 - bigger kids might not fit
3 - Maybe worry about someone stealing it (we solved this by getting one cheap from a garage sale - if it gets stolen (very very small chance) - then we rent the rest of the time

You might be able to guess we prefer bringing. BUt, everyone has their own preferences. We're going to check ours through with checked luggage all the way through to our room with Magical Express so it should be easy from that point of view.

Good luck
 
I prefer to bring. My 3 yr old GD gets pretty heavy at night from the park to the bus or monorail.
Several times I heard people compain that their rented stroller was missing, but another one was available. I really like my stroller to be as clean as possible and not have to re-disinfect after each ride (due to maybe not getting the same stroller)
I noticed that the rented ones are hard plastic, not too comfortable and hard for little ones to see up out of. Plus I love the fact she can nap in comfort and shade. :sunny:

If you own a tandom I would suggest you bring it. Either way you will have a wonderful trip.
 
I'm a single mom and have two kids (DS almost 6 and DD turned 2 today). I always take. I have a big double jogging stroller that I use in the parks and a MacLauren that I use at places like DTD.

In December, I took the double, but had a tire blow-out after a nice CM filled it for me. Was stuck using the single the rest of the time. DS was great about walking, but I didn't have enough storage. It was much easier to get on the trams, though. No way I can manage the double and two kids getting on trams and buses. Usually some nice person helps me out, though. At the parks, I usually just park and walk in. It's good exercise.

So, I'd recommend bringing and bringing one big enough for two. Have fun on your trip!
 


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