Strollers

[avalon451]

We're really debating bringing along our cheap umbrella stroller. Our youngest is nearly 6. She's pretty strong but does have a tendency to wimp out on walking after awhile. I've read that if they can still fit in a stroller, it's nice to have a lightweight one cause you can use it to carry your stuff around, if not the kiddo. However we're flying, and I'd just as soon not fool around with it if it's gonna be a pain to check.

What about the rental strollers? I don't know what they look like; do they have a hard front with leg holes that would be hard for a big kid to get into, or are they open in the front? Does anybody have a picture of one of the rental strollers?

Thanks so much! You guys are so helpful.

 

[kylieh]

I hear that the rental strollers are quite a good size. I can't remember where I saw it, but there was a photo of a father sitting in his Daughter's stroller while watching a parade, it looked like he had been there for a while, and he was quite relaxed. DH & I had a good laugh at it, and realised that it would be big enough therefore for DD6 if we run into any probs whilst there.

I think the good thing about renting a stroller is that you don't need to worry if you can't find it when you come off a ride - providing you've got nothing stowed of course - as you can present the receipt and you will get a replacement at no charge. And if you didn't need it, you haven't had to worry about bringing it with you.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll search out a picture of the rental stroller for you.

While I do, I want to tell you to not leave anything in a stroller that would be missed if it's taken. And to think about whether having *anything* stolen, even a bottle of water, would put a damper on your experience.

We had a brand new pirate hat stolen out from under a ratty sweatshirt and baseball cap in the bottom of our stroller, and even though the CMs made it right, it still makes us sad that someone stole DS's new hat.

 

[bumbershoot]

OK here's DS at 2.5 zonked out in the stroller.

Here's the back of the stroller (jogging style, but I believe they have 4 wheels) in '05.

DS at 3.5 in the stroller, showing you a bit of the front.

The biggest question, IMO, on whether to bring or to rent, is how far away you are staying, and how likely it will be that the kiddo can get him/herself back to the hotel or car in the evening. Alternatively, how strong you (or other adults with you) are and how much you enjoy carrying the child back.

DS could walk most of the day, but if he does so, he gets awful leg aches at night (inherited from me, the poor kid), so we try to not have him wear out his legs like that. But even with some time in the stroller, he's wiped out at the end of the day (see other posts mentioned my very bad all-day no-breaks touring style that I'll change, I promise), and I can tell you that carrying a 36+ lb 3 year old all the way to wherever you're staying is exhausting!

But he's 3, not 6, so I'll let you figure out if that scenario might happen, and that can help you decide whether you'd prefer to rent or bring!

 

[DangerMouse]

Molly posted great pics and information but I just wanted to add that my dd(10) and ds(8) still spend time in the rental stroller (that we get for dd6). It's getting a bit tight for the 10 year old, but the 8 and 6 year old find it quite comfy. They like to have a few minutes to rest their legs, and we find it helps them be able to make the hike back to the HoJo at the end of our Disney day.

If you have a Disney Visa, you can get up to 2 free strollers a day. We love this perk, and take advantage of the free strollers each day we're there.

 

[moredisneyplease]

These jogging type strollers are real easy in and out for the big kids. The one thing I dont like about them is the fixed from wheel but thats because I'm spoiled with a swivel front wheel on my jogger!

I say get one for your 6 year old just in case! Its better than carrying a big baby!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Just a little trick that I learned from the boards last year. Bring a brightly colored ribbon or something to tie to the handle of the stroller so it's easy to spot in the stroller parking lot...aka the sea of strollers. Yes they have your name on top of them......but when you're standing there looking for yours having something make yours stand out is wonderful. We bring our own......I have a lime green ribbon tied onto ours..made it very easy to spot even if it ever got moved.

 

[avalon451]

OK, you guys rock. Thanks for all the info and especially the pictures! That's just what I needed to know. I am SO renting a stroller when we get there. We are staying at the Grand Californian (yay! I'm so excited to be staying on property! ) but I know that it will be more and more difficult to get DD5 to walk around as the day goes on, especially in the evening.

We are planning to do the early entry thing, take the midday break back at the hotel from 1-5, do early preferred seating at restaurants each night, and then hit the parks for another couple of hours to do favorites or use any fastpasses we have left from the morning.

Can't wait! Thanks again for your help!

 

[twinspluscade]

Do they rent double strollers? If so, can we rent one free using our Disney Visa?

 

[bumbershoot]

No double strollers. But that visa can get you two singles a day.

 

[rentayenta]

We always rent a stroller too. MY DD 9 has very poor stamina due to an illness she had as an infant. She's also teeny tiny due to a current illness. Rent or bring a stroller. I am going to borrow a double from a friend for our September visit. That walk back to HoJos after a long day in the park stinks.

 

[silence]

we always get our free strollers for our kids. now usually, just for the youngest, but, our very small oldest sometimes whimps out and whines enough we end up with 2.

my trick though, is since i HATE pushing the umbrella stroller, we will bring a cheap one for the walk to and from the hotel. we park it in tomorrowland with nothing in it. then, we get the nice free rental with our visa cards.....and use that for in the park.

 

[ballarinamom]

Avalon,
Our DD6 is very tall- 52 inches, and we still use our umbrella stroller. Just used it at Sea World here last weekend. Here's my take-
As far as airports, they let you gate check the stroller which means our DD can stay in it until she has to walk through the security metal detector. It's so nice to have a pack mule to carry our carry ons. When we board, they take it from us as we get onto the plan. It's waiting right there when we get off and we load it down with DD and carry ons when we go to the luggage claim. It has never been a hassle. We actually see it as a convenience. We joke that she will be 18 years old with me still telling her to get in the stroller!

Also, at DLR, we stay at the Disneyland Hotel. We have our pack mule to carry our backpack and DD to the park. It also carries a very sleepy if not sleeping DD back to the hotel. With a rental, the lines can get long at opening. Also, if you park hop, you can't hop with it. And the walk nack to the hotel can get very long carrying a sleeping little one and all of our stuff. Just MHO.

 

[bumbershoot]

"Also, if you park hop, you can't hop with it."

Yes you can. Super-easy. Back in '05 when we first went as adults and first rented a stroller, I was under that strong opinion as well, and even held that opinion until late '07, when I discovered that either I was wrong, or they changed it. But yes indeedy, you can indeed park hop. Can't take it to DTD, but you can go through the esplanade to/from DCA with it!



But I'm not pushing the rentals, b/c I believe that the most important part of the stroller question is that walk back to the hotel, and if you want to carry the sleepy kiddo, or be able to push them.

 

[bonita_babe232]

You couldn't take them park to park before, But now that they have the security checks set up and the to ends of the opennings, (one by dtd and the other the shuttles) they let you take them park to park cause the "big security" won't let you take them out!

 

[ballarinamom]

Good to know about the park hopping BUT. I agree with Bumbershoot. The hard part is the walk back to the hotel with a tired or worse, sleeping, child. They are sure heavy when they ar like dead wood aren't they?

 

[kcbedo]

One more question about the stroller rentals...

When you are ready to leave the park, what do you do with the stroller? Is there a return bin where you can just ditch it, or do you have to wait in some kind of return line to be "processed"? I've heard of people just abandoning their strollers near the entrance, but is that considered bad form?

Thanks.

 

[Disney Dider]

The stroller rental is by the entrance so you just leave it there. Also if this helps they have a 75 pound weight limit. My 7 year old is quite tall so it makes using the cover difficult if he want shade (he just slouches down) but he only weighs 60 pounds so we have a good few more years of this great rental stroller. I second the marking your stroller with something. Our last trip twice the CM's moved a whole bunch of strollers and it took me FOREVER to find ours.

 

[bumbershoot]

One more question about the stroller rentals...

When you are ready to leave the park, what do you do with the stroller? Is there a return bin where you can just ditch it, or do you have to wait in some kind of return line to be "processed"? I've heard of people just abandoning their strollers near the entrance, but is that considered bad form?

Thanks.

I've always officially returned mine, and the CM looks at me as though I have 3 heads (not just 2, LOL). So it's definitely not the norm. But do what makes you feel right, even if they think you're a mutant for doing so.

 

[hlbtimes2]

We always just abandon our rental near the enterance. Acutually the kids usually ride in it until we get to the security area, then we leave it. We have also been known to take a stroller from that area when we return, providing it is empty and the name tag has been removed.