take Graco DuoGlider or buy one of these strollers?

[lovesdumbo]

Going to Disney with DD(4 1/2), DS(turns 3 on trip), DD(will be 1 10 days after we return). We're staying cocierge at the Poly.

I currently own a single Maclaren Daytripper which I plan on bringing with us. I was debating bringing our Graco DuoGlider which weighs 32+ lbs. I'm considering renting a full size crib and thought I could just rent a double stroller too.

But I'm also thinking of purchasing a lighter double stroller. Does anyone have any reviews of these?
Peg Perego Aria Twin, 14 lbs, seems to have mixed reviews at Baby Center
Combi Twin Savvy, 21 lbs, has very good reviews
Maclaren Twin Traveller, 25 lbs

Would a side by side double stroller fit in the monorail? I'd hate to have to wake up a sleeping baby...

 

[campingcorgi]

You'd also have the option of taking the Maclaren for the 1 year old and renting a Disney double when you need it. With a 3 and 4 year old that may do you. You wouldn't have a double for DD and parking lots but it would be the cheaper and easier route.

Any other opinions?

 

[spr0m]

Get the maclaren opus duo. We have that one and love it. It will fit through any 30" door and the side by side is better and safer. I've see to many of the front/back tip over. This past Disney trip we saw someone with the Graco have a double tip she took the kid out of the back and the kid in the front leaned forward at the same time and kissed the pavement. The mother then puts the youger kid back in the rear seat and goes to comfort the front kid and the stroller tips over backwards but my wife catches it before the other kids hits the pavement. The other possibility since your kids are older is get the buggy board for the maclaren this attaches to the back and lets the older kid have a place to stand while you push. It's made by Lasco?? I bought one off the internet and use it for the Mall when we take out the single stroller. Just search google for buggy board I think I paid $49 and it holds up to 50lbs

 

[SpyMom]

My vote is FOR the Graco double. They fold very easily and stand by themselves when folded. There is some Disney transportation you must fold a stroller for. If you're renting a car, you will need to fold it for the parking lot trams, and I think all buses too. We took our double to WDW twice with a 1 & 3 yr old and a 3 & 5 yr old. This year they are 5 & 8 and I'm dreading NOT having it.

One thing to concider about the "renting at WDW" option is the airport. We found ours wonderful to have with us for connections and just to get from the plane to land transportation. Some of these airports are HUGE. You can take the stroller right to the gate with you, keep it until you board, and then it is waiting for you when you exit. It also made carrying our own cars seats from the plane to the rental MUCH easier on our first trip.

Hope this helps!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks for the replys.

I was thinking we'd go to a park in the morning, rest in the afternoon then go to Epcot in the evenings. So I was hoping that we'd have a seat for all 3 kids and if any of them wanted to nap they could do that. Even if they are not asleep I think it would be easier to get back to the hotel if they could ride. My DS is really tough and rarely complains but the 4 year old can be a bit cranky when she gets tired so I don't think the buggy board or renting at the park would be an option I am willing to try.

I think the opus duo was replaced by the twin traveller. I'd like to see them in person at a store then maybe I could get a deal on-line on the older model. The only change I can see is that the opus duo has just 1 canopy vs. 2.

Anyone put a side-by-side on the monorail? Or a tandem for that matter?

 

[spr0m]

Yes the opus is no longer made if you can get one on ebay I would go for it. The newer ones (daytripper) are no longer made in england and the quality itsn't as good any more. also the opus wheels are about 30% larger so if you need to go over grass or soft ground it much easier to push than the daytripper loaded with two kids plus it comes with a great rainsheild. They do fit in the monorail you will however be directed to the wheelchair car. If no wheelchairs waiting or only one then you can go. The lastime we stayed at the Poly we were almost closer to the Ferry so we took that a few times as well and that's really easy to get on.

 

[jel0511]

I had the Combi Twinn Savvy and it was AWESOME!!! I debated between the Combi and the Maclaren Opus and went with the Combi because it was much lighter and it had two sun shades. Now for getting them (side by side) on the monorail, they do not fit in the cars, with the exception of the handicapped cars. You can only use the handicapped cars if they aren't needed by a handicapped person. If you're on your journey around, and a person needed the car, you must give it up. You will have to fold the side by side for all other cars on the monorail. The tandem MIGHT fit in the regular cars, but I'm not sure, since I never traveled with one. Also, the Combi folds VERY compactly and can stand on it's own, great when riding the bus!!! Remember that, since you might be going to MGM and AK, trying to carry on that 32lb+ monstrosity.

 

[riggins]

I own an '03 Mac Twin Traveller and really like it. We are taking it on its 1st WDW trip Friday, so when we return, I can let you know how it did. I used to own a Graco double but could not even imagine trying to carry that huge thing on Disney transportation.

Be very careful with the Opus Duos. From what I understand, all the 2002 and many of the 2001 models had an issue with the side padding in the seat. When the seat is reclined, the it makes a nice area for a baby, but when the seat is upright, it makes thick side wings and the shoulder area is only 9 inches wide. A lot of people have complained that their older kids don't fit comfortably because of the the wings. You can sort of see what I mean from this picture . . . http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2350214147&category=2989

You might also consider the Mac Rally Twin. Its the "basic" version of the Twin Traveller. It only has two position recline, instead of 5, but given the ages of your kids, this might work fine. The Twin Travellers run $320-$350, but occaisionally you can find one on eBay . . . http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2349928277&category=2989&rd=1

The Rally Twins have been dropping in price lately and you can find them for about $200 . . . http://www.strollers4less.com/p/?p=New!_Maclaren_2003_Rally_Twin

HTH
-Leslie

 

[crazywig]

before buying a maclaren, go to a store and try your kids in them. my large 29lb 17 month old was too large for the twin traveller!

the seats are very narrow. if you have small children they should work.

the peg aria twin is a nice stroller, but has a 'book' fold and i can't imagine trying to get on a bus/tram with it.

another cheaper option is the kolcraft double umbrella. runs around $60, has reclining seats and seperate shades.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...e=1&dept=5427&path=0:5427:86323:118134:118136

 

[minnie Mouse Maniac]

We have the Maclaren and brought it on our last trip and it was
great. Had no problems with the monorials.

Does anyone know how much it is to rent a single or double stroller?

 

[jel0511]

I believe it's now $8 for a single and $15 for a double per day.

 

[twinmomplus2]

I have the Aria twin currently in storage in my garage. It looks beutiful weighs next to nothing has a great shoulder strap, but Don't buy it. thats all its got going for me a 300 dollar peice of junk, It pushes horribley. it is 6 mts old Perego replace the wheeels to see if they were they were defective, they were not. it just stinks!!!!!! Enough about that!! The graco side by side its name is escaping me? Is very functional, its heavy but having the large basket is great. So far the for us the Kolcraft double umbrella has been easiest we just bought a few handle bags for it. good Luck!

 

[Disneyolic]

We'll be taking our Grace DuoGlider for our boys. They will be 4 and 2½. We did buy a Kolcraft double reclining umbrella stroller and, while they are very lightweight, there is no way that I could take everything that I need to the parks with that stroller. The DuoGlider has a wonderful basket underneath that will fit all our junk. I guess we'll find out next month whether it worked well or not.

~DawnMaree

 

[HappyMommy2]

Just my thoughts on the DuoGlider at WDW:

We took our DuoGlider for DSs 1.5 and 3.5 recently and were really happy with how it worked out. Yes, it was kind of a pain to take on and off the buses (we stayed at All Stars) but we got used to it and could fold and unfold it quick as a wink; we'll be taking it again next year. It would be nice to have one of the fancier side-by-sides but older DS doesn't use a stroller at home so I know we wouldn't get much use out of a new stroller.

BTW, we rode the monorail several times and we strolled the DuoGlider right in with no problems.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[cmcvean]

We took a side by side Graco with us last year and it worked well. It was not easy to get on the monorail (the one we took the year before with the seats in front of each other worked better for that, but still a pain). The side by side definately folds up easier.

We are staying conciege Polyneisan too, with 4 little ones 5 and under and I'm trying to figure out whether to take 2 doubles this year. They just take up so much room on the trip down (we drive).

One bit of advice though, we didn't really discover the big ferry boat to MK until late in our trip last year, but it is WONDERFUL! Just go to the TTC and you can push any stroller right onto the boat. It was the most comfortable way for us to get to MK with a stroller.

Good luck!!

Christine

 

[cmcvean]

LovesDumbo - I just realized that we may be overlapping on our visit!! How long are you staying??

Christine

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks to all for great suggestions.

Christine,
We are leaving Sunday the 11th so it looks like we will overlap. That is if I can convince my DH this will be a good thing. He's a stay at home dad and he watches way too much news. He doesn't think its worth the risk to put the kids in a plane "just" to go the Disney. Driving is not an option I would consider from Massachusetts in January. I've got a hold on airline tickets that I need to call on tonight or loose. I've tried to explain that the risk is far greater when we put the kids in the car and drive to see his mother every Sunday but he just doesn't see it that way. He's convinced that sooner or later (and he's sure sooner) that a plane will be blown up-either by a bomb on a plane as freight or by a shoulder held rocket launcher. I've tried to explain that the risk will be with us for the rest of our lives and that we can't stop living. This isn't "just" a trip to Disney it is a family vacation. We need to get away as a family. I don't care if the kids remember Disney but I really believe that they will remember that they took vacations as a family and even if they don't remember details of the trip(s-see I'm already planning for the next ones...) it will just be a well established sense of family that will stay with them. We have only gone away as a family 3 times to visit friends in Maine for just 2 nights each trip since 1999. I've gone to Disney once without the kids and last year with my DD while pregnant. I want to go away with my family! I hope I can get through to him tonight.

Thanks for the advise about the ferry. I was thinking that it might be fun to take that one.

I think I'm leaning toward purchasing the Combi. I found it on the website Leslie(riggins) suggested-strollers4less for $239 with free shipping. I think it would be easier for my DH to use for DS and baby when he picks up my DD from school. I still haven't given up on the idea of renting one along with a full size crib from a baby's best friend.

I just can't wait to return to the Polynesian. I am so hoping that the Polynesian, concierge and the kids can convert my DH into a Disney lover. I'm buying those tickets tonight!!!

 

[cmcvean]

Good for you - BUY THEM!!! You know, I would be more worried about things that terrorists HAVEN'T tried yet, like blowing up a bridge or something. The airlines have such security that I think it is safer to fly now than it was before the attacks. They are going to try and get us where we aren't looking - at that definately isn't the airlines

My children who were only 2 and 3 on their first trip remember EVERYTHING!! WDW are some of our most fond memories. My first visit was when I was in my 20's, I don't want that to happen to my children!!

I hope we run into you! We are SOOO excited, your husband couldn't possibly resist the Polynesian!!! My husband won't stay anywhere else, especially with young kids! Just sit him on that beach and watch the fireworks - and he won't regret the trip!!

Well, we will be the family with the 3 grandmothers, and the 4 little girls (who will probably be making themselves known, if you know what I mean!! ) And and not to forget BIL/SIL and their two kids!

Good luck on the stroller - and with the hubby!!!


Christine

 

[foofoo]

I have the twin traveler and like it (I'm in NYC) we use stollers for EVERYTHING!

On the combi - lovesdumbo - I was going to buy the Combi but it got HORRIBLE reviews - apparently they break quite often. I loved the idea that it was half the weight of the mac.

Here's my question - given that the Maclaren retails for about $300, is anybody else worried about it getting stolen? My husband thinks I am nuts to rent a stroller, but I just don't know what to do - I have a 3 YO and a 8mo. Anybody have suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[HappyMommy2]

Lovesdumbo, did you buy the tickets? I hope so!