The double stroller: Tandem vs Side-by-Side: Round 1

[DisneyKidds]

Ok, people weigh in on double stroller threads all the time about whether they like tandems or side-by-sides. After our latest trip I'm compelled to get all the double stroller cards on the table so people can make the best decision for themselves. So lets have at it....er.....I mean hear your thoughts.

Here are mine....................

A tandem is most definitely the way to go, especially if you will spend any significant time riding a monorail. Yes, the tandems may be heavier and may not fold quite as compact, but that is their only drawback. IMHO they are easier to navigate thru a crowd as you don't need as wide an opening to get through. While a side-by-side will fit through most stores a tandem will fit better. Now for the most important benefit of a tandem...............rolling onto the monorail. Many times one or more of our kids would be asleep in the stroller when heading back to the resort for a break or at the end of the night. A tandem will roll onto any monorail car. No getting the kids out. No waking them up. No folding the stroller. It really is convenient. Add to that that most tandems will be a bit more confortable for the passengers than the side-by-sides and to me it is a no-brainer. I have to say that our Peg Perego Tender Twin has been an incredible workhorse. It always gets the job done, takes a lot of abuse, and is very confortable still for our 45 inch, 40 lb, 5 yo DD.

So what say you other double stroller owners?

 

[riggins]

I'm a side-by-side fan . . . you can take them on the monorail without folding them. You just have to make sure you are in line for a handicap car (all clearly marked with the wheelchair symbol). On our last trip, we never had any problem getting on these cars and never had to wake the kids and fold the stroller.

The big benefit of a SBS for a WDW trip, like DisneyKidds said, is its size on the busses. Our Maclaren Twin Traveller folds like an umbrella stroller and has a nice carry handle. It was much smaller than some of the single strollers we saw other parents lug on the busses.

The only downside to the SBS IMHO is in the shops. Most of the WDW shops are well designed to support the needs of its wheelchair-bound guests and thereby, are ok for your SBS stroller to maneuver between racks. However, if the shop is busy, it can be a little difficult. We spend very little time in shops on our trips, so this isn't an issue.

I honestly think it all boils down to where you are staying and the transportation you will likely use most. If you are driving, walking, or monorailing the most, I don't think there's much difference. If you plan to ride the bus a lot, then the light weight and compact fold of a SBS are important.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We just came back from our trip last week and we used a side by side - NEVER again!!

We were staying at the contemporary so most of the time we walked to the MK but if we went to Epcot we took the monorail. The SBS would only fit in the areas that were designated for handicapped. The cast members were very nice and always informed us that they will let us on in that area and we would not have to fold our stroller, however if someone in a wheelchair needed the area we would have to fold our stroller. On many occassions we had to fold our stroller and three times the kids were sleeping so it was a hassle having the SBS rather than having a tanden and being able to get into any area with it!

Now riding a bus I think is equal - you are not holding your stoller the whole time it is resting on the floor so weight I think really doesn't play much of an issue.

Having the SBS with crows and shopping is virtually impossible, let alone aggravating!! Enough said.

My vote would be for a tandem!!

Lisa

 

[tinaluis]

Another vote for the tandem. We have taken both at various stages of our DDs' lives and prefer the tandem for getting around the parks (less space required than a SBS and easier to maneuver through crowds) and on/off the monorail (without having to remove sleeping kids and fold). In fact, when we had our SBS and were waiting for a handicapped car of the monorail the CMs insisted we remove the kids and fold it even though there wasn't anyone in a wheelchair waiting. That was the final straw for the SBS and we've used the tandem ever since for our trips to WDW.

 

[PrincessMommy2]

I too have both a side by side and a tandem. I actually have two side by sides . I originally bought the kolcraft side by side umbrella for our trip but DH forgot to load it in the car. We had to search for an affordable double when we arrived in Orlando. The one we ended up with cost $55 and was made by avalon?? It was not umbrella style but still folded pretty flat and was lightweight(even had storage baskets underneath). I think I would still take either one of the side by sides over the tandem just because of the bulkiness of the tandem. The side by sides weigh less although we never had to collapse it on the monorail. Also, if for some reason it did get stolen, the cost of my side by sides together still do not equal the cost of my tandem.

 

[BevS97]

the age of the kids is another factor, the front seats on a tandem don't look too comfortable for naps.

 

[JiminyMac]

Those double wide rigs may be convenient for you but in a crowded plac e they are unfira to others. They take up too much space and run people over. the back to back ones are much better for the people arond you.

ps: OT but a stroller is not a place holder for the parade. It is totally not right the way people line them up along teh curb and others have to maenouver around them, they take up more space thean a person and are too high for little kids to see over. IMHO, disney should make people park there sttollers out of the wawy like they do for the rides.