To bring strollers or not to bring strollers?

[giantfan]

We are going for ten days in April/May. We have two daughters 4 and 2. What should we bring?

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

This is a big decision, I know I went thru the same thing in January. I had my kids 2 1/2 & 14 months and my best friend with her 5 yr. old. I hate our umbrella type dbl stroller because it is really hard to manuver and our nice double stroller weighs a TON. The thought of lifting that huge thing onto the bus while carrying a 14 mo. old & helping a 2 1/2 yr. old - well I couldn't do it. Okay so I narrow it down to the pain in the butt dbl stroller with no storage or start deciding about single strollers. To make this long story end faster I decided to take our nice lightweight single stroller and my best friend would rent a stroller for her 5 yr. old if needed.

This worked and it did not. There were moments I wished I had brought a TRIPLE stroller which I do not own LOL. For the most part all 3 kids were in strollers at the parks. We rented a dbl. stroller for the 2 1/2 & 5 yr. olds while the 14 mo. old lounged in her own stroller

There is lots to consider:
Will you be using a car or relying on Disney buses?
How much walking do your children typically do?
How heavy is that stroller?
Etc.

<font color=#cc99cc>Summer 1982 - 1 day MK visit
April 2000 - 1 day MK visit
January 7-10, 2001 - All Star Movies
March 29 - April 1, 2001 - Port Orleans Riverside</font>

 

[disneydreamerinny]

The double would be way too bulky to lug around.
IF you have enough adults then definitely bring 2 single umbrellas.
Much less work.

All Star Music 10/4/98
Next trip All Star Movies 05/3/02-05/12/02

 

[MargaretF]

If you have two adults, take two cheap lightweight umbrella strollers. We did with kids 4 and 2 and it was great. They were easy to fold down, easy to carry and easy to zoom those kids through the parks in.

 

[gobo2]

Definately bring 2 umbrella strollers.
Renting them at the park doesn't work because of any distance between the room and the bus stops!
The double stoller is impossible to manauver in a crowd.

First WDW visit 1996 DxL
1997 CB
1998 CS
1999 baby
2000 Westgate Lakes
2000 DxL & BWI Concierge
Jan 2001 OKW
April 2001 PO Riverside
Jan 2002 BWV

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

HI,
We were there 2 weeks ago with our 8 month old and we brought our own big stroller. It was the best thing we could have done. The airline let us bring it up to the door to board and they took it from there and had it back right as we were getting off the plane too. It was big enough to hold all the stuff, cameras, etc and she was able to take a comfortable nap in it so we could enjoy the park more.


jmmk_intro.jpg

DVC Member 1999
BWV 03-2001
BW 09-1999
ASR 02-1998

 

[pstepka]

We were there in September with 3-1/2 y/o and 1-1/2 y/o and brought both of our regular strollers. An umbrella one was not even an option for us because I wanted both strollers to recline so the boys could nap. IMHO, (at least for my kids) the umbrella strollers are not good for long days...I would rather my kids have more room to sit. The umbrella ones are just too cramped. With to regular strollers, each boy had his own snack tray, as well as a place next to him to set things also. It was not a hassle at all pushing two strollers around. It was also nice having two full sized baskets underneath to hold things. Plus, we had an organizer on the back of one of the strollers (the kind that are for cars that fit on the back of the front seat) that held things we needed to be more handy (tissues, wipes, sunglasses, water bottle, etc.). It worked out wonderfully

 

[goofy4wdw59]

is what we will bring for our Sept. 2001 trip. My kids will be 2 & 4 and although there are disadvantages to the umbrella strollers, they are the best choice for us. Nov. 2000 we took two umbrellas and they were great from the car/parking lot thru the parks, etc. These were easier to fold-up for the trams to/from the parking lot. Sometimes, if we weren't too far from the entrance, we just walked/strollered to the front. I don't think they are great for long periods of time (napping is difficult). But with breaks/eating and taking them out to play in designated areas, it seemed to work out. This Sept, we will be flying, and I can't imagine not having umbrellas for the airport. It does work out well because me and DH each can handle/foldup one. The monorails weren't a problem as they allowed all strollers to be used on them.

September 2001 - AllStar/Movies,Wilderness Lodge, & Beach Club!!

 

[Terk-1]

We usually bring our strollers for my nephews. It is easier to put them in the strollers at the airport. That way we do not lose anyone or have to carry them. It is also easier in and out of the parks.

1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1994
1995
September 1997 -- All-Star Music (Calypso)
Dec-Jan/1998 -- Dixie Landings
May/1999 -- Port Orleans & Beach Club
Dec/2000 -- Wilderness Lodge & Port Orleans
September 2001 -- All-Star Movies (Buzz Building) & Port Orleans (French Quarter)
Nov-Dec/2001 -- Contemporary

 

[Terk-1]

We usually bring our strollers for my nephews. It is easier to put them in the strollers at the airport. That way we do not lose anyone or have to carry them. It is also easier in and out of the parks. They are familiar with their own stroller.

1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1994
1995
September 1997 -- All-Star Music (Calypso)
Dec-Jan/1998 -- Dixie Landings
May/1999 -- Port Orleans & Beach Club
Dec/2000 -- Wilderness Lodge & Port Orleans
September 2001 -- All-Star Movies (Buzz Building) & Port Orleans (French Quarter)
Nov-Dec/2001 -- Contemporary

 

[mormol]

we just got back a few weeks ago with our 22 month old and 5.5 year old. We rented a double everyday. We carried the baby around the airport in a baby backpack carrier and gate checked it before boarding. We had TIffany pick us up with a booster and a car seat in the van.
We stayed at the contemporary and the only time we carried the kids was from the monorail/bus to the entrances, not a very big distance and they usually both walked in (although ALWAYS carried out LOL)
They loved to be able to sit side by side all day! Neither one would nap anyway, and we would usually get to the park prior to opening and get home before dinner (2 days we went back to hotel for a pool break and back to an evening park visit).
It was great not to lug the strollers around on the tranportation!