To Stroller or not to Stroller?

[JMC Disney Bound]

How difficult is it to manuever stroller on and off the Disney transportation buses to and from airport,parks etc. It seems like it's not worth the hassle for us to take ours in Oct. for our DD just turning 3
She doesn't use one anymore at home for Zoo, Mall, etc. But I'm worried the ones at the park will be uncomfortable and I'll regret not having one for naps, etc. This is our first trip to Disney!!

Has anyone done both and have pros and cons list?

ANY help or suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[beattyfamily]

Disney is nothing like the zoo and the mall. I'm 99% you will use a stroller a lot each day. I prefer bringing my own comfy, clean, canopy, basket, reclining, umbrella stroller. I've never had any problems loading it on the bus or train or monorail.

The ones you rent are expensive, hard, do not recline, no storage area. You then won't have a stroller at the airport, DTD, the resorts, or any other offsite/out of park location.

If your child was older, like maybe 6, then maybe I'd play it by ear and rent one when needed but not 3 years old. I'll bet you will use the stroller A LOT.

 

[JMC Disney Bound]

If I do bring my own how secure will it be while we are on rides, dining and other times we have to park it? Also, if I decide to rent and bring a blanket and pillow to keep inside will this be safe?

 

[beattyfamily]

Stroller theft is very rare at Disney. Most of the stories I've heard are people taking a stroller very similar to theirs by accident and that DTD theft is more common but still rare because it's free to park and go there so locals can go there.

If you make your stroller easily identifiable, you should have no problem. Be aware though that Disney CMs move strollers around alot so your stroller may have been move a bit from where it was so no fear about that. They are constantly moving them to make room for more.

Stealing strollers at WDW is rare. I think your pillow and blanket will be safe.

 

[marathonmommy]

You will HAVE to bring one. Just make sure you don't bring a full size one. We brought our regular PP Pliko, and it was a PITA! You'll want an umbrella type so it's easy to fold and hold. There is no storage for the strollers on the buses - the make you fold them up and carry them on. Even though this was a hassle, the pay off was great - you will need one without a doubt. Even my 5 year old got tired quite a bit. Luckily she the PP allowed her so stand on the back sometimes.

 

[ImagineEar]

You will need one - hands down. It is a tremendous amount of walking even for an adult.
Just to give you an Idea The MK alone spans a distance of 105 acres .
EPCOT - 225 acres
AK - 500 acres
MGM - 110 acres
And incase you are still not convinced you will be paying $13+ a day to rent one if you don't bring your own. Plus if you rent - you will not have it for to and from the hotel to the busses / monorail then to the parks and some of those distances can be quite far. You will have to fold it to get on the busses - it is a bit of a juggling act - but join the crowd - everyone does it and it all works out. You can wheel it right on the monorail without a hassle. Plus it will be a place to hang that bag o' stuff you will be carrying around with you all day if you do not bring your stroller.

Now the nap thing - The rentals do not recline and are hard plastic - not nap freindly (although I have seen many a passed out toddler in them.) Plus if she's sleeping and you want to leave the park - say after one of the night time shows, then what will you do? Carry her all the way back?

As far as someone stealing it - went with my brand new $250 one 7 years ago and was nervous too. But after the 1st day and seeing the overwhelming amount of strollers parked all over the place - you'll feel better about it. When in Rome....

To sum up - bring your own! You'll be happy you did.

 

[weluvmnsshp]

I agree on the point that you need a stroller. There is so much walking at disney it would be torture for a three year old to walk all day. I have two 3 year olds and we walk often. We NEVER use a stroller here, anywhere! They love to walk, but after a long walk , they get tired, and they say you walk about 5-15 MILES A DAY!!!!!! at disney.

I have both rented and brought my own. Here are the pros and cons:

Bring your own: Pros
*it is free
*it reclines
*it is soft and padded
*it has storage space
*it folds up
*it may be more comfortable (but your three year old won't be riding in it all the time like a smaller child would)

Bring your own: Cons
*It is harder to manuver
*It is heaver (esp. with a three year old in it!)
*takes up space in your car, etc.
*Getting your 3 year old in and out is harder and time consuming.

Renting: Pros
*It is a jogging type stroller- easy to push, manuver and you don't feel your childs weight in it at all(after renting one last year, we can never bring our own again, and this is the reason why.)
*Easy in and out. (your 3 year old can do it on their own. They can hop in when they are tired, and out when they want to walk. Just make sure to tell them never to get out without asking first. Also have them strap themselves in- my kids love that!)
*It has a huge umbrella! Completely covers entire child-legs and all(The other major reason I rent)
*If you get a length of stay pass, you get to skip the lines and just pick up your stroller when you get there.
Also, my kids napped a lot last year and they were always comfy, they had more room in the rental stroller than my other.
Renting: Cons
*single strollers cost $10.00 a day, $8.00 a day for length of stay

Hope this helps out, from a mother who has tried both and prefers renting.

 

[JMC Disney Bound]

Thanks for all of the advice. If you rent a lenght of stay pass, is this fee payed once and then good at ALL parks?

 

[beattyfamily]

Thanks for all of the advice. If you rent a lenght of stay pass, is this fee payed once and then good at ALL parks?

Yes, you prepay and get a small discount and then you are set for the length of your stay.

It also saves you from waiting in the regular stroller line.

 

[Northstar]

You mentioned airports... when DD was 3, we found one of the ultralight/ultracheap foldup umbrella strollers was a lifesaver in any airport!

1. were always allowed to bring it to the gate and do planeside checkin... then we could get it right when we got OFF the plan instead of at baggage check
2. when we needed to go fast (making connection with moments to spare!), much easier with DD in stroller
3. got waved into shorter security lines for airline crew quite often! Stroller was examined and wheeled through a gate while DD walked through people gate. Only once had to fold stroller up and put it onto the scanner while DD walked through the people gate.
4. Easier to keep track of DD while in stroller... who's got a hand free to hold on to kids in an airport???

I'd vote for bringing the very very light foldup type (no storage space, no padding for sleep) as it's easy to haul on and off of buses. And like the others here, I'd NEVER consider no stroller at all for a 3-year-old at Disney! But then, my DD (now 7) had to be carried fast asleep like a LOG all the way from car to room last year after MK! Hard on the parental backs, that was.

 

[nicdanh]

Your own stroller is a must in Disney. Our trip in November we will have our 3 children 6, 2 1/2 & 1 year. We will be bringing a double and an umbrella type for our 6 year old. Its wonderful for the airport as well as everywhere in Disney.

 

[SanDiegoDayTripper]

I too can not stress enough the need to have your own stroller. My older two are 5 and 6, and it's amazing how fast they regress to needing to be in the stroller. They never use it around town, but pass through those Disneyland gates and they can barely make it down Main Street. Of course, I'm probably enabling them. Usually some combination of two of them fall asleep in it waiting for the parade/fireworks.

I even keep my huge DuoGlider double stroller, even though my youngest is 2 1/2, in a corner of my garage specifically to take to DLR. (AP holders) The under-seat basket is a huge lifesaver. The rental strollers have a bag in the back that barely holds a small purse.

Not to mention the ease in the airport. I agree with the umbrella-type, and gate checking it.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Not to mention the ease in the airport. I agree with the umbrella-type, and gate checking it.[/QUOTE]

ITA!!

I have a 5 year old that NEVER uses it at home, but on WDW vacations it is a MUST! Sometimes after we have been at the parks all day, my 9 year old is begging to sit in it!

I know it can be a hassle, but it actually has come in handy for us in the airport. We throw our backpacks on it, and we are off and running to the gate!!

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[Coll0610]

The longest walk on your whole trip will be from the park to the bus and then from the bus to your room, and if you rent - you won't have a stroller. We didn't bring one when DS was 4 and regretted it every day.

 

[mjh8955]

TAKE IT! Our first trip was when our daughter (3 or4) was also out of a stroller. I didn't even have one any more. I bought a used umbrella stroller with sunshade, comfy material, and boy were we glad we brought it. Too much walking without it, even our son who was 3 years older used it a bit.

 

[tink too]

We won't be back to WDW until DD is 5 and DH is refusing to bring a stroller with us - after a day of carrying her on his shoulders I'm sure he will regret it! He'll be begging to go to Walmart to buy one of those cheap ($10-$15) strollers and we will just leave it at the hotel when we check out for their staff to use or give to another family!

By the way, when DD was 3 (our last trip) she had a lovely long nap in her stroller in the airport on our return journey. We just checked it at the gate and collected it again as soon as we got off the plane.

 

[marathonmommy]

The longest walk on your whole trip will be from the park to the bus and then from the bus to your room ...

AMEN! A stroller is a friend indeed!

 

[psiprez]

Whether you bring your own, or especially if you rent, opt for two single strollers instead of a double.

The double Disney strollers are large and very heavy loaded with kids. Yes, two singles are more expensive, but the added maneuverability and the ability to "split up" was worth it.

Also, at then end of the day, that l-o-n-g walk from the bus to our room was torture without a stroller!

 

[JMC Disney Bound]

Thanks to all for the wonderful tips and advice. I went out yesterday and bought a lightweight umbrella stroller with canopy and storage basket. My DD and I have been walking through the neighborhood about 5 times already ( She loves her new "Disney World Stroller") I think we've made a good decision for our trip. Thanks again for all of your help!!

 

[prplcrzy]

nicdanh - I LOVE the picture you have in your post, it's priceless.

We'll be in Disney Thanksgiving time too and are also from MA. What part of the state are you in? We live in Wilmington, which is NE, about 15 minutes from the NH boarder.

Nancy