Transporting our Babyjogger stroller

[danacath]

On our upcoming trip we will be taking our Babyjogger stroller along, since our DD's no longer fit in a regular stroller. Have any of you ever checked one of these with your luggage at the airport, and if so, did it "survive" the trip okay? Any tips on how to pack it or prepare it to be transported to avoid damage? TIA

 

[Ellester]

I've never had a jogger stroller, but if it folds at all I would do a gate check. After getting a tag at the gate, you just roll it up to the door of the airplane and fold it up. They will put it on top of the luggage down below and it will be at your gate when you get to Orlando. I find a stroller in the airport to be very helpful for holding the carry ons if my dd2 won't sit in it.

~Ellen

 

[Jordan's MOM]

It seems that a while back WDW made a rule that jogging strollers that have a front wheel that sticks out were no long allowed in the parks. I have no idea if they are still enforcing this rule but you might want to call and find our before you go to the trouble of getting the stroller there. Good luck.


Jordan's mom

 

[sarahsmom73]

I too would like to know the answer to this. DD is a very tall 2 year old~ 37 inches!

 

[BevS97]

I read this on the Dis loads of times, but I noticed LOTS of jogging strollers in the parks last week, all styles and sizes. If it was a rule, i don't think it's enforced anymore

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by BevS97
I read this on the Dis loads of times, but I noticed LOTS of jogging strollers in the parks last week, all styles and sizes. If it was a rule, i don't think it's enforced anymore

It was on the boards a lot around a year ago in August. People posted that they were not allowed into the park with their jogging strollers that had the big front wheels. They were allowed to store it at the stroller rental place and given a rental stroller free of charge for the day. Some people had emailed WDW and posted on the boards that they got a reply back that jogging strollers with small swivel front wheels were OK, but the ones with the large front tire were not because they were a safety hazard.
I think it might have proved to be too difficult to provide strollers for everyone and too hard to enforce. When we were at WDW in March and July we saw some of the big wheel jogging strollers, so if it was still a rule, they were not enforcing it.
The large front tire joggers don't look like a good choice for WDW though. Since the front wheel doesn't turn, the stroller is much better suited for going in straight lines or gentle curves. To avoid people who stop in your path or are walking slower than you requires many small changes in direction.
For example, we were behind someone with a jogging stroller in Frontierland and thought pushing it looked like a hassle. Each time he had to change direction a little bit to get around someone, he had to "bump" the front wheel off the ground and kind of pivot it on the rear wheels. Usually he had to come to almost a stop, which meant people behind him almost ran into him quite a few times. We saw at least 10 "bump turns" just going between the Paddlewheel boat and the Splash Mountain area. I would think that would get kind of tiring after a while, especially with a heavier child (and especially since if you had smaller swivel wheels on the front, you could avoid the bump turns all together). So, if you have a jogging stroller, looking into getting swivel front wheels for it would make a lot of sense.

 

[mom2threeboys]

Oh I do hope that joggers are allowed in the parks! We are planning on taking ours when we go in Feb, as it is really the only stoller that comfortably fits my younger 2 boys.
I assumed they were allowed, because I saw pictures posted of the rental strollers somewhere, and the ones for MGM were jogging strollers. Maybe they have the swivel wheels??
As for pushing it, it is a pain at first, but after doing it a few times its habit and you think nothing of popping that wheel up and turning. It's much easier than carrying a kiddo to me!

Has anyone successfully taken a jogger in at Disney?

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by mom2threeboys
Oh I do hope that joggers are allowed in the parks! We are planning on taking ours when we go in Feb, as it is really the only stoller that comfortably fits my younger 2 boys.
I assumed they were allowed, because I saw pictures posted of the rental strollers somewhere, and the ones for MGM were jogging strollers. Maybe they have the swivel wheels??
As for pushing it, it is a pain at first, but after doing it a few times its habit and you think nothing of popping that wheel up and turning. It's much easier than carrying a kiddo to me!

Has anyone successfully taken a jogger in at Disney?

They do not have the jogger type strollers at mgm, they are similar in style but have two swivel wheels in the front. I can't imagine that pushing a true jogger in wdw would be very easy. Its very difficult to manuver the crowds with a single I can't imagine doing the turning and not running over the people in front of you with the wheel.

TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

To get back to the question about checking it, you can gate-check it, but if you have to remove wheels to fold it, you'll be better off carrying the wheels onboard with you and putting them in the overhead bin. A simple cloth bag like a laundry tote ought to work for that purpose. Use a bungy or similar to secure it shut when you've folded it, so that it doesn't come open in transit.

 

[stacy6552]

Joggers are a baddddddd idea at WDW. Unless you have one of the few with a pivotting front wheel, that is.

People will be cutting you off, stopping short.......you need to be able to turn on a dime and joggers just arent built for that.

Want a test run? Put your kids in it and go to the mall this Saturday, when the place is packed and people are more careless and stressed.

What do you do when you take then to the mall? Will they make it without a stroller there? If they are that big, IM guessing that you wont need one and you should just rent as needed.

 

[mom2threeboys]

Actually, I take my jogger to the mall. Once you get used to pushing it around its no biggie. Certainly no harder than any other stroller. I much prefer it to our umbrella as a matter of fact, b/c theres more room for the kids and the basket underneath is nice.
Yes its big, but I have 2 that are 20 months apart (2yrs and a baby) they both NEED a stroller and the jogger seems no bigger than ony other side by side.

To the OP - Sorry to jump in on your post. I hope you find the best way to get your stroller there! Good luck! Have an awesome trip!

 

[danacath]

Thanks for all of the comments, everyone. Looks like I've got some stroller decisions to make! I've gate-checked strollers before, but this time I was hoping to just send it on through with the rest of our luggage and not have to deal with it at 2 airport stops on the way to MCO. Sooo, I'm still looking for any helpful tips on the best way to transport it and have it arrive in one piece.

We do want to have a stroller at our disposal around the resorts, so I think we'll still plan on taking the jogger. Both DD's get worn out from walking pretty quickly and our family really piles on the miles whenever we're at "Mickey's house". DD's are always grateful to have a stroller to flop into from time to time. I may just use the jogger for the walks to MGM and Epcot from BWV, and then see if I can "trade" it at the entrance for a rental to use in the parks. When we take the bus to MK and AK, I'll probably just leave the jogger behind and get a rental.

I really appreciate the "heads-up" on the babyjogger rules at WDW. I'll definitely look into that and find out where the rules stand at this point. Always learning something new on these boards...

 

[BevS97]

as I said, we saw plenty of joggers last week in the parks - I took particular notice because I had heard that they weren't allowed but they were definitely all over the parks. I don't really see why they would be any worse to manueorve than a WDW double (the MK kind I mean) - they look awful to push to me.

One thing though, you definitely wouldn't be able to get it on a tram, so you would have to plan on walking to the park from the gate - we do this anyway with our umbrella stroller because it's not worth the hassle of folding it up for that short walk

Bev

 

[NotUrsula]

If you want to check it through w/ luggage, you'll need to put it into a carton and pad it w/ something to prevent it getting bent by the weight of heavy luggage landing on it, especially if is is going to be transferred twice in transit. You also could get one of those large rubbermaid totes to put it in if you liked; the lid could be taped shut. (A bike shop might have a carton they could give you, if you didn't keep the original. Otherwise, someplace like the UPS store should have one that would fit.)

The one problem that I could easily see you having with checking it is the size. If the combined measurement of the carton is over 62", you'll have to pay an oversize charge.

 

[danacath]

Thanks for the helpful tips, NotUrsula. It sounds like I may need to consider gate-checking the jogger after all. Paying extra for an over-sized carton isn't something this penny-pincher is fond of doing. Does anyone know if there are restrictions at airports on gate-checking a babyjogger stroller, since it is a bit on the large side? Just wondering if that could be a potential problem...

 

[floridaminnie]

I have never been turned away for taking DD in her jogging stroller. I refuse to use disney transportation with it, b/c it is too big and bulky, but day trips to DW are fine. I've been taking it to DW for 2 years now and haven't been stopped even once.

 

[danacath]

As the OP, I just thought I'd update you on what we finally decided to do about a stroller. We left the jogger at home and just used the rentals in the parks. We rented a double and the girls were more than happy to flop down into it on park days. My DH kept saying, "These strollers are definitely worth their weight in gold." We were able to move along so much quicker with the girls tucked into the strollers, the strollers maneuvered easily and the pockets on them really came in handy. (Double strollers make great battering rams in crowded places, too. teeheehee Kidding...really, I am!) Also, I used a tip from these boards and tied a plastic grocery bag onto the stroller handle so we could spot it easier in a sea of identical strollers in stroller parking areas. Worked great! I also carried along some Clorox wipes in a little Ziploc. Whenever we rented a stroller, I quickly wiped down the seat, handle, etc. with the wipe before having my DD's climb into it. If nothing else, it gave me peace of mind and got rid of a few germs at the same time.

We were extra happy with our decision when we ended up being in 5 different hotel rooms in 10 days. The Babyjogger would have been one more bulky item for us and bell services to deal with along with our other boxes and bags.

So, thanks again, guys, for all of the helpful input. Everything worked out for the best!

 

[The VWL Five]

I'd still be interested in the original question. I have a City Twinner by baby jogger. It's the one with the swivel wheels. We used it at Disney in September but we drove. I've been wondering how I'll handle it at the airport in March when we go again.

I just purchased a bag for it from baby jogger. I haven't received it yet. I just wonder when I get to the gate and fold it up, put it in the bag, will they gate check it. If so how much torture will it take? Taking the wheels on board is not a bad idea.

Maybe I should just check it with the other bags and pad it well with blankets etc. If they say it's too big and I have to pay, can i take it to the gate without paying?

I'm really sweating this. We bought the stroller to use and not leave home. We don't feel like paying for a stroller each day when we have one of the best ones made.

Any help?

 

[NotUrsula]

I gate-check my regular stroller in a bag all the time; it is allowed.

My advice is to make sure that there is a distinct marking on the outside that clues the bag handlers in to what is inside. My cover is bright yellow, and it has "BABY BUGGY" stenciled in big letters on the outside. I did have some issues with it going to the carousels before I stenciled it, but since I did that it comes to the gate every time.