Umbrella Stroller- just to hold stuff?!

[CCV2013]

Yep- I'm lazy! We're going to Disney for the first time May 31st - June 9th. Our kids are 12, 10, and 7. I know its going to be HOT and while my kids are completely capable of walking and carrying stuff- would it be super strange to buy a cheap folding umbrella stroller, just to hold a insulated bag of drinks/snacks/sunscreen/ponchos? Call me lazy but I really don't want to lug around a big heavy bag all through the parks. Are there places to park strollers for rides and attractions? And what about the buses and monorail? Can we bring it along on Disney transportation if we fold it up? Go ahead- You can laugh at me... I just can't imagine lugging around a bag with enough frozen water bottles for five in it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would just not carry anything.. If DS did not have food allergies, we would never carry anything. Really, you do not need a lot. You can get free cups of ice water everywhere, sunscreen up good in the am and stick a few wipe packs or a tiny bottle in a pocket, tickets in DH wallet. No ponchos in 100 degree weather, wear clothes that will dry quickly and don't worry. Strollers are a pain. We never used one after DS was 4, but many parents do need them much longer. If you think your child will need one, go for it.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I don't think you're crazy. But, I just got back from a trip with DS14 and DD10 and while there were a few times I wished I had a stroller for just that purpose, it was SOOOO much easier maneuvering our way around without one. The question is, are you willing to move more slowly in order to not have to carry your stuff as much?

I do suggest you try to travel as light as possible. Also, DS and DD take turns with me carrying if there are things we need to bring. At 7, I would have let them off them hook. But your 10 and 12 year olds can certainly take turns with you.
I will say a good bag can also help tremendously. I have found that a bag that crosses your body is more comfortable for me at the parks then a typical backpack.

 

[sweetdana]

Yep- I'm lazy! We're going to Disney for the first time May 31st - June 9th. Our kids are 12, 10, and 7. I know its going to be HOT and while my kids are completely capable of walking and carrying stuff- would it be super strange to buy a cheap folding umbrella stroller, just to hold a insulated bag of drinks/snacks/sunscreen/ponchos? Call me lazy but I really don't want to lug around a big heavy bag all through the parks. Are there places to park strollers for rides and attractions? And what about the buses and monorail? Can we bring it along on Disney transportation if we fold it up? Go ahead- You can laugh at me... I just can't imagine lugging around a bag with enough frozen water bottles for five in it.

You'll want the stroller for the 7 yr old. Do not second think this. Bring a cheap 30$ umbrella stroller or a fancy city mini. But do not leave home without one. Repeat. Your 7 yr old needs a stroller. (Lol my dd8 was jealous of her dd1 sis sitting in it the whole time. Occasionally dd8 put dd1 on her lap n dad. Pushed.)

I don't think it is lazy , just reality. Mom gets to lug. when kids are tired. .., dad has to lug the kids when they r to tired. :s
Tons of places to park, all in baking hot sun. ( note for sunscreen/ pop/ food ect). Keeping ponchos yes, keeping frozen water.... I mean hot water no.
Bus. Fold up.
Monorail/ most boats. Push on. ( fold if very busy or already packed with evcs ).

.,.., Do not carry frozen water bottles. Get free water..., a dozen places. Water fountains, qs places, ts places. We bring dd8 a canteen, she refills all day. She and I start with something on the way in mine coffee. Once gone water fountains till lunch, then jumbo sized water/ pop n a refill in the way out. Once emptied water fountains till dinner.

 

[brymolmom]

I totally get where you're coming from...I like to bring stuff to the parks and was horrified the first time I had to make do without...But I will tell you - that each time we have gone since ditching the stroller, I bring LESS and LESS stuff each time - LOL. Because I have learned that with older kids - LESS IS MORE! It is WAY easier to maneuver around the parks without the stroller. And no way would I recommend bringing one just for stuff...takes a long time to get/push the stroller - park the stroller, etc.

Yes - it will be hot...Therefore, for us at least, we do not bring ponchos. Rain in the HEAT of summer feels WONDERFUL and is so cooling....and you dry very quickly. Water - YES - you'll need it. I would either bring an individual water bottle holder (the kind that goes over your shoulder and is insulated and fits one water bottle) and get everyone to carry their own OR (even better here) - Just stop and get cups of ice water at the CS places around the park.

Our family is me, dh, ds11 and dd 9. We have it down to the 'bare essentials'. We purchased a SMALL backpack just for WDW (not as heavy or cumbersome on rides as a large one). In this we put:
sunscreen,
couple small snacks (just in case in a pinch)
1 water bottle (again just in case in a pinch and not near a CS place or vendor)
small anti-bact lotion,
a few bandaids and ibuprofen (weighs nothing)
DH's glasses case (to change between his sun glasses and regular when inside for shows)

Then in my over the shoulder bag we have:
tickets, money, credit card
camera
tissues

It is not a lot to carry at all....and is easy to carry on EVERY ride in the park.

Some people don't even carry this much...

When offsite, we bring lunch and snacks sometimes - When we do this we rent a locker. Won't carry all that around.

 

[CCV2013]

Thanks.. the crowd calendar on touringplans is listing our crowds at 6's and 7's... which I'm guessing is kinda bad. We've never been so those numbers don't mean too much to me, but I hadn't thought about maneuvering a stroller through the crowd. Each of my girls have small crossbody bags so maybe we'll just do those and each have a water bottle we can refill and some flavor packets. Of course I could make my DH pack everything-- but he's a bigger whiner than my 7 year old.. the bag would probably end up in the trash somewhere. Haha!
I have planned for breaks mid-day if we need them, but we'll skip them if we're having fun and aren't tired. Better safe than sorry and I'd much rather shorter fun good hours in the park than longer temper tantrums and bickering from exhaustion and heat-
Thanks again for the advice. Its so overwhelming and everyone keeps telling me that the parks are twice as big as I am imagining. Just trying to think of a way to keep everyone happy.. cause that keeps me happy!

 

[bumbershoot]

You'll want the stroller for the 7 yr old. Do not second think this. Bring a cheap 30$ umbrella stroller or a fancy city mini. But do not leave home without one. Repeat. Your 7 yr old needs a stroller. (Lol my dd8 was jealous of her dd1 sis sitting in it the whole time. Occasionally dd8 put dd1 on her lap n dad. Pushed.)

And this is where it's all very personal to the actual child. We brought our Volo, just in case my then 6.5 year old needed it. He had needed it during our last visit to DLR, so we wanted it just in case. It never got unfolded, let alone used. He was totally and completely fine, never once asked for it. And while he's an active kid, he's also prone to nasty leg-aches (as am I, as was my mom before me...no one knows why they happen to us) from walking a lot. But we used arnica lotion and all was fine.




OP I wouldn't bring a stroller just for stuff, because we stopped leaving stuff in the stroller. People take things! Squirrels crawl into the stroller and search for things. Birds land on them and search for things. We bring nothing we can't carry.

I have sunscreen in 3.4 oz bottles for the flight (I also carry big bottles in a checked bag but I want to make sure I have some from when we land) and I bring one or two of those with me, and various other things.

We bring our Igloo MaxCold backpack cooler, put frozen bottles of water in there along with cold VitaminWater bottles. YES there are ice waters available, but that requires waiting in line when you're probably already thirsty. We get that water with meals, but it's the in-between-meals thirst I want to take care of quickly.

So we carry stuff, but that's what we do, carry it. We take nothing that has to be left, because even when using the stroller we didn't leave things in the stroller, after dealing with theft twice at Disneyland (but it happens in Orlando too).

 

[Jerzetta]

First trip with DD who is turning 4 so a stroller is a must. Sad to read that theft is an issue. (I know Disney should be only full of honest people). Though I am uneasy leaving a diaper bag in a stroller (change of clothes, snacks, lotion) I was debating leaving water or a fan or blanket in the undercarriage. Now I think I just need to carry things.

 

[megan10310]

We leave stuff in the stroller, just nothing that cant be replaced at Walmart. I take my kttw card, cash, phones, etc. leave all the diapers, wipes, snacks, extra clothes etc.

I can't wait until we can travel without the stoller. Our kids are 6,4,2 so it is still a must.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks.. the crowd calendar on touringplans is listing our crowds at 6's and 7's... which I'm guessing is kinda bad. We've never been so those numbers don't mean too much to me, but I hadn't thought about maneuvering a stroller through the crowd. Each of my girls have small crossbody bags so maybe we'll just do those and each have a water bottle we can refill and some flavor packets. Of course I could make my DH pack everything-- but he's a bigger whiner than my 7 year old.. the bag would probably end up in the trash somewhere. Haha!
I have planned for breaks mid-day if we need them, but we'll skip them if we're having fun and aren't tired. Better safe than sorry and I'd much rather shorter fun good hours in the park than longer temper tantrums and bickering from exhaustion and heat-
Thanks again for the advice. Its so overwhelming and everyone keeps telling me that the parks are twice as big as I am imagining. Just trying to think of a way to keep everyone happy.. cause that keeps me happy!

If you haven't already, check out the crowd calendars at easywdw.com
I have had great luck with them in the past and it will help you avoid crowds as much as possible. That said, there are always going to be crowded areas no matter what - for examle, the area near BTMRR and Splash is almost always congested no matter what the ride wait times are.

Whether or not your 7 year old would need the stroller really depends on each child, as a PP mentioned. The last age any of my kids needed one was age 5, but you just never know.

There is certainly no harm in bringing the stroller and then not using it. The two parks where we seem to do the most walking are Epcot and AK. (We seem to criss cross AK a lot in order to get it all into 1 day)

As far as breaks, I have found weather to be a HUGE factor in whether or not we need them. A couple weeks ago, when we were there, it was fabulous touring weather: 80's, not much rain... and a break wasn't really necessary. BUT, when we go in August, we find that breaks are better for everyone as the humidity really saps your energy.

Have a great trip whatever you decide!

Oh - and don't be afraid to split up if needed. DH tends to reach his park limit before I, so he will sometimes go back to the room for a siesta ahead of the rest of us. Same thing when I travel with my mom.

 

[Sparkly]

You can get a free cup of water at any CS location so that could lighten your load by not needing all those bottles of water (which are HEAVY!)

I'm sure the 7 year old will be able to walk most of the time, I had tons of energy at 7. I guess it depends on the kid though?

 

[scrapquitler]

Yep- I'm lazy! We're going to Disney for the first time May 31st - June 9th. Our kids are 12, 10, and 7. I know its going to be HOT and while my kids are completely capable of walking and carrying stuff- would it be super strange to buy a cheap folding umbrella stroller, just to hold a insulated bag of drinks/snacks/sunscreen/ponchos? Call me lazy but I really don't want to lug around a big heavy bag all through the parks. Are there places to park strollers for rides and attractions? And what about the buses and monorail? Can we bring it along on Disney transportation if we fold it up? Go ahead- You can laugh at me... I just can't imagine lugging around a bag with enough frozen water bottles for five in it.

I have a friend who even when her kids were like 12, 10 and 8 used to take her double stroller with her to places like amusement parks, etc. just to haul stuff around. I thought it was hilarious, but she always had anything she could possibly want. I would never do it, I can't be bothered to worry about keeping track of all that stuff, and I think the kids can be responsible enough to carry whatever they think they need.

Instead, have each of your kids carry a small backpack (the drawstring type ones are good for this) with their own 'bare necessities'. They are certainly old enough to be responsible for ONE water bottle and a couple of snacks and thier own poncho or sweatshirt and sunscreen. Get free water refills at counter service restaurants to refill it (no way would I carry enough waterbottles for five people...that would be like a case of water....I want to have fun, not just be a pack mule for everyone else).

If you really need more stuff than you are comfortable carrying, then rent a locker.