Umbrella Stroller without baby!

[bumbershoot]

We've had things taken from a stroller, and I've watched squirrels climb a into strollers, licking water bottle caps and such. I wouldn't do your plan.

Igloo MaxCold cooler backpack on one teen, other smaller backpacks on the other kids...good to go.

 

[cloudy13006]

When DD was younger we had her stroller stolen twice at WDW on two different trips, once at MK and once at DHS. I found the lady who took it at DHS and got it back lol but we never found it at MK; luckily it was our last full day in the parks and the CMs gave us a voucher for a free rental for the rest of the day. We've had drink mugs and a souvenir popcorn bucket taken from a parked stroller as well. Having been through that I definitely wouldn't leave valuables in one unattended.

 

[RustManFan]

My kids gave up strollers as soon as they could walk and I am so glad we didn't go to WDW for 1st time 'til they were 5 and 8.... each carrying their own small backpack!

 

[pktbMouse]

Please ignore people on here that suggest it may be weird...seriously. If thats what you want to do and it makes you happy then do it. No one is going to say a word to you about walking in with a stroller at all. My only worry would be as a previous posted said having things stolen out of it as it has happened to us before. It was only a bag with t shirts and stuff in it but it still "walked away on its own". Kudos to you for trying to save the outrageous $15 a day locker rental fee when it could be spent on something else more needed. Hope you have a wonderful trip with your kids.

 

[Disneylover99]

Please ignore people on here that suggest it may be weird...seriously.

People said it would feel weird to them. Nobody suggested the op was weird for wanting to do this. Big difference.

 

[LiveYourLife]

I would make my kids each carry their own food, plus mine. I'm mean like that.

 

[escapeartist]

I don't think its weird. We have a similiar dilemma. On previous trips we've always had either a stroller for a younger kid or DH had an electric scooter, so we always had a great place to stash food and water. This upcoming trip we wont have that luxury. And I do fell like having a stroller IS a luxury! I actually thought of bringing a small stroller for the same purpose as the op, for our upcoming trip. Its going to be super hot when we go, and the kids arent going to enjoy a backpack on them. And I won't enjoy the crushed contents of said backpack from them throwing them down every time they have to take it off for a ride! I see what they do w them after school! I never found it hard or a burden to push a stroller at Dis before, and we've always used the rentals they have at the park. I've never had anything stolen out of them, but we didnt leave anything but drinks, toys, the infamous battery fan mister thingy , snacks. But, there's always a 1st time! It would be awful to get your lunch stolen, especially when you're trying to save $$. I would put the lunches in a really cheap bag. Maybe make the outside of bag look dirty and yucky, sort of as a decoy. Who wants to steal a ripped dirty bag? I also think the lockers are a big pain. You never seem to be anywhere bear them when you need stuff out of it. I'd rather push a stroller! And your 10 yo may even want a rest in it, haha. I think we've all seen really big kids hop in the younger sibs stroller when it is empty. They get tired! Let me know if you do this and it works out for you!

 

[ols386]

I'd just get a locker.

 

[cluno]

If you don't mind dealing with the stroller, I don't see why not.

We were stroller free on our last visit, and it was so nice! DH and I actually high fived each other every time we breezed on by the stroller parking areas.

 

[3Gsandme]

I understand your logic, but I wouldn't want to deal with the stroller. If it's simply that you don't want to carry a heavy backpack, perhaps invest in a wheeled one you can take turns pulling.

We don't leave anything behind in our strollers. I wouldn't trust it to stay.

 

[Alesia]

I understand your logic, but I wouldn't want to deal with the stroller. If it's simply that you don't want to carry a heavy backpack, perhaps invest in a wheeled one you can take turns pulling.

We don't leave anything behind in our strollers. I wouldn't trust it to stay.

Wheeled backparks are actually forbidden in WDW parks. Not that they don't make it in sometimes...

 

[smitch425]

I understand your logic, but I wouldn't want to deal with the stroller. If it's simply that you don't want to carry a heavy backpack, perhaps invest in a wheeled one you can take turns pulling.

We don't leave anything behind in our strollers. I wouldn't trust it to stay.

You are not allowed to pull anything behind you in the parks. This is true for suitcases, coolers, backpacks, and wagons. It is a safety issue.

I'd rent a locker. Very convenient.

 

[NewRVLady]

I think this is really a brilliant idea
You are NOT pushing it all day-keep in a central place in each of the "Lands" of MK...but be sure to park in shade
Pack some frozen water bottles to keep things super cold-I say go for it

(You can always say another family member carried the 'baby" into the parks if asked)

 

[smitch425]

I think this is really a brilliant idea
You are NOT pushing it all day-keep in a central place in each of the "Lands" of MK...but be sure to park in shade
Pack some frozen water bottles to keep things super cold-I say go for it

(You can always say another family member carried the 'baby" into the parks if asked)

It isn't illegal to bring an unoccupied stroller into the park. Why lie? Lol

 

[Lavitz]

No one will give you a second glance if you bring an empty umbrella stroller along. In fact if I ever bring my mom with me I'm pretty sure this is exactly something she would do. She packs a duffel bag if we're going to visit relatives for lunch (I haven't broken the habit of rolling my eyes yet).

Honestly it's nice having an empty stroller for storage. Last trip we had a mostly empty stroller because the little one didn't want to stay down, so in went my backpack, it was great. However I did take my backpack out when I went on rides. Don't leave anything in your stroller you don't want to lose.

 

[mousefan73]

Your post is making me think of the guy in our town that would use a stroller to push his case of beer home from the liquor store. Seriously was a sad thing. Almost everyday. He had an issue..

but I can see your point.. who cares. just do it and keep in mind the thieves out there.
We rented a stroller last year in an emergency as our 8 yr old was feeling nauseous and we decided to get one so she could rest.. She barely fit but it worked. Well my mom wanted to push the stroller and kept using it after she was feeling well and walked; it was empty. I made walking easier for her. She is not old for a walker, but with the heat/humidty etc.. having something to hold onto made her steps more secure. .

 

[bumbershoot]

And I won't enjoy the crushed contents of said backpack from them throwing them down every time they have to take it off for a ride!

Where are they going to throw *down* the backpack? They will be taking it off and then holding it and getting on the ride. There's nowhere to leave the backpacks. And didn't she say her kids were 10 and up? If they know the bags have waters and food and THEIR clothing in them, why would they mistreat them? And going back, they aren't putting them *down* anywhere.

If it's simply that you don't want to carry a heavy backpack, perhaps invest in a wheeled one you can take turns pulling.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

Talks about wheeled/pulled things.

The OP has 3 kids 10 and up. She's talking about a "backpack with sandwiches, water bottles, etc". Split it between 3 backpacks and no one has anything that heavy.

Again I must sing the praises of the Igloo MaxCold backpack. My boy has been the designated hauler of the waters, using this, since he was around 8. Encourages him to drink water, too, because in that way it gets lighter!

 

[IrishNYC]

I wouldn't because I wouldn't leave anything unattended in it and expect to ever see it again. I also wouldn't want to deal with the sea of strollers getting it back again. At those ages of have each kid carry their own. If they don't want a crushed lunch, that's on them.

 

[MainMom]

The joy of no stroller for me is not having to backtrack to get it, move it around, and find it in the sea of other strollers. I personally enjoy the freedom. If it's something you want to do, go for it.

 

[robinb]

I've seen people pushing a stroller with backpacks in it. I assumed they were doing the same thing as the OP is suggesting. I don't see anything wrong with it other than you may have something taken from it. Franky, a stroller is better than the suitcases and full sized rolling coolers I have seen inside Disney parks.