WDW strollers are awesome!

[Violetx3]

I have been back about a week, but I wanted to comment on the strollers in case anyone was debating about whether or not to rent one. The double strollers were really great! I have 3 kids, 4 yo twins and a 6 yo and a lot of the time they all rode in the double stroller together. (It was cramped for 3 kids, but worked when they were all tired.) It was so easy to push. We tied a bandana on the handle and could always find it easily. Best decision we made!

 

[mrsbballref]

I'm glad to hear that. Like everyone else on here,
we have been kicking around the pros/cons of
taking our own stroller for a 4 year old. Just
glad to know that someone is reporting back a positive
experience.
Thanks,
Lori

 

[virginiamama]

Good to hear! Do you remember how much it cost to rent? Did you have trouble with anyone else "borrowing" it? We are going in December with DS5 and DS20months. DS5 normally walks when we go to Busch Gardens for a few hours while the baby is in the stroller, but I'm sure he couldn't walk all day long and I wondered what to do. Did you have any trouble making it through the parks navigating the double stroller?

 

[cheyennemama]

Just got back from Disney with my 3.5 year ols and my 20 mo and I wanted to pass on my experience. We took 2 strollers- my Graco Metrolite for my 20 mo and a Graco Umbroller (el cheapo) for my 3.5 yo. I liked the idea of 2 separate strollers so neither of us had to push some 90 lbs of kids/stroller all around WDW. On the other hand we spent a lot of time trading off on the adult rides. So one of would be stuck with 2 kids in 2 separate strollers. My 3.5 can walk and not wander of course so sometimes while DH was on a ride, I'd leave the Umbroller outside the ride and take just my 20 mo in the one stroller while she walked so we could do shopping while we waited. In retrospect, I think 2 of the exact high-end umbrella types and connextors (like from One Step Ahead) would've been ideal! So 2 NICE lightweight strollers with baskets, recline, canopies and connectos. That way we could hook them together or take them apart! Also, Disney is A LOT of in and out of the strollers. We drove to the parks so to get on the parking lot tram (whgich was my kids' favorite part of WDW BTW! LOL), we'd have to take them out, fold them strollers, etc, etc, bags, sippies, etc. ugh! Very few rides/attractions allow strollers in. Even The Living Seas allows strollers and yet no one realized we (along with EVERYONE ELSE) parked our strollers and lugged our kids around. Then I get inside there and I see a couple strollers and walked up to these people and asked "How did you get the stroller in here?!" UGH! You get so used to taking your kids in and out, in and out! Even Epcot's The Land- that whole building, restaurant and all is no strollers!

As far as theft goes- we used no locks. We planned to but we didn't and I didn't see anyone else doing it. Like I said, it's a lot of in and out! You'll be locking and unlocking all day! We once parked outside Pinnochio Haus and came out to find our stroller was moved into the stroller parking past "It's a Small World". We didn't realize we weren't in a legitimate parking area and the CM was nice enough to help us and apologize which of course wasn't necessary. So, we felt things were very safe. Felt a little nervous during Fantasmic because there's actually large stroller lots and then several thousand people in the ampitheater. I felt like anyone could just ransack everyone's strollers and no one would know. So for that, we were sure to take our belongings with us. Speaking of Fantasmic, they had everyone with rentals just park their strollers before entering the theater and then reclaim a stroller to take to the gate. I wonder if people who didn't rent at all borrowed strollers for sleepy kids and I thought, man, I'd be annoyed if I rented and then didn't have a stroller from Fantasmic all the way to the front gate!

I was thinking....yeah we should go next year and I know what I'll do stroller-wise but by then my 3.5 year old will be too big for any stroller probably. I did see several VERY old kids in rental strollers. I'm talking 10-12 year olds in strollers! I'm not kidding! I know when I was a kid my feet would get tired at the end of a long day at WDW but no way my parents would rent me a stroller! Thought that was pretty.....different....

BTW, rentals are $8 single (I think...) and $15 double. $15/day was just way too much we thought especially considering we went for 6 days. I can't imagine spending that, except for maybe next year when my daughter is too big for regulat strollers!

 

[tjmw2727]

ITA - the rentals are great. My girls are older now but we always rented! One less thing to lug on/off the bus, boat, tram or monorail. Very easy to push even with two dd's inside and easy for the kids to get in and out of by themselves - there is alot of that.

I never left anything in the stroller as we used either a backpack or wore fanny paks so if it did get "taken" or misplaced you can simply show your receipt and get a new stroller. This is also nice if it gets wet due to the sudden rainstorms or sticky et all, just trade it in. You can also get a new stroller for the same one day fee at any park you hop to.

Its pricey but we just added the $$ to the budged as if it were park tickets etc and IMHO it was very much worth it.
TJ

 

[Violetx3]

Good to hear! Do you remember how much it cost to rent? Did you have trouble with anyone else "borrowing" it? We are going in December with DS5 and DS20months. DS5 normally walks when we go to Busch Gardens for a few hours while the baby is in the stroller, but I'm sure he couldn't walk all day long and I wondered what to do. Did you have any trouble making it through the parks navigating the double stroller?

You put your name on the stroller w/a card, so I don't think anyone would "borrow." Even if they did, you wouldn't be responsible. You could just get a new one. Our stroller was moved a few times by CMs who were organizing strollers, and that is when the colorful bandana came in handy. We didn't have any trouble navigating with it. I think it cost me $68 for 5 days, but I didn't want to lug my double stroller from home. This one was better anyway!

 

[crisi]

We love the rentals, too. Easy to push, big enough for bigger kids, easy for the kids to get in and out of, no lugging strollers on and off buses.

We've never had a problem getting our stroller "borrowed" But if it does get borrowed, it gets replaced free.

 

[amyjo]

We're planning to bring a stroller from home for the 2 month old we'll have with us, obviously we need something that reclines. I bought a Combi that folds up quite small and has a carrying strap--I LOVE it. For the next two, who will be 5 and almost 3, we'll rent a double at the parks every day. I just don't want to lug more than one stroller around. We're going with extended family and there will be lots of arms to carry kids to busses at the end of the day, if needed. Last time we went we rented a double and I was very happy with it.

 

[MandM-Mom]

We debated bringing ours for DD4 or renting and renting won out. We loved the freedom of just getting on and off the transportation with just ourselves and her, no extra things to lug. We didn't even rent one for AK she walked from 9am-5:30 no problems no complaining, no carrying. She sat on DH shoulders for the parade thats it. We also got a double while in the other parks to throw our xtras in.