What is the best stroller strategy?

[kbovenizer]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but...

What is the best stroller strategy? Should we plan on bringing our big double stroller or just renting one there? Or should we bring 2 smaller strollers? Or rent 2 there? Some combination of the above??

We will be staying off property. Traveling with us will be myself, DH, my parents, and our 2 boys (almost 3 and 18 months).

I would very much appreciate your thoughts!
Thanks

 

[aaronlisar]

I was considering renting but when I saw that the price went up to $10 a day we decided to bring our own instead.

 

[JaxCon]

How old are the children?

I have done both in the past. Renting can add up especially if you are park hopping. I feel doubles can be hard, hard to fold into a managable size and hard to navigate in the crowds. If you have two singles that are easy to manage when folded and still have room to hold some of your stuff I would go that way.

This year is the first time we won't need one and I am unsure what we will do with all the other "stuff" Backpacks for all I guess!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

Well, odds are you probably have to retrieve luggage from baggage claim anyway- why not check a stroller. The smaller ones don't give you the ability to carry anything along- if you do 2 smaller ones it means 2 adults will always be pushing- or putting off to the side. 1 double stroller means more weight for one person- but you can take turns pushing.

The ones Disney provides are big and take up a lot of room- but they are right there at the parks, which is nice. I think family dynamics and what's your version of "easy" or "comfortable" for you?

 

[goodferry]

Well, since there are four adults, I would do two single stroller, or your double from home if it is one of those where one child sits in front of the other. The double wide ones are so difficult to navigate in a crowd. I like to bring mine from home because the ones you rent from Disney you have to leave in the parks, and it's much easier to navigate the trips to the bus with a stroller, especially with really small ones who may be sleeping. Also if you fly, a stroller is invaluable for the hike through the airport.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

from a non-parent, my strategy would be to avoid other people's ankles and knees! (I speak from experience)

Have fun!

 

[ksc37]

We have two sons, ages 2 and 4, and we bring two lightweight, compact, easy folding strollers. This enables us to go in different directions (in case one is napping and the other wants to do a ride). Also, I don't like the idea of waiting in yet another line for a stroller rental.

In Fantasyland we usually just park both in a central location, then walk from attraction to attraction.

 

[disneymom727]

We always bring our own. Our DS is 3 and I am hoping he won't be too big for by our trip next year. We considered renting. From what I hear they are not very comfortable. Also, it may be a bit difficult finding yours with all the others around that look the same. However, even with our own stroller we always tie a ribbon or something around the handle just to distinguish it from others.

 

[Tawnya]

This is soo funny. I love the reply about the knees and ankles! I am checking out this post after 5 trips with my two kids...we would moan and groan about the strollers and I can't tell you how many times we have been clipped or banged in to with strollers. One time at Osborne lights we commented that we would pay extra to go through without any strollers! That was because two DDs were 5 and 8 we went first went. Now they are 18 and 15 and will be joined by DS who will be 2 yo on his first trip!!!!! He was quite a shock with a 13 year difference...but a real blessing.
We also used to chuckle at the poor parents who had a toddler who would scream as the character approached...we thought it was so funny. Our DS "climbs" whom ever is holding him when he sees the Chick Filet cow and Chuck E. Cheese....it should be an interesting trip!!!!
I think I will bring one of our small (but not umbrella) strollers. The comment about a sleeping little one makes sense...it would be awful to have to wake them instead of just strolling out to the bus!!!

 

[kizmac]

With as many adults in your party, definitely do the two single strollers. I've used my front to back double and it can be a challenge to navigate. Since the prices just went up, I would advise you to bring your own. Make sure you have at least one that reclines for your 18 month old! I'm doing 3 strollers..one a graco literider and 2 umbrella strollers. Here is a fantastic light weight, reclining, umbrella stoller that even has a cup holder. The basket is a really nice size too. I got one for my 3 yr old to use. Disney umbrella stroller

 

[freakylick]

The double wide ones are so difficult to navigate in a crowd.

And they are difficult for a crowd to navigate around.

 

[beattyfamily]

With kids your age, I'd go with a double side by side stroller. That is what I used for my 2 girls when the older one was still young enough to be in a stroller.

It worked great for us.

Good luck deciding.

 

[afcgirl]

I recommend renting a double stroller from the parks.

The park strollers are very lightweight and they are plastic so you don't have to worry about spills. There is more storage and are lighter than any strollers I have ever owned. They were wonderful.

Also, I like having just one stroller (a double), so that if I was tired my husband could push for a while. Also, strollers are moved a lot by cast members in the parks, I think it would be hard to keep track of two.

 

[goodferry]

Definitely, no matter what way you decide to go, bring something to tie onto the handle of your strollers to distinguish them from others! You wouldn't believe how many people will have the same stroller as you and, of course, the disney ones all look alike. Like the previous poster mentioned, the CMs do move them around a good bit, and something to make yours easily distinguishable is vital. We have gone both routes, renting in Disney and bringing our own. Our daughter was 13 months last time we went and I brought our Graco stroller that is reclining with a big basket underneath. It was a little bulky on the buses, but it was wonderful to have. DD slept in it, all our stuff fit in the bottom and the cupholders were great!

 

[abacobaby]

From experience, I can tell you: bring your OWN stroller(s)!!! Your child/children will be so much more comfortable. The ones for rent look so aweful and uncomfortable, I would never want to put my child into one of those. Also, if you rent, you need to really understand that once you leave the stroller at the park, then someone has to walk with the kids or worse yet, carry them to the busstop/car! At the hotel you will not have a stroller and neither will you have a stroller at DTD, the airport, etc. We brought a small stroller with us and just the airport walk alone was worth bringing it. Oh, one more important thing to think about: bring a stroller(s) that can recline so when your little ones fall asleep, you can put the back down and they can sleep comfortably. I hate to see those babies trying to sleep in those really cheap strollers that don't recline. A stroller with at least a smll basket underneath is also a good idea. We always stored rainjackets/sweater/extra clothes in ours so we didn't have to actually lug it around with us. Hope this helps!

 

[adisneymama]

I would take your Double stroller if it is the tandem and not the side by side. I would definitely only want to have to keep up with one stroller. Also, not sure how your parents would feel having to help with strollers and luggage. I also think the double would be much easier in the airport if you are flying. Also since you are staying off site I would think the one stroller would be easier for getting back to your car at the end of the day. But, like others have said, take which ever you are more comfortable with and what is easiest for you. Good Luck deciding and have a great time!

 

[megrod74]

There are also services that rent strollers in the Orlando area. You could rent from them instead of Disney. I think someone posted a link here on the Dis, but I am having trouble finding it.

 

[BikeFan]

There are also services that rent strollers in the Orlando area. You could rent from them instead of Disney. I think someone posted a link here on the Dis, but I am having trouble finding it.

A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) is one such service. I've never used them (might use them on our October trip, once we figure out our own 'stroller strategy') so I can't vouch for them, but other people here have recommended them. I just wanted to share the link.

 

[pooh4evr]

We rented a side by side double from abbf in May and it was great for our DDs 2 and 4. We paid $75 for 8 days- the stroller was at our hotel when we arrived and we left it with the bellhop when we left for home.. It was a bit of a pain folding it up to get on the buses back to out DTD hotel but other than that no complaints!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Renting can add up especially if you are park hopping.

If you park hop you just show your receipt at the next park or same park if you return. With multi day rentals you only have to pay 1 time and then get in the much faster to pick up a stroller on other days. That said, I don't think your 18 month old would find the rentals very comfy and if you don't want to take a mid day break for your baby to nap at your off site hotel I would think a comfy stroller would be a must.

I had great service from ABBF.