What stroller for 21 month old son?

[chipper10]

We are going to Disney World in September on the Free Dining Package. It will be our first trip in 2+ years and it will be our very first trip with our son.

What stroller do you recommend taking? We are flying to Orlando from St. Louis. I spoke with the airline and they said we can gate check our stroller, so we are going to bring our own. What type/brand do you suggest?

Thanks in advance for any help! This will be only our 3rd time flying ever, so I'm very very nervous about it (I'm not a good flyer!).

 

[barnaby1]

I am a fan of lightweight umbrella strollers. My main requirement is a reclining seat (I hate seeing children all bent forward, with their heads flopping forward - I think they look so uncomfortable!). I'm a travel light mum as well, couple of spare nappies and a museli bar for emergencies, so I don't need a big underneath basket. I think it depends on how much you like to take with you but I personally couldn't lug a big stroller around. My dd is 2 and we have used the same umbrella stroller since she was 8 months old.

 

[flynnmnstr]

you do not mind that it doesn't recline- lightweight, carry strap, goes up to 55lbs.

The triumph or quest are more $$ but they recline.

 

[Karlzmom]

I took my Peg Perego Pliko3 the last time we went. It reclines, has a basket under (you'd be surprised how much you can accumulate in a day at the park), zipper pouch in the bonnet (VERY handy), multi-position at the leg - keeps kiddo happy to sit at a different angle, great shade bonnet, and light weight. I whole heartedly recommend it. Not as spendy as a McClaren, and for me it was much more functional. I don't care for the umbrella strollers. The are tippy, the wheels too small and frankly aren't that comfortable to push.....good luck!

 

[lghost]

I just travelled with the Maclaren Quest for a child the same age and I loved it. I couldn't get the volo because I needed a stroller that reclined for those days when DD had to nap in the stroller.

One tip...invest in one of those gate check stroller bags
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-7819869-9811812?ASIN=B000QWA9F8&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B000QWA9F8|Gate_Check_Umbrella_Stroller_Bag&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B000QWA9F8&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

I did and it kept my stroller pefectly clean and new. Other peoples were sitting all over the floor/ground.

 

[moxiecola]

I have the Mac Triumph for my 3 yr old & the Combi Helio for the baby because it reclines a little more than the Macs & offers a bit more padding. A smaller, lighytweight stroller is definately the way to go for travel. It's easier to use while flying and also on the buses in the park. If you gate check your stroller you may want to consider a stroller bag so it doesn't get damaged/dirty during flight. Walmart has a good deal on 'em....
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5652241

 

[roxannex]

I love my Mac Volo. My son doesn't usually nap in his stroller anymore and if he's that tired, the recline won't matter. On our last trip he had just turned 2 and I brought our Peg Aria, but the Volo is just easier tote around.

 

[stacy6552]

I really recommend you bring whatever stroller you have, already. You know it, you love it.....If you dont love it, I cant recommend this one enough:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2671817

 

[staci]

If you are putting money towards buying one (and not taking your own) I would strongly recommend looking at a Mac... I kept hearing about them, but never wanted to spend the money, and now that I finally have one, I love it. I wish I would have just bought it before our last trip so we could have used it then too. If you think that your son will be back in the world even one more time in a stroller, I would think a purchase of a quality lightweight stroller like that would be a good idea.

However, if you are not wanting to spend that money, what kind of stroller do you have at home?

 

[sbrotherton]

I am also from St. Louis...we traveled to WDW out of Lambert and gate checked our Graco Metrolite when we took our daughter (10 mos. at the time) last June. I did not have a bag for the stroller, and it came out just fine both ways. That said, we took our Metrolite because it was a proven commodity with our DD who can be a bit, let's just say "choosy." I figured, what is an extra 5 or 6 lbs., DH will be lifting it onto the buses most of the time anyway, right? WRONG!!! Those few pounds really add up after a long day at the parks and it was a bear to contain once we got on those crowded buses. I grew green with envy of those folks with the easy fold ups that seemed so small and neat as they held them on the bus on the rides back to the hotel.

We are also going to Disney in September...this time, DD will be just over 2 years and, in fact, I am heading to Babies R Us today to buy a Mac. I test drove one around there a few weeks ago with her in it and couldn't believe how much easier it was to push. My daughter is still a peanut (still under 21 lbs. at 21 months), but the Metrolite has gotten much harder to maneuver now that she is no longer an infant. The Macs are fabulous. I also looked at a Wendy Bellissimo stroller at BRUs and it looked fairly comparable to a Mac for quite a bit less $$, but since they are so new, I want something proven. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[SaraMc]

DS is about the same age and we just got him a Maclaren Techno its a bit bigger but it still only weighs like 14lbs and folds down to nothing. The reason we went for the bigger one is that its good for a longer wieght amount and it reclines all the way down.

Check out Ebay, they have lots of 2007 models for next to nothing

 

[chipper10]

Right now we have a Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe and a Chicco Trevi. There is no way I will haul the Quattro around Disney. Our Chicco is okay, but the fold on it is kinda terrible. That's why I was wondering if I should invest in something new.

 

[staci]

Right now we have a Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe and a Chicco Trevi. There is no way I will haul the Quattro around Disney. Our Chicco is okay, but the fold on it is kinda terrible. That's why I was wondering if I should invest in something new.

Ok that helps. The Quattro is a great stroller, for at home. You are right, there is no way I would bring that beast to disney! WAY to big! (we have one too!)

I dont really know much about the Chicco, but if the fold isnt great it may not be a good idea.

I would look into a Mac. At home, as your child gets bigger, hauling around the Quattro is going to get cumbersome, and eventually you will want a lightweight stroller to use. If you are not in love with your Chicco, I would really take a look at the Mac's. They are so light and fold up so nicely, and look great too.

We got two volos for our kids. These DO NOT recline, but they are the cheapest volos. DD seems to sleep fine in it (she is 22 months) but if I would have had it in my budget, I would have sprung for the reclining one, especially if you are planning on having more kids in the future that may use it at a younger age.

HTH!! Happy planning!

 

[chipper10]

Ok that helps. The Quattro is a great stroller, for at home. You are right, there is no way I would bring that beast to disney! WAY to big! (we have one too!)

I dont really know much about the Chicco, but if the fold isnt great it may not be a good idea.

I would look into a Mac. At home, as your child gets bigger, hauling around the Quattro is going to get cumbersome, and eventually you will want a lightweight stroller to use. If you are not in love with your Chicco, I would really take a look at the Mac's. They are so light and fold up so nicely, and look great too.

We got two volos for our kids. These DO NOT recline, but they are the cheapest volos. DD seems to sleep fine in it (she is 22 months) but if I would have had it in my budget, I would have sprung for the reclining one, especially if you are planning on having more kids in the future that may use it at a younger age.

HTH!! Happy planning!

That does help alot. I think I will look into a Mac. I think we will need the recline though. We usually take our Quattro out around town and DS will fall asleep 9 times out of 10 when we walk. We are having a yard sale in May, so maybe I will be able to talk DH into it!

 

[staci]

We got two volos for our kids. These DO NOT recline, but they are the cheapest volos. QUOTE]

Just clarifying myself here I meant to say they are the cheapest macs. No volo reclines, but other models of macs do. You will need to look at one of the ones that are a little pricier. Check ebay.

 

[katied]

I have a Mac Triumph. I got it at a really good price, and it's a great stroller, but I want the recline and plan to buy the Quest (Triumph has some minor level of recline). DS is 12 months now, and I figure as he gets older, we'll use the Triumph more, and use the Quest more for a younger kid.

The Mac is very lightweight, very easy to collapse, very manuverable, and I've loved it when I travel with DS on my own. However, it does not have a large storage bin, will tip easily if you hand anything on the back when baby is not in it, does not have cup holders or trays for parents or baby.

I don't mind any of these things, and love the easy of use, etc, esp. as I will be in WDW with DS on my own, and have to be able to get him and stoller on/off buses, etc. I love the Mac, but I know that its not for everyone.

Another option - on my first trip with DS at age 6 months, we actually went without a stroller - I forgot to put it in the cab. So - as soon as I got to the resort, I bought the $40 stroller they sell there. It worked fine - it has the same amount of recline as a Mac Triumph. It's not as easy to collapse, nor as manuverable, but it was also only $40. The sunshade that comes with it is not very good, so I would plan to buy another if you were going to use that.