What stroller(s) would you use (2 kids - 2 & 5)???

[NJDisneymom]

I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but I've been trying to decide what to do about a stroller and figured I'd get some great advice here.

I have a 5 1/2 year old DD and 2 year old DS. DD hasn't used a stroller since last summer but I also know she can't handle the walking in Disney. We have used a Sit N Stand since DS was born and even 2 years ago in Disney she stood on the back 90% of the time (since DS was in the infant seat it was hard to sit on the back of the stroller).

I had just about decided to get a Peg Perego P3 that has the tiny step on the back, but I'm afraid that won't be enough for her. Friends just came back and said they used 2 cheapy umbrellas for their 5 & 3 year olds. I'm not sure I want to tie both of us down with strollers though.

So, for anyone with 2 kids in this age range can you tell me what you did for strollers???

 

[cepmom]

we used a Sit & Stand when our kids were 2 1/2 and 5 ~ it worked out well. The 5 year old only rode on it when she was tired or when we wanted to get from one place to another quickly. Do you not want to use it this time? I do realize it isn't the easiest stroller to push and steer, but for our needs (1 week) it was great.

 

[sanibelover]

Your DD might surprise you. My DS was 5 1/2 when we went and I never even considered a stroller. No problemo!!!

 

[NJDisneymom]

Do you not want to use it this time? I do realize it isn't the easiest stroller to push and steer, but for our needs (1 week) it was great.

DH is the one who doesn't want to bring the Sit N Stand. It was a royal pain getting on and off the buses with the 2 kids and that stroller, we often waited for the next bus so we wouldn't have to try to get on with it. The new sit n stands seem to be a little lighter, but they are still the length of a double. I wish they'd make them a little shorter, I think there is more than enough room on the back. That is the appeal of the Peg P3, it has the step on the back but it is no where near as relaxing as standing on the sit n stand.

sanibelover, my dd is a petite little 5 1/2 year old (33 lbs., 39" tall) and is a bit of a wimp about walking sometimes and I just think when we are trying to get somewhere fast or thru crowds it would be easier to have a place for her. That was the best thing about the sit n stand, she could just "hop on" whenever she wanted.

 

[lbgraves]

I would go with the small umbrella strollers, that's what we used for my 3 & 5 yo last year & will take them with us again this year. They are light & easy to fold up for the bus. I think that some of them will hook together next to each other so that one person can push it, but have no idea what brand I saw.

 

[jrsybell]

I am taking a normal stroller with a basket and a umbrella stroller that I can fold and put under the other stroller. I have a 22 month old and a 5.5 year old.

 

[NJDisneymom]

I am taking a normal stroller with a basket and a umbrella stroller that I can fold and put under the other stroller. I have a 22 month old and a 5.5 year old.

You know I thought of this idea, but figured no stroller would really fit under the other one. What kind of stroller is your "normal stroller"?? I am thinking of taking the P3 and a cheapy small stroller but I'm also afraid the cheapy will be hard to push with my 5 year old, despite her being on the small side.

Here is a picture of the P3....

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

We are having same dilemna. We are also going in May with 18 month old and a four year old who is verrrrrry tall. Just turned four and is 43 inches. I would recommend taking and umbrella stroller for the five year old. If you are out late at night and she falls asleep or just gets worn out, carrying her while you ewait for busses, boats etc. can be torture when hot and tired. You won't neccesarily be tied to two strollers. I would put some sort of identifying marker(ribbon etc.) on it to find it easily and just park it in the area you are in and leave it. That is what we did last trip. Each area has a pretty large stroller parking area. We would park the stroller, see that section, then push her to the next section. The idea of putting it in the bottom of your other stroller if it will fit is a great idea. Also better than the step idea in case she really needs to kick back. If you are looking for a new stroller that is lightweight, compact, and a little sturdier than the umbrella( maybe for the younger child) I just got a Combi Soho Sport 2000 at target that I love. A little expensive for a lightwight stroller $69.00 but it turns verrrry easily with one had while I hold my oldest daughters hand and push the stroller with the other. It is very lightweight and even has a strap to carry it on your back. Not much storage(basket in bottom and place for keys cellphone, bottle of water behind canopy) no cupholders etc. but is worth the tradeoff to me for being so light, compact, etc.Very nice vented canopy also. For five year old, you may be able to pick up a regular umbrella stroller cheap since you will be using it so little. I highly recommend an umbrella stroller with a canopy. We will be there May 13-21 at WL.

 

[jrsybell]

You know I thought of this idea, but figured no stroller would really fit under the other one. What kind of stroller is your "normal stroller"?? I am thinking of taking the P3 and a cheapy small stroller but I'm also afraid the cheapy will be hard to push with my 5 year old, despite her being on the small side.

Here is a picture of the P3....

I am just taking my older Evenvlo and a cheap umbrella with a canopy. My 22 month old is almost 40 pounds and my 5.5 is 45 pounds and I don't want to carry either one of them around disney. We are going May 7 -14. We are in NJ too.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Mine will be 3 (by a week) and 4 (turning 5 on the trip). We are bringing 2 umbrella strollers w/ canopies. I am also getting the attachment at Babies R' Us that allows you to join them together so one person can easily push both so dh can check out a few rides the kids can't and I won't go on (44" and up). We usually use a Sit n' Stand around here but in our Disneyland experience both kids will often nap in the late afternoons in the park (we usually leave for naptime, but sometimes if the kids fall asleep as we are leaving dh and I will let the kids nap in the strollers and use the time to do rides for us, or sit and have a snack together, or do some shopping.

 

[wright1baby]

Since we are alaready on this subject...
Our first trip to Disney will be in June. I have been conditioning by DD5 to try to convince her she doesnt NEED a stroller. We will be at WDW for 7 days, Do you think we should bring one just in case, maybe for later in the week. Is 5 too old for a stroller? Thanks

 

[paslea_pooh]

We just got back from WDW. I rented a double stroller for the week. It was $60 for 5 days. If you go to another park in the same day you just show them your voucher and you get another stroller you don't have to pay again. I wouldn't have done it any other way. My girls are 4 and 8 and I have to older ones. I put the 4 year old and the 8year old in and we got sooooo much more done that way. I saw kids bigger than my 8 year old in a stroller. She walked some of the time but not all that much since she didn't have to. I don't know what your schedule is going to be like and how much you would like to see but I know that we wouldn't have been able to see 1/3 of the stuff we saw if we didn't get that double stroller.

Hope that helps.

Alida

I forgot to add that somewhere on the web not sure if it was this site or not there is someone who lends a stroller out. If you are staying at one of the WDW resorts they arrange to have it there for you for the length of your stay and then you hand it over to the next person that is going to borrow it at a location that is agreeable to the both of you. Usually at the persons resort or somewhere in one of the parks? I can't remember all the details but I do remember seeing it before we left for WDW in March.

Has anyone else read about this?

 

[wright1baby]

Thanks paslea_pooh. I guess since we are driving it couldnt hurt to at least bring ours. BTW anyone else going 6/10-6/17. We will be at POR

 

[bartty]

We got a double side by side umbrella stroller by kolcraft. It was about $50 from walmart.com. We love it! The kids napped in it and it has two storage bags on the back and canopies for both side. It was great at WDW and very easy to fold to get on and off the bus. It has become our official disney stroller! We have it forever and it's cheaper than the rentals!!! Hope this helps, if you have more questions just ask.

 

[sanibelover]

I don't think 5 is too old for a stroller at all. (I'm the poster who said my 5 yr. old walked above...)

I just didn't want to bring one on vacation, so my 5 yr. old walked. If you get there and find out that your DD would be better off ina stroller, you can always rent one. Lugging the thing throught he airport, finding room in the rental car, keeping it in the hotel room, etc. was just too much hassle. I had a 2 year old at home at the time, and was very happy to not have to worry about all the baby stuff for a week. (already done that with the 2 older ones and was pretty darn sick of it.) If I felt that the 5 yr. old was too tired to walk, I certainly would have rented a stroller, but I also didn't give that to him as an option as long as I felt he was capable of walking..............

 

[mrs. magoo]

We used our Graco duo. This stroller works well for us and I turn it into a 3 person when I have the kids stand in the middle. It was not bad on the buses. We are bringing it back with us when we go in December. I have 4 kids who at some point all decided that they needed to sit. We even rented a stroller one day Animal Kingdom. My problem with Disney's double is the kids sit side by side and when my guys get tired they are not the nicest to each other.

When we go in December I fully expect the 8 and 7 year old to walk, but I know that at night they might tire so they can always hop in the stroller. My 4 and 2 year old will definitely need to ride if only for my sanity with the 2 year old.

kathe

 

[mommytutu]

Since we are alaready on this subject...
Our first trip to Disney will be in June. I have been conditioning by DD5 to try to convince her she doesnt NEED a stroller. We will be at WDW for 7 days, Do you think we should bring one just in case, maybe for later in the week. Is 5 too old for a stroller? Thanks

We also rented a double stroller when we were there last October. Our kids are 7 and (then) 18 months. Like another poster said there were kids much bigger then my 7 year old in a stroller. We actually referred to it as a "Kid Cart" because there is no way my 7 year old would ride in a "stroller". He didn't ride it all the time. He walked a lot, but it was nice to have at the end of the day when everyone was sore and tired. The last thing I would want to hear over and over again is "I'm tired", "My legs hurt"....why ruin it for everyone. Just get the big kids a stroller and everyone will be much happier for it.

 

[paslea_pooh]

Sue

Here's the stroller swap I was telling you about...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=741197

 

[Bama mom to 3]

When we went in 2000 (yes, its been that long!) We only had our 2 oldest children. they were 2 and 4. We just rented a double stroller on the day we went to the parks we knew would require lots of walking, with no real resting between things (like sit down shows). That way both our 2 year old, and 4 year old could ride. Our 4 year old didn't ride a lot, but it was nice to know if her needed to rest, he could.

 

[NJDisneymom]

Thanks Paslea_Pooh, I did see that thread about the stroller swap they had going here but if since I definately need a stroller for DS if I'm going to use one for dd too I want something really small/compact.

I also do not think 5 is too old for a stroller. My 5 year old does not use a stroller anymore, but Disney is a different story. I'd rather not rent one because I know the times she would need/want it would be when we are leaving the park, in Downtown Disney at night, etc. And my ds would never nap in a rental. I can't see my 5 year old ever falling asleep in anything, she hasn't taken a nap in over a year and we do plan on taking mid-day breaks.

Thanks for all the input. I think I'm going to hit babies r us and see if I can find a cheapy umbrella for her, or maybe DH will let me splurge on a Maclaren Volo!!