What stroller to buy???

[sperk99]

Hello,

I currently have a huge Graco travel system stroller. It's too heavy and bulky to bring on our WDW trip so I was wondering what other people get as a nice comfortable stroller for this sort of vacation. I was thinking of the Pliko P3? Is that a good one. Are there any others I should consider?

Here are my requirements:

Good for airplane travel
Good for 20mo+ toddler
Reclines all the way
Compact when folded
Basket underneath for storage
Snack tray for toddler
I am tall 6.2.. so I would need something that is comfortable to walk with
Comfortable seat for toddler - I have seen some that look terribly uncomfortable!

Thanks for the input...I really appreciate it!

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Check out the Inglesina Swift. It is the tallest stroller on the market so it's more comfy for tall people to push. I'm 5'10" and DH is 6'4" so that was a concern for us as well. The handles on the Pliko are extendable but I don't think they are as tall as the Swift.

 

[NotUrsula]

Don't let extras like a snack tray, cupholder, or size of the basket rule your decision; you can add those on to any stroller. (That goes for the padding of the seat, too; you can always add a sheepskin or something.)

You want to go primarily for 3 factors in a stroller for travel: 1) Suspension and handle height: A stroller gets a lot of long-walk use when travelling; you want something easy to steer and push w/ a heavy load. Euro-buggies (Mac, Peg, Inglesina, Chicco, etc.) tend to have much better suspension than US-engineered lightweight models. 2) Compact folding: You need to be able to easily get it on and off of public transport and into the trunk of a car. 3) Weight: If it weighs a ton, factor #2 will be impacted because you'll have trouble lifting it. Get aluminum-frame if you can.

IMO, any stroller that does not recline is not worth buying at all. I love Macs, but I personally wouldn't buy a Volo for that reason. I find this is crucially important for theme park and museum-crawl use; kids WILL fall asleep in their strollers. However, I don't feel that an absolutely *FLAT* 180 degree recline is a deal-breaker; as long as you can get at least 140 degrees, most kids should very comfortable, except perhaps the youngest infants.

 

[stacy6552]

Graco usually has a lightweight model each year for about 40-60 dollars that is perfect for WDW. Target.com has a bunch, tonight, like the Graco lightrider. The tray snaps on and off for ease when your older child is climbing in and out. The basket is huge and seat is comfy. Thmbs up all around from us.

 

[dizcrazy]

Hi! Thanks, OP, for asking this!

NotUrsula: I totally agree with you regarding the need to recline.

Which stroller do you recommend? One from the brand Mac?

 

[lovesdumbo]

I purchased a Pliko P3 for my 21 month and LOVE it. I have a MacLaren umbrella but my 21 month old HATES umbrella strollers. She much prefers sitting straight up in the Pliko and the harness detaches from the seat back giving her freedom of movement. She also likes the snack tray. It was perfect for Disney. It was light enough and compact enough to be easy to handle on the bus and boats. We liked that it stands when folded. And my 3 or 5 year also fit comfortable in it or used the running board on the back. When my 21 month was awake and alert she prefered the novelty of the rental stroller and one of the older kids would use the Pliko but when she was tired she would ride in the Pliko and nap very comfortably.

To be completely honest the basket isn't that easy to get at. Do you think you'll have another child? Have you looked at the Peg Perego Aria? That basket is bigger and easier to get to but I don't think it folds umbrella style.

I did purchase the travel bag for it and used that when I gate checked the stroller. I had read here of someone having their sun shade damage on the plane without the bag.

This is our 5th stroller (single travel system-she's never been in that one, single MacLaren, Graco front the back double, double MacLaren-she really really hates that one-sharing space with a sibbling) and the only one that my 21 month old will nap in!

 

[TandCmum]

cant recommend on prices as they are very different in the UK, however i have a pliko p3, and although i love it, and DD loves it i dont think i would take it to WDW. Although it is umbralla fold i still find it quite bulky. I also have the techno XT, which ive had for a few years now, and its fab. Ours doesnt recline fully but the newer models go completely flat. Its also nicely padded, easy to push, and has a generous seat size. It is also quite a tall stroller, and has height adjustable handles, if anything it is too tall for me at 5'3".

HTH

Suzanne
xxx

 

[alloyd1170]

I just splurged (and hope I have another baby to really get use out of it) on a Mac Quest sinc my 2.5 yr old is too big for his old one and I love it so far. Before I had the Chicco Caddy and though it was very stable (not tippy), it was hard for me to push since Im 5'10". I had to hunch over, and I kicked the wheels.........not the case with the Quest. The handles are tall, and its so smooth. You can push it with one hand easily! I debated between this and the Triumph, but thinking I want another baby, I went with Quest because it reclines 4 positions, not just 2. Also, the sunshade is positionable to some degree (you can move it to cover the entire front of a child). My son prefers to walk, but he would need something at WDW and I believe this can take the weight limit to 50-55 lbs. I read a lot of reviews, and many preferred Mac over Peg.

alison

 

[Lollipop Mom]

I have a Pliko as well and while it steers great and folds easily and all that, my son is tall and he ends up with his feet over the foot rest and rubbing on the wheels. If he points his toes they will "catch" occasionally so I feel like I'm always saying "feet up, please! You are going to break your ankle!" Despite the fact that I love that uit is so cute (nice red plaid) I'm going to be selling it. I also have a Mac Volo for him and he fits MUCH better in that (and I LOOOOOVE how well it steers). A Volo doesn't recline so that isn't an option for what you are looking for but based on our experience with it, I'd look at some other Mac models that do. If you are tall, your kids are likely to be tall to and while a 20 month old may be fine in a Pliko, they may get too tall for it soon after (my son is 30 months and has been too tall for some time). I'm 5'10" and DH is 6'4" so we can appreciate height being a factor for both parent and child when searching for the perfect stroller!

 

[Desnik]

I have the Pliko P3 and love it!!! We took it to WDW last year when DS was 9mo. It worked great! It also has the step in the back for older children to ride on. DD 5yo at the time took advantage of it. It was still easy to steer.

This year DS is 19mo and I bought the Kolcraft reclining umbrella stroller. I had this for my DD and used it to death! So I bought the new version for DS and I love it! Take a look:
http://www.babyage.com/product_details.aspx?productid=6731

It is perfect for older babies!! Has a canopy, reclines, cup holder, storage bag for small items. I can actually fit some diapers, wipes case, cell phone, keys. It folds like a regular umbrella stroller. Perfet for Disney! Also if you need more storage just attatch a mesh bag like this:
http://store.babycenter.com/product/gear/strollers/stroller_toys/3433

FYI I ordered from babyage.com and they have a fixed shipping rate of $5 and change. No matter how heavy the order! Also, I got my stroller in 1 day!!!!

 

[BevS97]

I took my Chicco 2003 last week - it was very comfortable and my dd slept well in it, but I found it a bit big for the buses (and it is a sort of umbrella fold)

I think we will take a Maclaren next time - they are very comfy and much more compact.

one big advantage of the chicco is that I can pull the hood right down so my dd can't see out or be seen - this really helps at nap time, as when she can see she won't sleep, but with the hood over she will usually nod off.

 

[kldmom2000]

I couldn't agree more with Alison's response above. We just splurged on the Maclaren Quest and I'm wondering why on earth I hadn't found it a couple of years ago!LOL! I have 2 DD"s-ages 4 and 25 months who now fight over sitting in it and neither would ever sit in a stroller for me before! I needed the higher wt. limit too as my 4 yr old is 43" and 41 lbs-most strollers won't accomodate that. It only weighs 10.5 lbs and when folded up is as compact almost as an umbrella stroller. It has a basket below and a nice sturdy sunshade. I love, love, love it!!! We're bringing this stroller w/ us to Disney & if my 4 yr old needs to get pushed around as well, I'll end up renting a stroller for her since we're mainly bringing the stroller for my 2 yr old. GL with finding a suitable stroller for your venture!!!!

 

[all4fun]

We just bought a Kidco LS2000 stroller. We didn't want to take the Jeep Liberty again since it's so bulky and the Chicco Capri (aka Caddy) is just too small - dh and I always kick the wheels. It has umbrella fold, can be folded and unfolded with one hand (and foot). It also reclines almost flat, has a basket underneath, has adjustable, ergonomic handles for taller parents, leg extensions, nice suspension, rounded hood for older/taller kids, and a 50lb weight limit. It weighs 14lbs and also comes with it's own rain cover. I really like the fabric (our is called "Sterling") and the seat is completely removable to wash. There are some good reviews of it at
epinions.com. I bought mine off of ebay and got a good deal. If you want something a little plusher, you should check out the Kidco LSS2010 or the LS3000 (which may be too heavy for your requirments). Here is a link to Kidco's website: click here

We haven't used ours anywhere but the mall yet, but so far DH and I love it. DH is 6'2" and didn't have any problems kicking the wheels, which was really nice. DS seems to like it too. The seat has him sitting a lot more upright than he does in the other two strollers we own, but it has a nice recline when he wants to nap. The hood doesn't provide a lot of coverage though, which is my only concern for when we use it at WDW. I may buy a stroller umbrella or an add-on like a Protect-a-bub or Babyshade by Kiddopotamus.

I may be wrong about this but I read somewhere that Kidco brand is the US offshoot of Maclaren. I think I read that in the Baby Bargains book.

HTH!
Cheryl

 

[NotUrsula]

Kidco is no longer associated with MacLaren; in fact, they are somewhat at war. Kidco used to be the US distributor for MacLaren, but they lost the contract in a rather ugly dispute over sales. MacLaren then hired Bertini, but they were even worse, so they finally decided to open a US office and distribute the strollers directly. That was in 2001, if I recall correctly.

Kidco retaliated for the loss of the distribution rights by going to China and ordering up a whole line of strollers of their own which are copies of Macs, except that they contain a lot of cheaper steel components, while Macs are all-aluminum. Kidco strollers are decent, and they have high adjustable handles and the back-canted design that maximizes legroom. Their suspension quality is not as good as that on Macs, and they are about 40% heavier, but that is reflected in the price.

I gave a Kidco to my neice and her husband; she's 6'0", he's 6'4"; they have been very pleased with it, so far, but my grand-nephew is only 18 months old at this point, though he's a pretty big kid for his age.

 

[Neecoal]

I bought the Peg Aria specifically for our upcoming trip. I had the Graco travel system and once my son reached 20 lbs, a trip to the mall was more excersize than I bargained for (the stroller itself weighs 25) for our last vacation i bought the Chicco caddy, thinking that it would be an easily storable solution, it wasn't my son hates sitting in it, we hate pushing in it, and the wheels are so big and awkward it makes it difficult to fit other stuff in the car.
So I was on a mission, and since the day the Aria arrived I haven't used any other stroller. I LOVE THIS STROLLER. it weighs under 10, folds up really easily, reclines (though you need 2 hands to do it) it is perfect for my son and he is very content in it. Oh yeah...and the straps 3 pt harness....to keep the little escape artist in place.

Just my humble opinion

Nicole