Why rent strollers?

[PurpleKomodo]

We rented because we drove with family and there really wasn't room in the car for ours, our stroller is bulky and does not fold very flat, and we felt like a nicer stroller would serve us better in the parks. We really liked the City Mini we rented. The sun shade was much bigger than ours and it came with a rain cover. Both of those things were super necessary in July. We also liked it so much that we put a City Mini on our registry for kid number 2. So who knows, maybe next time we can just bring what we have. That is, unless we feel we need a double for Disney with DS.

 

[HHMcG]

It seems like a lot of people rent strollers, either from Disney or one of the outside companies, and I was wondering why. We're planning on bringing our folding double stroller, and we'll be able to use it while traveling and we can check it easily at the gate so it's really no bother. What's the appeal of renting?

What type of double do you have?
Neither of our doubles would have been convenient to get through airport security or on/off the buses.

 

[pezaddict231]

We have a citi mini but I find it to be kind of a pain in the airport and going through security. Last time we used a super cheap umbrella and then rented the citi mini in Disney. I figured we didn't have to worry about damage/theft. Had an issue and received a terrible stroller and the replacement wasn't much better. Even so I find the citi mini fold to be a huge pain for busses because you have to remove everything, can't have anything hanging, have to hold it, etc. For the next trip I bought a deluxe umbrella lol and it's been the best purchase ever. Basically cost the same as renting, so much more convenient, can stand on it's own, can be folded with things hanging from the bars, and I love it at home too.

 

[tee11]

Are you planning on using the Disney buses? Then you need to make sure it is one that can fold easily, and one that one person can stand and hold on to without a struggle. There is more standing space than seats on the buses, so odds are at some point your family will be standing on a bus. Meaning someone will have to be able to stand, hold the stroller, and some stuff while the other adult helps the little ones stand. And be able to hold all of your stuff at the same time.

Oh my, I'm glad I'm checking in here. Haven't been to WDW in over a decade and never with kids, and stayed on property.
They make people stand on the buses? How is that safe? Or do they drive at a snail's pace? But even then... no seat belts and standing in a bus with small kids, carrying infants, gear, bags, and stroller(s)? Uh oh.

 

[tee11]

We have a citi mini but I find it to be kind of a pain in the airport and going through security. Last time we used a super cheap umbrella and then rented the citi mini in Disney. I figured we didn't have to worry about damage/theft. Had an issue and received a terrible stroller and the replacement wasn't much better. Even so I find the citi mini fold to be a huge pain for busses because you have to remove everything, can't have anything hanging, have to hold it, etc. For the next trip I bought a deluxe umbrella lol and it's been the best purchase ever. Basically cost the same as renting, so much more convenient, can stand on it's own, can be folded with things hanging from the bars, and I love it at home too.

Please link which deluxe umbrella stroller you bought!

 

[maxiesmom]

Oh my, I'm glad I'm checking in here. Haven't been to WDW in over a decade and never with kids, and stayed on property.
They make people stand on the buses? How is that safe? Or do they drive at a snail's pace? But even then... no seat belts and standing in a bus with small kids, carrying infants, gear, bags, and stroller(s)? Uh oh.

It is safe because the buses themselves are designed to be safe with people standing. But yes, you can almost depend on having to stand on a bus at some point. Unless you either step aside once the seats are full, or grab a taxi.

 

[DisneyOma]

It seems like a lot of people rent strollers, either from Disney or one of the outside companies, and I was wondering why. We're planning on bringing our folding double stroller, and we'll be able to use it while traveling and we can check it easily at the gate so it's really no bother. What's the appeal of renting?

Depends on the age and size of your kids. Some people only need a stroller in the parks. So why drag one all the way there? They are a pain in the butt to handle on the buses, not allowed in queues, and double wides get stuck in crowds more often than not. So some people rent them only when they really, really need a stroller.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Rented a City Mini GT for our 4 year old who doesn't use a stroller at home or at the airport at all but needed one with a higher weight limit for the parks. It was a great decision, and not having to worry about it being stolen or damaged was nice.

 

[mjkacmom]

Oh my, I'm glad I'm checking in here. Haven't been to WDW in over a decade and never with kids, and stayed on property.
They make people stand on the buses? How is that safe? Or do they drive at a snail's pace? But even then... no seat belts and standing in a bus with small kids, carrying infants, gear, bags, and stroller(s)? Uh oh.

I guess you don't use a lot of public transportation! There are straps and poles for people to hold onto on buses and trains. My kids love that!

 

[pezaddict231]

Please link which deluxe umbrella stroller you bought!

Of course! We have the Summer Infant 3-D One. It has a huge sunshade like the citi mini and reclines, not completely flat but enough for my DD to sleep. It folds super easy, I can actually leave stuff on the handle bars (it is an umbrella so be a little careful the stroller doesn't tip bc it's light weight). It can stand upright by itself when folded. The basket is a little small but I guess you can't have everything.

Here's a link, we have it in green and it stands out and is easy to find.

http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant...64760363&sr=8-1&keywords=summer+infant+3d+one

 

[laura3773]

I don't even own a stroller. We rented on our last trip and I was going back and forth on not renting this trip (my daughter walked almost everywhere at Disney at age Teo and is only 33 lbs at 4, so is still manageable to carry) but 6 hours at a smaller park today in Virginia June (should be similar in October in Fla) had me booking with Kingdom before we even let the park.

 

[KateMW]

All of these reasons at one time or another...Because my stroller at home is too expensive to ruin and/or get stolen. Because my stroller at home is too much of a pain to fold up on the buses. Because we're going on a cruise in the middle of our trip.

 

[speake]

Related question... we are considering not getting a stroller for the first time for our DD6 twins. If we get there and find it too much without one, will we be able to rent one easily from one of the local companies on short notice? I have always reserved months in advance.

 

[happymommy]

I rented (once) at the parks since my DD was like I want to say 8 or 9, but had stamina issues and needed it (and fell asleep promptly). We found out when she was 16 she has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and now we rent (offsite) a wheelchair for her at Disney.

I took a stroller until she was 7. It was our "Disney" stroller that we had at home, didn't use unless we were going on a trip to Disney. It was an excellent lightweight one that had full recline. Many many times my kids slept in it.

Many folks have kids that have outgrown strollers for years, but their kids may have issues that make one a necessity at Disney.

Some kids at 5 can walk the parks. We log 10 miles some days, and my daughter in particular can't do more than a mile or two in one day. My son needed a break, so when they were little I took our really good Peg Perego Tandem Twin (they both slept in in every day at the parks).

Also, sleeping in the stroller versus trying to go back to the room to sleep is much better.

 

[epsmith921]

I'm with everyone else. I own a baby jogger city elite and love it. My youngest is 18 months but my 5 year old still fits in it comfortably. It's much more bulky than we'd like for the airport, and we're in the camp that doesn't want the airline to damage it. I have taken my baby jogger vue through the airport and that was good, but I didn't take it when flying to Orlando knowing I was going to get one there.

This last trip, we rented two city mini GT's. We could have done with a double, but with the ages of our kids we split up sometimes and the two strollers were highly useful.

I don't want to buy another stroller like that, so I wouldn't have even had two to bring. We will continue to rent and have been happy with our rental strollers. We've used Orlando stroller twice now I think and liked them.