Will NEVER take a side-by-side stroller to WDW AGAIN!

[goofygal531]

Okay, not because the airline broke the stroller on our return flight. But for many other reasons!!

I was considering selling my double and purchasing a Joovy Caboose but everyone here talked me out of it. Well, as soon as I land in Orlando I see Joovy Cabooses everywhere!! Talk about stroller envy!! Plus DH had to mention it to me too. "How come we don't have a stroller like that?" Oh shut up and push the d@mn stroller!

The Joovy would have been perfect for my kids (4 and 9 months). I am looking into buying one as soon as I get this broken double fixed so I can sell it or hopefully it can't be fixed and they'll give me cash to buy the Joovy.

Anyhow, my point is WDW is not designed for side-by-side strollers! I had trouble everywhere we went. The monorail is a nightmare! We had to miss 3 monorails in order to get into a handicap car. Don't even get me started on the stores! I couldn't fit anywhere! The spaces were so tight. I had to stay in main aisles only. At the CB where we were staying it was so difficult to navigate around the caribbean items outside the gift shop - at one point my little one's hand got caught between the stroller and a basket. It was not fun.

Yes, there were automatic doors that were helpful and I did manage okay on the canal boats by the Boardwalk, but that Boardwalk dock is narrow and we just made it through.

Had someone would of mentioned these issues, I might have reconsidered taking a side-by-side stroller. So for all those considering it, think twice!

Mare

 

[TJA]

Oh gosh, so sorry this happened to you! We take our double jogger each trip and I would've never thought to mention those downfalls because they have never happened to us. We love our jogger in WDW! I think my situation could be more due to the fact that my twins are age 4 and we need a heavier-duty stroller to hold and maneuver the weight. Hmmmm, we love the monorail and have never had to wait for room. I'll bet because we tend to go to WDW at slower times. We've stayed at Poly and CR, both a few times each, and have never had to wait at the monorail. So sorry you went through all your troubles! You'll be so happy next trip with your new stroller, I'm sure. Nothing compares to being in WDW with the perfect stroller -- my girls immediately fall asleep in the jogger after all the night shows and I don't think they'd be as comfortable in something different.

 

[Katd52]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you had such a difficult time. Can I ask what kind of SBS Stroller you were using? I just ordered one online yesterday for our trip and now I'm a little scared.

 

[goofygal531]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear you had such a difficult time. Can I ask what kind of SBS Stroller you were using? I just ordered one online yesterday for our trip and now I'm a little scared.

I have an Esprit Sun Speed Duo. It's very similar to a Maclaren Twin Rally, just a little lighter. I had a Maclaren Twin Techno that was way too heavy to push once I had the kids in it so I returned it and the store recommended the Sun Speed Duo.

I like the stroller, I just never traveled before with a double stroller. I guess since I don't really need a double (don't have twins) I was more upset that I didn't get the Joovy Caboose. There were so many downsides, I could have dealt with it if my older son wanted to sleep when the baby did. I could have carried one or put the baby in the baby carrier, etc... It was just a pain that I did not expect.

All I'm saying is if you don't have twins, think twice.
Mare

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

This is my biggest fear. We have a Macleran twin traveller that we plan on bringing. We chose this one because it is narrower than most double strollers and fits through standard doors. We ordered the Joovy ultr-light Caboose and just cancelled thinking it was a waste of $250.00 since we already own the Mac. We thought out DS4 would not need the whole seat as our DD2 would be snoozing.

 

[brymolmom]

The times we've taken the sbs we've had a MUCH better experience. Of course, this might be because we're lugging two much bigger kids (at last visit - 5 and 3 - but about the same weight - 35 - 40 pounds each) and side by side is so much easier to maneuver with two bigger kids. I think that front/back are pretty difficult to get through the stores too, so I don't really think the sbs is a big negative there - as for the monorail, if we can't get into the first one with handicapped (and, btw- depending on how crowded it is - you might even run into the monorail problem with a front/back - they only fit in regular cars if there aren't a ton of people in them) - we break it down to ride the first available.

Keep it in mind when deciding how much $ to spend....when your baby gets bigger - front/back is a TON more difficult to turn, maneuver than a sbs.

 

[RedAlfalfa]

I agree. I have a Sit & Stand and it has become a hassle. It worked great when my son was younger (and lighter). Now though he's almost as big as his big sister (DD4 is a peanut.) and it's no fun. Last month when I went to DW my friend let me borrow her side by side (just the cheap umbrella kind) and while there were negatives- I found it much easier to push around the parks. In the stores I find all doubles a pain.

The times we've taken the sbs we've had a MUCH better experience. Of course, this might be because we're lugging two much bigger kids (at last visit - 5 and 3 - but about the same weight - 35 - 40 pounds each) and side by side is so much easier to maneuver with two bigger kids. I think that front/back are pretty difficult to get through the stores too, so I don't really think the sbs is a big negative there - as for the monorail, if we can't get into the first one with handicapped (and, btw- depending on how crowded it is - you might even run into the monorail problem with a front/back - they only fit in regular cars if there aren't a ton of people in them) - we break it down to ride the first available.

Keep it in mind when deciding how much $ to spend....when your baby gets bigger - front/back is a TON more difficult to turn, maneuver than a sbs.

 

[SueM in MN]

A doorway or path can be as little as 32 inches wide to be a legal width for wheelchair accessibility. So, if your stroller is wider than that, you may find some tight fits.

 

[DisneyPhD]

The times we've taken the sbs we've had a MUCH better experience. Of course, this might be because we're lugging two much bigger kids (at last visit - 5 and 3 - but about the same weight - 35 - 40 pounds each) and side by side is so much easier to maneuver with two bigger kids. I think that front/back are pretty difficult to get through the stores too, so I don't really think the sbs is a big negative there - as for the monorail, if we can't get into the first one with handicapped (and, btw- depending on how crowded it is - you might even run into the monorail problem with a front/back - they only fit in regular cars if there aren't a ton of people in them) - we break it down to ride the first available.

Keep it in mind when deciding how much $ to spend....when your baby gets bigger - front/back is a TON more difficult to turn, maneuver than a sbs.

I agree. I love our Peg Pergo Aira twin. It is the same size as a wheel chair so it fits in most places just fine. It is easy to maneuver and more comfortable for the kids. We have taken it to WDW 6 times so we got our $ out of it a few times over. Now that the kids are older we take the food trays off and they can hop in and out easily.

Sure a double stroller is going to be more of a pain then a single and harder in small spaces no mater what. Still we are pleased with ours. Super easy to fold down too.

Sorry you had a hard time, sound like you have stroller envy. Get the one you want, with kids those age you will get the use out of it.

Do you have a link to the one mentioned? I haven't heard of it (my kids are 3 and 6 now so I haven't been stroller shopping in a few years.)

 

[pooh4evr]

We rent the side by sides from ABBF and haven't had problems with it - it was much more maneuverable than the double we have at home and was perfect seating for the parades, nice storage, canopy and seats folded down too, just folded it up for the monorail or took the ferry over.

 

[tadamom]

I'm sorry about your stroller experience. I have a Joovy and I loved it in Disney World (my kids were 2.5 and 5.5 when we went in May) and I recommend it to anyone that I see who has a thread posted here. I have a SBS stroller that I bought at a yard sale this summer that I use for my DD and my niece (they are 3 months apart in age) and I don't believe that I would use it in Disney. I find it a little difficult to push and get through racks & such at the mall, so I know it would be difficult in Disney.

I hope the outcome with the airline goes how you want it and you can get the stroller that you really want. From the looks of all your trips to Disney, you will be probably be going next year and you'll have the stroller you loooove!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I had not realized the stroller that is coveted is a sit and stand.

I would not want one of those for WDW. Mostly because we stay out late and kids have been known to fall asleep in the stroller.

My friend had a front back and her older kid kept falling asleep and almost falling out of the stroller. Finally his dad had to carry him asleep because he was so tried and couldn't stay in the stroller. He was a big 4 year old too. I would imagine a sit and stand wouldn't be so good for sleeping either.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

We'll be in WDW in Jan/Feb with a 3month old and a 3 yr old. I searched and researched (to death) for the right double stroller for us. Online, I thought the sit and stands looked perfect, but when I saw them in person I realized that my infant would never be able to sleep comfortably in the Joovy and also if front seat is reclined it doesn't leave much room for the 3 yr old. I'm also hoping the 3 yr old will nap some in the stroller. I looked at the graco duo glide, but it is so big and heavy I couldn't imagine lugging it on and off the buses. I opted for the Combi Twin Savvy. It is narrow enough to fit through doorways, it folds up really nice with a carrying strap and it's relatively light weight. I also can use my infant seat in it even though it says you need a Combi infant seat. My almost 3 yr old is pretty big and tall for his age and he's pretty comfortable in there and can hop in and out when he needs to. He can also lie back and rest when he needs to. I don't think it's the perfect double stroller. The wheels are small so you wouldn't want to do any off-roading with it, the storage is limited and it doesn't come with cup holders, but we can work around those things. Overall, it was the best choice for us. I think sbs strollers are definitely doable, but like anything there are pros and cons and you have to find the one that works best for your situation.

 

[TJA]

I think a lot of the double stroller issues also depend on which resort you stay at. If you stay at an Epcot resort (where you walk/boat/monorail) to the parks, then it's very easy with a side-by-side because there is no unloading or folding it up (except for going to AK). We do not take our jogger in to any stores, so that is not an issue for us. If we should happen to go in a store, then we just park our jogger outside just as we do for rides.

However, I can say that if we stayed at a bus-only resort, then we would probably not take our double jogger with us.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

We rent the side by sides from ABBF and haven't had problems with it - it was much more maneuverable than the double we have at home and was perfect seating for the parades, nice storage, canopy and seats folded down too, just folded it up for the monorail or took the ferry over.

Ditto! We rented a double from abbf and loved it. We stayed at POFQ and din't have any problems navigating it there or on the buses. And it did have a great storage area.

 

[jkcyoung]

What is abbf??

 

[disney_family_1247]

We've used a double umbrella stroller and a Graco duo rider in WDW many times with no trouble. You just have to account for the fact that it's not as narrow as a single. We rode monorails, buses, boats, etc with no problem. Most places are so wheelchair friendly now that a double fits with no trouble.

I think maybe you had a bad time because you really wished you had a different stroller

 

[*love*2*shop]

we took one ( a side by side double maclaren )on our recent trip and had no issues at all????

I think its a personal thought....

 

[SueM in MN]

Most places are so wheelchair friendly now that a double fits with no trouble.

Traveling with someone using a wheelchair, I have to point out that main aisles of things are wheelchair friendly, but we frequently find that things are too narrow to get thru side aisles in stores and to get around in wheelchairs without asking people to move chairs.

 

[mommy2savannah]

I have a Joovy caboose and hate it. My dd is 4 and she is so uncomfortable in it! I also have a 5 month old and it does not recline all the way back so it is not comfortable for him either. It's okay for the mall but not for being at the theme parks all day! I actually just purchased a Graco duoglider for our upcoming trip to Disney. I know it's heavy but comfort is the most important factor for me to consider when I purchase a stroller. Trust me, the Joovy may look cool but it's not all that great!