Would you take a stroller for a . . .

[grumpy's fan]

I would definitely take one. My DD is 7 and we still rent one for longer trips - her little legs get really tired after a few days in the park! We usually try the first few days without a stroller but end up with one eventually. Plus its great for toting things around without having to actually carry them!

 

[dmked]

I would bring one for sure! Even if it is just an umbrella stroller (I prefer to bring one just a bit bigger because then I can store my snacks and drinks for the day on it) I would buy a cheap one rather than renting because then you can use it on the walk back to the hotel or car and it is cheaper than renting for one day. Unless you have a Disney Visa, then you get a rental for free.

 

[avalon451]

What we did when my kids went was bring our umbrella. We checked it in at stroller rental and used our Visa to get the free one for the parks.

They will check your umbrella or other stroller and give you a claim ticket to claim yours at the end of the night. You can use the better Disney stroller for the parks. Then, you can then use the umbrella for the trip back to the hotel.

I had, still have, kids that are runners and have no fear, it saved me a lot of headaches in the airport and the the trip back to the hotel.

I agree with this and other PP's, this seemed like the ideal solution for us. And our DD was 5, nearly 6! But the Disney rentals were big enough to be comfortable for her. It really saved her energy and prevented her from becoming a tired, crabby mess only halfway through our day. So... cheapie umbrella stroller for airport use (if you're way down at the end of the terminal, it's so nice to have!) and for walking back and forth from the hotel. Free rental with your Disney visa; bigger, more maneuverable, it has a canopy and a reasonably-sized cargo space. One tip for rental strollers: tie a brightly colored bandana or scarf on the handle, so you can quickly pick it out of the sea of parked strollers outside the ride where you parked it.

Another tip: if you go back to the hotel midday, and then return after a rest, you can just grab one of the abandoned strollers outside the security checks in the esplanade, rather than go to the rental place and show your receipt again. Save your name tag and put it in the stroller and it's yours. When we were there, there was always a huge raft of abandoned rental strollers at the security tables. You can still park your own umbrella over by the rental place where it won't get taken.

 

[mrsmeyer]

I am def taking a sit and stand stroller. More for me than for them...lol Between the diapers, wipes, sweaters and other layered articles, snacks, etc. I will be great to have all I need with me on hand, as well as when they get tired or need to be "contained" hehe we will have it covered.

 

[bumbershoot]

I keep meaning to mention, and finally I'm remembering to...all of you who keep things in your strollers, be aware that things can easily be stolen from them. We had a brand new pirate hat stolen from under an old ratty sweatshirt and my brother's college baseball cap, and even though we were "made whole" by some very kind CMs the next day, just the fact that someone stole something from us still hurts. So even if the things you leave are worth little and are easily replaced, don't discount the feeling you might have, should someone steal something from your stroller. It's been a year and a half and it still hurts a bit (doesn't help that last May we managed to leave DS's new "build your own lightsaber" and in the 5 or so minutes it took to realize it was not with us, it was taken and never found or turned in to lost and found, so the wound was renewed).

 

[DisneyNic]

I agree that it depends on your kids. Our kids will be 4 and 6 when we go to DL in Sept and we are planning on taking two umbrella strollers. We won't be using them for Universal or Sea World but I know that my kids will want them atleast part of our 6 days at Disney. I'm hoping that we can figure out some way to secure them together when neither is being used so that we only have one to push and still will be able to hold our snacks, jackets, etc. When we went in 2004 we had a 10 yr old, 2 6 six yr olds, a 2.5 yr old, a 1.5 yr old, and a 3 month old. We took a Graco and a double stroller and the 10 yr old was the only child to never ride. There were several times when we would have the 1.5 yo, 2.5 yo, and one of the 6 yo in the double stroller.

 

[DahliaRW]

Definitely. Or get a Disney Visa and get the free rental at the parks. Last fall my 3 1/2 yo (as well as one year old) would actually get so exhausted they'd nap in the strollers for a couple of hours in the afternoons, and we'd use the time to sit somewhere with a treat or child swap the rides that ds couldn't go on or shop!

 

[nancy drew]

I'm kind of surprised at the "lugging the stroller through the airport" comments. I will freak out when I can't bring a stroller to the airport anymore! I pile the carry-on bags on it, or put a kid in it! Seriously, we would never get through the airport with my sanity intact if I didn't have the stroller!

And after all the walking we do, it is so nice to have a place for my kids to rest on the way back to the hotel. We have a Peg Perego P3, which folds like an umbrella and has a step on the back. One child sits in the seat and the other rides on the back. Its great!!!!

 

[Snow Orange]

Do the kids sit straight up? Or lie back?

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I think whether or not to bring a stroller can depend on your child and their habits. Personally, I won't leave home without one! We have 3 kids, and on our last trip to DL, that stroller was indispensable! We used it at the airport when we had a long way to walk to our gate and our kids were too slow. We used it as a place for them to sit in the parks to watch the parade (that way we didn't have to line up forever in advance to get a bench - we just parked on the sidewalk, Dad held the baby, I held the camera and the oldest 2 sat in the stroller). We used it to contain the two youngest while we were checking into the hotel, so that they didn't destroy the lobby in their "we are at Disneyland and we are bouncing off the walls with excitement" frenzy. And did we ever use it for the walk to the park from the hotel and back. Most times even the 5 yr old was too exhausted to walk back! It was also a great place to store water, jackets, snacks, etc so we didn't have to carry them on us.

My two (ten) cents....but then, I am a "stroller pusher"!

 

[DahliaRW]

Do the kids sit straight up? Or lie back?

They are not hard plastic. They are mesh netted type cloth with a bit of a recline to it. Enough that my then 14 month old had no trouble napping in it. they are very comfy.

 

[firefly87]

3.5 year old to Disneyland? I hate having to lug the thing around the airport and such. However, he is only 3.5 and it might come in handy when he starts to lag in the park. I do have the option of renting one in DLand, but I couldn't take that one back and forth to the good neighbor hotel.

Recommendations? What have you done with preschool aged children?

I agree with most of the opinions on here......definitely take the stroller! My youngest son is 6 and I was thinking about bringing one for him! Actually, I am bringing one but my 4 y/o nephew will be in it!

I have never never never regretted having a stroller with me......not only for the obvious reasons of tired children but also for having a place to store extra jackets, snacks, drinks, etc.

We have travelled with our stroller as well when we flew. Like PP mentioned, when it's time to board the plane, we wheel it down to the actual plane door, get the kid & stuff out of it and check it right there. When we land, as soon as we exit the plane, the stroller is right there waiting for us. It's way too convenient!!!!