Yikes, The Stroller...

[Club Cooloholic]

So I am not really a stroller guy with my kids. My youngest(four months old) is now able to handle being carried in my pouch carrier and even before that I would often just lug the car seat with him in it by hand. My 3yr old walks pretty much everywhere or has me tote her a bit if needed. That said, with the trip coming up we were happy to get a nice big double stroller with a bench seating for xmas from grandma.
So the stroller sat in the box and with our trip coming this week I just put it together, dang its big and heavy. I hope I can get it in the trunk of the standard car we rented lol. But oh well, what can I do, I think it will help when my daughter is faultering and she might actually fall asleep in it. I know a lot of folks hate these things but I promise to watch out for ankles!
Here is a link that shows the boat...
http://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1804098

 

[gooftroop5]

Been there, done that......MANY times! The first time we had the big stroller we used the bus system with a 4 month old, 3 year old, and 6 year old. Swore I would never do it again because you have to fold up the dang stroller each time. One night I was holding BOTH a sleeping 4-month old AND sleeping 3 year old while my hubby was carrying the stroller and keeping the 6 year old in check. We were one of the last on a full bus and no one offered up their seat for me. Now we always have a car so we can drive to the parks.

Anyway, you will be thankful that you have it. It is a great storage area for everything you need for the kids. You can park it for long periods of time while you tour. It gives them a place to rest as well.

Good luck!

 

[Uddy]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

 

[Gabe1]

My kids are 5 year apart, we did the stroller thing forever. Driving to the parks you then have to deal with the trams so it isn't really different than the buses. Yep a pain in transit, but you'll be happy you have it in the parks. Guests are more kind in the morning than at night on transportation, I learned not to leave at a peak time. After Illuminations we just hung back for a while. You'll be fine!

 

[gooftroop5]

We have been 6-7 times with a stroller an no one has ever touched it. Well.....besides the CMs moving them at stroller parking.

Also, avoid the trams with parking by getting a AAA diamond parking pass for $5 on Ebay. Most parks have handicap parking, then AAA diamond, then general public. No tram needed.

 

[bgraham34]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

I for one would not rent a stroller but then again I only have one kid. My stroller the city mini takes about 1 second to close up so i never hold anyone up waiting to get on the bus.

 

[Figgy1]

I took a cheap umbrella stroller when my ds was just 5. Everybody said he'll need it! LOL the backpack was very comfortable that trip!

 

[DaddyDisneyMan]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

I'm going to respectfully disagree. Do NOT rent a stroller, when we went last year we brought our own, it only took 3 sec. to fold up and bring on the bus. I have never heard of a stroller getting stolen in the parks so this is a non issue as well.

Have fun on your trip, you will be happy you decided to bring your stroller.

 

[Poofiesdream]

Do what you have to keep your kids comfortable, they will be in a better mood and you will deal with a lot less stress. Worth lugging around a stroller!

 

[Occasional Guest]

We take a double stroller with side by side seating. I have never had a problem with it. Just be patient getting through the crowds.

 

[SAV]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

I couldn't DISAGREE more with this post. Glad you didn't us charge for it.

When we needed one, we brought ours with and it was wonderful. Who gives a rats @$$ what anyone else on the bus thinks for "holding them up". And he did mention that he had a rental car, so maybe he is taking that and will spare the royalty on the bus those few precious minutes of their lives. While it may be easier to rent when you get there, what about getting those sleeping or very tired kids from the spot where you have to give up the stroller to your car or the bus? It isn't easier at that point. And let's see, what exactly are the odds of meeting up with someone at say the MK who is leaving at noon, just at the exact same time you are arriving and they will be just leaving their stroller for someone else to take instead of turning it in? vs. the 100% chance you will have a stroller when you bring yours? Seems like an easy decision to me.

And finally, while there may be some stroller theft, the number of strollers there are to the ones that are "possibly" taken is very minute. And some of those that are "taken" are really just moved to a different spot by the CM's or mistakenly by another guest and left somewhere else.

Best thing to do is to mark your stroller very prominently with something so it can't be mistaken.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

Well, I would not really care what someone on the bus thinks but I have a car rented. I might take the bus once or twice. Plus I have a 4 month old, he wont be able to sit in the strollers they rent out.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

Well, I would not really care what someone on the bus thinks but I have a car rented. I might take the bus once or twice. Plus I have a 4 month old, he wont be able to sit in the strollers they rent out.

I went back and forth on all the stroller options when planning for our upcoming trip (just 4 days left!), and ultimately I ended up buying a new (well, new to me) more compact double jogger for the trip. The seats individually recline, are super comfortable, and the three wheel design is more nimble in crowds. Our "normal" stroller is a gigantic Graco Quattro Tour Duo, which just wasn't feasible for the parks.

To keep it in perspective, this is what helped me to decide:
The kids (3 year old and 9 month old) will be in and out of this thing all day, every day, for 8 days. I'll have to get it on or off a bus at most a few times each day.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I went back and forth on all the stroller options when planning for our upcoming trip (just 4 days left!), and ultimately I ended up buying a new (well, new to me) more compact double jogger for the trip. The seats individually recline, are super comfortable, and the three wheel design is more nimble in crowds. Our "normal" stroller is a gigantic Graco Quattro Tour Duo, which just wasn't feasible for the parks.

To keep it in perspective, this is what helped me to decide:
The kids (3 year old and 9 month old) will be in and out of this thing all day, every day, for 8 days. I'll have to get it on or off a bus at most a few times each day.

Yeah I was thinking that too. I think the issue is that my son is just not ready for a regular seat. He just started sitting up on his own this last few weeks!
What did you end up getting for this trip. BTW we will see you there maybe we are leaving this friday!

 

[minniemickeyfan]

Don't worry about bringing the stroller, you'll be glad you have it. I ride the bus on many trips and don't mind the strollers at all.

 

[R W B]

Strollers and wheel chairs are something you have to deal with at wdw, it's just a fact. Of course I would rather not have to wait on either at bus stops but it is what it is, I know and expect this. For every parent who says their stroller takes 5 SEC to fold up, theirs 3 parents who take 5 min to fold up and they always seem to be the ones who have their stroller loaded with everything and they dont "think" about unloading and folding up until they are trying to get on the bus. I personally will never bring a side by side stroller when I have kids, I've seen them cause wayyy to much hassle. This is just my opinion though, like I said, strollers and wheel chairs aren't going away at WDW so people either have to accept it or vacation some where else lol.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I think I will probably bring the big one. Though I am debating renting one now when I get there and just taking the baby's little stroller that I can attach the car seat too for the airport ect.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Well...now we are thinking of just renting at the park as needed for my daughter and brining my sons car seat stroller.

 

[RedDad]

We've never had to deal with more than one in a stroller at a time, but have used a fairly nice umbrella stroller for our last 3 trips and it was very easy to handle (daughter was 1 for the first trip and 2 for the other two trips). We'll be taking it again for our now 3yo in june. I would not personally rent a stroller if I have my own car, but that's just me. Have you considered a backpack type carrier for the infant and just an umbrella stroller for the 3yo? As long as you have one adult for each kid it shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[PREMiERdrum]

What did you end up getting for this trip. BTW we will see you there maybe we are leaving this friday!

I ended up bargaining with a guy on Craigslist and getting a great deal... $500 double jogger, side by side, with comfortable, reclining seats, pivoting front 3rd wheel, parent console, mp3 hookup, etc... for $75. It just needed a good cleaning and some air in the tires. I was worried my son would get bored in the "back" seat of the tandem we have, let alone the thought of wrestling that monster thing on and off the buses.