Best type of stroller to bring to WDW

[Yellow Strap]

Greetings all. We will be attending WDW this September and for the first time it will be with a baby. Now we have always rented a stroller for our other child when we went. But he was 6 the first time and had different needs.

Our new baby will be 9 months old when we go.

This is our current stroller:
http://www.babyage.com/products/017...urce=sh&utm_medium=Default&utm_campaign=42373

My wife thinks its fine for the parks and buses, I think it might be too bulky and heavy to carry.

I understand some of her points: comfort, needing to fully recline, amble shade and basket underneath. But it is cumbersome.

But is there another stroller that we may not know about that is perfect for Disney travel?

Thanks

 

[daliseurat]

For an older child, say 3/4, I would still use an umbrella stroller. It's faster to get around to put them in it and go. :lol: After the age of 4 I would make them walk.

My youngest child has just turned 7 and it was so nice not having to keep up with a stroller at the parks but I missed being able to keep some items in it.

Believe it or not, I found that we moved MUCH faster without the stroller. No parking it, not having to find it. And no navigating through crowds. I move very well with a child on my shoulders. But, it depends on the individual and the child.

 

[Yellow Strap]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I am pushing for the Combi...I love how it collapses, folds in and has a strap. My wife is saying no and that we should just use the one we have.
Let me throw a new wrinkle...

We are staying at the Boardwalk. We can walk to Epcot, DHS, and walk to the Epcot monorail to go to MK for which we wouldn't have to collapse a stroller.

Now is it worth it to get a new one just for Animal Kingdom, Water Park and DD?
I say YES.

 

[NewfieFan]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I am pushing for the Combi...I love how it collapses, folds in and has a strap. My wife is saying no and that we should just use the one we have.
Let me throw a new wrinkle...

We are staying at the Boardwalk. We can walk to Epcot, DHS, and walk to the Epcot monorail to go to MK for which we wouldn't have to collapse a stroller.

Now is it worth it to get a new one just for Animal Kingdom, Water Park and DD?
I say YES.

Hmmmmm, that's a good question! I personally wouldn't want to drag a big stroller on a bus at all (even if it was only a couple of times). But people have brought big strollers and have dealt with them just fine. I think if you did buy a new stroller you would have to look at it as an investment. Even though the big strollers are great (I loved mine) there are times when a big stroller just won't do (even outside of Disney). My husband and I travel a lot at home in our van and there were times we just couldn't fit the big stroller in the van with all the other stuff. The Combi that we have now gets thrown in the last minute on top of everything. We love our Combi for everyday life not just in Disney! I personally think the Combi will be a comfortable stroller for a young baby! And there's other reasons to have a small stroller as well (not just for the buses). Getting through crowds, smaller walkways, and through the shops all will be easier with a smaller stroller.

And if you want a man's point of view on the whole situation. My husband was the one who pushed me to buy the Combi stroller. We had two small strollers for our trip and they were cheap and gave us problems. My husband was the one who started the research in Disney, actually! He started looking at other people's strollers and even talked to some other families while we were there to find out what they thought. He loved the look of the Combi and when he saw one father collaspe in down and throw it over his shoulder, well, that was it... he was on a mission to get a decent stroller that was easy to carry. So, I'm glad my husband pushed us to get a new stroller - I couldn't live without the thing now. And we're even thinking about getting another one for our first born who is going to be an older child on our next trip but still needs a stroller sometimes.

Good luck with your decision!:wave:

 

[luvGoofy]

That is the exact stroller we used on our last trip and it was wonderful. It was a little heavy getting on and off the bus but well worth it for the comfort and storage space. I would definately use the one you have it makes for an easier day.:animwink:

 

[gleason406]

We took a stroller simliar to yours our first trip but the Kolcraft Lite Sport has cup holders reclines and has a huge basket underneath and is available at kmart inexpensively.

 

[daliseurat]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I am pushing for the Combi...I love how it collapses, folds in and has a strap. My wife is saying no and that we should just use the one we have.
Let me throw a new wrinkle...

We are staying at the Boardwalk. We can walk to Epcot, DHS, and walk to the Epcot monorail to go to MK for which we wouldn't have to collapse a stroller.

Now is it worth it to get a new one just for Animal Kingdom, Water Park and DD?
I say YES.

If you were really going to only use the stroller for this one trip, then I would say NO. For this trip you really don't need anything other than what you have. You won't be folding it much, so for this trip it might just be a waste.

On the other hand, you will probably be going some OTHER places and maybe even back to WDW before you have no more need of a stroller and you will be much happier LATER that you got one. As someone else said, it's an investment. My umbrella stroller got FAR more use that my bigger one. The bigger one never got put in the car once I got the umbrella. The bigger one was only used locally for walks from my house. So it might benefit you to get it for FUTURE use. I traveled with ours exclusively until I ditched it. And I kept the umbrella in the car.

One other thing, the umbrellas can be MUCH easier to navigate through crowds with as they are more narrow. And MUCH easier to take with you on things like the WALT DISNEY RAILROAD, or even the Peoplemover.

From your post it sounds like YOU want the stroller and your wife doesn't. Sounds like my house.:lol::hammer::brick:

 

[hansel1]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I am pushing for the Combi...I love how it collapses, folds in and has a strap. My wife is saying no and that we should just use the one we have.
Let me throw a new wrinkle...

We are staying at the Boardwalk. We can walk to Epcot, DHS, and walk to the Epcot monorail to go to MK for which we wouldn't have to collapse a stroller.

Now is it worth it to get a new one just for Animal Kingdom, Water Park and DD?
I say YES.

We purchased boardwalk DVC because we use our large Jeep stroller at disney.

Strollers are a godsend, especially when you can roll it right out of your room and not have to fold it up if you are going to epcot, DHS or magic kingdom. Take the stroller you have or buy a larger one, you will be happy either way.

2 other points:

busses are a pain with or without strollers. My opinion is that the frustration on a bus with a large folded stroller does not outweigh the benefit of having that larger stroller the entire day at the park.

Definately buy a cover for the stroller. Protect-a-bub makes a wonderful rain cover that will keep the wind and sun off of the child. It rains more than you think in florida and that cover will protect the stroller and items you have underneath it.

 

[happymom52003]

Another vote for the Combi.
We purchased two of them and have used them both on four Disney trips so far. My oldest (who is in Kindergarten) is still under the weight limit of the stroller, so I have no problem with him using it when he gets tired. He walks most of the time, but we still take his stroller with us....it is a God send at the end of the day.
We love this particular stroller because it is so easy to fold up and it has the carrying strap.
We also struggled with the choice to buy new strollers specifically for Disney, especially since we already owned several strollers (a gracolite, a sit and stand double stroller, and a cheap umbrella stroller), and since we knew the second stroller for our oldest would ONLY be used for Disney trips. But when we thought about the insane amount of money we were already spending on the trip, the added cost of the new strollers really did not seem like a big deal!
It ended up being the right choice for our family.....we felt it was money well spent.
In fact, I love the Combi so much that I stopped using my regular stroller at home for my youngest...she uses the Combi all the time now.

 

[wdwforus]

For a 9 month old that wont be getting in and out of the stroller everytime you turn around I would take what you have. Do plenty of practice runs folding it up and squeezing through crowds. The best thing you can do is plan on getting to the bus stops early to get in line and have it folded up and ready to go before it gets there. A good comfortable bag with the essentials is needed, not a massive diaper bag, enough diapers and wipes for half a day, a change of clothes, a rain cover is good, a small lunch bag with freezer pack and bottles, and sunscreen and you should be all set. Have the stuff organized so you can get it out easily, make it through security, and still have quick access for accidents. When our boy got bigger a lighter stroller was better for him to just sit in and hop out when we got where we were going. For a little one comfort for him or her will make your trip a little more enjoyable. Getting on and off the buses will be the biggest hassle.

 

[happymom52003]

Not sure how often you are planning on going to WDW, but if you plan on going to Disney often (meaning at least every year or two), you are eventually going to want a smaller stroller than the one you have now for when your child is older.
That may help your wife to go ahead and purchase it now. You would be investing in a piece of travel equipment that you can use for quite awhile, at least until your child reaches the maximum weight limit of the stroller.

 

[DisneyNeighbor]

I would keep the one that you have. I have fought with double strollers in the past and still take a large stroller to Disney for my youngest to sleep end at the end of the day.

Disney is switching to the new buses with more room, which is much easier to get strollers on and off. But make sure you take a back pack or very large bag that fits everything in the stroller. It is so much easier to have everything in one bag. In most cases you will only be on the bus for a few minutes of the day. Yes handling a big stroller on the bus is not fun but I found it to be more comfortable for the kids.

 

[santa's surpriz]

For an older child, say 3/4, I would still use an umbrella stroller. It's faster to get around to put them in it and go. :lol: After the age of 4 I would make them walk.

My youngest child has just turned 7 and it was so nice not having to keep up with a stroller at the parks but I missed being able to keep some items in it.

I kinda disagree with you, but, from the name I assume you have three kids. Every situation is different. I am a single mom of one, age 5. I was at WDW in December and did use an unbrella stroller. It was just me and DD. For many reasons, I did not want to resort to carry my child. She is a little peanut, but still the thought of carrying her from Fantasyland to the buses killed me. It's a personal choice, I had no problems with the umbrella stoller on and off the buses and it was truly a life saver. I currently do not use it day to day, but at WDW I saw a huge inconvenience of not using it. If makes the trip more pleasant and enjoyable, I say take the stroller! The trip is suuposed to be enjoyable for everyone. Only as an absolute last resort would I rent one from the parks, they look worse than the grocery store kiddo entertainment carts! Imagine pushing those around all day!

 

[Disneykidder]

When we went in August, our son was 3 1/2 and having a stroller was great. We never use one daily, stores, whatever. But we took our umbrella with cupholder/pouch to keep things. It was better than carrying a tired, hot child from land to land and expecially from park to bus and bus to resort room. A sleeping child is dead weight and hard to carry on a long walk, plus a backpack. Even if you only use it for the reasons I mentioned above, (though I can't see a child that sees a resting opportunity not to use it) it is worth it.

I say take the stroller you have. I know what you mean by being conbersome. We had one of those, too. (still have it in our attic) It probably is the best for a 9 month old to sit up, sprawl out, have a big basket and cupholders. There are umbrella strollers that recline (ours does half way) but none that would be as comfy for your lil' one who can't get up and walk/stretch. Plus once you have that big basket, you can't go to a small one. You'll be surprised how much junk it can hold for you all...snacks, souvenirs, food, drinks, changes of clothes, etc.,

 

[Kriszee1]

We use a Peg Perego. It was about $250, but a great investment. He is now 4 1/2 and we still use it. I only wish we had put more money inot a great lightweight stroller earlier. I have spent just as much money buying about 5 different strollers and at least the Peg grows with him. They don't sell our model anymore, but it has gone on 2 cruises and 2 trips to WDW and we'll bring it again on the next one. My advice is to just invest the money once into a perfect stroller for you.

It was alot like this...
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2306512

 

[SAV]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2671817

This is also the stroller we bought and have used several times. Everything we needed, but smaller and very easy to use around the parks. The trip before we bought this one, we used a cheaper umbrella type stroller and the darn wheels got so hot in the florida sun that they pulled away from the rims and ended up in the garbage. This one has made it through 4 trips with no issues.

 

[SAV]

Only as an absolute last resort would I rent one from the parks... Imagine pushing those around all day!

Actually, the rental strollers are awesome to push around. Effortless! We got to use one on the walk out of Fantasmic to the park entrance when my daughter didn't want to walk anymore. We rented one in Epcot for the trip around World Showcase the next day because they work well.

they look worse than the grocery store kiddo entertainment carts!

...it's not a fashion show, so I don't care how they look. They work great.