strollers...rental vs. bringing your own

[fudwrapper]

just looking for a little input from some of you WDW vets; i am heading to WDW on jan. 9, bringing a 3 year old. she hasn't used a stroller in months, but we are sure she'll want one for in the parks. i am leaning towards just using rental strollers and not bringing hers, to try and save us some headaches with the airlines and busses. i haven't rented strollers before, so i'm not sure what to expect. any advice would be great!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Rental means daily payments, lining up to collect and drop off. It also means that if it gets lost or stolen its not your own that goes.

Bringing your own means its there whenever and wherever you want it. If it folds its no problem on the plane or buses and take up little room elsewhere.

This doesn't help you at all :lol: but I think it clarifies the major points

 

[CleveRocks]

Rental means daily payments, lining up to collect and drop off.

This is not entirely accurate.

The first time you rent a stroller at any of the 4 WDW parks, you should pay in advance for the number of days you will be renting. Not only will you get a $2 per day discount, but you'll also get your rental passes and receipt at that time, too. This means that on subsequent rentals, you don't have to wait in line and pay.

Stroller rental places have 2 areas, payment and pick-up. There are often lines for payment, but I have yet to see a line for pick-up. There may be a small gaggle waiting, but they just get handed out like water, so I;ve never waited more than about 10 seconds, literally.

As far as drop-off, you don't need to wait in line for this. You CAN leave it right there near the pick-up area if you desire. If you wanted to be rude, you could also leave it by the exit of the park. There's no paperwork or anything else to do when you return it.

We've always opted to rent (our kids were 5 and 2.5, and 6 and 4 when we've gone). Like your child, they weren't big stroller users at the time of our vacations. We elected to rent because carrying the stroller on the bus or through the airport would have been more hassle than it was worth. We never missed havng a stroller while at our resorts.

 

[CleveRocks]

I forgot to add that when you pay for a day's rental, you have rental privileges throughout that day. In other words, if you pick up your rental at MK, leave MK, and later go to Epcot, you just stroll up to the pick-up point, show your rental pass date-stamped for that day, and walk off with your stroller.

Another tidbit -- if you end up not using any of the days you paid for, you'll get a full and immediate refund at any of the stroller places.

 

[wdwforus]

We took our own. The rentals dont fold down like ours so he was able to lay right back and take a nap if he so inclined, which he did. Ours was also easier to get through the crowds where as the rentals are a little bit larger. Folding them up for the buses and plane was no problem. It was probably one of the smartest things we did to make our trip more enjoyable and him comfortable. He was 2 at the time. If we had had a rental our older two would have tried getting in and riding and I saw alot of that going on and it kind of bugged me. Seeing a 12 year old squeezed into a stroller, and we wonder why our kids are obese.:brick:

 

[hrmom26]

i would rent and pay ahead like the previous poster mentioned. i have seen the people folding up there strollers and trying to squeeze onto the bus and on days the bus was crowded they always seemed to looked harassed. trying to keep the child in your arms and hold the carriage out of everyones way. i rented one on my first trip when my kids were 5 and 8 i got a double it was so easy and i had not even a moment of trouble. they are good strollers and it had a place with our name on it witch turned out to be good because there are so many strollers i think if i had taken mine i would have been looking into everyones stroller thinking is that ours:lol:
but i have to politely disagree with the poster who mentioned it bothering her to see older kids in the strollers. when i am in disney it is all about enjoying my kids and them having the best time possible. when i rented the stroller my kids were as i said 5 and 8 and i had my nephew with us who was 8 also and some of are funnest memories of that trip are of the kids all trying to cram in and hanging out the sides, laughing so hard i am surprised they didn't wet themselves. so instead of being tired and cranky they were laughing and having fun the stroller was very easy to push so i didn't really feel the difference. i should also mention all the kids in question are very energetic and fit. i always feel when you go on vacation the normal rules like finish your veg's and such should be put aside its there vacation to

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

I took our own for my 3 year old. I have a very small stroller and it wasn't a problem on the plane or buses. In fact I took it right down to the door of the plane and they took it from there. I folded it for them just to be nice but they would have done it. He also naps so it was nice having one the laid down as the rentals don't.

I also rented a double for my daughter (8) and niece (7). Like someone else said once I paid for it I didn't have to wait in line again. I made sure that I took it back to the drop off area when leaving the park and always had a CM thank me. I'm sure they appreciate not having to track them down.

If you decide not to take your own but after renting decide you just don't like that either, I saw umbrella strollers for sale in the gift shops of a couple of the resorts we visited as well as right outside the MK (just inside the gate) and at Epcot. They were $40 and really nice.

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

Seeing a 12 year old squeezed into a stroller, and we wonder why our kids are obese.:brick:

This bugs me. I rented a double for my daughter who is going to be 9 in a few days and my niece who is 7. It's not because they are lazy it's because they get tired from all the walking. My oldest niece who will be 12 soon also sat in it a few times. Sometimes older kids need a break too. And there are sometimes reasons that a stroller is needed. In our case my daughter ended up with Strep Throat/Scarlet Fever and the Flu while at WDW. After being on the meds and feeling up to it, she wanted to go back to the parks (with dr permission I might add). We rented the stroller so she could enjoy the last 2 days of our vac.

I also totally agree with hrmom26. It's all about seeing the kids having fun! I wouldn't want to deal with cranky kids. That's not fun for anyone!

 

[fudwrapper]

thanks for all the great insight! i love these forums. does anyone have any input on the comfort level of the WDW strollers? when i was at DL last summer, they seemed to be pretty nice strollers, but not anything that you would take a nap in. i'm not concerned about napping, because for nap time we're just going back to our hotel, but i would like her to be comfy if we're going to rent the stroller.

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

My daughter said that they are comfortable. She's used them a couple times now and has never complained. She said the only bad thing was sharing it with her cousin! :lol: hahaha Kids! Guess the cousin tried taking over too much of the seat!

 

[coltow]

We brought our own, it came in very handy at the airport as well as the resort. We put a luggage tag on the handle so it was easy to spot and so that it had our info. on it in case it got misplaced any where.

 

[wdwforus]

My point being that if a 12 year old is too tired to be walking anymore then its the parents responsibility to say enough and get them a break. Not let them take the easy way out and ride in a stroller meant for toddlers. We didnt want our 2 older girls having to stop having fun so their 2 year old brother could rest. We knew that he would not make it all day and that girls would be able to do alot more. My wife and I had no problem leaving a park and going back to our room when we felt it was needed. We are a very active family and my daughters still would have jumped into a stroller if we had let them. The kids will be lazy if you allow them. Kids who are supposedly too tired to walk thru a park, if you leave and take them to a water park or pool, will run and swim and not bat an eye at it. I blame the parents for trying to push their kids past their breaking point. I know, I lived it when my parents took us 25 years ago. Its a big joke in family about trying to get one more ride in, no matter what level of exhaustion you were at. I just think we can allow our kids to get lazy and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Kids have more energy, remember when you were a kid and could run and play for hours it seemed. Walking thru the parks is not that big of a workout in the big picture. The transportation system gets you within a couple hundred yards of the entrance, you walk from ride to ride, maybe 200-300 feet apart, you do more standing in line then anything. We too experienced a very sick child on our trip in 2002, she was 7 at the time, but she didnt need a stroller, we made sure we took it easy for a couple of days while she got better, and before we knew it she was playing in the pool for hours.

 

[morgan22]

Does anyone know how much rental costs ? Also, my daughter will only be 11months when we take her for her first trip (well apart from last year when she was still in my tummy!!) ... are the rental strollers all one size?

 

[hrmom26]

here is a picture of a single stroller and if i remember correctly when i rented in 2004 i think it was only a couple of dollars

 

[minnie2000]

As far as I know, they are all one size - definately not for an 11month old. They are great for children, I would say, who need a break from walking, but not for babies. They are made from hard plastic and do not recline. I would definately take my own for a baby, and also if you have a toddler who needs to be able to nap, take your own.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Does anyone know how much rental costs ? Also, my daughter will only be 11months when we take her for her first trip (well apart from last year when she was still in my tummy!!) ... are the rental strollers all one size?

Morgan, the airport at Orlando is massive for international arrivals. I would really advise you take your own stroller/pushchair. WDW is enormous, so is the airport. Therefore, anyone who has their kids in a stroller should probably bring their own (foldup Umbrella). Otherwise rent one for those 3 yo if you are not sure.

We just got back with a 18 month old and 3.5 old. Taking our own was a godsend.

 

[hrmom26]

My point being that if a 12 year old is too tired to be walking anymore then its the parents responsibility to say enough and get them a break. Not let them take the easy way out and ride in a stroller meant for toddlers. The kids will be lazy if you allow them. I just think we can allow our kids to get lazy and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Kids have more energy, remember when you were a kid and could run and play for hours it seemed.. We too experienced a very sick child on our trip in 2002, she was 7 at the time, but she didn't need a stroller, we made sure we took it easy for a couple of days while she got better, and before we knew it she was playing in the pool for hours.

i guess everyone has different parenting styles. although i think you are 100% right in every day life. i just feel that sometimes its ok to just enjoy your kids and not worry about everything. as a single parent i need to worry constantly about molding my kids into healthy adults. but every once in a while its ok to let go a little and enjoy the moment. in the grand scheme of things letting your kids relax a little or be lazy while on vacation isn't going to harm them any. my favorite part of vacation is the lazy moments why shouldn't kids have the same ? a kids schedule can be just as busy as a adults now. i think they need a break as much as we do. i will never be the parent who is yelling at there kids to finish there dinner,refuse to carry them because there tired, or push them to go on a ride they don't want to while on vacation. but i realize that doesn't mean its wrong its just a different parenting style.
happy new year

 

[tigsmom]

i guess everyone has different parenting styles. although i think you are 100% right in every day life. i just feel that sometimes its ok to just enjoy your kids and not worry about everything. as a single parent i need to worry constantly about molding my kids into healthy adults. but every once in a while its ok to let go a little and enjoy the moment. in the grand sceme of things letting your kids relax a little or be lazy while on vacation isn't going to harm them any. my favorite part of vacation is the lazy moments why shouldn't kids have the same ? a kids schedule can be just as busy as a adults now. i think they need a break as much as we do. i will never be the parent who is yelling at there kids to finish there dinner,refuse to carry them becuase there tired, or push them to go on a ride they don't want to while on vacation. but i reliaze that doesn't mean its wrong its just a different parenting style.
happy new year

Wonderful post! :sohappy:

 

[Jessie&Buzz]

i guess everyone has different parenting styles. although i think you are 100% right in every day life. i just feel that sometimes its ok to just enjoy your kids and not worry about everything. as a single parent i need to worry constantly about molding my kids into healthy adults. but every once in a while its ok to let go a little and enjoy the moment. in the grand scheme of things letting your kids relax a little or be lazy while on vacation isn't going to harm them any. my favorite part of vacation is the lazy moments why shouldn't kids have the same ? a kids schedule can be just as busy as a adults now. i think they need a break as much as we do. i will never be the parent who is yelling at there kids to finish there dinner,refuse to carry them because there tired, or push them to go on a ride they don't want to while on vacation. but i realize that doesn't mean its wrong its just a different parenting style.
happy new year

AMEN!!!!! Well said! It's vacation people! Let them be lazy for a little while!

Also it was very crowded when we were there. With them in the stroller we knew where they were at all times. It really was a load off my mind since I was there without my husband. I had my parents along but the kids were my responibility and I couldn't ask them to watch them at all times.

As for the parent of the 11 month old, I suggest taking your own stroller. The rentals aren't for little ones.

 

[wdwforus]

i guess everyone has different parenting styles. although i think you are 100% right in every day life. i just feel that sometimes its ok to just enjoy your kids and not worry about everything. as a single parent i need to worry constantly about molding my kids into healthy adults. but every once in a while its ok to let go a little and enjoy the moment. in the grand scheme of things letting your kids relax a little or be lazy while on vacation isn't going to harm them any. my favorite part of vacation is the lazy moments why shouldn't kids have the same ? a kids schedule can be just as busy as a adults now. i think they need a break as much as we do. i will never be the parent who is yelling at there kids to finish there dinner,refuse to carry them because there tired, or push them to go on a ride they don't want to while on vacation. but i realize that doesn't mean its wrong its just a different parenting style.
happy new year

I didnt say anything about not allowing the kids to have their lazy time and about not enjoying my time with my kids. All I said that it bugged me to see children that are way to old to be riding in a stroller when they are perfectly able to walk. If I allowed them to be lazy whenever they wanted we would have never gotten out of the hotel room, we would have been eating breakfast at 1 in the afternoon, and they wouldnt have taken showers or brushed their teeth. I guess next time I go I'll stop and get a wheelchair to wheel myself around on becuase I might get a little tired and thats a good example to set for my kids, its okay to take the easy way out.