Strollers

[WDWspider]

OK, we finally decided not to try and rent strollers each day at the parks. We also decided that our current stroller was too big to try and lug back and forth.

We compromised and bought a nice $30 stroller (light weight, only the essentials, yet comfortably fitiing our son) and some attachments for cup holders and snack trays (ones that fit on the sides and out of the way).

Still I have these question:

Is it pretty safe to leave you stroller outside each ride?

If not, what precautions can be made to help verify our stroller will be there when we come back from something like the Great Movie Ride which everyone spends a lot of time inside?

We will have a backpack to store our valuables in and take with us on rides so that is not my concern, I just want the stroller to be there too. :lol:

I am going to SeaWorld and IoA too if that makes any difference.

At IoA we will have a non thrill rider with us so he can watch things most of the time for us there.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Originally posted by SewIn2Disney
I remember reading a tip in a guide book on preventing others from stealing your stroller. Take a diaper and spill some root beer in it to make it look dirty. Then place it in a clear plastic bag and tie it to the back of the stroller. Who's gonna want to steal a stroller with a dirty diaper?:lol: :hurl:

Thats the story I've heard before :hurl:

 

[GenerationX]

Sure would be a nice little perk if I could pay once and get a plastic card to swipe..sort of like a ticket for strollers the way they work for multi day pass holders.

Dwarful, this is a great idea!

Last year, we took our big double stroller. We figured we'd save money and, since we were staying at the Contemporary, would need it to walk back from the MK after the fireworks. It was handy for that, but I have to say that having to constantly take the bag and kids out to fold it up was a big pain.

This year, we took the double stroller with us, but not to all of the parks. We found the stroller rental and return to be relatively fast and efficient and preferred the Disney strollers to our own.

Next year, we are going to just rent. It's less hassle for us.

I've never had a stroller stolen, but we always mark ours with an old baby bottle bag filled with water bottles.

 

[Dwarful]

Thanks GenerationX~ I think I will print that out and show my husband so I have proof of having at least one great idea in my life!
Really though my husband and I both talked about this alot on our last trip. It would seem like WDW would offer something like this at least for people staying for 1 week or more. imagine all of the visitors who come over from Europe for lengthy stays who would really love this added perk for staying onsite. Maybe Disney will get this great idea and act upon it...they did scrap Character Caravan and brought back Early Entry so who knows~

 

[Marijil]

Never had a stroller taken....in ten years

 

[Erika]

Originally posted by spider-man
We did not go Umbrella, too many minuses for us on those, however the one we did buy, fold up very compact and still has an overhead canopy and undercarriage, so we were very happy with it. It is very thin when folded up. We had the buses in mind when buying so Ithink we are ok. The stroller is very light also, another important consideration for us as well. I think we did the right thing, but Umbrellas were out of the question for us, we have one at home, but it is for city parks, or walks around the apartment, that sort of thing.

Light and thin is very good! Sounds like you won't have any problems at all :wave:

Tyler you ARE evil :lol: I love it

 

[DisneyPhD]

We have been doing a lot of research for our next stroller for WDW trip in March 2003. Last year we had a great small light weight stroller that was also a back pack. (instep, 50 dollars) We loved it and it saved the trip. However we fear our 23 month old daughter will be to big for it this year and have been looking into the best small stroller that folds up well, has a basket and canaopy. (cup holders would be a plus too.)


I found 2 expesnive possiblities. Combi (the newest one 200$ and Maclean (I spelled that wrong ) , the cheapest one they have for 100 and then 50 more for the canaopy and basket. While I have heard good things about both of these, I was hoping for more like 30 to 70 dollars.


Any good suggestions of names of strollers that fit this? I found a Evenflo lightwieght with everything for around 70, but doesn't fold up as small as some of the more expensive ones.

If you have a kid 5 months to 18 months and they are small I really recomend the instep stroller backpack. We loved it and it breaks my heart we won't be able to use it again this year, she still fits in it, but drags her feet on the ground and I don't think I can handle that for the whole trip.

 

[Holly]

Hmmmm ... I have a 5 and 7 year old (both girls) and now I'm wondering if I should purchase an inexpensive "umbrella" stroller for our trip.

We're flying on Southwest - I can check a stroller just like a bag ... right?

 

[Cheryl]

Holly,

With most airlines that I've encountered, we were able to keep the stroller with us and get a tag for it at the gate check-in. So basically we were able to take the stroller up to the door of the airplane and then leave it there and someone packed it on the plane for us and then it was out, ready and available for us when we were getting off the plane right outside the terminal. It was great especially since we were carrying our son, had the car seat, and the luggage!

 

[gjpjtj]

Originally posted by Holly
Hmmmm ... I have a 5 and 7 year old (both girls) and now I'm wondering if I should purchase an inexpensive "umbrella" stroller for our trip.

We're flying on Southwest - I can check a stroller just like a bag ... right?

We have checked our stroller before, with no problem.

 

[~Minnie*Mouse~]

We've never had anything happen to our stroller. We took them about 5 years. Now our little one is 8. So now it's "I'M TIRED!" But 3 years ago in front of the X-Mas Shop in Liberty Square, we were watching" Remember the Magic Parade". We left our tote bag sitting right there and went on to Fanastyland and rode rides. 45 minutes later realized we didn't have it and went back and it was still THERE.... But, this year we weren't so lucky. We went in October and my little boy had a SKIPPY beanie from Alien Encounter at the kiosks in Town Square Exposition Hall. He left it for a minute to take a picture with Captain Hook and it was taken. So after 2inches of rain and we were drenched my husband and little boy went back to Merchant of Venus to purchase another. Then you start wondering what's going on
Today...

 

[gjpjtj]

Minnie*Mouse, your website looks very interesting, will you be adding pictures for all of the places you have listed?

 

[Bagheera]

Originally posted by Holly
Hmmmm ... I have a 5 and 7 year old (both girls) and now I'm wondering if I should purchase an inexpensive "umbrella" stroller for our trip.

We're flying on Southwest - I can check a stroller just like a bag ... right?

We've been gate-checking strollers for years. When you check in at the gate, tell them that you need to gate-check a stroller. They'll give you a paper luggage-tag thing that you attach to the stroller. You roll it right to the end of the jetway and leave it there. They put it right at the top of the cargo compartment. Once the plane lands, it's the first thing out, and it magically appears at the end of the jetway as you exit the plane. Pop the kid in, stash the small bag(s) in the basket, hang the bigger bag on the handle, and roll your way back up the jetway. Works like a charm.

We'll be doing that ourselves in about 5 hours. :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[Bagheera]

Originally posted by DisneyPhD
We have been doing a lot of research for our next stroller for WDW trip in March 2003. Last year we had a great small light weight stroller that was also a back pack. (instep, 50 dollars) We loved it and it saved the trip. However we fear our 23 month old daughter will be to big for it this year and have been looking into the best small stroller that folds up well, has a basket and canaopy. (cup holders would be a plus too.)


I found 2 expesnive possiblities. Combi (the newest one 200$ and Maclean (I spelled that wrong ) , the cheapest one they have for 100 and then 50 more for the canaopy and basket. While I have heard good things about both of these, I was hoping for more like 30 to 70 dollars.


Any good suggestions of names of strollers that fit this? I found a Evenflo lightwieght with everything for around 70, but doesn't fold up as small as some of the more expensive ones.

If you have a kid 5 months to 18 months and they are small I really recomend the instep stroller backpack. We loved it and it breaks my heart we won't be able to use it again this year, she still fits in it, but drags her feet on the ground and I don't think I can handle that for the whole trip.

We paid about $150-$200 for a small Combi with the basket and canopy (with flip-top window) about three years ago. Many trips all over the country later, it's just approaching the end of its useful life. It should get us through this WDW trip this week, our New Orleans trip in December, and our February WDW trip before it dies, but it's definitely given us our money's worth and more. It folds easily, it carries a lot, and it steers great.

 

[FourFourSeven]

Having both brought a stroller and rented one, I strongly prefer bringing one (if your children are old enough, a small, lightweight umbrella stroller is perfect).

Here's my question for when you have two kids. We've got a relatively large double-stroller (kids will be 1.5 and 4.5 at next trip). Think it'll be more convenient to take that, or bring two umbrellas? It's nice to have the double for when the older one wants to walk, but umbrellas are just so much more convenient.

 

[Dwarful]

FourFourSeven...I would say it depends on where you are staying. If you are staying onsite but at a resort that uses buses to get you to and from the parks then I would recommend the umbrella strollers simply because it will be easier on the buses for you to hold one child and one umbrella folded up compactly. But if you aren't staying onsite OR you will be using your own or rented vehicle then go ahead and bring along the bigger double stroller.

 

[WDWspider]

We had great success with our light weight stroller. It was very handy to have our own stroller, and we left our backback in the bottom on almost every ride and it was never touched, unless we parked in a non stroller area and a CM moved our stroller (two times I think). The bus was no problem, even when I had to stand. I still say nah on an Umbrella, just get one that folds up small, but that's a personal thing I guess. Now I did see a two seater umbrella stroller that was awesome, in that case I would go for it, I was amazed at how small it got when folded.

 

[gjpjtj]

Glad it worked out for you!!