The Great Stroller Debate

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Heatherly30

New Member
Going in Sept with our 53 lb. 5 yr old son, and 3 yr old daughter(not sure of her weight). I will most definitely buy at least 1 nice umbrella stroller, she'll use it. He is questionable. Mid day he'll start getting tired, so I assume we'll go back to our room.

I thought about just renting one for him, but those of you who have traveled with similar aged children, what do you recommend?
 
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Paul G.

Member
Our kids were 7 and 5 last year and we still rented strollers.We went the last two weeks of August and the heat really wears them down.It's also nice to have somewhere to store all the gear you take to the park.The strollers are way over priced but as long as our kids fit we will rent them.
 
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marcriss

marcriss

Member
We use the Combi strollers for traveling, the fold up compactly and they're very light with a decent basket space. For my 2 yr old we just purchased the Flare our last trip. But my tall son used the equivalent versions. They hold up pretty well, even with a big kid and they're not crazy expensive.

We've never used the red strollers that you can buy down there, but I'm pretty sure I saw a thread here about them last week that was very mixed in the reviews.

Good luck and enjoy!
 
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The Mom

The Mom

Moderator
Premium Member
I haven't used a stroller in years, so can't help with a brand name.

But before this turns into a flame, I'll just add that all children are different. My son stopped needing a stroller at WDW at around age 3 -4, but that was because he had been several times by then, and we had been dozens of times before, so could gear our trip towards his needs.

We went with my brother's family once, their first trip, and their son (same age as mine) was almost 7 but needed a stroller.

Both boys are now teenagers, both are very athletic, and both are very lean. So, if you feel the need to put an older child in a stroller, just do it. Only you know your own child, and the most important thing is to have a fun vacation.
 
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clc053103

New Member
another mom of a "supersize" child here! 3 1/2 year old son, 42 inches, weighs 51 lbs and is solid as a tank, not fat at all.

I bring a stroller for resort/boardwalk/evenings outside the park use, and use a rental in the park. We get a double so 5 yo cousin (and occasioanlly for a free ride, 9 year old cousin) could hop in, but they weren't hopping in enough so we got a single during day, double during evening.

One idea is to go to park w/out a stroller and try to pick one up in the afternoon from someone leaving the park, before they return it. Based on what you pay for a rental, I would be happy to see the stroller get used some more by another family!!!!!

As for a stroller to bring, keep in mind that most strollers are not rated for a child over 40 lbs- you may be fine in one of those but they get hard to push. maclaren strollers are rated to 55 lbs. I just did research on lightweight strollers for disney and bought a Maclaren Volo. You can get a Volo for $120 or less if you get last year's model (PM me I can give you info- I paid $69.99 free ship), it weighs under 9 lbs I believe and has a shoulder strap so you can carry it onto buses with ease. An Esprit Sun Spree is another idea, though I heard the seats are narrower than the volo so I stopped pursuing it- there were great deals on those though!

If your child wants to walk, great- but I have to say, I much preferred the security of knowing my son was in the stroller and couldn't wander off or get taken (it happens!) or knocked over in a crowd!
 
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Heatherly30

New Member
Original Poster
Thanks again for all of your replies!

So I have decided to buy vs. rent. So now the question is how many? There will be 3 adults in attendance, a 5 y.o. and 3 y.o. Which is more convenient/realistic, a double stroller, or 2 singles? If you were me, would you buy 1 or 2?
 
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happymom52003

happymom52003

Active Member
We've always done 2 singles vs. a double. We would not do it any other way. There were times while we were at the resort or Downtown Disney when only the little one needed a stroller, so we would leave the other stroller in the room.

Alot of people use double strollers and like them, but I find even the smallest of the double strollers are a pain to maneuver in the crowds compared to a single. But that is just me.:shrug:
 
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Jessie&Buzz

Jessie&Buzz

Active Member
I rented a double stroller in 2006. My dd was almost 9 and not feeling well. She shared it with her little cousin. They were squished most of the time. Of course they were bigger than your kids. I would do 2 single strollers if you have the adults to push them. That way if you decide you don't need one for the older child you can leave it in the room.
 
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KristieLC

Member
We did not use a stroller at all when we were there. Like some others have said of their own children, my son wouldn't want any part of it. I think the last time he was in a stroller he was probably 2 and a half or so. He was 4 and a half during our trip. For us, there was enough stopping for shows and parades and if we were in a line, he would sit on the ground if he needed/wanted to rest his legs. We didn't speed through the parks though, and walked at his pace. I do have to admit though that there were a few instances where my husband carried him in his shoulders, but it wasn't constant. I also was happy to not have to deal with stroller parking, but that's just me.

I have a friend that was there a week or so before us. She had one big stroller for the baby and an umbrella one for the 3 and 5 year old to share. She was glad she had them but did say that often they would come out of where ever they were and her strollers would be separated. She recommends that if you use two -folding one up and placing it in the other if it is possible.
 
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happymom52003

happymom52003

Active Member
KristieLC said:
She was glad she had them but did say that often they would come out of where ever they were and her strollers would be separated. She recommends that if you use two -folding one up and placing it in the other if it is possible.
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That would be kind of a pain to do, in my opinion.

If you get a couple of really bright scarves and tie them to the handles of the strollers, you will be able to spot them in the sea of strollers. That is what we do and we've never had a problem quickly locating our strollers when they were moved or separated.
 
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ninjaprincess

ninjaprincess

Member
Both kids will definetly use a stroller, but I reccomend renting one over bringing your own because they ar hard to get to the parks with, every time you get on a bus, tram, monorail, boat, or any other transportation you have to fold it back up and find a place to put it which is always going to be in they way of some other passenger.
Another thing, umbrella stollers have low handals so you back starts hurting after pushing it.
 
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kangaand2roos

kangaand2roos

Member
We went in Dec my son was a week shy of his 5th birthday and my daughter a month shy of her 3rd birthday. We went thru the same debate my son is 55lbs and in the 100th percentile for his height. What we ended up doing was bringing our Combi for our 3 year old and we rented a single stroller for the days my almost 5 year old needed one. We rented a stroller at AK and Epcot because there was a lot of walking and didn't when we went to MK because the rides are alot closer. I think we ended up getting one at DHS but I can't remember. It wasn't the most cost effective but it worked out the best for us. The strollers were sturdy enough for our 5 year old we didn't have to lug another stroller on and off a bus etc. It was worth the extra money for the rental for him on the days he needed it.
 
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gccgrad1996

Active Member
carriage or not

I am in the same boat. I have an eight year old and a four year old who will be five our next trip in June. We love having the double carriage as a back up even for the eight year old. I have to say I was a bit upset with how expensive the rental was last year for our 8 day stay, but we still did it. I also hate lugging the carriage on to the Disney busses. But, this year we are bringing our own carriage from home for our five year old and the eight year old will be walking. If she gets tired we will rent a single. I am a little nervous, but the carriage fee is a very nice dinner and some souvenirs for the kids. Good luck! It is a big decision.
 
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durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
I'd recommend bringing your own. If you don't wind up using it you can just leave it in your room. We have 2 kids an bought a couple umbrella strollers at costco, the nice thing about them is that the seats recline and yet are quite compact when folded and are light weight.
 
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mrtoad

mrtoad

Well-Known Member
Our daughter used one on all our trips through age 5. On our last trip, she was 6 and did not use one (but would have if she had the option). Our next trip is in a few weeks and we are bringing a stroller for our 1 year old and I know if my older daughter who is now 8 was aloud she would sit right in it...

It is a ton of walking and having a stroller is very helpful. We have both brought one with us and rented. If your child will not need to lie down in the stroller or need one at the resorts, renting is very nice. No hassle with having to bring on the buses and such. We will bring one on this trip as our youngest will hopefully nap in the stroller and we need one for the resort.
 
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Mystic

Mystic

Well-Known Member
Heatherly30 said:
Going in Sept with our 53 lb. 5 yr old son, and 3 yr old daughter(not sure of her weight). I will most definitely buy at least 1 nice umbrella stroller, she'll use it. He is questionable. Mid day he'll start getting tired, so I assume we'll go back to our room.

I thought about just renting one for him, but those of you who have traveled with similar aged children, what do you recommend?
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Why don't you check out the following company http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/ It will allow you to rent a stroller for the length of your stay, without having to a) lug your own for the 5 year old and b) pay the high stroller rental rates at the parks.
 
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Heatherly30

New Member
Original Poster
Yeah, I've researched that stroller company and it looks good. I guess I just figured I may as well buy one (Maclaren for $69.99) online for the price of renting one.
 
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