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Toddlers and Strollers
- Thread starter Always_Disney
- Start date
dixiegirl
Well-Known Member
we've always took a small umbrella stroller..its much easier than those huge bulky ones...tried that once never ever agin....and its easier to manuver around than the rentals....we've never had a problem with anyone stealing them or any o f the bags with it....its just easier when you get off the bus and to the resort...
For what it's worth, my family took our first trip to WDW just a month ago. I have two children, 5 and 2. I agonized over this very question for two months before our trip. One week before our trip, I broke down and bought a Graco Passage stroller. It was the BEST investment for our trip. Our daughter loved it. It has 2 adult cupholders and a doored compartment in the parents tray, a latching snack tray so that our daughter could get out easily, and a separate drink holder that held the insulated Playtex sippy cups that we use. The basket was amazing with a drop bar to easily get at the diaper bag, camera, etc. It folds very easily with a twist of the handle and stands up when folded. We didn't have any problems getting on the bus or monorail. To distinguish our stroller from the others, I tied a pink polka-dotted bandana around the handles and never had a problem.
The stroller was extremely helpful in the airports and for all the out-of-parks walking that we did.
We did rent one for our son when he needed it and paid for a multi-day ticket. That worked out great as well.
Have fun!!!
The stroller was extremely helpful in the airports and for all the out-of-parks walking that we did.
We did rent one for our son when he needed it and paid for a multi-day ticket. That worked out great as well.
Have fun!!!
MouseMadness
Well-Known Member
With only one kid, who is so small, I'd just pack along a small foldable umbrella stroller definitely. When I only had two that was what we did. Doesn't work for us anymore, I have four. :lol: We rent doubles and let their legs have a rest when need be. I also like it at very busy, crowded times when I get panicked. Everybody gets ordered into a stroller so I'm not having to do a constant head count. And out of the dozens upon dozens of times we've rented strollers, not once have we had one stolen. 
But yeah, out of common courtesy, if you do end up buying one of those strollers the size of an SUV, PLEASE make sure you can fold it up and get it out of the way on the buses. :lol: :animwink: :wave:
But yeah, out of common courtesy, if you do end up buying one of those strollers the size of an SUV, PLEASE make sure you can fold it up and get it out of the way on the buses. :lol: :animwink: :wave:
WDW1971
Member
MouseMadness said:With only one kid, who is so small, I'd just pack along a small foldable umbrella stroller definitely. When I only had two that was what we did. Doesn't work for us anymore, I have four. :lol: We rent doubles and let their legs have a rest when need be. I also like it at very busy, crowded times when I get panicked. Everybody gets ordered into a stroller so I'm not having to do a constant head count. And out of the dozens upon dozens of times we've rented strollers, not once have we had one stolen.
But yeah, out of common courtesy, if you do end up buying one of those strollers the size of an SUV, PLEASE make sure you can fold it up and get it out of the way on the buses. :lol: :animwink: :wave:
We have one of the SUV strollers. I hated the thing, but my wife just HAD to have the matching stroller/car seat/Pack-n-Play. She now admits it was a waste of money. We used it maybe a handful of times.
We have two kids now and I don't want to push around two strollers all day long since our older son will probably walk a good bit of the time. I think renting a double-stroller will be a little better since we can keep all of our stuff in one.
DisneyFreak529
New Member
I think you can rent a stroller, I agree with ever one. I have seen rows and rows of strollers, plus the stroller has your name in big letters on the back anyway. They would not let any one steal it.
DisneyBride94
New Member
Always_Disney said:
Oh man, we ALWAYS have brought our own strollers... In fact... we bring one for each kid... that used to mean two single strollers (so you can divide and conquer) but now it means that we bring one single and one double stroller as we now have kids ages 5, 3, and 1.
Number one... in addition to holding your kids...they hold all the stuff you pack into the park with kids.... plus any purchases
Number two... if your kids are in the strollers... you know where they are and you can cover more ground!
Number three...I've never had a stroller stolen... I don't bring my big fancy expensive Peg Perego...in fact..we bought a less expensive, more portable Combin expressly for our first trip to Disney...we call it the Disney stroller... It folds compactly...has a great basket... love it.
We tie a bandanna around our strollerso we can spot them easily.Okay, so I stop numering...it's getting redundant... but your own stroller is MORE comfortable and likely has a better sunshade for your child... most of the Disney strolers are just a hard molded plastic... and they definitley would not even accommodate a baby under the age of 1...maybe even 2.... And if you have your own stroller, you can use it OUTSIDE of the parks--hotels have large properties...and depending on where you stay...you might need some sort of conveyance for your kids to get them from your room to the guest relations desk or foodcourt or main pool.
I can't stress enough how important it is to take your OWN stroller. I think those that rent just don't think things through well enough--including realizing that OLDER children DO need a stroller... I see plenty of preteen kids even riding in Disney rented strollers! It's a lot of walking...
DisneyBride94
New Member
Woody13 said:
When we pack our stroller...it means we know where everythign is going to go... we put the bag in the stroller... go to the bus...take out bag...fold stroller..hope on bus... bus stops...bag goes back in stroller... but we didn't have to drag bag AND child across hotel grounds to get to bus! And child can sit happily in stroller until we see bus approaching.
If bus is already there... a simple grab of the bag and collaspse of stroller takes no time at all for us.. (and we had three kids 4 and under and TWO strollers to manage!)If you stay at a monorail hotel...or one with a large boat for transportation...you can just wheel your kids in the stroller on board! Very handy!
I can NOT see how renting a stroller is CONVIENT. It certainly is not cost effective... And don't you want the stroller for the airport too? I could not manage my three kids without a stroller--we are outnumbered...could not carry all three of them if we wished!!!! My kids are heavy...and I would NOT want to carry them... I do also bring along a baby sling for holding my baby on my hip for lines... and I've used it for protracted periods of time...and in the Florida heat...that's a bit much...but I greatly prefer it when I see dad's carrying sleeping 4 year olds over their shoulders--I figure they'd be happy to have something that helped save their backs!
DisneyBride94
New Member
MouseMadness said:
Good point MouseMadness... It's NOT up to my kids to decide that they want to walk instead of ride in the stroller. If I had to walk WDW at the pace that a 3 year old walks, I'd go OUT OF MY MIND. Yes, I'm a Type A personality... but I'm also the parent/grownup/boss...and my kids are darned lucky to go to Disney World each year...so if I tell them to get in the stroller... they comply. I can't imagine having to keep watch of three kids in the crowds... or walking along at a snails pace!!! It's my call if they get to walk or ride... and my kids learn from an early age that DH and I are in control, not them... hopefully some of that will stay ingrained upon them when they become teeangers! But if they want to come back every year...especially with us now outnumbered by our children... they gotta follow our orders!!!! My kids get ample opportunity to stretch their legs and run through fountains (see, I'm a parent that let's them have their fun--I pack bathing suits/change of dry clothes and also important--a second pair of socks and dry shoes or sandals because having wet feet in a park with so much walking makes for blisters).
cls4016
Member
Last time we were at WDW we stopped at "a discount store" on our way to the hotel from the airport and picked up an umbrella stroller for $10-$12. We weren't sure if we needed it or not, but figured that $10 was better than $50 for renting one the week we were there. After about 2 hours into the first day, we found out just how invaluable a stroller at WDW is. Our 4 year old didn't really want to be pushed in a "baby" stroller at first, but then got tired and was in it for the rest of the week! :lol: When we were leaving we really didn't want to take it on the plane ride back home, so we gave it to a couple with a child staying down the hall from us.
browniebee
New Member
My sister and her husband brought their 1-year old son's stroller from home a couple weeks ago and tied an ugly scarf around one of the handles so no one would take it. A lot of people actually had the exact same stroller. My family rented one for my niece too, but only in MGM cause they have the comfy strollers. Even with the rented stroller we put an ugly scarf on that one too because my sister and brother-in-law have a fairly common last name. Keep in mind that CMs tend to move and rearrange the strollers while you are visiting an attraction.
Laura
22
Woody13 said:
Wow what an old thread! Sorry I'm a little late in replying! :lol:
We always drive so the bus is not an issue. We have a van with plenty of room for a packed stroller in the back. Magic Kingdom is the only place its an issue because of the tram and monorail rides. When we go there we just pack things in a bag.
shari71
New Member
Last year we struggled with what to do for then 4 year old and 1 1/2 year old. Ended up buying a Maclaren double side by side stroller that folds up like an umbrella stroller. It worked great. We had done the Graco double SUV style stroller the year before but found out quickly that year that one of us had to hold two sleeping children while one wrestled with the stroller. This one is much nicer and we will be using it again this year for now 5 year old and 2 1/2 year old. They still get tired and want to ride around. Even the oldest will catch some zzz's is it.
Next year though, we are probably going to rent. Our six year old will be too big for the Maclaren, but we will still need something for the three year old, so onto the rental world we will go, but hopefully by then I won't have to carry around two sleeping children at the end of the day.
Next year though, we are probably going to rent. Our six year old will be too big for the Maclaren, but we will still need something for the three year old, so onto the rental world we will go, but hopefully by then I won't have to carry around two sleeping children at the end of the day.