Toddlers and Strollers

[Always_Disney]

What does everyone reccomend? Do you rent a stroller or bring your own? I'm just affraid someone will steal our stroller while on a ride. Any advice would be helpful?

Also, how much is it to rent a stroller? Do you have to pay at each park if you park hop, or do you get a ticket or something? Sorry, this is out first trip with our 2 year old. Thanks.

*40 more days until I'm in the magic!*

 

[angelfaerie52]

I'm sure someone else will answer this more fully... but I would just rent a stoller!!! So much easier.

When you go to the parks, you rent a stoller for the day or for multiple days (which is cheaper if you know you will need it). I rented a wheelchair, which was 8 dollars for one day and like 14 or 15 for two... I think the strollers were a little less, maybe 6 dollars? They give you a piece of paper to write your name on and a ticket which you can bring to any park on that day and just get another stroller. I guess the only drawback is that you wouldn't have a stroller from bus stop and/or parking lot, but if that's not a problem just rent... So much easier. I am not sure if they are available at Downtown Disney or not, but hey, this response is just a start...

 

[tigsmom]

We always rented strollers there, though I know many like to bring their own. We have NEVER had a stroller or anything left on one stollen. The CMs will move them around if they are in the way, so tie a balloon, ribbon or something on it to help you find it faster. Rental is good for the day, just keep your receipt and show it at the window.

As was mentioned, renting doesn't do you any good when you leave the parks, but my kids were light and the hubby carried them if need be (which wasn't often)... they had too much energy.

 

[Laura]

I always bring my own. I would be miserable having to walk all the way across the resorts and through the parking lots if we had to carry our kids. I have never understood the "convenience" of renting. Just seems like one more thing to worry about. I like getting the stroller all packed and ready before we even leave the hotel room.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

On our first visit (when we were totally unprepared) we bought and took with us a cheap stroller - it turned out to be ideal for our trip. A lot of people rent and from my own observations it is whichever is more suitable for your needs. I've heard (very) occasional tales of rented strollers being taken while left unattended. So, either way, do not leave anything of value on or in the stroller - Disney is a Magical Place but it doesn't stop some guests acting inappropriately

 

[DisneyMarg]

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=54790&page=1&pp=15&highlight=stroller


You might find this thread helpful as well.

Also, if you rent a stroller and someone takes yours, they will replace it for you without paying again. But that does mean a trip back to the rental place, which can be a hassle.

 

[inafog]

We have both rented and brought our own. I find the rental strollers easy to maneuver. Although, if you bring a lot of stuff in and hang it over the back of the stroller it is very easy to tip them over if the kids get out. Also, the seat doesn't recline so some kids (including mine) won't nap in them.

I agree with Laura that I didn't like carrying the heavy sweaty kids around the resort or parking lot, which is why I brought my own the next trip. If you are staying more than a few days the expense adds up quickly--especially if you need a double stroller (in 4 days at $15 per day you've paid for a double umbrella stroller). Although with your own stroller you will have to fold it to go on the parking lot tram or a bus. I've never had anyone bother either stuff or stroller--but I don't leave purchases or valuables (except diapers) on it.

If I were travelling with a 2-year-old I would bring my own stroller, but if having one less piece of equipment/luggage to drag around will make your life easier, I'd say rent one.

 

[Disney13Scott]

I like the idea of bring your own stroller. My wife is so good at it that she can fold up ours with a single hand I also think our 2 year old will like the security of her stroller that she is so used to having.​

I liked the idea of taking a ziploc bag with you and putting a diaper in it, then pour some
rootbeer in the bag and on the diaper and hanging that from your stroller :goodnevil
Who in their right mind would steal that stroller? :fork:

 

[Woody13]

I like getting the stroller all packed and ready before we even leave the hotel room.

But how do you fold up a "packed" stroller on the bus?

 

[sheryl2007]

We brought our own double stroller for many of the reasons mentioned, it is familar to the kids in an unfamilar place, cost of renting one, the possibility that there won't be any left to rent when we get there, waiting in line to rent ( it was a loong line), plus I didn't know about DTD or even the water parks having strollers, and after a long day my boys like to ride and they are too big to carry far. It was hard to fold up on a crowded bus, that was the only drawback I found. Good luck on your trip !!

 

[KevinPage]

I always bring our own stroller. I have no tolerance to wait on line to rent something. Besdies, our stroller is MUCH more comfortable than the hard plastic ones Disney gives you.

I highly doubt you'll ever have a problem with someone taking your stroller. It's not like you parked a Mazarati near Small World to be grabbed.

We just make sure to take our diaper bag & camera with us on the ride.

 

[Master Yoda]

Bring you own stroller. What we have found works best is one of those small umbrella strollers. They fold up quick and easy when getting on busses trams etc. For storage just bring a backpack and hang it on the back. One word of caution the stroller will tip over on the backpack on it. We just remove the backpack and put it in the seat when you park it. I wouldn't worry about your stroller or anything else being stolen. Just use common sense and you should be fine.

 

[JMishy]

Actually, I wish we would have left our stroller at home. Getting the stroller on and off any of the transportation systems (bus, monorail, ect) was a PAIN!! We had a four month old and a 2 year old, so we brought two strollers that had to be folded up when on transportation vehicles. It was just too much of a hassle. When we go again, we'll definitely be renting.

 

[Aurora_25]

I have always brought my own stroller- We have a small umbrella stroller that folds easily and compactly for the Disney Buses and it still is a good size for my child and reclines. Personally, I wouldn't rent a stroller because carrying my child to and from the resort or to and from the park just doesn't cut it for me (I have a 6 year old and a 1 year old)

To answer the second part of the question- I have yet to have my stroller or anything on my stroller stolen.

 

[righttrack]

In a word YES!

Rent a stroller or bring a small, umbrella-type stroller. Its difficult to bring a full-sized one on the transportation. Do not doubt the power of WDW to tire your children out. I rent a stroller for my 6 year old with our afternoon/evening trip back to the parks(and my 12 year old even thought about sitting in it!). Even if your child has been out of the stroller for years, at WDW, its a good idea.

 

[shoppingnut]

When we took my nephew at 3, we rented a stroller the first day at MK and found he didn't want to be in it, he wanted to walk. So after that day, we didn't rent one. He walked everywhere, all day long, even late at night, never once did he complain he was tired and wanted to be carried. His mother, on the other hand, I thought I was going to have to carry out of the park a few times because she was exhausted, not used to all the walking.

I've seen folks struggling with some of those big monster strollers to get them folded, so just be sure yours can easily fold and unfold it because you will be doing a lot of that.

 

[Woody13]

I've seen folks struggling with some of those big monster strollers to get them folded, so just be sure yours can easily fold and unfold it because you will be doing a lot of that.

Me too!:wave: It's been many years since we've done the stroller routine, but, as others have mentioned, we always used umbrella strollers. They're small, light and they fold up quickly into a very small package. If they get lost or stolen, who cares, because they're inexpensive too. I am sometimes amused to see young parents pushing Zooper Elites, Maclaren Baby Buggies or the super expensive Peg Perego strollers. When they get to a bus stop, they have to take out the instruction book to figure out how to fold up the stroller.:lol: Of course, most of these big, expensive strollers take up a lot of room even when they are folded up. They're not designed for bus travel.

What I have found interesting is that the buses that serve the Hotel Plaza Blvd. hotels do not allow strollers to be brought on the bus. They stow them in the luggage bins.:sohappy:

 

[DisneyPhD]

I am defiantly from the bring your own camp. I have been to WDW 6 times with kids (2 of them I had 2 kids, 2 of them I was with friends who also had kids the same age as mine.) So 6 trips in 4 years with kids under the age of 4. I know what I am talking about. :lol:

Bring your own, and bring a good one. One that is light weight, (not a full size graco or even flow) folds down good, reclines, has good shade, good storage and trays across the frount that are removeable are good (good for snacks, but come off if the kid wants to get in and out on their own.)

We have taken a back pack stroller for a 9 month old (loved it, Instep.) It was so great. It works as both a back pack and stroller. When the crowds were bad we just converted it to a back pack and walked out with no problems, plus she loved being up high. This is only good from around 6 to 15 months or so. (the major drawback.) It is very small and light too. She was very comfortable in it, and was even able to sleep in it.

A combi travel savy DX (this came on 3 trips and countless others not to WDW.) It folds in on it's self very small, but has all I mentioned before. Very comfortable for the kid. My friend bought the same one. Most take everything out of the basket, so bring a bag too.

With 2 kids we took a peg pergo aira twin. The 1st trip we saw like 4 others the whole trip. The most recent trip (early May) we saw them all over (most of been 50 others.) For a double it does fold down well and is not heavy. Even then we had to put the baby in the bjiorn in order to manage both kids and it on the bus along with bags. We got a pretty good system going.

If you child is a tolder, bring your own. You will want to keep him in it many times (when you aren't in the parks) It is much safer that way too. When he is out of it, it holds the bags well. The rented ones really aren't that nice. Plus you won't have one waiting for the bus, walking too an from, at DTD and around the resort or the airport. All these places can have TONS of walking to do (and napping in the stroller, belive me WDW does wear them out enough for that.)

I might rent one when my kids are much older, but under 4 it is worth it to bring your own.

I never really worry about people stealing them at WDW. I do at the local mall. :lookaroun Don't leave your camera or wallet on it and go on a ride, but the bag is fine.

Oh and did I mention that now the Peg Pergo double ($300) has actually paid for itself for the price of rentals now? All of them did. I paid $100 for the combi and $50 for the back pack one.

 

[HauntedPirate]

We used to not bring our own stroller, and just rented one at the parks. This last trip, we decided to bring an umbrella stroller with us - it's small, works well for carting sleeping children out of the parks and back to the room, and can simply sit on top of, or hang from the back of, the rented stroller.

Strollers are available at DTD, but supply is limited. No matter where you rent them, they cost $8 per day for a single, and $15 per day for a double, and if you give them your ticket stub when returning it, you get 1 Disney Dollar back (nice souvenir, especially if it's a new one, or a Chicken Little dollar.... or an old one ). You can buy multiple days at a time now, and save a decent amount of money doing it that way.

FWIW, MGM has the crappiest strollers, in our opinion. You can't put anything heavier than a park map on top or else it folds down onto the kids.

 

[Nicole]

We bring our own. It's one of the bigger ones with the seat that folds back, and my 4 y.o. has spent many an afternoon sound asleep in it. Last time we rented a Disney stroller and before the day was done she said "next time let's bring our own stroller."

It is sometimes inconvenient on the busses, what I did was bring a big mesh tote bag and before boarding the bus I put all the things from underneath the stroller and whatever else I was carrying (camera, jacket, etc) into the bag. That I carried on my shoulder and then I could carry the stroller in one hand and hold my DDs hand in the other.

Actually mostly when we bring our own stroller we drive our own car - it's easier everywhere except MK.