Yikes, The Stroller...

[Club Cooloholic]

So I am not really a stroller guy with my kids. My youngest(four months old) is now able to handle being carried in my pouch carrier and even before that I would often just lug the car seat with him in it by hand. My 3yr old walks pretty much everywhere or has me tote her a bit if needed. That said, with the trip coming up we were happy to get a nice big double stroller with a bench seating for xmas from grandma.
So the stroller sat in the box and with our trip coming this week I just put it together, dang its big and heavy. I hope I can get it in the trunk of the standard car we rented lol. But oh well, what can I do, I think it will help when my daughter is faultering and she might actually fall asleep in it. I know a lot of folks hate these things but I promise to watch out for ankles!
Here is a link that shows the boat...
http://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=1804098

 

[MaryJaneP]

In all our trips (see sig line below) we have ALWAYS rented a stroller for the kids. I would NEVER recommend lugging a stroller through the airport, buses or rental cars, or parks. It is SO much easier to leave the park without the hardware each night. For all the naysayers who will deride this post, I will agree there is a cost to renting and there is a slight inconvenience while waiting in the rental line each morning, but the kids never mentioned either issue. When we park-hopped, taking the stroller name-tag from one park to the other meant instant stroller at new park. Our kids fell asleep in the strollers if they needed a nap. Our rentals (from WDW) were always clean and top-notch. Do whatever you want as long as it results in a great vacation for you and your family. There is more than one side to the stroller debate.

 

[DsnySodec]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

We have a fairly expensive running stroller and not one person touched it during our last trip. We avan forget we left the cameras in it once. Also we use bus trans everywhere we go, I never held anyone up. I did always make sure the stroller was ready to board the bus before hand, and it is not a small stroller.

I would never rent a stoller, Im not paying for something I already own and much more comfortable for my child.

 

[RedDad]

Renting is obviously a popular choice and works for a lot of people. If we had to fly to Orlando we would seriously consider renting from a 3rd party. But as long as I have my car it will always be easier to bring our own stroller, if for no other reason than we can stroll our little one directly from the car to the parks and back at night (when she's usually sound asleep). It also holds tons of stuff and folds up in about 2 seconds, so I'll take that over renting as long as I can.

 

[Uddy]

We have a fairly expensive running stroller and not one person touched it during our last trip. We avan forget we left the cameras in it once. Also we use bus trans everywhere we go, I never held anyone up. I did always make sure the stroller was ready to board the bus before hand, and it is not a small stroller.

I would never rent a stoller, Im not paying for something I already own and much more comfortable for my child.

Good Luck. Now that you posted to the world you leave valuables in a expensive stroller!

 

[Uddy]

Well, I would not really care what someone on the bus thinks but I have a car rented. I might take the bus once or twice. Plus I have a 4 month old, he wont be able to sit in the strollers they rent out.

Good point. Just lock it up. I regretted that I didn't lock mine up. I hope someone out there is still enjoying it!

 

[Uddy]

I couldn't DISAGREE more with this post. Glad you didn't us charge for it.

When we needed one, we brought ours with and it was wonderful. Who gives a rats @$$ what anyone else on the bus thinks for "holding them up". And he did mention that he had a rental car, so maybe he is taking that and will spare the royalty on the bus those few precious minutes of their lives. While it may be easier to rent when you get there, what about getting those sleeping or very tired kids from the spot where you have to give up the stroller to your car or the bus? It isn't easier at that point. And let's see, what exactly are the odds of meeting up with someone at say the MK who is leaving at noon, just at the exact same time you are arriving and they will be just leaving their stroller for someone else to take instead of turning it in? vs. the 100% chance you will have a stroller when you bring yours? Seems like an easy decision to me.

And finally, while there may be some stroller theft, the number of strollers there are to the ones that are "possibly" taken is very minute. And some of those that are "taken" are really just moved to a different spot by the CM's or mistakenly by another guest and left somewhere else.

Best thing to do is to mark your stroller very prominently with something so it can't be mistaken.

That's the problem! People don't care about others. Very disney of you to say!

 

[Uddy]

I'm going to respectfully disagree. Do NOT rent a stroller, when we went last year we brought our own, it only took 3 sec. to fold up and bring on the bus. I have never heard of a stroller getting stolen in the parks so this is a non issue as well.

Have fun on your trip, you will be happy you decided to bring your stroller.

Finally a classy agrument to my post! Thanks

 

[Uddy]

I for one would not rent a stroller but then again I only have one kid. My stroller the city mini takes about 1 second to close up so i never hold anyone up waiting to get on the bus.

I'm talking about those portable RVs some people call strollers. Come on guys! We've all been there. If you're considerate, awesome. I'm not referring to those kind people!

 

[SAV]

Finally a classy agreement to my post! Thanks

Um, I guess you really need to re-read and comprehend that post. They disagreed with you on all of your points. Kinda like I did. They just put it a little bit nicer than I did.

And one of the others you said something about a good point about locking it up, but that post never said anything about locking it up.

I should know better than to feed the trolls, but I guess I'm just in that kind of mood tonite.

 

[Uddy]

Um, I guess you really need to re-read and comprehend that post. They disagreed with you on all of your points. Kinda like I did. They just put it a little bit nicer than I did.

And one of the others you said something about a good point about locking it up, but that post never said anything about locking it up.

I should know better than to feed the trolls, but I guess I'm just in that kind of mood tonite.

Thanks for heads up. Autocorrect got me. BTW it was just an opinion.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up!

As a childfree traveler, even I disagree with this. I'd much rather be in a crowded park with parents steering the strollers they're used to rather than those unwieldy rickshaws Disney rents out. Have you ever been hit in the back of the leg with one of those things? They'll take you out!

 

[DsnySodec]

Good Luck. Now that you posted to the world you leave valuables in a expensive stroller!

Actually if you read what I wrote you will see it was a accident that it happened. Also the point I'm making is that, people usually don't intentionally take your stroller or go through your things. It also is not the hassle you try to make it out to be. 15-31 dollars a day is not worth the price, when you own a stroller. It was stated before as long as you mark it recognizable you don't have to worry.

I feel you are just looking for a argument....since you were happy to find a "classy" one.

 

[KCheatle]

We bring a 2-kid stroller that has a little stoop for my DD to stand on - she'll be 7 this time around, so I doubt she use it much, if at all. Having rented strollers in the past, I would recommend you bring your own. When we rented, the strollers were $15/day for a single stroller (not sure how much $$ now or for a double), they are plastic, uncomfortable for kids, and are not designed for kids to sleep in them (which is one of the primary reasons we bring a stroller that reclines). Plus, they won't have any back support for your 4 month old.

When we rented, my daughter was 2 1/2. We dreaded the end of the day when we had to turn the stroller in because it meant we had to physically carry her sleeping out of the park, hold her while we waited in line for our transportation and then carry her all the way to our room. Needless to say, we had some lower back soreness. Having your own stroller means you walk our with the kid still asleep in the stroller. When we stayed at POPa and CS, it still sucked having to get her out of the stroller to ride on the bus, but at least we got to put her back in when we got to the hotel. Now stay at WL and one of the big perks with that hotel is that from MK we can wheel the stroller on and off the boat, and then up to our room, which allows my son (who was 2 last trip and will be 3 this trip) to keep sleeping.

But, it sounds like your renting a car, so that won't be any different then just a long day at the zoo or something. You'll be able to peacefully drive to your hotel and the kids will be able to peacefully sleep in their car seats at the end of a long day.

 

[durangojim]

take the stroller. It's a PIA but can also be helpful to lug or carry any other stuff you need around the parks. Yes, it stinks when getting on a bus, but whatever, it's not that bad. Most other parents will look at you with that "I've been there" look. No one will hate you, if anyone does, they're fools and don't have kids. The benefits outweigh the negatives. However, as soon as your kids are old enough for an umbrella stroller, get one or two of those. So much easier.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Well...now we are thinking of just renting at the park as needed for my daughter and brining my sons car seat stroller.

Rather than pay the high price of the in-park stroller rentals, you can rent from an outside company that will deliver to your hotel...it's usually a noticeable savings + unlike the park stroller, you can take it outside the park...which is quite helpful if it's late and your older one is super tired. It's like having your stroller from home (we don't always have space to bring ours). We've used Magic Strollers and found their prices to be a hair lower, but same quality and service (nice CityMini Double, but singles also available).

I've also never experienced any stroller theft. In fact, all of the cases I've read about wind up being just mistaken identity because the strollers looked similar. This is why we mark our stroller and are very mindful of proper stroller parking areas. No clue if we ever got dirty looks on the bus...but I really don't think that's a valid reason not to bring one for a young child. People just need to get over it because it's unrealistic to think a young child is going to make it all day without one.

 

[WDW 3]

I find it funny that some folks try to get on the bus at the end of the day without folding up the stroller. They must have had to have it folded to get to the park in the first place (AK). Once the bus pulls up... get ready so you can board the bus. It's not a surprise. You are waiting for a bus! I don't get mad, it's just comical when they get disgusted and cranky with the bus driver.. because???

 

[boilerpicc]

We took a stroller for my 3-month old when we went last September. We couldn't rent one, because she was too small. I am so glad that we took it!!!! She took tons of naps in there. My favorite napping location was out in front of Dinosaur at the AK near the restrooms. There are some shady benches, and it is pretty quite and tranquil.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Hey, rented a nice double stroller for 7 of the 8 days. Was tough to find availability(I hope who I rented from comes through). We will bring just the stroller that goes with my 4 month old's car seat for the plane ect.

 

[Mrs Potts]

Do NOT take a stroller! Rent it! You will be hated by everyone one on the bus for holding them up. It is soooooooo much easier to rent when you get there. And if you are getting to the parks around noon chances are someone is returning there's and they will give it to you. I won't charge for that tip!

Also people do like to steal strollers at the parks. Just a heads up![/quote

I don't think the Disney stroller would work for the baby. At 4 months old they will need something that reclines. We used strollers when our 3 were little (partly for naps, partly to contain the mayhem ) and never had an issue with holding up the busses.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I find it funny that some folks try to get on the bus at the end of the day without folding up the stroller. They must have had to have it folded to get to the park in the first place (AK). Once the bus pulls up... get ready so you can board the bus. It's not a surprise. You are waiting for a bus! I don't get mad, it's just comical when they get disgusted and cranky with the bus driver.. because???

It's beyond ridiculous