My 3 year old son is about 41" tall and weighs about 43#. I am currently trying to figure out what we are going to do about a stroller when we go to Walt Disney World in September. The easiest and most convenient would be our umbrella stroller. However, he is so big I don't know how comfortable it would be. We also have a travel system stroller. It would be more comfortable, but a lot more cumbersome when using Disney transportation. The last option would be renting one at the parks, but that is going to be expensive ($15/day for a single, $31/day for double). They are a hard plastic, so I don't know how comfortable that would be. What did you use? Any other ideas or suggestions?
You might want to look around yard sales or resale shops for a lighter weight stroller that is easy to fold up....I know they are out there because my daughter bought one recently to have for her one year old...it is between an umbrella and a heavy duty one, and you will appreciate that it reclines and is easier for you to push and maneuver around the park etc.
Sorry I cannot be more specific about a brand...
If you are going for the day, rent one. That's what we did and it worked out ok. If you are going for a week, eek, get a jogging stroller! I say that because the crowds MOVE when a big stroller is coming through! ;)
www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/
You will NOT be disappointed! We did this for our 4 year old... it was waiting for us at our resort, and we just had to give it to the front desk when we left... it is cheaper (if you are going to many parks) and MUCH MORE comfortable than renting from the parks everyday AND, you will have a stroller (a really great stroller mind you and EASY to use the Disney Transportation with) for when you go to Downtown Disney (you can't rent strollers there I don't think). Absolutely the best thing we did in planning our Disney trip!
I had the same issue and it is well worth the $$ to use the Disney rental. Comfy, easy and best of all, you don't have to drag it on and off of transportation. Just show your card and go. There is also a discount for multiple days.
i would still go with your umbrella stroller and bring a kid leash along if he gets unconfortable and wants to walk for a little while
We went in December with a 3 year old (38lb, 38in at the time) AND a 7 month old, we just took our Graco double stroller and wasn't sorry one minute. I know you only have one so a single will be much easier for you. Yes you do have to fold it up for the buses but in that situation my husband would fold up the stroller while we waited, I'd get on with the kids and he would follow with the stroller, not a big deal at all. You want your son to be comfortable because chances are he will fall asleep in the stroller or on one of you at some point and you want him to be able to take a little nap if he needs it...not so easy in an umbrella.
Disney transportation is great and can handle most strollers fine. I would take the stroller which would be most comfortable for your little guy because he will be spending alot of time in it and umbrollers are not good for kids' backs. Storage compartments are always better on a larger unit.
Don't forget to have FUN!
Our kids always get so excited when going there that a stroller was totally unnecessary to even take with us. I agree with Sarah below in her response.
I totally agree with Shannon - Rent one. We went in January with our daughters - 5 & 3 and thought we would be slow but able to manage. After the first day, we were calling the rental stroller places to see if they had any availability for a side by side double - and they did!!! It was the best thing that we did and would definitely do it again. We used www.orlandostrollerrentals.com. It was awesome - they delivered to our hotel and picked up. The system was VERY easy to use and fold up on the Disney transportation. I would highly recommend it. We have a double jogging stroller that we took when the girls were smaller - but it was a pain to break it down for the check in at the gate - so I DEFINITELY will be renting again when we go next time with our son and daughters. Hopefully, the oldest won't think it is a good idea to try to get in with the littler ones. There is another stroller company in the Orlando area that might be slightly cheaper - but you may have to really PLAN for it - when I called - they took forever to get back to me and they didn't have any left over to rent out anyway!!! They were nice and everything -but I wanted to know that we were going to have a stroller the next day!!
Good luck and if you have any other WDW questions, please feel free to ask. I love that place. :)
Have a great time!!!
K. in OH
If you are looking for a easy transport and nice size stroller i would go with a Combi.They are so lightweight and my 7yr old can still fit into it just fine.When we went to Disney we used a double though because I am a mom that overpacks lol We used a seat to just hold things..Hope you guys have fun!
Perhpas a friend has a lightweight foldable stroller that is a step-up from an umbrella you can borrow. That way it is a little bigger and can recline a little. I would think about what you will want with you. If you little guy is potty trained and you are staying on the Disney Property then you could pobably take a small bag with you into the park and the umbrella would easily hold it. If your not potty trained or are staying a ways away and need to bring everything you might need with you, Just the larger basket of the travel system might be helpful. We always take our double Maclaren for our 5 kids who now range from 16 months to 9. It holds up to 55 pounds per seat, reclines and won't flip if we hang a backpack on it. Renting does have it's conveniences and one thing to check if you are flying is if you will pay to check your stroller. I haven't used the rental strollers but they seem ideal for bigger kids and I've never heard anyone complain.
Your situation sounds very similar to one we went through two years ago with our daughter. Same age, same weight and didn't know which stroller to use. Well, we went with the travel system (Graco single stroller) and was so happy with the decision. When it came to the transportation issue, my husband and I decided that one of us would handle our daughter and the "baggage" that we had and then other one of us would deal with the stroller. We folded the stroller up and on the bus we went. It really isn't bad at all. The buses weren't that crowded either unless we stayed until closing time but we worked around that. Also, September is the time to go (exactly when we went as well) b/c it is not crowded at all. I say go with the single stroller - you won't regret it! Have a great trip!
I will recomend to buy one at craigslist.
I am in love with my stroller is a Joovy Kooper.
I love the big canopy, it does recline, it has a lot of space for your toddler, it has storage under, and some behind the canopy, 2 mesh pockets inside the stroller for your son to put toys/snacks.
Love, love, love it.
For the Disney buses you have to fold the stroller and carry it with you.
For the train inside Magic Kingdom, you have to fold the stroller and lift it over the turnstyle.
For the water taxis you have to fold the stroller
For the monorail, you do NOT have to fold down the stroller.
For most rides, you can park the stroller at the ride - like the Dumbo ride. For some rides that are close together or are very popular, like Its a Small World you have to park your stroller in a common area a bit down the street.
We borrowed a lightweight stroller from family in FL that met us at Disney.
We went in Jan. when our kids were almost 5 and 2 1/2. They both RODE in the stroller a TON! There is so much walking that you WILL need a stroller.
We purchased a Jeep side-by-side double umbrella stroller off Craigslist for $30! The seats recline separately and the kids were plenty comfortable even though there isn't a ton of padding with this stroller. It pushes well and suited our needs. I suggest a JEEP umbrella stroller.
Renting one will be cheaper than buying a new one, particularly if you don't plan to use it long term or after the trip.
You can check Craigslist, to see what's available cheap, but again, you will probably pay more than the cost of renting it.
We have and love the Quinny Buzz. It's a spacious, very easily portable "umbrella" stroller. Can accomodate large kids, and it's the smallest folding stroller on the market. Check it out.
We are going in Sept as well!! My son just turned 5 last week, is 46lbs and 46". We are taking his Graco stroller instead of renting. I had it in storage since he hasn't used it for zoos or anything in almost 2 yrs. But everyone I talked to with small children said he would need it at some point each day due to LOTS of walking so we got it out. He's more comfortable in his, I have storage in the bottom for snacks, drinks and whatever else we need and it reclines and had a visor for shade. It folds very easy so I'm not concerned about buses at all and I know I would regret not having it the first time he said he was tired from walking. i also found out that while I have to pay to check my luggage on my airline, strollers are FREE to check and they check them right at the gate so I can use it to lug carry ons through the airport as well.
