Hi mamas,
We are going to Disney. Hitting the parks 3 days. I have a single jogging stroller. My dad will be renting a wheelchair, and I have a carrier that I can put my 2 year old in. I think we are going to be okay with the single stroller.. between putting my little one in the back pack, and the option to put her or my 5 year old with my dad on the wheel chair.
I hate to rent a stroller that is huge trying to get though the parks. And I would also dislike, really wanting one and not having it. we also have the option of a small umbrella stroller, I think we can bring that with also.
We also are staying on site and will be heading back to our rooms for nap/afternoon swim to unwind.
So okay with single stroller, or go for the double. It is cheaper to rent the double stroller outside the park hence I am asking.
Two singles or a double? better.
Oh. well our jogging stroller. Hmm I had not thought of that. we might need to bring the other one. I have a friend that lives down there also. We might be able to borrow one of hers?? thinking
No, My husband and my parents are going. The back pack is a light carrier she fits in. She is only 24 lbs.. and I have been to disney, but not with kids.
And I know what the weather is like right now. I live in Chicago! We are not going for a while yet, I am just preparing.
My Girlfried and her siblings live right by disney. So we are contemplating getting a umbrella stroller for my son and leaving it for my freinds nephew. then we will have the two strollers if necessary. Cheaper than renting, and no need to have the space in thr trunk for our drive to Tampa after our fligt to orland.. there will be 6 people in the car with luggage.
Ditto 2 lightweight umbrella strollers. You have to fold them on the buses, trams, monorail train, etc. Much easier without a bulky stroller.
I used a backpack carrier for my 2 year old last spring. It worked well, but hubby had to carry him as he was 38 pounds. But it may be hard to handle that trying to eat and waiting in lines, etc. Where will you put the backpack then?
For Disney world the stroller's you rent are good for the day. That means that you leave it in the park for the bus or tram ride back to the hotel and when you go back to the park you just get a new one. The thought of folding your own stroller and carrying it on the bus and back the hotel I say no thanks.
I have been there twice with my three little ones. The first time they were 2, 4, and 5. I considered my ergo for the 2 year old but SO glad I didn't. Instead we brought a cheap sit n stand (got off Craigslist for 10 bucks just for the trip) and an umbrella stroller. I was so happy to have them so we did the same when bringing them again at ages 4, 6, and 7. They were constantly in and out of the strollers. It was nice not having to lug around the backpack and jackets as they just sat in the baskets of the strollers. We ditched our strollers in the waiting areas many times with no problem of theft which was my worry, hence the "cheap" strollers we brought. Have a great time!! If you do opt for a child carrier, I definitely saw others with them so it's not uncommon.
Personally, I would rent a double stroller at the park. I understand not wanting to pay for it, but dang those are NICE strollers. I mean they are so smooth and easy to push! Also, it is nice to be able to carry a backpack with drinks and snacks. We bought very little food at Disney (5 days). We packed lunches and snacks and drinks.
I have used the backpacks to carry my boys when they were little. I understand what you mean. They are nice, and it's amazing how nicely they distribute the weight so that you don't really feel how heavy the kids are.
However, I would not want to carry my child in a backpack at Disney, because it would mean putting them down, getting them back up, putting them down, getting them back up every time you want to go on a ride or see a show. That's just way too much up and down for my tastes. In and out of a stroller is much less work!
Just my opinion. I think it's worth it to make things easier and really enjoy your time.
I went with an 18 month old and 4 year to Disneyland (not sure which Disney you are going to). The single stroller was easier for me because I would just put my son up on the drink holder area and move through the crowd. For me, a double can be more difficult in a crowd.
I do like the suggestion of a cheap umbrella stroller just incase.
p.s. We have been having swimming weather in CA. Someone else mentioned it as if it was a crazy thought.
A double is better... if one of your children wants to walk you can always use the extra seat for backpacks, snacks, water, sweatshirts, etc. Toting a 24 pound child on your back is certainly possible, but how will you also carry all the other stuff you'll need (snacks, water, clothing layers)?
My kids are 4 and 6. We live near Orlando and always take our double jogger to the parks. I don't think we'll ever give it up! LOL! BUT...it totally depends on what you are used to. If you prefer light weight umbrellas in the rest of your life, then you'll prefer them at the park too. If you are a double jogger kind of mom when not on vacation, then you'll appreciate the bigger stroller in the parks too. Do what is typical for you in other situations, don't over think it.
If you are staying on property then bring one umbrella stroller and then rent the double at each park for the day. Having them on the busses and monorail can be a pain in the butt. If you are staying outside and coming in from the main parking areas I would either bring or rent a double stroller, you will want it at the end of the day going back to the car.
You can rent strollers here and have them delivered to your hotel (along with a scooter for your dad, both are cheaper outside the parks). Do a Google search and check the prices before you come down.
The weather is chilly right now in winter but by March it always warms right up.
My daughter was still in a stroller at Disney at 7yo! We brought our own stroller because even outside of the parks there is still a lot of walking (ie hotel to bus stop, bus stop to park entrance etc.). Our stroller was super light and easy to fold up to make getting on the bus/monorail/boats easy. I know I would not have wanted to bring my jogging stroller because mine was too bulky.
Have a fabulous time.
I'd use two single umbrella strollers. Buy them at wallmart or ToysRus before the trip they'll be very inexpensive - consider a good investemnt for your trip - they'll be good in the airport too. If you can't carry them on the plane they will stow them with luggage at the time you board. Even if the kids want to walk some, they will get very tired quickly. Plus you always have to drag stuff around for kids so having strollers to carry stuff is helpful too. You are allowed to bring certain types of snacks in with you - & water so having a tote bag or packpack on the strollers is helpful. Two single umbrella strollers will allow you to be so much more nimble than a double or a large jogging stroller (which is never a good idea for an theme park no matter what - they're just too big). consdier also when one needs the bathroom now (how far away is it?) while the other is napping, or one wants a trip to see the princess while your husband and older child want to go on the teacups. Two small umbrella strollers offer so much more flexibility and bought at walmart will cost a fraction of renting - and you get to keep them.
As for your dad - you can rent motorized scooters outside of Disney (they will deliver it to your hotel and pick it up later) for about the same $ as a wheelchair in Disney. My husband had ruptured his achilles tendon last year about 6 weeks before our trip and was 1 month post-surgical when we went. The scooter was a God-send - but it was not sufficient to also carry a preschooler on it with an adult. The basket in front was handy - we used it as a "cooler" of sorts - double plastic bag as a liner of the basket and doubled up ziploc bags of ice to keep drinks, spray bottles, etc. cool.
You can find scooter rental information by googling scooter rental disneyworld - there are about 6-8 companies -all are similar prices. Ours began having ignition problems and they brought us a new one in about an hour's time. All the buses and boats at Disney are accessible with the scooters & wheelchairs too.
Final note - the scooter/wheelchair will no longer get you to the front of the lines all the time. In some instances - on the older rides - it did since they don't have the queues set up wide enough to accomodate the chairs. But all the newer rides are accessible & the wheelchair / scooter fits easily so you won't get special accomodations on those. In some isntances - like the 3-D shows it ends up being worse to have a scooter/wheelchair since you'll be automatically seated in the back corners - where the 3-D effects are not nearly as good. If your dad can easily transfer to a seat speak up early when you get to the 3-D shows.
Good luck mama - it's always an adventure - and you'll have a good time no matter what - but being able to move about, to take one kid one way, and another another way in separate strollers may help too. Have fun!
Our girls are 7 and 3. We did Disney in September. Prior to the trip I purchased a sit and stand stroller thinking that the walking would get to be too much for the 7 year old. We are beyond grateful that we made that purchase. I could lay the seat back for the 3 y/o to nap alone in the stroller. With the front seat in the upright position my 7 y/o had the option to sit in the jump seat or stand and ride. That came in very handy when exploring the parks for all day. After a few hours she was ready to ride for a while.
We also liked having the onboard drink holders. I packed large metal hoop shower curtain hooks that I clipped onto the handle bar. I was able to secure the diaper bag and snack cooler on the clips so no hauling bags around either.
The stroller collapses smaller than our regular stroller so taking it on and off the buses was not a problem either.
Enjoy your trip.
Peace and Blessing,
Mom2M&Ms
You are going to put two year old in a back pack!!!! Obviously you have never been to Disney. Rent a double for sure. I am assuming you will only be doing magic kingdom and maybe one other park. If you are going now swimming won't be happening. You are one able adult with two little ones. Just take your time, have a plan and do not plan on seeing everything.
