Hi all
We will be going on our yearly Disney trip next week, but this year I'll be introducing the Magic to our new lil one. He'll be 7 months and a little on the small side. Will he be ok in the Disney strollers? He is able to sit up, but when he is in his stroller he never leans back unless he's sleeping. I've read a lot about strollers being taken which is why I don't really want to take mine, not to mention that it's pretty big and I don't want to be one of those moms who runs everyone down :p Also, is there a place to store my stroller at the park if we rent one of theirs. That way I can stroll him back to the hotel or get mine back if he doesn't like the rental. Thanks! I can't wait :D

Whatever your choice I recommend tying something distinct around the handle so that you can claim it is yours. Last time when we brought our stroller we got off small world only to find some father walking away with our stroller. When I stopped him and told him it was mine he disagreed until I showed him the different colored ribbons tied around the handle. He was embarrassed and apologized and grabbed his stroller (which was broken).
Don't know if it was an honest mistake or not, but this year I am going to tie something bigger around the handle so mistakes won't happen.
I just buy a cheapy umbrella stroller for $5.00.. cheaper than renting.. and figure no one wants to steal the junky strollers anyway. Benefit to renting.. it gets you back to the hotel at night.. and you don't want to carry your child after walking around DL for 10+ hours.
I also use this stroller when shopping in stores I know have VERY small isles or for quick trips into stores when I don't want to lug out the "BEAST" (My huge comfy few hundred dollar stroller.)
Target/Walmart/Kmart etc. usually have them for under $10.00.
Good luck!

My grandson is 14 months old , his parents are AP holders and live 15 minutes away and he has been at the park alot since he was 15 weeks old , his parents got married there around his 1st birth day . They have never had a problem loosing a stroller just as mentioned before tie something distinctive around it and I think you will be ok. the rental ones are not very comfortable looking also not canopy to protect from the weather elements of bloci out noise or light.

IMHO rent the stokkers from DL. With the DL strollers they have a nice sized undercarriage to store things. Do not, and I repeat DO NOT leave anything of value in the stroller. DO NOT take your own stroller whatever you do and keep the reciept from when you rent the stroller.

Some thief that I hope burns in that fiery furnace for eternity stole our stroller while we were on POTC :~D. I had a pair of sunglasses in the stroller that because of an eye disease I really needed to protect them from the sun. (it was 9 pm so I threw them into the stroller and not was wearing them) At least when you rent the stroller from DL and that jerk steals your stroller you can at least go back and get another one. If you buy a stroller (I do not know where you can get the canopy stroller for $5, I have only been able to find them for $13-$20) then someone steals it then you are out that money, you have to rent another stroller at DL and then at some point buy another stroller. Meanwhile you have to suffer with a young child until you get a new stroller by passing the child from one adult to another.

My kids were able to see just fine and sleep just fine in the strollers. The canopy was just wonderful at keeping the sun out of their eyes while they slept and this allowed the big kids to enjoy the bigger rides.

They do have a canopy and the material is made of stuff that if it rains they do not get as wet and my kids find the strollers very comfortable.

I have a funny stroller theft story. Well they didn't actually steal our stroller, they stole our Disney bag which I'm sure they thought was full of stuff from all the shops. They thought they would find something good, but all they got were torn, wet ponchos. We couldn't believe that someone would still a bag of ponchos.

I highly recommend taking your own stroller. It is very unlikely that it will be stolen. I think GrumpyUTboi's story is extremely rare. I take a very expensive stroller to DLR on every trip, leave it stuffed with my bags/backpack, etc. and have never had it disturbed. Your baby is young enough to need naps during the day, the DLR strollers do not recline. I think he will be much more comfortable in his own stroller which he can recline and sleep in. Also, if you are going to take your stroller to walk to and from the parks, you will be leaving it all day unattended in the park, which would probably leave it more vulnerable than if you used it to get around the parks and came back to it after each attraction. I like having a stroller to get around inside and outside of the parks. My son falls asleep sometimes at the end of the day and it would be too hard to carry him back to the hotel (this even goes for the GCH which is close!) He can also stay in the stroller if we go to dinner in one of the DtD or hotel restaurants and he's sleeping... just stroll him to the table and let him sleep. It's much more convenient to have your own stroller IMO.

I highly recommend taking your own stroller. It is very unlikely that it will be stolen. I think GrumpyUTboi's story is extremely rare. I take a very expensive stroller to DLR on every trip, leave it stuffed with my bags/backpack, etc. and have never had it disturbed. Your baby is young enough to need naps during the day, the DLR strollers do not recline. I think he will be much more comfortable in his own stroller which he can recline and sleep in. Also, if you are going to take your stroller to walk to and from the parks, you will be leaving it all day unattended in the park, which would probably leave it more vulnerable than if you used it to get around the parks and came back to it after each attraction. I like having a stroller to get around inside and outside of the parks. My son falls asleep sometimes at the end of the day and it would be too hard to carry him back to the hotel (this even goes for the GCH which is close!) He can also stay in the stroller if we go to dinner in one of the DtD or hotel restaurants and he's sleeping... just stroll him to the table and let him sleep. It's much more convenient to have your own stroller IMO.


EXACTLY.... having your own stroller is so much more convenient...we just take a backpack to put our valuables in that goes with us on every attraction

I dont think I would use the disney stroller for a 7 month old. They dont adjust at all, and I dont think they offer the best support. They are a jogging style stroller, which isnt bad for a short jogging trip, but not so great to be in all day long.

Well after our experience I would never ever bring my own stroller nor would I take our back pack in with us again. My children still ask why someone at DL would steal our stroller being that it is Disneyland and it is supposed to be the happiest place on earth.

We never had a problem with our kids falling asleep sitting upright, but then againt the stroller is not exactly up right either. The strollers kind of lean back.

As with us, they got a bag with a few diapers, diaper wipes and few other things that unless they had a baby they would need. There were also a couple of wet outfits from the days activities.

I even went to lost and found and thought that maybe once they found that there was nothing of value that they would turn it in as if they had found it. No such luck

Disney rental stroller get stolen more often then personal ones because they all look a like from what I saw working there. They are easily replaced if you have a receipt. The only time I saw personal stroller get stolen is when there were two of the same kind in the same area and it was taken by mistake.
I do agree with the above poster never leave any valuables in a stroller because purses and backpacks are what get stolen out of strollers not the strollers themselves.

I don't mean to diminish Grumpy's loss, but the risk that my stroller will be stolen at Disneyland is low enough that I would not ever rent one, especially for a baby.

Your personal stroller is going to be much more comfortable all day for your child, and it may be for you, too. I've heard complaints ranging from the height of the bar to the metal getting hot or just uncomfortable for pushing.

I've been taking my own stroller to the parks for over 7 years now and all of the strollers I've taken have been big name strollers (mostly my single and double Peg Perego strollers.) So far, I have had no problems, knock wood.

Adrienne

Well after our experience I would never ever bring my own stroller nor would I take our back pack in with us again. My children still ask why someone at DL would steal our stroller being that it is Disneyland and it is supposed to be the happiest place on earth.

We never had a problem with our kids falling asleep sitting upright, but then againt the stroller is not exactly up right either. The strollers kind of lean back.




I am so sorry to hear about your expierience...though remember that this is a 7mo old little one. Those DL strollers are not very suitable for suce a youngin..

Thanks everyone! :D
I think I'm am going to take my stroller even though it's ginormous! I'd hate to have him be uncomfortable and end up keeping him in his Baby Bjorn. I'm even thinking of buying a new light weight one for traveling. I appreciate all of the advice :fez:
Getting excited...only one day to go! I was suppose to go christmas shopping today and ended up buying little Mickey slippers and 3 Mickey outfits for him to wear in the park. My husbands afraid he's going to grow up to have Mickey fever like his mommy. :p

Thanks everyone! :D
I think I'm am going to take my stroller even though it's ginormous! I'd hate to have him be uncomfortable and end up keeping him in his Baby Bjorn. I'm even thinking of buying a new light weight one for traveling. I appreciate all of the advice :fez:
Getting excited...only one day to go! I was suppose to go christmas shopping today and ended up buying little Mickey slippers and 3 Mickey outfits for him to wear in the park. My husbands afraid he's going to grow up to have Mickey fever like his mommy :p


Think of this as well... when you get to the trams (if you need to take them) the first and the last cars have bigger front portions so that you dont have to fold the stroller up. There may be a little line but several strollers can fit on there at a time if they are lined up right. **hint-- the back one is more than normally the less crowded one! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

**hint-- the back one is more than normally the less crowded one! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

And you don't have to suck engine fumes...

And, the front car is actually the wheelchair accessible car so if a party comes that uses a wheelchair, they get priority in the front car over the stroller line. (When I've gone with my friend who needs a wheelchair, we've gotten nasty looks from the people in the stroller line when the tram pulls up with our group already on that car... There's no ramp for people with wheelchairs to use the back car.)

Adrienne

If your considering buying a more portable stroller, I found one that I really love. It is a step up from the umbrella stroller but still just 14 pounds. The Chicco C5, it has a reclining seat, a really nice adjustable canopy and clear rainfly, A cargo basket and nice tall handles - no stooping (my husband loves that). When folded it has a carrying handle on the side making it perfect for carrying onto the tram, railroad, or monorail. It has also been really sturdy for us (we doubled it up with two five year olds last trip and the stroller not only survived but came away perfectly). I would consider having another baby just to use the thing a little bit longer..LOL! BTW I never have had a stroller stolen either, and I have taken four or five different strollers to DL. Good Luck and have fun!

If your considering buying a more portable stroller, I found one that I really love. It is a step up from the umbrella stroller but still just 14 pounds. The Chicco C5, it has a reclining seat, a really nice adjustable canopy and clear rainfly, A cargo basket and nice tall handles - no stooping (my husband loves that). When folded it has a carrying handle on the side making it perfect for carrying onto the tram, railroad, or monorail!


Where did you find this? We are looking to get a new "umbrella stroller" but I dont want the same type per say that we had before...yours sounds exactly what I am looking for!

Where did you find this? We are looking to get a new "umbrella stroller" but I dont want the same type per say that we had before...yours sounds exactly what I am looking for!

I bought mine at babies r us. It comes in a couple of color combos. Mine was $89.00. I did purchase mine in the store though cause I wanted to "feel" it before I bought it.

here it a link to it

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009WLRRE/qid=1133903242/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/103-9952130-0030263?v=glance&s=baby

if the link doesn't work just check out the babiesrus.com website.

Wow... thanks for the link..that is a very cool stroller and the size is fantastic! Im heading over to a shopping center with a Babies R Us tonight so I will go and check it out! Thanks again!:D

...and heres the deal.

We are getting ready to fly down to WDW with our 4 mos. old son. We only have one stroller its the kind that his Graco car seat fits into.

We like the idea of his own stroller because he sleeps well in the car seat that fits inside. His Grandparents are also with us and well the stroller also holds a great deal of stuff.

My concern is that it doesn't really collapse to a small size for one, and that it is quite expensive, I WOULD cry if it was ever to "walk" away!

We are staying on property at Pop Century...any comments, to "take or not to take...that IS the question!"

Denny J

My concern is that it doesn't really collapse to a small size for one, and that it is quite expensive, I WOULD cry if it was ever to "walk" away!

Ok, speaking as a woman whose primary Disney Park stroller retails for over $300 (http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__cat_id--13090201,keyword--tender%20peg%20perego,lp--1,mkt_id--26685446,sfsk--4.html), I appreciate this sentiment.

It comes down to the cost vs. the risk. Is there a chance it will walk away? Of course. But the risk is pretty low, imo, and well worth having your own stroller that will:

1- be comfortable for your child (HUGE priority, especially with an infant! Rental strollers seem to be most inappropriate for infants and better for toddler/preschooler age)

2- make life easier for parents and grandparents- leaving the parks and taking it with you, dealing with less fussy baby who is familiar with his own stroller especially at nap time, sturdy, a height you're familiar with, etc, etc.

I'm admittedly hugely biased against renting and towards bringing your own. But I really do think that the chance it will walk is worth the risk.

Adrienne

Definitely take your own. Especially with a 4-month-old. Rental strollers don't recline and really aren't very suitable for such a little baby. They're like joggers with strong mesh seating. You'll be much happier if you take your own. Another little tidbit... at WDW you don't need to fold down your stroller to ride on the monorail, you can just push the whole thing on and leave your child in it... nifty!

We are getting ready to fly down to WDW with our 4 mos. old son. We only have one stroller its the kind that his Graco car seat fits into.

Our son's first stroller was a Graco Travel System as well and we did use it at Disneyland on many occasions (starting at about 6 weeks old) as well as on our son's first visit to WDW, which was a couple weeks after his first birthday.

Honestly, the concerns you expressed really are true. That type of stroller still remains pretty big and bulky even when folded, which makes it something of a pain at the airport (particularly going through security, where the stroller does have to be folded and go through the x-ray machine), on the parking lot trams, on the WDW busses, etc. We were very glad to have a rental van (smaller sized rental cars probably won't be big enough for the stroller plus all the luggage you will need) and to be staying at a monorail resort on that WDW trip and I only recall one occasion where we used a WDW bus. Those strollers also tend to be a bit heavy when you have to carry and/or lift them. Very quickly after returning from our WDW trip, we did go out shopping for a lightweight, more compact stroller.

Hopefully that will help to prepare you a bit for the experience of using that kind of stroller at the parks, but with a 4-month-old I really do think that you are going to want to have a travel system type stroller. As you already mentioned, a child that age will sleep better in that kind of stroller than in one that is really intended for an older child. He also will be more secure in it, considering that the restraints in regular strollers tend to be designed for larger children. You also will likely find the carrier to be extremely valuable to have along. This is especially true at restaurants since a 4-month-old isn't likely to be ready for a high-chair and most restaurants do not have the space to accommodate a stroller.

As for the concern about having the stroller stolen, I will simply agree with what Adrienne already posted. Of course it is a risk, but the chances that it will be stolen are pretty small. We have never had a problem during numerous visits to DL and two week-long WDW vacations. While you would certainly hate to lose a fairly expensive stroller, my general view is that the price you spent for the stroller is kind of wasted if you are afraid to actually use it.

Have a good trip! A visit to a Disney park with a child that young is quite an experience!

-Jeff

Thanks to all for the input!

The stroller is going!

Denny J
HAs anyone seen the sun this month!?!?!?!:p

My "all knowing" sister (who has 2 young children and recently took her 3mos. old to WDW) told me that I am going to have trouble getting my "all-in-one" collapsable Graco stroller (you know the kind that the car seat locks into) through security at the airport, is there any truth to this?

I really would like someone who has attmpted this before to give input. I checked on the Delta Airline website and they had no mention of stroller and security. Just that non-collapsable strollers could not be checked at the gate.

Denny J
Perplexed new-type Daddy, who is trying to stay as child-like as possible.