I think I read somewhere that if you stay at a Disneyland Resort your stroller rental is free? Is this true? I am debating if we need to bring our stroller from home for our 4 year old. We are staying at the Grand Californian so our walk is close anyways.

If you happen to have a Disney Visa card you get one free stroller rental per day, or at least you used to, but I have never heard that hotel guests get free stroller rentals. We stayed at GCH one night for fun a few months ago, but no one ever offered us a stroller and I never noticed anything written anywhere about free rentals. I do know you can not take them to the hotel, they will stop you at the security tents and ask you to leave it behind. Personally, I would pack a really light, cheap, compact umbrella stroller before I would pay to rent one. That way if your 4 year old falls asleep in it, you do not have to remove her for the walk back to the hotel.

We have never been offered a free stroller rental either. We have stayed at the resort hotels many times and have never seen anything like that.

I called the GCH and was told that this was not something they offered. This is actually fine because I like to have the stroller in the airport anyways...so we'll bring ours.

While we're on the subject, does anyone know if they rent out double strollers (I haven't really been paying enough attention to notice around the park)? Also, if you rent one in DL can you take it out of the park to go to DCA or do you have to change stollers at each park?

TIA,
Liz :cool:

While we're on the subject, does anyone know if they rent out double strollers (I haven't really been paying enough attention to notice around the park)?

No, they do not have double strollers.


Also, if you rent one in DL can you take it out of the park to go to DCA or do you have to change stollers at each park?

You can take the stroller across the Esplanade between parks. You cannot go outside of the bag check areas - even if you're staying on property. So you wouldn't have it back to your hotel nor in Downtown Disney.

Adrienne,
Who is heavily biased towards bringing your own stroller. :)

Thanks. There will be some days when I just take DD by myself and taking strollers on the tram with an 18 month old is too much hastle for me! We've mostly figured out a system for two adults with two kids and two strollers on the tram, but it's the one (or two) kids with one adult and one stoller that I'm worried about. (DS stays close pretty well, and wears a child harness well too for when he wants to wander a bit more.)

Liz :cool:

Thanks. There will be some days when I just take DD by myself and taking strollers on the tram with an 18 month old is too much hastle for me! We've mostly figured out a system for two adults with two kids and two strollers on the tram, but it's the one (or two) kids with one adult and one stoller that I'm worried about. (DS stays close pretty well, and wears a child harness well too for when he wants to wander a bit more.)

Liz :cool:

FWIW, I've taken all three of mine to DL with a single stroller and dealt with the tram ok.

If you go to the back of the tram, the last car, the CM back there is very helpful. When I've been alone, the CMs have offered to put the stroller on the tram for me so often that I would have no problem ASKING for help if they didn't.

The thing I've done is wait until the last minute to take the baby out of the stroller, then put him on the bench while I put the stroller on the tram. Once I start that, a CM is usually there to help before I need the help. And they've always been very friendly about it.

Alternatively, did you know that you can walk from the parking structure to the main gate? I do that a lot. It's a nice little walk.

Adrienne

I second that about the walk from the garage to the main gate. It is 1/2 mile, but it goes fast. I have not gotten on the tram in several months, mainly becuase once I take my daughter out and leave the diaper bag hanging on the stroller, it tips backward and I always have coffee in my cupholder in the morning! Besides, sneaking in a little extra excersize makes up for the extra goodies I eat while there (yeah right). When it is crowded and my mom comes with us, she waits for the tram because she doesn't walk that well and I walk back and often I beat her back, or at least get there at the same time.

Besides, sneaking in a little extra excersize makes up for the extra goodies I eat while there (yeah right).

Yeah, I always look at it as "I need more exercise anyway". Seriously.

Doc and I often walk it even when we're together because sometimes the tram lines are just obscenely long. Especially with people waiting for the front and back cars for extra room with their strollers.

I HATE how pushy and anxious the tram lines are at the end of the day! Walking is a lot easier on my nerves.

Adrienne

We often do the parking structure to park walk too. I tend to avoid the tram unless it's pretty empty.

And does anyone know why they don't have double strollers at Disneyland? I always found that odd. I love the ones at Disneyworld because you can fit 3 kids in there.

Thanks. I've done the walk a couple times. Always with DH or my mom, neither one like walking so they're always complaining about any extra steps. I'm think if I dig up my pedometer and show them the steps I take and the calories burned, they might lighten up about the walk.

Thanks,
Liz :cool:

Yep, I walk too!

If I DO take the tram, the CMs are usually pretty helpful, mainly when I am alone.

And, most guests are helpful too when I am alone w/ the 2 kids. :)

This is kinda off-topic but it's sort of a spin-off- re: Helpful CMs...

The best story I have about helpful CMs is from the time we went to Redd Rockett's Pizza Port with two moms, four kids, and a stroller, a wheelchair, an ECV to help carry us all! There were multiple CMs carrying trays for us. They got utensils for us, found a table for us, cleared it, pushed tables together, got chairs for us, etc, etc.

I have no doubt that if I went back, alone, with the double stroller and three kids, I could ask for help and a CM would happily help me get my food and find a table.

Don't hesitate to ask for help if you're alone with your kids! It's out there!

Adrienne

Has anyone ever rented a stroller at DL? We are going on March 1st and aren't taking our double stroller for the first time! (YIKES) We have a 6mo old we are taking an umbrella stroller for, but our 3 year old may need a ride now and then. I am wondering if they have any storage area in their rental strollers or if they have wagons or just strollers. I have been there three times, but never paid attention to any of the strollers from the park!! Thanks for the help!

Has anyone ever rented a stroller at DL? We are going on March 1st and aren't taking our double stroller for the first time! (YIKES) We have a 6mo old we are taking an umbrella stroller for, but our 3 year old may need a ride now and then. I am wondering if they have any storage area in their rental strollers or if they have wagons or just strollers. I have been there three times, but never paid attention to any of the strollers from the park!! Thanks for the help!

Can I ask why you aren't bringing your double?

My kids are 2.5 to 3 years apart and at those ages, we always took our double. Will your 6-month-old be comfortable enough in an umbrella stroller? Even if the 3-year-old wants to walk, you can use your double stroller for carrying your diaper bag between rides. Also, consider this: the time your child will most want to ride in the stroller will be at the end of the day. Even if you rent a stroller, you won't be able to take it back to your car or hotel with you.

The rental strollers are jogging strollers with net baskets.

Adrienne

We were going to leave it simply for space issues. We have the five members of our family going and we are taking my 18 year old brother for his 19th birthday so we have a lot of extra stuff for a nine day trip, but I have considered sending the stroller via UPS to our hotel and just prepaying a shipping label to send it home as well.

We rented a stroller for our 5 year old and she used it most of the day. It really saved us from the crankiness that can come with physical exhaustion- plus, she always had a place to sit for a snack, the parade and on the long distance walks accross the park. If we had a double stroller at the time, I definately would have taken it if I could have. I think you will thank yourself many times over if you ups the stroller to your hotel. I can almost guarantee atleast one of those times will be after the fireworks when you are stuck in the mass exodus! The path parts like the red sea when a double stroller comes thru!

We beat the heck out of our double stroller in the first year we had it (of course, I don't drive, so that thing went EVERYWHERE)! Now I wish we had broken down and gotten a new one, simply because it's no fun taking two stollers everywhere or only being able to take one, and have the other kids walk because I'm the only adult. With another one on the way, I might just have to insist on a new double!

Liz :cool: