Hello- We are traveling to DLR in August and I am contemplating what to do about a stroller. My oldest is 5 and so she will walk for the most part. And then I have a 3 year old whom I know will need a stroller. The only stroller we have is a fairly crappy umbrella stroller, which we really don't want to bring. We will be in the park for 3 days and have considered renting, but would like a stroller for the airport, getting around Downton Disney, etc.

So, my questions is... can any of you recommend a fairly inexpensive (under $50) stroller that is light weight and easy to use? We don't want to invest a lot in a stroller we will most likely never use again. My son is 40 inches tall and weighs nearly 40 pounds.

Thanks for any advice or input! :)

Do you have a consignment store near you? The type of place that sells 'gently used' clothing and children's equipment? You might try looking at a place like that or checking the Pennysaver/Craig's List for a used Maclaren. A new one won't cost under $50, but I love my Triumph and I saw a LOT of Maclaren's at Disneyland yesterday. They make very nice, lightweight umbrellaish strollers with decent baskets.

It might be worth checking out.

Adrienne

We bought a jogging stroller, because they tend to have a higher weight limit. Here is a link to one similar to what we bought.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5614719

It is a little more than you wanted to spend, but since the weight limit is 50 pounds, it will last you a while. We have had ours for over 2 years, and we really like it. There are lots of different kinds of jogging strollers available, check out the different on-line stores, and then look around at stores near you and look for sales.

Thanks for your input. I may check out a used Maclaren. That is a good idea.

And as for the jogging stroller we actually have a pretty decent one, but it does not fold up or collapse easily at all. And we are going to be flying in with a stop each way. I need something pretty lightweight and easy to collapse. Yet something that will fit my big boy!

:)

Babies r Us and Target both have a fairly decent umbrella stroller for under $50, don't know the brand name but I have friends who have used them - maybe Chicco?

Criag's List is a great place to look, as well as the children's consignment shops - we have one here called Children's Orchard, but I am sure there is one near you called something else.

You are on the right track wanting the umbrella to take throughout your trip rather than renting one or bringing the huge jogger!

I say try to find a used Maclaren. While they are umbrella strollers, they are more full featured with comfier seats. They also tend to be able to accomodate older kids. Which will help if your 5yo need to ride. My tall almost 6yo fits comfortably in my Maclaren Ryder.

I bought a $20 CAN. stroller at Wal-Mart. It folds like a regular stroller (in half-top to bottom) and has a small basket and a mesh parent tray. It also has a canopy, reclines a little and has a straight bar so you can push one handed if you like. It is made by Cosco and holds up to 40 lbs. I liked it better than an umbrella stroller because it has a flat back, which I think will be more comfortable. I think it was called Deluxe Comfort Ride.

My niece is over 40" and is close to the weight limit, but she is not cramped in it like the umbrella stroller. I just bought it for DL and she will probably never use it after that, but I'm sure her younger sister will.

The only possible disadvantage to this stroller over an umbrella stroller is that you can not push it folded up.

Hello- We are traveling to DLR in August and I am contemplating what to do about a stroller. My oldest is 5 and so she will walk for the most part. And then I have a 3 year old whom I know will need a stroller. The only stroller we have is a fairly crappy umbrella stroller, which we really don't want to bring. We will be in the park for 3 days and have considered renting, but would like a stroller for the airport, getting around Downton Disney, etc.

So, my questions is... can any of you recommend a fairly inexpensive (under $50) stroller that is light weight and easy to use? We don't want to invest a lot in a stroller we will most likely never use again. My son is 40 inches tall and weighs nearly 40 pounds.

Thanks for any advice or input! :)

My 3 year old is exactly the same size as yours. I took her to Babies R Us today to test out strollers for our trip. The only light weight big enough was the Maclaren. I was hoping to buy the less expensive Combi or the new Graco umbrella, but her legs were way too long for the Combi, and her head hit the top of the Graco. The Maclaren "drove" beautifully. It's really great, but pricey. So . . . we'll either buy the Maclaren or just rent one at the park. I'm so paranoid about the Maclaren being stolen.

I have been doing some stroller shopping lately and nothing has panned out. Since I know we won't be using the stroller for anything aside from Disneyland I just can't fork over anything above what it would cost to rent one.

We leave in 3 days (yippee) and I have decided to just take our old cruddy umbrella stroller that we got for free several years ago at Babies R Us. He is too big for it, but we can make do. And hopefully he won't be in it a ton.

Good luck! :)

Another thought, there are rental companies who will deliver a stroller to you at the hotel and pick it up on your last day. Just google Stroller Rental Anaheim or something similar and a few will come up. That way you'd have one if you decided to go off property for a day

[/Quote] I'm so paranoid about the Maclaren being stolen.[/QUOTE]

Don't worry too much about it. Mostly, strollers are only stollen for their contents and then dumped elsewhere in the park. Don't leave anything in it when you park it and you'll be fine. Also, we have a little luggage tag type thing we have attached to the handlebars with our name and phone number, this way if it every does go MIA it is easier to get back. I use it as a deterrent, I would think someone who wanted to steal a stroller would steal one without any ID on it.

I have to disagree about the strollers only being stolen for their content. We let our friends borrow our brand new double stroller to take to Disneyland a couple of years ago and it was stolen within 2 hours of them being in the park and there was nothing in the stroller.

I have a theory that people (thieves) go into the park and steal expensive stollers and go put them in their van or truck in the parking lot and then sell them on e-bay. It could be a lucrative business if they are even stealing one or two strollers a day.

I would not bring an expensive stroller or one that I cared about being stolen into Disneyland. That is just my opinion. All others are respected! :)

:eek: Do strollers get stolen at WDW? Has anyone had this happen to them, seriously? We didn't worry about it at all when we were in WDW last year, but DH just bought me a brand new, big $$$ Fuji digital camera, and now I am afraid to leave it in the stroller. Scary...

Re stolen strollers - it happens, yes. I happens for the strollers, yes. But. Discussing this with people "in the know" and from anecdotal evidence, mostly they're stolen for contents and ditched.

I've been taking my strollers for, :sigh: 9 years. My strollers are all Peg Perego and Maclaren. I put my stroller on the "inside" as much as possible and I lock the wheels. I'd rather have a stroller that's comfortable, carries our stuff and is easy to push. The benefits outweigh the risk for me.

Adrienne

:eek: Do strollers get stolen at WDW? Has anyone had this happen to them, seriously? We didn't worry about it at all when we were in WDW last year, but DH just bought me a brand new, big $$$ Fuji digital camera, and now I am afraid to leave it in the stroller. Scary...
Why would you even think about leaving anything of value in your stroller when you are not right there with it? You are asking for it to be stolen. The only things I leave in my stroller are snacks, sweatshirts etc. That stuff is pretty easily replaced. We take our camera bag on EVERY ride. Not worth the risk.
I have taken both expensive Peg and Maclaren, strollers to Disneyland and have, knock on wood, never had anything happen. But like Adrienne, I don't park it alone, I mix it right in there with the others, lock the wheels, and make it not look to appealing. There are people who do bring locks and lock one set of the wheels, the back ones would be the best, would look odd for someone trying to push a stroller aound with it up on the front wheels. It cannot be locked to anything, as CMs need to be able to move them, but you can lock it to itself if you worry. There are LOTS of Maclarens at Disneyland. And many more high dollar strollers there as well, think $800 Bugaboos etc. Some people are too trusting, others are thieves. For me, I need the comfort of my own stroller, and will continue to take my nice strollers with me, and hope the Disney thieves don't try to ruin my trip.

There are LOTS of Maclarens at Disneyland.

Oh, I couldn't believe how many I saw on my last trip! They're really great strollers.

Adrienne

Why would you even think about leaving anything of value in your stroller when you are not right there with it? You are asking for it to be stolen.


The most valuable thing I put in my stroller is my DS, and he is never left alone in it!:D We always rent the WDW strollers, and make sure everything we leave is in a bag that doesn't look valuable. It's not like I would leave a $$$$ camera just laying in the stroller...I am just worried about it on rides where I don't want to bring it, like Kali and Splash Mountain. I am looking for a good waterproof skin (Fuji makes them) and have already bought a weather resistant case for it. Maybe I am too naive, but I guess I will have to toughen up.

The most valuable thing I put in my stroller is my DS, and he is never left alone in it!:D We always rent the WDW strollers, and make sure everything we leave is in a bag that doesn't look valuable. It's not like I would leave a $$$$ camera just laying in the stroller...I am just worried about it on rides where I don't want to bring it, like Kali and Splash Mountain. I am looking for a good waterproof skin (Fuji makes them) and have already bought a weather resistant case for it. Maybe I am too naive, but I guess I will have to toughen up.
Before I would leave my camera in my stroller, I would put it in a locker. Might be a hassle, but maybe you could do the ride you would not want to take it on, in a row, so you wouldn't have to go back and forth to the locker. Since your DS is stroller age, will he be going on those rides? If not, leave it with the person staying with him.
It is sad that we can't leave stuff in the stroller, but it is a reality. I wouldn't leave a $20 camera in my stroller, just because it has my memories on it.
I have taken my cameras on Splash. I put them in my backpack, towards the bottom, and they are burried under enough stuff that they are padded and safe from even the best soakings.

Oh, I couldn't believe how many I saw on my last trip! They're really great strollers.

Adrienne

Yep, I have had 2 and really love them.
Disneyland is great for stroller sightings.

I have taken my cameras on Splash. I put them in my backpack, towards the bottom, and they are burried under enough stuff that they are padded and safe from even the best soakings.

Yeah, I usually take my bag on wet rides and put the camera inside of it. At Grizzly River Rapids at DCA, they have lockers you can use for an hour or so for free, to keep things dry. Do they have those at WDW?

I keep my important stuff in one backpack so I just grab it off the stroller when I need to. Of course, I always grab my camera because you never know WHEN you'll have a great photo op ;)

Adrienne

I put my stroller on the "inside" as much as possible and I lock the wheels. Adrienne


I'm with you on this one. My husband thinks I am insane because I always want to bury my stroller, turn it around backwards, and lock the wheels when I park it. I bury it so that other people coming back for their strollers do not toss mine out in the walkway while trying to get to theirs, I found mine rolling downhill one time near priates because someone else was inconsiderate. I turn it around and lock the wheels because it would be a big pain in the rear to get a ahold of the handlebars when they are facing the other way and then once they do, the wheels don't move so my hope is they would give up and grab an easier one. It's partly convenience, too, if I turn it around then when we come off the ride I can drop my daughter right down on the seat without messing with turning it around first - I go alone a lot.

I am just worried about it on rides where I don't want to bring it, like Kali and Splash Mountain. I am looking for a good waterproof skin (Fuji makes them) ZIP LOCK BAGS. Since we always have this puppy thing with us, we always have zip locks with us to clean up the puppy thing's things. Cameras and cell phones go in the ziplocks, then in the back packs, and then off to Splash Mountain and GRR.

Zip loc bags are also really good for leftover meals, or if your child sleeps through lunch and wakes up 10 min after everyone has finished.