Walt Disney World (FL)

Frequently Asked Questions About Strollers at Disney World

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You’ve got kids. You’ve got kid stuff. And you’re taking it all to Walt Disney World for a magical fun-filled vacation. Sounds great, but how do you maneuver all those kids and all that stuff all over four gigantic theme parks, your hotel, and maybe an airport or two? With a stroller, of course. Here’s the complete stroller scoop to get you started on your planning.

Do I really need to use a stroller at Walt Disney World?

If you’ve got a child age six or under, chances are you’re going to want access to a stroller at some point during your Disney vacation. Your seven or eight year old might even find himself asking for some stroller time.

Typical Walt Disney World double rental stroller
Typical Walt Disney World double rental stroller

But my child hasn’t used a stroller at home in years, why would he need one at Disney World?

Many guests have worn pedometers during their Disney vacations. Factoring in theme parks, resorts, and entertainment areas, they typically find that they’ve walked somewhere between seven and twelve miles EVERY DAY of their Disney vacation. Just one lap around the World Showcase area of Epcot is almost a mile. Do that several days in a row and you’re going to end up tired. Now imagine walking that much with the tiny legs of a kindergartener, in 90 degree heat.

Another reason to consider using a stroller is the safety factor. Let’s face it, Walt Disney World can be a crowded place, particularly during high intensity times like park closing or during the fireworks. Even if you’re holding a child’s hand, it’s quite possible to lose him in the melee. To avoid separation, or having your child get accidentally stepped on by another guest, it may be easier to keep him in the confines of a stroller where you’re in charge of the direction and pace of movement.

Additionally, some children simply become overwhelmed by the constant stimulation at Disney World. A stroller can be a safe haven – a contained environment where a child can go to temporarily regroup and decompress.

Should I bring my own stroller or rent one at Disney World?

This is a personal decision, and I’ll talk you through some of the factors you may want to consider, but in general I recommend that guests bring their own strollers rather than rent from Walt Disney World.

Why’s that?

The first factor is pricing. The Walt Disney World rental strollers currently (autumn 2013) cost:

  • $15 for a single day, single stroller rental
  • $31 for a single day, double stroller rental
  • $13 per day for a length of stay (multi-day) single stroller rental
  • $27 per day for a length of stay (multi-day) double stroller rental

Do the math and you’ll find that renting a double stroller for a week will cost $189.00. Run a quick search on Amazon.com for “double umbrella stroller” and you’ll find dozens of models for sale for less than half that price. Even if you leave the stroller at Walt Disney World and never use it again, you’re still coming out ahead financially.

Typical Walt Disney World single rental stroller
Typical Walt Disney World single rental stroller

How does length-of-stay pricing work?

On the first day of your visit, stop by any of the stroller rental stands at the theme parks. Let them know how long you’ll be visiting Walt Disney World, and they’ll charge you the discounted length-of-stay rate. You will also be given a receipt which shows that you’ve paid for your entire visit. Any time you need a stroller during the rest of your vacation, go up to one of the stroller rental stands and show them the receipt. They’ll give you a stroller at no additional charge.

What else should I know about the Disney rental strollers?

They are incredibly sturdy, but not very comfortable.

The Disney strollers are made of hard plastic. The seating area has no padding or cushioning of any kind. The Disney strollers do not recline, so if you you’re planning to have your child nap in the stroller, then he’ll have to do so bolt upright.

The double strollers have no physical divider between the spaces for each child. It’s a bench-style seat rather than a separated bucket-style seat of most non-commercial doubles. This means that two children sharing the stroller will inevitably be touching each other. Hot, sweaty, exhausted siblings touching each other – need I say more.

There are also no conveniences on the stroller for mom and dad – no cup holders, no bag hooks, no storage bins. It’s basically a kid-shaped wheelbarrow.

But I can use the rentals everywhere at Disney World, right?

Sorry, no. The Walt Disney World rental strollers can only be used at the theme parks and Downtown Disney.

You cannot use the Disney rental strollers at the water parks or at any of the Disney resort hotels. And if you plan to have your only stroller be a Disney rental, this also means that you won’t have stroller access at the airport or any of the Disney World parking areas either.

When deciding what type of stroller you'll need, consider whether your child might nap in the stroller
When deciding what type of stroller you’ll need, consider whether your child might nap in the stroller

Are their weight limits for the Disney strollers?

There are posted recommendations for the Disney strollers that the capacity of a single rental is 50 lbs. and the capacity of a double rental is 100 lbs. These are really guidelines rather than rules. I’ve never seen a child weighed at a rental station – there are no scales. As long as your child fits comfortably in the rental, you can assume that it’s OK.

Are the Disney rental strollers appropriate for small babies?

Not really. Again, the rental strollers have unpadded, bench-style seating. They’re meant for a child who can sit up on his own for an extended period of time.

Also, the Disney stroller restraint system is just a simple lap belt, not a three or five point harness like you’d find on a personal stroller. You have to be sure that your child won’t slip out of the belt either inadvertently or intentionally. If you have a child under the age of about 10-12 months, or a child who’s in escapologist mode, then the Disney strollers are really not for you.

Hmmm, are there any other alternatives?

Of course you can bring your own stroller with you to the parks (I’ll get to that in more detail in a second), but if you want/need to rent in the Disney area, there are independent vendors in the area who can help you out.

Who are these vendors?

There are dozens of baby supply rental vendors in the Orlando area. However, Disney recently gave preferential status to three of these vendors:

The preferential status allows these vendors to pick up and drop off strollers at the Bell Services area or front desk of the Disney hotels, without the guest needing to be present. This is a BIG convenience factor for guests. You’re welcome to use other vendors, but you’ll need to be present to both receive and return items to them.

What is the quality of the outside rental strollers like?

Touring Plans did a comparison of the service and quality of outside stroller rentals. Feel free to check it out.

There are stroller parking zones in multiple areas at all the Disney theme parks
There are stroller parking zones in multiple areas at all the Disney theme parks

How does outside rental vendor pricing compare to the Disney pricing?

The outside vendors have a wider array of options available, so it’s a bit of an apples to oranges situation, but generally you’ll find that the outside vendor pricing is lower than the Disney stroller rental pricing. And as a big added bonus, you can use the outside vendor rentals anywhere – at your hotel, at other area theme parks, etc.

You mentioned that you recommend guests bring their own stroller. Why is that specifically?

Several reasons:

  • No incremental costs.
  • Child familiarity with the stroller (comfort factor).
  • Adult familiarity with the stroller (ease of folding, etc.)
  • Availability of convenience factors such as cup holders, storage areas, etc.
  • You absolutely need to have a stroller at your resort. Imagine carrying a sleeping child from a bus to your room after you’ve been walking for 10 hours in the Florida sun. It’s not pretty.
  • The lack of storage space in the Disney rentals means you’ll be carrying your diaper bag at least some of the time. Give your back a break.

If I bring my own stroller, is there a size or style that works better than others?

This is a subjective topic. The right stroller for your Disney vacation will depend on the age/size of your children, the number of children you have, the number of adults in your party, your child’s nap habits, the outdoor temperature in Florida, what you’re used to, and any number of other factors.

Depending on your family’s situation, the right Disney stroller could be a single umbrella, a sit n’ stand, a convertible with car seat attachment, a double jogger, or just about anything in between.

The only publicized rule is that Disney does not permit strollers larger than 36″ x 52″ (92 x 132 cm) to enter the parks. That being said, in many hundreds of Disney parks visits, I have never seen a cast member measure a stroller entering the parks. Also, now that the old entrance turnstiles/gates have been replaced by the open post MyMagic+ entrance system, it’s even less obvious if you happen to have a larger stroller.

The introduction of RFID scanners at all the parks also included the elimination of turnstiles and gates. Strollers enter the same way as everyone else
The introduction of RFID scanners at all the parks also included the elimination of turnstiles and gates. Strollers enter the same way as everyone else

My child is old enough that we don’t actually own a stroller any more, but I think he might need one at Disney. Are rentals my only option?

You may find that it’s actually cheaper to buy a “disposable” stroller rather than rent from either Disney or one of the outside vendors. Make a quick trip to Target or Walmart and you’ll find a basic umbrella-style stroller for less than $25. This obviously won’t be a high-end model, but it may be just the thing you need to stave off the whining for two or three days. At the end of your trip, you can just leave it in you room or at the park, or you can bring it home to donate it. If you don’t want to deal with bringing the throwaway stroller to Orlando yourself, you could arrange for a mail order vendor like Amazon to ship it directly to your resort.

Is there anything one step up from that?

Many of the Disney hotel and theme park gift shops sell a moderate quality Kolcraft umbrella stroller for about $60. These strollers recline, have cup holders, and are more sturdy than a $20 Walmart stroller. Remember, a Disney single stroller 7-day length-of-stay stroller rental would cost $91. Again, if even if you discard this stroller at the end of your visit, you’ll still come out ahead financially.

Can I reserve a stroller in advance, or is it first come, first served? Are they likely to run out of rental strollers?

Disney rental stroller can neither be reserved nor paid for in advance of your visit. While Disney does have LOTS of strollers, on very rare occasion, they have temporarily run out of rentals. If you’d like to have guaranteed stroller access, then either bring your own or rent from an outside vendor.

Basic Kolcraft umbrella strollers are sold in the WDW parks and resorts for approximately $60
Basic Kolcraft umbrella strollers are sold in the WDW parks and resorts for approximately $60

If I rent a stroller, either through Disney or another vendor, how do I know which one is mine? Don’t they all look alike?

Many strollers do look alike. When renting from either Disney or an outside vendor, they will give you a large card imprinted with your family name which you will place in a transparent pocket on the stroller. This identifies it as yours. Additionally, many guests try to (temporarily) personalize their strollers so that they can easily recognize them in the sea of buggys. Typically this takes the form of a balloon, bandana, or ribbon tied to the stroller handle.

If I use a Park Hopper ticket and move to a different theme park during the day, do I have to pay for a stroller again?

You only have to pay for Disney stroller rental at one theme park per day. If you park hop, just remove your family’s name placard from the stroller and take that, and your rental receipt, to your second park of the day. At the second park, show the receipt and they’ll hook you up with a new stroller.

I prefer a wagon, can I bring that?

No. Disney does not allow you to bring wagons into the parks.

If I use my own stroller, can I bring it onto Disney transportation?

Yes. But HOW you bring it onto Disney transportation depends on your mode of travel. Take a look at our guide to Disney monorails, buses, and boats to see how you’ll need to handle your stroller on each form of transportation.

One thing in particular to note is that you’ll always need to fold your stroller when riding on a Disney bus.

Yikes, isn’t that a pain?

Sure, maybe a little. But you’d also have to fold your stroller if you were driving to the parks. It’s all just part of having small children.

You must fold your stroller to bring it onto a Disney bus
You must fold your stroller to bring it onto a Disney bus

You generally don’t have to fold your stroller when you’re taking the monorail or several types of Disney water transport. This played a factor in my Disney trips when my daughters were stroller age. We often chose to spend a bit more money and stay at a hotel on the monorail line simply because getting to and from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot was so much easier when we didn’t have to fold the strollers.

With any stroller you use at Walt Disney World, be sure that you do know how to fold it. You may find that your double jogging stroller works perfectly well when you’re tooling around the parks, but if you can’t break it down to get on your hotel bus, you’re going to have a problem.

However, in my experience, the guests at Disney are generally quite kind and helpful. If you’re struggling with getting a stroller, kids, and associated gear onto a bus yourself, another guest will often pitch in to give you a hand. Almost everyone has been in your shoes and will be happy to assist.

Are the rental strollers the same at each of the theme parks?

There used to be differences in the strollers at the four Disney theme parks. You may find an odd outlier now and then, but the rental strollers are now generally the same throughout Walt Disney World.

I’m staying at one of the Epcot area resorts. Can I rent a stroller at the International Gateway entrance to Epcot?

Yes. There is a rental area at the International Gateway.

You can roll your stroller onto the monorail without folding it
You can roll your stroller onto the monorail without folding it

Can I bring my stroller in the lines for rides?

Usually not. There are stroller parking lots scattered throughout the theme parks, you’ll need leave your stroller there and walk a few yards to each attraction.

The primary exception to this is for guests with mobility challenges. If your child can not walk, or has a related medical issue, you can stop by the park guest relations office and they will give you a “Stroller Used as Wheelchair” tag. This allows you bring your stroller into any line or waiting area in which a wheelchair or ECV would be permitted.

I have an expensive stroller. I’m worried about it getting stolen, can I bring a lock for it?

No. Stroller locks are not permitted at Walt Disney World.

There are a few urban legends about strollers being stolen at Walt Disney World, but I have never personally heard about this actually happening. While having your stroller stolen is highly unlikely, it is a near certainty that your stroller will be moved at some point during your stay. There are cast members assigned to keep order at each of the stroller parking lots in the theme parks. As guests enter and leave the area, the cast will straighten the rows and make sure that all spaces are filled in. If you don’t see your stroller exactly where you left it, just look nearby and you’re bound to see it. This is where some easy personalization, like a balloon tied to the stroller handle, can make spotting your wheels much easier.

And of course, you do want to be sensible about leaving valuables in your stroller when you’ve left it to go on some rides. Don’t leave anything in your stroller that is valuable or irreplaceable. This means you should take your wallet and cameras with you on the attractions. That being said, most guests do end up leaving some items in their strollers when they’re on the rides. You’ll routinely see diaper bags, snacks, jackets, and other personal items left in strollers in the lots. I did this dozens of times myself and never had anything other than a cookie taken out of my stroller – and that was done by a crafty squirrel.

Stroller parking area at Disney's Hollywood Studios, near Toy Story Mania. Cast members will rearrange stroller to keep the area organized
Stroller parking area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, near Toy Story Mania. Cast members will rearrange stroller to keep the area organized

Are there any actual rides that I can bring my stroller on?

Generally not. The one exception I can think of is the Disney railroad in the Magic Kingdom. Personal strollers may be brought on board if they are completely folded.

What about restaurants? Can I bring my stroller inside while we dine?

Generally not, but exceptions can be made in some circumstances. Large double strollers can be a fire hazard and are usually not allowed into restaurants in the theme parks. The Disney rental strollers are virtually never allowed in table service restaurants in the parks.

However, if you have a small personal stroller and your child has fallen asleep in it during your meal reservation time, cast members will sometimes take pity on you and allow the stroller inside, particularly if you have a newborn or tiny infant who would be physically incapable of sitting in a high chair even if her were awake. If you’re in this situation, it never hurts to ask nicely. In my personal experience and observation, the quick service restaurants and the restaurants in the resorts tend to be somewhat more lenient on this topic, but that’s just what I’ve seen.

If you have a child sleeping in a stroller, look for quick service restaurants with outdoor seating as an easy option.

Can I bring my stroller into the gift shops at Walt Disney World?

Usually yes. You might encounter a few shops here and there that will ask you to leave your stroller outside, but for the most part you’re OK to shop with a stroller.

What can you tell me about the stroller rental situation at Downtown Disney?

Only single strollers are available for rent at Downtown Disney, no doubles.

There’s no need to leave a deposit when renting a stroller at the theme parks, but when you rent at Downtown Disney, you have to leave a $100 deposit, which is returned to you when you leave.

Even restaurants have stroller parking areas. This one is outside the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club resort
Even restaurants have stroller parking areas. This one is outside the Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club resort

I have two young children, am I better off with a double stroller or two singles?

Truly this is a matter of personal preference. However, there are some things you may want to think about as you make your decision:

  • How heavy will a double stroller be when loaded down with two kids and all their stuff? Can the adults in our party push this comfortably? In the heat?
  • Are the adults in our party capable of folding a double stroller and lifting it onto a bus? Will one of them have to do this while also holding a child?
  • Will the children be napping in the stroller? Are they able to do this when sitting right next to their sibling?
  • Do the children have the same interests or will they want to go off in different directions to explore different areas of the parks?
  • Will one child or adult have more stamina than the other and want to stay at the park longer?

Is it better to bring my front-to-back or side-to-side double stroller with me to Walt Disney World?

Yet again, it’s a personal preference thing. I’ve seen it work both ways. The only thing to be aware of is that side-to-side doubles can be more challenging to get through doorways and through narrow aisles of merchandise. If you think you’ll be doing a lot of shopping with your stroller, and you have the option, then a front-to-back double might make more sense. That being said, I used a side-to-side double MacLaren and had no issues with this at all.

I think we want to bring a double stroller, but I’m not totally sure. Any ideas?

During a few Disney trips, my family used stroller connector clips. The clips basically convert two single umbrella-style strollers into a temporary double stroller. Popular brands are Munchkin Stroller Links or Prince Lionheart Stroller Connectors.

The connectors allow the children to separate when two adults are available to push, but one parent can push them in a pinch. These are not perfect; they work best if the two strollers are identical and the children in the strollers weigh approximately the same, but they can be a lifesaver in some situations.

Stroller parking zone at the Magic Kingdom's New Fantasyland area
Stroller parking zone at the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland area

I have a young child and a slightly older child, any ideas for me?

If you have a baby or toddler, and a preschooler or kindergartener, your best bet may be a sit-and-stand-style stroller. This allows the older child to get a break from some of the walking, while saving face by avoiding the baby stigma of a standard stroller.

A solution that could work for you if you’re in this situation and you’re down to just a single stroller at home, is to borrow or purchase a “buggy board.” This is a platform on wheels which clips onto a standard stroller – effectively making it a sit-and-stand. If you’re running an Amazon search, “kiddie board,” “buggy board,” and “stroller board” will bring up options to consider. Bear in mind that if you’re using the Disney buses, you’ll have to unclip the buggy board before folding the stroller to take it on the bus, so be sure that you’re able to do this with facility.

Back in the day, when I had three kids under age five, I would occasionally clip a buggy board to the back of a double stroller, allowing me to push three kids at once. This would be a tough haul for a long Disney trip, but it could be a stopgap for a situation where a second adult is temporarily unavailable, such as Dad being in charge of three kids for several hours while Mom is at a conference at one of the hotels.

What about front packs or backpack style carriers, would those be a better option for transporting my baby?

There may be some time where you’ll want to employ a front or back carrier as an adjunct to a stroller, but it’s unlikely that you’ll be happy with this as your only method of baby transport, if for no other reason than your comfort when carrying a child non-stop in the heat.

Back carriers are particularly problematic because they tend to be large, you’ll have to take them off for every ride in the parks, and there’s not a convenient place to put the pack down when you’re on the attractions.

Front carriers can be helpful with keeping a baby contained while on the attractions. I often “wore” my children in a Baby Bjorn front carrier when we were on rides like Kilimanjaro Safari or Pirates of the Caribbean. I felt like they were more secure this way rather than having me simply hold them on my lap.

You can't see it, but there's a buggy board clipped to the back of one of those strollers. With three small kids, this was our method of choice for many years of Disney visits.
You can’t see it, but there’s a buggy board clipped to the back of one of those strollers. With three small kids, this was our method of choice for many years of Disney visits.

How do I know when my child is ready to stop using a stroller at Walt Disney World?

Obviously this will be a personal call, but some kids will really only be ready to totally give up stroller time at Disney when they get physically too large to sit in a stroller comfortably. However, I can tell you that it may be harder for Mom and Dad to give up the stroller than it is for the kids. I still miss the days when I could employ a stroller as a sherpa for in-park purchases, snacks, umbrellas, and so on. I have a dear friend who will occasionally rent a stroller, even though her children are teens, just to have a place to store her stuff in the parks. She could get a locker, but then she’s have to go all the way to the park entrance to grab her poncho when it starts to rain.

What happens to my stroller when it rains? Won’t everything get wet?

There are frequent flash thunderstorms in Orlando. During the rainy season, it does make sense to keep your stroller covered. If you have your own stroller, or are renting from an outside vendor, you can get a dedicated plastic cover for your model. If you’re renting from Disney, try using a poncho as temporary cover while you’re off on the rides.

You seem pretty anti Disney rental. Are there circumstances when you would recommend that I use a Disney rental stroller?

The Disney rental strollers can be a good fallback if you’re out in the parks late for one or two nights with an elementary age child. Picture a first or second grader who is well out of stroller use at home. He may be fine walking around the parks during the day. But if you’re planning to close down the Magic Kingdom on a night when it closes at 1:00 a.m., then your child simply may not be able to make it. In this case, renting a stroller for the evening could be a good sanity-saving measure. However, if you think you’ll need the stroller at multiple times during your vacation, then many of the other options will make more financial sense.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

It never hurts to throw a towel in your stroller while you’re at Walt Disney World. This can be used to clean up spills, serve as a blanket or sunshield, or pad the seat of a Disney rental.

So what have your experiences with strollers at Disney world? Do you rent or bring your own? How old were your kids when you stopped using strollers at the parks? Do you have a preferred stroller configuration when traveling with multiple children? Let us know in the comments below.

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Erin Foster

Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line. She's been to WDW, DL, DL Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Aulani, DVC Vero Beach, and DVC Hilton Head. She's a Platinum DCL cruiser and veteran of 10 Adventures by Disney trips. Erin lives near New York City, where she can often be found indulging in her other obsession - Broadway theater.

26 thoughts on “Frequently Asked Questions About Strollers at Disney World

  • thanks again Erin, for all the great info, discussions. somehow i seem lately to be finding pertinent info at your blogs, since traveling with 2 toddlers this trip.

    ok, help! im the grandmother, one of the 3 adults traveling, making all the plans, since im a longtime unofficial guide nerd. but these strollers have me bewildered.

    so far of all options mentioned by everyone (really good info) i seem to like the idea of ordering the 2 $40. strollers from amazon, getting sent to hotel.

    my major concern with that idea is that the stroller might not be as comfortable for the 2 yr old, as would the double stroller from baby wheels orlando.

    the reason im questioning the double stroller rental, sounds kind of unwieldy putting on the buses. in some cases no problem for us at dolphin, since can walk or take boat to 2 of the parks. but 3 of the 5 park days we will spend either at magic kingdom or animal kingdom, so need bus.

    what do you all think? i havent used strollers at disney since my grown (30s) children were 4 and 5.

    Reply
  • On our first trip a few years back I took a $50 amazon stroller for my 4 year old. We loved the ease of the stroller and had no problems with it’s being lost due to being moved. However, we took the magical ex

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    • Express back to MCO and we were the last stop. The driver is helping us with our bags and our stroller was gone. The driver said a guest at the last terminal claimed it as his. It’s wasn’t by mistake because there wasn’t a stroller left for us to take home. The driver took our number and went back to the terminal looking but never found it.

      Reply
  • When we went last year my girls were 5 and 9 – we rented strollers for both. It is a lot of walking and they get really tired. Also, I do like knowing exactly where they are.
    We had friends with us who thought we were a little nutty, but they ended up getting for their 9 and 11 year old!
    Made the trip less stressful and kids were rested and in great spirits!

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  • I love renting Disney strollers. Our first trip we brought our umbrella stroller for our 2 1/2 year old and rented a single for our 4 year old. Last time we rented a double for our 3 1/2 and almost 6 year old and it worked out perfectly! I’m the mom that put my kids in an umbrella stroller the minute they could hold up their head and didn’t get the large stroller ever, so lugging a big stroller with us wasn’t an option. Yes, it was expensive but the ease of the kids being able to hop in/out at a moment’s notice and being able to put our stuff on top worked for us. Debating whether to rent a single when we go next time when the kids will be 5 and 7.

    Reply
  • Great article!

    We rented a Disney double stroller at Epcot the week of October 13th. It had cupholders and a place to store things. Very nice!

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  • Great article! If anyone is looking for a stroller one step up from the cheapest umbrellas, I HIGHLY recommend the Jet made by First Years. Sells for around $40 on amazon, is only 11 pounds and folds super-small, yet has a great storage area and even a cup holder. The storage and cup holder will make your vacation so much easier than if you’re using those cheapo umbrella strollers which usually have very limited storage.

    Reply
  • Thank you for another excellent article, Erin, with the level of detail and facts and the right amount of balanced opinions I enjoy most about this site and the books.
    DisneyParks are for everyone: all shapes, sizes, ages, abilities. Park policies, the wonderful CMs and resources such as this help everyone willing to make the effort to have a better time.

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  • After about 100 trips with stroller age kids, the best stroller advice I have is do not leave goldfish crackers any in sight on your stroller. The birds love them and they will swamp your stuff and make a terrible, poopy mess of your stroller.

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    • This made me laugh!
      We had a flat tire once on our double stroller a few months ago at DL. There was a ire pump at the stroller rental place but that didn’t help so Disney stored our stroller and gave us a free stroller rental for the day. saved the whole day!

      Reply
  • We are taking our three kids (4, 2, now 2 months) to WDW in January and are trying to decide between renting a Bob and a City Mini GT in addition to our single which we will bring. At 10 + miles a day for 10 days, I am going to get something nice to push.

    On the carriers point. The best option is clearly a soft structured carrier like an Ergo than can fold up pretty small and be used on the front or back. The baby will be spending much of her trip in ours.

    Reply
  • Another problem with renting a Disney stroller is that a lot of the walking in WDW happens between the bus loading area and the park entrance. This is especially true if you are staying a value resort where the bus stops are furthest from the turnstiles. The walk from the Pop Century bus stop to the Epcot entrance seems to be the worst. We have carried a very tired 5 year old this distance before. An cheap umbrella stroller would have been great in this situation.

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  • When our kids were small, we did the umbrella stroller thing many times: buy a cheap stroller for $20-$25, have it shipped to the hotel. When you arrive, use it as much as you want. One advantage of an umbrella stroller is that it folds up small and folds up fast, so it’s easy to take on rides like the monorail, the railroad, the peoplemover, etc. When we were done, we dropped it off at Goodwill on the way to the airport and got a tax receipt. It was very convenient and very low cost. I would highly recommend this, if you only need a single stroller (or 2 single strollers).

    If you are worried about your stroller being stolen, there’s an old trick that really works. Get a diaper and some Coke (or other brown soda). Slowly pour the Coke into the diaper, until it ‘swells’ and has that brown color. Then put the diaper into a transparent plastic bag (those really thin white ones from the grocery store work well) and tie it to to the handle of your stroller. Most people won’t want to go anywhere near your stroller after that!

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  • We rented a stroller on our last night at the parks for our then 5 year old. We had an ADR at the back of world showcase. Best $15 I spent the whole trip!

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  • We went to DisneyLand in June 2012 and rented one of their strollers. It was very comparable to a City Mini stroller (reclinable, soft seat) but found you can’t take them into Downtown Disney. So when we went back to DL in Jan 3013 we brought our own stroller (a City Mini) and it was wonderful. We parked our stroller with all the other ones (some personal and some rentals) and it was only even moved once. It was nice having mine because I was familiar with it and so was my son.

    For those wondering if you should bring one, we stayed all day at the parks so my son would inevitably fall asleep in early afternoon and sleep for a couple of hours. One of us would take him and go shop or sit and relax while the others would go ride an adult ride and then we’d trade off. I would HIGHLY recommend bringing a stroller even if you think your kid is too old. The first time we went we had our 3 yr old, and our 6 and 9 year old nephews who even wanted rest breaks in the stroller.

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  • Disney HAS disallowed my use of a “stroller” conveyence.

    Basically, I tried to use a bike trailer as stroller in the parks because I biked from our camp site in ft wilderness to the boat launch.

    That was a no go. At almost any park. We stopped trying to use it.

    They said it was because the front wheel (which replaces the connection to the bicycle) stuck out too far.

    We were a given a disney stroller for “free” after that (if we showed up with our contraband stroller). But we were not given a card, so essentially at any time our disney stroller could have been assumed to be unused and recovered back into disney’s inventory.

    And it was a hassle. The people who stopped us were the front gate CMs. And then we were escorted to “store” (more like impound) the bike trailer as a stroller. So, it wasted like 20 minutes.

    Strollers are an issue that Disney employees have a huge problem with. You’re constantly being told where and where not to leave them, and they’re constantly touching your stroller if it’s in the stroller parking.

    Also: THERE’S NO INDOOR spaces for strollers. So, when it monsoons out there, you can get into shelter. But not your stroller. It gets soaked.

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  • “While having your stroller stolen is highly unlikely, it a near certainty that your stroller will be moved at some point during your stay.”

    YES! This is so true. My first role as a WDW CM was in strollers…and my second was in attractions. I had many guests come to me, very worried that someone stole their stroller, only to find it a few feet away.

    Years later, when I worked in Guest Relations, I have to say we only had about 1 real theft that I knew of – and of course, it was of a nice stroller FILLED with valuables (cash, electronics, etc).

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    • On one of our trips, our umbrella stroller was taken by mistake. It was haning next to one that was similar and the person just grabbed the wrong one. We still had several days left on our vacation and I knew my son wouldn’t make it without a stroller. The cast member advised us to go to customer relations to report it. We did, not expecting any results as it was a $20 stoller. To my surprise, they gave us a stroller voucher to use one of theirs for free for the rest of our stay! I thought that was very considerate of Disney. Our stroller was never returned. My advise, if you can bring a cheap umbrella stroller when you go to Disney. There are not many stroller theives lurking around, but you won’t be too upset if it does get lost. I find umbrella strollers are also easier to get on and off the buses, in and out the stores and they don’t take up so much sidewalk space.

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  • Another pro for having a stroller is if you are a fast walker like me. It also helps to have control of the little one if you are trying to weave through slower walkers at times when you need to get all the way across the park to make your dining reservation.

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  • Great article! I had three kids in less than three years. Our first trip to Disney they were ages 3, 4 and 6. I wish they had triple strollers! We rented a double and just let the kids rotate in and out. We went again when they were 6, 7 and 9. Again we got a double stroller and again they all used it. Yes all of them, even our 9-year old son found himself taking a break in it. Our last time they kids were 9, 10 and 12. We did not get a stroller and I actually missed it. I had no where to put my “stuff!” They only time we had a problem was during parade time at Magic Kingdom. We were right in front of the castle and decided to switch locations about 15 minutes before start time. We found ourselves trapped in the turn-around area and no one would move for us. People without children were especially lacking empathy. And we thought it was the happiest place on Earth!

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    • I get your perspective and know that each time I go I’ll have to deal with strollers. It’s just something I have to live with.

      One time I was at Disneyland. I waited on Main Street for probably and hour for the Electrical Parade. About 5 minutes before the parade a family came up and just assumed we would move for their kids. I have no problem letting kids stand in front of me if they won’t block my view but we all paid the same to get into the parks and my enjoyment isn’t less because I’m adult. This is a sore subject for me, can you tell? I’ll never stop going, I just tend to go when school is in session.

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  • As someone who does not travel with kids, strollers are the worst part of my trip. I find a lot of the time that people with strollers think they have the right of way. They aren’t thoughtful of the people around them. I personally would never take a child that needs a stroller because I’ve had such a bad experience dealing with them throughout the parks. For those without strollers, I just think that strollers make it harder to move around the park.

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    • So funny…I just posted a comment right before you and we both commented about each other! Please find compassion for us with kids. Disney is for all ages and I loved going with my small children. The memories I made are priceless. I too would love to go one day without kids and not worry about their whereabouts, if they are hungry, tired, stressed, etc. But I doubt Disney will go kid-free anytime soon, so we must live together! Count yourself lucky that you aren’t anchored to a stroller and have fun!

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    • Well… To avoid stroller users:

      I recommend only going to WDW from 11 pm to close. The parks have considerably less stroller during those times (if they’re open).

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    • Someone who has never travelled with small kids in strollers has absolutely no idea how difficult it is to manage a vacation with said kids – and all the necessary equipment they require. I have been in that situation in the past and thankfully I’ve survived to tell the tale. I have been back many times without strollers – and without kids – and I now go out of my way to accommodate those with strollers, as I recognize how difficult their travels are. Yes, there may be SOME rude people with strollers, but there are SOME rude people without as well.

      I urge everyone out there who does not have kids or use strollers to be kind, move over, and let go of the resentment you feel that strollers are getting in your way. Just the fact that stroller-users need an article like this says a lot about the added complexities of their vacation!

      Great article, Erin.

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    • My experience is that people without strollers assume they have the right of way simply because they have a smaller profile. They also do not realize that strollers don’t stop on a dime or that a stroller can’t take a turn as sharply as a single individual person. They jump out in front of moving strollers and then are rude when the driver can’t stop or turn fast enough to keep their feet and ankles from being hit.

      And the idea that Disney World isn’t for kids who are young enough to need a stroller is just ridiculous. If you think it’s hard for you to maneuver around people with strollers, give a little thought to the parents who maneuvering around the park pushing a stroller.

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