The Disney Stroller Debate

City Mini Double Stroller

Buy

I’ve heard tales of buying an inexpensive umbrella stroller while in Orlando and then “gifting” it to another family on your way back to reality. To be honest, I don’t see many benefits in this option. Sure, the word inexpensive is like a siren’s call to me but the ones in the Walt Disney World gift shop aren’t all that inexpensive. If you’re considering buying a stroller in Orlando, you’re most likely not driving or you could throw a small umbrella stroller in the back of your vehicle. If you’re not driving, either you won’t have a car to drive to a local big box store because you’re utilizing Magical Express or you’ll have a rental car but you have to take valuable time out of your vacation to visit Wal-Mart or Target. As they say, time is money. This brings me back to the not-so-cheap umbrellas strollers Disney sells.

Cost aside, Florida sun is a huge factor in my stroller decision. We’ll be spending much of our day outdoors and it’s important that the kids are comfortable. In my experience, most umbrella strollers don’t have a canopy large enough to adequately protect my little ones from the sun.

A Walt Disney World vacation means more than Mickey bars and magic – it means mile and miles of walking every day. I never feel confident that inexpensive umbrella strollers will be sturdy enough to hold up to the wear and tear we would put it through on a week-long vacation.

Bring

Before we needed a double instead of a single, our Graco stroller traveled nearly 2000 miles with us and was pressed into service. Being able to gate-check the stroller meant there were no additional airline fees and it did double duty as it helped us juggle our carry-ons while keeping our son safe in the airport as we made our way to the departure gate.

The stroller has a large canopy, is very solidly built, reclines, has a large basket underneath, and a parent console for drinks. These were all pros and I didn’t really notice the one major drawback – maneuverability – until we used a City Mini stroller. I have been spoiled for all other strollers. Read on and I’ll explain why.

Rent

We’ve needed a double stroller on recent trips so a rental was our only real option. Renting from Disney, however, was not. The hard plastic of the stroller and the high cost ($15 a day for a single and $31 for a double) were all drawbacks but the fact that the strollers cannot leave the parks was the real deal breaker. We are DVC members and typically stay in the Boardwalk area so we walk to both Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is a relaxing stroll for my family (but not if our two-year old had to walk the distance).

Enter Orlando Stroller Rentals. After making a reservation online, the stroller was waiting for us at bell services when we arrived. It was very clean, folds easily, has a very large canopy, and was very comfortable for both the kids. Right before boarding the Magical Express back to the airport, we just dropped the stroller back at the bell stand. But I haven’t gotten to the best part yet. The maneuverability of the City Mini Double Stroller was absolutely incredible.

It’s so Easy, a Five-Year Old Can Use It!

Pushing two kids in a stroller can require some exertion. Pushing the double stroller we rented was practically effortless. Anyone who has spent a day touring the Disney theme parks will tell you is this is an invaluable selling point. The City Mini Double was so maneuverable that my husband could push both kids with a soda in one hand and only the other on the stroller. In fact, my five year old easily pushed his brother in the stroller. It was obvious that Orlando Stroller Rentals kept the stroller well-maintained for it to perform so well after many miles carrying children through the Magic Kingdom.

You Don’t Realize what you’re Missing….

Before renting the City Mini Double stroller, I loved my stroller at home. Yes, it was big. It was bulky but I thought it worked well. Now that I’ve seen what a stroller can do, I dread using it every time I unfold it.

Next year, my older son will be touring the theme parks under his own power so we’ll only need a single stroller for my little guy. It makes more financial sense to bring my stroller from home, like I used to, rather than renting. However, I’ve already decided to rent a City Mini and leave our monstrosity of a stroller at home. When I look at value, renting make sense for us. We spend many hours walking at Walt Disney World that using a stroller that is so effortless means less fatigue and more park enjoyment for us. Considering how much a Disney vacation can cost, that will be a good return on investment.

What’s best for your family – buying, bringing, or renting?

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers and the co-creator of WDW Fan Zone. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Head over there to see more great Disney-related posts and articles

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Tags: City Mini Double, Orlando Stroller Rentals, stroller rental

This entry was posted on September 17, 2011 at 9:00 am and is filed under Columns, Planning, Tips, Touring. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.