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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
I think it will take some stress off of me by using an agent. Any recommendations? Pros/Cons to using one?
Experienced disney goer's, I am looking into buying a cheaper stroller for our disney trip. I have a 4 year old & 2 yr old. What is easier, 2 individual umbrella strollers or 1 double umbrella stroller?
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Posted 4/22/14 8:16 PM  |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Posted by summerBaby10
I think it will take some stress off of me by using an agent. Any recommendations? Pros/Cons to using one?
Experienced disney goer's, I am looking into buying a cheaper stroller for our disney trip. I have a 4 year old & 2 yr old. What is easier, 2 individual umbrella strollers or 1 double umbrella stroller?
Don't buy unless you will use it a lot after your trip. Rent! You can rent a nice city mini GT double for the week. So easy. They will deliver it to your hotel and leave it with bell services you drop it back at bell services at the end of your trip. No hassle. Just make sure you are renting from an approved WDW vendor (kingdom strollers is one of them). Get a double bc it is harder to manage two singles and kids on the buses. Also you will have to find two strollers in the sea of parked ones. If you split your older can walk for that short time.
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| Posted 4/22/14 8:53 PM |
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TreAnt427
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Member since 8/06 8652 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Posted by Lillykat
Posted by summerBaby10
I think it will take some stress off of me by using an agent. Any recommendations? Pros/Cons to using one?
Experienced disney goer's, I am looking into buying a cheaper stroller for our disney trip. I have a 4 year old & 2 yr old. What is easier, 2 individual umbrella strollers or 1 double umbrella stroller?
Don't buy unless you will use it a lot after your trip. Rent! You can rent a nice city mini GT double for the week. So easy. They will deliver it to your hotel and leave it with bell services you drop it back at bell services at the end of your trip. No hassle. Just make sure you are renting from an approved WDW vendor (kingdom strollers is one of them). Get a double bc it is harder to manage two singles and kids on the buses. Also you will have to find two strollers in the sea of parked ones. If you split your older can walk for that short time.
What about in the airport with the younger one?
My dd with be 2 1/2 when we go and someone told me to bring an umbrella stroller for airport use, then rent the double stroller with canopy at the parks. This way you dont have to get on and off the shuttles with a stroller
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| Posted 4/23/14 9:02 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
I personally think that is bad advice. Ok I understand the stroller in the airport. I would still consider ditching it. Maybe give the 2.5 yr old a small rolling bag to give them something to do. But I never recommend the hard, no shade plastic park strollers. They are expensive (think $33 a day to rent or about that), no storage, they do not recline, and are very uncomfortable. They are good for older kids who might need a break one night or two later in a trip. The worst part is that they cannot leave the park so at the end of the night in large crowds you will have to try to carry your kids to the monorail or the bus. Yes you have to fold them to get on the bus, but it can be a long walk from the bus to your room. Also might be a long wait for the bus. Last year we wait 40 mins and people ahead of us well over an hour for our resort bus. A very long time to hold a sleeping child.
Another way is to take a super cheap umbrella just for the airport and rent a double for the parks. Renting is about $80 for the week ($25 or so for the insurance) they give free rain covers too.
If you stay onsite and use ME remember you don't have to get your bags you just get off and go.
Anything you get (if you don't rent) make sure reclines and has a good canopy as an escape from the sun.
That is a park double stroller Image Attachment(s):
Message edited 4/23/2014 4:30:20 PM.
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| Posted 4/23/14 4:25 PM |
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Sixofus
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/13 594 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
It depends on your kid. My ds was not yet 2.5 and he was fine walking in the airport. We left the stroller (a maclaren) at home and rented a city mini from kingdom strollers. I like that I could push the city mini with one hand. Renting one at the park wouldn't have worked for us. Ds walked practically all day; it was only at the end of the day when we were heading back to the hotel that we really needed it. I would rather rent a good, easy to push stroller than buy a cheapie that will be a nuisance.
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| Posted 4/23/14 6:19 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
I have never booked through an agent so I can't say about that.
Regarding the stroller...last year we took our 5yo and our 2yo (who turned 2 on the trip). We brought 1 umbrella stroller from home and rented a city mini from Apple strollers. Worked out great.
In the Am we brought the citi mini for DS2. Then we would go back to the hotel for DS's nap and when we came back at night we brought both strollers. It worked great bc DS1 is old enough to walk however by the evening he was tired so the stroller came in handy. And this way we didnt have to lug 2 strollers on the plane and such
ETA" I dislike the strollers at DIsney, just not comfy. And I hate double strollers, I thought it was easy enough to manage the 2 strollers, DH took DS1 and the citi mini and I had DS2 and the umbrella stroller when we had 2 strollers. But we had a car as we stayed off site so we only had to manage the strollers on trams and the monorail
Message edited 4/23/2014 6:27:46 PM.
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| Posted 4/23/14 6:25 PM |
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TreAnt427
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Member since 8/06 8652 total posts
Name:
Tracy
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Posted by Lillykat
I personally think that is bad advice. Ok I understand the stroller in the airport. I would still consider ditching it. Maybe give the 2.5 yr old a small rolling bag to give them something to do. But I never recommend the hard, no shade plastic park strollers. They are expensive (think $33 a day to rent or about that), no storage, they do not recline, and are very uncomfortable. They are good for older kids who might need a break one night or two later in a trip. The worst part is that they cannot leave the park so at the end of the night in large crowds you will have to try to carry your kids to the monorail or the bus. Yes you have to fold them to get on the bus, but it can be a long walk from the bus to your room. Also might be a long wait for the bus. Last year we wait 40 mins and people ahead of us well over an hour for our resort bus. A very long time to hold a sleeping child.
Another way is to take a super cheap umbrella just for the airport and rent a double for the parks. Renting is about $80 for the week ($25 or so for the insurance) they give free rain covers too.
If you stay onsite and use ME remember you don't have to get your bags you just get off and go.
Anything you get (if you don't rent) make sure reclines and has a good canopy as an escape from the sun.
That is a park double stroller
Thank you! I was planning on just bringing my umbrella stroller for DD2, but then I thought DD1 might want a break from walking after a long day. We are not going until next year, so I have sometime to think about it
Thanks again for the advice!
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| Posted 4/24/14 8:24 AM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Thank you ladies. For now, I'm not planning on renting a stroller because it's not worth it to me. I will most likely use whatever I end up buying so I'm still trying to figure out if it easier to deal with 2 individual umbrella strollers or 1 double umbrella? 
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| Posted 4/24/14 9:13 AM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
everyone has told me a double is way easier than two strollers in disney.
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| Posted 4/24/14 9:20 AM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Posted by Aries14
everyone has told me a double is way easier than two strollers in disney.
thanks! I can sort of see pros/cons for each.
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| Posted 4/24/14 9:24 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17792 total posts
Name:
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2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
We did a double when we went and had no issues (City Mini - our own not rented).
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| Posted 4/24/14 12:06 PM |
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JandJ1224
Member since 6/06 5911 total posts
Name:
Jannette
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
When we recently went with our 5 yo and 2 yo we took our double umbrella stroller.
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| Posted 4/24/14 12:36 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
I don't think you need a TA to be honest. I've never used one, but I like to have control over all aspects of my vacation.
You will be miserable pushing a standard umbrella stroller all day (double or single). They steer like crap, are often too low, and generally not even comfy for kids.
As a side note, speaking of TA's, where has JenniferEver been? I haven't seen her on here in a while!
Message edited 4/24/2014 5:52:35 PM.
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| Posted 4/24/14 5:51 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Posted by BargainMama
I don't think you need a TA to be honest. I've never used one, but I like to have control over all aspects of my vacation.
You will be miserable pushing a standard umbrella stroller all day (double or single). They steer like crap, are often too low, and generally not even comfy for kids.
As a side note, speaking of TA's, where has JenniferEver been? I haven't seen her on here in a while!
She just had a baby, so I think she's been pretty busy
My mom just used her to book a trip to Disney. I personally prefer not to use an agent, but really only because we tend to book on hotel points and airline miles (DH travels a lot for work), so it doesn't make sense too.
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| Posted 4/24/14 9:32 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Hi!
The baby and now the Free Dining promotion have kept me pretty busy. I really should be asleep right now.. zzzzzzz
ETA: To work with a travel agent or not is completely your choice, but the pace of change at Disney is such that it helps to have someone who keeps up with everything to help you navigate all of the new systems, someone who has eaten at the restaurants make suggestions (including hidden gems), someone who has toured extensively give you a plan to minimize wait times and see everything you want to see. A good agent is there for you as much or as little as you want. They may just book the trip and then look over all of the plans you made to make sure you didn't miss anything, or add some tips you may not have thought of, or they may plan every aspect of the trip and just tell you where and when to show up so you have minimal stress and everything in between. The wait times on the phone to apply the free dining promotion were 8 hours yesterday. Why wait yourself when someone else will do it for free? Some people just use a TA for that reason, to keep on top of promotions, or to be the ones to get up at 6am to score the best dining. A good agent will be flexible with you to be there for you in the way that you want/need. Ask yourself- do you know enough about the restaurants to choose all of your dining, do you know the best times to book? Will you know when a promo comes out and be available to snag it immediately? How well do you know the new My Disney Experience system. Are you comfortable learning the ins and outs of a new app while trying to get your reservations? Do you understand how the new fastpass+ works? In light of new attractions, do you know which attractions to use fastpass for, which to ride at rope drop, and which can wait? Do you know the secret little tricks to make some attractions come to life? etc etc? And if you don't know, do you really want to research it all? Even if you are knowledgeable, do you think you might benefit from having someone to bounce ideas off of?
It also helps a small business, very often another mom trying to buy diapers, pay for dance lessons, or her own family vacation. You ALWAYS pay a travel agent's commission. It's part of the price of your vacation no matter how you book. If you don't use an agent, Disney (or any other vendor) keeps that money. if you use an agent, you help another mom pay the bills and you actually get the service you're paying for anyway. It's like if you bought a new computer and they told you that included in the price is full tech support for every aspect from the hardware to sending emails to photoshopping your pictures. They'll even stay up and do all of your computer updates and install software while you sleep or go about your busy life. You could refuse the service that you're paying for, or you can choose to get it and use it as much or as little as you need.
Message edited 5/9/2014 2:32:21 AM.
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| Posted 5/9/14 2:21 AM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9534 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
I always use a TA because they generally know about discounts and promotions before the general public. Some agents have exclusive discounts as well.
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| Posted 5/10/14 2:20 PM |
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WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
Name:
A (formerly WhatNow?)
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Re: 2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
Listen, if I did it without the travel agent, you surely can do it as well! Nobody was more clueless about Disney World than I! 
ETS: For me, the biggest con of using an agent is that after everything is booked, you learned NOTHING about your destination because the research was done FOR you! Personally, I need to be in complete control of my travel plans so I know that nobody will ever plan it better for me than I will myself!
Message edited 5/12/2014 7:34:35 PM.
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| Posted 5/12/14 7:32 PM |
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pumpkinmom
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 2911 total posts
Name:
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2 things: Do I need a Disney Travel agent to book my trip? Stroller Question for Disney for 2 kids
You definitely don't need a travel agent. I like researching my destination and being in complete control of my reservations. If you don't have the time to plan, then go ahead and use a TA. It doesn't cost more.
I think a double stroller would be easiest to manage. If your older one wants to walk a bit, DH can walk with LO while you push the one stroller.
If you decide to rent, do not rent from the parks. As PP said, you definitely will want a stroller to leave the park. I saw kids that looked 5 or 6 being carried out of MK to the monorail. You may even need it at the hotel because some of the resorts are really spread out.
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| Posted 5/13/14 11:41 PM |
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