To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

First time taking the kids to Disney.
Molly is 5. Jason is 3.
I have a great double jogger that I LOVE and it pushes so nicely.
It has storage basket as well, which we will need for drinks/snacks, change of clothes for each. But traveling with the double jogger is a PITA. No question about that. It will not easily go thru security at the airport. And it is not super quick to fold up for the bus system in Disney BUT again it is comfortable, pushes great and it already paid for. PITA to bring on and off the bus systems. I can take it out of the park and easily have the kids in it to and from the bus system back to the lodge or another park.

The rental strollers are $27 a day and you cannot leave the park with them so that means no stroller to and from the bus system (which can be a far hike after a long day at the park). But it might be easier. But at that price $135 seems a bit of a waste of money too.
The rentals have almost no storage and are hard plastic which some kids really hate to sit on so I read you should bring a fluffy towel for them to sit on.
And don't worry about "naps" because neither will nap in the stroller anyway. They might get tired but they will be cranky rather than sleep in the stroller.So my stroller recline feature does not help me at all.

Thoughts? Would love to hear from you all.
And I don't want to get cheap umbrella strollers because those are never great to push and Molly is a bit too big for them now too. Plus no storage at all.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

I'm a cheap arse, so I'd bring the jogger, plus you will have it for the airports as well. I mean, yes, security can be annoying, but still, you can contain them if you need to.

I don't see renting a stroller for that much, IMO.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

I was having the same issue w/ our Disney trip in October ( did a post a few weeks back )

We are probably going to suck it up and bring the double stroller ...Between going through the airports etc...it will just be easier...And a friend of mine went to Seaworld and said they were going to rent one and they ran out ! So she and DH had to carry 2 kids through the park- not fun! Dont want to run the risk !

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

oh....how we went back and forth on this and wound up renting a double in Disney in October and plan to do so again when we go again this October. I only have a sit and stand so bringing a double wasn't a great option and bringing two lightweight makes no sense for half the time the kids weren't in them and we needed an adult to be close by and hands free and not have to worry about running after a kid and navigating a stroller. kev loved the park stroller and no complaints on the hard seats. The hardest part was leaving the parks without one. Kev was 3.5 and he was exhausted so often he had to be carried to the shuttles (he can be lazy too) . Alex had to be carried but he was only 14 mos so that is expected. At 40+lbs, it was a little tiring...carrying Kev esp when he feel asleep on me one night....oh that was bad. The no storage does stink but we only brought a knapsack and small diaper bag each day and either threw it on top or with the kids so wasn't a big deal.

In, your case, I think I'd consider the stroller you have. Getting on and off the buses with it can't be horrible. They don't rush you on or anything. Just something more to carry but at least the kids are big enough where they can walk themselves or with one parent while the other is tending to the stroller. Airport sucks but it is only 2 times and you are done and you can throw them in if you want to move faster throughout the airport.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

I'd bring your stroller because the retals have no storage and are not as comfy to catch an afternoon nap in. Plus when you are out and about and not at the parks you'll want a stroller every now and then so that you and DH don't have to each carry a child all day. I'd check with your luggage so it is one less carry on item. You'll be glad you brought it. Plus, you can bring food into the parks so we brought tons of juice boxes, water, lunch etc to Magic Kingdom. so you'll appreciate the storage on your double jogger.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

I vote for taking the stroller! The newer ones I hear at WDW are smaller and with no storage and the cost alone isn't worth it (It would cost you about the same as getting a NEW stroller if you rent one for the week).

I look at it this way - it is a bit of a pain to lug - but think of the room you will have to store snacks (save money there), change of clothing when they run in the interactive fountains - so less to carry and a place to nap or rest when their feet get tired. To me that is worth lugging the stroller!

If you don't plan to spend the whole day in the park and plan to return to your hotel for naps and swims you could try to just bring the stroller in the evenings when they are more likely to want to use it.

The other option would be to bring two cheap umbrella strollers with a little storage area - so you aren't lugging a larger double with you.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

thanks for the advice..keep it coming

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

I know when my son was 5, we didn't use a stroller. I would bring a single if you have one, that way you don't have to lug the huge thing on the packed busses.

Re: To bring a stroller or rent one in Disney is the question

We brought our double last year (kids were 3 and 4) and it got used when we wanted to make good time (they walk so slow!!) and at night walking through the parks to the exit, and then back to the hotel. For us, the park strollers wouldn't work because our was most useful at night going back to the hotel.