Tips about Food & Beverage, Magic Kingdom, Mousecellaneous, Planning, Resorts and Strollers
We have a 2 year old and took his stroller to all of the parks. Before we left home I bought a Black and Decker snake fan that we duct taped to his stroller and in the afternoons when he was tired and hot we would turn on his fan and it helped alot. It especially worked great when he fell asleep because it kept him cool and he could rest. We got a huge amount of comments from other parents saying that they wished they had thought of something like that. - Robin Sowders
A suggestion from our experience "strolling" around WDW with our 10 week old daughter last December 1998. We found that if we asked very nicely we were often able to bring her into restaurants and attractions right in the stroller. Cast members seemed only too willing to accommodate a sleeping infant in a stroller -- she strolled right up to the table at Liberty Tree Tavern, Akershus and Crystal Palace and into the Flight show at AK (we stood in the back). We learned that if we were polite about including her stroller (and discreet so as not to annoy those who had left their strollers behind), she was able to sleep peacefully through some wonderful meals and times for us. We know that December is the least crowded time at WDW, so this may not be possible in July -- but it can't hurt to ask -- you might be pleasantly surprised. When we were leaving Cinderella's Royal Table, the hostess mentioned that we could have brought her stroller upstairs -- we didn't even think to ask there (and we all would have had a better time)! - Karen, Ken and Baby Elizabeth
Our family includes 3 girls, ages 8, 2, & 1 and the baby 9 months. We will definitely be bringing a stroller with us. We rented one (or two) last time and although it is convenient, it was also a struggle. Not having a stroller to walk from the parks to the buses or from the buses to our hotel room. We stayed at the Coronado Springs and carrying two tired toddlers at the end of a very long day got old really quick! I would like to recommend the Combi Savvy Z stroller to folks who need to buy a stroller anyway. They are about $200, so they are not an inexpensive purchase, but what a travel stroller! They only weigh 7 lbs., folds up like an umbrella stroller, fit down the aisle of an airplane, and have a canopy hood!! - Tracey Taylor
When we know we are going to be at the park late, we will usually rent a stroller around dinner time for our oldest daughter who was 6 on our last trip. After a long day in the parks, the stroller usually comes in handy in those later hours. If nothing else, it allows our daughter to run around to the bitter end on rides and then have a nice comfortable ride back to the front of the park to catch the bus. - John T. Marrinson
Just thought folks might like to know that Disney's Hollywood Studios cast members will tell you to bring your stroller onto the tram portion of the Backlot Tour. The place we were told to place the stroller (on a "platform" directly behind our seat, about level with our heads) didn't really look like it was designed for that purpose, but we did as we were told. We then spent the entire trip listening to a very unpleasant woman behind us complaining loudly because it was blocking her view (of what, I don't know; most everything was immediately right or left, not directly ahead). My husband tried explaining to her that was where the attraction staff told us to store it, but she was inconsolable. In short, if you want yourself and others to enjoy the attraction fully, you might want to consider leaving your stroller behind, and coming back to retrieve it later. The tram does not let off at the same place it starts, but the extra walking is better than the alternative in my opinion. - Marci
When we dropped off our stroller at Fantasmic the CM asked me to empty out our stroller. Fortunately I asked why, noticing that other strollers had not been emptied. I was told that since it was a park stroller it would be folded and at the end of Fantasmic I would be able to pick up any park stroller and use it to leave. PROBLEM: The stroller I had was mine, a green 3-wheeled jogger, looking nothing like the strollers at Disney's Hollywood Studios!!! Good thing I asked or my stroller would have been gone. - Kramer
We brought our own stroller for the 2 yr old. Your tip on the Stroller for the BIG kids (9 & 7) was great for EPCOT. At the Pavillion area we let the two big ones into a double stroller and everyone was very happy. With all the walking through the World Showcase, the older kids were much happier using the stroller from place to place. We didn't mind pushing them as it gave us a chance to SEE the pavillions. They were excited to get the strollers and we kept them busy by handing them the camcorder for "Kids-Cam" time. The funniest movies are from the kids perspective going through Epcot via the strollers. - Chris Swanson
I had two kids with me and we rented the strollers for packages and for them to take a break every now and then. My kids are a 4'11" and 5 foot and they enjoyed the strollers. Some people may have thought it was crazy but they needed a break every now and then too. I personally think a stroller only makes the walking a little nicer having, gives you something to lean on while your walking and really makes a difference with not worrying over who is going to carry the back packs etc. - Neanie9
I would recommend that you don't assume that an older child 4 or 5 is too old for a stroller, there is alot of walking and usually alot of heat plus it helps to keep track of them, We were able to keep up a pretty good pace in the parks even to late at night by taking a break in the afternoon and putting the 5 year old in a stroller. - marsee
Don't take your own stroller! We almost did. I just thought my daughter would be so much more comfortable in her own and that the plastic ones at WDW would be hot and uncomfortable. After watching so many folks down there wrestling to get their strollers on and off the monorail and bus, and am grateful we rented. $7.00 gets you a stroller for the entire day and Perri was very comfortable. Plus if you change parks, it is nice to leave that one behind during the commute and pick up a new one at the next park. - Kelli Williams
If your youngest may possibly need a stroller (my youngest is currently 6), I would bring it. Additionally, I've been using our diaper bag as a carry-on. At the minimum, we use the stroller to trundle our "stuff", which is generally in the diaper bag - not valuable stuff (like cameras, wallets, etc...), but stuff like paper napkins, straws, water bottles, leftover food, maps for the parks you're not currently visiting, wipes, first aid kit, kleenex, hats, ponchos, sunglasses, whatever!, etc... We've been fortunate that our stroller/diaper bag (which is monogrammed) has never been stolen at Disney, so we continue to believe it will never be violated. It's even good for a tired 5 year old (and will likely be great for our tired 6 year old, who is still under 45 lbs!). Our stroller is now over 10 years old (so we won't worry if it *is* stolen) and is fairly light and easy to fold up (it's an umbrella style by MacLaren). - Audrey Ishizaki
On our last trip in May, my husband came up with an idea for some extra storage in our 2.5 year olds stroller. He took a standard sized bicycle bag and used plastic cable ties to secure it to the front of the stroller beneath the seat. It was a great place to store items that we didn't need to get at frequently, i.e a change of clothes for our toddler, first aid supplies, etc. We have a Graco Lite Rider, but I think this would work on most full size strollers. The bike bag did not interfere in any way with the strollers operation, and best yet, it did not have to be removed when the stroller was folded. It really helped us maximize storage and stay organized.
Something else that we found useful...we secured one of those d-ring key chain clips to the stroller handle with a Velcro strap. It was a handy place to hang all of our souvenir shopping bags that we would accumulate! - Jackie Beering
