The Perfect Disney Stroller

There are a LOT of opinions on the right stroller for Disney. For myself, the stroller has to be able to do this, to pass my Disney approved test!

Be easy to maneuver
Be easy to clean
Be functional
Hold the right size kid
Be easy to fold
Be easy to park
Stand out or look cute
Don’t look too cute or stand out too much


Let’s break it down!

Be easy to maneuver


My husband no longer pushes the stroller at Disney. He has a hard time getting it through the crowds, because with a stroller, people WILL cut you off, coming from the sides. Heck, I’ve been run into before by those jumbo strollers from behind. Doesn’t feel good. I don’t mind pushing though, it’s all about the push, I tell him. You’ve got to get that look in your eye that says I WILL run you over if you don’t get out of my way, and the crowd parts. Seriously. Try it, but don't REALLY run anyone over. 

If you are going to take a stroller, make sure it’s one that pushes well. If you have to muscle your way to make a tight turn around a toddler that stops suddenly in front of you, you need to turn quick. Same if you need to stop.

This is the one we use, it’s been WONDERFUL for 4 years of hard use, and I swear, still looks new. Our oldest sat in it at age 7, and it still worked.

http://amzn.to/2xVT4NX

A note for those of you with the double stroller. Side by side is a lot harder to find a parking spot, or a wide enough path through a shop or walkway than the kind where the kids are in a row. It’s not impossible, nothing is at Disney, but you might have to go slower, say excuse me more, and have a little more patience.


Be easy to clean


Fact of life. Spills happen. Your spills, your kid spills, the stranger’s kid next to you… it’s going to happen. If you’ve got a stroller that isn’t filled with nooks and crannies to get every melted Mickey ice cream bar bit out of, that’s awesome. If you’ve got an older stroller or are of the personality that you don’t care if there’s a stain or two, even better. Maybe that’s why I’m not in the luxury stroller, because spills are going to happen, and I’d rather not worry about it. A swipe with a napkin or wipe and we keep going.


Be functional


Cupholders? A must! Storage area? Got to have it! Pouch for sunscreen and trading pins? Check! Reclining seat? Sooo important!

Don’t have too minimal of a stroller unless you don’t plan to have it hold anything but your kid. It’s great to have a cupholder for drinks, and a carge area for the purchases you make or any of those things you started the day holding, and are now too tired to carry.


Hold the right size kid


Depending on your little one, you need the right sized stroller. The bigger the kid, the more important that you stroller push without feet getting in the way, to little tush’s weighting down the wheels do you can't push. Check beforehand to make sure no one’s outgrown the stroller!


Be easy to park


While there’s loads of stroller parking, there are often loads of strollers. A few times we were turned away from stroller parks until they saw how small our stroller was, and squished a few together, or had us fold ours up and hang it on a rail. Part of being easy to park is making sure you aren't so overloaded with stuff it can’t be moved. There are stroller parking attendants who will be shuffling the strollers around while you are off enjoying the rides. Don’t panic when you get back and don’t see your stroller. It’s going to be in the parking area, just maybe in a different spot.


Be easy to fold


Folding is really important if you plan to use your stroller on any of the Disney transportation. You’ll have to have it folded to ride. Depending on the size of your stroller it will either make it easier, or more difficult.

It’s also great to have a stroller that folds, because some stroller parks areas, like at the stroller parking for Fantasmic! have a large fence they prefer the strollers be hung on.


You can go here to read about tips for having a stroller on a Disney bus.


Stand out or look cute


You know how when you’re driving around town you see several cars that alook like yours? Or how annoying it is at the grocery store parking lot when there are 3 cars just like yours in the same row? It’s going to be the same with strollers. To prevent grabbing to wrong one, or someone else getting yours by mistake, jazz it up a little!

First step, make a sign to hang from the handles, and laminate it! Put a cute Disney photo, your phone number and a big THIS STROLLER BELONGS TO etc. I’ve seen balloons, stuffed animals, silly bands and all kinds of things. Make it stand out a little!
But…


Don’t look too cute or stand out too much


Why? didn’t I just say to make it stand out and look cute?

I’ll explain. It’s so easy to get into the mindset that you are in a safe place (and really, Disney is VERY safe. Most of the crime against Disney tourists are Off Property) but make no mistake. Where there’s something someone wants, they are going to take it. Stroller thefts are rare, but they do happen at Disney, especially when it’s a high end stroller. There was one last year where a woman and her kid walked out with a VERY expensive stroller, and it contained the real owners keys, wallet, credit cards and cash. The stroller was then almost sold on craigslist, but the potential buyer got suspicious and called the police.

Is that right? Absolutely not! Should the person be criticized for taking a high end stroller to Disney? Of course not! But my thoughts are, if you have a few options for strollers… make it based on the criteria above. If that high end stroller is the only one you want to take, ok. But why risk it when one for less than $50 will do the trick?


Want more ideas on planning your trip?


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