March 28, 2019, Disney announced major changes regarding strollers and wagons for all of its parks, including Disneyland & Walt Disney World. Many in the MouseDining community have wondered how this affects them, and we’ve broken it down for you here.
Changes Effective May 1, 2019:
- Stroller wagons will no longer be allowed (pull wagons were already banned).
- Strollers must be no larger than 31 inches wide and 52 inches long.
- Additionally, as of March 28 2019, loose and dry ice is no longer permitted in the parks.
Whether or not to bring a stroller on vacation can be a tricky decision. It is a debate we have in our home often. Do we have the space in the car? Or when we fly, do we lug it through the airport? Do the kids really need it? Is it worth the hassle to fold and unfold it every time we get on Disney transportation, etc.?
Every family’s needs are different. Disney is exhausting (sorry spoiler alert)! There is a lot of walking, standing, and not to mention the uncertainty of the weather. All of this is sure to wear out even the most seasoned Disney traveler, especially children. Some families opt for no stroller and prefer taking several breaks throughout the day. You know your kiddos, and you know the best way for your family to enjoy their vacation.
Renting a stroller has been such a game changer for us! I wanted to highlight why renting is so great, along with a few tips we’ve learned along the way.
Renting vs. Bringing: A few Disney trips back we discovered the ease and convenience of renting a stroller from a Disney featured stroller provider (you can Google it, to find a list). Our favorite happens to be Kingdom Strollers. As a Disney featured stroller provider they are allowed to deliver right to your Disney hotel via bell services and you do not have to be there for the exchange. Then, once you are done with it for your stay, you simply return it back to bell services. It’s “easy-peasy”, as my toddler likes to say. For us, the biggest advantage of renting instead of bringing our own, is savings space. We hate carving out the extra room in our SUV for our giant double stroller, or lugging it through the airport. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy the process of renting is, from selecting which stroller to the actual rental experience. It is so easy and for a minimal cost. For our family, renting is perfect!
It’s important to point out you can rent direct from Disney in the parks, but let’s be honest, their strollers are just giant pieces of bulky plastic meant for durability and not comfort. We much prefer renting from an offsite vendor like Kingdom Strollers. We have rented the Citi Mini GT Double several times and these are nicer than even our own stroller! Not only that, you can also add extras to your stroller rental like a small cooler and a rain cover.
However, when my children were smaller we traveled with the Chicco Bravo Travel System. If traveling with an infant, I recommend bringing your own stroller and not renting.
Now that you have your stroller – here are our Best Disney Stroller Tips:
- Be prepared: You will have to fold and unfold your stroller when getting on the Disney trams & busses. The boats, ferries and Monorail allow you to roll your stroller onto the ride without folding them, space permitting. We typically pack a kid bag with all the supplies we need in an easy to grab bag that we pull out from under the stroller for easy access during security checks and folding/unfolding.
- Be ready to park & walk: Strollers are not permitted in the ride queues, table service restaurants, or shows. You’ll need to park in a designated stroller parking spots and walk to your destination. Because of this, be mindful of scheduling too much during nap time. If your little one doses off, you generally don’t want to move them from the stroller.
- Be flexible: Strollers can and will be moved by cast members if you happen to park in the wrong spot or if stroller area needs rearranging to accommodate more strollers. This can and will happen; just be ready for it. We typically have a unique identifier on our stroller of some sort to quickly spot ours in a crowded area. As always, there is usually a cast member close by that can help if you don’t easily spot your stroller or need assistance.
- Bring a stroller fan: Disney World and Disneyland can get HOT. Especially Florida when you mix in the humidity. I highly recommend purchasing a stroller fan before your trip and bringing it with you. Our family loves this stroller clip on fan.
Whether you rent or bring your own, remember the most important thing: you are at Disney. So have fun! We don’t claim to be experts, we’re just passing along our best tips that we’ve amassed over several trips with our young family! We hope this helps and would love to know your thoughts!
-Emily
