Hiya Danielle,
Welcome to planDisney! I am so glad you stopped by as you plan a trip to
The Most Magical Place on Earth! I can remember taking my boys to Walt Disney World Resort at that age. Watching their faces light up the first time they say Mickey Mouse is something I will never forget. The memories you will share with your little one is pure magic!
A crucial piece to your magical adventure is the right stroller. Walt Disney World Resort is huge and it can wear out adults much less toddlers. The first time we took my oldest to the theme parks, we dragged along our very large Rolls Royce of strollers and quickly discovered that the large, cumbersome stroller was a nuisance to navigate in crowds and a nightmare to fold and carry onto the
Disney Transportation system. To pick the perfect stroller, you will first want to check the measurements. There are a
few rules regarding strollers permitted at the theme parks. Strollers must be no larger than 31" wide and 52" long and stroller wagons are not permitted. While it is not required that your stroller collapse, I promise you will want it to collapse when you are attempting to board a bus.
Additional features to keep in mind is how heavy the stroller is. Something easy to fold and relatively lightweight to move and carry is preferred. A reclining seat for naps and a canopy to help block the sun is a must, as is a large storage basket to hold those popcorn buckets and Mickey Mouse ears. I have a number of friends who have raved about both the UPPAbaby G-LITE stroller or the Kolcraft Cloud Plus. Now, you may not be looking to purchase a new stroller, so ask your friends if they have a comfortable lightweight stroller you can borrow, or consider renting a stroller.
Standard single strollers are available for rent at all Walt Disney World theme parks and
Disney Springs. There are also a number of companies local to the Lake Buena Vista area that will rent you strollers for the length of your stay. ScooterBug and Orlando Stroller Rentals are two options that would be happy to help you pick just the right stroller.
A few more suggestions for what my husband calls, "The stroller capital of the world" - there are a lot of strollers at the theme parks and Cast Members often have to relocate them. This means, it is not unusual for you to park your child's chariot outside the entrance to Its's a Small World, and when you exit, it may be two rows up and down five feet from where you left it. To help us easily spot our stroller, we wrapped colorful ribbons around the handle or even taped a small flag to the side. We also found it helpful to bring an over the door shoe organizer with us and zip tie it to the back of the stroller. This provided us with tons of pockets for baby wipes, sippy cups, sunscreen and more. I also highly recommend a clip on stroller fan. It helped keep our little ones cool, especially when we had a blanket draped over the canopy to block the sun during catnaps.
One last thought - be sure to take advantage of the wonderful
Baby Care Centers at each of the theme parks. These offer a great place to escape the heat, nurse a child, change a diaper or even let your little one enjoy a snack before heading over to meet a favorite Disney pal. I hope you will
stop back and see me if you need any more planning assistance.
Hope to see ya real soon,
Margaret