Stroller Styles and Suggestions
A stroller has a significant impact on your vacation experience. Making a poor choice sets the tone for your trip to Walt Disney World. Ultimately, your child will be spending a lot of time in their stroller, so I like to think of it as another “ride” in the amusement park that needs to be a quality experience for them. Selecting a stroller is about picking what would work best for your family based on your needs, children, and style. There are many options to navigate through, but we’re here to help make the choices easier!
As a reminder, Disney has set restrictions on what size strollers are allowed into their theme parks and your stroller must be 31” (79cm) wide and 52” (132cm) long or smaller. Whatever style of stroller you choose must fit within these parameters to enter the parks.
Single Stroller
The umbrella stroller is the king in this category, but I urge you to avoid the simplest and cheapest model. The cheap ones are cutely decorated with beloved cartoon characters and fun patterns. Resist the temptation! The problem with these simple umbrella strollers is that they lack any and all features that make them useful. They serve solely as a place for your child to sit while you walk as there is no place to store snacks, water bottles, diaper bags, wipes, extra clothes – you know, the stuff that comes with a kid. This means you are having to carry that stuff around with you all day or, even worse, taking a gamble by not bringing any of it with you. Because of the lack of storage, the basic umbrella stroller is best suited for older children – but even then, it’s flawed. The basic umbrella lacks a large canopy or a reclining feature and the seat tends to be very small so your bigger kid will feel cramped. You will find these strollers in the gift shops for when you are in a pinch – like if yours breaks or you made the risky choice to visit without a stroller.
Summer 3Dlite+ Convenience
$130+
Super compact fold with padded carry strap, incredibly lightweight 14 lbs, near flat reclining seat, one hand multi-position recline, extra large canopy (note that not all models have the same canopy size), 5-point harness for securing baby.
Baby Jogger City Tour 2
$250+
Compact fold, incredibly lightweight 14 lbs, near flat reclining seat, infant car seat adaptable, large canopy, many accessories available including a standing board, foot rest area allows children to climb in/out on their own, 5-point safety harness.
Summer Infant 3Dpac CS
$150+
Infant car seat adaptable, lightweight 17 lbs, compact but still a bit bulky when folded, one hand fold, padded shoulder strap for carrying, large canopy, removable belly bar, padded 5-point safety harness, multi-position reclining seat.
Double Stroller
This is where things get complex. There are three main options for double strollers – side-by-side, front-back tandem, and sit-and-stand. When it came to upgrading to a double stroller, I wanted a setup where my children were having the same experiences. With a side-by-side model they would both have the same views, both be within arms reach of me, and both be able to interact with each other easily. This was paramount for the parks where I knew we would be watching parades, posing for photos, and walking long distances. The front-back double includes two seats, one behind the other, and the sit-stand features a small bench-like area for an older child to sit or stand while another child rides in a more traditional stroller seat. These last two models are longer, which can be more difficult to see and navigate. You will have to determine whether you want a stroller that is wider or longer and if the seating arrangement is a factor for you and your children’s park experience.
The one main difference I have seen between the side-by-side and front-back styles at Walt Disney World arises when utilizing the Skyliner transportation. Side-by-side models need to be folded to board, but sometimes the front-back style is allowed to roll on completely assembled. This varies by Cast Member, crowd level, and time of day as I have often seen them enforcing the requirement that all strollers be folded regardless of style. As such, I wouldn’t let this be a deciding factor.
Baby Jogger City Mini 2 Double
$550+
Compact for a double, extra large canopies, multi-position seats reclining to near flat, infant car seat adaptable, 5-point safety harness, foot rest area allows children to climb in/out on their own, ample storage, 32 lbs weight.
Graco DuoGlider Double
$170+
Infant car seat compatible, one hand fold, extra large storage area, only one seat lays flat but both recline, tandem stadium-style seats with rear seat higher than the other, bulky when folded, 29.5 lbs weight, removeable trays.
Graco Ready2Grow
$235+
As they grow only one child gets a comfy seat, only one seat has a canopy, kids facing different directions and cannot interact easily, compact fold, infant car seat compatible, 26 lbs weight, removable belly bar.
Summer Infant 3Dpac Double
$250+
Semi-compact, one-hand fold, large canopies, multi-position reclining seats, ample storage, 23 lbs weight, infant car seat compatible.
Joovy Kooper X2
$405+
One-hold fold, multi-position reclining seats, pivoting and removable trays, lightweight 28 lbs, water repellent canopies, colorful options.
Kolcraft Cloud Plus
$180+
Large canopies, reclining seats do not lay flat, 5-point safety harness, semi-compact fold, 23 lbs weight, removable trays.
Wagons
The one style that Disney is not currently permitting in the parks is the wagon. A common argument about wagons is regarding their push-or-pull style options, but the unique pull style feature is not the only thing preventing their use in the parks. Wagons have a lower center, meaning that they are less visible in peripheral vision and more likely to tip over – making them a safety hazard to both the children riding in the wagon and guests who encounter them. There are, of course, some exceptions for medical reasons and occasionally Cast Members may let a few pass. However, they do reserve the right to deny you entry if your stroller does not abide by their guidelines. I know there are many families that ADORE their wagon style and defend its push vs. pull style option, but in my opinion it’s not worth the gamble.
Three-Wheeled or Triangle Base Design
Many strollers – both single and double models – are designed with three wheels instead of four or having a triangle shaped base design. This is very common with jogging strollers where the three wheel design has a very sporty and modern look. At Disney, these strollers are unstable. There are many curbs and uneven surfaces to navigate in the parks that often involve tilting or tipping your stroller forward or backward. With one single wheel at the front, it is near impossible to balance your entire stroller on that wheel without it spinning or tilting. I have watched entire strollers tip over on numerous occasions, dumping all of the contents including the children to the ground. The three-wheel design is a safety hazard for your little ones and I highly suggest avoiding it for the parks.
Overall Top Picks
Single Stroller: Summer 3Dlite+ Convenience
- super lightweight, extremely compact fold, extra large canopy
Double Stroller: Baby Jogger City Mini 2 Double
- ease of reach to assist children, children have same and shared experiences, extra large canopies
- the most popular stroller for the parks so you will see a lot of them because it’s that good
Now you’re on your way to selecting the perfect stroller for your family’s park vacation and one step closer to a magical adventure! This stroller series will continue with suggested accessories, how to go through security and transportation, and whether you should bring your own or rent.
— Jennelle