When you walk down Main Street at Disney, what do you see? The lovely castle, the beautiful balloons, the many shops…and throngs of…strollers?! I’m sure you’ve seen the hundreds of strollers parked along the fence lines of attractions, or perhaps you’ve had to dodge a bunch of them while making a beeline toward the churro stand. Or worse, your ankles have probably been accidentally rammed by a busy parent trying to get to their next destination. If you’re planning a Disney trip soon with kids, there’s that one million dollar question: Do I need a stroller for my kid or not? Should I rent one or bring my own?
There are pros and cons in bringing a stroller to the Disney parks. As a mom who has brought one when my child was a toddler, and another year when my child was 6 and we DIDN’T bring a stroller (but ended up renting one), it was a learning experience both ways. Of course, when your child is a baby, a stroller is almost necessary, but what about when they’re a toddler, or 5 and up? This has been a constant debate on Facebook boards and Disney forums. We’ll talk about some instances where bringing a stroller is a good idea and times when it would be better left in the hotel or at home.
IMPORTANT STROLLER INFORMATION FOR DISNEY PARKS
STROLLER SPECIFICATIONS
If you decide to bring your own stroller or double stroller to the parks, keep in mind there are stroller size specifications: nothing larger than 31” (79 cm) x 52” (132 cm). Why did Disney implement this policy? To save space and avoid congestion in the walkways. As much as I love wagons, Disney has banned them from the park. You can contact guest services PRIOR to your visit if your child has special needs/sensory issues and will need accommodations.
Keep in mind, you will most likely have to fold your stroller when getting on Disney trams, buses, a crowded Monorail, and boats. It may help to bring a baby carrier along with your stroller to help in these instances to help you go hands-free. Strollers can be rolled onto the Disney Skyliner.
RENT A STROLLER
You can rent a single or double stroller at Disney parks. These can be brought to all the Disney Parks As of March 2022, the rental rates PER DAY are:
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- DISNEYLAND STROLLERS: Single Stroller, $18, Double Stroller, $36. These are available to rent at the far right of the entrance of Disneyland on the esplanade.
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- DISNEYWORLD STROLLERS: : Single Stroller, $15 ($13 for multi-day stay), Double Stroller, $31 ($27 for multi-day stay)
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WHERE CAN I BRING RENTED DISNEY STROLLERS?
For Disneyland, you can take your rental stroller to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney. You cannot take them inside Disney hotels, trams, or buses.
For Disneyworld, you can only use your stroller rental at the park you got it from. If you’re going to other Disney parks, you can use your original receipt to rent a stroller at that location and also Disney Springs.
CAST MEMBERS MAY MOVE YOUR STROLLER
One time, we had parked our stroller next to the Autopia ride at Disneyland. We walked out the exit and started looking everywhere for our stroller, thinking it was stolen! I didn’t know that Cast Members may move strollers when they’re not in the designated stroller parking spot for safety reasons. We just asked a Cast Member and they kindly pointed out where they parked it.
I get it, that feeling of thinking your stroller may have gotten stolen is scary, but please don’t get mad at the Cast Members for doing their job to keep everyone safe and for fire code reasons. I’ve seen videos of parents yelling at staff which is totally unfair. To help find your stroller in the sea of hundreds of other strollers, you can tie a balloon, colorful ribbon, or bright name tag to yours so you can easily find it. We tied a red balloon to our child’s stroller and it was much easier to find in the crowds.
WHY STROLLERS AT DISNEY ARE YOUR FRIEND
STORAGE
When I didn’t have kids, it took me 5-10 minutes to get out of the house. Boy, was I in for a big shock when I had my son. It takes a whole lot longer to prepare to go out: from baby bottles to formula, diapers, extra clothes, blankets, snacks, and everything else. So having a stroller will take the load off of your back when walking around the Disney parks. It’s also a perfect place to put your drinks, souvenirs, snacks, umbrellas, and jackets.
NAPS
The majority of strollers come with canopies, bassinets, or seats that recline fully that are perfect for naps. Little ones get tired and a stroller is a nice little haven for that mid-day nap so they don’t get cranky and overstimulated. When your little one naps, it’ll give you a much-needed break also to go grab some food, drink, or catch a show while they can re-energize.
LITTLE FEET GET TIRED
I know it’s tempting to ditch the stroller if you know your child either HATES being in it or can walk just fine without one. However, Disney parks are huge and little feet get really tired. Also, it can save your arms and shoulders from strain when they DO get tired and need to be carried. Also, remember at the end of a long day, you may have to walk to your resort or hotel and kids are usually too exhausted to walk.
A LITTLE PLACE TO HIDE
Strollers, especially ones with large canopies can be a nice place to hide from the sun and rain. Summers at Disney parks can be brutal with triple-digit temps, and the occasional rain (or downpour). You can even attach a stroller misting fan to keep your little ones cool in the heat. You can use the stroller storage area to keep umbrellas, ponchos, or extra shoes/socks in case of rainy weather. The crowds, noise, and weather can be a bit too overstimulating for kids so the stroller can be a peaceful retreat. They’re also perfect for viewing Disney parades/cavalcades since they can relax in the stroller while watching their favorite characters go by.
“MY KID IS TOO BIG FOR A STROLLER”
I’ve gotten a lot of flack for putting my child in a stroller when he was 5-6 years old. He was big for his age and I always got comments left and right from people that he was “too big for a stroller”. What they didn’t know is that my child is sensitive to loud sounds and can get overstimulated easily. Only you as a parent or caregiver know your child, so don’t mind what other people say because they won’t be the ones carrying your child around the parks all day.
On our 1st Disneyland trip with our then 2-year-old, we brought a stroller and it was super helpful, especially since our hotel was a long 15-minute walk from the parks. On our 2nd Disneyland trip, we got a closer hotel at the Howard Johnson Hotel & Waterpark but didn’t bring a stroller. We thought our 6 year old would be perfectly fine without one and we were WRONG.
It was 90+ degrees in the middle of June and 2 hours into our park day at California Adventure, we ended up renting a Disney stroller after waiting 180 minutes in the heat for Radiator Springs Racers with masks on. Our 6-year-old was hot, hungry and his feet were tired, so a stroller helped SO MUCH. He still fits perfectly fine even with his long legs. We rented a stroller all 3 days in the parks and it was a lifesaver. It was easier for us to get around the parks faster, we stored our drinks, souvenirs, and jackets in the storage area.
CONS OF BRINGING A STROLLER
EXTRA BAGGAGE
Bringing a stroller to Disney is definitely a bit more work. As mentioned earlier, you will have to fold your stroller boarding Lyft, Uber, trams, buses, and the Monorail. This is really tough when you’re by yourself or when you have a sleeping child at the end of a long day and you have to wake them up to fold your stroller to get on transportation.
STROLLER PARKING
There are probably hundreds of strollers parked in various designated spots throughout Disney parks. It does take more time and effort to look for designated spots to find stroller parking before getting on an attraction. Then, you have to FIND your stroller after you’re done, so make it easier for you to locate it by putting a visual marker on it like a balloon, tag, ribbon, etc.
NAVIGATING THE CROWDS
Have you ever gotten rammed in the legs by a stroller? I have and it’s no fun, but I’m sure the majority of parents don’t mean to. Pushing a stroller through Disney crowds and over bumpy areas of the park is tough. Some people also don’t give you enough room to get your stroller through or just run/walk right in front of you, so you have to be extra patient.
THE GREAT STROLLER DEBATE
At the end of the day, you know your child best, and it’s up to you whether you want to bring a stroller or not. With my experiences in the park, I always highly recommend a stroller as it removes a lot of stress as a parent when getting you and your child around the parks. I remember when I didn’t have any kids, and I could just go to the parks with a small backpack and I was good to go, but having a place for your child to rest, plus a place to put all your stuff in without killing your back is always a plus for me. There will always be the stroller debate, and hopefully, this article has helped you with your choice.