Thursday's Tip

Today's tip: Bring your own stroller. Yes, Disney rents strollers. Yes, they're very nice. But at $15/day for a single stroller and a whopping $31/day for a double, you could easily buy a new lightweight stroller for one day's rental. (Multiple day--or "length of stay"--rentals bring the price down to $13/day for a single and $27/day for a double. Still pricey!)

I know it's a bit of a hassle to take one on the plane, but I have a solution for that too--buy a cheap one online and have it shipped directly to your hotel in time for arrival. Even with shipping, you'll save money. Here's one scenario:

Kmart.com has a variety of single umbrella strollers for $14.99 plus tax. Even with the $7.50 shipping fee, the total comes to just $22.49 plus tax. In less than two days of renting, you could have purchased a new lightweight stroller.

Or, if you have access to a car on your trip, visit the local Wal-Mart or Target and buy a cheap stroller upon arrival. You'll save the $7.50 shipping, and you may find an even better deal in stores. (Our local Wal-Mart sells umbrella strollers for around $12.99.)

Still not convinced? One more thing to remember: Disney only rents strollers inside the parks--not at any of the resorts. If you have very young children, you're going to need a stroller just to get through your hotel. The only way to have it every time you need it is to bring your own.