Check the car seat and stroller free on the plane, ship or buy diapers at the destination, and rent (or choose a rental that already includes) the big gear.
The short version: bring the car seat and stroller (they fly free), ship or buy the consumables after you land, and rent the big gear locally, or stay somewhere that already has it. Here is each decision.
What flies free: more than you think
The major US airlines do not charge for baby gear. Delta and United both let you check at least one stroller and one car seat per child for free, and neither counts against your baggage allowance. You can gate-check the stroller, which means your kid rides in it all the way to the aircraft door instead of on your hip through a terminal. Car seats can come on board if you bought your baby a seat and yours is FAA-approved (look for the sticker that says so).
Two practical notes. First, babies under two can fly domestically as a lap infant, but you still have to add them to the reservation, and you may be asked for proof of age, so travel with a photo of the birth certificate. Second, a cheap stroller travel bag is worth the $20: gate-checked gear gets handled like luggage.
What to rent locally
If your accommodation does not supply gear, Orlando has a whole rental industry built for this. The going rates: a good stroller runs about $50 to $65 for a week, a full-size crib or pack and play about $65 to $90 for a short stay, and most companies deliver to vacation rentals, often free over a minimum order. Book at least a week ahead in school holidays.
Disney also rents strollers in the parks: $15 a day for a single, $31 for a double, with a small discount if you prepay for your length of stay. They are fine for an afternoon, but they do not recline, they have no storage to speak of, and they stay inside the park, so your sleeping toddler rides back to the car in your arms. Most families are happier with a real stroller that lives at the house and does both jobs.
What to ship or buy when you land
Diapers, wipes, formula, swim diapers, sunscreen: none of this deserves suitcase space. You have two easy options. Send an Amazon or grocery delivery order to the house for arrival day (check with your host first), or stop at the Publix five minutes from the gate. A week's diapers for one baby is about a third of a checked suitcase. Buy them here.
What to skip
- The rental counter car seat. Typically $10 to $15 a day per seat, which over a week costs more than buying a new one at Target, and you cannot verify its history. Yours flew free. Use it.
- A second stroller "just in case." One good stroller plus a cheap umbrella backup covers nearly every scenario.
- Anything your rental already has. This is the big one, and it is worth asking about before you book the house, not after. A surprising amount of baby flying stress is just duplicating gear that was already waiting.
If you are staying at SuperVilla
The house is stocked so parents can fly with carry-ons: a mini crib, a pack and play and a travel crib (with crib sheets), a City Mini jogger stroller, a high chair, baby monitors, a baby bathtub, a bottle drying rack and children's dinnerware. On the safety side: built-in gates at the top and bottom of the stairs, outlet covers, room-darkening shades for naps, and a child safety fence around the pool.
The toddler packing list is the companion piece: the short list of what you still need to bring once the gear is handled. And if you are weighing the trip itself, the house is 20 to 30 minutes from the Disney parks, which is what makes the midday nap run realistic.
Questions people ask
Do airlines charge to check a stroller or car seat?
Major US airlines, including Delta and United, check at least one stroller and one car seat per child free, and they do not count against your baggage allowance. You can usually gate-check the stroller and use it through the airport.
How much does baby gear rental cost in Orlando?
Expect roughly $50 to $65 a week for a stroller and $65 to $90 for a crib or pack and play for a short stay, plus a delivery fee that is often waived over a minimum order. Disney's in-park strollers run $15 a day for a single and $31 for a double.
Should I rent a car seat with my rental car?
Usually no. Rental counter car seats typically cost $10 to $15 per day per seat, availability is not guaranteed, and condition varies. Bringing your own on the plane is free and you know its history.
What baby gear does SuperVilla provide?
A mini crib, a pack and play, a travel crib with crib sheets, a City Mini jogger stroller, a high chair, baby monitors, a baby bathtub, a bottle drying rack, children's dinnerware, stair gates, outlet covers and a pool safety fence.