When we first started going to Disneyland, we thought we had everything figured out. We had a luxuriously gigantic double stroller, diaper bags and backpacks, snacks, drinks, the works. Our double stroller hadn't given us any troubles in the time that we had used it, and at first, it seemed very well suited to life at the parks. During our first visit, we noticed that the right front wheel seemed to be struggling somewhat, but with a little extra effort, everything seemed more or less normal. It was during this trip that we first noticed families using the Keenz stroller, but at the time what stood out more than anything was how cool some people's were. People were decking them out in everything from lights, to fans, liners and covers, extra storage, and more. So our interest was piqued and we started to think, "How cool would it be if we could collaborate with Keenz?"
Fast forward a couple more trips and we were in dire straights, and we knew it. Our double stroller no longer turned right. Like, at all. Left was no problem, but turning clockwise was simply not an option, but we opted to try taking it to Disneyland regardless. That turned out to be a huge bust. We left the stroller in the hotel and rented two single strollers for the rest of the trip. That was when we started saying, "Okay, now we NEED to collaborate with Keenz!"
Well, we did reach out to Keenz, but they were out of stock until the new year and thus had no units available to use for a collaboration, but we were lucky enough to receive a new double stroller to use for our final trip last December. Knowing that soon enough we would be fully upgraded to our ideal form of kid transport, we happily took our new stroller to the park. It worked well enough. It was brand-new, so everything was working right, it turned fine, and didn't give us any issues. There was enough storage for everything we had, but we did find ourselves wanting for a few things. First and foremost, double strollers aren't the greatest thing for kids to nap comfortably in. Their seats reclined, and could change to a slightly more comfortable shape, but they were never comfy enough for the kids to get a solid nap in. Second, while the stroller had "enough" storage, it didn't have quite the amount of storage that we wanted. There were a lot of things that we had to keep in backpacks, and with two backpacks, a camera bag, a diaper/wipe pouch, a changing pad, blankets, snacks, drinks, and two children, we were definitely wiped out by the end of each day. The trip was fantastic, we had a lot of fun, but we were eager to get our next stroller system before our February trip.
Receiving the Keenz was definitely a second Christmas for us. We weren't exactly positive that we would get it, and when we did receive confirmation we heard we'd be getting it 48 hours later, which was faster than most things are shipped to us. Skepticism be damned, two days later the UPS guy shows up with the giant Keenz box. Based on how our last stroller worked, we were expecting a minimal amount of assembly, but some assembly nonetheless.
Right off the bat, you'll understand why the Keenz is worth it's cost. We've had our eyes on one for quite awhile, and we'd used them inside of Target (gotta test 'em out, right?) and we knew that Keenz definitely did not skimp on the quality of materials, or build design. The thoughtfulness of the design is apparent as soon as you take it out of the box. The Keenz 7s Stroller Wagon comes folded, inside of it's carry bag. The bag velcros off in one motion, and with a second motion the Keenz is unfolded, locked, and almost ready to go. The wheels attach with one-click operation, and at that point the unit is essentially assembled. The canopy comes in a separate carry case, and installs in less than 15 seconds, instantly providing shade, complete with a vented top that can be zipped back to allow airflow, or completely covered to provide shade, and roll-down flaps on both sides that provide shade and wind protection when down, and are easily rolled up and stored under the lip of the canopy with a bungee system. Out of the box the unit also comes with three storage options: facing the rear is a fold down, multi-use storage pouch that holds phones, water bottles, and other small items, facing the front is a large capacity, open carry container that has an attached but separate vented compartment underneath, and a large cold-storage bag that can be hung from either side, or fit into the large open container. On exterior storage alone, you have room for multiple blankets, extra clothes, extra shoes, a day's worth of food and drinks, water bottles, phones, cords, keys, and more. By adding some of our preexisting attachable storage options we increased our storage even further, eliminating the need for diaper bags entirely. There's also a handy cup holder that clamps to any of the four vertical posts on the stroller.
Now, the single best feature is that the Keenz 7s is a collapsible wagon, but it's a STROLLER wagon. Traditional wagons are pulled from the front and cannot be pushed and steered from behind, and are not permitted within Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. The Keenz has full-size, adjustable, gripped and padded stroller bars on both the front and rear of the wagon, allowing you to push or pull it from either side. Thus, the Keenz 7s is one of *maybe* three different brands of wagons allowed inside the parks. In addition to it's double-handled design, there are two five-point harnesses facing each other inside, keeping the kids safe and in place. Add a padded liner, some string lights, a fan or two, and you've got a sweet, sweet setup. Despite its size, the Keenz is incredibly maneuverable and easy to push. Even when fully loaded, it doesn't ever take much more effort to push, unlike our new double stroller which would start to strain when fully loaded, and even then, that was with far less items onboard than the Keenz can support. Keenz also makes additional accessories, including cup holders, extra liners, and different covers to support different weather conditions. You may have to keep a close eye on their website, however, as their products are insanely popular, and items go out of stock soon after becoming available.
With our Disney trip just over the horizon, we are more excited than ever to put our Keenz 7s Stroller Wagon to the ultimate test. We are going to write a follow-up article to this one, outlining ways the Keenz was beneficial specifically to Disneyland, and what awesome Disney themed accessories you can get to help customize your Keenz to your Disney heart's desire.
Just know this, while there may be a couple other stroller wagons on the market, the Keenz is truly in class of its own. Incredibly well built, thoughtfully designed, and multi-functionally useful, its a package that is often hard to come by. For parents with multiple children, it's an obvious choice.