Stroller for an 8 year old?

[jennydep]

My 8 year old daughter will need a stroller while we're at the parks for her wish trip. She has leukemia and tires very easily. I know I can rent them at the parks, but for the cost of 6 days at the parks, I could buy a new one to have with us all the time. Does anyone know if there are non-special needs strollers that hold a 60 lb child? So far everything I've seen just goes up to 35 or 40 lbs. Thanks!

[Live_STRONG]

If I remember correctly we were told by GKTW that strollers/wheelchairs at WDW (and possibly universal too) were free for the duration of the wish trip. I hope your family has a great time.

[jennydep]

Cool beans! That makes my day! Thank you so much!!!!!

[SueM in MN]

I remember reading that too. Hopefully someone can confirm it.
As for the size of the strollers at WDW parks, according to what CMs have posted in the past, they will fit up to a small 12 year old. So, I don't think you will have any problem with your 60 pounder fitting.
I would also think that the WISH coordinators in Orlando would have resources to obtain a special needs stroller or pediatric wheelchair for GKTW guests if they need one.

[Anne MN]

Talk to your WISH coordinator. when we went for our DD trip they asked if she needed a stroller, we had a double jogger we took with us, but they should be able to get a special needs or ped wheelchair like Sue said. WISH coordinators are there to assist you with what you need.

GKTW- I think they still have it, but they will tell you at orientation, about using a camcorder or a couple of days. they will also transfer your tape to DVD or VCR tape. we took advantage of this, we had it for 2 days. it was awsome.

[Tiggerific711]

We bought a Maclaren Volo stroller when we needed to get a stroller for my DS5 who has epilepsy and PDD. He's a big boy at over 48 inches and 60 pounds and has no trouble fitting in the stroller. The stroller is lightweight (9lbs), folds easily and has a strap to carry over the shoulder. We got ours online at Target. You can get them on Ebay but I noticed that the prices can get a lot higher (some auctions were up to $120, we paid $89 plus tax with free shipping from Target, just watch for the sales). We used it in Disney for 2 trips this year and it's definitely worth the price!

Good Luck

Marianne

[dislvr75]

These stroller/wheelchairs do such a good job at masking themselves as "non-medical", I did have get a GAC just so that it would be considered a "wheelchair" (even though the word wheelchair is written on the tback of the chair). Disney is very strict in many areas about allowing "strollers" where there ought not be any. In most cases they see the AFO's (braces) my son is wearing on his legs and they let us go by, but in some cases I did have to whip out our GAC to get through.

I'm not sure what the company's website is, but if you do a google search hopefully you'll find it. They have a wide array of wheelchair/strollers that are made for kids of all weights and sizes. And for a child that doesn't have a "physical disability", they may like that it doesn't look too "involved medically".

Good luck and have a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!

[SueOKW]

We loved our Convaid stroller! Used it for years - even after my husband backed into it (fortunately he had already taken kevin out of it! :rolleyes2 ) after a hospital visit... the wheels were a little out of alignment, but it kept strolling.

I realize you may not want to buy one - but if you ever consider it that's the kind i recommend... the WDW ones s/b just fine for your wish trip.

have a GREAT time!

[jennydep]

Thanks for your help, everyone! I spoke to our wish coordinator about renting a special needs stroller. She said they would pay for a pediatric wheelchair, but we'd have to pay if we wanted the stroller. She also said we will be able to park in disabled parking as guests of GKTW, so at least Mickey won't be worn out just walking into the park! We'll just wait and rent the stroller there. I think it will be best since it as the canopy on it.

Thanks again!!

[LindsayDunn228]

One thing to ask, if you haven't already: will your daughter mind being in a stroller? Would she prefer a wheelchair?

[jennydep]

She will love the stroller. We have the same kind at our zoo. We found one abandoned when we were there over Christmas break and let her use it. She thoroughly enjoyed it! I think she'll like it better than a wheelchair. Thanks for thinking of that.

[LindsayDunn228]

Ok, just wanted to make sure it was a unanimous decision :)

I have been a paraplegic since I was 6 and would have been utterly humiliated, not to mention completely stranded, if my mom had put me in a stroller at WDW when I was 8.

[Mish]

I have to Mclaren Elite for my son. He is 7. My insurance paid for it all I had to get was a note from my Ortho that is was medically necessary. When we get to Disney we got to guest relations and get a GAC pass to say that we can use our stroller as a wheel chair. Most cast members know it is a special needs stroller and don't ask.

[mrsfascinating]

My husband and I have also been on the search for a suitable traveling stroller for our 5yrold daughter. We have a convaid crusier that we use at home ,but after seeing the destruction to the standard stroller (due to the airline handlers) from our trip to Disney Dec 2005 I am glad I did not take it. We have been looking at the Maclarens at toys R us ,but haven't been able to cough up the $200 for a stroller that will get used for 2wks a year. After reminding my daughter every 5 min(or so it seemed) to take her foot off the front wheels so we could roll I know we need something more suitable for her size, but still safe and comfortable for her to ride on. Good Luck. If I find a good one for a good price I will be sure to post. The Convaid was purchased through our insurance and ran $2700. :scratchin

[welovedis]

Jenny-
I just wanted to let you know that I realized today the package with the book I promised is sitting in my DH's car!!!! He told me he forgot to take it to the post office so I'll be taking it there by the end of the week. Sorry for the delay!

[jennydep]

Karen, that's okay! No problem. I figured it was something like that. I'll watch for it next week! I really appreciate you sending it to us!

[SueM in MN]

I'm not sure what the company's website is, but if you do a google search hopefully you'll find it. They have a wide array of wheelchair/strollers that are made for kids of all weights and sizes. And for a child that doesn't have a "physical disability", they may like that it doesn't look too "involved medically".

Good luck and have a GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!
Adaptivemall (http://www.adaptivemall.com/allstrolpus.html) is a good site for special needs strollers. They have a good variety to choose from.

[Mish]

This is the one we use. It is great. We were able to get a hood for it so that the sun was not to hot. http://www.adaptivemall.com/mainbug.html

[LiLIrishChick63]

i'm pretty sure that they only have the strollers for 30-45 pounds there. they have 2 different sized wheelchairs tho. one smaller and one larger. and you can pay for one for the whole week instead of daily, my fiance's uncle did this for his disabled son. it worked out quite well.

[SueM in MN]

The strollers that you can rent at the WDW parks will hold "up to a small 12 yr old" according to what CMs have posted in the past and I have personally seen lots of big children using them.

Also since the OP is on a MAW trip, the WISH coordinator could get either a pediatric wheelchair or special needs stroller for them to use.

The WDW parks have a very few smaller wheelchairs, but most are either standard adult size (seat width of 16-18 inches) or wider ones. Depending on the size of the 8 year old, the standard adult size may work. But in many cases, the armrests will be somewhere between neck and chest height and the wheelchair seat will be too deep (if the child sits back all the way, the legs can't bend at the knees because the seat is too long; if the child sits forward so the knees can bend, they have no back support). For many people, a stroller just works out better.

[jennydep]

We are going to use the strollers at the parks. Our wish coordinator said they would provide a pediatric wheelchair, but not a special needs stroller. Go figure! :) So we decided just to deal with helping a tired little girl at the end of the day. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things! :sunny:

[SueM in MN]

if it turns out that she is too tired, they should be able to help you out with finding a pedicatric wheelchair at GKTW.

[jtopp]

The GAC from GKTW allows you a free wheelchair/stroller rental for the duration of the trip. The GAC, in addition to the other perks GKTW offers, will make your trip better then you will ever expect. In addition to the meals and tickets, the CM's at WDW make every wish kid feel extra special without embarassing them.