2 year olds w/o strollers at MK...crazy?

[mtemm]

we are going to wdw in october for the kids first trip. we have a 4 year old and 2 year old twins, and lately the twins have really started to reject their stroller. they just want to walk. DS4 was the same way. We went to the zoo yesterday and walked for 4 hours, stopping to look at animals, but never sitting (they didn't want to stop). They refused the stroller the entire time, so basically it came down to me pushing it around the park the whole time.

dh and I were talking and he really thinks it crazy to bring the stroller to the MK. Let me say that we will only go for 4 hours at a time, then take a break back at the resort. After watching the twins yesterday, he is starting to make sense to me to do it this way, but part of me still wonders if we are crazy.

what do you think?

 

[sberlepsch]

If you limit your time in the park each outing and your children reject the stroller, then I do not see a problem with not bringing one. Remember, you can always rent one if it becomes a problem.

When we go back in early Sept., we will still take one for our 4 year old DS. He likes to walk also, however, I also like having it for security reasons and it is a great place to store stuff. Disney can be very overwhelming to a child and I like knowing he is always with me.

 

[va32h]

Given the massive crowds at Disney, a stroller would be as much for your peace of mind and keeping track of them as it is for saving their little legs.

Imagine the zoo with 37,000 people milling around and having to keep track of three small children!

The stroller will also be handy for carrying things - your purse, diapers, wipes, maps, snacks, water, etc.

I found that when my children went through "stroller rejection" they were more likely to want to get into a "new" stroller. The novelty of the rental stroller was enough to make them stay in it for a least an hour or two.

So, even if you don't bring your stroller, consider renting one when you get to the parks.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I think DH has a valid point if you spend a few hours, as planned, at the parks.

If you feel you need one, just rent one at either the front entrance or at ToonTown.

 

[insanedisneydad]

We went in july with my DS 4, he has been out of a stroller for a couple of years so we didn't have a stroller to bring so we rented a stroller every day. He loved riding in it and asked for it as soon as we would get to a park. keeping track of him was easy.
If you do rent one try to mak it for easy spoting , we pot a strap around the handel. The CM's like to play hide the stoller at times.

 

[Suzanne74]

Oh I remember the strolle rejection days, LOL. It is usually when you REALLY need them in there too.

I agree with another poster, I would rent them and even though they are small, tell them something magical about the new strollers that they may be interested in it. 3 kids under 4 are really hard to keep track of at WDW. I think for peace of mind and keep your belongings, I would rent one and not rely on the kids walking everyday. It is one thing to go 4hrs in a wide open zoo, it is another to go 4hrs in the am, rest and 4hrs in the pm everyday of your trip in crowd infested Disney. Esp at night - they will be exhausted and will want to be carried at some point. They will need the rest at times, even with resort breaks and it can also get you to places quicker too. I can't imagine how long it would take to get to one thing and another with 3 walking toddlers.

Honestly for 2yr olds, I would still bring a double umbrella stroller - are you going to be in the airport or are you driving? The airports can be crazy and you may also want it for non-disney things while on vacation too. Plus if they REALLY reject the new strollers, you will have your old tried and true stroller.

 

[Va-bear]

we are going to wdw in october for the kids first trip. we have a 4 year old and 2 year old twins, and lately the twins have really started to reject their stroller. they just want to walk.
what do you think?

My 3yo is the same way - totally walking everywhere at 2 - trying to keep up with older brother (who loved his stroller unitl about 3 1/2.) We rented one last summer and the then 6yo rode more than the 2yo!! So we wont get one this year unless he really crashes. Have fun!!

 

[mickeymousemom]

My DD started doing this when she was 2 also. I still liked having the stroller with us because, not only could I use it to carry things, but DD would get in it every so often for a few minutes at a time. It also helped if we needed(or wanted) to get to another part of the park quickly. It's up to you, and even though DD is now 3, I still plan on taking a cheap umbrella stroller with us just for these reasons...and she walks ALOT(we've been 3 times since she was 2).

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Honestly I could not imagine doing WDW without a stroller- especially with 2 yo twins. When my DS was 6 and we got a double for him and his 2.5 yo sister. It is very hard to keep track of little kids, especially in crowds. My DS was almost walking off with another family twice last year. They get so absorbed in their surroundings, they don't pay attention. So after that we stuck him in a stroller too. This trip he is 8 and my DD will be turning 4. He will be walking but my DD is going in a stroller. I'd rather have peace of mind knowing where she is than having to chase her all day. You can have them walk around every once in a while but I think getting a stroller is your best bet.

 

[tjmw2727]

I would recommend bringing a stroller for 2yo's at WDW. You will likely end up using it in and out of the park and then leaving it in each area while you tour that part. IE into MK and then park it to do fantasyland, use it to move from fantasyland to tomorrowland and then park it to tour tomorrowland. Its really alot more walking than your typical park or zoo and IMHO well worth having even if the kids take turns riding. If you stay for the fireworks or parades you will want a safe place for the kids to sit and with the huge crowds at exit time you will likely want them in the stroller safe and sound.

Epcot and AK are also very large parks and even older kids get pretty tired pretty fast. My dd's used a stroller at night at Epcot and late afternoon at AK when they may have been "too old" to do so.

If you don't bring one and need it plan on spending $16.00 per day for a rental. If you do bring one and don't need it you can just leave it at the resort or bring it only when you do need it. I am thinking better safe than sorry!

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[mtemm]

thanks all! I am bringing our stroller with us on the plane...we'll want it for the airports and I expect even the twins will want it in epcot. I think I am leaning towards bringing it to mk, then doing the park it at each land we visit thing and see how it goes. if they really don't want to ride in it and it turns into me just rolling the stroller around, we'll skip it the next time. and I'll even let dh say he told me so. lol

We'll definitely bring it with us if we do any evening activities...we're doing MNSSHP and will have it for that, other than that we plan to just walk over to epcot the other evenings (we're staying at the y/c), but really plan to take this trip very easy...no commando park touring.

 

[Oceana]

When we went when my eldest son was 17 months we did not use a stroller for the first 3 days... then my son having never in his life been in a stroller noticed all the other kids in strollers HAD to have one to see what all the excitment was we got him a stroller

then my food got broken and I ended up in a wheel chair for the rest of the trip... he was angry to not get the stroller again

julie

 

[CEDmom]

If they're able to walk a good distance w/o it then I'd leave it at home but keep open the possibility of renting one if needed. I guess my big question is are you up for having 3 little ones on the loose in WDW? A stroller is great for containing them but if they're going to resist sometimes it's not worth it.

 

[NemoMOm]

My 18 mos rejects the stroller too. Hoever, in WDW he will ride in it for awhile. I think because of the heat and he just gets too tired to walk. When he doesn't use it, we pile the diaper bag and everything else in it.

 

[sweetinmaine]

Our 2 yr old and 4 yr old grandsons used strollers in March and will use them again in March 2007. While a day trip to a museum or zoo is OK for them, Disney is just too large and overwhelming to them. So many people and not all of them really focusing on where they are walking or watching out for the little folks. They would walk a little but we really used the strollers too. Nap times or when they'd want ice cream are a few of the times that they came in really handy.

 

[ntsammy5]

what do you think?

I think you'd better get a wheelchair for you and DH.

 

[maxtomsmom]

My two cents- bring the stroller. Standing in lines even if it's 10 minutes seems like an eternity to a 4 year old not mentioning what it may seem to a 2 year old. Standing around is hard for them and can be more tiresome than walking at a leisurely pace like at the zoo. You could always use it store stuff if they reject sitting in it. I prefer pushing something, then lugging things on my back in the heat. You can always leave it in the hotel after your midday break.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Luckily, my 2 y/o loves riding in her stroller. My thoughts were they might do great the first day, even the second, but they are going to get tired. I'm sure I can't be the only one that gets achy feet (with blisters) and sore legs. I couldn't imagine the whining my children would be doing. I'm trying to convince my dh that my ds5 will actually need a stroller -- he hasn't ridden in one in 2 years but I couldn't imagine carrying his 45 lbs. at the end of day either.

 

[mtemm]

okay, I brought all your points up with dh and we agreed to bring the stroller and park it in each land as we do it. I really doubt they will get in it, but it will be nice if they change their mind and especially will be nice getting to and leaving the park. glad we are on the same page. I think the points about safety really helped him see how it could be a good idea (as opposed to something to lug around).

thanks all!!!!

 

[slo]

You know your children, and if you feel this is best, then you should do it.

For my kids, this would be a bad idea. They would want to wander off and get lost. Luckily though, my kids have always loved the stroller. My 8year old is trying to find a way to convince me to get a double stroller so she can sit in it I told her she is definitly walking this year!!!!