4 year old - stroller or no stroller??

[goofygal531]

So here I am, I just booked our Disney vacation today and I have someone arriving tomorrow morning to buy my travel double umbrella stroller off of craigslist! I still have my daily Phil & Ted double sport stroller to go back and forth to school (25 city blocks, one way).

But mostly my 4 year old likes to walk. He walks home usually from school, walks at the mall, fairs, etc... He's even walked from Strawberry Fields in Central Park to the East River! That impressed me for his age! That's why I put my travel double stroller up for sale. Now I'm second guessing myself. Disney is A LOT OF WALKING. Can he handle it?? There is no way I'd bring my Phil & Ted, I don't even know how to fold that thing.

This trip wasn't planned. I've never booked a WDW vacation in a months notice. With the stress of packing for the family, shipping the newborn's stuff, finding time to make dining arrangements I realize now I might have stroller issues!!

I plan on selling my Phil & Ted double by spring (any takers? . I know then he'll be done riding completely. I plan to buy a stroller with a kiddie board for him, I think he'll enjoy that. I'm just not sure about a whole vacation without a stroller right now.

Anyone with a 4 year old can offer some advice/support??

PS We used to do Disney commando just the two of us. Then with son #1, we'd eat when he slept in his stroller. This is our first vacation with 2 kids. This will be a completely new experience. I'm guessing we'll have more down resort time (which we've never done). So should my 4 year old need a nap, we'll probably be back at the resort mid day. This is all new to me!

Can some experienced wiser moms offer some advice?

Thanks!
Mare

 

[tanyaandallie]

Well, obviously every child is different, but I think a 4 year old needs a stroller. I know mine does. She also generallyl walks at the mall, etc. but she needs her stroller at Disney. We went in May right before she turned 4 and she rode in the stroller a ton.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Every kid is different. But if I were you, I'd bring the stroller. My son will soon be 6. We just went in August and he NEEDED the stroller. Seriously, you don't realize how much walking you do! According to the Unofficial Guide, you walk upwards of 10+ miles a day...something like that. Bring the stroller...you'll thank God you did.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

I have a 4 and a 2 year old and my 4 yo hardly use the stroller anymore, but at Disney she rode in the stroller a lot! We didn't bring our stroller - we rented a double stroller when we got there, and it was definitely worth it.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

I'd rent one there if I were you. We started going when our kids were 3 & 4 and it was a lifesaver!

 

[goofygal531]

I figured if he couldn't handle it, I'd rent a stroller.

Plus I have a Baby Bjorn for the baby, I could always use it and put the older one in the stroller.

Thanks for all your advice!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

I would have a stroller. I don't care how much walking your child is used to doing, Disney will tire them out. We debated the stroller when our kids were 4 & 6. The first couple of days we got by w/o one in the morning and were able to find an abandoned one in the late afternoon. But by the 3rd day they just needed to be in a stroller from the get go.

It truely does make for a much more pleasant (and relaxed) trip.

 

[homedad]

we were there a little over a week ago with 6 and half ds and 4 and half dd. just took the single and some days our extremely busy 6 tear old wanted to ride ie bring the stroller.good luck.

 

[Fellowship9798]

The first couple of days we got by w/o one in the morning and were able to find an abandoned one in the late afternoon.

Maybe I misunderstand, but this sounds a little strange to me. How do you find an abandoned stroller in a theme park? I would hate to think people were looking over my parked stroller and could possibly consider it "abandoned" and for their use.

Not trying to provoke anything. Just curious about the statement.

 

[Disney Pal]

I have a set of 4 year old triplets and we are definatley going to bring 2.
I know they will probably walk in the beginning but when they are tired they'll need one. Just think we are tired at the end of the day imagine they take 2-3 steps for our stride. I'd play it on the safe side. Good Luck!

 

[tinkandpan]

I'd plan on renting one. The single will be easier to maneuver through the disney transportation or trams (renting a car or not), and that way you could play it by ear. My ds when he was 4 (heck this year when he just turned 6) was more than happy to hop in and get a ride every now and again. They just get tired and need a break.

 

[loud-frog]

I would take the stroller. Think about their little legs doing double
time compared to yours. I will be taking my sit -n- stand, even though
I said I wouldn't go back to Disney until they didn't need a stroller.
My boys hike and walk with me but Disney is a whole other ball game!

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

I'd definitely plan to rent one. Honestly, I liked having one for my almost 4 y.o. because I knew at all times exactly where she was just as much as having one to save her little legs from being tired.

 

[trayletha]

How do you find an abandoned stroller in a theme park?

Fellowship,

They are talking about the rented strollers, some people seem to think that it is too much trouble to push it all the way back to the front gate?!? You can always tell if they are abandoned because they pull out the name card you get to put in the little slot, and they don't have any stuff in them. We used abandoned ones almost every night during our last trip when DD was seven. While she did fine all day, by the evening she was ready for a break - heck if I could have talked DH into it I'd have hopped in too.

 

[Stephres]

Our five year old needed a stroller in the afternoon and night. If you take breaks at the hotel for pool time, you might just want to take when you return to the park in the afternoon.

 

[goofygal531]

Okay, you all talked me into it.

I contacted the craigslist buyer and she was very understanding. she's going to purchase my stroller after the vacation.

As soon as I opened the stroller to dust it off, my 4 yr old jumped in a seat and said let's go to Disney World mom! So there you go!

Now I'm hoping next year this won't be an issue!!

Thanks!!

 

[crazywig]

we were there last week. ds is 5.5 and dd is 3.

i brought 2 single strollers, planning to only use an umbrella stroller for ds at night when he'd be tired.

by day 3 of the trip i was bringing the stroller in the day as well. the walking was too much and by noon he'd be super cranky!. i noticed that when he rode more during the day his mood was better. granted it was extremely hot and humid, i think if we went in the cooler month he might have fared better.

here i was hoping he'd finally be able to go strollerless. maybe next year

 

[Fellowship9798]

Fellowship,

They are talking about the rented strollers, some people seem to think that it is too much trouble to push it all the way back to the front gate?!? You can always tell if they are abandoned because they pull out the name card you get to put in the little slot, and they don't have any stuff in them. We used abandoned ones almost every night during our last trip when DD was seven. While she did fine all day, by the evening she was ready for a break - heck if I could have talked DH into it I'd have hopped in too.

Ahhh. I understand now. Thanks for explaining.

 

[tmarquez]

My 4yo doesn't NEED a stroller...just ask her! But I do NEED her to have one. She can walk all she wants, but not a day goes by that she doesn't use the stroller some (plus I can keep my hands free by using it to carry our "stuff").

 

[mikymouse]

My kids are walkers but we used umbrella stroller in WDW when the kids had just turned 4 & 6. We used them to get from Bus to Park and then park them in an area, walk around and pick them back up later. We were VERY grateful for the strollers on the exit out of the park with tired children, the extreme crowds after fireworks, and the extra long trip from bus back to room. Umbrella's were easy to bring and fold up if we didn't need them. We definately needed them at points at Magic Kingdom and Epcot and didn't even bring them to Animal Kingdom. You will be very glad that you schedule some mid-day break with two little ones IMHO.