5 year old in a stroller???

[veg2003]

We are going on our first trip to WDW in a few weeks but on the advice of many people we rented a double stroller, a Bob dualie. We have a 5-year-old and a 2 1/2-year-old and although our older daughter hasn't ridden in a stroller in ages, from what I hear a day at Disney isn't like anything else! We are planning to stay at the parks all day, not taking breaks during the day, since our younger daughter will nap in the stroller as needed. As energetic as my 5-year-old is I don't feel like dealing with crankiness if we want to get somewhere in a decent amount of time. I'm sure she'll be walking most of the time but it will be invaluable to have it when we need it, and the extra seat will give us a place to put backpacks or whatever when she's not sitting in it. I would get the double for that alone, since you'll probably be bringing a lot with you with both kids.

 

[lbuzz52]

we took an almost 6 year old and a barely 2 year old last year. we took two single strollers. dd6 rode from land to land, through crowds, etc. but then we parked it and she walked for everything in- say for example fantasy land- before riding again to the next land. she fell asleep in it two or three times. it was nice not to have to carry such a large child at the end of the day too. our two umbrella strollers fold up smaller than one. plus, with that age range, it was easy to split up and do age appropriate activities.

 

[blessedby3]

We generally have a stroller with us until the kids are between 6-7. They dont ride the whole day in it, but it is nice to have when they need a break and want to rest the feet, or snooze, or if it is crazy crowded and you dont want to lose them
I cant even imagine my teeny petite (just turned) 5 yr old without one on our next trip in October. A stroller is no problem for us and I love having it there for her to jump in and out of.

 

[miami305]

It all depends on the child. My children are used to doing a lot of walking. They were never in a stroller after age 3. By the time they're tired of walking and the heat, I'm also tired. My youngest is a bit small for his age so he will need a stroller a little longer to keep up with his sisters.

1) Can your child handle long walks?
2) Does your child get extremely fussy and cranky when hungry or tired?
3) Does your child tantrum when tired?
4) Is your child used to being carried back to the car when tired?

There are plenty of big kids in strollers at Disney. Much, much better than an exhausted, overstimulated child having a complete meltdown at the park. I've only been to Disney once, but there were so many parents who didn't provide shade, drinks or snacks for preschoolers. Meltdown city!

 

[brianna170]

I suggest taking a Sit & Stand stroller. Our DD2 sat in the front stroller seat and then our DS5 stood or sat on the back part when he didn't want to walk. Those strollers are also nice because they're double long & not double wide so they don't block doorways and they have an underneath basket for stuff.

(I admit, I didn't read through all the responses, so I apologize if this is a repeat suggestion).

 

[JMSMommy]

We are taking the double stroller, and this will likely be our last trip with it. Our 2 youngest are 4 and 5, both are petite - the 5 year old will be 6 in August and is 41" tall and 32 pounds, the 4 year old will be 5 in November and is 39.5" barefoot (STRETCH BABY GIRL STRETCH) and 28 pounds. We are walking nightly, but not at our normal Disney pace. They can easily handle walking 1.75 miles at a time. But I'm not sure they can handle a week of Disney.

I want to be without the stroller, and we might try it for our "short" days.

We recently took them to the zoo, and the 4 year old asked to be carried a couple of times. It wasn't as busy and long as a normal Disney day either. Thus, we take a stroller...if we take one, might as well take the double just in case.

 

[laughinplace199]

We brought a stroller for DS5 on our last trip. He has low muscle tone so he tires more easily than other kids his age.

Anyway, sometimes he walked and sometimes he rode. It was pretty crowded (Thanksgiving week), so I was glad to have the stroller when we were in big crowds so I didn't have to worry about him getting separated from us (especially in the chaos of walking from the front gate to Soarin' or TSM).

He napped in the stroller several days that week, which I didn't expect, so I was very glad we had the stroller.

 

[waffles77]

During our trip last May, my kids were 6 and 4. We definitely brought a double stroller because 1) that's what we had and 2) it cut down on loads of arguments and problems between the kids.

If we brought a single stroller, my 6 yo would constantly want to sit in it. So there might be arguments with us or the 4 yo. Either way, we tried to cut down on the headaches.

Our next trip is when they will be 8 and 6 and we won't be bringing a stroller at all.

 

[kellkell05]

We are bring strollers for both my kids ages 4 and 5 at time of trip. Would rather push a empty stroller for a while and have it then have to carry them once they get tired. The cost of renting strollers is too much.

 

[Dustins Dad]

We brought a stroller for DS5 on our last trip. He has low muscle tone so he tires more easily than other kids his age.

Our DS5 has the same issue, i will be renting one once we get there for him and peace of mind for him to be able to rest.

i will never care about the comments others make when it comes to his comfort

So like a previous poster said if you are thinking about it go for it!!!

i am even having fun with it and asking a member to make "plates" for his stroller and grandmas scooter

 

[DanceMomCG]

It was suggested already but I second the idea of a Sit and Stand stroller. My girls are 4 years apart (now 10 and 6) so when the youngest was just about 2 years old and the oldest 6...the Sit and Stand was PERFECT!!!! My oldest needed it as much as my youngest. Fit through crowds easily, on buses easily, the seat reclined (ours is a JOOVY Caboose) and the canopy was good too! Plus, had a basket underneath.

That being said....YES!!!! Bring or rent a stroller!!!

 

[ItsyBitsy]

Has your family ever gone to a large zoo or on a trip where they have ad to walk alot? My DB will be 6 when we go next year but we are FOR sure going to get a stroller for him. We plan on getting two strollers instead of a double. We are doing this because DS will be 3 and might need to go back to the room for a nap or if she gets cranky one person can go back to the room with her and the rest of us can enjoy the rest of the park that day. This way, also, DB6 will still have a stroller available if during that time he get tired.

We have a really LARGE zoo here and after a few hours of walking he ALWAYS complains hes tired and wants to sit. Since we take lots of trains/ busses around our zoo we know we probably aren't walking more then 5 or 6 miles each trip. I can't imagine how tired he'll be with 12+ miles. I would rather be safe than sorry. Plus and extra stroller means extra storage and somewhere he can sit during fireworks.

Maybe you could take them to a nearby track walk a few miles and judge from that. Like a 5k with no strollers.

OOOOO or you could "train" for WDW with them. Every day walk one mile more so by the time you get there they are warriors and ready to walk like 50miles! hahahaha, just kidding.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

Get it.

 

[tjbjrjaj]

I wouldn't but I would make sure your single will hold the older child if needed. You can get by without a stroller for the 5 year old. If it's the end of the night and the 5 year old is too tired, then you could carry the 2 year old and let the 5 year old have the stroller. Or, if the 5 year old needs mini-breaks, then the 2 year old could walk or be carried.

We took a single on our last trip. Our middle child was 5 and our youngest 2.5. The idea was that the youngest would use the stroller mainly and the 5 year old could use it if really needed for short breaks or the end of the night. However, the 2 year old refused the stroller so I ended up with the 2.5 year old in the sling - which let the 5 year old take more breaks. It would have worked fine with no stroller for the middle child, but it meant the petite child could keep up with the two adults and tall big brother much more easily.

If you really think the 5 year old needs it but don't want to use a double or two strollers, using a carrier/sling and a single works well for the 2 year old. Our first three trips involved one child being 3 years old and the other a baby so the stroller was essential for the 3 year old. (Who did get kicked out for the baby's nap one year. The other years, the baby napped in the stroller better).

*On one trip, our oldest was 6 and normally complained about walking. Our single has a limit of 50lbs and he was way over. (Plus, we had a 3 year old and baby so the single was taken). He did great! Kids can surprise you!

Our 18 month old was easier to carry when the 5 year old needed a break. He also fell asleep during fireworks and it was so nice to put him in the stroller and just carry the (wide awake) 18 month old!