6 year old: To stroller or not to stroller. . .

[FancyNancy]

I would not have brought one when my daughter was 6. There are so many little places that you can sit and rest for a few minutes but to each his own. If you feel that a stroller is needed you should take one!

 

[tanyaandallie]

My kids are also 2 years apart. When we went when ds was 4 and dd almost 6 we took our double stroller and dd rode in it pretty much all the time. Was she capable of walking? I'm sure she was but since we had the double (and didn't have a decent single) she rode. Fast forward almost 2 years, ds was almost 6 and dd 7.5. We went without a stroller but I was prepared to rent if ds needed one. He did not. He did AWESOME. We were in the parks 7 or 8 days, once at Epcot from opening til fireworks and he rocked it!

For us ditching the stroller was so wonderful. No more pushing, no more parking, navigating through the parks, getting it on the bus, etc. At their ages, we did not need to carry all kinds of junk through the parks so we didn't need the stroller as a carrier for our stuff. We took a backpack with the essentials, each of the kids had a water bottle holder with a long strap. It was so freeing to be stroller free!!

So.....in my experience, a 6 year old does not need a stroller. I would not bring one or rent one. They are always available if you find that your child needs one once you get there.

 

[CaFeeney]

I have a 6 year old DD and I did rent a stroller from Magic Strollers this past April. Technically she was still 5 if that makes any difference..

For us it was wonderful. We never use a stroller otherwise and I certainly was not going to buy one for the trip. What I found was that after 2-3 days of park attendance she tended to hit a wall and needed a bit of a break and she could jump in the stroller from time to time.

We didn't need to bring it with us all the time - just if I knew we planned for a longish day at the parks. If we were just popping over to DTD for the night - no way did we need it. But if we had spent the day at Epcot and were making the LONG walk back to the front of the park after Illuminations...you can bet we loved having the stroller and not having to try to carry a sleepy 40lb kindergartener a mile.

Honestly, I did like having a place to store our stuff and hold the water bottles. WDW is about the only time I can think we would ever need a stroller - we just did a couple of days a Dutch Wonderland and never even considered bringing or renting a stroller.

I think sometimes people can underestimate just how big WDW can be and how much walking you do in a day. My advice is to do what you need to do to have the best vacation possible and who really gives a fig what anyone else thinks anyway???

 

[ppony]

I'm with the you know your child camp. A vacation at WDW isn't your average stroll in the park. It's amazingly exhausting. For adults and kids. I blow off the looks from judgmental others. It's none of their business to judge us.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

It depends on your child and what they can handle....if you feel they will have a more enjoyable day with the stroller you should use one...

As from my own personal experience....I have three kids and all have been park walkers from the age 4 on....again I live in Florida and my kids are use to the Florida heat and humidity and tend to spend most of their afternoons outside either playing a sport or just running around.

 

[ErinsMommy]

My 4 year old walked each and every day/7 days straight. There were times when *I* felt like I needed to sit in a stroller. LOL

 

[tmerz]

We brought a stroller for my daughter who was 6 last time...just an easy umbrella stroller...best thing we could have done! If we knew we were going out for the whole day we brought it...if we knew we would be out for less time we just left it in the room. Plus, I am always reminded of the night that she fell asleep in it, and my husband and older daughter and I got to enjoy walking around Epcot and taking everything in If she didn't have the stroller, we would have had to go back to the room so she could sleep!

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Our kids are 7 and 11. The first time my dd7 went, she was 3. We had a stroller for her then. We've gone 3 times since (when she was 5, 6, and 7)and she hasn't had a stroller since that first time. I personally wouldn't bring a stroller for an otherwise healthy 6 year old. JMO!

 

[Pixiedust34]

If there are no health issues, skip the stroller. A healthy 6 year old should be able to walk. Take breaks when needed. The breaks come in handy for the adults as well as the kids.

 

[Phatoomch]

I saw a lot of strollers with no kids, but a lot of stuff while we were there. I think, had we rented one, it would have just been for the stuff. LOL. You know your kids, if you think they'd actually use the thing then go for it I suppose. Otherwise, it's a pretty hefty expense when you can just take a backpack. KWIM? Personally, mine would throw a fit if we even suggested a stroller (for babies dontcha know). You might consider breaking the day up and going back to the hotel pool when people get whiney. Water always makes kids feel happier. That and snacks.

That reminded me of when we were there - a kid was crying because they wanted to get in the stroller (age 5 or 6) and he was told know because there was no room, it was carrying their stuff

 

[gtpoohbear]

I would plan on taking breaks instead of using a stroller, that way everyone can stay rested. A normal, healthy 6 year old shouldn't really need a stroller anyway, just make sure they are used to doing a fair amount of walking. We sent our stroller to Goodwill before DD turned 3, and it was never an option after that, even at WDW. Also, I'm sure it varies with different kids, but there is no way my DD would have even been willing to get in a stroller when she was 6. She would have been completely mortified to "look like such a baby" (her words, not mine, lol!) No amount of fatigue would have changed her mind.

But, as others have said, we can only tell you what *we* would do. Only you can know what's best for your family.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My daughter will be turning 6 on our trip, and I asked her whether she thought we'd need a a double stroller for her (we have a two year old, so we're renting one anyway, it's just an issue of whether that will be a single or a double). She said that she'd like to have one for when she gets tired at the end of the day. I have no issues with that, so a double it will be. I don't think I would have offered her the option without a younger sibling that will clearly need a stroller, though. We also told her that this year will be the last time she has a stroller option at all.

 

[T1gger]

Our youngest was 6 last time and when I read on boards about people getting strollers for kids that age (and older) I did wonder if I was maybe over-estimating what she could do & wondered if it would be an issue but it wasn't - she in no way needed a stroller, and we did parks at least 10 days out of 14 and most were full days - I don't remember her complaining or walking being an issue at all

Yes there is a lot of walking - but everyone gets tired not just the little ones -so pace yourselves, take breaks when needed etc and it will be fine.

 

[believinthemagic]

I say do whatever works for your family to have a good time on vacation!

The last time we went my DD had just turned 5. We decided not to take a stroller mostly because I didnt' want to carry it around and have it take up space in the room. (we are a family of 5 so space is always tight!)

We made it to I think day 3, and ended up doing a 2 or 3 day rental (don't remember exactly) of a stroller from the park. Looking back I would do this again. Yes, you may pay more than taking your own, but the convenience of not taking it on the buses or storing it in the room were worth it. Also I like that we could start the day without having to push the stroller around and park it everywhere, but as the day went on and she got more tired, we could go ahead and get it for her to take a break in.

I will have to say if we had gone slower we probably would've not had to have it, but she has two big brothers who are 9 & 12 to keep up with

 

[Shell91303]

I say do what is best for you and your child! If you think he'll need it, by all means bring it!

We are giong for the first time in Sept, my DS will be 5 and we are bringing a stroller for him!

 

[MikeyTex]

Stroller....................

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

My DD6 has now been twice this year with no stroller (and once with a stroller, but that was only because we did MVMCP and knew she would be asleep by the end). I LOVE not dealing with a stroller, and DD6 doesn't care.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Hmmm, a Thanksgiving visit; weather should be mild. We visited WDW when DD was 6, it was super hot and muggy *10/1-10/10 2009* she strolled a lot. DD was a child who as a toddler hated the stroller *ugh Chicago shortly before her 2nd birthday was awful* and only strolled in Disney from 3 on. Her Disney stroller for years was a Mac Volo, it was nice at WDW, she'd fall asleep most nights on the bus; it was ideal plopping her in the stroller while we walked to our room *stayed at POP* I couldn't imagine carrying her while she was asleep all that way.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

My DD will be 4.5 and will not be in a stroller next year. She would have a fit if I tried to put her in one, her baby brother rides in one and "I am a big girl mummy" lol! You know what works best for your child.

 

[estherhead]

We just got back. We forgot our stroller but had a condo that came with one and so used the very cheap umbrella stroller there for the middle days of our trip. But had no stroller the first and last days. Our daughter is an extremely active 5 1/2. Really ponder what "slow down" means to you and your family. Our daughter never complained, she loves to walk. But we missed the stroller on those 2 days. Here's why & when:

When going back to your car or bus in the afternoon for that nice break (that all the above parents recommend) you walk across the blazing hot pavement at a tired 5-6 year old pace. It's hot and not fun for the parents.

At rope drop when you are trying to get to that first ride all the other people are cruising to their first ride. You are letting them all pass you while you walk at an awed 5-6 year olds pace.

When you stop and try to figure out where you are going next, someone can't give the conversation their undivided attention because they need to keep an eye on the little one. Or else the little one gets lost. We are very organized and these conversations are limited but just the same one day it was raining and we were trying to change our plans and get ponchos on people and, of course, a little one got lost.

We often park the stroller in an area (like the middle of Tomorrowland or Fantasyland) and leave it there for hours at a time. But just the same, for entering and leaving the park and for transitioning to another part of our day, we like a stroller for our children under 7.

My dh who hates strollers said at the end of this trip that not having it for 2 days did make those 2 days worst as he was more tired. The first night we stayed until Wishes and that tiny little girl who seems so light, rode his shoulders out to our rental car. He said she was NOT so light as he thought. Comparing that to our Fantasmic exit where he quickly pushed her out with no worries of losing her he agreed that if our next trip was within the next year, he'd still want a stroller.

Personally, I like to walk at my pace. Not the pace of a child. And I never, ever, EVER want to carry a child over 3 any long distance in the heat and humidity of Florida.

In the past we have taken trips to our local zoo before a WDW trip or on a long hike to get a real feel for it. Walk a mile or two away from the car. In the heat. On day it's about to rain. And see how the kids/parents do at walking a pace everyone is happy with when it's 100 and pouring.

I would feel goofy with my daughter in a stroller in my regular life. But at WDW, for us, it makes our trip better.