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

[Hannathy]

No, just no.

Unless there are serious health problems they don't need strollers at 6.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I see a lot of people saying no... but if I had a dollar for every tired, worn out crabby 5-7 year old I have seen during each of our trips, escorted by a frustrated dad, our next trip would be paid for..

Last time we went, we had a stroller for our recently turned 6 year old, my sister didn't take one for their daughter thats only a few months younger.. lets just say our day went smoother and we saw a LOT more..

Our son doesn't NEED one, but I want him to have one by the end of the day, I would rather go commando that get frustrated when he needs a break in the afternoon.. most of the day the thing will be parked or empty, but when I need it, it comes in handy..

 

[klineyqueen]

I have to agree with you know your child. We just did 8 straight park days with a 6 and 9 year old. My 6 year old is so fit and active she would have the energy to push me more than me her!!!! This was our first stroller free trip and it was liberating!!!

That being said our last trip when our son was 6 and she was 3 he sat in the single stroller with his baby sister on his lap every night when we walked out of the park. Didn't have one for him, but he sure did use it on those tired walks.

 

[montugirl]

I started taking my son out of the stroller when he was 5, we go to Busch Gardens in Va and now he walks that park. I have to admit I like the stroller to hold my stuff and it's easy to keep him in one place, but he now knows when we go to parks he walks, When he get's to tired we go to the room and let him rest. With that said he has never been to Disney, but after two days of Dollywood he was done.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My children did not use a stroller at that age and did fine. You will see much older children than 6 using them.

 

[KristiKat]

The first time we took our DD she was 4 and we did it without a stroller. She did just fine. We always went back to the room for nap time around lunch time. This year she was 5, no nap time and did fine without a stroller. IMHO strollers are too much trouble and I've never liked dealing with having to haul it everywhere.

 

[redkel]

Our Nov/Dec 2012 trip with our 6 year old DD will include an umbrella stroller. We used it when she was 4 1/2 at WDW - invaluable.

We have The First Years Ignite Stroller.

Note: I wouldn't recommend this stroller for tall children. Even though it goes to 50 pounds...

Every child is different. Not every healthy 6 year old is capable of walking miles upon miles over several days.

Our DD is very petite and barely tips 40 pounds and still wears a size 10 toddler shoe, so if bringing a stroller into the park allows her to rest and recoup for easier touring and a more enjoyable time, then that's what we do.

The next trip will be stroller free as she'll be bigger (hopefully) and we'll be there longer (and with another family).

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

I see a lot of people saying no... but if I had a dollar for every tired, worn out crabby 5-7 year old I have seen during each of our trips, escorted by a frustrated dad, our next trip would be paid for..

Last time we went, we had a stroller for our recently turned 6 year old, my sister didn't take one for their daughter thats only a few months younger.. lets just say our day went smoother and we saw a LOT more..

Our son doesn't NEED one, but I want him to have one by the end of the day, I would rather go commando that get frustrated when he needs a break in the afternoon.. most of the day the thing will be parked or empty, but when I need it, it comes in handy..

That's funny. If I had a dollar for every parent that doesn't take their kid for a much needed break (stroller or not) and allows them to be so worn out and crabby...my next trip would be paid for.

A stroller is not an excuse to skip breaks.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

That's funny. If I had a dollar for every parent that doesn't take their kid for a much needed break (stroller or not) and allows them to be so worn out and crabby...my next trip would be paid for.

A stroller is not an excuse to skip breaks.

But with a stroller, we don't need to stop and take breaks other than the normal bathroom breaks and lunch/dinner..

Our next trip is only 5 nights, because of CLP and MVMCP taking up a chunk of our only Epcot day, I don't plan on him needing a stroller.. the other 3 parks he hasn't needed a stroller the last 2 times.. so if he is a little whooped, he can just hop on my back from the back of Epcot to the bus.. And the Disney rentals are really our only options, with him weighing 82 pounds with a size 5 shoe, a normal stroller doesn't cut it..

 

[Lolsmum]

We're taking a 5 and 6 1/2 year old this week, for 10 nights. No stroller in sight. We do a lot of walking normally though and plan to take breaks. I grew up near Disneyland and that has always been my family's approach. My kids have way more energy than I do and if they start complaining, then it's time for a break.

 

[waynesgirl]

But with a stroller, we don't need to stop and take breaks other than the normal bathroom breaks and lunch/dinner..

Our next trip is only 5 nights, because of CLP and MVMCP taking up a chunk of our only Epcot day, I don't plan on him needing a stroller.. the other 3 parks he hasn't needed a stroller the last 2 times.. so if he is a little whooped, he can just hop on my back from the back of Epcot to the bus.. And the Disney rentals are really our only options, with him weighing 82 pounds with a size 5 shoe, a normal stroller doesn't cut it..

That's not necessarily right either. I see lots of kids having meltdowns in strollers as well. Heck, I've been 20 times since 2001 and I need a break. I have meltdowns, too...I think when people who assume that no stroller is bad or with stroller, no break is good, or that their kid is different, then something basic is being missed. Kids are little folks but they change like the wind. Just be prepared OP. Walking can wear them out but like an adult, the next day, they're bound to be cranky.

 

[laughinplace199]

We will be bringing a stroller on our next trip (Easter week) for DS, who will be 6 by then.

He has low muscle tone, so he tires much faster than a typical kid his age. Having the option of riding in a stroller will help him not tire too easily.

Also, we're going at Easter. The parks are going to be insanely crowded and if he's in the stroller, I won't have to worry about him getting lost.

We have an umbrella stroller that we never use at home. We plan to bring it, use it for the week, and then give it to someone when we leave.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I haven't read all of the responses...

My twins are almost six and I have thought about this as well.

They are VERY petite. My DD is JUST 30 lbs. and DS is about 34 lbs.

DH and I took them to Great Escape(a local amusement park) and they walked it. They were fine, but Disney is a different animal.

I don't even OWN a stroller anymore so I would have to buy another one. DH doesn't push strollers, so I would have to buy a double.

My thought is this(if we make it in the next year or so...):

We're going to go without. IF I find myself needing one, then we will rent one. I wouldn't be losing that much money since if I were to bring my own I would have to purchase one JUST for the trip.

I don't know if renting is an option for you OP, but it's an idea.

 

[Bonniec]

Why do people get so worked up about older kids in a stroller? I don't really get what the issue is so I am curious. It doesn't effect me in anyway except maybe my ankles, lol. But that's more about who is steering it than who is riding in it.

I don't like strollers because I'd hate to be the person steering it. They are bulky and get in everyone's way. In fact, I've learned to carry next to nothing at the parks (don't even do a bag check) and it's awesome. The only time I'd use a stoller and carry around a lot of junk is if I had a baby or toddler. It's so much easier to not carry anything and let your kiddo walk. We just take breaks as needed, and I tend to wear out before my 6 year old does.

Will you NEED a stroller? No. If you are there from open to close you will likely ALL need a break. But if you want one, then just use it.

 

[lan3]

My kids will be 6 when we go next. I am not bringing strollers but will rent if we need it. I think they will be fine but if they are not, than we will rent. I am concerned less about being tired but more about being overwhelmed especially for my son with autism. They are triplets though. I think if I had older children, I would definitely bring one. I can totally see that a family with different age kids would not want to go at a six year old pace for a week. Older kids want to stay out later and go from ride to ride quickly. In that case, I would definitely bring rather than splitting up all the time.

 

[RMulieri]

I wouldn't..Mine never used one at Disney and she has been going since age 4.BUT we only have one child and are willing to slowdown and rest if she needs it.

 

[Kerrio929]

My girls will be 7 and 4 when we go and even though I think both of them could make it without a stroller for 1-2 days I know that by the end of our week long trip, there will be tired and grumpy kids. So I am renting a double. Will my 7 year old need it? Most likely not but I am sure as hell not carrying her if her legs get tired. We were at an amusement park for 10 hours yesterday and by 9:30 both were exhausted and ready to drop. So to save my sanity and to prevent fights over whose turn it is to sit, we will take the double. If we don't use it, fine. But I would rather have it and not use then not have it and wish we did.
And no, my girls and not spoiled or lazy. They are very active kids. But heck, MY legs get tired after walking around the World so if I can save them some aches I will.

 

[TandLMommy28]

My kids stopped using a stroller at home as soon as they could walk. My son was walking the zoo stroller-free by 10.5 months old. But our local zoo and WDW are not the same. He wants a stroller. He is four.

My 7yo daughter walked NYC on spring break this year from 10am to 6pm and we only sat down for one hour total. She was fine. But NYC in April and WDW in the heat of September are very different. She says she won't need a stroller and maybe she won't. But if she wants to sit in the stroller, I'm sure not going to tell her she can't. If it makes our trip smoother, who cares? I mean seriously. Why do so many people have such strong opinions on this? Who flipping cares?

Now I have a cut on my foot that is infected and the doctor says he doesn't see it healing fully before our trip in three weeks. Looks like I am the one who needs a stroller. Sigh.

 

[MooksterL1]

This was a couple of years ago and these were 6, 7 & 8 year olds. We are stroller fans. If you are doing multiple parks back to back, the kids get tired and everyone's feet hurt. Well worth the rental $ to me - even if it is just a place to sit to rest a few minutes.



Funny thing, last year while we were at the teacups a dad was lounging in one of the double strollers taking a nap.

 

[kcos75]

Do what works for you. You could bring a lightweight umbrella with you and bring it the first day and see how it goes.

The last trip we took our dd's were 3 and 6. We brought 2 lightweight strollers since our 6 year old tires easily. We wound up parking them and not going back to them for a long time so we left one in the room and the kids would swap back and forth.

This year we are still bringing one stroller and see how much we use it. It is good for holding stuff if nothing else! But I do have a feeling that this will be the last time we bring one and that makes this mommy a little sad!

All kids are different and have different needs, so go with your gut!