7 year old walk the world vs rent stroller??

[Rebeccapaige!]

hi, i did not realize HOW expensive renting a double stroller at disney was. last time I was able to buy a nice one for disney she was 5 then. I paid $250 for it and resold it for $150, I was thinking i'd spent a lot but I guess I'd actually made out vs. renting one lol. well she is now too tall for it, which is why I sold it. When I go my oldest dd will be 7 years old, my younger one just under age 5. So I will need a stroller for little dd for sure or she'll want me to carry her (Have to get her out of this habit--she likes a stroller though) but will dd7 really be able to walk disneyworld? it was exhausting for me, although I was pushing a lot of weight. and is it a pain to have to stop and rent one instead of just running in to all the rides etc. In our 7-8 days of our trip (budget isn't complete yet) we have four park days planned out, but since we only do 4 I like to take full advantage of them, and park hop etc. with extra magic hours. I will also have to get dd5 a nicer stroller we just have the carter's fold up one now, and her head hits the visor--even though she is only 38" tall, plus it has no basket. I do disney myself with the girls dh just won't do it, we don't push too much cuz I actually think he'd be more of a bore there than anything, and could picture him constantly complaining about prices, so its better he's no there lol. but what would you do, rent a stroller for her? for $18 a DAY! or will she not even fit into one of them, she is average in height. anyone with experience in an older child walking vs. riding please give me your input. I just wish she'd still fit in the other double stroller I loved that thing. My other thought was to let her walk the first 2 park days and if she needed it rent one for the other two park days? any comments would be appreciated. also if i'm not renting what is a good stroller for a shorter 5 year old, i'd guess her around 40-41" tall by 5 with a visor. Thanks!!
Becky, Paige and Hailey

POR Feb. 2005
POP or CSR Feb. 2007

 

[strasfamily]

My daughter was 7 when we went last December and she walked all the parks just fine (5 days worth of parks). Not to sound mean, but I consider my daughter way too old to be riding in a stoller.

 

[renessa]

My suggestion would be...get the family (you and the girls) out walking before your trip and build up some endourance. Then you might have a better idea of the stroller need...

 

[angel's momma]

DD would not have wanted to ride in a stroller at age 7. She also wouldn't have wanted to ride at age 5.


She was 6 & 7 on our wdw trips, and had no problem walking - and we did full days without afternoon breaks.

I know she would have been fine at 5 also, but I know some children wouldn't be.

 

[imsayin]

We walked (a lot!) 4 parks in December with a very petite 5 year old, and she never complained once. Since every kid is different, I would say plan on doing without and only rent if it is going to ruin your day if you don't. Maybe you can prep your kids by telling them there won't be a stroller because it is easier to see everything that way.

 

[OurDogCisco]

I think it depends on how you do your touring... My dd was 7 1/2 years old when we went last. She didn't use a stroller but she sure did want to. We were touring by doing EMH in the morning then, going back to the resort in the afternoon to nap & swim. BTW, the nap part never happened. Then, we'd go back to the park for the evening shows. I think all that walking back and forth did her in. Also, our trips are longer days than most. I noticed the person above only did a 5 day trip. Our trip was 11 days since we are from the West Coast we go for a longer time. Next time we go I plan to schedule down time in the morning or evening. So we would only being doing parks in the evening or the morning but not both. It is a lot of walking. And, my dd is on the swim team so I know it isn't an endurance thing.

 

[Rebeccapaige!]

she hasn't been in a stroller since she was around age 3. i bought one at age 5 FOR disney only, it was a lifesaver for 1 adult two young children. especially in keeping an eye on a almost 3 year old and a 5 year old. She is very well behaved, but I wasn't sure if she could make it from early morning till midnight walking as we were able to do last time. I WAS exhausted myself and would have loved someone to push me in a stroller. She doesn't ride in strollers at home, I just wondered if she'd fit in one for disney. I honestly don't care if she looks silly riding in it, if at the end of the day she isn't too exhausted to enjoy the trip. I do appreciate hearing another 7 year old has walked it with no problems. We will probably try it without it the first couple days, but if she's exhausted I wouldn't care how she looked using one, she's 45" tall not adult size lol. oh the 5 year old is going in a stroller for sure, its just easier for me, if the younger one gets tired she'll want to be carried and i'm not doing that! yikes.
Becky

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Okay I may be in the minority here but especially since you are the lone adult I would just rent a double stroller. They are easier to push than the double strollers at home and it will make things easier for you.

My kids never would use a stroller at home but we still bring one for ds (5) and rent a double for the girls 7 & 8. Its not that they couldn't walk but we just move quicker with them in a stroller, I don't have to worry about losing them, and I like using the stroller for storage. In smaller places like Fantasyland we just park the stroller and the kids walk from ride to ride. In the hot July sun we're grateful for the stroller every day!

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our DS, now 7, has not used a stroller for 2 years, except the freebies. Rafiki's Plant Watch has strollers for all, plus employees are begging people to take strollers after Fantasmic for the long walk out. The MK is small enough for walking-maybe consider one at Epcot.

 

[ceecee]

DD has not used a stroller since she was 4. The year she was 5 we took an umbrella with us (used it to pull the carry ons around the airport mostly). She did fine and we comando the parks! At 7, I couldn't have pushed her if I wanted to, your DD must be very petite.

 

[jenr812]

We used a double stroller last July for our sons, then 2 and 6. I was so grateful to have it. I think it depends on WHEN you go too - it's a lot more exhausting touring in the summer heat than it is at other times of year when the sun isn't so brutal. That said, for our trip next year, we will get a single for our youngest who will be 4 1/2 (or maybe not one at all!). We've started walking more and I hope that by next May the boys will be able to handle that walking better and it won't be so hot in May. I recommend building up your walking with your child to build up her tolerance.

 

[ZachnElli]

My DD walked the parks at age 5, no way would she sit in one at 7! Ask her, she might feel the same way. Also, walking together around the neighborhood to build endurance is a great idea!

 

[mdinecola]

My sons are 7 & 4 and we rented a double for a week and it was SOOOOOOO worth it! When they got tired, they had a seat and rested between rides or on long walks between. I loved it. I don't even own a stroller at home, but in Disney, the more comfortable they are, the more fun you have. I didn't hear about being tired and didn't have to deal with whiney children (saw lots of them, though!). Seven years old is not too big for the strollers - I saw older kids in them and, besides, everyone's a child at Disneyworld! The doubles there are so easy to push and steer compared to a regular stroller of any kind, also. Anyway, do what you think and to heck with those who think seven is too old for a stroller! My son would never have consented to it ahead of time, but boy was he glad to have it while we were there in the heat of June!

 

[dizagain]

DD had just turned 7 on her first trip...no stroller at all. We went in early May so the parks closed earlier and we were there open to close for 5 days plus a water park day. She did fine with little or no complaining. Only one evening did she choose not to make a quick run to AK with me and her sister to ride one specific ride...DH didn't want to go either so they swam. I would think your DD would be fine.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My one dd is very athletic, and the other one only average. Both are verrrry petite. DD 8 wears a size 6 and DD 7 wears a size 5. Both have short legs. Its not that they couldn't walk the parks it just that having the double stroller makes mine and DH's life so much easier. July heat is exhausting. None of our family is overweight at all, we're very fit. We like our trips to be relaxing. We also like to move at a pace faster than a snail. I know my dd's would be stopping just to look at something or let something catch their eye. I feel safer, we move faster, no one is exhausted and I have a place to store our junk.

To each their own. I know that if I was doing WDW without my DH I would definitely be using a double stroller.

 

[Jen D]

I personally would not rent the stroller. I think your plan to not get it at least initally and see how it goes is a good thing. I think a healthy active 7-year old would be up to most of the WDW walking. If things become really miserable, you could go for the double but I'd really try to do without. I think if you just go into it and don't give the child any expectation that they would be wheeled around they won't expect to be. When my dd came to WDW at 5 we didn't bring a stroller and she never asked for one. We toured and walked from day to night, with breaks of course.

I see everyone's point that it's rough on the kids in the heat and such, but it's also rough on a parent having to push a double stroller with huge kids in it.

Good luck!

 

[Becky2005]

I haven't read all the responses but will put my 2 cents worth in. You know your children best but we only had a stroller for the 1 year old when we went in July. My 5 year old, 8 year old & 11 year old walked the entire time. Now, we weren't doing commando style touring either but NONE of them complained about the walking.

So, yes it *can* be done...just depends on how you want to do it.

 

[KristiA]

We brought one single stroller and rented a double stroller for our 8, 5 and 2 year old at WDW last May and it was so worth it. Great for the afternoons when it was really hot and they were tired. Also, great for carrying our bags and purses and stuff. I would have liked to sit in that stroller some of those days!

 

[Littlemotherhaywood]

My dd turned six while we were there in December and she walked for most of the time and we did four full days worth of parks and one half day plus dtd twice. If my ds was being carried, we let her ride in the stroller, but we're talking maybe fifteen minutes at a time twice a day. Although I hate to see fatigued children, I think kids this age are more than capable of walking. I believe you should take breaks and give them a good rest, but they should be fine really. HTH

 

[rdsx28]

Hi,
My daughter will be 6 in November when we go and we will be renting a stroller. It is so much easier for her to ride when she gets tired. We can also put our stuff on it as well. They do rent them by the week which is actually much cheaper. I think it depends on the child. I'd rather have a stroller than have my daughter keep saying she is tired. Ask your daughter what she would want to do, or try walking one day and see how it goes. Good Luck!