A 9 & 11 year old in a stroller?

[MsPeggySue911]

My post won't be popular but I I disagree. I think society needs a certain amount of peer pressure or shame to help people hold up standards. While too much judgement can be problematic, so can an attitude of anything goes.

Hopefully there are enough people who worry about what other people think and enough people who have opinions about behavioral standards to keep our society from totally being about doing whatever feels good.

Will physically capable 11 year olds in strollers be the end of the world? No. But I don't like the kind message it gives. I think it "have need, want it met" is pretty primal and prefer to live in in a society the requires more of me. I'm teaching my kids to require more of themselves.

 

[morethananyonex]

Also every child in the world has autism and is allergic to peanuts and gluten.

Or a hidden disablility, and you are an insensitive jerk if you even THINK about passing judgement about their behaviours.

 

[Baileymouse]

To each his own.

My little one got out of the stroller at 2 and never got back in. She hated it. She walks everywhere, and now that she's 8, she can easily walk for miles. We'll go into Manhattan on the weekend and walk from PATH to Chinatown, then over the Brooklyn Bridge, and she thinks it's normal. I've had people tell me I'm too rough on her for making her walk so much. Ha!

In contrast, my friend's daughter is 9, also walks when she can, but she's disabled. We're starting to talk about having a combined trip to Disney in about a year, and I would have to take her disabilities into consideration. She's had multiple heart surgeries and almost died when younger. Her last trip to Disney was through Make A Wish many years ago. To the outside observer, she would look like a lazy child if we put her in a stroller, since her disability isn't apparent. She tires easily from walking, and Disney can tire a full-grown, healthy adult, so I'd think twice before judging a large child in a stroller.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Or a hidden disablility, and you are an insensitive jerk if you even THINK about passing judgement about their behaviours.

I think she was just making a point. It seems like nowadays EVERYBODY's kid has some kind of condition. Autism, Autism spectrum, Sensory disorders, add, adhd, ESD. It's the new trend to have your kid diagnosed when they can't sit still in a restaurant or likes to misbehave. And everybody has a special diet. Allergies, lactose intolerant, gluten free. The world has just changed in the last 15 years. And everybody wants a GAC at Disney. I cannot imagine asking Disney to give a card meant for DISABLED PEOPLE for my kid that can't sit still for 10 minutes. Really? Guest assistance card for ADHD now? But that's a whole other post in and of itself.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

Goodness,
I am starting to have second thoughts about letting my just turned 4 year old sit in a stroller at DW. We don't even OWN a stroller and I had to reserve on to borrow there. But I think that a day of her bullheadedness and running off and wanting to be held will fix me of that worry quite quickly in Christmas crowds.

BUT: The first thing I thought when I saw the question was "If your children are that old and need that much of a break, you should go let them take a nap and rest."

Are there REALLY children that old in strollers at WDW?

 

[klmall]

Back in 1990 we had our 4 year old walk everywhere in Disney except for the day we stayed morn to night at Epcot and got him a stroller. He promptly fell asleep! One time at the MK in the evening someone offered us a stroller as they left and he sat in it and later fell asleep also but he was tall for his age and not used to walking that much nor all the rope drops we dragged him to, poor child

And to think I felt guilty pushing a 4 year old in a stoller back then!

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Goodness,
I am starting to have second thoughts about letting my just turned 4 year old sit in a stroller at DW. We don't even OWN a stroller and I had to reserve on to borrow there. But I think that a day of her bullheadedness and running off and wanting to be held will fix me of that worry quite quickly in Christmas crowds.

BUT: The first thing I thought when I saw the question was "If your children are that old and need that much of a break, you should go let them take a nap and rest."

Are there REALLY children that old in strollers at WDW?

From what ppl are saying it seems like not only do ppl push their BIG kids around in strollers, that it is pretty common. Someone mentioned how this thread agrees that kids that age don't belong in a stroller, but that over on the Family board ppl really argue the opposite because THEY are the ones putting their big kids in strollers.

ALSO, putting a tired 4 yr old in a stroller is VERY different than hauling around a 7, 9 and 11 year old all in a stroller as this lady was implying she was going to do.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Goodness,
I am starting to have second thoughts about letting my just turned 4 year old sit in a stroller at DW. We don't even OWN a stroller and I had to reserve on to borrow there. But I think that a day of her bullheadedness and running off and wanting to be held will fix me of that worry quite quickly in Christmas crowds.

BUT: The first thing I thought when I saw the question was "If your children are that old and need that much of a break, you should go let them take a nap and rest."

Are there REALLY children that old in strollers at WDW?

Yes.

My DD is almost 4, and I have no problem letting her ride in the stroller. For one thing, she is very short and gets lost in a crowd and stepped on easily in heavily congested areas. So she walks some, rides some, and sometimes rides on Daddy's shoulders. While 4 and 5 year olds are definitely capable of walking, I think that is still an age where a stroller can be used, especially if you are spending a full day in the parks.

However, I am still horribly embarrassed that I pushed around my friend's 8 1/2 year old. No way will my kids be riding in a stroller at 8 1/2. If they don't want to walk anymore, we will go home.

 

[marcyinPA]

The last time we used a stroller was when my youngest DS was 4. The next trip, when he was almost 6, I brought it again, against my DH's wishes. Guess what? We didn't use it the entire trip. (yes, DH was right.) Going without a stroller was so liberating!! It was a great trip!! No having to find the stroller after a ride, or covering it when it rained, or folding it up on the bus....

 

[Tomader]

My daughter is a very thin 8 year old. But will I bring my stroller to Disney?? Yes I will. I don't plan on listening to her complain the whole time. Personally I could careless who is in a stroller. I seen alot more strange people and situations than older kids in strollers.

 

[Arielle22]

My daughter is a very thin 8 year old. But will I bring my stroller to Disney?? Yes I will. I don't plan on listening to her complain the whole time. Personally I could careless who is in a stroller. I seen alot more strange people and situations than older kids in strollers.

Does her being thin have anything to do with not being able to walk? I am wondering because I can't tell if you included it to say it interfers with her walking or if being thin means she can fit in a stroller.

One problem with other kids in strollers is it means more strollers and a bigger hassle getting through crowds. Yes, a single stroller will take up more room than a single child walking.

So unless a older child in a stroller is the strangest thing at Disney, it is ok to do?

 

[hereyago]

My daughter is a very thin 8 year old. But will I bring my stroller to Disney?? Yes I will. I don't plan on listening to her complain the whole time. Personally I could careless who is in a stroller. I seen alot more strange people and situations than older kids in strollers.

Not to be snarky:
But what about when she is 9 or 10 and still complains? still be in some sort of stroller or would you then put your foot down and tell her that complaining isn't even in the equation?



Side note: I honestly don't get people's mentality if it doesn't "personally" affect them they don't care? I am a firm believer in it takes a village to raise a child and people who enable their kids, aren't doing them a favor. one day that kid will grow up and probably still think EVERYONE -including those who used to not care what other people do-will have to deal with a adult who was and probably still is enabled by someone.

 

[bitohoney]

We seem to be edging closer and closer to a Wall-E world...

Right! This is what I tell everyone at work especially when we have a lazy person who asks me to hand her something when I'm trying to get something done.
And to put an 8 year old in a stroller because parents don't want to hear them complain?! WOW! Is that all it takes for kids to get what they want these days? Might as well give them a burger, fries, soda and a bag of candy too.

 

[morethananyonex]

I think she was just making a point. It seems like nowadays EVERYBODY's kid has some kind of condition. Autism, Autism spectrum, Sensory disorders, add, adhd, ESD. It's the new trend to have your kid diagnosed when they can't sit still in a restaurant or likes to misbehave. And everybody has a special diet. Allergies, lactose intolerant, gluten free. The world has just changed in the last 15 years. And everybody wants a GAC at Disney. I cannot imagine asking Disney to give a card meant for DISABLED PEOPLE for my kid that can't sit still for 10 minutes. Really? Guest assistance card for ADHD now? But that's a whole other post in and of itself.

Um, I think you missed my point lol. I understood her point, and I was expanding on it .

 

[bitohoney]

Not to be snarky:
But what about when she is 9 or 10 and still complains? still be in some sort of stroller or would you then put your foot down and tell her that complaining isn't even in the equation?



Side note: I honestly don't get people's mentality if it doesn't "personally" affect them they don't care? I am a firm believer in it takes a village to raise a child and people who enable their kids, aren't doing them a favor. one day that kid will grow up and probably still think EVERYONE -including those who used to not care what other people do-will have to deal with a adult who was and probably still is enabled by someone.

Agree.

 

[No.17CherryTreeLane]

My post won't be popular but I I disagree. I think society needs a certain amount of peer pressure or shame to help people hold up standards. While too much judgement can be problematic, so can an attitude of anything goes.

Hopefully there are enough people who worry about what other people think and enough people who have opinions about behavioral standards to keep our society from totally being about doing whatever feels good.

Will physically capable 11 year olds in strollers be the end of the world? No. But I don't like the kind message it gives. I think it "have need, want it met" is pretty primal and prefer to live in in a society the requires more of me. I'm teaching my kids to require more of themselves.

Your post is popular with me!!

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Does her being thin have anything to do with not being able to walk? I am wondering because I can't tell if you included it to say it interfers with her walking or if being thin means she can fit in a stroller.

One problem with other kids in strollers is it means more strollers and a bigger hassle getting through crowds. Yes, a single stroller will take up more room than a single child walking.

So unless a older child in a stroller is the strangest thing at Disney, it is ok to do?

 

[Aisling]

Bring two umbrella strollers if your kids are small enough to fit into them. Those plastic double strollers at WDW make kids hot and sweaty.

 

[Aisling]

one day that kid will grow up and probably still think EVERYONE -including those who used to not care what other people do-will have to deal with a adult who was and probably still is enabled by someone.

Let's give the OP the benefit of the doubt that her kids won't grow up like that. I gave in to my kids all the time during vacations and they're really great kids now at their older age. I just didn't give in once we got home.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

Let's give the OP the benefit of the doubt that her kids won't grow up like that. I gave in to my kids all the time during vacations and they're really great kids now at their older age. I just didn't give in once we got home.

Exactly. We make different parenting choices on vacation too. At home, snacks are fruit, veggies, pretzels etc. We only have soda for parties otherwise we drink milk, water or sugar free lemonaid (Wylers/Crystal Punch etc)

On vacation they get soda, popcorn, ice pops, can eat whatever they want. We just don't care - it's vacation after all. DH and I splurge too so why not them as well.