A 9 & 11 year old in a stroller?

[Cinderella94]

My ds was 11 when we went in January. He's 5'6'' and weighs about 120. Picture THAT in a stroller.

That's exactly my size, and I'm 17! Does that mean I can get pushed too?

 

[spacemountainmom]

That's exactly my size, and I'm 17! Does that mean I can get pushed too?

If you can find someone to push you, go for it girl!

 

[LIDisneyFan]

 

[Disney Ella]

I've never understood the need for healthy older kids to be in strollers. My kids were in kindergarten the first time we went and had no problem walking. When they were tired, we found a bench and sat down. Even at that age, they would have been appalled at the idea of riding in a stroller (which they thought was for babies). Last year, DH pointed out a boy to me in a stroller at MK. He looked about 9 or 10 and was riding in the stroller snacking on a bag of potato chips just after park opening. I know the boy was on vacation and everyone doesn't always eat well on vacation, but a healthier snack and some walking could have benefited this child.

 

[Cinderella94]

If you can find someone to push you, go for it girl!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

You are nicer then I am because I would have told friend's son to stop whining if she didn't.

I don't know why people insist on raising a bunch of candy butts. Enabling should be against the law.

The really sad part is that it took several snide remarks and dirty looks from other guests for me to get the point. The sight of a 5' tall woman pushing a 5' tall boy with his knees up by his ears definitely deserved all the dirty looks I got.

 

[shirleyb]

The day my healthy 7, 9, and 11 year olds think they need to be in a stroller is the day I go to WDW without them. I'd have to think long and hard about letting a 5 or 6 year old in a stroller for that matter.

 

[NotUrsula]

Honestly, does no one else here think that someone submitted the question as a joke to see what the answer would be? (Probably a DISer, is my guess.)

The folks on the Mom's panel always have to answer questions as if they are sure they are meant to be serious, because you can't have bad PR, but I'm sure that they knew it was a gag question, too. (Just like you never hear a CM respond, "What part of 3 o'clock don't you understand?)

 

[Andtototoo]

If my seemingly healthy 9 and 11 year olds could not handle walking around Disney, they'd be enrolled in one or more athletic activiites ASAP. And we would not be going to Disney until they were physically fit enough to handle it. Period.

It's one of my pet peeves when I see parents catering to children as if they are fragile flowers who can't possibly stand or take the heat or the cold or being bored for one second. These parents are raising a bunch of self-absorbed wimps with no consideration for others and no sense of their place in the world (which is NOT at the top of every pyramid).

Just the other day when it was nearly 100 with the heat index, I saw an elderly grandmother give up her seat for her 10 year old granddaughter (who promptly took it without a word of thanks). Without any words being said, my teen dd promptly stood up and offered the old lady HER seat. The granddaughter never realized she'd just been schooled because she was already immersed in her handheld video game. The mom of the 10 year old turned around and told my dd to "Sit down. My mother doesn't mind standing." To which I replied, "Well, I mind her standing and so does my daughter."

 

[Magpie]

I must confess... I made my kids walk, but not for the most noble of reasons.

When I see a great big kid in a stroller, I automatically assume they're disabled in some way. If not physically, then mentally.

I didn't want my perfectly healthy kids perceived as being disabled, so I had them walking as soon as they old enough (from about age 3). It made ME feel better, whenever I looked at them.

 

[Magpie]

DO ppl defend their right to push their 11 year old around in a stroller?

Yes, actually, they do.

Honestly, does no one else here think that someone submitted the question as a joke to see what the answer would be? (Probably a DISer, is my guess.)

The folks on the Mom's panel always have to answer questions as if they are sure they are meant to be serious, because you can't have bad PR, but I'm sure that they knew it was a gag question, too. (Just like you never hear a CM respond, "What part of 3 o'clock don't you understand?)

I'm afraid it might not be a joke.

I've seen many similar threads on the Dis Parenting Forum, usually prefaced by "my very small..." etc.

However, what ultimately ends up coming out is that the child in question is somehow special needs, and all the folks defending stuffing preteens in strollers also have special needs kids. So ultimately everyone agrees that every parent just has to do what's best for their kids, and who cares what anyone else thinks.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My youngest stopped using a stroller at WDW at 4 year old.

We went to DL with a friend and her son last December. Her son was 8 at the time. He complained a LOT over the walking. So much she started to carry him!

She ended up buying a stroller for him. She wanted me to rent one for my daughter because she didn't want him to feel bad. My daughter wasn't about to use one, so I refused. My friend was cranky and absolutely exhausted each evening from pushing her son everywhere!

Parents today want the easy way out. They would rather push that stroller than deal with the complaints and nagging. Her son would have stopped after 5 minutes, but she started to carry him. He wasn't about to walk after that.

 

[Sydnie]

We are going to Disneyland in December and I am debating not bringing the double stroller for our 3 and 1 year old and just bringing a single umbrella stroller. On our last trip my son (who was just about to turn 3) walked almost the whole time. Of course we have a Sit N Stand anyway so even when he rides he's usually standing.

At 3.5 I will probably just expect him to walk :shrug:

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Wow, that is crazy! If they were special need, that would make sense but it doesn't sound that way. Make those kids walk the park!

I am usually a big voice for the "remember that not everyone has visible disabilities, there may be a good reason", and I think there are plenty of good reasons for using a wheelchair, or maybe a stroller with an 11 year old at Disney.

However, I can't imagine why would leave them out. If I wanted advice on adapted equipment for a child with a disability, I wouldn't ask in this way.

It's like someone asking "Can I bring my dog in the parks?" and leaving out the fact that he's a seeing eye dog or asking "How can I get onto a bus" and leaving out the fact that I have a wheelchair.

 

[luvmy3]

I would really love to read the responses she got

 

[mrsdon]

I am a CM at the sroller rental at one of the parks(Dont want to get into trouble by naming which one)

I have heard everything you guys are saying, but sometimes the walking does get to you
I have seen childern the size of Amazons in the strollers
I am amazed sometimes how pushy the big kids are
Its not my business because I get paid to ring the guests up and hand out the strollers, but sometimes

 

[AlwaysMoving]

I've seen many similar threads on the Dis Parenting Forum, usually prefaced by "my very small..." etc.

However, what ultimately ends up coming out is that the child in question is somehow special needs, and all the folks defending stuffing preteens in strollers also have special needs kids. So ultimately everyone agrees that every parent just has to do what's best for their kids, and who cares what anyone else thinks.

I have also noticed a lot of "but once we got there we saw lots of older kids in strollers". They seem to be comforting others about something they didn't even really feel comfortable doing at first. I wonder if these parents are like bikers. When they pass other parents with preteens in strollers do they wave as if they are friends without actually knowing each other?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I don't care what other people do in situations where their choices have absolutely no effect on me at all.....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am amazed by the direction of this thread. When this topic comes up on the other forums, the response is totally different.

That is shocking.

People really condone children of this age in a STROLLER?

 

[luvmy3]

That is shocking.

People really condone children of this age in a STROLLER?

I would never do it to my children, and I do think its ridiculous, but its not my business if someone else wants to put their own older children in a stroller.