A friend reminded me that WDW is a lot of walking.....

[disney4us2002]

and now I've seen suggestions that my youngest ds may need a stroller??? He'll be nearly 6 when we go to Disney and he hasn't been in a stroller in at least 3 yrs! We are planning to do most of the EE and take a break in the afternoons and then return to the parks in the evenings. Have most of you found that children this old do need a stroller? I'm afraid I know what Michael's reaction would be, but I also don't want a whiny, miserable child.

Suggestions? Carla

 

[ABCMom]

My son was 6 1/2 on our trip in June and there were several times, especially towards the end of the week, that he tried to get into the stroller when one of the "little" ones got out. We didn't let him, but he was definately getting worn out by the end of the week. We also took breaks in the afternoons and went back to the resort. If you don't want to take your own stroller, you can always rent one there if it becomes necessary. Another consideration is, if you have time before your trip, start walking with your child a little every day to build up stamina. You and your DS will benefit from the "practice" when you get to WDW

 

[Barb D]

I second ABCMom's suggestion of taking lots of walks ahead of time to get in shape for WDW. It's also a good way to make sure your shoes are broken in!

As far as strollers are concerned, if he fits in one and he's willing to get in it, I'd definitely go for it. It has the added advantage of giving you a place to hang all your stuff. You might try going without, and then renting one if you need it. Even if he's not willing to use it at first, he may be begging for it when he gets exhausted.

 

[dwfanatic]

DS is 5 and we always take the stroller. He gets tired with all that walking and I use the stroller basket to put all of my packages in!!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

MIL and SIL are telling me I should get one for my 9yr old!! SIL used one for her 7yr old last Nov. They are now the jogging strollers and have more room. My husband says we may need to rent a wheelchair!!!

 

[Michigan]

Ok after a few deep breaths here is my take on the whole stroller thing.

I don't understand the concept that a child over the age of 5 isn't able to walk through Disney. I watch my neighbors kids go from sun up until sun down and never slow down at all.

My oldest DD is 11 years old has Spina Bifida and is a full time wheelchair users. That being said she pushes herself through Disney and has for as long as I can remember. Her 3 year old sister also has Spina Bifida and does a lot of her own pushing through Disney, not all but quite a bite. We don't take breaks but I do go at the speed they are willing to go.

Please don't rent a wheelchair for a healthly child!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Sorry - Id rather not but my son is not an active child. Hopefully we wont have to. I didnt understand why SIL rented stroller for her 7yr old who is active. I guess everyone has their own individual circumstances.

 

[lisapooh]

Please do not abuse the wheelchair availability by using a wheelchair as a stroller for a healthy child. Even if he is not that active a child he is still healthy and that is not what wheelchairs are for. It is hard for us with hidden handicaps to deal with the attitudes of able bodied people without others giving them fuel for the fire by using wheelchairs for healthy children and adults. Get your child out walking now and get him prepared for all the walking. Both you and he will benifit. It is a priviledge many os us no longer have.

 

[Wheelsie]

Well said Lisa and Michie

 

[imgoingtodisney]

My son has encopresis and we had to cancel the Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise. He cannot be away from a bathroom for even an hour. So yes there are hidden handicaps.

 

[SueM in MN]

I will add that the wheelchairs available for rent at WDW are adult wheelchairs and not all that comfortable for a child because of the size. A family who feels their child who needs a stroller (for what ever reasons; this has ended up in a debate before!) would be much better off renting a stroller than a wheelchair for many reasons. Safari Steve (a MK CM) has reported that strollers are available that will hold up to a small 12 year old. I can report that I have seen some pretty big kids in rented strollers at WDW. The strollers are not all one size, so you should be able to get one to fit even a larger child.

 

[TerriBelle]

We just went to Sesame Place which is a very small park and I was so excited that my twin boys made it the whole day without a stroller! YEH! They are 3 1/2. I know that when we go to Disney in Oct. I will be lugging the stroller around with me. It was so nice NOT to have to watch out for people, find a place to park the stroller and then find the stroller after a ride once you've been dumped at the other side of a building. I know some people love their stroller but I can't wait to get rid of them.

My daughter was 6 the last time we went and she did not get a stroller. We went for as long as she was able and then we would go back to the hotel for a break and/or swim.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

My SIL did tell me that the strollers are larger than they were 5 years ago. And yes I would like to avoid the stroller situation as much as possible. But you never know - at first I was thinking no way however he also has asthma and we'll just have to play it by ear.

 

[buzz5985]

My family belongs to a Walking Club (Walk'n Mass Volksport Club) and are used to walking 10K (6 miles) events. By the time my son was 4 he was able to walk about 5 miles, during these events. I had a Jogger Stroller and he would hop in as needed, but walked most of the way. (The stroller carried our water and snacks. LOL) When we arrived our first day in FL We came from Winter temps of 20, and snow to a very humid day in early March of 90. We went to AK the first day late in the afternoon. We were barely there a half hour and my son was asking why he didn't have a stroller like the other kids. And he really seemed tired, since we walked to the end of the park for the Safari. So we went and rented a stroller for 2 hours!!! He was so Happy. My son had the stamina to walk to the end of the park and back several times, but with the additional overload of the senses, I think the stroller was a way for him to escape from the exposure. So I think the strollers could also be thought of as the childs own space, away from all the noise, and strange sights and sounds, and people, they are safe in that stroller. So from that day on the minute I walked into a park, I rented a stroller for my son, not because he couldn't walk around the park, but for a little escape, so he could have peace of mind.

 

[Terry S]

I would never suggest or support renting a wheelchair for a child that didn't really need one, but a stroller that is another story. The first time I went to Disney mine were 2 and 3. We didn't take a stoller then and we regretted it. We had done a few tests or so we thought. We walked evey day several miles a day and we also had gone to the local zoo all day a couple of times and our local fair, all without a stroller, so we thought it would be fine. We were wrong. We had to rent a double stroller for $10 each day. I was really surprised while I was there to see that there were even kids I would estimate at age 7 or older in a stroller. I just read somewhere that you walk from 5 to 7 miles a day at Disney. That is alot of walking for a kid. Anyway, we took our double stroller the following year and will take it again this year. (They are now 4 and 5 and still very active) It is great for the long walk from the bus to front of the park. They do hop in and out alot but it worked great. I especially liked it at night after some event, like fireworks or a parade. Okay, it was a pain in the you know what to manuver through the crowds, but at least i knew they could not get lost.

 

[MommyTo5]

We took our 5 kids this past January. Our 10 year old and 4 1/2 year old walked the entire time (for 4 days!) and I never heard a complaint out of either one of them. Our 3 little ones (2 of them just turned 3 and the other one was 7 months at the time) rode in our triple stroller. When we go in October, we'll be taking a lightweight double and a single. I think it's definitely up to each parent to determine if thier child needs a stroller but I really think that over age 4 1/2 or 5, it's really not a necessity.

~ Angie

 

[Kallison]

Our daughter was 6 1/2 last trip, we walked her little tushy off! She did fine and wouldn't get in a stroller even if we tried. She has two older brothers. I do remember one night at Illuminations, my oldest son was videotaping and we were all looking up and oohing and aahing. When it was over I said "Sweetie wasn't that fantastic" and the video camera scans down to her sound asleep on the sidewalk! Then my middle son says, "Let's leave her here". Definitely a funny moment. That was the only night we had to carry her out of the park.

 

[kalamazoo]

See how it goes. You can always rent a stoller. The majority of strollers for rent at WDW parks are really more like modified wagons (except that you push it like a stroller). IMO they are not even that good for small children (not that comfortable) but they are ideal for kids to hop in and out of as needed. Also they are useful for carrying your stuff, like camera bag, backpack, packages, etc. Just don't forget to take your valuables with you when you leave the stroller.

I'm sure your ds will want to walk most of the time but, what with the heat and excitement of the whole trip, he may be grateful for the occasional ride. Maybe if you call it a cart rather than a stroller he won't be so likely to balk at using it. Remember too that there can be a lot of standing on line which, while no one likes it, is particularly hard on kids because it's boring and they may tend to notice their fatigue more than if they spend the whole day on the go. Too bad you can't bring a stroller on line.

 

[BounceyOne]

On our last trip in Jan DD was 2 (bday is in dec) at the MK we didn't rent a stroller and she was just fine. It is alot of walking but not like getting up and walking 5 miles straight. you sit down on each ride then walk a little more to the next one. When we went to Epcot which to me is alot more straight walking we rented one.

Each child is different.