Almost 6 in a stroller???

[twoprincesses]

My daughter will almost be turning 6 when we take her for her 2nd trip to disney. Her sister will be 5. My husband is saying NO to strollers this time around. I am saying maybe. My husband thinks it looks silly for kids at that age being pushed around. I think he is just complaining because he pushes the majority of the time. Whatever the excuse may be, I do not want her to whine that her legs and feet are tired. Is 6 too old for a stroller??? My husband thinks 5 is okay. Wow, a one year difference! The last time we went we were at the parks at 9 am and were in the parking lot by 11pm or even 1 am when we went to MK. I think that is pushing it for a 6 yr old! because by the end of the day, I even want to be pushed!

 

[mytwotinks]

I would rent a double. They are easy to get in and out of and when you stop to sit the girls will have a seat. I think that it is hard NOT to use a stroller for a 6 year old. They can sit and have a treat while you walk from one part of a park to another. Especially at EPCOT. There is no way to enjoy EPCOT with a 6 year old without a stroller! I can see your husband not wanting to walk around the mall with a 6 yo in a stroller. Just remind him how much $$$$ every minute you are there will be costing and tell him how much more ground you will be able to cover if they are both in the stroller!

 

[cstraub]

My DD5 will turn 6 right before we go in April. We are doing the sroller. Having just been there in Dec. and using it the whole two weeks we were there I will be doing it again on our Spring break trip. I think there won't be much difference in her height or weight after just 4 months.

The stroller is not just for her but for me too. I buy stuff like crazy and being the over planner that I am I need somewhere to store my huge backpack full of everything I might need. We bring a blanket to sit on too so the stoller comes in handly for holding that. It also makes for an awesome seat while waiting for parades, monorails and buses.

I also like that I can say "sit in the stroller" and I know exactly where she is. I can focus on other things besides worrying about her wandering off like when I'm paying for something or ordering and whatnot.

I sometimes think that even when she is too old we may still bring the stroller just to hold stuff.

Whatever YOU decide, have a magical trip!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I got a stroller for my almost 6 year old niece when I went in May of 2005 and I was SO glad I did.

She didn't use the stroller that much, but she did use it and I was glad it was available. A couple times I was going to take her back to the hotel for a break, but she really wanted to stay in the parks, so she took a 20-30 minute "stroller nap" and be raring to go afterwards. Much easier than going all the way to the hotel. One day we were at the parks at 9am and didn't head back to the hotel until 11pm. The LONG wait for bus was rough for me, but my niece feel asleep in her stroller so she was fine.

It really all depends on your child, but in your case, you KNOW there are going to be times the 6 year old is going to want to sit in the stroller when the 5 year old is in it, I see big time whining potential there! LOL!

 

[beattyfamily]

I think it depends on the child. My 9 year old stopped using strollers at age 7 for our 2003 trip. So she did use one at age 6.

Our younger DD, age 6, is still in a stroller at WDW and even sometimes at the mall. Not because she's lazy or tired but because I don't want to loose her. She has an attention problem and everytime I let her walk in the mall or store or WDW, I get a few more grey hairs! She also does tire more then my older DD did at the same age but its more to keep an eye on her.

So I think I may still use one for our Disney trip this year. Then I think, hopefully, she'll be ready to walk by our trip in 2007.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Just do whatever makes you comfortable. We took our neice(5) and did bring a stroller but she never used it once. She walked, played and rested. She also slept very well every night. Have a great time.

 

[kerry34]

When it comes to Disney, I say rent the stroller. Our twins turned 6 just before our trip this past december. One of the twins had no need for a stroller most of the time, but my other DD had a tough time walking after a while. Even one night in Epcot we were only there for dinner and the candelight processional. DD fell asleep during the CP and guess what? DH had to carry her all the way from the American Pavillions Garden to the monorail because he insisted we did not need a stroller. We did rent a stroller in the MK and my daughter was much better off for it because she didnt get crabby. Every kid is different in what they can handle. It is alot of walking though so I see nothing wrong with it. When we had a stroller we did not get any funny looks or anything like that, I actually saw several children who were bigger than my kids in strollers. I dont think most people pay too much attention. Have a great trip!!

 

[helenm29]

Wellllll....Disney has SUCH big parks and I have to admit it can be quite a bit of walking even for us! I would take a stroller along I think. Those little legs can only handle so much before they poop out! also, there IS that wondering and getting lost in the crowds thing too! so many people there and munchkins get hard to spot! there are a lot of benches and eateries along the way but who wants to stop every hour to sit down when there is so much to see? most little ones have endless energy at that age it seems so just do what feels right for you.

 

[budbeerlady]

When DD is 6 for our next trip I intend to bring the umbrella stroller again. There is so much walking and/or waiting! I would rather have a non-tired kid.

 

[mickeyfan2]

My 5 year old nephew walked WDW all day every day and never got tired. We would leave when we started to get tired.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Looks as though you need to show DH this thread and its responses! We had family members go to WDW a couple years ago for the first time with their 6yo DD. They came back saying they'd never go back. They didn't get a stroller until towards the end of their trip. Their DD was tired all the time, and it was hot. They also didn't realize until even later that they didn't have to pay for a stroller in deifferent parks on the same day. The father was griping about EVERYTHING...esp the stroller situation. He too thought a 6yo was just too old for one. I personally think the double strollers at WDW would serve you perfectly. Of course, your kids won't be riding all the time, so that makes the stroller a perfect place to put your bags, etc. With all the walking you'll do everyday, I think its a must you get a stroller to save headaches and meltdowns all the way around. A 6 yo gets just as tired as a 5yo...PARENTS get just as tired their kids sometimes so the less meltdowns the better. GO--rent a double stroller--have a great time!

 

[WaltD4Me]

We would leave when we started to get tired.

The thing with this though, is not everyone gets tired at the same time. In the case of the OP, if her 5 year old is in a stroller, she isn't going to get as tired as the 6 year old will without the stroller.

A friend of mine is trying to decide about a stroller for their trip. Her little boy is 6, but he is really small for his age...looking at him, you would guess he's probably 4. My nephew is 3 and her son isn't all that much bigger than my nephew. Her DH says six is too old for a stroller, but she has two older kids, one is 11 and the other is almost 9 so you know they are going to want to go, go, go. Breaks are great and I agree, they are needed, but why worry about HAVING to take breaks because of some imaginary stroller age cut off?

 

[1of6]

We just got back and we used a double stroller everyday. All 4 kids took turns. Yes, there were times when our 2 & 4 yo were walking and 7 & 9 yo were riding. Did it look funny? Sure. Did I care? Not one bit. DD2 always got to sit when she wanted and the others took turns. I pushed most of the time and it was so much easier to have any 2 in the stroller and safe. DD2 was carried a lot so that made for only 1 walker and that was great.

 

[cstraub]

My 5 year old nephew walked WDW all day every day and never got tired. We would leave when we started to get tired.

Leaving when your tired is great if you live nearby and have a Florida Resident AP or your loaded. For the rest of America where the average household income is $50,000 a year, they will be staying until the park closes period. When you average it out with hotel, transportation and food for a family of 5 WDW can cost anywhere from $350 and beyond for 1 day in the park.

Most people are not going to leave because one of the kids is tired.
It's better to just get a stoller.

 

[ryanally]

Our 5 almost 6 son still used a rental stroller last month at the World. We are always too excited to be back at our home away from home to worry about what others think. It gives him a break when we want to get from point A to point B quickly and his little legs can't keep up. This is especially true at MGM where the shows seem to be scheduled close together. We also use it for packages. Sometimes our 2 year old daughter is tired of her stroller that we bring from home and she thinks its "cool" to ride in the Disney one. Do what you think is best and to heck with what others say.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Leaving when your tired is great if you live nearby and have a Florida Resident AP or your loaded. For the rest of America where the average household income is $50,000 a year, they will be staying until the park closes period. When you average it out with hotel, transportation and food for a family of 5 WDW can cost anywhere from $350 and beyond for 1 day in the park.

Hum I never said we lived in FL, were AP holders and were loaded. There were 5 of us in a single off-site hotel room (costing about $45). We drove 1000 miles to FL and my 5 year old nephew did walk the entire day. So it can be done.

 

[Sammie]

Almost 6 in a stroller???

At first glance as I was scrolling the forums, I thought you meant you were getting one stroller and putting 6 kids in it.

And my first thought was, Man that is one cheap person.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS6 used a stroller part of the time on our last trip. (he's the little guy in my signature photo!). We used it on the first leg of our trip, not knowing if he would really need it. By the last few days, we left it in the room, because he preferred to walk.

If I were you, I'd leave it up to your 6 year old. If she wants to ride in one, then let her. Either bring one along, or rent one there.

6 year olds get tired...they are smaller and have trouble keeping up sometimes! And I'm with you, but the end of the day, even I am wanting to be riding in a stroller

 

[cstraub]

Hum I never said we lived in FL, were AP holders and were loaded. There were 5 of us in a single off-site hotel room (costing about $45). We drove 1000 miles to FL and my 5 year old nephew did walk the entire day. So it can be done.

Sorry, misunderstood your post.

 

[Bobenna]

If you are going to get a stroller for your 5 year old - I would say get a double. That way if the 6 year old wants to sit she can. On our last trip my 6 year old refused to sit in a stroller - but my DH ended up carrying her on his shoulders towards the end of the day. It definetly is a lot of walking for the kids!