Am I crazy to take a 2 y.o. without a stroller?

[PistonsFan]

My son is actually almost 3 - will be in the end of Feb., our trip is beginning of Feb. and he completely refuses to ride in a stroller anymore (or carts at the grocery store). He wants to walk everywhere. We have been to the zoo a couple of times where he walked the whole way, but that is still not nearly as much walking as Disney. I really hate to mess around with a stroller at the airport if he is not going to sit in it.

Has anyone taken a child this young without a stroller? If he fizzles out on me in the middle of the park are there stroller rentals in different areas, or only at the front?

 

[lclark0621]

Rent on in Disney World.

After a day of walking around the parks, I am wishing I could ride in a stroller.

My DS is 4, has not ridden in a stroller anywhere since he was 2. He willingly rides in a stroller at Disney after a while of walking.

He also doesn't nap & hasn't since he was 2.5, but in Feb (he was 3.5) he napped every day in Disney, and sometimes fell asleep in the stroller. I fully expect the same thing to happen this Feb.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Yeah, I think it is kind of crazy. I'd rent one if you don't want to bring your own. Disney is a whole lot of huge and I'm guessing you are going to be there for more than one day. Seriously, Disney is not like real life. You see a lot of 4 year olds in strollers who wouldn't be caught dead in a stroller in the real world.

There are stroller rentals in different areas of MK ... at least I know there is one in Fantasyland. Not sure about the other parks.

 

[Nicolepa]

There are stroller rentals in different areas of MK ... at least I know there is one in Fantasyland. Not sure about the other parks.

You can only rent them at the park gates. If you ride the train around MK you can drop off your stroller when you get on the train and get a new one when you get off, but you cannot just decide to rent one there.

We tried to go w/o a stroller last year when my kids were 4 & 6. Bad, Bad idea! I definitly would rent a Disney one vs your own. First, they are new and different (to your child). Second, they are really easy to get in and out of, so your kid is more likely to be willing to use it.

 

[Nicolepa]

There are stroller rentals in different areas of MK ... at least I know there is one in Fantasyland. Not sure about the other parks.

You can only rent them at the park gates. If you ride the train around MK you can drop off your stroller when you get on the train and get a new one when you get off, but you cannot just decide to rent one there.

We tried to go w/o a stroller last year when my kids were 4 & 6. Bad, Bad idea! I definitly would rent a Disney one vs your own. First, they are new and different (to your child). Second, they are really easy to get in and out of, so your kid is more likely to be willing to use it.

 

[KariC]

yep, crazy!

take a lightweight one from home....more comfy. and if he falls asleep at the park, you're not stuck carrying him back to the resort.

 

[kileybeth]

take one with you. use it as a luggage cart at airport, save your back.

use it at resort for late nights or pool junk that needs to be carted around.

use it in the parks b/c small boys do not know how tired they really are until after they are asleep in your arms.

my 4.5 year old road every day willingly after lunch and started hoping in first thing in am by day 4 of parks! I have had a stroller when my youngest were 6 and 9 in the parks!! they sahred one but boy was I glad I had it. rentals are pricey if your trip is very long at all.

I worry when my youngest will be out of stroller what I will do with all my junk!!

 

[TinaLala]

Okay I wouldn't say you're crazy, just inexperienced! If you enjoy carrying a diaper bag, or a 20lb child after walking over 20 miles around Disney during a brief rain storm then don't bring a stroller.

You have to think about the what if's! Yes you can rent a stroller later on in the day at Disney, however depending on when you go, there's no guarantee that there will be Disney strollers available.

 

[blessedby3]

My son is actually almost 3 - will be in the end of Feb., our trip is beginning of Feb. and he completely refuses to ride in a stroller anymore (or carts at the grocery store). He wants to walk everywhere. We have been to the zoo a couple of times where he walked the whole way, but that is still not nearly as much walking as Disney. I really hate to mess around with a stroller at the airport if he is not going to sit in it.

Has anyone taken a child this young without a stroller? If he fizzles out on me in the middle of the park are there stroller rentals in different areas, or only at the front?

No stroller for 2 yr old =Crazy

 

[powellrj]

While my oldest was 4 when we first started going to disney, we never used a stroller because it never occurred to us to use one. He did great. We always take the kids for their first trip around the age of 4 just because its tradition and none have ever used a stroller. I am not sure I would be as brave with a 2 year old.

 

[Mkrop]

Nope Disney is a whole different experience. It is huge and it can get very hot. Rent one if you dont want to bring yours. See how he does.

 

[MickeyMouseMomofSix]

I would most definately bring or rent a stroller. We bought a Chicco stroller from Babies R Us before we went and it is SO lightweight and folds up to basically nothing!

 

[madfelice]

In a word, yes.

 

[TJA]

I highly recommend taking a comfortable stroller from home. My girls were 4-1/2 last trip and definitely needed the stroller, mainly at night when they got tired out.

As far as your decision on renting versus bringing, that will depend on your resort too. Personally, we mainly stay at the Epcot resorts and do a TON of non-park walking, including walking back and forth to both Epcot and MGM later at night after the shows. This is NOT a walk that toddlers can handle late at night after a long day at the parks. We love our jogger in Disney -- it's such a great feeling for the girls to crawl inside after a long day and they get all cozy and fall asleep. We recline the seats and make them comfortable. Then DH and I get a snack and enjoy some quiet time while the girls sleep. It's wonderful. It will be a long, long time before we head to WDW without a stroller.

 

[tzolkin]

my kids have really never used a stroller. if they can't walk or be held (depending on what we're doing) they would ride in a backpack. however, the younger ones will be 2 and 4 during our trip and we will definitely rent a stroller while in the parks. we don't want to bring one (or two) while travelling and i don't think they'll be likely to use it outside of the parks. if we rent one, i figure we can park it and do a few things in one area so they won't be in it constantly, but it will be nice to have access to it for walking around and if they need a rest.

we did go without a stroller when our oldest had just turned two, but we were only there for one day. we alternated between carrying the backpack and her. on this trip i think we'll definitely be too tired to carry two kids and a bag for 9 days...

 

[tzolkin]

my kids have really never used a stroller. if they can't walk or be held (depending on what we're doing) they would ride in a backpack. however, the younger ones will be 2 and 4 during our trip and we will definitely rent a stroller while in the parks. we don't want to bring one (or two) while travelling and i don't think they'll be likely to use it outside of the parks. if we rent one, i figure we can park it and do a few things in one area so they won't be in it constantly, but it will be nice to have access to it for walking around and if they need a rest.

we did go without a stroller when our oldest had just turned two, but we were only there for one day. we alternated between carrying the backpack and her. on this trip i think we'll definitely be too tired to carry two kids and a bag for 9 days...

 

[fairestoneofall]

My then-almost-five year old wanted a stroller last year. She walked around one full day, and I ended up carrying her that evening. And my back couldn't handle it more than that. So, we rented a stroller and she willingly rode in it.

I wish someone would push ME around in a stroller at Disney!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I think you'll need a stroller.
Disney World is a whole different world.
If I could still fit in a stroller, I'd need one too.

 

[DebRMN]

It will be a long time before we go without a stroller!

 

[Missus Toad]

No stroller for 2 yr old =Crazy

My sentiments exactly.

Seriously, neither of my kids will do a stroller at home, but at Disney, both are happy to ride. The distance, the crush of crowds, the heat and exhaustion all make a stroller look pretty good to them, and even better to me.