Any strollers out there big enough for a 7 year old?

[Ali]

I think the new Disney park strollers are too small for older kids, taller kids, etc. Even the double would have the one larger child sitting squished. The one they sell in the stores will not hold a larger taller child comfortably and will probably break quickly based on our experiences.

We have been using a Maclaren Triumph for 4 years now - It holds taller kids well and is compact enough.

DS just turned 8 and weighs 56 pounds and it was our first trip to the MK without a stroller. We made it around the park quicker but I felt safer with him in the stroller and not being able to walk away and getting caught in crowds. He made the decision to leave the stroller at home, though and didn't complain at all but we were only there for a short day.

To the OP Don't let anyone make you feel bad for doing something that will make your life easier on vacation. If you want a place to have your chid safe and comfy while you pick something up at the resort before going to your room you are certainly allowed. Vacation time is sometimes stressful at Disney because of the amount of people, the heat, the gimmes, the different schedules and I say get a stroller to carry the stuff if not the kids.

 

[SueM in MN]

We went a couple of years ago with my niece and her 4 yr old DD.
For the first 3 days they didn't have a stroller. The little girl did very well keeping up with everyone and didn't need to be carried or fall asleep on the bus on the way back. Toward the end of the 4th day, she said her legs were "all out of walk" and that she needed a stroller. That evening my niece went out and bought a stroller, which she used to the end of the trip.
The plus to the stroller was that she was not as tired. The big minus we noticed was how much extra time it took to deal with the stroller compared to the days before we had it.
At each attraction, she had to get out and find the place to park the stroller. Afterwards, we had to find it and she had to get in.
The comment everyone in our party made about the stroller was that it was much easier without it and we wished that we had taken day 4 off instead of going to the park. I think that if we had paced ourselves better, she could probably have gotten by without a stroller at all. My niece did find that she was more tired from pushing the stroller (any kidding aside from Schmeck's post, pushing a stroller around the park does take a certain amount of energy from the pusher.) My youngest DD uses a wheelchair because she can't walk. On the trip we just got back from on Tuesday, my DH and I took one day in the parks without her while my other DD took care of her. DH and I were surprized how how much less tired we were (even though we were moving faster) not having to push the wheelchair around.

We did notice that all the parks now have the new strollers. We saw some pretty large kids in them (I would say 6-8 yr olds). Although they don't look as roomy as the old strollers were, none of the kids looked uncomfortable. So, I guess, even with the new strollers, my advice would be to play it by ear and rent at the park if you need to.
That way, you would not have to deal with the hassle of a stroller except when you need it.

 

[deva]

Really? It wasn't too small for him? Did he find it comfortable? Maybe we could do that. How much was the price?

Sorry for all the questions. My biggest concern is him not fitting into any of the strollers....

He never complained so I think he was fine in it. We paid $49.99 at the Boardwalk, but I think they are all over the resorts etc. (keeping that in mind take a big Sharpie pen to write your name on it and a unique scarf/bandana to tie to the handle).

We bought the Kohlcraft because we left one our cheapie umbrella strollers from Walmart at the airport. He really was too big for that but we could have made it work when he just needed a break.

We rented from WDW on the first day and that stroller was easier to push around, but we decided to save some $$ and bought the Kohlcraft. It just returned "home" today. DH took it down with DD. We are meeting them tomorrow. I'll get DS to sit in and and will try to post an update.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We did a stroller swap in January for my 4 yo and 2 yo.

Pros: They didn't really nap, but we didn't have to corral them either. Much easier to to keep up with when strapped in a stroller.

Cons: PAIN IN THE NECK to take on the busses or boats. monorail not so bad.

Hubby says he doesn't care HOW MUCH we saved by swapping, he wants to rent at the park from now on. He figures he's the one lugging it around, he should be able to make the decision

 

[Schmeck]

I do not think that this was meant to sound mean, right, but I am sure someone will take offense to your post.

I am the OP and I just wanted some opinions on some types of strollers, not opinions on my DS using a stroller.

Not meant to be mean - I was actually replying to the PP comment about the sleeping child on the bus. Sorry for the confusion, I should have quoted the part I was commenting about.

 

[belle&beast]

I bought a Maclaren Volo on ebay for around $79 for our trip to WDW in January. We have a 5 yo and 7 yo and figured they would want to take turns. We letf it at home and realized it when we were an hour into our 2.5 hour drive to the airport (in a blizzard) there was no turning back!

Our 5 yo does not do well walking for long distances, so we figured we would just have to rent something as needed. Much to our surprise, it turned out that he did great without a stroller and we did not have to rent one at all and spent 8 days in the parks! I guess what I am trying to say is that maybe you won't even need it- so I would suggest renting a stroller as needed.

 

[clc053103]

Hello! I just got a Volo as well- $69.99 free shipping on babye-store.com

However, I really just use it outside the parks, at night to resorts for dinner (DS is 3). In the park, we rent- simply b/c they are easy to get, we use a double and then the 6 and 10 year old jumped in and out when they needed a break.

DS is well capable of walking but we move a lot faster when he's in the stroller! not to mention, I never have to worry about losing sight of him in a crowd.

 

[my3cinderellas]

Personally i'd wait and rent if necessary!!

Your child is 7 and might amaze you! Plus do you really want to lug it around for the 90% of the time he's not using it?? my dd who was 6 last time maybe went in her sisters carriage for about 5 mins!


JMO
i'd just rent and spend 13$ if needed...... why spend 80 for a one time use?

 

[abcboys]

Personally i'd wait and rent if necessary!!

Your child is 7 and might amaze you! Plus do you really want to lug it around for the 90% of the time he's not using it?? my dd who was 6 last time maybe went in her sisters carriage for about 5 mins!


JMO
i'd just rent and spend 13$ if needed...... why spend 80 for a one time use?

I have to agree. My boys were 2,6, and 9 last May when we went. We did have a stroller for the 2 year old and my 6 year old is not really used to walking very much but he did well. By the 4th day we rented for 2 days to give him a break and the 9 year old even jumped in too. It gave him a much needed break. I don't know how the strollers are now but when we were there the rentals were a DREAM to push around, even with a heavy child in there. We have a mac volo for the youngest and the 6 year old could fit in it but the rentals were amazingly easy to push compared to that. I could put BOTH older kids in the rental and could still push it easily. I would not purchase a stroller for a 7 year old (although I did not think folding up our stroller on the bus was a big pain at all) but the rentals (although expensive)were so easy to push.

 

[Arielx2]

I am taking the wait and see approach with my 7 year old. I keep thinking of Fantasyland and walking it a few feet only to park it and get out. Then to find it and walk it a few feet again. PITA!

 

[p&tbrown]

OK, listen. I understand that you can't carry him to the bus stop after he falls asleep. BUT, getting a stroller for a 7 yr old seems like it is really for your convenience. How about leaving the park before your child passes out so that he can walk to the bus stop instead of being selfish and keeping him there past the point of exhaustion?

 

[p&tbrown]

So my post above was a little harsh. It's just that I have never understood why parents push and push there kids when they go to Disney. Isn't the trip for them anyways? Wouldn't it be more enjoyable for the entire family if we let our kids nap and go to bed around their normal bedtime? I have been witness to MANY meltdowns on my numerous trips to WDW. They all seem to have the same common factor, tiredness. Isn't that one of the greatest benefits of staying onsite is that you can just pop back in to your hotel room for a quick nap. Or, go back to the hotel when someone is just plain had enough!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

To the OP I own the bjcm that www.orlandostrollerrentals.com rents the lightweight holds up to 50 pounds and the classic holds up to 75 pounds. I use my bjcm daily w/ my 5 yr old since she doesn't walk. I have pushed my 8yr old in she weighs 52 pounds and I have no trouble pushing her in it at all. the seat is tall which is great for her and as some one else mentioned much more comfy than the disney ones.

two points -

If a 7 yr old child is in the stroller all day he/she should be rested enough to not fall asleep on the way back - heck, I'd have the kid haul the stroller onto the bus, LOL!

If I had to push 50+ pounds around WDW all day, I'd be the one falling asleep on the way back to the resort - and then I'd need to ride in the stroller on the way back to the room.

So, anyone know of a stroller that can hold 110+ lbs?

You can rent one from www.orlandostrollerrentals.com
Its the special needs pushchair but it offers more than the wheelchair

 

[Schmeck]

To the OP I own the bjcm that www.orlandostrollerrentals.com rents the lightweight holds up to 50 pounds and the classic holds up to 75 pounds. I use my bjcm daily w/ my 5 yr old since she doesn't walk. I have pushed my 8yr old in she weighs 52 pounds and I have no trouble pushing her in it at all. the seat is tall which is great for her and as some one else mentioned much more comfy than the disney ones.




You can rent one from www.orlandostrollerrentals.com
Its the special needs pushchair but it offers more than the wheelchair

Now, if only my kids would agree to push it nicely, and not do pop-a-wheelies with me in it!

To the OP - if you end up down there without a stroller, and you need one with more access than a rental (outside of the parks) you can call one of the companies that provides medical-issue strollers (see the link for orlandostrollerrentals above) and rent one pretty cheaply for the remainder of the trip.

 

[scootch]

I put my kids in a stroller(much to many disboarders negative thoughts, haha).... but I take them alone and having them confined means the world to me. I took them last year at age 6 and just turned 9 and they both still fit in the double stroller at WDW. Even though it is pricey, it is so worth it to have them fresh, keep the sun off of them and again, keep them confined. Plus no lugging on the busses and such. On like arrival day or departure day when we aren't going to be at the parks all day, I didn't get one, but for full days I did.

 

[trennr]

Last time we went in 2007...we rented a Double at the parks. DS9 (who was 7 then) rode in oneside while we packed the other side with our cooler and snacks. The stroller rentals are pricey...but beats having to lug your own around from place to place. DS seemed pretty comfortable in them every time we used them. He even naps in them every year I can remeber using them.

 

[bellaphia]

I am renting from Orlando Strollers this time-the stroller they have folds great and is good for older/bigger kids...we did use a mac last year for 7 year old she fit ok didn't look foolish but she was just 48 inches then-I also have a younger DD who can use the mac when needed-would never buy a mac just for one Disney visit
you could definately rent the ones from Disney but Orlando strollers are cheaper and more comfy and can have it when you leave the park-I don't know about you but there is no way I can carry a 50 lb sleeping child-whew
enjoy your trip

Not meant to be mean - I was actually replying to the PP comment about the sleeping child on the bus. Sorry for the confusion, I should have quoted the part I was commenting about.

hmm...no mention of a sleeping child on the bus...any way FYI WDW strollers:
Single or infant (newborn to 9 months) strollers: $15/day (no deposit) or purchase $13/day length of stay rental.

Double strollers: $31/day (no deposit) or purchase $27/day length of stay rental.
not sure your 7 yr old would fit in a single so you would most likely be paying $31./day not $13./day if that makes a difference...

 

[naomi78155]

We just got a Maclaren Volo on Ebay for $70 with free shipping. We got it just for our trip, DS 4 never uses a stroller at home. He is very energetic, but he needs a lot of rest also.
The Volo holds up to 55lbs, folds easy, has a small basket and is super liteweight.
Good luck and don't worry what other people say.

 

[Princess Amy]

I actually thought it was rather funny. I appreciated the smile! Unfortunately, you posted on a public forum. You cannot control the replies you get. You put it out there.

Not trying to control...just don't want it to be closed.

 

[all4fun]

Princess Amy, I pm'd you.