Anyone with a five year old NOT use a stroller at Disney?

[twinspluscade]

We're going to WDW in Sept for our second trip. Last year, we rented a double stroller for our three kids ages 4,4, almost 3 at the time. The double worked great, and many times all three kids rode together in the stroller. It made getting around much easier.

I'd been planning on doing the same thing this year for our trip. However we are on a budget, and the single stroller rental is quite a bit cheaper than the double ($8 vs $16/day). So now I'm considering renting a single instead. Kids will be 5,5, almost 4 this trip. I know the 3 year old will need a stroller, but I don't know if my twins will. They are quite active, and we walk a lot at home. And of course there would be times when their brother could walk, and they could take a turn riding. But I'd hate to rent a single, and then end up having to rent a double too a few days later.

Has anyone had a five year old that did just fine walking the whole time? Or have a few pre-schoolers take turns riding in one stroller? If you were me, would you try to get by with the single, or splurge for the double?

TIA!

 

[CastleCreations]

I have a 4 and 5 year old. We did Epcot without the stroller. Big mistake. By the time we got to the backside of Epcot, we paid another family to take theirs. My kids were crying and their feet hurt, and I didn't know what to do. It was just me with them, so next time, I got the stroller. I would get the double and just rotate out kids. you could always sit one near their feet if the third wanted a ride as well. Good luck...

 

[TaraPA]

On an opposite note...we never used a stroller for either DS at age 5. Age 3 is the last we used strollers for either. It was so nice not to have to worry about that yet & just go go go! I guess it depends on the individual child(ren).

 

[ntink]

I'm with TaraPA. When DDs were 3 & 7 we did not take a stroller and they did walked w/o complaints the entire time. However, on the last day of our trip, we were in EPCOT and did rent a double due to the heat/humidity and how much we wanted to do that day. The girls were happy but would probably have been fine without it.

I think it also depends on how much you want to do in a day.

 

[dbarker]

We took DS8 when he was 4. He did not and would not ride in a stroller. He was fine. We did 3 parks in 5 days. BTW, he still remembers that trip.

He is my very, very independent child. Once he was big enough to walk w/ us, he refused to ride in the stroller.

 

[deedeetoo]

I guess it depends on your kids. Last year we brought our old stroller from home to use for DS5. We felt he didn't really need it and said no more. But my Mom (72 years young) was with us and she ended up using the stroller kind of like a walker.

Fast forward to this year. We didn't want the stroller for ds anymore but Mom wanted it so she could lean on it. She decided after two days that she would be better off with a wheelchair so DS6 had to walk everywhere. He was not happy about it but he did fine.

 

[runswithscissors]

My parents took my son in June and did not bring his stroller. He will be 5 in mid-August and was fine without it. They typically only spend 5 hours at a park each day and have two full days of rest at the resort. We will be going in October and will definitely bring his stroller for that trip. We tend to spend a lot of time at the parks and will only have one full rest day at the resort.

I agree with the other posters; it depends on your child and your schedule.

 

[cccm]

I took DD at age of 5 and no issues at all. Since I came into the family when she was 2.5, she used a stroller maybe twice.

 

[joynt23]

I have to tell you--I have twins also and they are 6 and they have been going to WDW LOTS since they were 9 months old. We stopped using strollers, consistently, since they were 4(we brought them so IF needed we could use them). Since they were 5 we have not used them, as long as you make sure you get some breaks to sit they should be fine. Plus, if you are going on rides and in attractions you should be fine. Also, to get your kids ready to walk, I suggest that when you go places around your home like the mall, zoo etc make them walk also. The more they walk at places like that the easier it will be for them to walk in WDW. They will whine at times, they just take some time to sit and maybe have a snack. My twins just go, in fact we have to try and slow them down to stay with us because they want to EVERYWHERE. Enjoy your trip

 

[huey duey & luey]

we went in March when my triplets were 5. They are also kids with a lot of energy and I thought we didnt need a stroller. I was wrong, in the middle of teh 2nd day we rented a double and they took turns. If you think your youngest will also walk, then you could proably get the single and alternate, if you think the 4 year old will be in the stoller most if the time I would probably get the double.

 

[TaraPA]

There's a nice freedom in Disney without a stroller (for me anyway). No more ramming it (accidentally of course) into the back of people's ankles, No more waiting to get through a crowd, and no more getting off a ride trying to find it in a sea of others doing the same thing, and trying to rush on to your next adventure. We used our own strollers when there & folding them quickly to get on & off the crowded buses was stressful, especially at night when there's a line of 100 behind you. It's the same when your kids finally stop using sippy cups - no more digging in the backpack that is now sticky because of course they leaked...

 

[girlsx4]

When we went in 2005 my girls were 10, 7, 5(just turned 5) & 2. We only used a stroller for the 2 yr old. She never complained at all and was able to keep up all the time. I think it's probably because she hadn't used a stroller for at least a year anyway. I don't think strollers are necessary for kids over 4.

 

[esk]

You know your own kids. My DS, 5, hasn't used a stroller since his sister came along and even when we rented a sit-n-stand at WDW when he was 3 1/2, he refused to stand on it. We just did Disney Paris with both children and the 2 1/2 year old did not have a stroller...this meant either DH or I carried her a little bit, but a stroller would have just irritated her and us. However, if your kids are not used to walking long distances (we walk the dog every day) or hot weather or crowds that they could get lost in, maybe a stroller is a better idea?

 

[Becky2005]

When we went in July of 2005 only the little guy had a stroller (he was 2).

My 3rd child had turned 5 in May and he never once used a stroller there so was a *barely* 5 year old.

It worked out just fine for us.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

My ,5, has already asked for a stroller for Disney. My 10 year old DS asked if he could ride too. My DS, 7, wouldn't be caoght in one. It just depends on each child.

DH and I are working it into our budget and think we may do a double for extra room for MK and EP. We are thinking that AK and DS will have to be a walk in the park if you know what I mean.

I am going to look into it as we get closer. I am also considering getting an umbrella and just giving it to a guest as we leave. It might be fun to spread some pixie dust to someone else. DD will be about 45 lbs and I am not sure it it would hold her.

 

[myramsy]

When my DS was 6 we rented a stroller each day because it was so humid and he has asthma so it was necessary to give him LOTS of breaks. We are going in Sept and he wil be 8 so we are not going to bother with the stroller! Here's hoping its not too humid!!
me ; DS(8) ; DH

 

[bigbabyblues]

My oldest is just 6 now, but he's never used a stroller at WDW. His first trip he was almost 4, second trip, almost 5. It just depends on the kid.

 

[Hannathy]

WE have never used a stroller for anyone over 4 and have never had problems. We also go commando so these kids are moving! The last time my DS was 5 we went over Easter and were there for 7 days and at the parks from opening till close and that was midnight many nights. I don't understand it, kids have more energy than adults and if I can walk it so can they. plus it is so freeing without a stroller that once you don't use one you will never go back to one. If kids can play in soccer tournaments and play 3 games in a day, why can't they walk from ride to ride? I also don't understand how a 5 and up even knows to ask for a stroller if it isn't offered, most kids consider strollers for toddlers and don't even think they need one and just deal.

Anyone remember how nice Disney was years ago when the only strollers were used for toddlers. Less jammed walkways, hardly ever getting hit in the ankles, no SUV's taking up whole aisles in stores, more room on the trams.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My sister's family joined my son and I on our trip to WDW Easter 2005. My niece had just turned 5 two months before the trip and my nephew was 6 1/2We were in the parks for 7 days, from open until close.

Neither one had a problem walking around. As a matter of fact, there were days when I had trouble keeping up with them.

My niece was amazed by the number of older kids riding around in strollers. She wanted to know why the big kids weren't walking.

 

[chobie]

Depends on the kid. We went to WDW when my oldest was 3 and did not get her a stroller. I carried her 4 month old brother in a sling (it was winter and cold). She has never had a problem walking for hours upon hours in the parks. My son we got strollers for until he was almost 8. Not all day, every day, but sometimes in the evenings when he would not want to walk anymore. We didn't think it was fair to his sister to end the day early because his legs were tired, and he was not completely exhausted, it was just his legs were tired. Once he was in the stroller we were all happy.