Big kids and Strollers - your opinion please!

[Giwreh]

Over 4, and a stroller ??? ... my goodnness..
Anyone their own choice, but to me that is totally incomprehensible.

 

[cattywampus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFZrzg62Zj0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I would hope most people would be spending their time in the parks enjoying their times, families, and memories... Not worrying about what someone else's kid is doing. Honestly!

If someone feels they can have a more enjoyable time by having a stroller available, do it! If not, don't.

 

[missbrooke06]

Geez, we have the opposite problem. Our 2 year old was in the stroller maybe 20% of the time and fussed every moment we didn't let him walk. We'll have two kids on our next trip and he'll be 4.5 (and the other will be 1) and I might bring a Sit and Stand if I think it's worth it.

 

[terri33inne]

I agree with some PP's... Do whatever makes sense for your family & will make your trip most enjoyable.

I've been debating this for my 7yo on our upcoming trip. When we went in Feb she was 6, and I brought the stroller but we did not use it (we are mid-day break dis'ers, so getting tired wasn't an issue). The only time I wished I had it was after the fireworks, and it was so crowded you could barely move, and with her being down so low she was getting jostled around a lot by the adults around us. So, my plan for this trip is to only use it in the evenings when we go back to the park, and we'll probably walk back to our resort for the nights we're at EP & HS.

 

[maxiesmom]

Over 4, and a stroller ??? ... my goodnness..
Anyone their own choice, but to me that is totally incomprehensible.

Really? I know very few 5 year olds who could walk mile after mile day after day and not get tuckered out. Not every family is the same, and I'm sure some could do it. And not every family tours the same way, some take breaks and some do not. It really is a judgement call, and each family gets to decide for themselves what works.

 

[Lavitz]

3) bring just the MacClaren and tell the kids to deal.

7 and 8 are more than fine without a stroller, and I don't think you'll have much problem with them complaining. When your kids are out and about touching things and running to take a look at others, the other kid won't want to be stuck sitting down. I'd think most would regret taking a stroller for a 9 y/o since it'll probably be so rarely used.

 

[charmed59]

Have you been pushing the three children around at home? Are YOU in good enough shape to do push that much weight around the parks? If you are going to tire faster than your big kids walking then it's a no brainer, let them walk.

Our friends and us took our families to Disney with four children ages 4, 6, 7 and 9. No strollers, but in big crowds exiting the parks the youngest were on their daddy's shoulders. It seems much easier to maneuver through crowds without having to push a stroller.

 

[NinaBella]

Sure, let them sit in the stroller. Inform them that you will be sure to take a pic to post on Facebook and include in their class trip report to their classmates.

I think by the end of the evening you will be pushing your friend back to the hotel in a stroller if she pushes a "big 9 year old" all day.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have you been pushing the three children around at home? Are YOU in good enough shape to do push that much weight around the parks? If you are going to tire faster than your big kids walking then it's a no brainer, let them walk.

Our friends and us took our families to Disney with four children ages 4, 6, 7 and 9. No strollers, but in big crowds exiting the parks the youngest were on their daddy's shoulders. It seems much easier to maneuver through crowds without having to push a stroller.

Having kids on your shoulders is not the best idea. Some of the signs hang low, and it is easy to knock your child's head on them. Not that I would know from first hand experience or anything

A stroller is much much safer, and the Disney ones are very easy to push.

 

[ponyboy]

your BFF is NUTS!!!!!
i'd bring it up to her and tell her that she's nuts.
maybe she'll realize she is and leave the stroller behind.

by age 6 kids should be fully walking at WDW.

heck strollers are not even menat for kids that age.

I can't believe that a 9 year old would even allow themselves to be put into a stroller, especially a 9 year old boy. He's going to have a tough time growing up with his mother still treating him like a baby at 9. I can pretty much guarantee you that he is going to be picked on, A LOT.

I'm pretty sure I would to have had a fist fight with any of my kids to make them get into a stroller at that age. It would probably have been a good punishment if I wanted to embarrass them. "Get in the stroller! And stick this pacifier in your mouth!"

That said. Absolutely, no way would I allow my kids to ride in a stroller at that age just because somebody else does. At 6 and 7 years old my kids not only didn't have a stroller, they had their own little backpacks to carry their own stuff. They got their own money when they got there and they had to keep track of it. If they bought something it went in their backpack. They thought it was awesome because giving them some responsibility made them feel more grown up and independent.

I honestly can't even imagine them wanting to go in a stroller at that age. It's just weird.....

 

[AidensMommy3]

Folding chairs/stools are not allowed per Wdw rules

Is this new? We took it last fall and had no problems.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is this new? We took it last fall and had no problems.

Not new. They are on Disney's list of items banned from the parks.

 

[missbrooke06]

The more I think about it, the more I think it's a terrible idea. Yes, it may give your kids a little rest but at what cost? You'll be exhausted. You don't want to be a mommy martyr.

 

[AidensMommy3]

Not new. They are on Disney's list of items banned from the parks.

Well now I feel bad cause we were rule breakers lol. We took it to epcot and the MK. Maybe the security had mistaken it for an umbrella since it's about the size of a small one. We even had CM ask where we got it!

OP don't listen to me

 

[North of Mouse]

No way would I lower my standards for my children just because someone else wants to do what you are not normally comfortable with. My children would know that too. Stick with your rules for your own children.

 

[ICF]

If I had tried to stick my 7 and 9 year olds in stroller, they'd have freaked out. A 9 year old is likely in 4th grade!!

My kids were out of strollers on a normal basis probably by 3 or 4. We did take one for each when they were 5 due to the amount of walking and the ability to move quicker if they were in one.....but having an otherwise healthy 9 year old in a stroller is just odd.

 

[Habbott]

I think it would be best to be straight up with your kids now. "So and so's mom might be taking a stroller for him. I am taking one for your little sibling and that's that. When you guys get tired, let me know and we'll stop and take a break."

To me, normal 7 and 8 year olds will do just fine walking all day with rests here and there. I have a niece that age who would complain the entire time, but she would do that anyways. The key is to make sure everyone is communicating. I would take snacks (easy to pack and healthy stuff like fruit and nuts) to have on hand during those "we should have eaten something before we stepped into this 45 minute line" moments.

I don't think you'll have too much trouble. I don't know many kids that age who would have agreed to sit in a stroller.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

I think it all depends on your touring style.

If you are planning on hitting the parks at rope drop and stay until night, your kids will probably need some rest, but if you have a sit down meal and plenty of rest stops, it might be doable.

If you do one side of magic kingdom one day and the other side another day, you cut walking by half, so that might be easier on your kids legs.

Disney Hollywood Studios is a lot easier on the feet, since it has a lot of sit down shows and is smaller, this one you can definetly do with only the 3 year old´s stroller.

Animal Kingdom covers a very large área, but has less attractions, so it can be done in less hours.

And probably for Epcot you will need the stroller.

You could also rent a doublé stroller like the City Mini GT, that has higher weight limits and sit the 3 year old there and the older kids can take turns. And if you have an ergo or something, the older kids could ride at night, coming out of the parks and you could carry the 3 year old.

I wouldn´t want to push a sit n stand stroller with 3 kids, in my experience they aren´t easly to push, on the other hand, either the city mini or the Maclaren strollers are a lot easier to push with heavy kids.

 

[Sparkly]

I first went to Disney/Universal/Sea World at nine and I walked, but then my parents didn't keep me out from park opening to closing every day and we sat and took small breaks.

 

[brymolmom]

One thing that gets me on these threads is that 'it depends on the child' well IMO it doesn't. It REALLY depends on the PARENT. Many kids beyond the years when they 'need' a stroller (likely age 4 or 5) will whine/complain and WANT to be strolled along (think about it - as parents - who wouldn't love it if someone said 'here - sit down and I'll do ALL the work for you'). It is the parent and his/her philosophy that really determines whether they get one. Kids over age 5 for sure (if in otherwise normal physical and mental health) do not NEED a stroller...But many parents prefer to do that as a security blanket - Then they don't need to deal with things like where to rest or how to deal with tired legs or whiny kids.

Parents who feel that kids should begin to understand their own responsibilities at this age make them walk (also ones who don't want to be over-exhausted themselves from pushing 70 extra pounds around all day in 90 degree heat). Parents who don't want to deal with it or just want to enjoy the vacation and not think about things like that or other reasons will get the stroller.

There is no way I would get a stroller for a 9 year old, unless there were other issues there. And honestly I don't even think I could walk the park with a 9 year old I knew well who was in one. It is beyond ridiculous. My 9 year old was pushing his GRANDMA around in her wheelchair most of the time during our big family trip 2 years ago. And honestly - that's how it is supposed to be.

I had a rule of 'no stroller at WDW after age 5'...My kids are 17 months apart. When ds was 6 and dd was still 5 he knew already that we were getting a single stroller and it was for his sister only. I think setting your expectations to the kids upfront helps a lot. My dd struggled a bit the first trip or 2 after she turned 6...But she knew she was welcome to ask for a break on a bench or to go back to the room if she was too tired. But she wasn't allowed to whine about it or we would skip the next ride to rest. She only ever asked to go back to the room early once...and it was after a full day but before Illuminations.

If it was me I'd say something to the friend. But either way - I would not get the stroller for my older kids. But then, I'm a mean mommy.