Big kids and Strollers - your opinion please!

[ChloeH]

Invoke the old, "if he jumped off a bridge would that make it okay for you to do the same?" parental lecture

I tried that line on my six year old and she gasped and said "I wouldn't let him jump off the bridge. I'd grab his shirt, pull him back, and sit on him."

She used a stroller at Disney just after she turned 7, but really now that's she's 8 I think she'd be much happier walking (unless she was having an arthritis flare-up). I like her in the stroller resting part of the time because I don't want her to struggle or be in pain, but she always wanted to jump out and look at stuff. She felt left out in the stroller.

 

[Lolsmum]

We first went when my kids were just turned 5 and 6 1/2. I didn't even consider a stroller. My kids are fitter than I am, so they did just fine. We do have the advantage of longer trips, since we come over form the UK, but I just could not even imagine pushing then through the parks all day when they are more than capable of walking.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

For a 9-year-old to be in a stroller, it's all about the parents. Sorry! That's a parent who is more interested in doing everything THEY want to do, rather than taking it at a child's pace. Yes, a 9-year-old may get tired, so you take a break and have a snack. Or maybe they can't do rope drop until closing--so you don't. Or maybe they need a break midday.

My kid were 5 and 7 on our first trip and the thought of a stroller wasn't even on the radar. And they never would have gotten in one if I had suggested it! Certainly by 3rd grade, they would have laughed at the idea, thinking I was making a joke!

Sorry, if they got a little tired at 5 or 7, we took a break. Yes, maybe we walked a little slower. Maybe we didn't get to do every single thing in every single park. But we enjoyed family time together at a pace that worked for everyone. We didn't see night time shows every night and that was okay! We didn't race from ride to ride. We took our time and enjoyed things along the way. We strolled hand in hand, pointing out things here and there.

Strollers at that age have nothing to do with the kids--it's all about the parents. (And I will state, although it shouldn't be necessary, that this is for able-bodied kids. Anyone with physical issues is a different story, of course.)

 

[maxiesmom]

For a 9-year-old to be in a stroller, it's all about the parents. Sorry! That's a parent who is more interested in doing everything THEY want to do, rather than taking it at a child's pace. Yes, a 9-year-old may get tired, so you take a break and have a snack. Or maybe they can't do rope drop until closing--so you don't. Or maybe they need a break midday.

My kid were 5 and 7 on our first trip and the thought of a stroller wasn't even on the radar. And they never would have gotten in one if I had suggested it! Certainly by 3rd grade, they would have laughed at the idea, thinking I was making a joke!

Sorry, if they got a little tired at 5 or 7, we took a break. Yes, maybe we walked a little slower. Maybe we didn't get to do every single thing in every single park. But we enjoyed family time together at a pace that worked for everyone. We didn't see night time shows every night and that was okay! We didn't race from ride to ride. We took our time and enjoyed things along the way. We strolled hand in hand, pointing out things here and there.

Strollers at that age have nothing to do with the kids--it's all about the parents. (And I will state, although it shouldn't be necessary, that this is for able-bodied kids. Anyone with physical issues is a different story, of course.)

So? If a child is willing to ride in a stroller, and the adults are willing to push it, then so what? Maybe it is how they like to tour the parks.

That is the beauty of it, we each get to choose how our own families get to tour the parks. I don't get to choose for anyone else, and they don't get to choose for me. Maybe people do things different from how I would do them, but so what? Not sure why this subject bring turns so many people into judgegy-pants.

 

[Danadanes]

We took my 4 year old and 11 year old with autism this summer. I had to BEG my four year old to ride in a rented stroller. He walked 3/4 of the time. There is no way the 11 year old would ever ride in one. His last stroller at wdw was at 5, and that was more for crowd avoidance. I cannot imagine a typical 9 year old in a stroller. The oldest looking kids I saw this summer were maybe 7.

 

[robinb]

For a 9-year-old to be in a stroller, it's all about the parents. Sorry! That's a parent who is more interested in doing everything THEY want to do, rather than taking it at a child's pace.

I guess I don't see your point. If they want to tour the parks at a faster pace or if they want to skip breaks (MANY people on the DIS go from rope drop to park closing) and save their children's energy in a stroller so they can see the fireworks or go to EMH that's up to them. That doesn't make them bad parents but just people who don't make the same choice as you have to skip the stroller at 5 and older.

In the spirit of full disclosure my DD used the stroller at Epcot and AK and night when she was 6 and 7. Call me selfish. She would crash *hard* in te stroller when she was tired (even though we took breaks) and I wanted to see the fireworks.

 

[maxiesmom]

You know what just struck me? Here we have people insisting that the adults are being selfish for not touring at the pace of their child, and letting them dictate how the vacation goes. On another thread there is a woman with a 15 year old daughter who is being bratty because things are not going all her way. Geeze, wonder where the 15 year old got the idea that the vacation should go all her way, and that the parent should have no say.......

 

[ChloeH]

So? If a child is willing to ride in a stroller, and the adults are willing to push it, then so what? Maybe it is how they like to tour the parks.

That is the beauty of it, we each get to choose how our own families get to tour the parks. I don't get to choose for anyone else, and they don't get to choose for me. Maybe people do things different from how I would do them, but so what? Not sure why this subject bring turns so many people into judgegy-pants.

Great point. I don't know why it matters to anyone what another family does. Each parent/family should do what works best for their vacation. If the parent likes to push a child because it makes the park touring easier for him or her (instead of the child wanting it), who cares? They should all enjoy their vacation the way they want to do it. If a child gets tired easily and the parent is okay with pushing the stroller, who cares? If it makes that family happy, then it is what is best for them.

I think it does really depend on the child and the parent. I wouldn't want my kid to struggle to keep going or to get overheated. Some kids would mind riding in the stroller and some wouldn't. The point of a vacation is to have fun, not worry about what other parents would do!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I think my point was that a healthy 9-year-old should not have to be in a stroller anywhere. If you've pushed that child to the point where they can't stand on their own feet and need to be seated and treated like a toddler in a stroller, maybe you've gone beyond their limits! Maybe it's time for a break. Why push a child to do more than they're capable of? What's wrong with slowing down a little and accepting that you won't go on every single ride in every single park?

 

[Crazie4daMouse]

We are going in 13 days and our 5 year old will absolutely be in a stroller. To us, it's MUCH easier for all of us. He doesn't get as tired and have melt downs, we don't get stressed by constantly having to stop and rest, or chase him down. I'm not looking forward to next year when he likely won't want to be in a stroller.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I couldn't imagine pushing any of my kids in a stroller at 9. We didn't use one past maybe three or four. My kids have walked around Disney every time we have gone. Now granted I don't care what other people do so I would stick to my no stroller rule and maybe tell the kids ahead of time that so and so may ride in the stroller but we are not.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I think it is too much for you to handle. I would explain it to the kids before the trip. I bet they will take it just fine.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think my point was that a healthy 9-year-old should not have to be in a stroller anywhere. If you've pushed that child to the point where they can't stand on their own feet and need to be seated and treated like a toddler in a stroller, maybe you've gone beyond their limits! Maybe it's time for a break. Why push a child to do more than they're capable of? What's wrong with slowing down a little and accepting that you won't go on every single ride in every single park?

Nothing is wrong with slowing down, if that is that family's choice. Nothing wrong with pushing a child in a stroller and keeping going, if that is that family's choice.

Maybe for you the cut off age to use a stroller is 5. Maybe for another family it is 8 or 9. Their family, they get to decide. Just like you get to decide for your family.

 

[mjkacmom]

The last time we were at WDW, my kids ranged in age from 4 - 11. Of course we wouldn't have done this at home, but since we spent so much time and money planning this vacation, I didn't want too many time consuming bathroom breaks.

So, they all wore diapers! I mean, I know this would be unusual for kids over the age of 3 or 4 at home, but this is Disney, where families can do absurd things inorder for things to be perfect!

 

[maxiesmom]

The last time we were at WDW, my kids ranged in age from 4 - 11. Of course we wouldn't have done this at home, but since we spent so much time and money planning this vacation, I didn't want too many time consuming bathroom breaks.

So, they all wore diapers! I mean, I know this would be unusual for kids over the age of 3 or 4 at home, but this is Disney, where families can do absurd things inorder for things to be perfect!

And even if you were being serious and not absurd trying to prove a point do you know how much it would impact me and my vacation? Zilch.

Knock yourself out.

 

[judypriv]

Thanks everybody. I'm STILL deciding! My almost 8 year old said no way to the stroller but my almost 7 year daughter said she doesn't want a stroller but could I bring the sit stand in case she wants a rest. So I'm thinking I'll bring the sit and stand. I have the real light Joovy and it folds pretty flat for buses. I can put any purchases or kid stuff in the basket. I figure I'm basically safe all the way around with it. It's actually smaller then a regular sized baby stroller.

I figure it my friend wants the stroller that's her decision and since her son is big, she will need a double anyway.

I KNOW the three year old will need a stroller more for safety issues. She's TINY and I get nervous because when she walks in crowds, people tend not to see her and she gets stepped on a lot.

I hate making decisions!

 

[AZMermaid]

I think the sit and stand sounds like a great solution. I agree you need one for your little one and this will give your 6 year old a place to hop on and rest if needed.

 

[mockers]

My kids have been out of strollers by the time the next kid starts riding in one -- which ends up being around 2 years old. I would never have my 4, 6 or 8 year old ride in a stroller at Disney. They have all been competing in 5k races since age 3. Will they whine, yes but at that age they'll whine about anything, so stroller/ no stroller wouldn't silence the whining. Now I will be taking a stroller to Disney in October for my 5 mth old and plan to wrap him if my DD that is 2 gets really tired. Yes, families can decide for themselves what is best for them -- but your decisions do impact others. For example, parks can feel over-crowded with too many strollers. But more importantly, older kids (without health issues) should be fit enough to walk around an amusement park. The growing obesity problem in the US that is tied to inactivity impacts everyone.

 

[Amdisneymom]

Good suggestions and advice. I'm also dealing with this issue with my almost 6 year old!

 

[SEA333]

My jogger stroller goes up to 80lbs. DD6 is 60lbs or a little less (she's tiny) at the age of 6 and she's going to the 1st grade coming out of midday naps. I am hoping she will grow out of the naps, but if not the stroller goes with us.

LOL My almost 9 year old just hit 60 lbs....at age 6, he was about 38lbs. And I thought he was on the average side LOL