Buggy for 5 year old?

[Violet Parr]

Hi all,

We are headed to DLP on Halloween day. We will be arriving after 8 nights in Italy, and it will be at the start of an 8 night trip to Paris.

Normally we do not use the stroller, with the exception of WDW trips, where it is perfectly common to see kids as old as 6 or 7 riding around in them. (Our older kids always stopped riding in them at WDW at around 6 or 7.) However, on a trip to London over the summer, we found it immensely helpful to have our Maclaren volo with us, as lines were long and it was hot and very busy, and we did an intense amount of walking.

I'm wondering if it would be seen as odd for our 5 year old to be seen in a pushchair/buggy (not sure what the proper term is here in the UK. It's an umbrella stroller back home in the States.)

Is DLP big enough for a child of his age to need one? Yes, he can walk fine and he's a pretty active boy (actually, a bit excessively active. Sometimes the stroller is the only way to keep him with us at WDW.) Or is DLP do-able without one for a child his age?

I know this is a hot button topic on other disboards pages, so I don't mean to push any buttons. Just curious to know just how much walking we'll do at DLP (just one park) in one day and if we can pull off taking lots and lots of breaks.

Thanks!

VP

 

[BabyAriel]

Hello

It certainly wouldn't be seen as odd for your 5-year-old to be in a stroller/buggy. We also have a Maclaren Volo and until this summer took it on every DLP trip, with our eldest hopping in for a rest when youngest walked sometimes, this was when they were 7 and 4.

After much deliberation, we decided not to take it on our most recent August trip and DD2 (now 5) coped fine. She had the occasional ride on DH's shoulders though

I think it all depends on the child, most people would advise taking one I think.

 

[markpsych]

Not at all!

Our daughter used one of the DLP hire strollers (free with an AP) long after she'd stopped using one at home.

No problem at all

 

[HFJohnson]

No, not strange at all. Although DLP is smaller that WDW you're still on your feet all day so I'm sure your 5 year old will appreciate the chance to have a rest. I also rented a stroller at DLP in May and both my 6 year old and 10 year used it quite happily (I even had a go for bit and wished I could have stayed in longer!!).

 

[DLPDreams]

We used to be AP holders and so were able to hire pushchairs for free, as a result both my DDs used the one we hired - I think DD1 was about 7 the last time we went. To be fair it was predominantly for my DD2 who was 4, but the 7 year old did jump in now and again for a little rest!

We are no longer AP holders so we will be hiring this time - it is only really for 2 days though. I am travelling alone with my children this time, so I certainly don't want to carrying a stroller around the airport etc!

On a side note, we are off to WDW next summer and I've just been having a huge sort out pre-building work at our house and got to sorting out old pushchairs. I decided to keep our beloved Maclaren (aren't they great pushchairs!), for the trip for DD2 who will be 7. I suspect it won't get used much and may end up getting left there, but I'd rather have it just in case!

 

[x_zipped_x]

I think its a good idea to carry it with you... during my first trip ever to DLRP (i think i was around 10) my feet were so sore from walking that i ended up sitting in the middle of the street and i wouldnt get up, they literally had to push me all the way back to the hotel

 

[PrincessSparkle]

I'm so glad I read this thread as I've been battling with myself if I should take my sons McLaren buggy with us for our November trip because he is 4 and hates walking, i'm thinking now I should definitely take it but what do i do with it when we are on rides and in restaurants? Is there pram parks? Xx

 

[RitaC]

My kids are 5 & 4 and these days the only time our buggy comes out of the attic is for DLP trips! I find it so handy having it with me even if they spend half the day jumping in and out of it!

 

[ILOVEDLP]

Just to add I shall be hiring (free with ap) at least one buggy for my 6 yr olds even if it's somewhere to dump coats and drinks it handy will get 2 for the nights we do dreams thought long days are hard on little legs.
They haven't had a buggy for a long time theme parks and zoo hire buggys out for older children.

 

[Violet Parr]

Thanks, everyone! The buggy comes with us!

VP

 

[markpsych]

Thanks, everyone! The buggy comes with us!

Only thing to consider is the fact that buggies do go missing occasionally.

One year we had 3 hire strollers disappear in one day, including the bottled water we'd left on one!

If it's precious I'd bring a lock. Was going to suggest a bike lock, but see they do stroller locks now: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1818277.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:18091973125|tsid:59156|cid:189942085|lid:96718916965|nw:g|crid:53116098925|rnd:5164212698973148621|dvc:c|adp:1o1

 

[PrincessSparkle]

Thankyou so much for the advice, we had to replace our buggy last year and the only one that would accommodate my sons height & weight was a maclaren which cost us almost £250 so I would definitely be gutted if was stolen so I followed your advice and just ordered a buggy lock, well worth the £5 and I'm sure it will be used again after the trip x