Can a 4 y/o go to Disney World and not use a stroller?

I brought a double when my kids were almost 3 and 5. Single when they were 6 and 8. They shared. I was thankful to have it.

We walk sometimes 10 miles in a day at Disney, and that's walking casually.

Turns out my DD has a disability that was finally diagnosed this year, and now she gets a rented wheelchair at Disney. She can't walk more than a couple miles without pain or dislocating a joint.

I'm glad you're going to bring one! I'd rather bring it than wish you had!
Just wondered if your DD has Ehler d as my husband was diagnosed as an adult after years of issues!!
 
I think this thread clearly shows that it's really up to your family, their touring style, and what is important to them.

We took our DD last year at the end of August when she was just under 2 months shy of 4 years old. We did not take a stroller.
Most days she was just fine. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out a few things:

1. We always take a mid-day break at the resort. This means at least 1-2 hours of being able to relax our legs.
2. There were times when she was tired and just wanted to sit. So we did. If we had a more "commando" style of touring this would not work.
3. A little better than half of the nights I carried her out of the parks because we wanted to move more quickly than a tired not quite 4 year old could go. If I had not been able to carry her that distance, not having a stroller would not have worked.
4. She fell asleep on the bus 95% of the nights we were there. Meaning I carried her off the bus and back to the room. Again, if I hadn't been capable of carrying her, a stroller might have been needed.

We will be going back this August and we will not be bringing a stroller this time either.
Last year there were one or two nights where I thought "maybe we should have brought a stroller" but for us, not having to worry about:
Parking It
Finding It
Losing It
Collapsing It (on the bus)
Pushing It Empty

Outweighs the desire to have one for those occasions.

But that's just us.
 
I would say it was a toss-up if you were speaking of a very active child who lives in the South, but if you are really from Massachusetts it is almost a sure bet that you will need one in summer. Your body's adaptation to heat really matters in this respect, and if you do not live in a semi-tropical climate, then a young child's body simply will not be up to the strain of extensive walking in unaccustomed heat and humidity. It saps the heck out of them, and then you have the hassle of dealing with a fractious unhappy child.

IME, 6 is the usual age that a kid who isn't used to the heat will be able to handle it well enough without wheels.
 
Last year my 5 yr old wouldn't have made it without the stroller. This year, she's wanting to take use it again. I don't mind having it. It's a nice to haul our junk, and it's easier to keep up with her and get to where we want to go much faster.
 

It really depends on the child. We took my daughter when she was 4 without a stroller. She did just fine but she was not a child that liked being confined in a stroller for long anyway. We also went back to the room for lunch and she napped before going back in the afternoons. We are going in October and my niece who is 4 will be going without a stroller. She prefers to walk also.
 
I think this thread clearly shows that it's really up to your family, their touring style, and what is important to them.

We took our DD last year at the end of August when she was just under 2 months shy of 4 years old. We did not take a stroller.
Most days she was just fine. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out a few things:

1. We always take a mid-day break at the resort. This means at least 1-2 hours of being able to relax our legs.
2. There were times when she was tired and just wanted to sit. So we did. If we had a more "commando" style of touring this would not work.
3. A little better than half of the nights I carried her out of the parks because we wanted to move more quickly than a tired not quite 4 year old could go. If I had not been able to carry her that distance, not having a stroller would not have worked.
4. She fell asleep on the bus 95% of the nights we were there. Meaning I carried her off the bus and back to the room. Again, if I hadn't been capable of carrying her, a stroller might have been needed.

We will be going back this August and we will not be bringing a stroller this time either.
Last year there were one or two nights where I thought "maybe we should have brought a stroller" but for us, not having to worry about:
Parking It
Finding It
Losing It
Collapsing It (on the bus)
Pushing It Empty

Outweighs the desire to have one for those occasions.

But that's just us.
This was/are our thoughts also!

We went last year, our DD having just turned 4, and aside from the walk to the bus at the end of the day, she mostly just walked, and we pushed an empty stroller. Or one of us had to run back to fetch the stroller from parking, and since we didn't really use it, we found that aspect annoying (as well as the collapsing, etc, of this big thing we really weren't using!)

This year we will be there just after DD turns 5, and we really plan on not brining one. We've been taking nightly walks about 1-2 miles a night in preparation. She does great! We plan on taking it slow and going at her pace. No pushing that thing through crowds and stores and going back to snag it from its parking spot!
 
Where do you get the wrist leash? My daughter had one when she was little (she went from being worn by me, to a backpack harness, to holding my hand. I hate strollers for some reason, LOL) It'll just be my daughter (5) and I and I'd like something for the airport so I feel a bit better.


Sorry, just saw this. I found my choice on Google. I think I am going with this one for the versatility.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai...B7CYKHYU6Dp0QwzwIBA&ei=fqpzV8KuGMHZmwGF9bjoCQ
 
I'll be heading down next year with the family, a first for me, and my DD will be 4 when we go. My DD hasn't used a stroller in a long time, so when we go out she walks, or we will sometimes carry her, although she's getting too big for that. I know I'm not going to rent a stroller, just won't do it, and I prefer to not have to take one down and use it. What happens when we all go into a ride? Someone might walk off with it. I'm not saying steal it, but it might look like theirs and that person will walk off with it. Just saying. So is it possible for a 4 y/o to do Disney without a stroller?
Honestly, I wouldn't do disney wit a 4 year old without at least a cheap umbrella stroller. can it be done? Sure., with some 4 year olds. Others will want or need a stroller, and that's fine too. we've been taking Dd to WDW/DLR since she was 8 months old. we always rent a stroller from an offsite company, and we have never had any problems with someone walking away with it. and even if we did, it isn't our stroller (we get the insurance), and we don't leave anything crucial/valuable in it, so it wouldn't be a big deal. I definitely wouldn't let that concern deter me from having a stroller.
 
I know any and all things we purchase would go with us on a ride, which wouldn't be anything big, but still. I guess I will bring ours along. Thanks for responding.
anything you purchase can also be sent to package pick up at the front of the park at the time of purchase and picked up when you leave the park.
 
We just got back from a week in Disneyland with my 4 and 5.5 year olds. We were mentally prepared to rent a stroller (or two) if needed, but no-one complained at all! We went rope drop through dinner most days and used a two days on, one day off strategy. We also planned our days out to minimize walking. Disneyland was wall to wall people after 10:00 and we all did fine. I say go for it. You can rent there if needed!
Disneyland is a lot smaller in area than MK or any of the WDW parks. I'd try it there at a younger age than I would at WDW.
 
Aside from how tiring it is for small kids, some kids (especially those not used to large crowds) can get very overwhelmed by constantly trying to wade through a pack of giants. Imagine walking all day if all you could see was the butt of the person in front of you. A stroller can be a safe place they can retreat to - it gives them a bit more breathing room and they can relax, even if they don't need to rest. That being said, my just-turned-4 year old daughter (who had stopped napping at 2) dozed off several times in the stroller we brought to Disney. My 6 and 8 year olds were fighting for turns as well.

When we go back this fall, they will be 6, 8 and 11. No strollers this time, but I know at some point, all of us will miss having it.
 
with a 4 year old I would bring a stroller so you have it available - but that doesn't mean you have to bring it to the parks each time. Say you are doing a quick jaunt in the morning for 3 hours, then returning to the hotel for a break - then maybe you don't bring it with you. But if you are going longer, or at night, you bring it. Just because you have it doesn't mean you need to use it all.the.time.

We like having the stroller so we have something to hold our stuff LOL
 
Our boys were 3 and 4 when we did WDW last year. We just bought a daily pass for a double stroller while there. It is the sort of thing I would rather have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it. Both kids caught cat naps during our entire stay in the stroller but also got out and walked plenty. It really paid for itself after lunch and especially towards the end of the day when you are wading through crowds and everyone is running on fumes. Pure stamina is only part of the consideration too. We also thought about trying to prevent blisters since we were staying for 5 days.

We are going to Disneyland in September and probably won't get a stroller the first day and just see how they do.
 
Just wondered if your DD has Ehler d as my husband was diagnosed as an adult after years of issues!!

Yes, she was diagnosed last year before her 16th birthday with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Finally, after being sick so, so often and having all kinds of health problems.
 
I would definitely bring a stroller, we still brought a stroller and my boys were 7 & 8, they didn't ride in the stroller, but for the end of the day, it was a godsend. We are park open to park closers, and those little legs that are walking 8-10 miles a day, they get tired. We used it at the end of the day almost everyday, but typically during the day we didn't at all.
 
Last trip DD was 5 DS turned 3 while there. We took a double, so glad we did. Both had a place to get a break, both fell asleep at times. We go back in Dec they are 7 & 4 (almost 5) We will rake the double again. Our DD complains that her feet and legs hurt when waljing all day. Having grown up with feet issues I think I know what she us going through and would not wish that on any child, or adult for that matter. The stroller for us makes life easier not harder. Less grumpy kids= a more enjoyable trip.
 
Yes, but a stroller is EXTREMELY helpful with possible naps and the amount of walking
 
Can they? Yes. Would I recommend it, not really? We have 3 kids and the last time that we went our oldest was 4, almost 5. We had a stroller for the 2 younger kids and the older one hopped into it from time to time to get a break for his feet.
 












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