Cutoff age for strollers?

[Toby'sFriend]

my personal experience is 5yo --- 6yo MAX unless there are complicating factors.

IMHO, if an otherwise healthy and normal 7 year old needs a stroller to make it through the vacation, then the adults present need to slow the vacation down.

 

[boomhauer]

1) if staying onsite, go back to your resort. Have a nap, take a swim, return to the park.

- Leave the park? That's blasphimy to me.

Yeah, guess I'll have to get used to that with 2 babies in tow from now on.

 

[VolleyballQt07]

This can be a very heated topic believe it or not. I personally would consider renting one just for Epcot-since it is soo spread out.
I probably would not do one for the other parks. You know your child best however. I would not want a miserable whinning child just to make a point.

I agree. I don't know about your 7 year old but my 6yr brother and 8yr sister get so worn out at WDW, we rent them a stroller to take a nap in.

I would say don't rent one the mintue you walk into the gates but if he gets tired throughout the day, it wouldn't hurt for him to relax or take a little nap.

But its your call!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

- Leave the park? That's blasphimy to me.

Yeah, guess I'll have to get used to that with 2 babies in tow from now on.

Yeah, I would hope so.

 

[Christine]

- Leave the park? That's blasphimy to me.

Yeah, guess I'll have to get used to that with 2 babies in tow from now on.

I feel your pain!!!

I am not one to leave the park either. Can't stand it!!

Back when my DD was 4, we tried the whole "leaving the park thing" so she could take a nap. She was tired, for sure, but was having NONE of it. Screamed to go in the pool. We were better off staying at the park and just leaving around dinner time and not going back. I find it incredibly burdensom to leave, go to the hotel, and then come back. But that's just me.

 

[KerriSue]

The last time at Disney I rented a double stroller for my kids (then 4 & 7). It was sooooo hot that they just pooped out, a lot!!

If your kid is tired and can fit in the buggy--go for it. Who cares what everyone else thinks. Life is to short to worry about everyone and their opinions. At the end of the day it is you who has to deal with your children. So, do what you think is best.

Have fun!
Kerri

 

[KimR]

I think it depends on the kid. My middle DD went strong from morning to night with no stroller at 5 years old and still had energy to spare. However, we are renting one for our youngest this year and she is 6. She just doesn't have the stamina to last all day and none of us like to leave the park for breaks. So, for us, it's easier on all of us to rent a stroller for her. She may not always be riding in it, but it's there if she needs it. I also like having a place to store all our gear - makeup, sunscreen, mister fans, etc. Furthermore, it's much easier to keep up with her in large crowds when she's in the stroller.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Last year, we rented a double stroller one or two days we were there so our 5 1/2 year old could ride here and there along with his 1 year old brother.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Child gets tired:

1) if staying onsite, go back to your resort. Have a nap, take a swim, return to the park.

2) if staying offsite, simple: find a bench and sit down awhile. Enjoy a cold drink, rest awhile, move on. No stroller needed.

3) Ride the WDW RR and the kid can nap.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

3) Ride the WDW RR and the kid can nap.

That, too!

 

[oxfordcircus]

Last year, we rented a double stroller one or two days we were there so our 5 1/2 year old could ride here and there along with his 1 year old brother.

Good advice. We did this last year. Our 6 year old and 4 year old split time while the 2 year old rode. We even put our 37 year old in there for a few minutes.

 

[mrsv98]

When we were there in Jan of '06, DD was 5.5yo and we got one. We like to go for the whole day and frankly, it is well worth the cost for me to avoid a tired whiny child.

This Jan I took DD for one day. We were there all day, from open to close, with no stroller. DD did just fine and I believe that is the end of the strollers. Now, we go in cool weather, generally Nov-Dec or Jan and that helps a lot. Our next trip is Nov. 08 and I am sure DD won't need one at that point. DH is another story!

 

[VolleyballQt07]

3) Ride the WDW RR and the kid can nap.

Or go into the Hall of Presidents. Comfy seats, air conditioning. What could be better?

 

[sietzsounds]

going in August with all my kids in tow, the youngest being 4 yrs old.... no way he's getting a stroller.... when we went last year in August he was 3, i think we may have rented strollers for 2 or 3 of the days.....

Matt

 

[mickeyfan2]

Or go into the Hall of Presidents. Comfy seats, air conditioning. What could be better?

Thats #4.

There are many places for kid to nap and not leave the park.

 

[SallyfromDE]

I took my neice and nephew, from the time they 4. I used a stroller until they were 7 and they walked at 8. But the year they were 7, I had one stroller for them to switch off on. Jamie whined the whole time he had to walk. You'd never know how athletic he is by the way he cried how his legs hurt. He had to stop at every bench we passed to sit down. I am debating what to do this year. DN is 6. I want to try and go without a stroller, but she's a whiner to.

 

[MareQ]

Do what works best for you and your child.

Us- we rent strollers - and my kids GLADLY sit in them. Yup - last visit they were 8, 5 and 2. Don't care what other people think - I know my oldest child's limitations and I know his issues. Nobdoy else does.

We do what works for us - it has no ill effect on anybody else - so you do what works for you. If your child will need a stroller and will sit in one - then get one.

 

[ZachnElli]

We cut off for strollers at WDW at 4-5 years. We had to buy one for DD at 4 1/2 because she broke her foot a few weeks before we left. But next trip, she was 5 and didn't need one, didn't complain and she is not athletic at all. And we go in July or August. We went last August when she was 7 and never even thought of getting her a stroller once.

 

[Florida_Mom]

We've mostly stopped renting the stroller. However, if we are going to be doing EMH at night or MVMCP or something like that, then yes, we definitely get the stroller. The 6 year old goes and goes and goes and then just drops at like 11 at night. He can sleep in the stroller while the rest of us continue onward!

 

[ugadog99]

Not getting a stroller for my seven year old was probably the biggest mistake I made on our first trip. In retrospect, I would never do it again. She just got so tired after so much walking. It would have been a great idea to have the stroller, but I thought she was too old.