Cutoff age for strollers?

[laurie31]

My kids hadn't used a stroller since they were two. I thought it was way too much trouble to lug around, unfold, fold back up, etc.

I never thought of a stroller for Disney.

Until we got there.

My girls were 5 and 7. They were not small or weak. But the heat and humidity (and all the walking!) totally zapped them. We'd have ALL been miserable without the strollers. We tried it without them one day and that was enough.

Also, the rented strollers look nothing like "baby" strollers, and my kids thought nothing of being in them. They begged for them. It made our lives SO much better there. It meant DH and I could walk at a normal speed rather than at the girls' pace, and we also had a nice place to put cups and store our stuff. In fact, I was wondering where on earth we're going to keep our stuff this year, since I think at 8 and 10 they will be too old...but we shall see. I will have no problems getting one if they are miserable without it. (although I am not expecting them to need one and I won't be suggesting it).

If they don't need one, great. But there's no prizes for "toughing it out" if they do indeed need one. All you get is a whiny tired child.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Just curious at what age you wouldn't worry about having a stroller at Disney for your kids.

When we go in December, we'll have a double stroller for our 10 month old twins. My wife thinks we'll need one for our 7 year old as well. I think he should be fine without one.

What would you do?

Since you are already going to have a double stroller, wouldn't it be easier to occasionally carry one of the 10 month olds, and let the 7 year old rest, rather than lug around a double and a single stroller? Or perhaps the 7 year old could hold one of the twins in his/her lap? I would avoid the hassle of two strollers if it were me

 

[JunieJay]

My kids stopped regularly riding in strollers at about 2 - both of them hated being confined to one.

THat said, when they got to be about 4ish all the way up to about 7, they did like having a stroller for the parks for when their legs got tired. We had no problem with it. Heck, my 12 year old still wishes he could ride in a stroller, I bet.

 

[HamTown]

Since you are already going to have a double stroller, wouldn't it be easier to occasionally carry one of the 10 month olds, and let the 7 year old rest, rather than lug around a double and a single stroller? Or perhaps the 7 year old could hold one of the twins in his/her lap? I would avoid the hassle of two strollers if it were me

Yes, but you run the risk of collapsing your stroller. On our last trip, I was carrying our then 7mo DD in a Bjorn and letting our 2 and 5 yo kids ride in our double. One of the back wheels flew off the axel and crash went the stroller. We found a rock in some landscaping and used it hammer the wheel back on, but the 5 yo never rode in the stroller again. Check the weight limits on your strollers! We now have a Maclaren that all my kids can ride in and even my oldest can climb in after a long day at Busch Gardens. We will definitely be taking the Maclaren to WDW in January for the same reason.

To the OP: I am not ruling out a stroller at Epcot for my 7 yo. We're just going to play it by ear.

 

[*disgal*]

Just curious at what age you wouldn't worry about having a stroller at Disney for your kids.

When we go in December, we'll have a double stroller for our 10 month old twins. My wife thinks we'll need one for our 7 year old as well. I think he should be fine without one.

What would you do?

We are done with strollers now. (DD14, DD11, DS7) but for us it depended on a few things.

When we just had the two girls and the younger one was 4 1/2, we needed a stroller. We decided to get a double so that our 7 year old DD could ride some and if she didn't, we would have more room to store stuff. THAT was a great decision for us. Our DD's made it the whole day and they weren't toast at the end of the night.

Then, almost same thing when DS was 2 and DD was 6.........did the same thing. No regrets.

When we went last August our DS was 6 1/2 and we didn't know how he would do. Ofcourse, we didn't really want to rent the stroller........but would have if we felt he needed it. He didn't. He did fine.

Whatever your children need........it's up to you. You know them better than anyone.

I will tell you that one time we bought a 10 day stroller pass. It was a little bit of a discount. They told us that if we had any days left on it, we could get some money back. We were there for at least 10 days, I can't remember how many now, but I think we got a couple days back. Don't know if they still do this.

 

[NotUrsula]

Lots of things factor in ... your home climate is a huge part of it. Kids who are from places where there is high humidity with summer heat will normally be able to handle WDW on their feet better than kids who are from cooler/drier climates.

Another thing that matters is the family's WDW veteran status. Kids who know the place well and who are travelling with parents who know the place well tend to run on anticipation better -- no standing around discussing what they should try next, and no unexpected impatience with the concept of waiting in line, which REALLY cuts down on the opportunities for getting whiny.

DS was an old hand at the parks when he gave up his stroller just about the time he turned 6. We pretty much never do a full open-to-close day in the parks; we stay on-site, go to the first park to open, leave around noon to take it easy through the hottest part of the day, then go back into the last-to-close park at about 6 pm and stay until close. This method works well for us, so we're stickin' with it.

 

[*disgal*]

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

Kerri,

I couldn't have said it better.

 

[*disgal*]

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!

Oh, and this reminds me.........................it also depends what time of year you are going. Yes, a Nov/Dec trip is very different from June/July/Aug......I know, we've done it.

 

[JVL1018]

My kids are 5 and 7-

I *planned* on no stroller exccept for Epcot(we just came back), but the one day we went to AK, I had a tired, hot, whiny boy on myhands, and DH was sick and tired of carrying him around on his shoulders, so I went back and rented one.
We always get a double, if we get a stroller. I have no desire to be the Bickersons on vacation, which is what would happen if we got a single and they had to switch off.

While we were in AK we saw DD's friend from home and the mom teased DD about sitting in a stroller-so she didn;t sit in it the rest of the day.


At MK the next day, we met up again, along with another friend's family-that family has kids ages 7,5 and 2. they had a double stroller. Guess who was the 1st one in it? The friend from AK. LOL

We had three 7 year olds, two 5 year olds and a 2 year old, the older kids took turns in that stroller all day, the 2 year old walked for the most part.

I do walk VERY quickly though, I thought I walked at a normal pace and I was always hassling my kids for being lazy--until I had a bunch of girlfriends visiting here and we walked all over NYC from Times Square down to Canal Street, down to Battery Park--I mean miles and miles-and me and one other girl would go to talk to the rest and we'd realize they were like a half a block behind.
They were like we feel bad for your kids! LOL


This is what we heard from DS on vacation, direct quotes:

My feet hurt
My feet are asleep
I think I broke my leg
Both legs are broken
I have no energy left
My ribs are cracked
My ribs are broken
I've run out of gas



He is laaaaazzzzzzyyyyy.

 

[MosMom]

Depends on the child. My very thin (see picture) daughter (I only add that she is thin because it won't be long until someone says all older children in strollers are fat and out of shape) would get tired hitting the parks all day long and it was so much better to have her get in the stroller to take a break. She would even fall asleep for a quick nap which made the afternoons sooo much better. IMO having a stroller available if they get tired is MUCH better than hearing complaining that feet hurt. By the time she was 8 she started walking.

My son is 4 and I can tell he won't be using a stroller by our next trip. He has never enjoyed his stroller and would never nap in one. He has no desire to ride in one and is an entirely different child than his sister. We will bring it but I seriously doubt he will use it.

Deb makes a good point. I doubt you'll be going all day with 10 month old twins though so he will probably be fine. If I were you, I wouldn't bring one but you always have the option to rent if he does get really tired.

 

[KariC]

I would definately NOT take one from home for your 7 year old. You will have so much to take for the twins!!!! (Brave souls, 10 month old twins at WDW!!!!) You might end up renting one a few days for your older son, but I can't imagine how you would handle a double stroller, diaper bag (or two), two babies, a single stroller, and a 7 year old on the bus back to the resort....assuming you are staying on site. With all that stuff, you might not even get a seat on the bus, even if one of you is holding two sleeping babies!! (I'm sure there are other threads on THAT). Depending on your stroller, having the older ride with one twin might not work. I know that wouldn't have worked with either our double jogger or combi twin savvy. The weight disparity in a side-by-side might be hard to steer. (Then you're running into people...again a whole thread somewhere else!) Maybe a front-back stroller would work.....with one baby in a Bjorn type carrier?

Good luck, have fun!

 

[*disgal*]

What??????? And NOT run it by the Dis Parenting Experts first? You just can't go doing what is right for your kids without asking for permission.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Do what you think is best for you and your kids. I can't understand why some people get so upset about kids using strollers. WHO CARES! My 4.5 yr old will be in a double stroller with my 2 month old for a few reasons....

1. I walk very fast and don't want to be held up
2. In big crowds it will be easier to keep and eye on her.
3. We stay in the parks all day and night usually so this way she can nap if she wants to or rest if her little legs get tired.

 

[Aidensmom]

The last time we took a stroller to the parks was a year ago, my son was 4, and he didn't ride in it the whole time. I just used it to haul around purchases, drinks, etc.

He is 5 now, and he has more energy in the parks than my husband or I do, we are the ones that want to sit down and rest with a drink while our son just wants to move on.

 

[KirstenB]

Our older dd probably stopped using one at WDW around 4. Both dd's are very short and small for their ages.

Our 20 mth old has muscle tone issues which are pretty apparent when you see her move. I can see using a stroller as a sort of wheelchair for her until she's old enough to be embarassed.

 

[shortbun]

That's my concern.

When our son was 6.5, we did a five day trip. He had just gotten over influenza, the real deal. We rented a double stroller-the molded plastic circular kind at EPCOT. He was thrilled to ride in it and never complained about being "too big" or "not a baby." I think you play it by ear. He may like a ride toward the end of your trip. Let him know you're open to it and let him decide. People who try to push their agenda on you about just how old a child MUST be or absolutely MUST walk have too little to think about. This is your family, your vacation and your decision. Have a great time!!!!! If they made strollers big enough for me, there are times I'd love to have someone pushing me around in one, lol!

 

[2manypets]

I don't much care what total strangers think of me nor does my DD. We rented a stroller for her (and me) when she was nine. If she didn't benefit from it, I was using it to lug around my VERY heavy backpack. It came in handy, and I never regretted it.