DH says he'd rather carry toddler than deal w stroller. Let him?

[rpb718]

Since you are still 40 or so days out, DH can try it out now to see how it feels. Have him spend Easter doing it.

 

[Timshar2]

We had our granddaughter with us last Christmas when she was 4 and She is tall so I thought she could handle walking. She was fine for the first 3 days then on day 4 meltdown and she cried on and off most of the day. Once we got a stroller she calmed down and was fine for the rest of the trip. We were just there a few weeks ago, she is 5 now , and I did not get a stroller but on day 3 she asked if we could get a stroller one hot day and she fell asleep in it almost right away. So for us strollers helped a ton.

 

[alvernon90]

Is it horrible for me to say that the stroller is for me as well as my child?? I know I can do the resort delivery, but most of the time, my daughters like to have their stuff animals, lights, water spray/fan with them. I used the stroller for my storage and to take my baby around.

I won't say that it is "horrible" but I will note the irony that Disney would not allow somebody to bring, say, a shopping cart to the parks to tote around their belongings, but they will allow gigantic strollers that are clearly being used as much for possessions as for children.

 

[sandydog]

As a dad myself, I'd say he's nuts. Strollers are not that big of deal and they can carry kids and extra stuff like water, food and all the stuff little ones require. If he wants to carry it all, let him but I'd tell him no whining when he's tired of carting a 2-year old all day.

 

[bucky1023]

He does realize that it could be as hot as 90 degrees during your stay?

 

[bizzybee3]

My husband had that idea also for one of our park visits. He said our 3-year old did not need a stroller. Worst. Day. Ever....we left the park after a couple of hours at most. I did not feel bad for him, but I did for our daughter; she was miserable.

 

[prudence64]

Try it and rent one if it doesn't work out

 

[DudeOfDiz]

Our experience was to always rent the Disney double stroller for our daughter until she was about 7. We would do 10-12 hour stints, arriving in the early afternoon and staying for extra magic hours until closing at midnight or 2am. We'd do the double to carry the backpack with the heavy water bottles and snacks, and diapers etc when she was younger. It provides a great opportunity for the kids to rest between attractions and drink juice/water, snack etc. The only times I found managing a stroller challenging was if we were caught near the parades. Apart from that, as many posters have mentioned, there are too many positives in having a stroller, and different ways to manage by strategic parking locations. Even for your "shorter" days, 6 hours is a long time to handle/carry a 2 year old in hot and possibly wet weather. For me, the potential negatives of not having the stroller would quickly erode the pleasure factor for the child and me (the dad doing the carrying). Whatever you guys decide, I hope you have a great time! With that, if you do decide to forgoe the stroller, I'd be curious to know how it worked out, so please let us know post trip.

 

[SillySallySews]

A few years ago we took a trip to Disney right after my husband returned from being overseas for a year. Our youngest daughter was EXTREMELY clingy to her Daddy for awhile after he got home and refused to walk or sit in her stroller almost the entire trip. She just wanted Daddy to carry her. Our daughter is also pretty small for her age (she was two at the time) and my husband is a pretty fit guy, but he was dying! It was an end of May/beginning of June trip and crazy hot and humid. He carried her around the entire WS, only putting her down twice when she did M&G with Belle and Aurora. My husband swore off Epcot for the next two trips after that lol... To the OP, I don't think your husband entirely realizes what he's getting himself into.

 

[newdeal]

May is a pretty hot month in Florida. Your husband is going to be sweating his balls off carrying a child of any age around the park without a stroller. We did it with like a 4 month old when our first daughter was 4 months, not because we didn't have the stroller but just because she would scream like murder if we didn't carry her the whole time. It was hot, sweaty and miserable, I remember carrying her from Futureworld to Teppan Edo and I thought I was going to die

 

[smiths02]

I have to add that we had a stroller, but it ended up being a pain with my turning 3 year old. He ended up walking or being carried. However, we had 3 adults capable of carrying him and one kid.
Are your 5 and 6 year old capable of walking for several hours AND carrying their own stuff.

 

[CMNJ]

Having recently traveled with a 2.5 year old I'd HIGHLY recommend bringing the stroller every day even if you just park it somewhere convenient in the area of the park you are touring-we did this quite a bit in MK-it is a pain to have to carry on the bus but it can be a long walk from the back of a park carrying an exhausted 2 year old-our son fell asleep literally steps from lights motor action show after only being at DHS for 1/2 day-he NEVER naps in his stroller but was just so exhausted from the trip (day 4 of our vacation). We were very thankful to have the stroller that day-we had decided to skip it the morning of day 2 at MK (because our son spent such little time in it the whole first day) and regretted it halfway through the morning when our son started to get tired and wanted to be held/carried everywhere. As others have pointed out AK is a large park so there is a lot of walking there (DHS is smaller-we just happened to be at the VERY back when our son passed out)

 

[starsweeper]

I'm at WDW now with 4 kids (8, 8, 4 & 3) by myself, so I have a double for the little ones. The stroller is useful for carrying a lot of things besides the kids, so I'd never agree to that. It's very crowded and we've handled the stroller fine in the parks. We're taking taxis to the parks so no folding a stroller and dealing with buses removes most of the fuss.

 

[senadler]

In the heat I think it is more comfortable for your little one to be in the shade of a stroller over being carried anyway. I also find that my DS5 still naps in his stroller, even on a shorter park day. They definitely tire out more quickly than at home, and carrying around a napping child is even more difficult.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Take......the.......stroller.

 

[SplashMo]

We are 40 days out from our week long trip with our 2, 5 and 6 year old children. We rented a City Mini double for the week but DH is saying he only wants to use it on our long days (MK and EP). He thinks it will be super annoying and not worth it on our shorter days at HS and AK. We are planning to be there 9-2 or so. Our two year old is super small and DH is fit, should I agree to no stroller or is that a mistake?

We have both been to all parks so we do know how big they actually are.

AK is a good park for a stroller because of the heat and large distances to walk. A double stroller rental seems perfect and I imagine the six year old will want to sit in the stroller at times...

 

[bloomjes]

We brought the stroller when DD was about that age and quite honestly she did spend most time on DH's shoulders, she could see better, he was fine carrying her however, we used the stroller for the backpack and when she was ready to nap. I suspect you will all be happier if you have it parked in a stroller area like some have suggested so if you need it, its there. Or is there an option for a single for those days? Even an umbrella stroller?

 

[ammag]

If for nothing else, the stroller helps to give you a place to put all the kid stuff! I've never carried a bag at WDW since my kids are little and we've had the stroller. Also both my kids used it to nap during the day...invaluable for happy family time!

 

[tjmw2727]

Take the stroller - but talk it out with your DH of course, with 3 kids you have so many reasons to want/need one!

It isn't just about the baby as the older kids could have blisters tired feet, unexpected naps or an upset belly, time out, cranky baby.....
The stroller can hold the diaper bag and a small cooler with frozen water bottles/juice bags and healthy snacks for everyone.

Add to that parade and fireworks seating where you can be sure at least the baby is strapped in and you have a place for everyone when maneuvering through crowds.

The prior advice to park the stroller in a land and tour is what we did.

Have fun!

 

[charmed59]

I am with your husband. I found strollers to be a bigger pain packing onto buses and trams than they were a help once we got there. And I never had a double stroller.

However, since you still have a double stroller I'm wondering if your older children are also stroller children. If so, you might have to bring the stroller.

If you do go without the stoller remember, go at the kids pace. If you didn't bring a place for them to rest don't make them power walk along side to keep up. I found if you tour at your toddler's pace you may not get as far, but the kids won't melt down either.