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

[ABE4DISNEY]

A stroller is actually great to have in a park. A place to store all your stuff. I miss it.

 

[caroline1851]

I took my kids when they were 2 and 6 and never rented a stroller with the exception of Epcot day. DD2 walked the whole time, only needed carrying when we were headed to the buses to leave. On the other hand, i took them back when they were 5 and 9 and DD5 needed a stroller EVERY single day. Go with what your dh wants and if it doesn't work out, you can always rent one.

 

[WhispyPixie]

Let him carry him and have the back up for day 2..haha

I loved our stroller...it was fantastic for when one of the kids needed a nap. I wouldn't have wanted to carry around a child that was asleep. Like trying to juggle a sack of potatoes in a crowd!

 

[jo-jo]

For the "dad carrying kid" days I'd still have a cheap umbrella stroller. Following the advise of others, park in one spot, use it to carry stuff, too hot and sticky, etc. What if it rains, carrying child in wrapped in poncho? I'd also want a stroller for snack time. It was so much easier to put a sippy cup and food on a stroller tray than wait for him to finish eating.

But are you driving or flying? I'd want a stroller to keep the 2 yr contained in the airport. They may be able to handle the airport walk but most 2 yrs old can run away in a flash.

 

[bwang123]

I had a 2 and 5 year old and a single stroller. What happened was that when one was in the stroller the other wanted to be held. After alternating them while walking through a hot day in Epcot my feet and lower back started feeling it. Next time we went, double stroller.

 

[jenrose66]

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.

We went to Disney in August 2012 with an 18 month old, a 3 year old, and a 6 year old. We brought nothing but an umbrella stroller. We did ok most of the time but there were a few times that DH was pushing the stroller and had a 6 year old on his back while I was piggybacking the 3 year old. I think if you want to leave the stroller it's not a huge deal.

 

[Crystal824]

I would not go into any Disney park with a two year old without a stroller. Not only is the stroller great for the kid to sit, it is a place to store all the stuff you need to bring with you when you have little kids. (snacks, extra clothes, sun glasses, sunscreen, water, etc. ,etc.)

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We started doing Disney strollerless when DD hit 5. So I think your 5 and 6 year old will be fine but no way would I go without a stroller for a 2 year old.

If he wants to let him but the moment he expects you to carry the toddler or the diaper bag I would be renting a stroller on the spot.

 

[richmo]

I always wanted to have a stroller around with young kids, to carry all the associated junk, if nothing else.

 

[Nancyg56]

FWIW, AK is a very large and HOT park (not a lot of shade) with a lot of walking.

Yes, this is the park I would want it!

 

[Magpie]

I'm a HUGE believer in strollers
Therefore, there is no way that I would go to WDW w/o one (or anywhere else all day with large crowds)
They are a place to make sure your child is safe, somewhere they can easily take a nap, somewhere they can entertain themselves with a toy or snack, somewhere you can put your diaper bag, somewhere they can stay out of the sun, somewhere they can keep their blanket/stuffed animal or whatever and I can go on and on and on and on.
When my kids were little I had to remind myself - it's not about what's best for me, it's about what's best for them

Funny... I had the same thought, "it's not about what's best for me, it's about what's best for them" when I was a non-stroller-using younger mum. I didn't like strollers at all. I wanted my kids to engage actively in the world, not just witness it going by while being passively pushed around. I felt completely confident in my ability to make sure my kids were safe, and they had no trouble napping in hip carrier or on my back. I was really passionate about this. My kids were strong and powerful and independent and could walk on their own two feet, rawr!

Then I got pregnant, had a scare, and the doctor told me I couldn't lift anything over 5 lbs.

Whoops.

So, we got a stroller. It wasn't best for the kid. In fact, the kid hated it with a fiery passion, and would scream bloody murder when we strapped her into it. I'd be pushing her, shrieking and wailing, down the sidewalk as she tried to grab lamp posts and people's legs to pull herself out. But it WAS best for me. Especially if I wanted to carry my pregnancy to term (which I did).

Anyway, I've since mellowed on the stroller issue.

Strollers are sometimes VERY necessary. Sometimes they're best for the child, sometimes they're best for the parents. Strollers are sometimes harmful, when they're used to excess (and the child never gets a chance to walk or explore), or used for lazy or selfish reasons (ie, so you don't have to interact with the child, or as a substitute for discipline). Disney is a perfectly legitimate venue for strollers!

In the OP's case, I would suggest visiting a local park or hiking trail with the whole family and see how their youngest manages walking all day and see how Dad manages with the carrying. With regards to the parks: Older kids can carry some of their own gear in small backpacks (and probably should - it's good to give them responsibility for their own stuff). Parking a small folding stroller centrally and only using it if necessary works. A child back carrier or sling might be a good compromise, as well. Just - whatever Dad decides - support your partner and don't fall into the trap of standing back and anticipating his failure, so you can gloat about it. No one wins, when we get into that headspace. (And goodness knows, I've been there!)

 

[luvmy2babies]

If it is hot, and it will be then, he and the little one are going to get tired of having a heating pad next to them, which is essentially what they will be to each other. And AK tends to be about 10 degrees warmer than the other three parks at any given time. We always have shorter days at AK either leaving around 2 or right after the parade when they had it. But this was ds at the end of a short day on our last trip there (age 4). I guess the rain storm made him sleepy who knows.

 

[mummabear]

We inadvertently did this at San Diego Zoo (it was our first day after the flight and had taken the stroller but forgot that the pins to attach the wheels to the stroller were still in the suitcase at the hotel, we looked at their strollers to rent but were not suitable for a 6 month old, a 2 year old and a 4 year old-thank god we had our front pack.)
The girls did really really well and walked way more of it than I eve thought they could have, a few turns on our shoulders but it did really wear them out.
I would not do it by choice, I dint think a stroller is that much hassle (except having to fold it for the monorail etc), in fact I dread the day we decide they are all too big and we have to back carry all our other stuff

I agree with the others that you take it in and park it somewhere to be able to fetch it if you need it, or if he doesnt want to do that then an in park hire is what $15 if it all turns to custard.
I do think that sometimes we have to let the other parent try it their way to either see why it doesnt work or you never know maybe it will and you will end up thinking it was a great idea (as unlikely as that is)

 

[Happitoo]

Let him do it.

I did the same thing with my 3 year old. After 1 day I couldn't lift my left arm. It was a stupid choice, but it was a stupid choice I had to learn myself. Rented a stroller for the rest of the trip and for the trip after that. Hopefully this time, now that she's 7 she'll be fine walking.

 

[JZCubed]

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.

Well, this Thread has some legs......

I know children as old as 8 that prefer a stroller to walking at Disney.

Smart children know they can cover more ground and see more things if they walk less, and sit in a stroller more.

And have your husband carry the toddler to/from the grocery store and the shopping mall for a day to test out his theory. One more thing on that note, when husband gets tired carrying the toddler, ask him, "Then what?" If the 5 & 6 y.o. want a roller coaster and drag daddy along, mommy gets to hold the toddler while the rest of the family is screaming with joy on Splash Mountain?

There is a reason Disney can get away with charging a vast daily sum for using on of their strollers - people would pay far more to eliminate an inconvenience.

The crankiest member of this group will the person carrying a child for hours on end.

Yes, as previous post have pointed out, your husband is a grown-up and can make his own decisions. But that does not mean a spouse is not capable of attempting to change that decision when it is wrong.

 

[tlmadden73]

I can't imagine a 2 year old there without a stroller.
As people said above .. store stuff .. kid can nap ..

And ..heck .. I think a stroller is better in the "smaller" parks anyway with theoretically less people and more room to "stroll"

 

[tstottle]

What is his objection to the stroller? Getting it off and on trams/busses? Or getting the child in and out of it all day and parking it at the rides? If it is the former, I would recommend in-park rental of the Disney strollers (and you might as well get a double). You won't have to deal with it on the trams and busses, you can carry the 2 YO then. You just take your label to the next park and pick up a stroller there. If it is the getting the child in/out hassle, or parking the stroller at the rides, yes that can be an issue. You can manage it by parking it for part of the day somewhere central as previously suggested. You just have to weigh the in/out/parking against the advantages (naps, shade, holder for your stuff). It's pretty unanimous here...STROLLER...but maybe dig a little deeper to find out his true objection and see if you can solve that and have a stroller. Or, how is he about carrying through with promises such as the one that he will do all of the carrying? If you think he (and the child) will follow through with it, then sure, give it a try. If you think you will end up being "the bad guy" if you say "too bad" when they both are tired of the dad carry child plan, then communicate that to your husband. You can always rent one in park if it turns out really badly!

 

[madelyn]

I have 3 kids and we just took our first strollerless trip. Our kids are 16, 13 and 8! Last trip when my daughter was 5 we took a stroller and had a combo of either a single, double or 2 singles for every trip with a child before that. I was afraid not to have a stroller since I wouldn't have a place to stash water bottles and jackets. We had to make every one carry their own stuff and for the most part they did except for my 8 year old who when she was tired would ask us to hold her backpack. So I couldn't imagine being w/out a stroller w/ kids your ages! But I know some families do go without so it is possible and every family is different.

 

[DYOBL0305]

We used the double city mini stroller on our trip this past Aug, looking back I know dh and I would have regretted not taking it with us, even on days where we spent only half a day at the parks. It made it easy for our kids (1, 3, and 6 at the time) to take breaks from all the walking, take naps, and it was honestly not difficult to get around with it. Let him try it out without it, it's doable without a stroller I think, it just doesn't work for everyone.

 

[HFC1969]

He is crazy!!!