Do big kids in strollers?

[samkj]

Just wondering, do you find a lot of big kids in strollers at DLR to the extent you do at WDW?

Our kids haven't used strollers since they were 4. We are a very active family, and they are used to walking a lot. They actually do little to no complaining even going for 14-15 hours straight.

It all depends on your child. Mine are fine, but I know would would not last as long.

 

[LucyDingo]

Okay, when we went in October we saw quite a few older children in strollers and I must say....it sort of bothered me. Its one of my pet peeves. Right along with having a 4 year old in the infant seat in a grocery cart.

Before I get flamed, let me just say that I understand there are some children with certain conditions which makes it a little more difficult to endure such long periods of walking and such and I am 100% sympathetic about that.

But for a normal, otherwise healthy child? C'mon.

Some might consider me a "mean" mom, by making them hoof it. Guess what? Sit down and take a break if your tired. Its excercise, its good for ya.

To be honest, I think big kids in strollers (with certain exceptions) is part of the problem of kids not getting as much physical activity these days. A lot of kids today don't have the physical stamina kids had in the past because for various reasons, they don't have the exposure to exercise. There is no real reason why older kids shouldn't be able to walk around DL. My personal opinion is that it is best to avoid strollers. I'm not talking about toddlers, small children or special needs kids. Of course there are exceptions, too, but I am saying that overall, kids are perfectly capable of walking around DL. To me, stroller use encourages the idea that physical exertion is a bad thing. Most kids get enough sedentary time--part of the DL experience is walking! I realize it's hard when you have younger ones in your party. We've never had any of our 5 in a stroller, but we don't take them until they are 4.

When I was a kid, many eons ago, we would not have been caught dead in a stroller at age 8!! Oh, the humiliation! But my 8-year-old would probably love it if we got her a stroller

I agree with the two above posts. (I've only read the first page of this thread so far.)

To each his own...but I, personally, think it's a bit sad to see older kids in strollers. Sure, there are exceptions (kids with health problems and whatnot) but the healthy kids in strollers makes me sad. I mean, a normal, healthy child should be able to walk around Disneyland with no problem. No, they cannot go at the pace of a teenager or adult. But going at a slower pace and taking breaks and stuff really shouldn't be a problem for a healthy child. I wonder if some of the problem comes from families that tour the park 'commando' style. Because a young child really can't keep up with that.

I think seeing big kids in strollers just reminds me of how our society is filled with kids that are precious little snowflakes.

Again, if people want to put their big kids in strollers...that's their choice. But if I see it, I'll definitely be squeezing my hubby's hand so he'll look over and notice it.

I walked around WDW and Epcot for 3 or 4 days when I was 6 and managed just fine. I would have been embrassed if I was put in a stroller. My cousin was 4 at the time and she also went without a stroller and did great.

I have a niece that's 4 and I cannot imagine putting her in a stroller if she were at a theme park.

A quick question for the people that put their big kids in strollers (because I'm just curious)...do you also put them in strollers when you go other places? (The zoo, the park, the store, etc.)

I'm sorry if people may take offense to this post, but it's just my opinion. If you'd like to flame me, please do it in a PM...haha.

 

[OlMy]

... but the healthy kids in strollers makes me sad.

Just wondering. How do you know is it a healthy kid or not in a stroller before squeezing your hubby's hand?

 

[jenpace]

Again, if people want to put their big kids in strollers...that's their choice. But if I see it, I'll definitely be squeezing my hubby's hand so he'll look over and notice it.

You have no way of knowing why a bigger kid is in that stroller. I'm fairly sure that there wouldn't be any "hand squeezing" so your husband would notice someone who had more obvious health issues...at least I hope you wouldn't

Maybe you should go back and read pages 2 and 3 of this thread.

 

[cccdisney]

Just wondering. How do you know is it a healthy kid or not in a stroller before squeezing your hubby's hand?

I was going to ask the same question! As a mother of 5 yr old son with autism I can tell you he LOOKS like any other child. However, if you ask him his name (or anything else for that matter) he will stare back at you blankly. You need to be careful on passing judgment.

 

[LucyDingo]

Well, the hand squeezing takes place when I see many different things throughout the park. I do it so he'll just quickly glance at things. I'm not one to just stare at people or give them weird looks.

And you're right...I don't know when a child is healthy and when they aren't. That's why I don't draw attention to anything. The squeezing of the hubby's hand is more to say, "look, if that kid is healthy, that's craziness." If I knew they were healthy, I would probably be more likely to give a parents a quick glance.

But as I said....to each his own. If people want to wheel their healthy children around in strollers until they are 5, 10, or 20...I don't really care. They are welcome to. And I am welcome to squeeze my husbands hand when I see it.

There are some things I see in the park that I WILL glare at people for though. But big kids in strollers isn't one of them because it's not hurting me or anything else (unless I'm getting run over...haha.)

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Honestly, who the heck cares?! This thread has taken a ridiculous turn.


Who wouldn't want to rest their feet and be pushed around for a while? I know I would and I'm a fit person!

Sheesh...

 

[LucyDingo]

Honestly, who the heck cares?! This thread has taken a ridiculous turn.


Who wouldn't want to rest their feet and be pushed around for a while? I know I would and I'm a fit person!

Sheesh...

Personally, I rest my feet by sitting down at a bench. I am healthy and happy to be healthy. I'm lucky that I don't have to be in a wheel chair or anything like that. So I enjoy my health by walking around and taking breaks when needed.

 

[jenpace]

If you'd like to flame me, please do it in a PM...haha.

Again, please read the posts on the two pages you didn't read. Then maybe you would have noted that it's not a "haha" type of deal here.

It's sounds to me like maybe if there was a little less hand squeezing and judging strangers there would be more time for you to enjoy the park...

 

[Lynzer Torte]

LucyDingo likes to add her input w/out reading through the threads first (read: inexpensive meal ideas).

 

[LucyDingo]

Again, please read the posts on the two pages you didn't read. Then maybe you would have noted that it's not a "haha" type of deal here.

It's sounds to me like maybe if there was a little less hand squeezing and judging strangers there would be more time for you to enjoy the park...

I did read everything. Just not before my first post. After that I went back and read the rest of the thread.

Trust me, I enjoy the parks just fine when I go. And the hand squeezing only adds to my enjoyment. Thank you for your concern though.

 

[jenpace]

LucyDingo likes to add her input w/out reading through the threads first (read: inexpensive meal ideas).

How else could someone average over 250 posts per month?

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

I usually really love to sit and read and pore over all the posts. I, however, do not love this ridiculous thread! I kept reading, page after page, and was surprised by the content of the posts! It amazes me that anyone harbors such feelings for strollers vs not strollers and who should be allowed to ride in strollers. We are all allowed to our very personal opinions and the sharing of the opinions on this website should be done so that we are HELPING each other - I doubt the OP thought she would be getting some of these responses!

We used a stroller for our last two trips. My DD were 6 and 4 on our last trip. They didn't ride all day. We didn't strap them in and tell them they weren't allowed to exercise. But DL is a LONG day when we go - we get there before security is open and we leave after the park closes. I know my feet and legs are tired and sore after even one day - I keep going because I only have so long to soak up the magic.

I also like to be able to put them in the stroller and quickly push them to our next destination. I don't want to sit on a DL bench (as if I could find one not in use - always filled up!) for 20 minutes several times a day on their schedule.

I don't know why anyone would care if my kids sat in a stroller or not. I certainly don't care if your kids are in a stroller! Actually, I do care. When I see the poor children who are trying to stumble behind their parents leaving the park, tired and crying, limping...then I think - why didn't they just get them a stroller??

That being said - DH says we are not using a stroller on our next trip. I guess he is volunteering to go back early to the room with the kids or carry them back. Not sure which, but I wish him luck!

 

[puzzifootin]

Do what ya want, my kids aren't the ones melting down and having a rousing fit at 4:30PM because they're exhausted. I spend the extra bucks and we all have a great time, all day/night long.

 

[DizMe]

I am an older mom. I am actually grandma age even though I have young children, so my views on this are likely coming from an older perspective. For my family, strollers in DL were not needed and actually an extra burden. I view them as unnecessary in most cases when the kids are 7+. But there are so many circumstances to which I am not privy that I would not ever judge someone else for their choice. My 8-year-old is autistic and you would not know it to look at her OR talk to her. We are lucky that she does not need a stroller, but as a parent of a special-needs child I am well aware of the fact that there are circumstances that make stroller use a necessity rather than a luxury. As I said previously, I think in most cases strollers for older children are to be avoided, but there are, of course, exceptions. Additionally, I would never argue that my opinion supercedes that of someone who may disagree with it.

There are a couple of exceptions in this thread but for the most part I think that the remarks were not made to disparage anyone's choices but to offer that person's opinion regarding the OP's questions. In this and previous posts about strollers, the vast majority of posters support stroller use for older kids. However, there are opinions to the contrary and I don't think that they are any less deserving of respect, providing that they answer in the same vein.

 

[wwomant]

This week when we visited Disneyland we brought our normal Graco single stroller for our 19 month old. We weren't sure how much our 4 year old would need a stroller. So instead of bringing our double, we also brought our umbrella stroller for him just in case he needed it. It worked out perfectly. He ended up riding in it all the time, and I'm so glad we took 2 instead of taking the double. It was easier manuvering the 2 singles, and it allowed us to split up some times when DH and 4 year old wanted to go off and ride "big kid" rides that our 19 month old couldn't.

 

[perlster]

I have absolutely no comment.

 

[DangerMouse]

I have absolutely no comment.

Sigh . . . I LOVE Disneyland!

 

[jory29]

I was very concerned about taking our 4 and a half year old for the first time. I really worried about it, wondering if we should be renting a stroller for her. We had a 5 day pass, and spent almost every waking moment there until around 8:30 PM. We walked, and walked, and walked. (we had decided not to rent a stroller, and play it by ear.)

*I* suffered FAR more than she did. She was fine. Wiped out by the time she went to bed, but never complained about walking around, not once.

She was a heckuva lot stronger than I was.

Seriously, I'm not joking. I recall getting horrible blisters on the bottom of my feet and having horrible, horrible foot and knee pain. I also had shin splints after a few days in. I remember sitting down in the PotC ride, and suddenly, within a minute or two, the pain in my feet was so much that I had tears in my eyes. I will never forget that pain. I've got crohn's disease/arthritis (auto-immune disorders that can cause flare ups) so maybe that's what did me in. However, I am around a size 16-18 for clothes, and am not in very good shape to be walking around, so I should have been in better shape before walking around, standing in lines, etc. Usually it's the standing in lines that really hurts a person.

We've been there 2 more times since then, when she was 5 and a half and then almost 6 and a half, and each time she did great without a stroller. Last time we stayed further away [at the HOJO, which isn't a far walk, it was fine] and this time I had help from everyone on the boards; I took their advice and took ADVIL (ibuprofren) on a reg. basis throughout the day, and it helped *So* much!! I also rotated a couple of pairs of shoes, and I still got a couple of small blisters, BUT my legs and feet were absolutely fine! I couldn't believe the diff. taking an anti-inflammatory worked! It was awesome!

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know, OP, if your child is normally fine to walk/run and has no special needs, you likely won't need it for her. I have no problem with anyone using a stroller for any reason they see fit. Special needs or not, it's anyone's personal decision to use a stroller if they so wish to do so. I just wanted the OP to know that her concern may be for naught.

Edited to add: The 3rd trip to DL, as I said, I had no pain in my feet or knees thanks to the advil - but I had caught a horrible flu like cold the second day into the trip. ARGH!!! But Disneyland is STILL the happiest place on earth.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

Well, the hand squeezing takes place when I see many different things throughout the park. I do it so he'll just quickly glance at things. I'm not one to just stare at people or give them weird looks.

And you're right...I don't know when a child is healthy and when they aren't. That's why I don't draw attention to anything. The squeezing of the hubby's hand is more to say, "look, if that kid is healthy, that's craziness." If I knew they were healthy, I would probably be more likely to give a parents a quick glance.
But as I said....to each his own. If people want to wheel their healthy children around in strollers until they are 5, 10, or 20...I don't really care. They are welcome to. And I am welcome to squeeze my husbands hand when I see it.

There are some things I see in the park that I WILL glare at people for though. But big kids in strollers isn't one of them because it's not hurting me or anything else (unless I'm getting run over...haha.)

Wow that is sad.
What is even sadder is that people care what others do. Maybe just maybe if everyone worried about what they where doing and not what anyone else was doing you could enjoy your trip more.
If you do not have kids you should in no way shape or form judge what others do with their children.