Do I stroller or Not?

[Got Muchness]

My youngest will be six this year on our trip. I am torn about the stroller issue. She is a tiny thing. 42" to be exact. I am concerned that she will get tired of walking all day and need a stroller to help her make it through the day. However, she went on a hiking trip this past spring and hiked miles up rocks without a stroller. Should I take a stroller and just push it around in case we need it (hate dealing with those things on the bus). Or should I just rent one if needed. I've never rented one and I don't know how comfortable they are. Suggestions?

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

It sounds like she could hold her own, hiking in mountains all day...LOL I would rent one if you need it, but they are expensive to rent. My son seems to enjoy the strollers at Disney, he likes the way he can stretch out his legs in the front. The bad part is, if they do fall asleep, you need something to support their neck and head.

 

[calngavinsmom]

Hi there! You know your daughter best, but I would say to give stroller-free a try!

I have a son who is notoriously lazy.....everyone calls him "lazybones" He "needs" a piggyback quite frequently when there is someone around who will give him one.....EXCEPT at Disney World. I don't know if it the excitement or what but he has been stroller free there without complaint since he was four.

If she gets tired, you could always take a break and have a Mickey Bar or watch a show to let her recharge. There is something magical about that place though....gives my guys energy to spare!

Have fun

 

[brandylouwho]

I don't know your daughter, but at 6 mine would've been fine without a stroller (but we have a little sister, so we took a sit n stand anyway). But, we did not usually do long days in the parks. If we were going to be out quite late or all day straight, we likely would have needed a place for her to snooze.

You could take a stroller along and leave it in your room--if you have a rough day you could go back & get it or simply tough it out and know you'll need it on subsequent days.

If it isn't cost prohibitive to you, you could just rent a Disney stroller if you find there is a need. (This is the least hassle, but could get expensive if you end up needing one everyday).

I personally would go without and not let on to my daughter that a stroller is even an option. Then she'd be more likely not to need one or ask for one.

Our next trip will be our first stroller free trip with 2 kids and I am sooo looking forward to it.

 

[diamondcharl]

I would buy a cheapo umbrella stroller that easily folds up. It is better to be safe than sorry. You dont want to get halfway through the parks and have her say she is tired. The disney strollers are good too. They are not the most comfortable ones but you wont really need it for sleeping right? I always like to have a stroller just for the simple fact that I can stuff my bags and purcheses in them!

 

[gray2402]

My DD is 6 and she has not had a stroller at Disney in years!

We are planning to do Disney stroller free this year actually! My son is almost 3 (next month) and he has easily walked several miles at the zoo this summer ... (I wear a pedometer so I know the mileage). We plan to bring the umbrella stroller with us and leave it in the van just in case but I don't envision using it. We are doing DHS first so we will see how he does there and then play it by ear for MK the next day.

We are kind of 'make them walk' kind of people though. I hate having to deal with stroller parking and in and out etc etc ... so the sooner I get them out of it the better!!

Good luck!!

 

[happycamps]

We just got back from a 10-day stay. We have a 6yo son - we always bring an umbrella stroller, they are easy to leave in stroller parking areas and go back to later, if not needed. Also, when boarding the monorail, if he is asleep, he can stay asleep - you don't have to take him out of it.

We have thought about renting, but sometimes at the resort is when we've needed it the most or if we were trying to get somewhere at a quicker pace. He also loves to stay on my dh's shoulders, but on a hot, Florida day, that can get quite oppressive.

 

[Pixiedust34]

For a healthy 6 yo, I'd go w/o a stroller. Just take some breaks throughout the day so you'll have a little time to rest here and there. The breaks are just as good for the adults as they are for the kids.

 

[williamson_ja]

We have had a similar delima this time. My dd is 5 1/2 and has used a stroller for the past two trips. This time, we are attempting to go without. I am not completely taking away the possibility that she might need one in AK. It seems so hot with so much walking there. I am going to wait and see though. She walked tons over last weekend at a Mtn. Man Rendezvous that we went to with absolutely no complaining at all. Hopefully this will be the first of many trips without a stroller. I know she'll be okay at MK and HS. It's Epcot and AK that I worry about. I guess we'll see how it goes. We can always take a break and do some indoor activities if she starts to get tired. We leave tomorrow!!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I always vote to take the stroller. Better safe than sorry, it's a place for her to sit if she's tired without sidetracking your plans, and the best part (to me) is having a place to stash all of your stuff. My daughter is a really tall 5 year old (45.5") and we are doing a double stroller for her and the two year old. We brought one to Cedar Point to see if it was necessary--it definitely was. My aunt was with us and she rented one there for her 5 and 6 year olds after about half an hour when she realized they would never make it all day without one.

 

[MusiqChic99]

You could always take it with you and if after the first couple of days you think she needs a stroller, then you will have it and will save money on renting one.

The worst that can happen is you dont need it at all and wish you had left it at home. LOL

 

[jennyleettu]

I would take it as well...our last trip my DD rarely used the stroller but my 7 year old niece lived in it.

I'm not sure about the rental ones...they don't look overally comfy but I guess when you are young and tired it doesn't really matter!!

 

[whitney37354]

Our daughter is a tall five-year-old and she had no problem walking around the parks. She only complained about being tired one time in seven days, and only then because it was hot, lunch time, and we had sprinted through FW to try to get FPs for Soarin', without success. We were on our way around to the United States pavillian to get lunch at that point. DH carried her the rest of the way, they sat down while I ordered lunch, and she was fine after that. We did take a break at the hotel every afternoon, returning to the parks either after or for dinner. We were back in our rooms around 10 p.m. every night. We never had a meltdown that week!

 

[stormer]

My son is 6 and I like to bring it just in case. If he gets tired or cranky he sits and we can still go on. It is a big help late at night. If he is tires he will climb in and go to sleep while we finish up and head back.

If you decide not to use it, I would consider getting one at Epcot. There is so much walking around WS that is where I find we use it the most. We love to take our time going around the countries. It helps mom and dad tour in peace!

 

[TaraBara]

We were just at Disney last week. My sons are 7 and 4 1/2 and we had to use strollers with them. Neither have ridden in strollers at home in a couple years, but they just couldn't handle Disney. I really didn't want my 7 year old to have to ride in a stroller, but it was better than listening to him complain how tired he was all the time.

I saw plenty of kids his age and younger without strollers. If you think your child can handle it, give it a try without a stroller. I would take an umbrella stroller with you just in case though. Try your first day without a stroller and see how it goes. If she is tired, take it with you the next day.

 

[wtccheermom]

Would your daughter even want to ride in one? I know at 6 my daughter would have been horrified if I brought a stroller for her. Strollers are a huge pain in the butt and we are not planning taking one for a son who will be 3 on our next trip. IMOP if a healthy child older than 6 gets so tired that he/she needs to be in a stroller than it is time to head back to the resort for a little rest!

 

[lblume91]

On our last trip, our youngest DD was not quite 6. It was our very first completely stroller-free trip. I absolutely loved the freedom of it!!! We "trained" for WDW by taking 3-4 mile walks in the weeks leading up to the trip. She was so proud of herself for keeping up with the rest of the family & no complaining! It was, quite honestly, our best WDW trip ever.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We had a simliar delimia for our week shy of 5 yr old DS in May and I decided to take an umbrella stroller just for AK and Epcot b/c of thier size. I was dead set he was walking the other parks b/c he is a big kid now and not in a stroller ever at home. Well that plan went out the window day 1. it wasn't an issue of tired legs and needing assistance as much as it was a speed issue. He is notoriously SLLLOOOOWWWW even when he 'hurries'. Imagine the slowest 100 yr old turtle you have ever seen with a walker and look for the kid slower than him, that's our DS. He gets distracted by everything on the planet and slows down to look at it (gets this annoying habit from his father), so we had to stroller him for our sanity.

 

[indimom]

Our small son was 5 on our first trip. Did great without a stroller. My nephew was also 5 on their last trip, they ended up renting just one day at Epcot (late in the week) because he was wearing thin.
I would probably skip it and just be open to renting if it becomes an issue. If she managed hiking, I would think Disney would be a piece of cake.

 

[MickeyNicki]

My niece just turned 6 when we took her the second time...she is a little bitty thing too. She told my husband she is a big girl not a baby and she doesnt need a baby stroller. She was great, never complained, never asked to be carried, never whined at all but I will say alot of is had to do with the weather, it was very cold and the parks were dead so we didnt wait in any lines at all.