Do you think I'll need a pushchair?

[janeyb]

My DD5 has now been to WDW 4 times, this September will be her 5th. We are so used to lugging 2 pushchairs around for her and my (just turned) DD4, but she will turn 6 years old a few days before we leave. Obviously in the UK she hasn't used a pushchair for years but Disney is a whole different ball game as you know....LOTS of walking for tired little legs.

We have decided to take a pushchair for our youngest daughter but we are at a loss as to what to do for our eldest. I'd rather just take the one but am I being a little foolish?

Can anyone with the same experience let me know what you have done and how you found it? If my youngest would have been slightly older then I would have probably chanced it and hired one in the parks if I needed to but if I can avoid the cost then I'd rather.

The other option I considered was one of the buggy boards at the back for her to hop on if tired, or of course just take it MUCH slower and she can walk all the time but then again everything will take twice as long.

I was always so looking forward to getting to the stage of Disney of with no pushchairs but now I've reached it, I'm confused!!!

Any advice would be great. Thank you.

 

[Pegasus928]

Our DD was 6 the first time we went and we ended up hiring a pushchair a couple of times.
I guess a lot of it depends on whether you are spending full days in the parks or just half days. We tend to do half days so they always managed to grab a rest in the car to rejuvenate them for the next part of the day.
If I was in your position, knowing what I know and how we do the parks, I wouldn't take a push chair but buy the cheapest one Walmart do when we get there (we saw some that cost less than a 1 day hire from the park) and just take it on the days we did a full park day.

 

[torsie24]

I was going to suggest buggy board. Could work well, but could end up costing more than a cheap walmart stroller.

 

[wilma-bride]

The first time we went DS was 5 1/2 and we rented a stroller for him a few times - once at Epcot, once at Hollywood Studios and once at MK for the parade/fireworks.

Last time we went he was 6 (nearly 7) and he didn't need (or want) a stroller at all.

I think, if your DD doesn't use a stroller/pushchair here then, for the majority, she will be fine. However, I think you need to be prepared to be flexible and get one for her if she's struggling to keep up/getting tired.

 

[janeyb]

Thanks for your replies, I think I'll just take the one and buy a cheapie from Wallmart if it begins to effect the enjoyment of our holiday.

 

[T16GEM]

My dd will of just turned 5 when we go next year and we are having the same debate! Dh and I think we will take two still, but leave one in a central location so that if she decides she needs it later in the afternoon then we can grab it for her without havin to go all the way back to the parking lot.

I know that dd will struggle to keep up and will moan like mad if her legs are tired!

 

[alibeau]

Hiya!

On our last trip in Feb this year our DD's were 6 and 4. We took two strollers and we were glad we did. Sometimes we used one, sometimes two and sometimes we ended up pushing an empty one (which I thought would be a pain but wasn't!) we were just glad to have the option when they were both tired.....

Like you, neither of our girls have a stroller at home and haven't done for a long time. DD1 was adamant that she didn't need one or want one for the holiday but of course they forget how much walking we do and how tiring it can be......

We are off to Portugal in a couple of weeks and won't be taking any strollers, we return to WDW in Aug 2011 and I guess we'll have to make a decision then as to what to do, probably just take one at that point?!

HTH,

Ali

 

[amystevekai&bump]

we are taking one for our two boys to share (they will be 6 and 3) - although DS6 obviously doesn't have a stroller here now, he moans far more about walking than our (will be) 3 year old!! - he is also a red head and really suffered in the May heat last time we were there (one thing I won't miss in Dec if it is cooler!!), so I can actually picture my eldest in the pushchair more than the little one - but I don't see that as a problem - whatever works and makes the holiday more enjoyable for everyone is what I say!!!

And if there is a day where they both are struggling, then I guess we would rent one - but I suspect, DH will carry the little one if its not too hot!!

 

[mollies_mum]

Hi,
Our first trip was when DD was 6 and I never even considered a puchchair and didn't need one while we was there. We stayed onsite and only ever did part of a day in a park as we relaxed around the pool in the afternoons and then went back in the evenings for a bit. DD didn't moan that she was tired, she was just so excited and wanted to do and see everything at once! We didn't really have any late nights or really early mornings so maybe that was a factor?
I suppose it depends on your child, maybe it's best to be safer than sorry and take one or don't take one but budget for if you need to get a cheap one or hire one while you are there
Have a great time

 

[2Tiggies]

he is also a red head and really suffered in the May heat last time we were there (one thing I won't miss in Dec if it is cooler!!), so I can actually picture my eldest in the pushchair more than the little one - but I don't see that as a problem - whatever works and makes the holiday more enjoyable for everyone is what I say!!!

There are certain practicalities like the example you gave for your son that are commonly overlooked because they are not the first things you think of when a stroller comes to mind. You need to do what works for you as a family and older kids in stollers - much older than 6 - are commonplace in Disney and nobody bats an eyelid.

I had the opposite challenge. I had a 3 year old who insisted on walking everywhere and while she was pretty quick for her age, it did slow the pace down when in a bit of a hurry. She was 7 on our last trip and there were a couple of days, like the Epcot one for example, where we did a solid 12 hours and I have to say she kept up without a complaint.

You need to attend to your needs as a family. I would use hiring a stroller as a last resort if you are able to buy a cheapie though - I think the prices are ridiculous. It only takes a few days of doing this to pay off a nice new McLaren