Do you use a stroller for your 4 year old?

[Tiffanie]

Travelling in Feb 2006 with our DS, who will be 4 1/2, and older DS who will be 8. Hoping to not need a stroller for the 4 year old. What are your experiences with a child that age in Disney and needing a stroller. We are willing to rent if we need to, but don't want to have to bring one from home, hoping we won't use it all the time. Would love to hear your stories of how your little ones did at that age.

Thanks in advance!

 

[girlsma]

I think it depends on the child... We have gotten one for our daughter when she was almost 4 and just this past week when she turned 5... She is not lazy, but just easier on her and us. We did not have to hear "I'm tired of walking" and we could move faster with her in a stroller...

By the way, we rented! I think thier strollers are great, except for infants!

Have fun...

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

Absolutlely!!!

 

[mommystieg]

DD#2 will be 5 this trip and we plan on putting her in a stroller. That's a lot of walking for little legs and she doesn't mind riding in one.

 

[WorldlyWise]

You will absolutely be glad you got a stroller. Even if the kids will only sit for short periods it is critical for getting from point A to B and (maybe more importantly) you can always dump your extra stuff in it.

 

[F1Julie]

I'd say get the stroller. You will get around much faster. My DD4 used one on our last trip. It would have taken twice as long to get around if she was walking. And I did not want to have her asking me to carry her when she got tired.

 

[Tiffanie]

Thanks for all the responses. I think we will rent when we get to the parks. If we get a double, the 8 year old can ride sometimes too, as I am sure his legs will get tired as well.

Appreciate your input!

 

[loveBond]

how much is it to rent one @ the parks for the day??

Thanks,
V-

 

[clori]

We went the first week of February last year with dd who was 3 years 8 months. The weather was nice but not overly hot/humid with shorter park hours and low crowds. We were at the parks were early opening to closing each day. DD hasn't napped since 18 months and never did on vacation either. We did not bring a stroller figuring we would rent as needed. We only rented a stroller once the entire 5 day trip and that was out of convenience for parents. We used it to get from Epcot main entrance to lunch at Germany though dd would have preferred to walk as she did the remainder of the time. Honestly we found the trip much simpler without a stroller. Dh and I each carried a fanny pack with water bottle holder so maybe we travel around disney lighter than average. At home I don't have a car (mostly take local busses) so dd is used to walking and can easily walk a mile to a decent playground etc) so I think that helped. If dd ever needed the stroller we would not have hesitated but other than not leaving much time to get to our ps dd never once wanted a stroller and walked everywhere. At that time dd was around 30lbs so that holding her for short periods was feasible if needed. When dd was 2years 8 months we took a stroller and used it to push water bottles most of the time. BAsically on this board is seems like most kids use a stroller irl I would see what works for your child. I never had a cranked, whiny child the entire trip.

 

[seetheworld]

I think it depends on the child. My DD used one at 4 - it's a lot of walking for their little legs. As a matter of fact, I went shopping last week to a mall with my friend who has a very active 4 y/o DS & he even got tired just walking around the mall and she was wishing she had a stroller. I think at 4, it would be a great thing to have. HTH

 

[girlsma]

lovebond - $8 per day to rent a single.. when you turn the stroller back in you will be $1 dinsey dollar back..

 

[mjmcca]

OK i have posted this a few times.Last trip i took a bunch of little kids to the parks on 2 occasions and then once to DTD on Halloween night,mine DD 2 and DS4 and the kids of a close friend (a boy 5 and a girl who was about to turn 3) who lives in Florida. Before the first time in the park I asked their father if they biy rode ina stroller. I was told no he wont want one. Well I tried to keep the 2 girls in my double stroller the boys werent happy with that.The first night was the MNSSHP so i didnt ahve to pay for a rental. When we were at DTD they all fought over who was riding in the one double i did have.


My point is a child who will normally not ride in a stroller may need one at Disney. It is very tiring for them. My DS always riodes inthe stroller cause i take it all the time since his sister is so much younger than him. If i took a single they would fight over it.

 

[christinadei]

We went last year for DS's 4th birthday and he did fine without one. I say don't bring one and feel it out. If at the end of the day he starts getting tired, rent one.

 

[ms.ojo]

We went w/ Ds 4 and dd 1. Was concerned he wouldn't fit into an umbrella stroller but he did and LOVED having it. It is a LOT of walking! And in the morning, when you're making a mad dash to a certain ride, or at the end of the day, when you're leaving the park...it is a GODSEND. Not to mention at parades....or anytime your child just wants to chill for a bit. At 4, he wasn't using a stroller at home at all, but at disney....he was thrilled.

This next trip he will be 5.5 and dd will be 2.5. We know we're bringing one for her...and I don't think he'll fit in the umbrella. My concern is if I rent...dd will probably want to sit in the rental w/ her brother....but then, at the end of the day, we won't have a stroller to take out of the parks. Waiting in those bus lines it's nice to have a place for the young ones to sit. And then it's SO much easier to stroll back to the room then carry them and your stuff. So, I'm just hoping he can somehow fit in the umbrella one and we won't need to rent. The stroller we use for dd is a collapsable one easy for the buses, but unlike a true umbrella, it has a basket underneath which is SO handy. I really love that stroller.

 

[jtdl]

Yes, if you're like my family you will be walking for 8 or more hours every day. A 4 year old is not going to be able to keep up. When DD was 4 we rented one at the parks and I still remember having to carry her from the stroller drop off at Epcot to the bus stop for ASMu because she was so tired and it almost killed me, cause I was so tired! Then getting back to the resort we had to walk/carry her for another 20 minutes to get to our room. DS is now a very active 3.5 year old and I went out and bought a mall walker stroller to take so that we don't have to worry about carrying him after dropping off the rental. Another good thing is the storage basket on strollers - good for carrying little coolers with drinks and snacks!

 

[Carrie772]

I get a double stroller from the park and put my 4 yo and my 8 yo in it. My big boy hangs out the front but it is great because the kids don't wander off, they get to rest and we can go faster!

 

[Tiffanie]

Carrie772 - that is exactly what I am thinking I will do. Easier than bringing my own and I can just rent for both the boys. I don't think there is a double stroller - or any stroller for that matter - that is made to hold the weight of an 8 year old. Disney's strollers seem very durable and able to hold much more weight than any that can be bought.

 

[PaulDavid's mom]

We are planning on going in May 2006 and our son will be just about 4 1/2 and from everything I've read on these boards, and knowing how my son reacts to certain things, we will DEFENITELY be renting a stroller!! He has a lot of energy, but not enough to walk through an entire park!

 

[Carrie772]

And he will be happy. I love how the kids can get in and out on their own without my having to lift them up and out all the time.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Here's another vote for the strollers! My sons were 4 and 7 for our last visit and they each had their own umbrella stroller. Yes, the legs were kind of long for the simple stroller, but boy was it worth it! We are planning another trip for this summer and again will bring the strollers. Also - they are great if one of the children ends up not feeling well that day - we have encountered both the flu and strep on our Disney trips.