do you use a stroller for your child in WDW?

[C.Ann]

Right now there is a rather active thread on the DB concerning the "overuse" of strollers.. It originally started out in terms of general stroller use, but has since expanded to include the WDW parks and whether or not parents are overusing them for their own convenience..

I know I've seen many, many questions on this board regarding strollers so I thought it would be a good place to try to find out just how many parents use them - and how many don't..

I'd like to post this in a poll form, but quite frankly, I don't know how to.. If someone else knows how to do it, that would be great!

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

My DD is 3. No way would I not have a stroller. We'd last only 1 hour in WDW. We went with our Niece and her two kids, 7 & 8 at the time, and by the end of the week, she rented a stroller. The kids just got to tired and cranky. I'm glad she did, it made the last few days more bearable.

 

[Prince Eric1]

We have used one both visits. We would not have a vacation ruined by overtired kids. 5 days is a long time for a kid to walk on blacktop without major burnout.

 

[slp87]

My DD last used at stroller at WDW when she was 5, just days away from sick. It really helped us in crowds and kept her from getting tired out quickly. We typically go for 10 days or more, so we always felt it was in our best interest.

 

[C.Ann]

Well if us 4 - and Dizzy4Dizney's neice - are the ONLY ones using strollers, that pretty much blows the theory on the DB about stroller traffic jams, inability to get to attractions due to the Walmart-size stroller parking lots - and what-have-you.. LOL !!

 

[Grumpy37]

Used a stoller when DS was 3.5, a very good idea.

Use a stroller again when DS turned 5 (at MK, of course!) and DD was just 3 mo old, this time for our tiny little princess and it was a definite necessity.

FWIW, unpacking and folding the stroller to take on busses, trams, etc. was a big hassle for us. Not a convenience, but a necessary evil. It's why we stayed at the Poly the next time out and why we will continue to stay most of the time at the monorail resorts.

I couldn't imagine taking a stroller if I didn't absolutely need one!

 

[wdwnutze]

Have used a stroller on our past trips and will use one again when I go in November. My youngest dd will be 5 and although she won't use it the whole time, by the end of the day she needs it. I would rather have her rest in the stroller than have a meltdown because she is too tired to walk any further.

 

[swilphil]

I use a stroller for my kids ages 1 and 3. I'm not sure at what age I will using them, but I know that my 5 yo niece even used our stroller a couple of times. I haven't read the debate thread on the topic, but I think people need to understand that it is Disney, which is definitely a family oriented place and that means strollers. Maybe Disney's rental strollers could be designed to be smaller--they do seem awfully large, or they could come up with a different plan for parking strollers. A more likely compromise would be to change the way people rent them. Many people get them early in the day at the gate, so they will have them later on. It would help if people could just get them later in the day when the kids are tired and cranky.

I disagree that parents are using the strollers for their own convenience. Having to fold up, manuever, and keep track of a stroller and its contents is anything but convenient.

 

[JesseBlue]

I didn't need one until our last day at Animal Kingdom this last trip. DD was almost 8. At that point she was exhausted from 7 days in the parks. We only used it for a few hours. I think as long as the child fits comfortably in the stroller, people should use one as long as they want.

 

[dmonroe]

We used a stroller when ds was 2 and 3; and we'll be using one for this trip when he's 4. I'm pretty sure we'll use one next year when he's 5 too!

Although he never sits in a stroller around here (trips to the mall, grocery store, etc), there is NO way I would try WDW without one! I think I read somewhere that you could easily walk 7-8 miles/day in WDW. Even if it's not that much, even 3-4 miles is too much for a little person.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Last June we brought one along for my 3.5 yr old son. At times he didn't use it & just wanted to walk with us but there were times he was tired of walking & NEEDED it

This time around, December, he will be 4 yrs old. YES, we will be bringing one. Will he use it that much? Who knows! But I would rather have it along incase he needs it then not have one & have a whiny child because his legs/feet hurt.

At home, my child rarely uses a stroller anymore. Sometimes we will bring one to the zoo if we know we are going to be there all day but over half the time he doesn't use it.

 

[CamColt]

Yep!
My youngest is 3 1/2 and he just starting to do some "long distance" walking. I will probably continue using one for him in Dec and next summer when we go back (he will be 4 1/2). Hopefully whenever we go back after that, he will be able to walk it on his own. The only time he uses it at home is when I take him for walks, which are usually about 3 miles and I try to go at a fast pace.
My oldest had the sit/stand part of the "double" carriage up until our trip when he was 4 1/2. By 5 1/2 he did fine with walking in WDW.

 

[rlduvall]

I've debated the stroller issue with myself for our 4 year old DS. We are only going for 4 nights in late September. Then, someone said the magic words: "Think how tired you are from walking all day" That was enough to get the point across. I am in good shape and a fairly young 39 and I get worn out myself. Guess what: I'll be renting a stroller.

 

[Kimberle]

Why should we, as parents, not use strollers for our "convenience"?

I wouldn't think of not taking our stroller for our 4.5 yo. I know her limits. No way could she walk around the parks the entire day.

We, as parents, know what is best for our children. Noone has the *right* to question our judgement!!

I have no idea of the other post you're refering to, but the idea of "someone" questioning my judgement of whether or not to use a stroller for my child is ridiculus!

 

[loriandmatt]

First trip - DS 5 - Used our own fold up umbrella stroller - ended up being a pain, because he constantly was in and out.

Next trip - DS was 6 - rented WDW strollers ONLY because DS just got out of a body cast and his leg tired out easily.

Every trip since we have informed him that he is old enough to hoof it. He has held up just as well (or better) and us adults. (He did ask for a stroller once, when he was 7, but that was only because his cousin was along and she was asking for one. We nipped that in the bud.) He is generally not a complainer though, especially at WDW.

Would i recomend one for most kids 5 (or 6) and under....yes. I much prefer the ones you rent at parks though.

- lori

 

[AimeeM]

When we took our first family trip to WDW in January '99, my DD's were almost 4 and 5 1/2. I didnt take a stroller and we never needed to rent one. My kids did perfectly fine, didnt complain or get cranky or tired. I was lucky. We were at the park from about 9:30am until close and sometimes we park hopped to Epcot. Good thing about going in Jan, is that the parks DO close earlier, so it wasnt bad. We also took our 'parade' break at MK by getting our spot for the afternoon parade at 2, eating lunch from Casey's at our sidewalk spot and then watched the parade. So it was like taking a break. The girls got to sit, rest, eat, get ice cream AND watch the parade from 2-3:30ish. ( we STILL do this at MK almost 5 years later!). We now have a DS who will be 2 next month. He has already been to Disney 3 times and those were the only times we took a stroller. We are going again this month for a week, and Im debating on whether to bring my own stroller to the park or just rent one. I hate having to drag that stroller on and off the bus. Its such a pain. I was planning on bringing our stroller for the airport, and using it for MNSSHP since its comfy and reclines, but only renting one for the rest of the trip. We went to Busch Gardens this year, and DS was always wanting in our friends rented stroller that was identical to WDW strollers! If I can get away with not taking a stroller AND 3 kids and bags on to the buses, I will be SOOO happy!!

 

[jenjenmouse]

Well, we went in July this year and my dd is 6. We were there for 8 days and we did not use or need a stroller. We didn't do commando style Disney. We slept in and rested when we or she was tired. We went when she was just 4 and used a stroller in every park for our 5 day trip in May of 2001. When she was 5 we went in May of 2002 and only needed a stroller in AK one day and a half a day in MGM. I love not using a stroller. It is much easier to get around. We also tried not bringing so much stuff in the parks this year and I loved not carrying a backpack.

 

[CindyAnn]

Wow! What a concept! Using a stroller to make your trip more convenient. I haven't read the exact debate in question, but I've seen many threads of that ilk. Presumably there aren't many people who set out to make their trip more INconvenient, LOL. Of course, if those people are planning to PAY for your trip, by all means let them dictate policy.

Let's see, our trips normally run 7 - 10 days, so ...

DS aged 2 - took our own stroller (and his 3 & 5yo cousins kept climbing in with him until their parents rented their own strollers on the second day)
DD aged 4 - rented a stroller every day
DD aged 5 - rented a stroller most days
DD aged 6 - rented a stroller for 1 day
DD aged 7 - trip coming up in about 100 days - no plans to rent a stroller, but I will still keep an open mind.

I know that some of the issues deal with people who use their strollers as battering rams, but presumably the very few people who are actually inclined to do that would do so with a newborn infant or a teenager. When I'm a stroller pusher, I push carefully. When I'm a potential stroller target, I try to avoid stepping directly in front of a stroller. I firmly believe that most people try to do that, and if all else fails, you apologize politely.

Don't forget - those same people who are critical of people using strollers would be the first to complain if your tired child was fussy in a restaurant.

Your trip - your call. There, that's my 2 cents.

 

[redwingsmickey]

Ever get the Daddy-MK-kinked-neck-syndrome?

We had a stroller last year for DD3. One afternoon after a nap, we decided to return to MK without the stroller. I ended up carrying her on my shoulders for about 3 hours (and probably 6 miles). The next morning, I couldn't turn my neck to the left or right. We DID bring the stroller along that morning.

 

[Rexfan]

Would my 6 year old DS fit comfortably in one of the rental strollers? He is in leg braces, has had one surgery so far, and can't walk far without pain. The thing is, that he thinks he is too old for a stroller, and I am sure he is too small for a wheelchair. He's not a very big kid and I'm hoping he'll see other kids his age in them and not be miserable from trying to keep up.