Does a 4 1/2 year old need a stroller at WDW?

[Mama22Girls]

I was planning on buying a new stroller (nice, compactable one) for my youngest who will be 23 months when we go to WDW, but I wasn't thinking that my 4 1/2 yr old will need one, but I've read some posts about people's 4-6 year olds using strollers and I'm thinking, will my 4 1/2 yr old want to sit in one too? I just was thinking she'd walk but maybe I'm not being realistic. We are staying on the monorail line and wanted one that we can easily fold up for the almost 2 year old, but should I be buying a double instead? Any advice?

 

[RMulieri]

It depends on your child.My 4 yr old ( now 5) had no problems walking 10 hrs in the parks, and actually kept up a great pace.She would never have wanted a stroller.But there are kids that would definitely not be able to keep that pace up.If you still routinely use one at home,I would say yes.But you know your child best.

 

[KNJWDW]

We were in Disney this past June and took along a Maclaren for our 4 year old. We were really glad that we had it. There is just so much walking and those little legs can only take so much. Plus, we didn't need to worry about keeping track of him in the crowds, etc. The year before when our youngest was 3 and oldest was 6, we took along a sit and stand stroller and that worked out great. You may also want to consider that. We had one by BabyTrend and it folded up fine for the buses, etc.

 

[mommatoccm]

There really is a lot of walking, especially at Epcot. Without a stroller, I think you will need more breaks. My 4 year old would never make it w/o one, but she doesn't even like to go to the mall without her stroller. Last year, she (3 then) and older dd (almost 5 then) still used strollers quite a bit. I'll be taking a double for them in January even though older dd will be turning 6.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Our DD was almost 5 on our last trip. We brought the stroller "just in case" and definately needed it. If only to avoid meltdowns when she got overtired...it was definately worth it.

 

[Aliceacc]

My 5 year old daughter hasn't used a stroller in years.

But she gave it quite a workout last summer!!! I bought a new one for the trip, knowing my niece would inherit it shortly thereafter. (Her daughter is disabled, and at some point will need a stroller for a larger child.)

 

[Mama22Girls]

Thanks, I will take that all under consideration. We are going in September and I'm not sure but I think it's not that crowded then. I already have a Sit n Stand that I use only when I'm shopping by myself with both of them, but the oldest usually just walks next to me. Maybe just buy one new stroller and also take our cheap umbrella stroller too.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks, I will take that all under consideration. We are going in September and I'm not sure but I think it's not that crowded then. I already have a Sit n Stand that I use only when I'm shopping by myself with both of them, but the oldest usually just walks next to me. Maybe just buy one new stroller and also take our cheap umbrella stroller too.

We go every Sept...you are right that it's not that crowded but the crowds have little effect on needing a stroller. Oh and if you are going in Sept don't forget to get your tickets for MNSSHP when they go on sale. It's well worth every penny!

 

[all4fun]

I actually respectfully disagree with the pp about crowds not impacting the need for a stroller. IMO a stroller can be a wonderful place to keep younger kids safely by your side when in really crowded situations (like the crush after a parade breaks up, or when the fireworks end, or when leaving the park with everyone else who stayed late). JMHO though.

We just got back from a 10 day trip to WDW with my 5yr old who is the avg size of a 6-7 yr old (tall and slender) and he complains that his feet hurt after taking about 10 steps (ok I'm exaggerating a little bit but it really doesn't take long for the whining to commence. LOL). So a stroller on this trip was a must-have and all of us would have probably been miserable without it. Would I love it if he would have walked? Yes! But I knew it wasn't realistic to expect that of him just yet. (We did encourage him to walk more on this trip, though!). Since we are not going back to WDW in 2009, we left the stroller behind (It was not in the greatest shape any more, and he was outgrowing it anyway). He was actually upset about that, LOL. Our next trip is to DL-Cali and we will not be taking a stroller and will just rent one if needed.

 

[PanandCindy'smom]

We just took a trip this month and we had a double for our 3y.o. and 5y.o. The 5 y.o. never uses a stroller at home anymore, but he was more than cooperative about it at Disney. It was a nice place for them to sit waiting for parades and fireworks as well as being wonderful to have in the airports. I did like knowing right where they both were when we were in crowds too. I think the biggest perk was getting back home to the WL each night. While it did need to be folded up if we were on one of the little boats or buses (where they would fall asleep),we just popped it open after getting of and it made getting up to the room so much easier!

Good luck on your decision, I know I debated it for months before our trip!

 

[crisi]

I actually respectfully disagree with the pp about crowds not impacting the need for a stroller. IMO a stroller can be a wonderful place to keep younger kids safely by your side when in really crowded situations (like the crush after a parade breaks up, or when the fireworks end, or when leaving the park with everyone else who stayed late). JMHO though.

My thought was the opposite, a four year old in crowds can keep up (but your point is good, just not what I thought of) - when the parks are empty you can take advantage of the ability to MOVE....fitting a lot more into a day simply because it takes less time to get from point A to point B - little legs might not keep up.

The whole stroller thing depends on the kid, the circumstances of the trip, the parents, the touring plan - all sorts of variables. Patient parents can coax a slow four year old strollerless though the parks. An active four year old might not need one at all. Parents with a packed touring plan, a kid who doesn't tend to move fast and tires easily, who are spending the vast majority of their time in the large parks (Epcot and AK) - will likely want a stroller.

 

[Welcome Home]

On our last trip my oldest son was almost 6. He is extremely active. During the summer he is riding his bike or running around from sun up to sun down. There were times at WDW where we found a stroller useful for him. He would get too hot and tired at Animal Kingdom. We spent many evenings walking around Epcot. If he was in a stroller we could go at our pace instead of his.

We had a Volo for our two year old. We also brought a travel car seat/stroller combo. When we needed two strollers we put the 5 yo in the Volo and the 2 yo in the Sit n' Stroll. It worked well for us.

Here is a link to the Sit n' Stroll if you aren't familiar with it. http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...Id=85184&categoryId=85219&subCategoryId=86216

 

[sskem96]

We waited til our kids were 5 and 8 for our first trip, thinking that we wouldn't need a stroller, but we ended up renting a double after the 1st or 2nd day. We wouldn't have seen much if we had walked at their pace for the whole week, and we would have endured much more whining about tired feet too! DD8 was recovering from mono at the time also, so that didn't help matters, but she never was big on walking long distances.

When we took the kids back last year at ages 8 and 11, they both did great. I did have to take DD8 back to the room for a nap one day, which is totally not like her, but we all enjoyed the fact that the kids were able to keep up well, and are probably at the point where they have more energy than us now!

 

[RangerPooh]

For our last few trips we ahve been using a sit and stand stroller as we have an almost 4 yo and 2 yo daughters. This last trip we only brought our nice travel system (minus the car seat of course) stroller as we figured that our oldest would be fine without one. For the most part she was. Where we paid the price of renting one was when she got too tired to walk...late in the afternoon around when she was past her nap time. I think that we jumped the gun a bit by not bringing the sit and stand. This might be agreat way to go for you. You ahve the ability to have the oldest sit, stand, or walk while the little one rides along. Ours collapses easy and doesn't take up any more room than our large stroller.

 

[maitlynn]

One word... YES!

 

[Fabinva]

Yes
My DD5 used the stroller last time we visited, it was great for me to be able to walk fast thru the parks and at home she is not the greatest walker at all.

 

[dougsmom98]

I think I would bring a cheap umbrella stroller and keep it in the room. If you find after the first day that you need it, you will have it. If not, you only spent a small amount. I am sure you will use it some day for your younger daughter too. I think it would come in handy if you are staying in the parks until the close. It is still pretty hot in September, so kids get worn out easier. It is easier to maneuver exhausted children through the crowds in an umbrella stroller instead of trying to carry them at 10 pm when you are tired too.

 

[nettii]

we used a stroller untill my son was 6. It was nice in big crowds I never got panicky about him getting lost. I think he liked the brake thats a lot of walking for little legs, and do you want to carry him? It was also nice to just push our back pack in sometimes-we get sick of carrying it. What ever you decide have a great trip!

 

[Nie0214]

No kids, so I can't comment on the stroller.. but I went in September this year and it was HOT and HUMID. Over 90 every day, and it only rained once my entire trip (Sept 5-9). It was too hot for me to walk around and eat comfortably, I can't imagine how tired the little ones would get.

I won't be going back in September again, I'll stick to winter. hehe.

 

[ryanshana]

We go every Sept...you are right that it's not that crowded but the crowds have little effect on needing a stroller. Oh and if you are going in Sept don't forget to get your tickets for MNSSHP when they go on sale. It's well worth every penny!

I have a 3 yo and I know he needs one..

but MNSSHP SOOOOO WORTH IT! my DS got to stay on goofy barnstormer like 3x w/o having to go back in like 15 min waits w/ characters AWESOME!