Does my 6 yo really need a stroller?

[wdwdvcdad]

once our kids hit 5, there is no more stroller. They can walk, & if they get tired, we stop & rest or go back for a nap. I cannot ever remember seeing a 10 year old in a stroller. Seems way too old.

 

[SueM in MN]

Don't flame me about the wheelchair comment, I know you can't always see a persons disability. But when someone is young, fit looking, tan, and wearing high heals I really have a hard time believing that they need a wheelchair, they need to try Nikes!

Actually, that pretty acurately describes one of the young ladies in my DD's wheelchair dance class (except that to dance, she often wears flip-flops in the summer, but I have seen her in heels). She's not able to walk or even stand, so it doesn't really matter all that much what kind of shoes she wears. She is very athletic and does all sorts of wheelchair spots, so she looks very fit.

 

[laceemouse]

So Sorry....did not mean to offend! I will just stick to the topic. Able bodied kids 5 or 6 and up should walk. I can't imagine a 10 year old in a stroller. If you are pushing a stroller you waste a lot of time stuck behind other strollers and wheelchairs. If my 4 kids complained ad nauseum about the walking, lines, heat, crowds, etc.....at WDW I think we would just skip it for a few years. We are not a "lay around relaxing on vacation" kind of family, we like to move, go, see, and DO things, so we ALL love Disney!!!! And, like I said, I am overweight and out of shape and even I can handle the walking!!

 

[SueM in MN]

So Sorry....did not mean to offend!

You didn't offend me. Just wanted to point out that sometimes things are what they look like, but not always.
I have had the personal experience of sitting with my DD on a bench when someone walking by said something on the order of "That girl doesn't need a wheelchair. Some people get them to cheat" to his companion. This from seeing my DD sitting on a bench with her legs crossed, swinging her top leg. In actual fact, she can't walk or stand without someone totally supporting her - and she's not even able to cross her leg by herself. Plus, her $6000 plus custom wheelchair was sitting next to her - an obviously custom one, not a rental one. So, I'm a little sensitive about the subject.

Anyway, to the stroller thing. The first time we went to WDW, my oldest DD was 4. We had a stroller for youngest, but never did rent a stroller for my older DD. By the next time we went DD #2 was almost 3 and had a wheelchair. Oldest DD was just 6 and complained a few times, asking us to take younger DD out of the wheelchair so she could ride. We let her do it a few times, but basically if she was tired, we stopped and rested. This was in the years when we were 9 am to 9 pm tour-ers and we really did quite well without a stroller.

On the subject of bigger kids in strollers, I have seen some pretty tired out looking parents pushing heavy kids in strollers. It's very hard to push them in an umbrella stroller made for a child half their weight (but I have seen people doing that). So, if you have an older child, it's best to rent a stroller at the park. And keep in mind that the child may not get tired becuase they are riding, but the people pushing the stroller will get tired quicker.

 

[Focusdude]

We rented a double stroller last time - my sons are 2 and 5 - and it worked out great - the best advantage was that we could easily keep track of both boys in large crowds - also, it had some storage for our bottles, maps, etc.

 

[TheresaM]

When my DD was 6 we rented a stoller for every evening in the parks. She did great in the morning and we always spent the afternoons out of the park, but it was a lifesaver for the nights.

 

[blowinbubbles]

Last year we took my sons (6&8 at the time) and my grandson (7) to Universal Studios. After about 5 hours in the park, my all three were in various stages of whining. My mistake, as I didn't bring solid sneaker to wear, but sandals. Their feet were hurting! So on the 3rd day, I was talking to a gentleman who told me he just rents a stroller for the kids to take turns in, an it was the best $$$ he spent in the whole park! I did the same and it turned out to be a lifesaver!

This year, my oldest was having foot problems. . he is pretty overweight, and although we have been working on it diligently (SugarBusters), he still has a way to go. He has been walking on the sides of his feet, and therefore his feet were causing him lots of pain. So, I rented a wheelchair on our last day and let them take turns. If I hadn't, we would've had to just stay at the hotel, he was hurting so bad!

Anyway, the trip was so difficult with his foot issues, that I have been searching for better shoes for him. Finally, last night I found a great pair of good-fitting New Balance sneakers--his feet are already starting to correct! (whew!)

Well I guess my point is, is I have had hurting feet before and have been in absolute misery. So I think it's not always fair to assume that the kids have to be tough and walk, when I know that *I've* been in such a miserable position before!

 

[disneywithkids]

We thought the rented double stroller was great for our 4 and 6 year old!

Not because they can't walk or keep up... but because they enjoyed them. I like to walk fast, so it was really more enjoyable for me too because we could because we could pick up the pace if we wanted to ....going from Country to Country in the world showcase in Epcot for example.