Double stroller for 5 and 7 yo???

[LaurenT]

if you want one, get one. It can be a benefit when you want to dump stuff in it - it can also be a pain when you have to park it all the time. but don't make your decision based on what people here think is appropriate for a 7 year old. It's your vacation.
Of course, you could try having them walk and if they get cranky you could go grab one then.

 

[AndreaA]

I would consider it for sure.

A stroller is more than just a place for the kids to ride. It is also a trailer to haul all your stuff and a place for the kids to just sit if tired.

I have not found using a stroller in WDW to be inconvenient at all.

Agreeing with all of this, and we have rented a double stroller twice, with our three year olds and four year olds, and plan to do so again with our five (or six) year olds. I love having a place to stash all of our stuff and the boys like having a place to relax out of the blazing hot sun, especially when waiting for a parade.

 

[spewey]

Our DD was six during our trip last August. She is very energetic and hadn't used a stroller in a long while. But she really doesn't handle the heat well, and one day at Animal Kingdom, where it had to be over 100 degrees with the Humidex, she was so beet red and miserable, dragging herself around, that we grabbed a stroller.

And we rented one for the last two days of our trip. We are returning in a week, and although we will play it by ear, we will not hesitate to rent one again. In fact, we are planning on it for our day at Epcot. That place is huge, and so spread out, and on a sunny day in August it is like walking on the surface of the sun. If I could find one big enough I'd rent a stroller and hire someone to push ME around.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

You really have to do what is best for you. My kids were 2 and 6 back in May when we were last there (they are 3 and 7 now). We brought our sit and stand. We don't do afternoon breaks. We go from breakfast ADR to after fireworks/parades. That's a lot to ask of a 6 year old. I don't want to waste vacation time going back to the room to nap when they'll probably sleep on the bus and then be full of energy when we get back to the hotel. We probably won't go back until they are 4 and 8, we will bring just a single stroller then.

My 6 year old would fall asleep on the bench part of the sit and stand after fireworks walking back to the bus stop. I would not have wanted to carry a 50 pound child. Plus, it's so crowded after fireworks and parades that I loved having her "safe" in the stroller so I didn't have to worry about us getting separated.

 

[jworthy]

We will be renting a single stroller for our 6 year old DD, while our 10 DS will walk. Not only will it help her during the busy times of the day, but we use it to help with storage. BTW, I highly recommend Kingdom Strollers. They are exceptionally professional, with great strollers, and excellent prices.

 

[kohlby]

5 seems to be the dividing line for most familes. At 4 and under, it's usually recommended to take one. By 6 and up, most kids do perfectly fine walking. At 5, it's about 50/50 reading these boards. None of my kids would need a stroller at 5 for physical reasons. However, my youngest has sensory issues so a stroller will likely be essential for him at our next trip - and he's 5. My eldest didn't have a trip at 5, but was walking easily at 6 and we were not easy - commando style of 7 different theme parks over 8 days. (And he was over our stroller's 50lb limit so he couldn't sit in it at all). He wasn't in stellar shape or anything but Disney has enough breaks by doing rides. My middle child was supposed to walk at 5, and could have done it just fine, but our youngest refused the stroller and we got tired of pushing an empty stroller hoping we could get him in it. (He refused to walk too, so we really wanted him in that stroller!) We did not take afternoon breaks out of the park - but we did plan some more restful attractions in the afternoon.

If you're really not sure and could go either way - then I'd just take a single. It can be a great place just to store your stuff at the very least. At the most, your 5 year old will need it and it will be great to have.

 

[kohlby]

I just realized your trip is over a year away. Don't worry about it now. You'll have a better idea closer to the time.

 

[GillianP1301]

You won't look crazy at all, lots of strollers with lots of different aged kids all over WDW. Nobody will bat an eye at a 5 & 7 yr old and if someone were, I wouldn't worry about it. You have to be a pretty judgemental person to criticize another parents choice on use of stroller and the scrutiny of a judgemental person is the very last thing I'd be worried about.

As for my personal experience, we used a stroller when DS was 4 and it was definitely needed. We used it again at age 5, not needed as much and it stayed parked a lot, but it definitely came in handy for trying to get through crowds and longer stretches of walking (like parking lot to gate). Definitely could've gone without it, but it was a nice to have for sure. This year he is 6 and I've debated it and decided to rent one again. I expect it will be parked more than used, but that's okay. I also know I'll welcome it from time to time. I also really like that I can toss stuff in the carry basket and not have to haul as much around in my bag.

 

[rideswithchrist]

glad to read this! Does anyone have any suggestions for double strollers?
We will be going with a 2/4/7 and I know 100% the 4yo will be in the stroller by choice the 2 (almost 3) yo to keep him from running!

I am thinking either the Joovy scoot or the Machlaren double umbrellas.
We got rid of our double a year ago because we did not use it much and we had 2 umbrellas (I wish we would have just kept it)

 

[AndreaA]

glad to read this! Does anyone have any suggestions for double strollers?
We will be going with a 2/4/7 and I know 100% the 4yo will be in the stroller by choice the 2 (almost 3) yo to keep him from running!

I am thinking either the Joovy scoot or the Machlaren double umbrellas.
We got rid of our double a year ago because we did not use it much and we had 2 umbrellas (I wish we would have just kept it)

Personally, I would (and have) rent a BabyJoggerCityMiniGT from Kingdom strollers.

I have not used a Joovy, but I own a MacLaren (as well as my big Bumbleride double) and I basically hate it. The wheels are crap on anything more uneven than a mall floor. The fold isn't any easier than a Babyjogger - and in fact it is hard and PAINFUL to release the catch with a foot wearing a sandal! The sunshade is minimal. The storage is minimal. And the push is horrid with any child bigger than two. I can't imagine pushing unevenly weighted children in one. Also, since it's an umbrella stroller, you can't push it one-handed. Forget sipping a drink while walking, or even looking at a map or checking your FP+ times on your phone.

My boys were average to slightly above average four and a half year olds during our last trip and the BJ fit them perfectly and they even fell asleep in it multiple times.

 

[disney1990]

Neither our daughter, when she was 5, or our granddaughter, when she was 5, would ride in a stroller. I can't imagine them in one at 7. But, this is your decision and your children. Do what you think will work for you.

 

[RysMomma]

We just came back from our trip and we have a 4 and 6 year old. We rented a double stroller and it was the BEST DECISION EVER! They both needed it at times and I don't regret it for a second. Just getting out of the parks during the Electrical Parade and having them seated it in and not having to worry about someone letting go of one of our hands made it so beneficial!

 

[Kingdome8]

I will rent a double stroller for my 2 and 7 year old. Could care less what others think
She rode in one also when she was six.
She plays sports all year round, excellent swimmer, so she's not lazy. Lol
I just don't want her to be cranky. She won't ride in all day. She will want to walk with her 10 year old sister. But anytime she wants in is fine
I also like stroller as a holder of stuff and bags. So nice.

Where people make fun of people in stroller at 5-7 year old I think it's absolutely ridiculous to leave mid day for a kids nap. What a waste.
But I would never down someone for it. There preference.
Stroller also good for naps

My philosophy on any vacation is when everyone is happy the better

 

[Sadiebelle]

Our active, energetic 7 year-old DS swore he absolutely would not ride in a stroller on our last trip. I thought we'd bring it, put some packages in it the first day, then leave it in the room for the rest of the trip if he really didn't use it. Nope - he was ready for it after the first morning. He enjoyed the trip more being able to save his energy for the things he really wanted to do. With "older" kids, you can also park the stroller for longer than you might with little ones and explore a larger area, so the whole parking thing is less of a pain.

 

[cjbcam]

I really think it depends on your child. We rented a double last year for our 2 and 4 yo. My 8 yo road in it some of the time (she is really tiny almost the same size as her little sis). She would not have needed one though. This year we took our sit and stand. My 3 yo would not ride and neither would my 5 yo.

 

[smile4279]

Our last trip, we rented a double stroller and brought a single one from home. My kids at the time were 7, 4, 3 and 1. The 3 oldest alternated who was in the stroller with my 7 year old in it the least amount of time. They all needed a break and while waiting for the parade and fireworks, they could rest/nap if needed. We tried going back to the hotel but found that no one napped and gave up that idea.
We're going back in a few weeks and my youngest are now 5 and 7 and I am planning on getting a double as needed. I figure the afternoons/evenings my youngest will tucker out fast. She is an early to bed kind of kid and the rest of the kids aren't. If we have a stroller, she can rest/nap if needed and the rest of the kids can keep going. You know your kids and if they need the stroller get it!

 

[rideswithchrist]

Awesome.
I can't say my 7 YO will use it at all because she never does, but we will also have a 2 and 4 year old- so YEAH, we need a double. And if the 7YO wants a ride when someone else walks, cool. My MIL went with my hubby and BIL when BIL was 3- he has TONS of energy...by the middle of the first day, they carried him all the way to the front to rent a stroller.
This is a 12 hour all day for 5 days thing, why not bring some extra insurance against tired cranky kids

I think we are going to try a Joovy. We need to get one anyway for a zoo trip so that will be a good test run. (DH will be the one pushing it most of the time)

 

[ibela]

My kids are 5 and 8. We NEVER use a stroller at home. I've been debating this same thing back and forth. Last year, at 4 and 7, they did occasionally use it. Last month we went to the zoo where we were walking in the heat for about 6 hours and they were fine. I PLAN to take a mid-day break but am not 100% sure we will all days, definitely most. I'm tempted to cancel my reservation with apple for next week but will probably keep it because 1) they may be hyped up on the first day or 2, but after 3 or 4 days, they may be exhausted. 2) The heat will probably be crazy. 3) When they're tired they get really cranky and it's easier to have 1 or both sit in the stroller then argue or me worrying about how we're missing our FP+ or ADR. I gave away my stroller years ago so we're renting but it's like $70 for the whole week which in the scheme of things, seems like a small price to pay for piece of mind. Assuming I keep the reservation, I'm planning on keeping the stroller parked most of the day but think it will come in handy when waiting for a parade or fireworks and there's no seating available, when leaving the parks, and getting from the bus to the resort. Some evenings I wish *I* had a stroller to sit in. That said, this would definitely be the last trip with the stroller because we're pushing the weight limit and you have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[jtg2]

DH an I are planning on using two single strollers for my kids as a double is so unwieldy. We only owned one stroller between the two and rental is a pretty penny, so I purchased a second used one for $40 and I intend to sell it back to the store after the trip.

As others have said, you know your kids best. Trust your parental instinct.

 

[Sphinx610]

I don't see why it's contentious either, it's the parents' business whether they want to lug around a double stroller for older kids.

I agree 100%!!! I can't believe some of the comments I read here on the DIS re:strollers! Downright nasty some of them! No need to be nasty- a simple NO will suffice. Sheesh...

Anyway...
Its up to you. Who cares what the other parents are thinking? Do what you need to do to make the kids happy. No sense in having sad kids in WDW.

Personally...
last time my kids were 2 & 6- I rented a double citi GT from OSR only got the double bc I knew my 2yo was going to need it and didn't want my 6yo whining about "Why does SHE get a stroller??!!" He slept in it a LOT more than she did. This is a kid that did a 5K with me that summer... so... Not exactly out of shape or lazy. Just goes to show you WDW wears out kids differently.

Now this time I won't get one bc they are 4 & 8. My 4yo diva will not be caught dead in a stroller. lol She won't even sit in a shopping cart anymore. (Despite my pleading for her to do so!) So we are foregoing it. Wish me luck. I will be putting the number for OSR in my phone just in case