Double stroller for older / bigger kids for the parks?

[oceanmarina]

Hi all,

My kids are years out of stroller age (9 & 7) but because we go in August in the extreme heat, I usually bring my jeep double stroller for when it's too hot for them to walk around the parks. Well it broke & is discontinued so I can't buy it again, so I was wondering what I should do for this year's trip. (My son is 62 pounds & my daughter is 33 pounds).
Has anyone done the Disney stroller rental for older kids, or any other ides would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Marina

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!

 

[china mom]

My son was huge for his age and plus a little old to be in a stroller. But, the heat and the walking was a lot for his young body and we are known for a pretty fast pace. We ended up renting a double for him alone and a single for his sister. He was very comfortable

 

[ljl22]

We rented a single stroller from Disney in March for our 7 yo. She was 48" and looked a little cramped, but it saved our vacation. For March 2016, I am looking at renting a stroller. It'll run about $100. I'm looking at Orlando Stroller, Magic Strollers, Kingdom Strollers and Baby Wheels Orlando

 

[juliekzp]

I rented the City GT Mini from Orlando Stroller rentals for my 48" 50lb almost-6-year-old for our last trip, and it was great. Maybe consider a single stroller with a Buggy Board on back, so one kid can ride in the stroller and one on the board. Or just one stroller, and they can just take turns.

 

[juliekzp]

Also, how tall are they? And is your daughter really 33 pounds??

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I still remember the day our folks said "nope, this time you are going to walk." "You aren't going to push us?" "Nope, you can walk with us." Who says little kids don't remember Disney? Lol. I think we were like 5 or 6 tops. To me, these strollers just seem like a pain. Watch the dads break them down at the tram, they have to stow them for every attraction, then the CMs move them on you and there is that moment of panic, along with the fact that a monsoon fell out of the sky while we were under the cover at Lights! But the stroller wasn't! When we finally got to it, we had to dump all the water out like a bucket , everything was soaked and we had to take turns pushing the stroller and holding the baby since it was too wet to use the rest of the day. This was for a 10 month old and his 5 yr old brother (who walked just fine.) And we had a 9 yr old with us that did 2 16 hour multi park days, excited, happy, a tad tired, but no complaining. I never saw a dad roll his eyes as much as that day when he had to go all the way to wherever to stow the stroller, and that was for bitty baby...Can't take em in to The Land...can't take em hardly anywhere....

I'm just sayin...

 

[momof2n2]

OP - The rental strollers will work for your kids. Ignore the naysayers. and the non-parents. I'm a mom of 6 & know my kids. Even at 7 my son needed a bit of a break now and then. (I'm commando.)

 

[Planogirl]

This might wear you out in the heat. Keep that in mind.

 

[lwc]

I have no advice, just lamenting.

My kids were 4 and 6 during our last trip. We no longer used a stroller at home, but brought the double for one last hurrah at Disney, and then abandoned it where we hoped someone who needed one might find it.

Now that my kids are 7 and 9 we aren't so worried about them walking -- we are mostly worried about having to give up the cargo space!

So nice to be able to carry water, layers, bandaids, sunscreen, ponchos, Mickey, Minnie, snacks and on and on and on. Without having to actually CARRY anything.

We still can't decide whether to carry a backpack or just abandon all preparedness, slap magic bands on our wrists and phones in our pockets and call it good.

 

[Nancyg56]

WHen my DGD was young we just rented the Double from Disney. It was a little more money, but it sure beat dragging one on and off of the bus.

Do not worry about what anyone says, you are vacationing and it is your decision how to make sure that you and your family have a good time. My young DGD was used to being perched on my DH's arm like a bird, so on the first two trips her little feet never seemed to touch the ground! LOL! He was positive that if he let her down her fast little feet would carry her off, so she rode through every park on his arm or on his shoulders. I am sure that anyone who saw us thought that this liitle Princess was spoiled and lazy, but nothing was futher from the truth. She was simply indulging her Pa, not the other way around! My favorite picture is in AK, Kady perched on her Pa while reading the park map for him...one Minnie sunglass lense opened and one closed.

My DD and DSIl swore by the stroller in Epcot. Kady was not used to too much comotion at home, so if the stimulation was too much she would curl up in the stroller and relax while the two of them strolled from country to country. This was a great alternative to heading back to the resort fo a break.

We used to look for a family when we were ready to leave the park, and hand off the stroller to someone who looked like they had a child who would use it.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

My DD's were also very small and we rented a double at the park for a long time. It is a little pricey but worth the lack of the hassle. Especially since we never used a stroller at all at home.

The oldest was a runner and it was much easier to keep them contained I always felt bad for the little ones who are ambling along but step in front of you because they aren't used to walking in crowds.

My arms were tired by the end of the day but not from pushing. It was from always jerking the stroller to a stop to try to avoid hitting someone who would step in front of me like the little ones on the loose.

 

[oceanmarina]

We rented a single stroller from Disney in March for our 7 yo. She was 48" and looked a little cramped, but it saved our vacation. For March 2016, I am looking at renting a stroller. It'll run about $100. I'm looking at Orlando Stroller, Magic Strollers, Kingdom Strollers and Baby Wheels Orlando

~ Thanks, I called my friend last night and she recommended Kingdom Strollers, I saw two that I liked there. I will also check out the other two companies you mentioned.

OP - The rental strollers will work for your kids. Ignore the naysayers. and the non-parents. I'm a mom of 6 & know my kids. Even at 7 my son needed a bit of a break now and then. (I'm commando.)

Thanks & yep, I agree the kids need a bit of a break from all the walking (esp. my kids are not super-active). I think because we go in August & my kids are heat sensitive makes it worse, so I feel like I need to have a stroller on hand to avoid a park meltdown.

 

[oceanmarina]

Also, how tall are they? And is your daughter really 33 pounds??

My son is 52 inches and my daughter is 47 inches. I know, she's a string bean, so skinny.... sigh. DH and I joke that she's on the "supermodel diet" she eats a few bites of anything & then she's done. Except for cupcakes which she can gobble up. My son was super skinny too & is finally filling out, I used to pull my hair out when he was little because I would worry that he was soooo thin and such a picky eater. So i'm hoping she will start to put weight on like he did.

 

[laughinplace199]

Have you asked your kids how THEY feel about riding in a stroller. DS8 who, at 50 lbs could fit in a stroller, would be mortified at the thought.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm the parent. My house is not a democracy.

Have you asked your kids how THEY feel about riding in a stroller. DS8 who, at 50 lbs could fit in a stroller, would be mortified at the thought.

 

[girlsmom]

We have used strollers for older kids in sept, and actually last yr when I hurt my foot I actually rode in it for a bit (saved us $ from having to rent me a wheelchair at least!). Also it is nice to be able to leave our bag on stroller and not have to carry it in the heat too!
this is what we have, we LOVE it!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Trend-Double-Jogger-Millennium/14895501

 

[girlsmom]

oh and we keep a clear shower curtain in bottom of stroller and toss is over the stroller during rain and keeps everything/everyone nice and dry!

 

[BrokeMack]

Have you asked your kids how THEY feel about riding in a stroller. DS8 who, at 50 lbs could fit in a stroller, would be mortified at the thought.

OP: I checked out this thread to warn you about replies like ^this, but I see that I'm too late.

 

[skateshome]

~ Thanks, I called my friend last night and she recommended Kingdom Strollers, I saw two that I liked there. I will also check out the other two companies you mentioned.
.

Kingdom does a great job, we've used them the last 4 years in a row.....just don't wait until the last minute. They are really popular and sell out. Our DD 8 walked this year and did perfectly fine. DD7 still needs a stroller for Disney
unless I want to be "dragged on" all day and listen to whining.....who needs that at Disney? Make it fun for everyone. I might suggest a single stroller as 9 seems a bit old. They can also also swap up a little if need be.
DD8 never asked to get the stroller at all. I think she enjoyed being about to hop about this year. FTR DW wanted a double stroller this year and I overruled with the option of swapping to a double if it became an issue.
No issues were had.