Going strollerless...feels so liberating!

[RoosMama]

I like your thoughts. This is only my opinion but if you continually put your child in a stroller, the child will depend on the stroller. If the stroller is gone, the child will walk.

Here's why I feel that way. When our son was 18 months old, we went to a local mall and he refused to ride in his stroller. My husband was kind of upset that we had to push an empty stroller for the entire day. So, the next time we went to that same mall, the stroller stayed home. My son has never ridden in a stroller since then. He even did Disney World strollerless twice at the age of three.

Now my son has a son of his own. Never even thought to bring a stroller to Disney World with my grandson at the age of five. Did bring one with our granddaughter when she first visited at five but her stuffed Stitch sat in it more than she did.

We are just a walk happy family. OP - go for it!

Same thing happened with my DD, except it was much earlier than 18 months that she started hating the stroller. Actually, she never really liked it. We are the odd ones out on the Dis, apparently. Going for her 2nd birthday and not taking a stroller. I went to Disneyland many times when I was young and never sat in a stroller.

 

[bdcp]

Same thing happened with my DD, except it was much earlier than 18 months that she started hating the stroller. Actually, she never really liked it. We are the odd ones out on the Dis, apparently. Going for her 2nd birthday and not taking a stroller. I went to Disneyland many times when I was young and never sat in a stroller.

Our first trip was when our boys were 3.5 and 5.5 and we didn't use a stroller because we weren't using one at home. They are 28 months apart and I never owned a double stroller. My kids didn't hate it, but they liked to walk too. Of course, we expected them to walk most places so they never gave it a second thought. By age 2, both had walked through DC museums, the national zoo, and many other places. It's so much easier to not have to wrangle a stroller. Of course, we also didnt' carry a bunch of crap into the parks either. Never carried food, water, change of clothes, anything. We had tickets, cameras, sunglasses and that's about it. My boys at 5 would have never, ever ridden in a stroller. They would have said strollers are for babies.

I've had my heels run over multiple times by strollers in WDW, most being pushed by kids. Please parents, don't have your kids push the stroller around, unless they are old enough to be spatially aware, which is actually around age 10.

 

[Magpie]

Wow... reading over this thread, I've just realized how much more my kids walked in their daily lives than (apparently) most other kids.

We had a bit of a scare in my second pregnancy, so the doctor told me to stop carrying my 15 month old and buy a stroller. I did. She hated it. When my second was born, she was 21 months old. He got the stroller and she walked. Everywhere!

Every single day, my not-quite-two year old walked to a non-profit caregiver drop in. And I just looked up the distance on mapquest... It is almost exactly one mile from our house.

So, that means every day, my little two-year-old was happily tromping two miles, to and from her playgroup. When winter came, the snow was too deep for the stroller, so her little brother rode in a backpack on my shoulders, until he was big enough to walk on his own - just about two. I rather enjoyed moving along at their pace. We found caterpillars and four leaf clovers and all sorts of interesting things along the way.

All of which is to say that I think small kids are capable of a LOT more than we give them credit for.

The whole stroller debate is a very personal one. Each parent has to make their own choices, based on what they believe is best/easiest/most practical for their child and themselves.

Me, I never liked the stroller. It was cumbersome and inconvenient, and I couldn't wait to be rid of it. And in retrospect, I'm rather proud of my good little walkers! Even if I didn't realize they were doing anything unusual at the time.

Come to think of it... this early training might explain why my son, now 15, still prefers to walk two miles home from a music festival, than climb into a crowded bus.

 

[Delirium]

No HEALTHY kid 5 or older should be in a stroller. You're doing your children a disservice by putting them in one.

Careful planning will help keep a child fresh. Tour the park in a logical manner. Take breaks. Strategically catch a show when someone starts feeling tired. I just shake my head when I see perfectly healthy 7 and 8 year olds being pushed around in a stroller.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think people should just stop caring about what others think and do what's best for your family stroller or no stroller it's your business not anyone else's.

Exactly.

I also think parenting questions are tough, as children can react to things in a very different manner. One child may be fine walking, and another may have a melt down 3 hours into the day. Everyone knows their own child best, and has the best idea of their capabilities and how they may react in a given situation.

If you think your family will benefit from using a stroller, go for it! If it will just be empty and you find it a pain to push it all over, don't use one. There is no right answer that fits every family.

 

[disnut8]

Wow... reading over this thread, I've just realized how much more my kids walked in their daily lives than (apparently) most other kids.

We had a bit of a scare in my second pregnancy, so the doctor told me to stop carrying my 15 month old and buy a stroller. I did. She hated it. When my second was born, she was 21 months old. He got the stroller and she walked. Everywhere!

Every single day, my not-quite-two year old walked to a non-profit caregiver drop in. And I just looked up the distance on mapquest... It is almost exactly one mile from our house.

So, that means every day, my little two-year-old was happily tromping two miles, to and from her playgroup. When winter came, the snow was too deep for the stroller, so her little brother rode in a backpack on my shoulders, until he was big enough to walk on his own - just about two. I rather enjoyed moving along at their pace. We found caterpillars and four leaf clovers and all sorts of interesting things along the way.

All of which is to say that I think small kids are capable of a LOT more than we give them credit for.

The whole stroller debate is a very personal one. Each parent has to make their own choices, based on what they believe is best/easiest/most practical for their child and themselves.

Me, I never liked the stroller. It was cumbersome and inconvenient, and I couldn't wait to be rid of it. And in retrospect, I'm rather proud of my good little walkers! Even if I didn't realize they were doing anything unusual at the time.

Come to think of it... this early training might explain why my son, now 15, still prefers to walk two miles home from a music festival, than climb into a crowded bus.

OK - I debated on doing this but I am because it's Saturday afternoon. So this is sarcasm and definitely tough in cheek. Because I am right there with you.

Come on - you are from Canada! Everyone knows you all live in the deep woods somewhere and you walk five miles uphill everywhere you go in the snow and blizzard like conditions!!!!!.

But seriously, the idea of a stroller for whatever age is up to the parent.

 

[Dis nerd]

I'm pretty sure the hotel gift shops sell umbrella strollers, so if you find you need one then maybe buying one will help. I just dread that walk to the bus stop at the end of the night without a stoller....enjoy our trip!

 

[Bean786]

No HEALTHY kid 5 or older should be in a stroller. You're doing your children a disservice by putting them in one.

Careful planning will help keep a child fresh. Tour the park in a logical manner. Take breaks. Strategically catch a show when someone starts feeling tired. I just shake my head when I see perfectly healthy 7 and 8 year olds being pushed around in a stroller.

Oh please :: eye roll :: get off your high horse and head shaking. You act like these people are pushing their kids everyday! It's disney. It's alot! I wish somebody push me in a stroller. The kids I go with play sports. Eat healthy. Are very active and by the end if the night they are tired, if they wanna sit in a stroller so be it. Thanks for be judgmental.. Your awesome!

 

[Magpie]

OK - I debated on doing this but I am because it's Saturday afternoon. So this is sarcasm and definitely tough in cheek. Because I am right there with you.

Come on - you are from Canada! Everyone knows you all live in the deep woods somewhere and you walk five miles uphill everywhere you go in the snow and blizzard like conditions!!!!!.

But seriously, the idea of a stroller for whatever age is up to the parent.

Hey, I won't deny it!

Except for that tiny detail that we're urban and it's 30 degrees today (which is 85 in American - help, we're melting!)

 

[Eddy]

On our next trip Aug of 2014 2 of our grandchildren will be 5 and 6. Let me know how it went I am thinking of just bringing a umbrella stroller. Does a stroller count as a checked bag on airlines?

 

[ZehnJahren]

I was just shy of my 4th birthday on our first trip to WDW (in the summer months!). From what I'm told, the adults could barely keep up with me - and I didn't complain about walking at all, I was too engrossed in the rides and characters. Back then, there was no carrying extra clothes and shoes and meals and everything else into the parks with you, so the women had their usual purses and I had a little purse and there was no worry about where to put "all our stuff". We carried it.

That being said, I do remember the trip and remember falling asleep on my dad's shoulders watching the fireworks. I also have a clear memory of him carrying me out of the park after the fireworks, and opening my eyes looking at the masses of crowds behind us.

 

[wannabemini]

No HEALTHY kid 5 or older should be in a stroller. You're doing your children a disservice by putting them in one.

Careful planning will help keep a child fresh. Tour the park in a logical manner. Take breaks. Strategically catch a show when someone starts feeling tired. I just shake my head when I see perfectly healthy 7 and 8 year olds being pushed around in a stroller.

Shake away. I'd say its really up to the parent of the 5 (6,7, whatever) year old to make that call. Disservice is quite the judgmental stance. "Perfectly healthy" is not always perfectly apparent. Careful planning sometimes goes to the crapper in the real world, even in the Disney World.

If my kid is tired and can't walk as fast as the crowd to make it to the bus in the crowds at exit time, he's safer in a stroller than getting mobbed by the crowds. And if it's better for a parent's back, legs, or sanity for him to be in a stroller, so be it. It is a vacation, not a survivalist camp. Kids are only small for so long. I'd rather he remember having a great time and occasionally needing a ride than feeling like his vacation was a death march.

Jeez o Pete. It's not a competition. It's a vacation.

 

[Magpie]

Shake away. I'd say its really up to the parent of the 5 (6,7, whatever) year old to make that call. Disservice is quite the judgmental stance. "Perfectly healthy" is not always perfectly apparent. Careful planning sometimes goes to the crapper in the real world, even in the Disney World.

If my kid is tired and can't walk as fast as the crowd to make it to the bus in the crowds at exit time, he's safer in a stroller than getting mobbed by the crowds. And if it's better for a parent's back, legs, or sanity for him to be in a stroller, so be it. It is a vacation, not a survivalist camp. Kids are only small for so long. I'd rather he remember having a great time and occasionally needing a ride than feeling like his vacation was a death march.

Jeez o Pete. It's not a competition. It's a vacation.

Before I discovered the dis, I'd always assumed that the school aged children I saw crammed into strollers were disabled in some way. Because I figured there'd be no other reason a second grader would be in a stroller. Kids of any age, in my experience, usually had more energy than adults, not less!

It's only since reading these threads that I find myself wondering if they're just not used to spending a day on their feet.

 

[wannabemini]

It's only since reading these threads that I find myself wondering if they're just not used to spending a day on their feet.

I'm the mom of 4, aunt of 15, and I'm not sure any of them, at age 6, were capable of the full on sprint of WDW for 12 hours straight without pooping out! They made child labor laws because of hours and effort like that!

 

[delgrec]

I definitely didn't mean for this to turn into a parenting debate! Thanks everyone for your feedback. We are excited to give the no stroller thing a go. No judgement in either direction that people choose to go. You do what works for your family and there is no place for judging someone else's situation. Use that energy for your vaca! Again, much appreciated!

 

[Magpie]

I'm the mom of 4, aunt of 15, and I'm not sure any of them, at age 6, were capable of the full on sprint of WDW for 12 hours straight without pooping out! They made child labor laws because of hours and effort like that!

Age six? My kids spent hours at parks, zoos, museums and all sorts of other things at that age, no problem. We'd sometimes climb to the top of a local mountain and have a snack up there.

It's simply a matter of going at their pace. Midday naps are good, too. And taking the time to drink water, eat, enjoy the sights, and check out the various playgrounds (although that was more for MY benefit than theirs, as it allowed me to take some weight off my feet while they played).

I really do think we underestimate our children. Allowing them to explore a theme park on their own two feet isn't child abuse!

But a 12 hour sprint around WDW might be adult abuse...

 

[wannabemini]

Age six? My kids spent hours at parks, zoos, museums and all sorts of other things at that age, no problem. We'd sometimes climb to the top of a local mountain and have a snack up there.

It's simply a matter of going at their pace. Midday naps are good, too. And taking the time to drink water, eat, enjoy the sights, and check out the various playgrounds (although that was more for MY benefit than theirs, as it allowed me to take some weight off my feet while they played).

I really do think we underestimate our children. Allowing them to explore a theme park on their own two feet isn't child abuse!

But a 12 hour sprint around WDW might be adult abuse...

And that's TERRIFIC that your kids could do that! Congratulations!

 

[Magpie]

And that's TERRIFIC that your kids could do that! Congratulations!

But that's the thing, they're NOT athletes! They're just bookish bespectacled nerds who happened to be born to a woman who isn't capable of driving, so had to get used to walking everywhere. Neither one was ever in sports. They don't even know how to ride bikes.

I just always assumed that kids naturally have more energy than adults, even if their legs are shorter, so it's be up to me to keep up with them, not the other way around.

 

[Planogirl]

But that's the thing, they're NOT athletes! They're just bookish bespectacled nerds who happened to be born to a woman who isn't capable of driving. Neither one was ever in sports. They don't even know how to ride bikes.

I just always assumed that kids naturally have more energy than adults, even if their legs are shorter, so it's be up to me to keep up with them, not the other way around.

That's always been true for us. I was always the one insisting on rest time not DS. He's always been like a little machine when it comes to doing things. I wish that he could have pushed me around.

I agree that everyone is different though.

 

[honeybunches]

Yay for you!! It's exciting to have one less thing to worry abut, right? Until reading this thread I never even thought about NOT renting a stroller for my 4 year old. He never uses one at home but it's nice to have him sit and ride when we are zooming to a different section of the park. He did tend to jump out of it often and walk instead when we were there last fall. So he probably won't need one on this trip. When I mentioned it to my DH just now, my son said "yes! I want a stroller!" We will give it a try but I will get a stroller if he needs one.

GASP I also let my daughter (age 9) ride in the stroller for a while last fall when she needed a break.. Not once did I consider (or even care) that anyone else would judge. I never noticed any judgmental looks but wasn't paying attention to anyone else either. Seriously???? People need to get a life and enjoy their own trip, not worrying about what my kids do on theirs.