good idea or not???

[belsayre]

We are going next spring ( yes I am a over planner LOL) and the kids will be 7 and 5. We dont have a stroller anymore for everyday stuff they are big enough now to not really need it but I am a bit worried their little legs will wear out at Disney.

So here is my idea......... I thought about stopping at Walmart before we check in ( stopping anyway for breakfast and snack items) and buying a small umbrella type stroller " just in case we need it".

I know we can rent strollers if needed but at $15(?) a day for 7 days it would be cheaper to buy one ! I dont really want to take it home on the trip back ( we are flying and I dont want to have to check it) so I thought I could just donate it or hand it off to another family so they could use it. Is this a crazy idea??

I know there used to be a stroller swap on the budget board but I think it is gone now

thanks for your help and advise
lesley

 

[Kimmumum]

We did that. We bought a $10 umbrella stroller at Walmart and when we were done we gave it to the bellhop to give to another family. You might even want to ask at your hotel before you buy one. I have heard that others do this too.

 

[nickelsfamily]

You know your kids better than anyone and if you think they will need it then go for it. My DS5 walks and has no problem with it, but this year we will be doing a few more parks than usual and I am thinking of bringing both of our strollers we have DS1 too. That way if he does get tired we have it. I am not to keen on renting the strollers from the park. (It seems whenever we have rented something like that, they always end up getting sick!)
The way I look at it, if they don't endup using it we can always put our other items in it.
Also, it is a wonderful idea to try donate it! I am sure than someone would love that!

 

[belsayre]

Thank you
It is a much cheaper option then renting everyday!
I will check at our resort before we buy one but if there is not one ~ one will be available at SOG after our visit
Lesley

 

[Hannathy]

2 things if you buy a cheap umbrella stroller they usually are not made to hold the weight of a 5 yr old let alone a 7 yr old! The wheels may bend or break. If you are giving it to someone I would want them to know if I exceeded the weight limit before trusting it for a baby.

We went with our 5 yr old and did not even think of getting a stroller and he did wonderfully and he had to keep up with much older teens and adults. We were there at Easter and stayed extremely late everynight from opening. It is a lot of walking but it is in bursts and then you stand it isn't marathon's. And he still had energy for the play areas!
Not having a stroller to manuaver and deal with in the crowds, retrieving at every ride and show, on the busses, was extremely freeing ! It was great.

IMO you don't need one for kids that old. I know I would never even offer it to mine at those ages.

 

[ntink]

FWIW, we went with a 4 and 7.5 yr old in March and did not need a stroller. We just took a break when we needed to but they seemed to have plenty of energy.

 

[belsayre]

what is the weight limit on umbrella stroller????
Very good point on the weight limit...........My kids are on the small side DD is 35lbs and DS 34lbs


like I said we dont use strollers anymore but I thought since we will be doing so much walking we might need it.


I just DO NOT want to carry anyone!
thanks for all the tips
Lesley

 

[Evil Queen]

My youngest DS was 6 on his first trip and he did fine walking, he actually complained more the trip after.

 

[pezpam]

DD was 5 on her first trip and did just fine without a stroller. She even carried a small backpack with her water bottle, autograph book and pen, and a snack - she felt really grownup carrying her own stuff. Sure, I held both of our backpacks on rides (really, hers could have fit in mine, lol), but I still think it was a thousand percent easier than dealing with a stroller. Just rest (resting can include going on a ride, too - DD loves COP for this) when he needs it and work things out mostly on his schedule - which will make for a more relaxing and tantrum-free trip anyway.

 

[chrisn]

DS was 5 and then 7. We brought a stroller when he was 5 and he used it about half the time. The other half he wanted to walk. I specifically remember an old geezer walking up to me on that trip and saying "he's too old to be pushed around in a stroller." My response was "well, when he starts whining and dragging a$$, I'll find you and you can either deal with it or carry him around." On the trip when he was 7, we gave him the option and he chose to walk so I did not take a stroller. I asked him several times and he was adament so ok, we toured MK, MGM, AK, SW, IOA, US and on our final day at EP, he finally asked for a stroller. He did so good I could not believe it! I was thinking I'd have to shell out some funds but it only ended up being that one time rental for like 1/2 a day. He'll be 9 on our trip this coming December (one more time for child's pricing) and we are officially stroller free.

 

[lorrainesy]

You may need one... my nephew is 8 and we still rent one on any days that we plan to spend the whole day in the park, just incase he gets tired. I feel better with him in a stoller because then there in no chanch of loosing him

 

[DVC Sadie]

We bought a stroller for our grand neice (5) after reading the disboards thinking she would need it. NOT. She didn't use the stroller at all even in Epcot.

 

[pooksma]

Personally, I think it depends on the time of year you go. If its crowded and hot, you may thank yourself for having it! We did on our last trip but plan to "wait and see" this time.

 

[pixiepower1971]

Personally, I have not used one for my daughters since the youngest turned 4. They do the parks all day with no complaints. When they were younger they carried autograph books, pens, gum, etc in a small waistpack. Now they are too cool for them and they both have small messenger bags. I LOVE touring the parks without strollers!

 

[missymagic]

My youngest was 5 on our last trip in December and I took the small stroller but it stayed in the room the entire week. Only time it was useful was in the airport to carry bags!!!

 

[mikymouse]

I am with you on the umbrella stroller, I bought two cheap ones at a second hand store for the cost of a single days rental cost and I was glad we had them. We flew and had them gate checked and even brought them back home for our friends to use in June. I often thought of not bringing them but for the most part we use them, the whole out of park to bus to room was most helpful. We usually just parked them in the area we were in and them pick them up for move to the next area. My kids 4 & 6 were a little bit over the height(head is suppose to be below back) and weight limits (40 lbs) but they held up fine, plus if they broke after one day I was at break even. Plus they are easy to push/collapse. We didn't bring/need them at Animal Kingdom. They are also good for just keeping track of the kiddos.

 

[Schmeck]

If it's hot, do you really want to get stuck pushing 45 lbs of kid around, plus the weight of the backpacks, shopping bags, and all the other 'junk' that gets brought along when you have a stroller? I found it easier just to plan to go more at the children's pace. That's why we were at WDW anyways. I didn't want to tire them out, just enjoy the whole trip at their pace!

If you bought one single person stroller, what would be the plan when both kids were tired? Will they swap fairly, or will one whine to be kicked out of his spot for the other one? Will you end up with one refreshed kid and one very tired kid? If you get a double stroller do you want to push 80 lbs of kids around?