Help: Need Stroller to Hold 75lb child for Disney Trip

[metchick]

Hi all,

I am desperate to find a stroller to hold a 75lb child comfortably. I have searched the internet and can only find strollers costing $400+ which is way out of my budget.

Living on an island (Newfoundland, Canada) really limits where I can purchase or rent a stroller like this and I can't seem to find any stroller swaps with a weight limit this high.

Yes, my child is 8 years old and could walk the parks herself but I don't see the purpose of spending 10 days listening to "My legs hurt", "I'm tired"...etc...lol.

We have rented the double stroller on our previous trips but last year it cost $280 for the duration of the trip and I would like to save as much money as possible as we all can understand.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks so much for all your help.
Peaceful Disser

 

[barbarabini]

maybe just rent the big one in the park, that seems pretty big.

then, if he does want to walk- maybe you wont have to rent it everyday.

 

[abcboys]

I would not purchase a stroller for an 8 year old. What we did when we went in May is took a stroller for the 2 year old and the older 2 boys walked. By the 4th day we rented a stroller at the parks for 2 days to give the 6 year old a break and the 9 year old even hopped in, too. The stroller rentals were very nice, yes they are expensive but I don't think you will need one everyday. They were so easy to push. I even had the 9 and 6 year old in one and it was still very easy to push.

 

[allison443]

I don't know anything about strollers, sorry! However, my suggestion would be that if you can't find one big enough, maybe just plan on renting one every other day, or only if needed. For example, some days you may not be walking around as much if you have some sit-down meals planned, or you take a midday break. Other days you might be going for hours. Renting would be easier than dragging one down there, I would think.

Another suggestion would be to tell your child if she doesn't need to rent a stroller, she can have the stroller money for spending money that day!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[msmayor]

Hi all,

I am desperate to find a stroller to hold a 75lb child comfortably. I have searched the internet and can only find strollers costing $400+ which is way out of my budget.

Living on an island (Newfoundland, Canada) really limits where I can purchase or rent a stroller like this and I can't seem to find any stroller swaps with a weight limit this high.

Yes, my child is 8 years old and could walk the parks herself but I don't see the purpose of spending 10 days listening to "My legs hurt", "I'm tired"...etc...lol.

We have rented the double stroller on our previous trips but last year it cost $280 for the duration of the trip and I would like to save as much money as possible as we all can understand.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks so much for all your help.
Peaceful Disser

Well if purchasing one is $400 and renting is only $280, then clearly renting is saving money.

But honestly...when my kids were 8 they had no trouble doing the walking thing. If they got tired, then out of the parks we went...back to the hotel to swim and relax.

 

[Green Tea]

I guess I'm just the mean mom. I would tell them to suck it up. Honestly, you are in lines, sitting in theatres, stopping for food. I think my kids would have died to be put in a stroller at 8.

 

[joshua4]

I just did a trip with my 8 year old -- I agree, have them walk and take breaks as needed. We have a rule that anyone on the trip has the right to ask the whole group to sit down on whatever bench we happen to be passing or to slow the pace of the group's walking. Most of the time, the kids do not invoke their right to make the group sit or slow -- but I think it makes them feel more in control and less rushed. Good luck.

 

[mrudman]

I really don't think you're going to hear her complaining as much as you think you might.

We took our trip to Disney right as my dd's were turning 8 and 6 (older dd turned 8 the day we arrived), and did not hear a peep out of them that entire 9 days about being tired, sore, etc.

They walked the entire time.. were at the parks from approx. 10a-10p every single day, and were little commando's, lol... even walked the Epcot world showcase loop twice the day we were there (they decided on the last country they wanted to do the penny machines, lol!)

So imo, I really don't think you'll be needing a stroller at all...

 

[dislvr74]

Our family "trains" for WDW by walking every other day together. We try to get up to 4 or 5 miles before we leave. I use it as my warm-up when I am training for a 1/2 marathon and we all get to spend time together. My then-6-year-old old was able to keep up with us during our last trip.

 

[cats mom]

Is this for the Aug trip in your signature?
If so, I agree with the PP. You've got plenty of time to train for all the walking you'll be doing in the parks.

If you find you really do need the stroller, I'd probably just rent one at WDW but try not to use it every day.

Anything sturdy enough to hold that weight is probably going to be big and expensive if you buy it.

Good Luck!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I guess I'm just the mean mom. I would tell them to suck it up. Honestly, you are in lines, sitting in theatres, stopping for food. I think my kids would have died to be put in a stroller at 8.

Call me a mean mom too then. No way would I push an 8 yo around in a stroller day after day. When my DD was younger , my DS 8 at the time would jump in her stroller for 10-15 minutes. Looked pretty funny since he's a big kid and her stroller was pink. LOL, But to rent one continuously no way.

I know all kids are different, but . Have your child take walks with you everyday and get conditioned as some have said. And take breaks as needed.

 

[disneymomofmyca]

Ok everyone...We all know that every child is different so lets not give anyone a hard time for wanting a stroller for an 8 year old. It is still a great idea to "train" with walks at home as your child may actually want to walk more than you think but it would be nice to have a stroller for when her little legs just won't go anymore. A TON of people still use strollers exclusively at WDW for children of this age. So that being said... Orlando Stroller Rentals will deliver to your resort for a cost of 80.00 for 7 nights,110.00 for 10,or or 140.00 for 14 nights. And they have a stroller that is for up to 75lbs. It is a single jogging stroller so you don't have to deal with a double stroller.Follow the link below... Good luck!

http://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/baby-jogger-city-classic.html

Look at my BIG child in a stroller on a hot August day...

 

[wall*e2008]

What about an incentive program. For every day he walks all day and does not whine he gets $10 to spend. That is a total of $100 and will really not cost you anything, since you most likely would buy him stuff anyway.

 

[DannysMom]

Hi all,

I am desperate to find a stroller to hold a 75lb child comfortably. I have searched the internet and can only find strollers costing $400+ which is way out of my budget.

Unless your child has a specific medical condition that she might need a stroller in your day to day activities, I would *not* purchase one just for Disney. The weight limit needed puts you in the range of special needs strollers, which is why they are so expensive. Nobody buys these things unless they *have* to.

You could rent a special needs stroller, say a Maclaren Major from some of the medical supply places that rent wheelchairs & scooters. I've also seen that orlandostrollerrentals.com also now has a special needs stroller that might suit your needs. Good luck. Have a good trip.

 

[SarahKate]

I agree with the other posters. We went at the end of November, and DD was 6 1/2. She is DEFINITELY a complainer when it comes to walking. But we had told her that there would be NO stroller except at certain parks (esp. Epcot, it's so big!).

She did fantastic. On our MK day, we walked almost 7 miles - she never complained.

You're really not walking long stretches at once most of the time....take frequent rests as needed, don't go in "commando mode".

When we went to Epcot, that was a different story. It's so spread out. By the time we got to World Showcase she was getting tired. Luckily there's a 2nd stroller rental at the International Gateway.

If you do end up renting a stroller while there, I'd definitely recommend renting a double.....we got our DD a single and it's pretty narrow (she's about 60 pounds).

Like others said, get her used to the walking. In the summer you'll all be a little more active anyway so everyone will get used to it.

 

[distherapy]

Just wanted to second the poster who recommended orlando stroller rental. We used them and it was fabulous. And personally, I don't care if you have a stroller for an 8 yo. You're entitled to do whatever you want...

 

[mom of 3G's]

I thought for sure our 7 y/o would need a stroller because of his whining, but he surprised us and did really well. I understand your mindset as to why you would want one. Who wants to wreck their vacation hearing "I'm tired... I can't walk anymore... When can we sit down." I was not going to hear that on my too-few-days-at-Disney trip. I was set to rent one should the need and complaining arise. Try a day or two without one, but you certainly have the option to rent one on the days where her little legs are just too tired. Good Luck, and I think you'll be surprised at how well she does without a stroller.

BTW -- nobody gets a second look from me when there is an older child in a stroller. You do what you have to do to have an enjoyable trip.

 

[m&m's mom]

Honestly, when my 6 yo was tired, so was I so we took a break.
I think you will find you could save that money for something else.

 

[koolaidmoms]

You can also rent larger strollers from Mobility Equipment Rentals, Mobilityequipmentrentals.com They rent MacLaren Major buggies which hold up to 135lbs. They used to be $65 a week do not know price now. Fold up like a large umbrella troller with a fairly heavy tray for the feet.

We are considering one for DS who is almost 6. I just don't think even with the training he can physically walk that far especially in Epcot and be comfortable. He does have physical limitations and with his autism it would just not be a happy time for anyone.

Hope this helps. Maybe others on the disabilities boards would have other places too.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We did our first no-stroller trip when the oldest was 7 and younger was 6.

We actually found it more pleasurable to walk at the kids' pace because when we had them both in strollers my DH said that I was trying to walk his legs off.

We also found it nicer not to drag/push the stroller(s) everywhere. Instead of pushing the strollers, we could BE the strollers.

Both our kids are pretty active so we've never had issues where they couldn't make it around the park. We just stop for ice cream breaks whenever we need to rest and re-charge.

I think you can do it, it's probably a good thing if you start practicing with him now and make it a "fun" experience with lots of incentives, like getting him a pedometer so he can see how far he's going (we regularly do 15 miles when we're at EPCOT), and offering "disney dollars" for making benchmarks.

All that being said, on the last trip with a stroller we had the 6 & 7 year old sitting together in a regular old stroller that we bought at toys r us for about 60 bux-they probably weighed over 100 lbs together and the stroller, while a drag and a half to push, was fine.