How big a kid will the stollers hold?

[fanofdisney]

We went in May of this year, and my son was 4 and 1/2, he fit fine. Next year when we go he'll be almost 6. He's tall and skinny. I know 6 is a bit old for a stroller, but he's too young to keep up, and we see a lot more if he doesn't walk the whole time! I'm curious- how old/big were your kids when you could still "stuff" them in one?

 

[SammieG]

my son is 5 and the weight and height of an 8/9 year old. He fitted in ok..
He is 130cms tall and weighs 65lbs? maybe.. not sure exactly! Anyway.. his legs were well over the end when he had them out straight but he fit in the single stroller ok.

The double stroller was MUCH better for him though. He was easy to push. The strollers work very well.

 

[Got Quattro?]

<rant on>

I am sorry, but if your kid is 5 or older, they need to get out of the stroller. Not saying this is your kids, but maybe american children would not be so overweight if parents did not cater to them so much. They are big enough at that age to walk, and if they get tired, then that's a great time to head back for a nap.

It is a huge pet peve to see 6-7-8-9-10 year old kids in strollers at DW. Many of which need to put down the cotton candy anyway and get some blood pumping.

<rant off>

.

 

[MainStreetFan]

I saw a 10 or 12 year old pushing her father in a double today. He was sitting cross legged in it.

 

[Pooh1219]

Sorry, but I don't have children so I can't comment on how well they will fit in Disney strollers.

What I can comment on is, you put your boy in whatever you want, and wheel him around as much as you want. As long as he fits, doesn't mind being in the stroller, and you don't mind pushing him around, I say do whatever you want. It's nobody's business but yours, and why it should peeve anyone to see an older child in a stroller is anyone's guess. Heck, if they made strollers in my size, I'd ask my friend to wheel me around at the end of the day!

 

[Tinkerchele]

My daughter had just turned 5 right before our trip last year...there's no way she would be in a stroller! She kept up just fine with all of us. It would be a waste getting one, I would be wheeling an empty stroller all day...

IMO, a 6 year old doesn't need one.

 

[annej]

My daughter is very tall and skinny. She was 11 when we went in Jan '03 and she fit fine. That said, she rode in the stroller with her brother (7)as it was 29 degrees in the park one day and they kept warm under blankets. I say, do what works best for your family and have a happy happy time.

 

[Amy&Dan]

My daughter is 9 and we got one for her at Epcot two weeks ago. She is about 52 inches tall and fit okay. She had been up much of the night with allergies and swimmers ear and was worn out. We had one day to see Future World with my parents so I rented the stroller. Some of the above posters must have been there that day because I got a lot of dirty looks. We ignored them and had a great day. The otc ear drops dried her painful ear out, she slept great that night and didn't need another stroller the whole trip. As somebody else said, do what works best for your family. I saw a lot of older kids in strollers. I had never noticed much before as I am too busy having fun and worrying about myself to worry about other people's kids in strollers. But after my experience I did pay more attention . WDW is alot of walking.

P.S. This was the double stroller

 

[Tinkerchele]

My daughter is 9 and we got one for her at Epcot two weeks ago. She is about 52 inches tall and fit okay. She had been up much of the night with allergies and swimmers ear and was worn out. We had one day to see Future World with my parents so I rented the stroller. Some of the above posters must have been there that day because I got a lot of dirty looks. We ignored them and had a great day.

Actually, I was there about 2 weeks ago and trust me, I didn't give you dirty looks. I was too busy having fun too.

My daughter gets swimmers ear too...that is NOT fun.

 

[k5thbeatle]

... I'm curious- how old/big were your kids when you could still "stuff" them in one?

I don't know but I swear I saw kids who were like 10 (or older ) in them! Good grief!

 

[bytheblood]

I saw a 10 or 12 year old pushing her father in a double today. He was sitting cross legged in it.

Maybe they were just having fun.

 

[bytheblood]

<rant on>

I am sorry, but if your kid is 5 or older, they need to get out of the stroller. Not saying this is your kids, but maybe american children would not be so overweight if parents did not cater to them so much. They are big enough at that age to walk, and if they get tired, then that's a great time to head back for a nap.

It is a huge pet peve to see 6-7-8-9-10 year old kids in strollers at DW. Many of which need to put down the cotton candy anyway and get some blood pumping.

<rant off>

.

He we go again.....judging a book by the cover, stereo-typing, making false accusations, ASSuming..............

 

[jkfreeman33]

I agree with the poster about overweight american kids being pushed in a stroller. Now we know why the medical experts are saying kids don't get enough exercize, they have parents that don't allow them to.
Aren't they a "big boy" at 6 and off the bottle and all done with potty training?
If they get tired at that age, that should be the first clue that's it's time to go back to the hotel. When adults get tired, that's what we do, we don't rent a wheel chair so someone else can wheel out sorry tired butt around.

 

[Soupermom]

Well...just my two cents here...when we were at MK last summer, my DD then 10, had spent 5 days walking around the parks just fine. She wasn't tired and was doing great. However, because of a TERRIBLE rash she had developed on her inner thighs, she could no longer walk without crying. SO, we rented a stroller and pushed her through the park. I'm sure she would have rather walked, but her only other option at that point was to leave the park, so we made do with the stoller. She fit fine BTW, and I'd do it again in an instant if I had to! HTH!!!!!! (DS 8 had no rash and walked around by himself!)

 

[Brier Rose]

We just got back last week from a birthday trip for my DS who turned 7 while there, and he rode in a stroller the whole time. He is very tall AND VERY SKINNY, and he fit just fine.I'll say it again...VERY SKINNY!

And honestly when I read your post I tried to think about what size children I have seen riding in strollers in the 40+ trips we have taken, and I can not picture a one! We are too busy having FUN and looking at the beautiful flowers, and the smiling faces of most of the other people also having fun.

Guess we've been lucky to escape the glare of the few individuals who are too busy minding everbody else's business.

 

[stacie_d]

The strollers are pretty sturdy and roomy. I'd think your son will be fine in one of them.

 

[disney1990]

<rant on>

I am sorry, but if your kid is 5 or older, they need to get out of the stroller. Not saying this is your kids, but maybe american children would not be so overweight if parents did not cater to them so much. They are big enough at that age to walk, and if they get tired, then that's a great time to head back for a nap.

It is a huge pet peve to see 6-7-8-9-10 year old kids in strollers at DW. Many of which need to put down the cotton candy anyway and get some blood pumping.

<rant off>

.

My daughter used a stroller in the parks until she was 7. She in no way was overweight -- quite the contrary -- even today at 21. However, when we stayed out late to see the fireworks or the parades, she always fell asleep before we left the parks -- even if we had gone back to the room earlier in the day to take naps. She just wasn't a night person. It saves my husband's back and my back since we didn't have to carry her out of the parks each and every night during those days.

In 2 weeks we are taking our 2 granddaughters aged 5 and 7. I will have no problems with them using strollers if staying out late causes them to become too tired. By the way, neither one of them are overweight either.

Yes, we have a problem with overweight children in this country. But, a week at Disney World is not the problem. My granddaughters, like my daughter when she was young, eat the right foods and get plenty of good old playtime exercise -- not hour after hour of television.

So, if you think your child needs a stroller, by all means use one and don't let people like this make you question your decision.

Have a Magical Day!

 

[oogieboogie]

<rant on>

I am sorry, but if your kid is 5 or older, they need to get out of the stroller. Not saying this is your kids, but maybe american children would not be so overweight if parents did not cater to them so much. They are big enough at that age to walk, and if they get tired, then that's a great time to head back for a nap.

It is a huge pet peve to see 6-7-8-9-10 year old kids in strollers at DW. Many of which need to put down the cotton candy anyway and get some blood pumping.

<rant off>

.

FYI... my kids are 7 and 5, they are on the low side of their weight/height scale so they're pretty skinny and I will use a stroller for them at WDW, especially at Epcot. The only time they use a stroller is at WDW and they will only go in a WDW rental stroller. Why do we let them?

Because their dad is 6'3" and has a long stride. It's hard enough for me (5'2") to keep up with them. Imagine how it is for the kids to keep up with him. Asking him to really slow down isn't fair either because it's hard to adjust your stride to slow down that much.

By having the kids in a stroller, we move thru the parks faster because we walk at an adult's pace, the kids are happier because they're not constantly tired from running trying to keep pace, and when they're happy, they're not whining and cranky! If all we did was go back for a nap each time they're tired of walking, we might as well stay at the resort because we'd never get anywhere.

And you know what... at MNSSHP last weekend, I hurt my foot that made it really hard to walk. It was painful to even put weight on it. Because we had a stroller, the kids were in the stroller and I sat in front of them on the edge of the stroller. DH was able to move at his pace without having to wait for me to hobble around.

Many kids are overweight, I'll give you that... but kids don't become overweight from just riding in strollers around WDW. It may be your pet peeve that older kids are in strollers, but to just generalize that kids in strollers are there because they're overweight is judgemental and conceited IMO.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

We used one when my DS was 5 and 6. I found it easier to wheel his stroller than my DD's Graco. Probably cause her stroller had all our stuff in it. I don't think he will be getting one this year though. As long as the temperatures are comfortable he'll be fine walking. I was tempted last year to have DS wheel me around. I was 5 months pregnant and it was pretty hot too.

 

[bunnysmum]

what are some possible reasons people might have their "older" children in a stroller? The rash that one poster mentioned is just one good example. Special needs kids are another example. "Handicaps" are not always obvious. Some children with autism and/or sensory integration issues might feel safer and more secure in a stroller that "holds them in" rather than having to deal with being pushed and jostled by the crowds. It helps them deal better with all the sights, smells, sounds, etc, so that they can enjoy WDW too.

Some special needs kids and their pushing parents might well prefer a stroller to a wheelchair. It's their choice.

My child is 6, and she still loves to ride in the cart when we go shopping. She has mild sensory issues, but even if she didn't and just wanted a stroller, I'd let her ride in one. Face it, WDW is a lot more walking than most people typically do in a day. I plan to use a stroller when we go to the World. I know it will help keep her calmer and happier.
And my goodness, if a child falls asleep in the stroller, well, isn't that better than the child having a meltdown and screaming into your ear? Heaven knows I've read enough complaints about that!

Is it really necessary to judge people for doing something so benign as pushing a child in a stroller; even an older one? Mercy! Is it possible that YOU might have once, unintentionally done something to irk another WDW guest? Aren't you grateful for the folks that didn't judge you harshly for it?

Most folks here on the boards are quite nice, but sometimes comments strike me as snipey. Yes, yes, I understand people feel entitled to comment on the "older kid" and stroller issue because kids and Americans in general are overweight, the strollers take up so much room, blah, blah, blah. But come on. I'm starting to feel like no matter what I do during our upcoming visit to WDW, I'm going to read about my unintentionally offensive behavior at some point here on the boards upon my return.

As I often tell my 5 yr old, "Hey, be NICE!"