How big a kid will the stollers hold?

[DisneyPhD]

My oldest is almost 5 and she is a stroller kid. If I go anywhere with just the single stroller for her baby sister she tends to complan and wants her dad to carry her. (and we do use just the single for some situations, WDW is not one of them.)

However she is very skinny and very healthy and active. The doctor used to tell me to mix oil with her food to fatten her up. I don't think so. (she currenlty weights 31 pounds and is 40 inches)

I don't have a problem at all with older kids using stroller at WDW and I really don't understand why anyone would. Walking at WDW is so much more intense then walking any other place. Also keeping them in the stroller you know where they are at all times. (someone made a point about them sleeping at night also or bundling up to keep warm.)

When you see a very overweight person in a electric whelle chair and the thought comes to mind, do they need it because they weight too much? IF that is the case, exersise might help. (at that point is is a viscus cycle. The thing is you NEVER know about the other person. Maybe they have bad knees, hips many other issues. No one can know, and it isn't their bussniess.

What about fat kids? Some meds kids NEED (for whaver ever reason) cause weight gain and increased apptight.

It is very easy to judge other people, but the truth is, you just never know the whole story by a glance.

In the current Vacation Planning DVD, didn't they have Dave in a stroller? A grown man, it was pretty funny. It makes my DD laugh every time.

I think it should be able to hold your kid. If it makes your trip even a little bit better and easier do it. If you don't need it, go with out. It really depends on so many factors. The good thing with renting at this age is you can make that deccsion on a day to day baises.

I am guessing my kids are going to be in some kind of stroller until puperty! (But then again if they are anything like I was as a kid they will be under 60 pounds at the time!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sometimes I just wonder why parents keep their kids in the parks so long that the "oft-mentioned" meltdown even happens. Who's really enjoying the parks at this point? Take a break before your child gets too tired or whiny or crabby. I know it helps me when I get tired.

 

[leight]

don't mean to be rude, but my daughters are in the 50% for height 25% for weight at 5 & 8 and they still fit comfortably in the WDW strollers. they are active in their favorite sports and I won't apologize for using the convenience of the stroller on my vacation. We do weekend trips and have to fit in the parks pretty quickly- it's just plain easier for me to navigate thru the crowd and keep my daughters safe when they are in the stroller. We often separate (my dh takes our 8 yr old on rides that my 5yr old won't go near) so we have to move quickly to meet up again. This also gives me a place to put my backpack/camera etc since we don't usually like to go back to the hotel too early and I have heirniated discs in my back so can't carry anything too heavy.

I'm more concerned about the numerous rental scooters that I see overweight adults jockeying around in. I wasn't able to get one for my mother in law who has arthritis, phlebitis and circulatory problems at Epcot last year but I saw more people who were fairly young adults using them throughout the park. (ps- SHE RESTED IN THE DOUBLE STROLLER SEVERAL TIMES!)

 

[AC7179]

Live and let live. Older kids in strollers certainly aren't hurting anybody! Geez.....

 

[Denmark]

Would that be one of your kids in that stroller ?

 

[dumby]

Sometimes I just wonder why parents keep their kids in the parks so long that the "oft-mentioned" meltdown even happens. Who's really enjoying the parks at this point? Take a break before your child gets too tired or whiny or crabby. I know it helps me when I get tired.

Some people only get to go to WDW once in a life time and if they spent all their time letting their child nap they would not get to see anything. I know as a parent I go to WDW mainly for the kids BUT I also want to enjoy myself and I cannot always stop and go back to the room to rest. A lot of people are staying off site and it is not feasible to leave every time your child gets tired. That is a very good reason to have a stroller so they can rest a little and be able to stay in the parks longer.

I think if you want or need a stroller for you child no matter what age they are it is your business and if the other people don't like it maybe they should go somewhere besides WDW to enjoy their vacation.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Would that be one of your kids in that stroller ?

Denmark,

That gave me a good chuckle. Point made I think. (yes your kid WILL fit.)

 

[gymnasticscoach TX]

<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>

.

boy what is that all about!!??!! there is some truth in what you are saying, but I would never judge a child in a stroller, as you never know what is going on... my daughter had a severe broken heel, casted for 2 months, got the cast removed right before the trip and could barely walk. ( already paid for trip in full before accident)
and yes, she gained some weight from the lack of exercise. I guess you must have seen us there last year and judged us. she was 8.
this dis board is always more fun than my soapoperas

 

[jamzots]

ummm... I don't think anybody with a 5 or 6 y.o. pushes their kid around in a stroller everyday of their life, so I really DOUBT that if they do it for a few hours in WDW it is going to make their kids obese. BTW on our last trip we had a very long day, literally ran from Fantasmic to the bus to T.C.C. to M.K. to catch Wishes, we just made it and the first thing my 8 y.o. D.S. asked for when we walked in was a stroller. Yes we did get one and the C.M. just handed it to us and winked, didn't even have to pay. We still has a long night ahead of us for E.M.H., and it was the best thing I did. The stroller was perfectly comfortable for him and it was easier to push around than my baby's Graco. And you know what?? He didn't get fat from the experience!!

 

[lark]

Edited -- sorry, not worth it.

 

[ChickieToo]

Spoke to an older woman in the elevator at BCV on our last trip Oct 3-10. She was wearing a pedometer which sparked the conversation. I asked her if she was out for her daily power walk. She said no, that she just liked to keep track of how many miles she walked in the parks. How many miles is that you ask? She averages 6-9 miles per day!

My DD6 is thin, a little tall for her age and a good soccer player and an avid bike rider. But could she do 6-9 miles per day for a week with all the other stressors of a trip (late nights, hot sun, long waits) and be the pleasent child she usually is. I don't think so. So when we were there in October I pulled out the old umbrella stroller and brought it to every park. Sometimes she used it, sometimes she didn't. Sometimes we put the back pack or packages in it. Like another poster, my 6'2" DH has a longer stride than DD or me (5'3"), so it can be hard to keep up. I don't care if she seems a little old to someone else who might be wasting their trip looking at other kids in strollers and deeming them suitable or not. Keeping DD comfortable is more important than the opinion of some judgemental tourist who can't see the bigger picture.

I just wish they had one big enough for me!

 

[gilesdad]

Okay, a few facts about my family. This will be our first trip to WDW, coming up the week after Thanksgiving. We will only be at ONE park for ONE day. We're going to MK and intend to see and do as much as our time will allow without having to rush around like maniacs.
Yes, we do intend to rent a stroller for our 5 yr old daughter. And we'll hope to get a double stroller because it wouldn't surprise me if by 9pm her 8 yr old brother just might be tired of walking also. Heck, my wife might even want to ride in it but I'm sure we won't let her.
My daughter is active, healthy, and extremely curious and sensitive about every little possible fabric of this entire world that we live in. She wants to pick up and keep every leaf, stick, paper, anything shiney, etc... She would most surely not be able to walk for 12 hours through Magic Kingdom at a pace which would allow the rest of the family to keep its collective wits about them. So, she'll ride. And we'll walk. And we'll have a great time. And, ya know what? She might get out and walk for awhile too. I dunno. But feel free to roll the eyes and judge us. We still intend to have a GREAT time at Disney World.

 

[shaylahc]

I wouldn't rent a stroller for a 6 year old.

We went to WDW in October with 4, 6 and 8 year olds who all walked on foot (our 1 year old rode in a backpack). The 6 year old had just had pneumonia 2 weeks before we went and still managed to walk all over the parks and never complained once. I think often parents ASSUME the kids NEED the stroller without actually giving their kids a chance to walk. If a kid wants to walk, let them! And I agree about taking it slower and going back to the hotel for a break when they get tired.

 

[plutolovr]

On our first family trip, many years ago, my DD was 7 and twins were 5. We never even considered a stroller. We stayed offsite, so going back to hotel for a break was never an option. No meltdowns (my son has ADHD) no whining whatsoever. We managed to see alot and really enjoy ourselves. I think my kids would have been embarrassed to be in a stroller at that age.

 

[disneymom2one]

My first thought when I see 6/7/8/9 year old kids in strollers? What wise, thoughtful parents they have to realize that using a stroller at WDW is not the same as using a stroller at home.

I just think the judgements about strollers are really unneccessary. WDW involves miles and miles of walking that is way beyond what a normal child would walk in a week let alone a day. Personally I would much rather see a happy, content child in a stroller than a miserable one who is clearly tired and worn out and being almost dragged from attraction to attraction.

Also as some people have pointed out autistic kids and kids with sensory issues usually look relatively "nornal" but have almost no stamina at all. Until we bought our special needs stroller we routinely rented strollers for our 75 pound just turned 10. She looks completely normal and no one would have any idea that even walking around Wal-Mart can be too much for her (and she's in shape, plays soccer, etc). Strollers are also comforts for these kids.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I often take my DD's to the park solo and when they are in the stroller I know exactly where they are. They are unable to wander off or get lost in a crowd.

Not to mention, distractly stepping in front of a stroller or otherwise bumping into people.

Their safety is much more important then apperances.

 

[dlf]

We have just come backs from 2 weeks in Orlando with 3 children, 10, 8 and 3. We hired 2 double strollers in each park. The children didn't use them all the time but when they wanted a rest (and it was very humid for some of the days), then it was ideal. I will do the same when we go again next year even though the oldest will be 11. She certainly would never use a stroller at home but it was a huge help on holiday. The extra space in the strollers also meant we could carry a large cooler bag around full up with drinks for the day.

I also had a step counter on and can agree with the above post about the mileage covered in a day. Epcot was the most for me with 8 miles!

 

[goingsouth]

I do many things in WDW I don't do at home. My skinny kids think riding in a stroller is a treat, just for AK and Epcot. They are 8 and 9. It helps everyone enjoy the day more. If we received dirty looks for this, we never noticed. I also where a fanny pack in WDW. I'd never where that anywhere else. I try not to worry about much where I am at Disney. That's for the rest of the year...

 

[Got Quattro?]

Not saying this is your kids,

.

Wow....some people must have a lot of guilt to be so defensive about this.

Truth is, your kids can do a lot more than many of us give them credit for, if we just let them. Of course the kids who have broken heals, or rash's ect ect, may not be able to walk.

But 7 out of 10 kids above 5 or 6, have no need to be in a stroller...PERIOD

If you kid starts to whine that they are tired, it's time to leave or go find a sit down show. Plain and simple.

 

[gymnasticscoach TX]

like I said before, there is some merrit to what you are saying, I took my girls in 2000, ages 4 & 8, didn't need a stroller at all... but I felt obligated to post on this one because the lack of sensitivity on the comment about the "put the cotton candy down" I kinda felt like that was a low blow! you cant expect to write something like that, and not expect a reaction. It has nothing to do with feeling "guilty"I was pointing out that there are many circumstances that require children stroller assistance at WDW, so please be a little more understanding/compasionate when you notice them instead of getting peeved. and I am going in 26 days with no stroller he he