How old is too old for a pushchair at WDW?

[DLPDreams]

I have asked about this within another thread but thought it better to start a new one for advice, as it may get lost.

What age do most children stop using pushchairs at WDW? I am probably worrying over nothing but my DD2 doesn't like walking much. She is fine day to day but if we are out for a full day she often complains about walking/being tired etc. This coupled with the August heat makes me worry about her.

To be fair, she is only 5 atm (almost 6) and will be 7 by the time we go - planning ahead . So things might change, but her sister, DD1, has always been fine to walk from a young age and never complains so I just think it is their nature etc. It varies so much from child to child.

I am wondering about taking our old fold up Maclaren (in loft) for DD2 - it will be a tight squeeze for her but just to rest her legs now and again - don't even think we'd use it every day anyway. Just not sure the airline will transport FOC at her age? Does anyone know? Probably depends on airline?

I have thought about hiring one out there too - just the odd day so wouldn't bother with a hire company, would just hire in park. Cost can add up though.

 

[Lolsmum]

Honestly, if you are talking about a 7 year old and over a year away I would plan to not take a buggy unless something major happens in between now and then.

Build up her stamina slowly and create the expectation that she will be fine walking. My kids were both younger than that when we went and we took long walks ahead of time, to practice walking loads for Disney, and never had an issue out there. They knew well ahead of time they were expected to walk.

 

[redrosesix]

Honestly, I think by that time she would refuse to go in a buggy. They start getting more self-conscious around that age.

And IMHO, everyone needs to take breaks and rest when you're there for hot weather. She may be the most obvious one, but it's a sign that you all need to rest in the shade for a bit.

 

[joolz1910]

When we went my youngest had just turned 5 and the pushchair was a godsend. She has never been one to walk far and she napped in the pushchair a lot. If you look at our photos, she is often asleep in the pushchair.

However, she will be 7 when we go next time, and I don't plan on taking a pushchair for her. I would hire one for the day if she was particularly tired though. Each child is different and I would do whatever makes the trip enjoyable for all of you.

 

[wayneg]

For our Son we never used a buggy right from his first visit aged 3.5.

Last couple of years been with our God Daughter, both times in August. 2012 she was aged 4.5 and needed a buggy, last year aged 5.5 she didn't.

Personally I would not put a 7 year old in a buggy but then I have a Wife who has worked with under 5's for 30 years and wouldn't allow it

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks all - I know I am mad to be considering this now, but I was just giving another poster on here some advice about getting a pushchair and it came into my head.

She has always been a nightmare for walking . Having said that, we went to Edinburgh for 4 days end of last summer and she walked a fair bit (although we did do the tour buses to get around a lot). As I said on another thread, once they are excited etc, they can sometimes forget about being tired! If I were going this summer, right now I'd say I'd need one for at least some of the time! But next summer is a long way away .

I was just wondering what people do if they have a pushchair to check in and clearly older children checking in on a flight Obviously doesn't happen much, only for Disney hols! Never thought about her not wanting to go in it - knowing her, she probably will refuse if I dragged it all that way .

We'll see what happens but it would be useful to know if there is a cutoff age for children having pushchairs on flights? When we did Paris last we hired one (she was 4.5 at time), as we had APs so got them free!

 

[DLPDreams]

For our Son we never used a buggy right from his first visit aged 3.5.

Last couple of years been with our God Daughter, both times in August. 2012 she was aged 4.5 and needed a buggy, last year aged 5.5 she didn't.

Personally I would not put a 7 year old in a buggy but then I have a Wife who has worked with under 5's for 30 years and wouldn't allow it

I am sure she won't need it but I want to be prepared. Apart from anything else, I guess you'd nearly break your back pushing it .

I am sure she will be fine and I am worrying over nothing but it is arduous for adults in Florida August heat/humidity, never mind children! We are planning lots of afternoon breaks so it may not be an issue. I would never dream of using one in the UK, or on any other holiday - she hasn't used one for years. But the amount of walking in WDW is not a 'normal' holiday stroll about every day. Heck, I might even want to jump in and get pushed about ...

Seems to be, as a consensus that 5 is about the oldest age. I have definitely seen older children than that in Disney pushchairs at Paris the times I have been! And that is so much smaller than WDW (but you still know you've walked miles at the end of every day, or at least feel you have!).

 

[2Tiggies]

There is no age where the child is too old. It comes down to where you draw the line not wanting to push one.

DD was never a stroller child. She was a "NO! I WALK" kid, lol. And boy, does she walk!! But not all kids are the same. We met our friends from Canada at WDW a couple of years ago and their younger child who was 5 at the time walked everywhere. The older one, who was seven, refused to walk and they used a stroller for him. As someone who has never experienced strollers at Disney first hand, this was a new experience for me and I noted the following:

There was a detour everywhere we wanted to go because we had to find the stroller parking before heading to our chosen attraction.

As above whenever we exited an attraction - had to go find the stroller (and CM's routinely move/shift them as space requires)

A 7 year old is much heavier than a 3 year old. Nuff said.

Because it is on wheels, everyone else with you will assume that it is weightless so any crap they don't feel like carrying around will be placed in said stroller for you to push.


There are plenty folk who quite openly voice their disapproval when seeing older children in strollers. My take is, if it makes your life easier and your vacation more pleasant, then go for it. But consider the flip side as well because there are aspects of shunting a stroller around that make me think I might be more inclined to enjoy more regular breaks for tired little legs than exhaust myself pushing weights

You can always rent one if the need arises, at the time. Or take a small collapsible with you and see if you need it and just leave it in the room if not.

 

[PChef]

On our first trip my youngest son was 5, nearly 6 and he was fine without a buggy. He had the very occasional ride on Daddy's shoulders but generally the excitement would keep him going.... But that was in February so not as hot as August.

Now he's 12 and taller than me!!!!

 

[london75]

I'll agree with others, a 6 year old daughter is very different from a 7 and 8 year old one. The change in our eldest since she turned 7 is amazing. She complains occasionally about her younger sister still being pushed around but she coped absolutely fine at 7 when she wouldn't have at all at 6.

 

[Elise79]

Our DD last used one everyday at 4.5 in December 2012.

She used it in the evening at Easter 2013 and it came out one evening in July 2013 just after she turned 5, the other 15 nights she didn't need it or ask for it.

She didn't have one at all in December 2013 at 5.5 - and that included a whole day in Epcot from 9am till 10pm We just make sure we take breaks for her to rest if need be.

TBH Having a stroller is such a PITA that I am happy its no longer required and I was happy to see the back of it. You are always having to drop it off/pick it and find it after the CMs have re-arranged them again. Yes you can drop it off and do an area but its still a faff I am happy to shot of

 

[robinb]

We stopped bringing a stroller for my DD when she was 6-7. We were down to using it at Epcot and evenings only since she was the type of kid to go-go-go (even through a rest back at the resort) until she crashed. A stroller allowed us to keep on going. Frankly, she would have been happy to continue to be pushed for years after that but we declined.

I wouldn't make a decision until you are closer to your holiday. When we brought strollers with us here in the US (8 years ago), you could "gate check" your stroller and it was free but if it was checked through with our luggage it counted against our luggage allotment. You may find that bringing it with you may be too expensive. If you choose not to bring your own and you end up needing one you can buy one at WDW (a small umbrella stroller) or you can go to Babies R Us and buy one if you have a car. The stroller rentals are not included with an AP at WDW and they are quite expensive.

 

[scottish mum]

My dd used a buggy (in WDW) right up until she was 6, she has always been very active but also tires very easily. Without it ours days would've been very short as we would have needed to go back to our room to rest.

My 2 boys both went to WDW for the first time when they were 4 and neither of them ever used a buggy there. They are totally different from dd and could keep going forever.

Our trip this year dd will be 10 and if she could she would quite happily sit in a buggy. I know we will have to take things slightly slower as she just cannot cope with it all. At home she sleeps for at least 12 hrs a night so in Disney she is always exhausted. Its just her nature that she needs a lot of sleep

 

[joolz1910]

My dd used a buggy (in WDW) right up until she was 6, she has always been very active but also tires very easily. Without it ours days would've been very short as we would have needed to go back to our room to rest.

My 2 boys both went to WDW for the first time when they were 4 and neither of them ever used a buggy there. They are totally different from dd and could keep going forever.

Our trip this year dd will be 10 and if she could she would quite happily sit in a buggy. I know we will have to take things slightly slower as she just cannot cope with it all. At home she sleeps for at least 12 hrs a night so in Disney she is always exhausted. Its just her nature that she needs a lot of sleep

Totally agree - each child is different. My eldest wanted to be out of the pushchair and walking from the age of around 2! I had to battle to get her in it. DD number two wasn't quite as determined but was still happy to walk for miles if she was entertained. DD number three takes after me and would quite happily sit in a pushchair (if she still had one) 27/7 lol.

 

[wilma-bride]

My DS, on his first visit at 5, used a buggy on two evenings when we stayed out late to watch the fireworks. To be honest, he probably would have been fine without it on both occasions as far as walking but I wanted him to be able to nap if he needed to (and he did). Other than that, towards the end of the trip we got a buggy for him at Epcot one day as he was just so shattered, we knew it was the only way we'd get him around the park.

On his next visit, though, he was nearly 7 and didn't use (or need) a buggy at all.

I guess the only right answer is that you just have to judge for yourself and make a call based on how your child is doing and what suits you at the time or will make your life easier.

 

[DLPDreams]

My dd used a buggy (in WDW) right up until she was 6, she has always been very active but also tires very easily. Without it ours days would've been very short as we would have needed to go back to our room to rest.

My 2 boys both went to WDW for the first time when they were 4 and neither of them ever used a buggy there. They are totally different from dd and could keep going forever.

Our trip this year dd will be 10 and if she could she would quite happily sit in a buggy. I know we will have to take things slightly slower as she just cannot cope with it all. At home she sleeps for at least 12 hrs a night so in Disney she is always exhausted. Its just her nature that she needs a lot of sleep

Thanks all for the replies - it is interesting to see the different opinions, clearly based on different children!

My DD2 is like yours scottish mum. Sleeps really well which is great, but also needs good, solid sleep iyswim. When she first goes back to school after holidays she is sooo tired and quite grumpy! Just takes her a while to adjust and tbh she's been like it since being a baby. She tires very easily. DD1 didn't sleep well until she was quite an age and can get by on little sleep, tiredness doesn't affect her as much.

I will see nearer the time, it is too far off really, just wanted people's opinions .

 

[chmurf]

we have always rented stroller. DS was (almost) 6 on our last trip, and the stroller was a lifesaver on so many occasions ...

At the end of the day, it depends on the child.

The only thing you can be sure of, is that, at 7, if you don't rent a stroller, you will regret it, AND if you DO rent a stroller, the kid will refuse to use it.

I would not rent a stroller for that age, but be ready (I'm talking budget) to rent one if the need arises during your stay.

 

[ROBEAR84]

It's so difficult isn't it as every child's different. I agree that I've seen much older children in them at DLP but DD1 walked round on her very first trip (she turned 3 there!) (DHs shoulders were sore by the end of the trip though, she had a fare few breaks up there!!) DS on the other hand - we went to London for 4 nights when he was over 4 and had to take the buggy! we didn't use it every day and it did feel odd as he was at school by then (but luckily he's dinky so didn't look strange to others! lol)

I must admit I hadn't even considered him at WDW! He'll have just turned 6 when we go and he still moans that his legs are tired walking back to the car from school!!

Fingers crossed I think we can make do as it'll be easy enough to carry DD2 for a while if he wants a rest. Think I'm just hoping the excitement of being there keeps him going!

I don't think I'd bother otherwise though. You can always rent one and whereas we would chain up the buggy at DLP whilst we went on several rides close to oneanother, I'm sure I read somewhere that's a no no at WDW so I'd be worried it'd go walkies too.

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks for the replies all .

To be fair, we had 4 full days in Edinburgh last summer holidays and walked a lot (although we also used the 'tourist' bus to get around too which took some strain) and she walked (with a bit of complaining at times, but nothing major). We also visited Lightwater Valley last summer, were there from opening, to almost closing and again, she was fine (again, complained but we managed). If she is doing that now, by the time we go in 18 months, I am sure she will be fine . I am sure I am underestimating her (or her complaining just sticks in my mind) !

If not, we'll rent a one for a day or two spread over the 3 weeks. I think it's the cumulative walking that gets them, especially in the heat. But I am planning lots of breaks/pool afternoons/waterparks/DC etc so I think we can intersperse . I think the 'mean' streak in me just thinks I don't want to pay to hire when I have a perfectly good Maclaren stuck in my loft!

 

[mollies_mum]

My daughter was 6 the first time we went and she walked fine without a pushchair even in the evenings. My son will be just 5 when we go next year and I'm not sure if he will need one then either....