How old is too old for a stroller?

[bubbasmom99]

My son just turned 5 and we just got back from a trip to Washington DC, where every day his legs would get tired by afternoon (we did not even walk as much as we would at Disney). We didn't bring his stroller, only one for DD. We wound up having to carry her and put him in the stroller when he pooped out in the afternoon.

My son is one of those kids who loves to be chauffeured. We're going to DW in December and I'm wondering if it would be worth the investment to buy a new side by side double stroller for the 2 of them at this time. How much longer should I expect that he will want to stay in the stroller? He weighs about 43 lbs and is much too heavy for a regular stroller, and almost too heavy for one side of a double.

Our plan is to either bring Sarah's Combi and rent one for Nick while we're there; or leave the strollers at home and rent a double at each park.

WWYD? I might add that my 2 kids are very close and would probably love to sit side by side when we go places. But I don't want to fork out $200-300 for something that we won't use for a year. We don't have plans to vacation anywhere else until December, but we do go to the mall and stuff. I might find a double jogger a good investment, but I dread trying to get that onto the plane.

TIA!

 

[momxx5]

If it will make your trip easier I would bring an umbrella stroller for him

Last yr I bought DD(the 18months) a new smaller reclinable stroller and DD(then 5 yr old) used the umbrella stroller. It worked out really well. If older DD walked then I would fold umbrella stroller and hook it on the handle of baby's stroller.

We, as you did, learned for an earlier trip that older DD would not make it all day without a stroller. She is very small for her age.

My DD is now 5 1/2yrs old and weighs 37lbs and wears a size 4T. We are planning our trip to WDW this summer and I am positive that we will be bringing both strollers along.

How old is your DD? I would either bring your DD's stroller and rent DS one in the parks or plan on renting a double stroller. Even if you bring DD's stroller for use at resort, Downtown Disney adn waterparks, then you can leave it in the room and rent a double one at the parks. Do what you think is best.

 

[Skylarr29]

I would just rent a double stroller. TO me it is not worth the hassle of folding and unfolding 1 stroller let alone 2 for trams, busses etc. If you hop to another park then you just take your reciept and pick up another one at the next park.

 

[colleen costello]

I am 39 and wish they made ons in my size!

WDW can be exhausting, even to adults. My kids are 9 and 5 and we still rent one in Epcot. It cuts down on the whine quotient tremendously! There's just too much ground to cover. They don't ride the whole time, but when they get tired it's there for them. Nobody's business... go for it!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I went in Jan with DD(4 1/2), DS(turned 3 at Disney), and DD(turned 1- 2 weeks later). We brought our side by side double and rented a single stoller from ABBF. My son walked most of the time but DD(4) really needed the stroller. BUT...if you don't plan on having any more children I would not invest in a new double stroller-I would use that money the rent a double in the parks. How old is your DD? Will you need a stroller in the airport?

I'm planning a fall trip and have already decided to bring our own single umbrella stroller for baby and rent doubles in the parks when needed. It was a huge hassle to fold up the strollers and we had a tough time fitting the double umbrella in the trams. It will be worth the money for the ease of getting to the parks and the kids loved the rental stroller and they are so easy to push.

 

[Barb D]

We rented for our big-for-her-age 4yo last year, and seriously regretted it at night after we left the parks. She would fall asleep on the way back to the resort, and let me tell you, she was HEAVY. One night I just couldn't carry her any farther, and ended up making her walk (in her sleep!) the rest of the way back to the room (in spread-out POR). All I could do was try to support her weight and kind of guide her. It wasn't a pretty sight.

I sure hope I can find a REALLY big umbrella stroller before we go back next time.

BTW, you might want to consider getting two umbrella strollers, and a set of connectors. That way you can combine them into one so that one parent can push both, or divide them if you and your DH want to each take a child.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Our kids will be 4, 5 1/2, and just turning 7 when we go in July. I'm bringing a single, reclining umbrella stroller for ds (4) and double umbrella stroller for dds (5 and 7). The girls are small for their ages and last year we just brought ds's umbrella stroller and rented a double stroller and I wouldn't do it again. First of all we'll be at US/IOA and DIsney 10 days this year, and 13 days next year. It' was cheaper ($100) to buy the double stroller than to rent one for all those days. I know some people swear they wouldn't let their bigger kids ride in a stroller but it's a lifesaver for us (plus the storage). THeir little legs can't keep up and we like to move faster than a snail's pace. ALso even though the kids are in great shape WDW is a lot of miles and I'd rather they not be exhausted every day. To each his own but we love the convenience of the strollers.

 

[Disney_1derland]

We're right there with you. My 4 year old can easily do the 1 mile lap at the zoo two times without complaint but I am positive that the stress of Disney will be more than she can handle and she likes to have a place that's just hers to sit back and take in all that is going on around her. So, here are the options we have considered......(I might add that finding a stroller she fits in comfortably has been one of our biggest problems. -She is wearing a 5T and is 40 inches tall) We have tried EVERY stroller ever suggested on the Dis and most of them are impractical because they are not comfortable for her long legs. Her feet dangle at wheel level and the foot rests are badly positioned for a preschooler with long legs and she was very uncomfortable trying to keep her feet on the footrest. this was especially true of the umbrella strollers.

So, we are down to three choices....

Two of them are at Target and haven't seen them anywhere else.

Safety 1st Avila stroller. Looks and feels like a very deluxe umbrella stroller and is very lightweight. they list the shipping weight at 19 pounds but the stroller itself is only about 13. It has the very cool feature of, once folded it stands up straight on its own support, doesn not fold down to the ground like others, I like this feature a lot, especially when waiting for trams and buses at disney with a folded stroller. tray has a cup and snack holder, basket is easily accessible. It's comparatively cheap. $39.99 and I *think* it's small enough that two of them could be hooked together with the umbrella attachers. My 4 year old fits comfortably in this and her feet don't dangle because the footrest is wider than most and better designed.

the Eddie Bauer Arrowhead stroller. More lushly padded than the Avila, but still the feel of a deluxe umbrella stroller. Bigger basket, better quality wheels. Multi position seat recline versus laying or sitting which are the only two available in the Avila. Weighs about the same. Too big to be hooked together by the twin connectors (we haven't tried it yet but it looks like it wouldn't work. Even more comfortable fit for my 4 year old, who LOVED this stroller. pricier than the avila $89

then our last option: a double 'jogger' with swivel front wheels. About the same price as buying two of the Eddie Bauer strollers. We're specifically looking at the instep/schwinn safari TT models. We've tried our daughter in the insteps at the store and they are big enough but the foot rests force her to keep her knees bent at a really high angle. She wasn't too keen on that aspect. It's less than the width of a standard doorway so as not to be a problem getting it in and out of doors, so I'm told, not sure how true this is. It's a good investment. I could turn around and sell it on Ebay or at my local Play it Again Sports for as much as I paid for it. They are hot in demand and can be hard to get so if you order in advance and want to resell it, chances are there is somebody out there looking for one. Here, they are so in demand that our Play it Again Sports sells them for more than they are worth and has no trouble getting it.

We were at the zoo this week and I was totally jealous of the double stroller moms! It looked so easy to push and maneuver and the kids looked so comfortable in them.

In the end I don't know what we'll do, we don't leave till November so I'm still going back and forth here. I hope my research is helpful-good luck!

 

[3boysluvndisney]

I would just take your current stroller for DD and then rent one at the parks for DS. That way you haven't invested alot of money into something you will only use probably once or twice. You will only have to worry about traveling with one stroller instead of two or a big double stroller. We are going in mid June and I have 3 kids ages 8, 5 and 14 months. We are taking our combi for our 14 month old and renting a double stroller at the parks for our 8 and 5 year old. Good luck and have lots of fun!!!

 

[mmounsey]

My kids are small for their ages too...ds's who will be 6, 4, and 1 1/2 next time we go...we already have a double umbrella stroller that we'll use and I'll probably get another single umbrella stroller that I've had my eye on...I love using them for storage too!
__________________

 

[Duchie]

Do you have any resale or children's consignment shops in your area? Last year when I was shopping for a double stroller, I called around. Several places had them, and other places put my name on a list and called me when they came in. You might be limited to what they get in stock, but the cost savings could be significant (they were when I was looking.)

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Nobody's business... go for it!

Isn't this the truth. I could care less what others do at WDW as long as they are not putting a damper on our trip.

When DS4 gets out of the stroller, DS9 will sometimes jump in. It's tiring walking around the parks. It gives him just a little rest so he's ready to move on.

Of course, pushing a 9 year old does give me a workout -- I can't do it for long.

 

[disneyjunkie]

My niece and nephew were 5 and 6 during our Easter trip. They both walked around all the parks for 7 days without any problem. A few times they asked us why were "big kids" riding in strollers?

They are used to walking at home. My sister and her husband hasn't used a stroller since my niece was 3 years old. So getting one at Disney wasn't an option.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Last December my son only used his stroller in Epcot.

We leave in 2 weeks. We have already sold his stroller at our garage sale because he was just too big for it. He is a big kid for 4 yrs old. He weighs about 45 lbs & it 45.5 inches tall!

We have decided WHEN he needs a stroller we will just rent one for him. I am thinking the only parks he may need a stroller is Epcot & Animal Kingdom. But we will see.

If he needs some for the other parks that is OK too.

I really don't care what others think. Although my son is only 4 years old, he has been mistaken for a 6 or even 7 year old before.
If people think I am pushing around a 6 year old in a stroller....well, let them talk
I don't care....I am at Walt Disney World

 

[WhispyPixie]

Although I agree with Disneyjunkie and the perspective they have, we do use a stroller for our 5 year old. We did not however use a stroller for our twins after they hit 3 and a half!! They never needed it, and our 5 year old doesnt really need it for the walking thing, but when she gets tired.....I have found that she will lay in her stroller...curl up in a ball and go SOUND asleep and wake up a happy camper!! It is worth it to be for her to be happy! Once again, use the stroller at the own need for your child.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

around 5 or so should be the cutoff date. after that, they should be able to walk around by themselves. when you or they get tired, just take a rest. Older than 6 is too much. They need to learn how to hang tough!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Gee, I thought we were on vacation . . . I didn't realize the kids had to "hang tough". I don't see why anyone should care if other people let their older kids use a stroller. As I said before, to each their own.

 

[robertsmom]

I also don't understand the "hang tough" philosophy. My 7 year old DS used a stroller every day at WDW last year, and I never gave it a second thought. He does plenty of walking at home, and I would much have him happy on vacation than worn out and miserable.

 

[sha_lyn]

do what feels right for you, and ignore those who say not to use a stroller.

DD will be almost 7 when we go to US/IOA in July. You better bet we will have the stroller with us. We probably won't use it every day, but we will have it there just in case.

She made it fine yesterday through a full day at Six Flags but it was only one day, and the weather was 75 degrees and cloudy. I know she won't make it for 4 full days in Orlando the first weekend of July. We will also be using the stroller that week to go the 1 1/2 miles from the hotel in ft Lauderdale to the karate tournamant and back.

 

[GlennandAnn]

Your son is the same age and the same weight as my older guy. There is NO WAY I would go to WDW without a stroller for him. He complains that his legs are tired walking to the park (about 2 blocks away) and I am not about to listen to that all day at the parks! He likes being chauffered around and has never made a comment about being too big.


Ann