how old is too old for strollers? LOL

[YoMickey]

We have a 9-7-4 year olds. We usually rented a stroller or got in a swap on the budget board. It was always a double and all of the kids at some time or another used it. It was also a handy place to dump your crap while in line.

They are handy to have. I think 2 would be too many.

 

[stsomewhere]

My DS is on the small side. There is NO WAY he would want to ride in a stroller.

 

[dhardawa]

I took my daughter for the first time when she was 4 and took a stroller. We used it to hold our junk. On the second day, the stroller stayed in the hotel and that is where it stayed the rest of the trip. She was way too excited to want to sit at all.

 

[happy.family.of.6]

Thanks for all your opinions. Like I said several times, i know my 2 9 yr olds and most likely my 7 yr old will not use it at all. my mom is just like that! she always prepares for the worse! But my 5 year old is pigeon toed and very petite - VERY! and will slow us down a lot if she walks,s o i think we will get one double for her and our stuff and in case anyone else wants to sit in it. And like many have noted, the "strollers" at WDW are not like stroller strollers - it's not like im trying to shove a 9 year old in a graco stroller or something.

 

[mom-2greatkids]

We are Disney "commandos" who are at the parks from open until close. Typically we spend 8 full days in the parks during each vacation. Our kids rode in strollers until they turned 6. I remember when each of the kids was 5 thinking they would never be able to walk during the next year's vacation. However, DH and I were pleasantly surprised. Both walked all day every day at 6 without any (OK, very few) complaints.

 

[Mom of three]

If they are tired of walking and need a break, sit on a bench.

I agree with the majority of the other posters. 9 is wayyy to old for stroller. Were talking 4th graders here!!! Totally irks me to see a chubby older kid in a stroller with ice-cream dripping down thier chin. Gimme a break.

My son is 2 and he walked more than he rode in the stroller. Partly because it was his choice and partly because we wanted him to walk around! Its good for them!

 

[Pudge]

Thanks for all your opinions. Like I said several times, i know my 2 9 yr olds and most likely my 7 yr old will not use it at all. my mom is just like that! she always prepares for the worse! But my 5 year old is pigeon toed and very petite - VERY! and will slow us down a lot if she walks,s o i think we will get one double for her and our stuff and in case anyone else wants to sit in it. And like many have noted, the "strollers" at WDW are not like stroller strollers - it's not like im trying to shove a 9 year old in a graco stroller or something.

I think getting the double stroller just in case is a great idea. Like you said, you can put stuff that you don't want to haul around into the stroller and if one of the older ones gets tired they can hop in for a ride. If the seven, or heck, even the nine year old gets tired and wants to get in so be it. It's your vacation and you aren't ever going to see those people at the parks again anyway. Having a good time together is the #1 priority.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We put our 2 boys together in 1 single disney stroller last time. They were 5 and 6 years old. (only 1 month away from their 6th and 7th birthdays) We rented a single thinking they would take turns, but sometimes they both wanted to ride at the same time. Those strollers were huge. I think they have since gotten new stollers at disney.

They are very active boys, and they eat a healthy diet. They aren't overweight at all. In fact I always have to buy them slim pants so their pants aren't falling down.

Disney is huge. We are there from rope drop until closing. Sometimes I wish I could ride in the stroller. In fact I know one mom who did sit in the disney stoller with her child on her lap to watch fireworks.

This will be our first year not renting a stroller (the boys will be almost 8 and 9 years), and I'm not looking forward to carrying our stuff.

 

[star sweeper]

I wouldn't get a stroller for the 9 year-olds. I read a book about the parks before going that mentioned great places for unwinding while in the park. Also, plan your days around scheduled low-times (taking in a show you all want to see after a few hours of rides) to even out the day for the older kids.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would plan on renting a stroller from an outside company for your 5 y/o. The Disney double strollers are $35 a day.

 

[cropper]

going to the World is totally different then going to the mall or zoo, regardless of afternoon breaks..imo

Do whatever makes your life easier! No one is going to look at you or your kids and say 'they are too old for a stroller'.
I have pictures of my 14 year old niece reclined in the double stroller at a bus stop...she was whipped!

Mine are 5 and 10 and we are taking a stroller for the 5 year old. If we decide we don't want it, we will leave it in the room. But at night, I think we will be glad we have it!!

 

[Jdougherty]

happy.family.of.6:

The strollers at WDW are like the ones at Denver or CMZOOs, You can get 3 in there if you have too (in a double). BUT they are expensive I would check allears on prices for the week to see if you want to rent or bring your own. ALSO I suggest packing some sort of decongestant pollen and hummidity can really do you in down there coming for our dry climate ( not so dry with all our storms recently right?)

DD has issue when ever we leave to go east.

 

[maxiesmom]

If they are tired of walking and need a break, sit on a bench.

I agree with the majority of the other posters. 9 is wayyy to old for stroller. Were talking 4th graders here!!! Totally irks me to see a chubby older kid in a stroller with ice-cream dripping down thier chin. Gimme a break.

My son is 2 and he walked more than he rode in the stroller. Partly because it was his choice and partly because we wanted him to walk around! Its good for them!

What you seem to be saying is that the child is "chubby' because they are in a stroller. No child becomes "chubby" just by riding in a stroller at Disney World. Or are you equally offended by chubby older kids walking around the parks with ice-cream dripping down their chins?

We used a stroller last year for my then 8yr old niece. She isn't fat, in fact she plays soccer. But she is a very slow walker, and she loves to just wander around looking at everything. We were only at Disney World for 4 days, so to keep the vacation going she rode in a stroller a couple of days. That way she could look around to her heart's content, and we didn't have to worry about loosing her.

OP--Just make the best decision for your family, and don't base it on what anyone else thinks. No 2 families are the same, do what works for yours.

 

[PEANUT1]

I think 5 is the oldest I would use one...unless there were special circumstances. Our daughter will be 6 on our next trip...she will be walking. Our 3 yr old will have an umbrella stroller.

 

[es45]

My 5-year-old rode in one last November and her 7-year-old sister would take a break in it for a few minutes but not when anyone was pushing it—she was too embarrassed! I would have pushed her around in it if she had been too tired to walk without a concern for what other people thought.

OP, do what is best for your family.

 

[clc053103]

We get a disney double or single for our 4 year old, but have to say the 6 and 10 would jump in occasionally for a break! And no, the older kids are not "chubby kids with ice cream running down their chins".

As the mom of a very large, very active 4 year old, that comment offends me to no end. My son is naturally sturdy (very tall and very solid) and it's just the way he is built. I hope he thins out so he doesn't have to deal with judgemental comments like that!

 

[two-foxes]

Hey, it is your trip, your money and your time. If getting a stroller will make your trip more enjoyable for you and your family, then do it! The opinions of others on "how old is too old for a stroller?" don't matter, unless of course they are paying for your trip and touring with you!

Also, the humidity in Florida compared to here in Colorado can wipe out the most active kids and adults, and make a grouch of the sweetest kid. If you feel it would be a benefit to you and your family to get the stroller for the 9 yr olds, do it!

 

[PinkTink2009]

My son is 8 now. He is proud to be pushed around in that darn stroller! (Wish I could be, too!) My DD, 11, she walks everywhere...a middle schooler in a stroller?!? Pfftt...

~Jen

 

[bartleby1]

I have three kids - 9, 7, and 4. We usually do 12 nights in August heat. Usually, 8 or 9 of our days are spent open to close at a park. We tour commando.

This summer I will be bringing two maclarens. My 4 year old will definitely need one and I'm on the fence with my 7 year old. He has tons of energy and goes like the energizer bunny most days (ADHD), but he cannot tolerate the heat at all. He just melts into a puddle. So, I'd rather bring a stroller than get stuck paying the ridiculous disney rental prices.

Now, my oldest is 9 and she is NOT a walker. However, she handled the parks last year just fine walking at the age of 8. At 7 she walked some and rode some. I would think your 9 year olds will be fine walking.

You may want to consider renting a double for your younger two from an outside company though. Disney charges $31 a day for a double.

 

[kksmom92]

My kids will of just turned 4 & 6 when we go down in Feb and will be bringing an umbrella stroller for each one of them. Neither one have used strollers around home for quite some time and the only time they do is when they are down there, but neither one feels funny about it.

For us, we feel a little safer when they are in them because that way we know where they are... my 3 yr old (will be 4 when we go) is the type that would just take off by herself and fights tooth & nail about holding hands as she can "do it by herself". Plus she is the type that would go with anyone because everyone is her friend.

We might try to go without them for awhile (maybe if we know we will go home for lunch) but if we will be there all day.. without a doubt we will be bringing them because I would rather not deal with a crabby 4 & 6 year old that it tired and wants us to carry them.