How old is too old to have a stroller??

[disneydealseeker]

My kids are 5, 6, & 8. This will be our first trip that I am thinking we may not take a stroller. We are not planning on going back to the hotel during the day so I know they will get tired...I thought I had decided on just taking a single stroller for them to switch off in case they need a break but now I am debating bringing a double stroller. Thoughts???

 

[OKW Lover]

I would think that walking ability would be a better measure of this rather than age. How far can the child walk before needing to sit/rest?

 

[KapBoy77]

I bring a double stroller. Especially if you have a 5 an 6 year old. When we went last year we had planned on returning to the resort everyday and after ten days not once did we end up doing that. I found it much more relaxing to just let the kids rest in the strollers when they felt like it. One of my favorite memories is when my son fell asleep in the stroller and I just sat under the Liberty Tree and people watched while my wife and other son went looking around in the shops and stuff.

But definitely bring a double because they will most likely fight for a spot in the stroller all the time if its a single.

Have fun!

 

[texasroni75]

Our last trip my youngest kids were 5 and 8. We brought one umbrella stroller along "just in case", since our youngest was still napping occasionally in the afternoons and wasn't so great at walking for long periods of time. Lucky for us our son can sleep anywhere without issues (we find him napping nearly standing sometimes!) - so the umbrella stroller was a good nap spot for him even though it didn't recline.

We were glad we brought it along - it was a great place to put our bags/souvenirs/stuff for the 90% of the time he wasn't sitting in it. Our 8 year old did try to get in every once in a while - and since she was only 10 pounds heavier than our 5-year-old at the time, we let her for brief rests here and there.

I'd bring one stroller to lighten the load a bit, but be prepared for some possible kid-conflicts if two kids want to sit in it at the same time LOL.

 

[AirForceFamily]

I guess I'm the minority here. I wouldn't take a stroller. All of your kids are old enough to walk, and in my opinion, would look silly riding in a stroller. Last time we went, our younger daughter was almost 3 and we didn't use a stroller. She walked the whole time. If she needed a short rest, we sat down and/or used that time to have a snack.

 

[lilmomma00]

We always have a stroller. I have put my boys in one as old as 6. Sometime even late at night in the park people ditch the rental strollers and I have used one to push my older one around(probably around 7 years old) honestly I don't care.lol If I want to push my 5 or 6 year old I around, I will. lol

 

[maxiesmom]

To me there is no set age. Every child and every family is different. Do what works best for your family.

 

[KapBoy77]

To me there is no set age. Every child and every family is different. Do what works best for your family.

Pretty much this.

 

[Linleedo]

When their legs drag! Lol Parents use them for older children to give their legs a break. We saw plenty of older children in them. Our 7 year old grandson occasionally swapped with his 4 year old sister.It's not looked down upon. Everyone knows that you do a lot of walking in Disney.

 

[mcraige]

We stopped taking a stroller when DD was about 4. Basically, we walked till she got tired, then we stopped and rested. She was good at napping, so we would find a booth in a QS restaurant for her to nap in, or stake out a place for a parade an hour or so in advance and let her nap there. She made it fine, and I was much, much happier not having to try to navigate the stroller thru the crowds.

 

[Hootch]

To me there is no set age. Every child and every family is different. Do what works best for your family.

our daughter was very active at a young age. She would push herself to get as much done as possible. Often that resulted in severe leg pains at night. We could not tell when these would occur.

Having a stroller when she was six reduced the concern about her being awake all night in pain. That was the last trip for a stroller for her.

 

[bigbabyblues]

To me there is no set age. Every child and every family is different. Do what works best for your family.

Exactly. We didn't use a stroller after they hit 4. We didn't go at a commando pace, and we didn't have any whining or complaints.

 

[Sditto]

It all depends on your child. We used one on my first trip when I was four, but my parents didn't even consider it on our trip the very next year. But of course I was different from a lot of kids. I stopped taking naps at 3 years old and was perfectly fine running through disney with only 6-7 hours sleep. I had way too much energy as a kid. Disney was the only place that actually tired me out enough that bedtime wasn't a fight. Then again I took a friend with us when she and I were 12 and she passed out during "Tarzan Rocks!"

 

[Infamousmare]

I would think that walking ability would be a better measure of this rather than age. How far can the child walk before needing to sit/rest?

Yep.

To me there is no set age. Every child and every family is different. Do what works best for your family.

Agreed.

If you have the room to pack it, go right ahead. Worse case scenario is that you'll just chuck it in the room. Best case? You'll have it if you need it. As you know, WDW isn't like walking the mall - kids get tired, you get tired, so why not bring it, just in case?

We used one our first year with 3 & 5 year old kiddos and both wound up using it at one point or another (and it was great for souvenirs and such). Now that we've added a toddler, we're like American Express - we don't leave home without it.

 

[momrek06]

The very first time we took our kiddos to WDW they were 8 and 5. (They are now 30 and 27.) lol

Anyway, I went right over first thing as we went through the turnstiles and rented a stroller for the 5yo.

I will never forget he looked right at me and said "that better not be for me because I am not getting in THAT" kinda all angry with me. I said "no I really wanted something to hold my camcorder and bags (back then camcorders were 10 lbs) BUT I did say to him "if you do get tired at least we would have a stroller for you just in case you wanted to doze off for a minute or two" &. he seemed ok with that but insisted he would not need it.

So guess who was exhausted by noon time and glad to jump in the stroller and relax a bit.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My kids never used a stroller after 5 years old at Disney.

But we did go slow and take a break in the middle of the day. I remember it being hard at night - quite a few times we ended up leaving and missing the fireworks shows because of tired kids.

If you think you will need a stroller, I would bring one. It'll be cheaper than renting one from Disney if you need one when you are in the park.

 

[luvallprincesses]

We took a stroller for DS who had just turned 6. He used it all the time. Will even consider taking it in January when he will be 7, even though we will probably only take it to the parks on our full days. Considering he is the height and weight of the "average" 4 year old, we don't get any strange looks! I look forward to days without pushing it, but might miss the extra space for throwing in the hoodies and drinks!

 

[bearlyanne]

Bring it!

The last time we brought a stroller down, my dd used it sometimes as we transitioned between parks. It came in handy especially when we were trying to make ADRs etc and didn't want to dawdle. Then we would dump it in stroller parking and leave it there as we did all the rides and shows within a land.

It always came in handy in the parking lots and the walk back to the room after getting off the bus.

 

[princesserinrose]

If your child is anything like my baby brother, they'll get tired of walking pretty quickly. Not to mention the convenience of cup holders, bag storage, and hoodies, etc. I'm no expert, but I'd recommend milking the stroller thing as long as it's convenient for you. I'd stop using it around 6 years old, though, because by then the kid is able to walk around without complaining [hopefully ]

 

[FoxyGranny]

My opinion on WDW there is so much walking, plus the stroller is a place to
Help carry extra gear. My kids adults now...youngest son I had I stroller at WDW until he was about 4. Long after we used stroller in malls etc. I remember pointing out to my son all the other children in strollers in WDW. My confession...I told him it was the law to ride in the stroller in WDW. LOL. Made our life easier and he rode along happily. He was by far not the largest child in a stroller. We laugh now when I confess about the stroller law.