How old is your oldest kid that you put in a stroller?

[letsgoagainsoon]

I think you'll be happier with one, especially when your older one sees the baby resting comfortably at the end of the day. I'd rather lug a big stroller on the bus then lug my DS half way around WDW!

 

[tlenzendorf]

DD will have just turned 5 when we go in August. She hasn't used a stroller since she was 3, but we'll be bringing with to carry our stuff, seat her when she is tired and give her a comfy seat while the older girls DD10 and DD9 ride stuff she is too scared to.

 

[johnnow]

I've got 3 kids. My oldest DS11 never complained about any of the walking. My DD5 walked at the parks for the first 7 days. Then on the 8th day, at World Showcase, she kept asking me to pick her up, so I knew she had hit the wall. We were down by Norway, so I had to walk almost to the other end of WS to get to the stroller rental. That saved the day, and we were able to head over to HS for Fantasmic later that night.

On the 9th day, my DD8 had a meltdown when we got her up to go to the MK. The only way she would go is if we rented a double stroller. Rather than have her complaining all day long, we promised her we would get one. She was a happy camper all day.

It's a lot of walking, and young kids all handle it differently. Both my girls would have been fine for a week, but we are on an extended vacation. With the long drive, we wanted to be able to spend time at Disney, Universal and Seaworld. Nine days of walking all day at the parks is a lot for anyone.

 

[Finally08]

I think it all depends on the child. When my ds went the first time he was 6 and we did not even consider using a stroller - although he sure would have sat in one if I did bring one. He is small, but he was strollerless by the time he was 4.

Now dd just turned 5 and I could not FATHOM even going to a mall with no stroller for her. She still rides in the carts at Wal-Mart. She is an extremely slow walker, walks on her tip toes and stumbles a lot (and I'm hoping she doesn't need orthopedic surgery one day due to the toe walking and leg issues). So for her, she may be in a stroller at 7 or 8 still.

Do what works for you and your family!

 

[siestakey]

We did the exact same thing with our daughter the first time she went to Disney, took walks around the neighborhood, a little longer every day, and I kept telling her there would be alot of walking at Disney. She was great for our whole trip. We got to Disney, met up with our friends, who had a son my daughters age (6) and his little sister 3. They both fought and whined for the stroller. My daughter thought they were nuts. If your child is too tired to walk, when they do not use a stroller at home, then it's time to head back to the hotel. I imagine the kids that conned the adults to 'carry them' were raring to go, to the pool, the ice cream stand, the whatever, once they got back to the hotel. My opinion, if your child is over 4, then they should be walking. Walking won't kill you, obesity will.

 

[TiredX2]

Neither of my kids were stroller babies. DD refused strollers. And as soon as she could walk competently (around 11 months) she wanted to walk herself. The only time she actually wanted to ride in a stroller was after DS was born and *he* liked the stroller. I ended up putting him in a front pack and her in the stroller a few times, then just gave it up.

We went to Disneyland when they were 4 & 7. They both rode in strollers. Not just because they were tired, but for a number of reasons:
1) they felt "safer". If you're a kid in a crowd you're at "butt level" of a whole lot of grownups. You can't really see anything and you get bumped, pushed, jostled, etc... This bothers both of my kids. A stroller puts and invisable fence around you.
2) If we needed to hurry, DP & I could *choose* to hurry and not have to convince the kids.
3) Built in seat while snacking, having a drink, putting on sunblock, etc...
4) Place to hold stuff (in the heat, I would rather push a stroller than carry a heavy backpack anyday).

We're going again when they are (just changed this) but 8 & 10. I'm sure we will get at least one stroller to give them a place to sit and get a little personal space. I would *love* a place to get some personal space! That said, DP will need an ECV this time, so if it has a good space for stuff we will see if we really need a stroller after the first day.

 

[bmalonef45]

We too have used the strollers for our older kids. As much as it makes me feel weird having my 8 yo in a stroller but as many here have said later in the day when they are much more rested and able to enjoy themselves. We don't bring our own we rent. We also learned early that as the kids got older instead of a double we rent two singles. Keeps them from pestering each other.

No my 8 yo is a big kid so I think this will be his last time in a stroller but it was good while it lasted and well worth the extra money for us and we never felt like we were getting many strange looks.

 

[marimario]

Last year my dh had an emergency eye surgery 4 days before our trip, dr. adviced not to travel. Because it was our ds 5th birthday dh ask me to go ahead and celebrate our ds birthday without him.

I went with our son and the first day at MK he was so excided, he keep walking by himself a couple of time when I was looking at the map to figure out were to go. I was so scare to lose him, even do I explained to him what to do if he get lost and told him not to leave my site, to let me know when he wanted to see something. The second day I decided to rent a stroller, it was peace of mind for me because I knew he was inside the stroller and if he wanted to see something he will ask me. Today kids get lost and there are bad people everywhere, I DO NOT CARE what people said, if that is what it take to keep my son safe, that's is what I will do.

OP you know your kid better than anybody, if you think your kids might need it, go for it and don't be intimidating of what people said.

 

[brockash]

Last Sept. I bought a sit-n-stand just for this reason. It was for my then 17 month old DD, and then 6 year old son. It worked great, and I loved being able to have a place for him to sit at night, during crowds ect. We'll be bringing it again this year, and they'll be 2 and 7. If I wouldn't have had the younger one, we wouldn't have brought a stroller, and he would have just had to have walked, but for us I like our situation and being able to have a place for him as well.

 

[brockash]

We did the exact same thing with our daughter the first time she went to Disney, took walks around the neighborhood, a little longer every day, and I kept telling her there would be alot of walking at Disney. She was great for our whole trip. We got to Disney, met up with our friends, who had a son my daughters age (6) and his little sister 3. They both fought and whined for the stroller. My daughter thought they were nuts. If your child is too tired to walk, when they do not use a stroller at home, then it's time to head back to the hotel. I imagine the kids that conned the adults to 'carry them' were raring to go, to the pool, the ice cream stand, the whatever, once they got back to the hotel. My opinion, if your child is over 4, then they should be walking. Walking won't kill you, obesity will.

Hmmm... I'm not sure what obesity has to do with asking about strollers for kids. I say do whatever works for you family. It sounds like for your family that means no strollers once they hit four. Good for you; if that makes you happy. It certainly doesn't mean that for my family though. I can't imagine going to WDW with a 4 year old and no stroller (and no, no one in my family is obese, nor are either of my children, DH or myself overweight-again not sure what that has to do with this situation, but you seem to think it means something) Like I said, OP do whatever you think is best. I know for us, I loved having a spot for DS to sit; I loved having the peace of mind to be able to have him in it during crowds, closing ect. You know your kiddo, do what you think will make the trip more enjoyable for your family, but if your wondering if ppl. will think you're crazy for having a 6 year old in a stroller; I would assume the majority of ppl. probably don't care, and there will be many kids older than 6 in a stroller, and again it's your vacation, so do what's best for you. If other ppl. are concerned about a kid in a stroller; I'd imagine they're way too busy worrying about others, and should try to have fun.

 

[ireland_nicole]

No, I'm not kidding.

I agree with you in that WDW's rental wheelchairs are designed and intended for single users, and if I see two or more children riding in a rented wheelchair, I'll remind the parents of that.

But if a parent has a child that is too big for a stroller, and feels the child is incapable of walking all day, what other option would you suggest?

Surely you realize that a wheelchair is not a substitute for a stroller. Disney has a limited number of wheelchairs, and they are designed for people with disabilities, whether permanent or temporary (i.e., broken foot, etc.) to be able to access the parks. I am stunned and appalled that anyone would think a wheelchair a suitable alternate for appropriate rest when needed. (please note that I would strongly advocate the use of w/c's for people who do need them.) But parents, please rethink the wheelchair as an alternate stroller philosophy. That's not what they are intended for, designed for- and in fact would be very uncomfortable for a child to ride around in all day.

 

[styron]

Too funny. Gotta be a joke.

 

[BabyRN]

We were there a year ago and my kids were 9, 7 and 5. All 3 of them fit in the double strollers at the same time. I don't care if people thought anything of it...I knew where my kids were at all times and I didn't have to hear them yelling that their feet hurt!

 

[scottish mum]

Once my boys reached 5 they walked everywhere and we just rested if they needed to. They were happy with that and it worked well.

NOW my DD is 4 1/2 and there is NO way she would be able to do disney walking. So we would be taking a stroller for her as it would make for an easier life for everyone. We, or any other guests, do not want to listen to her moaning for 2 weeks when we are on vacation and meant to be having fun.

So each child is different and it is a personal decision as to what you allow as a family and what your expectations are, but a 6 yr old will not look strange being pushed in a stroller in disney if that is teh way you go.

 

[DisSept09]

my oldest is 4, and we plan to have a spot for him to ride whenever we're at an all day type outing where there will be a lot of walking. otherwise it is too much and we end up having to carry him or leave earlier than planned when everyone reaches the end of their ropes!

 

[peggyjean123]

strollers, well I have an 8 year old and 5 year old and an old double stroller, I will be bringing it. 1 the 5 year still likes to nap about 3-4 times a week and 2 it is a long day for me, never the less for children. It makes it easier to have one, then have to rent one, at over 30 dollars a day for rental, I'd say take an umbrella stroller and I bet you will use it atleast once or even more!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have not read the entire thread.....I've read many like it, so I know what has most likely been said. Here's my take on the whole thing..
My first trip to WDW was when my dd was 5, turning 6. Did we use a stroller? No. She hadn't been in a stroller for about 3 years at that point. There is no way she would have wanted to be in a stroller!!! Different story now that's she's 15....looks quite longingly at those strollers now!!
Anyway....I figure that there is a lot of walking at WDW. But, there is no need to rush around, you can take your time, sit and watch life go by every few hours. It gives everyone a break. Then, when the day is over, and it's time to head home to the resort, there is no chance the kids aren't going to be ready to leave the park, and they will be more than ready to fall asleep.
I have never walked 10 miles in one day..more like 5 or maybe, 6. It's not all about how much, in the shortest time, you can do.
But, that's just me. I look at those stroller parking areas and thank heaven that I don't have to deal with that issue. And not have to worry about getting a stroller through some of those jammed areas, or getting it onto, and then off of, the buses. Nope, way too much hassle for me.

 

[Abharmagic]

IMHO if they fit and want to ride- let them ride. DD (5) rode in a stroller when tired on this last trip in Nov... and she will ride in a stroller at age 7, on our next trip if she fits.... and wants to

 

[mommytoc]

We went in March. My kids were 10, 6, and 3. We went from park opening to closing nearly every day. My 10 year old walked of course. But, we brought 2 umbrella strollers for the younger ones. I can move much faster pushing a stroller than holding the hand of my slow moving 6 year old. At times, she pushed the stroller (if I was pushing little sis and bro and dad were riding other rides). This worked well for us.

 

[eag119]

I think I will, thanks. This thread has been helpful. Enough people with older kids seem to do it so that I'm convinced it's necessary. I don't really want to bring that double stroller. The single is a light umbrella, and the double is heavy and a pain to lug around, and I can't lift it very easily without help. But I don't want to end up spending a fortune to rent strollers either just because I guessed wrong on whether my child would tire out by the end of the morning.

I have been struggling with the single /double stroller dilemma for a month... my girls are 7 and 4 and both are very very tall. I have been trying to decide between a double jogger and a single for our upcoming trip. I went to Babies R Us and test-drove the double baby trend. It is a fabulous stroller, easy to push etc, but it is so big and so wide. I couldn't bring myself to buy it. I would only need the double in the remote instance when my 7 year old gave up on walking at the end of the day. So I bought a single Maclaren Triumph on clearence. It is only 12 pounds and folds easily. It seems much more manageble than the double. If my 7 year old needs a rest she could take a ride if necessary (weight limit is up to 55 pounds, she is about 50) I suggest test driving them to see which one feels more comfortable.

Good luck.