How old were your kids when they didn't need the stroller AT ALL in the parks?

[erosenst]

When she went to WDW, for the first time, she was 5. We took things a bit more slowly than we do now. She seldom got overtired from walking. Here's my rationale....when a child is up and walking, they get physically tired, which is pretty easy to do. You stop, relax for a bit, smell the roses so to speak. Maybe you grab a bite to eat, maybe you head back to the resort for a few hours. But, if your child is in a stroller, they are still being over stimulated..there is no way around it. WDW is an incredibly stimulating place. And the vast majority of kids can't take hours on end of that type of stimulation. So...if they're relaxing in a stroller, they aren't physically pooped out but emotionally/mentally, they are being 'assualted' by the sights and sounds of WDW. And this gets to a child after a bit. They start to get cranky and melt down..but the poor parents figure the child is just tired so keep going..after all, junior is being pushed around, how bad can it be???

I prefer to go with the physical tiredness vs mental tiredness. It's so much easier to deal with. So, I let my dd walk around and get tired. We then would get a drink or bite to eat and get away from all the stimulation and she would bounce back pretty quickly.
But, that's just me. It worked for me, may not be what others would choose to do. We don't do commando type touring...we are more laid back and not in any hurry. If we need to take a break for a few hours, so be it. __________________

A variation of this, combined with those who said their kids needed one when they were getting sick, is why we DO get one....although this will be the last year. DD (7) has seasonal allergies that we generally control with meds - but she's very allergic to something in Florida when we're there in early April, and she's periodically miserable. Having the ability to shut the cover on a stroller gives her a different kind of down/less stimulated time than sitting somewhere does. She 'cocoons' for 10-15 minutes and feels much better. (We rent from Magic Strollers to get the covered stroller. At 7 she's still only about 52 pounds, so a cheap umbrella might work...but only might.) Last year, the stroller stayed parked a lot, and I'm expecting the same this year - but it was nice to have when we needed it. As long as we had it, we took a very small soft-sided cooler with drinks and will do the same this year.

Other than Disney, she hasn't been in a stroller since she was 4...
As usual - do what's best for YOUR kids...

 

[shocker]

Took the umbrella stroller when DS was 5 and he didn't use it once. I did insist in the airport so that I'd always know where he was (and this may apply to some while at WDW too). But, it stayed at our campsite the rest of the trip. We did plan rest time each day though and never opened and closed a park without a nap too. We also had whole rest days of NO parks. He did from time to time fall asleep in my lap but never did he have to be carried.

Now we just wait for the trip where we don't have to have nap-time and can plan to be out a WHOLE day. Ahhh, growing up.

 

[shocker]

DD (7) has seasonal allergies that we generally control with meds - but she's very allergic to something in Florida when we're there in early April, and she's periodically miserable.

Both my kids too!! and my mom. (I suspect mold due to the high moisture environment that is FL, but could be any number of trees/plants that we don't have) We've learned over the years (the hard way) to begin additional allergy meds in the days leading up to the trip. Some meds work differently and can be used in conjunction with each other. We give any "drowsy" ones before bed and any non-drowsy ones in the morning. By rotating their schedule we're able to keep something fresh in them all the time. Also, last trip we starting breathing treatments the very first night. Next trip we'll begin using the nebulizer also a few days prior to the trip so that lungs are nice and open when we arrive. Going back for nap-time also meant time for breathing treatments. Over a few short days they were down to 2/day before going to the parks and upon returning. Next time I'm not waiting for it to become a problem and will be more pro-active in treatment. Doesn't matter the time of year for us, there's always a reaction.

 

[buffettgirl]

Well let's see . . . my kids are now 24, 19, and 13 and they all still look wistfully at strollers by mid-afternoon. Seriously, it's not age as much as pounds, and it's not them as much as it makes it easier for me (when they get tired they lag behind). I used a stroller just for WDW until they weighed too much to use one, and I sought out strollers that had a heavier weight limit!

I was going to say the same thing...

didn't NEED the stroller? they still NEED it. Can they use it? no. LOL. 18 and 11...

 

[slduck]

We really play it by ear. My 5 year old tires easily and is the family whiner. Last year we tried to go without a stroller, but we broke down and rented one after day 4. It really came in handy when my older child started feeling ill in the parks one night. For us it became a place where my child could relax while the rest of us kept going. The disney rentals are very expensive, but if you are using a stroller "just in case" it is perfect for the child who is over the weight limit for older children. It is very easy to steer.

(on another note...my child has a croup attack from the mold in FLA in late may. We always take oral steroids with us.)

 

[CLR4321]

You know your child best, but most 7 year olds do not need a stroller, and can rest on a bench if they need to sit down to rest. I took a stroller when my DS was 5, but he did not use it. We spent all day in the parks without going back to the hotel. If your child normally takes a nap, you would probably want to go back to the hotel to rest around the normal nap time to prevent a meltdown. Chances are, if you are wondering if your child will need a stroller, it probably won't be needed. The only reason most 7 year olds would need one is if there was something that prevented the child from walking around in a park all day (easily tired, disability, sensory disorder, etc).

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our son was four on our first trip and that was the only one with a stroller. We're a family of three, so when he got tired, we all took a break. Maybe back to the resort to swim or nap, maybe just a stop for popcorn or icecream or a soda. Or we found a quiet attraction to rest in, like one of the shows were you get to sit for 20 or more minutes.

We never were commando with our touring. We are frequent break takers. We went slowly instead of making him keep up with the two of us. Whenever the whining began, whether it was our son or my husband or me, it was break time.

Our son is 17 now, almost 18, and he's going to push me in a stroller before he gets one.

 

[mousejunkie98]

Neither of my boys used a stroller at WDW past 4. We make sure to go at their pace, take breaks when they need them. They love the independence and we love the freedom!

 

[GovieMom]

You know your child best, but most 7 year olds do not need a stroller

Both of my kids at age 7 would have been too embarrassed to get in a stroller. I never needed a stroller for them at WDW or anywhere past the age of 4.

 

[jimmysmom74]

My mom says next year is my last year for the stroller. I'll be 35y/o.