Is a stroller a good idea?

[MalkaR]

My boys will be 4, 5 and 7 when we go to WDW. We are not using a stroller anymore for any of the kids on a regular basis, but I've held onto a single and a double in anticipation of our trip next year. We will be bringing all of our food, and it will be January, so I'm assuming we'll need to carry sweatshirts. We will not be staying in the parks at night. Is it worth it to have a stroller just to move more quickly or to get through big parking lots or something? Also wouldn't have to carry all of our stuff, we could leave it in the stroller. If it's a good idea, then I have to decide if I want the single or double. The 5 year old is a whiner and would not be happy walking when his little brother sits in the stroller. I usually tell him to "deal with it" in situations like this, but maybe a double would be better.

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

I say yes, bring a stroller. I can't think of a trip where we didn't have a stroller. Even this trip, we are bringing one and DW is thinking a double possibly.

 

[happymommy]

You'll get a lot of opinions here, many don't bring them, many do. I also was in the BRING IT camp though! I held onto ours just for Disney trips, and was grateful I did! For those ages, I'd consider bringing the double one. You never know when they need to rest or even nod off a bit, and with a 4 & 5 year old it will be so good to have it. I brought our really good single one until DD was at least 6. Think when she was 7 I ended up renting one in the parks (maybe she was 8?) as she got so tired & actually took a nap in it.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We still used a stroller at age 4. After that, not so much. For your situation, I would bring one.

 

[Meeko5]

I'd bring the double, because chances are the 4 and 5 yo's will happily jump in for a rest, and it can be used to haul your food and sweatshirts, drinks, etc.

We rented a Mini GT double stroller last year and our 6yo spent more time riding than walking - both out of laziness and convenience for us. I much preferred keeping him in it while walking so I didn't have to constantly worry about him getting separated or trampled.

We are going back this year and the kids will be 2.5 and 7.5, I'll be renting a double again.

 

[MalkaR]

Thank you all so much for your opinions. I think we'll bring the double so I don't regret not having it or end up having to pay to rent one.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would bring the double. I know that a lot of people do not think that they are a help, but I found that my strong little DGD used it when we were in the larger parks. Epcot and AK were a lot of walking, and her little legs got tired. I will also say that she was that kid who sometimes got overwhelmed when there were a lot of people around, so it was nice that she had a place to get away from that crowds.

 

[mjkacmom]

I say yes, bring a stroller. I can't think of a trip where we didn't have a stroller. Even this trip, we are bringing one and DW is thinking a double possibly.

Lol when I first looked at your siggy, I didn't see the 4 year old, so I thought you were getting a double for your 5 and 11 year olds.

 

[Shellyb84]

Bring it! We'll bring ours until DD can no longer fit in it or refuses! I asked her if she wanted me to bring it on our upcoming trip (she'll be close to 7) and she said yes. It's easier to keep up with her, we can move faster, she has a place to nap and we have a place to haul our stuff.

 

[smiths02]

I would bring a double for the 4 and 5 year olds.

When DH and I went to Disney, he tracked that we walked 9 miles at least a day (and we weren't doing anything commando or in the park dusk until dawn)...9 miles is a lot for a 4 year old!

 

[brockash]

My boys will be 4, 5 and 7 when we go to WDW. We are not using a stroller anymore for any of the kids on a regular basis, but I've held onto a single and a double in anticipation of our trip next year. We will be bringing all of our food, and it will be January, so I'm assuming we'll need to carry sweatshirts. We will not be staying in the parks at night. Is it worth it to have a stroller just to move more quickly or to get through big parking lots or something? Also wouldn't have to carry all of our stuff, we could leave it in the stroller. If it's a good idea, then I have to decide if I want the single or double. The 5 year old is a whiner and would not be happy walking when his little brother sits in the stroller. I usually tell him to "deal with it" in situations like this, but maybe a double would be better.

We bring a regular full size stroller through age 5 and have used a sit n stand and/or used a double with kids as old as 7 with a younger sibling. My kids are active healthy kids, but Disney is a lot and honestly I prefer to have somewhere to "put" them when it gets really crowded, is dark, trying to get somewhere quickly and it's nice to always have a place for them to sit for shows/parades. It is also nice to have a place to throw all the junk lol. I'd bring a double with the ages of your kids.