Looking for a stroller to push 55lbs plus kids?

[jenseib]

Thanks Tiger!

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Haven't read all the replies....


Since you have a babies r us near you...may I suggest the Joovy Kooper! I have 4 kids and multiple strollers ( including macs) and this is by far my favorite stroller! We bought it for the new baby but my 5yr. old and even my 11 yr old ( she's a tiny kid 65 lbs. or so) even can ride in it. Yes...her legs are too long for it...but I have NO problem pushing her in it.
I find it comparable to the City Mini strollers but at a better price! Great seat, canopy, basket, cupholders, etc. And it's a much sturdier stroller than the Macs...not near as tippy!

 

[TheRatPack]

We have the Joovy Groove and had the Joovy Groove 2 as well. We never got much use out of the double....but the single is going back with us this year and we have a 5, 6 and 7 year old on our trip (along with 2 teenagers). We have 1 child that has RAD and would go home with any willing family or CM if he got far enough away from us....we use a child harness on him.....and occasionally they switch out in the stroller and take naps while we're waiting for a parade or something. I also enjoy the basket, cup holder....etc for my stuff. And we have the protect a bub rain cover as well, and we carry all our ponchos in the basket.

Wow, using a stroller and a child harness....we must be outlaws LOL

 

[jenseib]

We have the Joovy Groove and had the Joovy Groove 2 as well. We never got much use out of the double....but the single is going back with us this year and we have a 5, 6 and 7 year old on our trip (along with 2 teenagers). We have 1 child that has RAD and would go home with any willing family or CM if he got far enough away from us....we use a child harness on him.....and occasionally they switch out in the stroller and take naps while we're waiting for a parade or something. I also enjoy the basket, cup holder....etc for my stuff. And we have the protect a bub rain cover as well, and we carry all our ponchos in the basket.

Wow, using a stroller and a child harness....we must be outlaws LOL

You rebel you! LOL! I guess we'll have to start our own club.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We have a Mac and we like it a lot. Good luck on your search for the perfect stroller.

For all those "helpful" people who think the OP should start training her kid for the NYC marathon keep in mind that some children simply cannot take the Florida heat. We hardly use a stroller at home -except for the baby- and we have very young children. WDW is a whole different ball of wax. The heat knocks them out very quickly. Without the shade and rest of the stroller they get sick and simply cannot do very much. Now before anyone starts up on their soapbox about how we should just take rests we do take rests. However with 5 kids (and a Mom who also cannot take the heat but does it anyway because she loves WDW) if we "rested" every time someone couldn't walk we would just spend the day sitting on a bench! The stroller lets the kids recoup while we get to the next attraction.
I hate when people say "Strollers are for babies!" Well last I checked making comments like that usually is something kids might say and not adults.
OP- have a great trip and don't worry about what anyone has to say. You know your child.

 

[TheRatPack]

For all those "helpful" people who think the OP should start training her kid for the NYC marathon keep in mind that some children simply cannot take the Florida heat.

I have to chime in here and say that we are avid walkers....all of my children from the 16 year old to the 5 year old can walk 8 miles without a break, hills and all Now I'm not a speed walker or anything....but we do this 3 times a week, with all of our children. We started slowly, maybe a mile and then we just kept adding to it over the past 3 years and we've ended up at 8miles. So it's not about not being able to walk the full length of the park or anything like that....it's truly just to have a place to sit and sometimes having a place to keep track of everything and everyone. The heat, as you said, doesn't help LOL We do our walks early in the morning....heat just drains you doesn't it.

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Sorry, at age 5, I would be ditching the stroller entirely, and having the child walk. Certainly, I wouldn't be looking to spend a couple hundred dollars on one to last a few more years!

What we found helpful was to do "Disney conditioning" for a few months prior to vacation. We took our kids on walks--we went to the local HS and did the track. My younger DD could walk 3 miles when she was 3yo. Obviously, we worked up to that, but it was very easy. And at 3, she still used a stroller for Epcot (but nothing else).

We go to WDW again next summer, and our youngest will be 5. We are looking forward to having a stroller-free trip. It's amazing how much time, money, and space they take up!

You are seriously NOT doing your child any favors by pushing her around all day. Frankly, I'm stunned that you don't already encourage walking. No kindergartener I know wants to ride in a stroller--they're for babies.

As an adult I wold lose the 'better than thou' attitude. Just because you don't think a 5 year old should use a stroller doesn't mean everybody should live their life like you do. I am going down in December with a 4 year old and an 8 year old, and I am going to have a double stroller so that my 8 year old can ride if she needs to. Most likely I will be pushing an empty stroller in the morning, but by evening, I think it will have two riders. I hope to see you there, you can make a comment to my face, and I can tell you where you can stick your opinion.

 

[Tiger926]

We have a Mac and we like it a lot. Good luck on your search for the perfect stroller.

For all those "helpful" people who think the OP should start training her kid for the NYC marathon keep in mind that some children simply cannot take the Florida heat. We hardly use a stroller at home -except for the baby- and we have very young children. WDW is a whole different ball of wax. The heat knocks them out very quickly. Without the shade and rest of the stroller they get sick and simply cannot do very much. Now before anyone starts up on their soapbox about how we should just take rests we do take rests. However with 5 kids (and a Mom who also cannot take the heat but does it anyway because she loves WDW) if we "rested" every time someone couldn't walk we would just spend the day sitting on a bench! The stroller lets the kids recoup while we get to the next attraction.
I hate when people say "Strollers are for babies!" Well last I checked making comments like that usually is something kids might say and not adults. OP- have a great trip and don't worry about what anyone has to say. You know your child.

You are so right! I see this kind of stuff on the DIS all of the time: strollers are for babies, those types of clothes are babyish, etc. Seriously...this is why kids make fun of each other and judge others...they get it from the adults around them who see fit to exhibit this type of behaviour.

Unsolicited opinions are a big problem on the DIS some days, and the topic of strollers is one that invites all kinds of ridiculous and rude responses, IMHO.

It sounds like the OP has ignored those posts, and is looking forward to finding a stroller that suits her child just right!

Tiger

 

[disneygirl 17]

Have you checked out consignment shops for a stroller - a friend of mine purchased one there for her daughter to use at WDW....since she doesn't normally use a stroller she didn't want to break the bank. When she got home she then resold it at that same shop. Cost her $20 for the whole week.

 

[mercydisney]

I have to chime in here and say that we are avid walkers....all of my children from the 16 year old to the 5 year old can walk 8 miles without a break, hills and all Now I'm not a speed walker or anything....but we do this 3 times a week, with all of our children. We started slowly, maybe a mile and then we just kept adding to it over the past 3 years and we've ended up at 8miles. So it's not about not being able to walk the full length of the park or anything like that....it's truly just to have a place to sit and sometimes having a place to keep track of everything and everyone. The heat, as you said, doesn't help LOL We do our walks early in the morning....heat just drains you doesn't it.

Well said, This is a vacation, not a marathon.

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Have you checked out consignment shops for a stroller - a friend of mine purchased one there for her daughter to use at WDW....since she doesn't normally use a stroller she didn't want to break the bank. When she got home she then resold it at that same shop. Cost her $20 for the whole week.

Now that's a great idea. Of course you also have to figure in how much it costs to check it as luggage. I might be better of renting from Orlando Stroller since I am flying.

 

[badblackpug]

Well said, This is a vacation, not a marathon.

I'm not sure why people equate having to walk WDW with the Bataan death march. It is a theme park, for heaven's sake, it is fun!

...in defense of the anti-stroller people, this is the budget board, and we are talking about a $200 stroller for a child who probably doesn't really need it.

 

[mercydisney]

I'm not sure why people equate having to walk WDW with the Bataan death march. It is a theme park, for heaven's sake, it is fun!

...in defense of the anti-stroller people, this is the budget board, and we are talking about a $200 stroller for a child who probably doesn't really need it.

How do you know she doesn't really need the stroller?

 

[SYDCOLEMOM]

Now that's a great idea. Of course you also have to figure in how much it costs to check it as luggage. I might be better of renting from Orlando Stroller since I am flying.

most airlines let you gate check a stroller for free. No need to pay the luggage fee. I to have a small 6 year old that will walk 99% of the time but I want to take a stroller just in case. I ordered the Maclaren Volo off of Ebay for $70 with free shipping. There is a seller that sells last years model for this price. When we get back I can sell it to a consignment store or on craigslist and get at least $50 for it. Its worth it for me just to have as a back up if needed. I have a very athletic child but even she has limits.

 

[Swimalie]

most airlines let you gate check a stroller for free. No need to pay the luggage fee. I to have a small 6 year old that will walk 99% of the time but I want to take a stroller just in case. I ordered the Maclaren Volo off of Ebay for $70 with free shipping. There is a seller that sells last years model for this price. When we get back I can sell it to a consignment store or on craigslist and get at least $50 for it. Its worth it for me just to have as a back up if needed. I have a very athletic child but even she has limits.

A little warning about that - we gate checked our gray volo when it went on its only flight. It came off the plane with huge amounts of grease on it. I suggest a garbage bag for it if you are going to gate check anything. I am about to sell ours (we haven't used it since the flight) and I have to do some major scrubbing on it first now.

 

[Trixiezzz]

Have you checked out consignment shops for a stroller - a friend of mine purchased one there for her daughter to use at WDW....since she doesn't normally use a stroller she didn't want to break the bank. When she got home she then resold it at that same shop. Cost her $20 for the whole week.

We did something like this when my youngest were still needing a little help on those late-night walks after the fireworks. We got an inexpensive stroller at a second-hand shop, gate-checked it for the ride down, used it the whole week and then "donated it" to Pop Century. We just left it by the luggage cart area.

It was nice to have it at WDW -- and just as nice to never have to fool with it again on the trip home. And someone else got the use of it for their trip!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

A little warning about that - we gate checked our gray volo when it went on its only flight. It came off the plane with huge amounts of grease on it. I suggest a garbage bag for it if you are going to gate check anything. I am about to sell ours (we haven't used it since the flight) and I have to do some major scrubbing on it first now.

I use a padded stroller bag by JL Childress. It is pretty long and you can fit more in it besides a Mac Volo! Heck, on our cruise I had sand toys in it with the stroller-lol! I got mine at Buy Buy Baby for $30 and well worth it.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...110944&ci_sku=B002LMRISW&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

The also make a non-padded gate check stroller bag (and a matching car seat bag)
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...110944&ci_sku=B000QWA9F8&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

 

[si-am]

I can *maybe* see it for WDW. Maybe.

But a day at the zoo? A healthy 5 year old should be able to handle that on her own.

I'd rent from WDW instead of buying.

 

[Tiger926]

I can *maybe* see it for WDW. Maybe.

But a day at the zoo? A healthy 5 year old should be able to handle that on her own.

I'd rent from WDW instead of buying.

Have you been to the San Diego zoo - it's huge!

I would absolutely not recommend renting from WDW, as this will cost more than buying a new stroller. She can buy a new stroller, and then sell it, and as long as it's in great condition, she'll get some of that money back, so it won't cost her much. It will be way less than renting from WDW, as prices have skyrocketed as a third party vendor is now in charge of stroller rentals.

Tiger

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

I can *maybe* see it for WDW. Maybe.

But a day at the zoo? A healthy 5 year old should be able to handle that on her own.

I'd rent from WDW instead of buying.

At $27 a day, I am not using Disney's strollers that are just hard plastic. I will rent from Orlando Stroller though. I plan on getting the double one that allows 1 of the kids to stand or sit behind the other.