Need help, renting strollers at Disney or bring umbrella strollers from home

[helenk]

My brother is taking his two grandchildren they are 5 and 7 (just turned 7 this week)
The 5 year old of course will get tired and most likely the 7 year old might get tired as the day goes on. Honestly, I am not concerned about the cost to rent at WDW and my thought would be this would be a lot more convenient.
If their mother brings their umbrella strollers from home, don't you think this would be more of a hassle especially if the older boy does not want to ride in his right away,
Any advice???

 

[Hannathy]

With kids that old unless they are very good umbrella strollers they are going to be bears to push. My kids never used strollers at those ages and did fine. I would wait until they got there and rent only if they needed them. I would bet if the grandparents can walk it the kids can.

 

[Temair]

As long as you plan wisely, and not go commando, take breaks, etc. the kids should have no need for a stroller. We went in 99 when DD was 5 and were glad not to have to fight crowds with a stroller. At times my DH would give DD a piggy back ride or let her sit on his shoulders in the crowds. (Especially at closing after the fireworks.) My DD asked for a stroller a couple of times, but we would just stop for a break and she could keep going.

 

[CastleCreations]

My girls are 4 and 6 and we usually get the double stroller. It's not too difficult to push. The only time I didn't get the stroller, the kids got to the other side of Epcot and were totally worn out. My little one was crying and begging me for a stroller. So now, even if they don't ride in it the whole time, it's great for carrying our stuff, and by the middle of the day, they are both in it, thankful for the break.

 

[helenk]

Thanks for the advice, I think we just wait until we get to WDW, if we need to rent there we will...they are always good for putting your stuff in if nothing else.

 

[5 for WDW]

My kids are 10,7 and 3. We brought our stroller from home, as we usually do for our DD (3) last week. She sat in it maybe 2-3 times. We actually found bringing the stroller to be more of a hassle then help since she did not want or need it. The boys have not used a stroller in WDW since they were 4. We will be going stroller free next year. Even though they are great for holding stuff.

I would wait until you get there and see if you need one. I have never rented so I do not know how quickly they sell out or if they do but, it might be less hassle to get one only if they need it. We left DD's stroller in the room a few days and it was so nice to not have to deal with it in the parks. Epcot is a lot of walking so you might want to start off the day with one there. Bringing the stroller or not was one of our biggest decisions this past trip..lol.

Have a great trip!

 

[momof2n2]

I'd rent for those ages.
My boys are 5 and 7 and I know we will have to rent one for my three older ones to take turns rotating.
I won't ENCOURAGE my 7 y.o. to ride, but I suspect after a few hours of trekking across these acres, he will need a bit of a load off.
We are taking a sit-n-stand for the baby and probably the 7 y.o. to hop on/off, and the Disney Double we will rent for the 3/5. And let them all sort of rotate.

 

[Jenniww]

On our third day (we went for 7 days) we rented our seven year old a stroller. He started walking slower but was still happy. My husband and I said why are we wearing him out with all this walking? So we rented him a stroller he rode around some times and walked others. It was nice to get my backpack off my back also I must say.

FYI- He still fit very well into the stroller. Worked for us

 

[LadyShea]

Our DS is only 20mos, so bringing a stroller with us was almost a given, however I looked closely at the rentals while we were there (research for future visits!), and definitely think renting one, if needed, is the best idea for older kids. I would say age 4+, judging from my kid only of course, yours may be different.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

At those ages renting is the definitely the best option. We rented last time for an almost 4 y.o. and almost 7 y.o. There were many times that we parked the stroller and just walked from place to place, but it was very handy to have when we needed to go longer distances - not only for saving their little feet but also so that we knew exactly where they were in the crowd. I couldn't deal with the hassle of bringing one from home either, and at almost 50 pounds my 7 y.o. wouldn't be comfortable in an umbrella stroller, nor would we be able to push her easily. Rentals are perfect in this situation and they handle older kids very well.

 

[Amyshubby]

I'd rent for those ages.
We are taking a sit-n-stand for the baby and probably the 7 y.o. to hop on/off, and the Disney Double we will rent for the 3/5. And let them all sort of rotate.

You might want to take a test stroll around the block with your 7 yr old and one of the younger ones. We were planning on doing the same thing for our upcoming trip but when we took the sit-n-stand to Hershey it was a bear to push with both kids on it. Granted, my 6 yr old is over 70 pounds, but even if we had 10 less pounds it would have been tough.

My theory (based on watching my own kids) is that a 7 year old by himself is fine walking. HOWEVER, a 7 yr old watching his 4 year old brother getting pushed in a stroller will complain and whine within the first half hour of the day.

FWIW- we are bringing a regular (non-umbrella but not a huge) stroller that will fit either boy. We expect the younger one to be in it whenever he is tired (and for naps) and the older to get maybe 5-10 mins a day as a break. However, when we go to EPCOT we are renting a second stroller for the day so both boys can get a break if needed. When we go as a family in 25 years, the parents can get a break in a wheelchair and the boys can push us!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Bring your umbrella stroller(s) from home. you dont' have to push them around the whole time to be honest you really don't need one for MGM and AK. When we were in MK we would go to each land leave the stroller in one spot do everything there then get it and move on. you will definitly want it in epcot.

 

[badblackpug]

With those ages I wouldn't do a stroller at all. By 4 al my kids were walking the world independently.