Need stroller for 5 year old/rent or buy?

[suzannedid]

My 5 year old will have problems walking in the parks all day, everyday for 7 days straight.

I would like to buy a stroller but I cannot find one that is large enough. His head touches the top canopy in all hte strollers I've tried. He is tall for his age.

I know that Disney rents strollers, but are they big enough for a 5 year old?

Also,does anyone know where I can buy a stroller that is big enough for a 5 year old child? I could use it again with his younger sister at a later time.

 

[mattsdragon]

get an umbrella stroller. The smaller, less obtrusive size would be appreciated during the day, and while getting on busses/trains etc. . .your life will be much easier.

Now true, you won't be able to mount the wheel spikes or fire control radar that others like, nor will there be room for that gas powered generator and travel fridge (snacks you know), but you'll be able to take it on the train.

 

[sandym718]

LOL! I agree - umbrella stroller. Our son will be almost 5 when we go in April, and that's our plan. DD will be 2, will be in our Graco Metrolite. Since you have a younger daugther also, I'm guessing you will have a larger stroller, too, for all the "stuff". I'm also thinking if DS really wants to walk for awhile, we can collapse the umbrella stroller and "store" it on top of the basket under our other stroller.

Sandy

 

[ImagineEar]

I have the exact same problem, my 4.5 year old DS is very large. Tried all the "Umbrella" types on the market from the $15 to the $100 - nothing fit.

We are experienced WDW travelers and i knew he would need the stroller - we too were there for a lengthy stay just 3 weeks ago. I ended up biting the bullet and renting. It was my only option. Yes they are big enough for a 5 yr old, and they even have doubles if you want to put your kids together. They are easy to push and navigate with and have sun canopies. The only down side is that they are made of hard plastic and are not very comfy for napping if that will be an issue for you. I think the single ones are about $8 a day - doubles about $12. They offer weekly rental coupons which save you about $2 a day. If you don't a use a stroller every day you can turn the unused coupons in for a refund.

Before you rent : At all of the rental stations now they are offering you the option of purchasing a Kholkraft umbrella- type stroller for a good price- which would be much cheaper than renting for the week, and you get to keep it. They have a display out for you to try, have your DS sit in it and give it a try before you decide. Which ever you choose, keep in mind that it is your vacation, and renting the stroller will save you from having stress in the happiest place on earth - well worth the money.

 

[TENIA66]

My 5 year old will have problems walking in the parks all day, everyday for 7 days straight.

I would like to buy a stroller but I cannot find one that is large enough. His head touches the top canopy in all hte strollers I've tried. He is tall for his age.

I know that Disney rents strollers, but are they big enough for a 5 year old?

Also,does anyone know where I can buy a stroller that is big enough for a 5 year old child? I could use it again with his younger sister at a later time.

a

If you are driving, bring your own regular stroller, not umbrella stroller...If you are flying, rent one at disney. I've been there done it quite often....Umbrella strollers are hard on tall people backs and they don't hold much package weight.....also, the strollers at disney will hold quite a bit of junk..........

 

[ReallyCinderella]

I would just rent one there. If you pre-pay, it's quick and easy with the coupons and if your 5-year-old is anything like mine was last year, there will be lots of times when he'd rather walk (or run!). It was so convenient to dump the stroller when we park-hopped and grab a new one at the next place. And IMHO the park strollers were easier to push with a bigger child -- and easier when filled with packages instead of child! -- and were also a LOT more comfortable for my daughter when she got tired than an umbrella-type stroller that she was just too tall for. She'll be six when we go next month and too big for a stroller, but I bet she asks for one!

Have a great time!

 

[RPrincess]

I have a tall five year old and was trying to decide as well for our upcoming trip. Rent or buy a umbrella. Well I made my mind up the other day when I was at Walmart. I test drove an umbrella stroller with him in it (he said he was quite comfy) and had no problems. So I bought the thing for $9.00!!!
If it just make it half of our 9 day trip it was worth it. I know next time we go I will not be able to get away with this option. Good Luck.

 

[tigerdragon]

We rented the Disney strollers last year for my DS who had just turned 5. He is very tall for his age and did fine in those strollers. It was nice not having to lug them around on the buses and leaving them at the parks.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I just realized that on my next trip I probably won't get my 9 yr old DD in a stroller. She's tiny and as of last April fit fine in a double with my 6 yr old, also tiny.

I take them to the parks solo most days and I like having them where I know they are instead of trying to hold their hands.

Why did she have to grow up?

Anyway, the double stroller's are huge and if you wanted to put one really large child in it they would fit. (I was sick one time for Illuminations and fell asleep in it myself)

 

[44disney]

Post this question on the Families board. I know that there are a lot of stroller discussions going on over there.

When my DD was almost 6 (and very tall--she rode Rock N Roller coaster on that trip!) I took her to some consignment stores and found a full size Graco stroller that she was very comfortable in. She did not use it all of the time but it certainly came in handy, and was a great place to store ponchos and sweaters. An added bonus of buying it used was that I didn't care if ice cream dripped on it!

I think I paid $18 for it, and I just sold it at a garage sale for $15!!!

 

[MinnieGi]

For a 5 yo I would just rent from Disney. Big kids can fit in their double stroller and I've seen some pretty big kids in them!! Also you find that in some of the smaller parks like MGM you may not need a stroller at all. We were so proud of our 5yo DD this past trip in July we didn't rent once!! We gave her the option if needed but she did great.

 

[english rose 47]

Having the same problem! The park strollers are hard plastic I've heard and not comfy for a nap at all and DGS 5 will take a nap' We've tried many different strollers out and as he is a BIG and heavt boy they don't work' I see on Ebay a jogging stroller, similar to an umbrella but the weight limit on a single is 100 # which is something no one else mentioned . It has higher handle bars and folds easily. Forgotten the brand name but they sell for $99 whichis around what renting would costand we would not have to turn it in . So could push hom all the way to the bus. So I say buy!!

 

[missesdisney]

Have a 5 year old and last year hit the same issue and bought the red umbrella kolkraft stroller at Pop Century. He is still fitting in it and we will take with us this trip too in a few weeks. Rental would be fine but he tends to fall asleep at the end of the night and trying to carry a 45 pound sleeping child to the busses or the parking tram without a stroller would be quite tiring - particularly at MK! The umbrella from Pop has high handles so no slouching for the adults and the footrest is high enough that his legs don't drag. We used the snap on bags for the snacks and there is an x bar on the bottom that we rest a small soft sided cooler on. It's worth checking out if you aren't sure. On day 2 of our trip last year we were in walmart in Kissimme trying to figure out if we should buy something or rent. This one is great and easy to use. It was a $40 price tag for what is probably a $20 stroller but for a long trip not so bad compared to rentals.

 

[helencw]

My 5 year old is tall- 49". He doesn't use strollers anymore, except at Disney. He still fits in a MacClaren Volo, a lightweight umbrella stroller with a sun canopy. Personally, I prefer our stroller to the rentals. The storage basket holds more than the pockets on the back of the rentals. When he is sitting in the stroller, I could also hang a bag on a handle. I was glad to have the stroller walking to the bus stop, and he had a place to sit while waiting on line for the bus. Plus I've saved a lot over 4 trips by using my own stroller.

 

[marciemi]

I'll just add/agree that the park strollers are more than large enough and much easier to push than any umbrella stroller I've ever found. On our last visit my sons were 9, 11, and 12 and my 12 year old was over 5 feet tall (my photo below was taken 4 months before our trip). After one really hectic day of doing MGM EMH then spending the morning there, the afternoon at AK, and going to MK for the evening and late EMH, for some reason my boys were getting tired (Since we only had 2 1/2 days we were trying to do it all!)

We got a double stroller in the evening and my 9 year old sat in it the entire time with his 11 and 12 year old brothers alternating. (ps - I would have been glad to alternate too after that day ) I was amazed that they fit (my 12 year old had to scrunch down a little bit in the seat to stay under the hood) and more amazed how easy it was to push compared to the many (much smaller and lighter) umbrella strollers I'd used over the years when they weighed half as much!

However as people have mentioned, they're certainly not cheap to rent, not comfortable to sleep in, and you don't have them once you leave the parks for the long trip to the bus/resort/parking lot!

 

[bnorm27]

The strollers they SELL at Disney are $40 if I recall. They are black and red Kohlcraft. They recline, have a small bag attached to the back, and have a removable top. We bought it and had it delivered to our room. It worked great for my 4 year old (very tall for her age). Much more cost effective then renting, plus, we had it for those long walks to the bus stops! If you are flying, bring your own and gate check it so you have it until you get on the plane, and get it as soon as you get off the plane. If you are driving, bring your own from home.

 

[plutolovr]

Took a set of 5yo twins, 8 days of parks, no strollers! They did just fine.

 

[Denise Thies]

Umbrella stroller - we had the same problem. I have a double too for my 1 & 2 year old. Without it They start to drag. The rented ones are $10. for single and $18. for a double they do steer nice though.

 

[Got Quattro?]

I would like to buy a stroller but I cannot find one that is large enough. His head touches the top canopy in all hte strollers I've tried. He is tall for his age..

Call me captain obvious....but isn't that a sure sign that he needs to start walking? If he can't go all day, stop and rest. Go take a nap.

Nothing pevves me more than kids to aold to be in a stroller. Size means nothing. My daughter is small for her size and we ditched her stroller at age 3 1/2.

Take your son for walks before you go. Push him instead of coddeling him, you may be suprised at what he is capable of.

 

[cybrkitn]

I have a DS4 who is at the 40 1/2" mark and very skinny. He's been too tall for umbrella strollers for a while so we don't use them anymore (plus, at his age we feel he is too old for that kind of stroller). When we go to the local malls, we rent the fire truck strollers meant for toddlers and children who are a few years older. It beats having to try and carry him; after a while he gets heavy!

When we go to Dis in three weeks, we are going to rent a stroller for him there. One thing that has been stressed on these topics (if you decide to rent) is to make sure you have a ribbon or something tied to your stroller so that you know it's yours. All the strollers look alike and this will help you find yours quickly.