Older Child in WDW Strollers

[chrisn]

I know a lot of you are probably going to think "make the kid walk" but there is just no way. We were at Disney in February of 2003 and I had purchased a Maclaren umbrella stroller on ebay for my 5 yr old son. It was the last year he would be able to use any store umbrella I believe. He was 44" tall at that time. He's a very active child but is a lazy walker. Even in the mall if it's been too long he'll start complaining that his legs are tired of walking. He's had severe growing pains at times ever since he was 2 1/2 and I don't know if that has anything to do with the "lazy legs" or not but I do know that he would not last 2 hours walking at Disney next February. He'll be 7. He's short and "young" for his age and I'd like to keep us all happy. My question is have any of you used the Disney strollers for your older child (height wise). Will he fit and if so what can I bring to make him more comfortable in it. Last year an older gentleman commented "isn't he a little old to be riding in a stroller?" My answer was "would you like to carry him?" I know most all the kids his age walk but I have seen kids his age and older still riding in the strollers. I don't want to be blasted, just advised.

 

[SueM in MN]

The strollers for rent at WDW parks will hold pretty big kids. Some Cms from WDW have posted in the past that they have more than one size of stroller available, and that the largest will fit up to a small 12 year old.
Some people don't think the hard side plastic strollers look comforatble when they see pictures, but I've seen kids of all ages riding in them and even asleep in them and the kids didn't look uncomfortable at all.

 

[tddalton]

You know, I often used to look at people who had 8 year olds in strollers, and I'd mock them. Now the whole karma thing has happened....

My brother in law rented a double stroller at the parks for his 6 and 8 year olds. They looked silly, but after a marathon day at the park, they were at least comfortable (mostly) and not whining. It was also helpful to use as a shopping cart!

One thing I'd like to also suggest is something that we bought - it's called the Kiddie Board. It's basically a little skateboard type thing that connects on the back of the stroller. There is no way we'd have made the last trip without it. (twins in the double stroller, 5 year old totally displaced!)

It was awesome, and now that I think of it, I'm going to make it a separate post.

But, no, there is really no age limit, and the doubles are really roomy.

 

[nigel-bigel]

The last time we were there my oldest daughter was 7 and I had her in the double stroller with her sister. She is on the tall end of the chart for her age, and her legs were a little long, but she never complained. I even asked her several times if she felt bunched up, and she said she was fine.

I plan on renting a double stroller again this coming October, when she will 9. In truth it is more for her sister who will be 5. I like them not so much because the girls get tired, but to keep them from poking along or getting lost.

Nicole

 

[toystorymom]

When we were there in November we brought a stroller for our 2 year old and rented one in the parks for our 4 year old. However, there were plenty of times that our 7 year old (about 48 inches) hopped in for a ride. He did walk the majority of the day but there are times when he just needed a break. He was plenty comfortable in the strollers and never complained. Plus, there were times when they both wanted to ride. The 7 year old would sit up on the seat and the 4 year old would sit on the lower part. It wouldn't be practical for all day use but it worked fine just moving between attractions or for short rides at the end of a long day. I think your 7 year old would be fine in a rental and I wouldn't worry about what others think.

 

[tjmw2727]

Your 7yo should fit in the stroller fine - if you want more room you could get a double but its a bit more difficult to push and
(of- course) double the price.

Check out allears for pictures and descriptions of the park strollers.

TJ

 

[MinnieGi]

Everytime we go I see loads of older (7 & up) in the rented Disney strollers. I know we've seen some 11 & 12 year olds in them. Even the taller ones seem to somehow make themselves comfortable. And all the kids seem to have that worn out look on their faces and thankful they can be pushed. If you know he won't make it, I wouldn't think twice about renting a stroller.

 

[Schmeck]

Have you taken him to the doctor to see if he has a medical issue? Pain in the legs/knees can be a serious warning for juvenile arthritis (which my cousin has) or even leukemia (which a friend has right now - it started with pains in her legs).

 

[Ellester]

On our trip earlier this month, my stepsister rented the double strollers for her kids (ages 5 and 3). For a while, we were pushing her dd5, my dd5, and my dd2 all sitting comfortably. We have big kids too, my neice is 47" and 55lbs, my dd5 48" and 42lbs, and my dd2 40" and 33lbs. They were all happy campers to be pushed around!

 

[Selket]

We were there in August when my son was a few months away from being 6 and he is average sized and we used the rental stroller on days when we'd be doing a lot of walking in the parks. I would not think twice about doing it again now that he is 6 or next year or whenever if he needed it. He never complained - he loved it! We used our other stroller for my 20 mo old who has some muscle problems and could not yet walk when we were there and got a GAC so we could take that stroller in line when needed (not the one for the older kid). You should get the stroller and ignore anyone's comments - they don't know why your kid is in the stroller - just like folks couldn't tell why we were allowed to keep our younger one in the stroller in line when generally you can't do that. I did get some sideways looks but no comments. You should feel no need to explain yourself for having a stroller for your child!

 

[KIS]

It's hard not to get defensive when a total stranger makes such comments. I thought your come back was fair enough. It's easy to judge others. But has that guy walked a mile in your moccasins, as the saying goes?

I am glad to see that others have used a stroller for 5 year olds. And, also that some kids poop after 2 hours of walking. I am coming to WDW for the first time. It is also a first for my husband and daughter ( 5 y.o.) We are bringing our stroller. It doesn't recline, but it hopefully will do the trick as the day wears on....

KIS

 

[HappyMommy2]

I just wanted to add that I myself (a reasonably fit 28-year-old woman) get pretty exhausted after a couple of days of trekking around WDW--I wouldn't mind squeezing into one of those strollers myself for a break now and then! So I think it's more than understandable that your child would be happier if he could ride in a stroller for a while.

 

[memymomonica]

My daughter was months from 6 and is 44inches at our last trip. We used a stroller most days in the park. We did do Epcot one day without. She did better than I thought, but it wasn't a full day. And she did slow down. Do what you have to do and have fun.

 

[mudnuri]

we will be going in April with our 6 and 7 year old DD's

DD7 is 51" tall and 58lbs, DD6 is 50" tall and 52lbs now,

We are leaving our options open as it comes to stroller use in the park, They have walked at parks before, Hershey, Six Flags, etc.. however not as large of a park as any of the WDW parks.

I have money budgetted incase they decide they have had enough walking. DH and I will each grab a single stroller, and plunk the kids in them. I think Epcot will be the biggest challenge for us, and being our first day I will seriously consider getting a stroller for them.

I personally dont care what others say, and think your comment was 100% right on!.... Some people are just rude, plain and simple, no way around it LOL

I say if it will help your son enjoy the trip, and you as well, since you wont be hearing him complain, GO FOR IT!

Brandy

 

[Chilehead]

Kinda off the subject, but also not... One of the joys of WDW is that you DONT HAVE TO WORRY WHAT OTHERS THINK!!! They dont know you, and will probably never see you again, so if they dont like something that you are doing, who cares! My son is Autistic. My son has Sensory Integration Dysfunction & Asburgers Syndrome. Its the kind of thing that is often obvious. He "flaps" his hands when he runs, he squirms on the ground like a snake when he gets bored, he makes loud screams for no reason. The #1 reason I love Disney so much (only 6 More Days!!!) is that he can be himself there and I don't have to explain away his condition. There are always other kids there like him and worse, so it's OK. My son has low muscletone due to his condition and drags around like he's tired. He walks really slow after a couple of hours in the park, & we continually have to prod him to hurry up. This year we plan to take our time a bit more and actually ENJOY the trip and the surroundings. On all previous trips it was "RUN TO THE NEXT RIDE!!!" mentality. This year were going to go at a slower pace, and look at the beauty of everything and get ideas for our new remodel job that were going to start when we get back. We plan to build & drastically decorate our den. Maybe along the lines of the monkey wall in Animal Kingdom. Not rich, just creative. We bought a brand new stroller (Peg-Perego) at a discount house brand new for $65.00. It still had the $199.99 Zany Brainy price tag on it. I figure its cheaper and more conveinient than renting and when we get home we can sell it for what we bought it for if we chose to do so.
On one trip we saw a man sitting against the wall near splash mountain. His son was laying on the concrete street, face down, beating his fists on the ground and screaming and crying. The look on the mans face told me that this was nothing new for him, and he was very calm. We ate across the street. We were there outside for at least 45 minutes. He cried the whole time. People would walk by and give him (& the child; about 4 yrs old) dirty looks. I told my wife that if he was still there when we got done that I was going to go over there and talk to the guy and let him know that I know where he's at. Been there in my own way. He was gone by then though. But the point is that some people dont try to understand. We are thinking about renting a stroller for our 6 year old son who is Autistic. He is BIG for his size and VERY smart. (near genius), but still has low mustletone. I'm hoping we wont need to, as we all (including him) need more exercise, but if worse comes to worse we will.
By the way, a VERY good tip on strollers...NEVER EVER EVER EVER bring along an Eddie Bauer deluxe stroller!!!! That was a mistake last year. it was SOOOO big that it was a REAL problem on the buses, and got me plenty of dirty looks. (Which I returned, but would rather have not gotten). Even folded up it was a nonstronsity. Kinda like that SUV commercial where the guy tears up his carport with the hummer.
At $16.00 per day I just couldn't see renting a double stroller, and besides, I use it to push the child back to the resort as well, and thats one of the perks of bringing your own.