Older Kids - Strollers in the park?

[DisneyMama811]

How many of you have kids who are well past stroller age at home but you still use one at the parks?

my girls will be about 5&7 when we go next year, the 7yo might be ok but there is absolutely NO way the youngest will make it for an entire day (even if we take mid day resort breaks) walking through the parks... will people look at us weird if she spends time in a stroller or is this a common thing? I so wish wagons were allowed, we have a folding one that is amazing

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

How many of you have kids who are well past stroller age at home but you still use one at the parks?

my girls will be about 5&7 when we go next year, the 7yo might be ok but there is absolutely NO way the youngest will make it for an entire day (even if we take mid day resort breaks) walking through the parks... will people look at us weird if she spends time in a stroller or is this a common thing? I so wish wagons were allowed, we have a folding one that is amazing

My 5 year old still uses one unless it’s a half day. Hoping by the time he’s 6 he will be ok without since we will have a baby and don’t want to do a double. No one will look at you weird at all. Trust me you would rather a stroller than a cranky kid!

 

[Elephantay]

Very common! And I'm sure people would rather that than hear your exhausted, complaining kid lol. It can be great for a break, to sit for ten minutes and have an ice cream while you walk a little more quickly to get to something, for example.

 

[Micca]

Our DGDs used strollers up to ages 6 & 7. If there's a risk of meltdowns and needing to be carried back to the resort, you'll want a stroller.

 

[loves to dive]

As far as will people look at you strange, probably not since I've seen some with kids in them that are actually spilling out they are so big for the stroller. If they do look at you strange, who cares, you will never see these people again. As far as have I done it, no. We started going when my son was just shy of 3 and he hated strollers. If he got too tired for words we went back to the resort for him to either nap or spend time at the pool. Or, at the end of the day I would rent a stroller at WDW for a few hours. He would fight it though because he just hated them. It was easier to let him walk and go at his pace. We sat on a lot of benches and watched people. He slept on buses and monorail curled up in my lap or against me. I was a single mom and most of the time it was just him and me (sometimes my Mama would go with us) so he had to hold my hand or part of my clothes at all times and he was o.k. with that.

 

[Olaf Myfrenzargay]

Walking that much is brutal on older kids, not just younger ones, Absolutely zero shame in using those on older little ones. Zilch. Nada. Zippo.

 

[Skywalker3]

How many of you have kids who are well past stroller age at home but you still use one at the parks?

my girls will be about 5&7 when we go next year, the 7yo might be ok but there is absolutely NO way the youngest will make it for an entire day (even if we take mid day resort breaks) walking through the parks... will people look at us weird if she spends time in a stroller or is this a common thing? I so wish wagons were allowed, we have a folding one that is amazing

We used strollers for a long time, not sure when kids gave them up. I dont' think using a stroller relates to age in any way, it depends on the kid. Our kids are short/very small for their ages, and we are park commandos. Was much easier having 1 or both in strollers, until those little legs were ready to keep up with us. Age has nothing to do with it.

 

[DisneyMama811]

We used strollers for a long time, not sure when kids gave them up. I dont' think using a stroller relates to age in any way, it depends on the kid. Our kids are short/very small for their ages, and we are park commandos. Was much easier having 1 or both in strollers, until those little legs were ready to keep up with us. Age has nothing to do with it.

this is why I'm concerned about the youngest she's currently 4 and only 35lb she has hypermobile joints and gets tired pretty easily even just walking through walmart

 

[GoingSince1990]

We rented strollers at Disney WAY beyond the point where our kids had stopped using them the rest of the time. A long day in a Disney park is uniquely tiring and is NOT the time to worry about spoiling your kids by letting them take a break from walking and ride in a stroller. A rental double stroller is so handy to put your stuff in as well as providing somewhere to sit and ride when the kids want to rest for a while. Don't worry about people "looking at you weird"; I never noticed this, and even if they did, who cares about what judgmental busybodies think? And definitely ignore those who for some reason have an irrational fixation on the idea that letting an older kid ride in a stroller in Disney means you are a horrible parent bringing up lazy kids. (An example would be the post I saw here a while ago that said "When the kids turned 4..NO stroller......If my son was seen in a stroller at say..7, he'd get a beating at school..lol and i couldn't argue with it"). It's a vacation, not a young child walking-endurance competition to validate your self-worth as a parent.

 

[DisneyMama811]

We rented strollers at Disney WAY beyond the point where our kids had stopped using them the rest of the time. A long day in a Disney park is uniquely tiring and is NOT the time to worry about spoiling your kids by letting them take a break from walking and ride in a stroller. A rental double stroller is so handy to put your stuff in as well as providing somewhere to sit and ride when the kids want to rest for a while. Don't worry about people "looking at you weird"; I never noticed this, and even if they did, who cares about what judgmental busybodies think? And definitely ignore those who for some reason have an irrational fixation on the idea that letting an older kid ride in a stroller in Disney means you are a horrible parent bringing up lazy kids. (An example would be the post I saw here a while ago that said "When the kids turned 4..NO stroller......If my son was seen in a stroller at say..7, he'd get a beating at school..lol and i couldn't argue with it"). It's a vacation, not a young child walking-endurance competition to validate your self-worth as a parent.

you are my kind of person.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I have 5 kids, still use one for my youngest (5 years old) and have used one usually til about 6 or 7 depending on the kid for each of my other children. I couldn’t care less if people look at me funny because they’re not the ones who will be hearing “my legs are tired” and “my feet hurt” incessantly. If a stroller will help take some stress and aggravation off you and help make your child able to last longer in the park, then go for it. They’re also wonderful for carrying things and frankly I dread the time when we won’t need one anymore for that reason.

 

[Isabelle12345]

This thread is making me feel so much better about bringing a stroller for my kids who will be 4 and 6 (or 7 depending on when our border opens up!)
We are very fast walkers and I was planning on using the walking path between Poly and MK and there is no way my kid’s would be able to do that plus a full park day...
We wouldn’t use it all the time but it would be good to have for those moments where they get exhausted and would make for a much better experience overall!

But I agree, this isn’t something everyone will agree on... I think everyone should do what feels good for them and not try to make anyone else happy!

 

[DisneyMama811]

This thread is making me feel so much better about bringing a stroller for my kids who will be 4 and 6 (or 7 depending on when our border opens up!)
We are very fast walkers and I was planning on using the walking path between Poly and MK and there is no way my kid’s would be able to do that plus a full park day...
We wouldn’t use it all the time but it would be good to have for those moments where they get exhausted and would make for a much better experience overall!

But I agree, this isn’t something everyone will agree on... I think everyone should do what feels good for them and not try to make anyone else happy!

I'm in the same boat as you with the border I'm REALLY hoping we can go in February this pandemic is wrecking everything but I'm also kind of on the fence, going to another country feels big and scary in my mind but I keep reminding myself a lot can change in a year and praying things will be better

 

[sabrecmc]

I think my daughter used one at Disney until she was like 10, lol. She'd sit next to her cousin, who was 7 years younger, in the double Disney stroller. She's small, so it was easy for her to fit, and honestly, it was easier on all of us. I am sure people judged us, but whatever. I would 100% crawl into a stroller myself if I could fit. Those parks are huge!

 

[Momtastic]

Whether you decide to use one or not totally depends on your kids, how you like to tour the parks, and how much stuff you want to bring to the parks with you. We debated bringing a stroller for our youngest who was 4 the last time we went. My husband insisted that she would not be able to keep up, and we would regret not having one. However, I am an ultra-minimalist when it comes to packing, both for days in the parks and the trip in general. I did NOT want to lug around something that I would have to park and keep track of. Ultimately I won, and we went stroller-less. It worked great for our style of touring and for us it was liberating to not have something extra to haul around. Also, made getting on and off the monorail and buses easier. When the kids were starting to complain about being too tired (and by the way- it was the older ones who were complaining) we took that as a signal that we should call it a day. Usually happened around 3:30 or 4. We were totally ok with that approach, but others who want to stay until the park closes, or for after hours events might not find that acceptable. Also, if you like to bring a cooler or large bags with you into the park, having something with wheels might make it easier to get around. I did see quite a few families with kids that looked to be 6 or 7 in strollers, so it’s not at all unusual. Every family is different. For us, life was easier without it. If you think your life would be easier with it, it probably makes sense to do it.

 

[MICKIMINI]

I think we used one until our son was about eight. He had a good growth spurt and his legs grew and he was playing soccer, so finally could get around the park. Strollers are everywhere so don't worry about anyone else but your family!

 

[chaselovesnemo]

My SIL just took two double strollers last week. One for an infant and a 2 year old. One for a 6 year old and 8 year old. You’re fine.

 

[Jhondy]

Do what works best for you and your kids and don’t worry about what others think. I get tired of either “perfect” parents judging what another parent is doing or those without kids judging a parent.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

You could always do a sit and stand type of setup and use the front seat for stuff and kids take turns on the back. Though it sounds like your youngest might still be small enough for the front seat. Now that my kids are 2 and 5, they love the back seat of the stroller so much that they argue about who gets it!

 

[MouseMama11]

We are heading to WDW in July and I WILL be bringing a stroller for my 7 year old! Even if she won't need it all the time, it will be nice to have something to hold our stuff... and a drink tray lol!