Our youngest are 6 & 8. Would you recommend a stroller?

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think people must have really small 8 year olds. My son had just turned 7 on our Sept trip and he barely fit in the Citi Mini. His feet were hanging off the bottom.

Mom, that should have told you something. Your son is too old to be in a stroller.

 

[henry72]

Last time we went the kids had just turned 4 and 7. On previous trips we took two strollers but only took one on the last trip. DD (the 4 year old) wanted to use it less than the 7 year old. But both of them did want to use it at times and it definitely came in handy. We are going back this June. The kids will have just turned 6 and 9 - no stroller for them. If they are tired, we will take a break. I am looking forward to being without the stroller - it is a hassle in crowds and we won't have to worry about finding it after the CMs move it.

 

[dsneygirl]

Mom, that should have told you something. Your son is too old to be in a stroller.

It was a 1 night cheater for MNSSHP. The other 9.5 days he walked. 60lbs is darn heavy to push too.

 

[TheSchragFamily]

No, we stop using strollers at Disney when the kids are 3.

 

[TheSchragFamily]

I wouldn't even consider not having a stroller for those ages. My girls would have been miserable without a place to sit down. We walk miles each day -- early morning into the late evening. It's just too much without one. Why have tired, upset kiddos in the happiest place on earth? Plus, it's a great place to throw all our gear and have a home base. We especially love it when crowds are crazy and we feel the kids are safe and accounted for in their strollers. We have an 8, 6 and 3 year old and everyone has a seat at Disney!

You know your children best. Our oldest is used to walking miles at a time and was never upset while walking around Disney, even at ages 3, 4, 5, etc... When he was tired, which was late in the evening, we left. For a smaller child, babywearing is much easier than pushing around a stroller, although we have taken strollers to Disney for children aged 10 weeks-3 years.

 

[pookie10]

I say depends on your child. My 30 lb 6.5 year old LOVES using a stroller, and sleeps quite often at Disney so me and her brother can ride some rides late at night, she just sleeps in the stroller. She likes it, and we dont have to listen to her whine.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I wouldn't think a 6 or 8 year old would need a stroller. You might want to ask if they even want one - my kids would not have nor would they have been comfortable in one.

 

[smidgy]

:so many openly admit that part of the reason they like using a stroller is to "hold the stuff".
luggage or wagons aren't allowed, but strollers are. so I guess next trip I'll just bring a stroller to push around with our stuff. even though we don't have a child with us.
hey, so many say it wil be "just in case" the 6 or7 year old gets tired, and then "we have a place to hold our bags!"
so why can't a couple 50 something empty nesters push around a stroller to hold our bags?

we could barely keep up with our 6 year old grandson when he was with us. stroller? not unless there are special needs involved.
It isn't just about your family. they take up tons of room on the walkways and on the buses. our son and his wife had one backpack. didn't need a stroller to hold it or their 6 year old son. the boy even managed to stand on the bus quite often going back to the resort.
if you choose to bring a lot into the park in a backpack, you should put it on your back. not use your elementary aged child as an excuse to carry your bags.

now the umbrella stoller a few mentioned? great compromise! you have it if needed, doesn't take up a bunch of space. but really, once your kid is in school all day, they are past stroller age.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

If there are special needs involved. ...health issues, mobility issues, sensory issues where the child may need a safe place to escape to.....then yes for the 6 year old. But a typical 8 and 6 year old probably not.

 

[SEA333]

My kids aren't against resting their legs, but yes they were totally against being in a stroller after a certain age. Resting legs does not equal being pushed around in a stroller.
OP my kids were 4,7 and 10 on our first trip, a stroller wasn't even a consideration, but we aren't commando WDWers. If anyone was really tired we'd stop and take a break, or even go back to the pool for a little bit and then back to the park.
You know your kids so only you know whether or not you should have a stroller for them.

I do get what people are saying if they want to break out a stroller for a 7 year old if that is their only kid (or the youngest) and they haven't used one for years, but I think that it would be true of any preschool object. So, it's not just the "stroller" that would get weird looks...it would be anything from that age group.

However, my POINT is, unless a kid is two years old and just doesn't like to sit or be confined, most kids are not as opposed to having a place to sit when they are tired as people on this board say when it comes to strollers. Whether it's on a bench every 15 minutes or on a set of wheels while the rest of the family keeps on moving, not many 5-8 year old kids are going to say "OMG...are you KIDDING???!!!!" if there just so happens to be an extra stroller seat around. After 3 days of rope drop to closing park time in November, my skinny, tiny 45in, 46lb 7 1/2 year old was exhausted trying to keep up with the rest of us fairly tall family members and probably would have LOVED a piggy back ride or a stroller if there had been one. And he literally JUST finished a 5 month tackle football season where he practiced 2 hours/day, 4-5 days a week and had just played in our league's Superbowl the weekend before, so he was in the best shape possible. Our solution is to, next time, stay longer and break up the park days with pool days so they can relax and rest that way. We don't even own a stroller LOL, so I'm not trying to defend myself here.

These threads always just turn into just another example of parents judging everyone else. Really, when the kid is applying for college, it's not going to ask "Did you accept stroller rides in DW at age 7?" It really doesn't matter, and the majority of kids really couldn't care less - but their parents sure do!! Totally understandable....but what bugs me is that parents hide their judging behind the phrase "My kid would think I'm nuts...". All I'm doing is calling them out and saying "Just own it. Your opinion is fine, so own it and stop hiding behind your kid".

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

Folks are as passionate about the stroller debate as they are the diaper and breast feeding debates. Only you know your kids and how pooped they will be. I would say this skip the stroller and see how they do, you could always rent one for the bigger parks like animal kingdom where there is lots of walking. i took one when we just had my oldest and he was 3 but we didnt use it much. we had everything we need in a backpack and he rode on my shoulders most of the time. this time we are taking a sit and stand for my boys this April. My DSs will be 18ms and 6 yrs when we go and I can tell ya the 6 year old has no issue hopping on the back when he's tired. Besides some tired and cranky kids can ruin a vacation in a hurry and since no one on this thread is offering to pay for your trip, I say if it makes your vacation better and doesn't hurt anyone along the way do whats best for your and your family.

 

[Kpskyman]

My girls were 6 and 3 the last time we went. The 3 year old did not want much to do with the stroller during the day, she was enjoying walking and running and being picked up to see everything. The stroller was nice during the day to keep bags of food and drinks for the girls so we did not have to carry it all or buy a locker, and my 6 year old took advantage of it a few times to rest her feet while we were on the move. That being said, I would take one just in case. They are expensive to rent and if you find you don't need one, you can always leave it behind.

 

[kimmer]

We've always rented a stroller. On our most recent trip last May, our guys were 8, 6, and 4. Of course, they don't need one, and we don't use one at home, haven't for years, but for the parks, yes. It's primarily used to hold stuff, to beeline across the park in a hurry, and a place for them to sit for parades, shows, and to eat, if needed. I think it's a good investment for all those uses

 

[sturowski]

Depends on the child. My oldest stopped using one at Disney at 4, and this past September we brought one for my 4 yr old(almost 5) and it never got used. The grandma and me(mom) were more tired than the two boys! They were like energizer bunnies,lol

 

[FamilyGuy]

OP here. This thread became very interesting. I even learned somethings I didn't know.

1st day in the parks and the littlest ones hung with us til after midnight no stroller remotely necessary!

Thanks to all who contributed!

 

[powellrj]

Glad things are going well for your family, have a great trip!