PLEASE HELP- stroller dilemma!

[mousehunter3]

My kids will be 10, 8, and 5 when we go for our trip. We are planning some long days and I know my 5 year old is going to need a stroller. What about the other 2? Do you think they will be okay? I am wondering if we should get a sit and stand stroller to bring along. I'm not sure if they will be too heavy to ride on there. My 8 year old currently weighs over 70 pounds. The rentals seem unreasonably expensive! Not sure what the alternative solution might be. Anyone have experience going with kids this age? What did you do about the whole stroller dilemma?

 

[jennyjinx3]

I think the 8 and 10 year old will be fine. Our youngest will be 5 on our trip, the other two 9 and 7. The middle stopped needing a stroller at 6. We will still get one for the little one but this is the last time.

We use Kingdom strollers, find them reasonable and great customer service.

 

[mousehunter3]

Where is Kingdom Strollers and how much do they cost? I don't want to spend a fortune on stroller rental, but we are flying and it would be so nice to not have to lug the stroller with us on the plane. Last time, our kids were 1, 4, and 6, we brought a double stroller and a backpack, diaper bag, baby supplies, carry on supplies, etc. We were like a walking nightmare in the airport!

 

[SueM in MN]

Your 8 yr old should do just fine without a stroller.
Most of the double strollers are less than 60 pound per seat, so he will be too heavy for a stroller anyway.

 

[jameyh]

Hi not sure if you have searched or read anything about apple stroller rentals. But they are running a special, new to the stroller rentals but from what I've read they have been renting wheelchairs & evcs for a while. Anyways special is $5 for single $7 for double per day which is just the insurance rental is "free". Check them out, I have a rental reserved for sept thru them

 

[mousehunter3]

Thanks! Just saw something about Apple Strollers on another thread. I will definitely check them out!

 

[Princess Leia]

Course they will be Ok unless they have specific medical conditions which makes walking difficult. My eight year old son who was reading over my shoulder said, "Seriously?" My son started going to Disney at 3 years old and has never used a stroller. Walking is really good for children. They get plenty of breaks on rides, shows and at restaurants. Would your kids let you put them in a stroller? My DS8 certainly wouldn't!

 

[powellrj]

Yes we have taken kids that age to WDW lots of times and what we did about the stroller thing was nothing. Once my kids were past the age of 4, sorry, strollers were a no go. There is no way I would push around a healthy 70 pound 8 year old!

 

[RachaelA]

Why would a 10 year old need a stroller?

 

[Meshell2002]

Just get a single for the 5 year old and to hold ur stuff. If I didnt have a one year old I'd make my DD5 walk this trip, already told my 7 year old he's too big, he is 70 pounds and exceeds wt limits for the citi mini. A place that will deliver to ur hotel would be perfect for this age!

 

[kim532]

I say you know your kids best and do what you need to. I will on my next trip be getting my 8 year old a stroller. Rental of a city mini GT. Holds up to 75 pounds.

He needs it. I get tired as an adult walking around, so I can completely see why kids at Disney get cranky and tired so easy.

My 8 year old does get easily stimulated and the stroller helps him have a place to retreat to.

It is expensive, but so is the vacation. I just see this as another cost of vacation.

Kim

 

[G719]

Is there any place you can go to test your kids endurance? I thought we would need to rent for my 5 year old in November. But changed my mind after this summer. We did pittsburgh zoo, hershey park, and water country usa. Little one did great all 3 trips so I decided no stroller! I had looked into the baby jogger one that goes up to 75 lbs or taking our bob. It was about $100 for the week to rent from Orlando stroller rentals. But decided to just go without. If she tired out later in the week, maybe we'll get a park stroller as a last resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The last time our son used a stroller was when he was four. He didn't use it at five. I'd skip the stroller for all the kids and take breaks when everyone gets tired.

 

[Autumnslight]

We're taking our three and six year old to Disney for the first time in September. The six year old hasn't used a stroller in years, and the three year old rarely does. However, we're buying a sit and stand for this trip. I know my kids, and they're NOT up to the amount of walking we're going to be doing - at least not without a lot of whining and misery.

I looked into rentals, but our six year old is too big for a regular stroller. Plus, it makes more sense financially to just buy the sit and stand and then sell it later, rather than pay for a rental for nine days.

 

[momof2n2]

I think they will be fine. On our last trip I had my sit-n-stand for our 11 month old loaded with our bags, etc. I planned to rent a stroller for my then 5 year old. Our first park was Epcot and we did RD to Soarin and never made it back to get her a stroller. She did great for the week. She's a trooper though. My others were 7, 9, & 11 and they did great, too. Yet when they were 3, 5 & 7 a few trips back they definitely took turns riding.

 

[momof2n2]

We're taking our three and six year old to Disney for the first time in September. The six year old hasn't used a stroller in years, and the three year old rarely does. However, we're buying a sit and stand for this trip. I know my kids, and they're NOT up to the amount of walking we're going to be doing - at least not without a lot of whining and misery.

I looked into rentals, but our six year old is too big for a regular stroller. Plus, it makes more sense financially to just buy the sit and stand and then sell it later, rather than pay for a rental for nine days.

This sounds smart to me.

My then 5 year old would have never rode a stroller at home, but I don't want to walk at a six year old's pace all day. My 3 y o doesn't use a stroller most of the time, now. But if I want to move she sure does! Besides, I'm a gear person. I want diaper bags, small cooler, ponchos, etc. A roomy stroller is my friend. I'll still birthday bringing strollers when my kids are all grown.

 

[Filomali]

I'm going with my kids, 8 and 4 yr old. I'm going to get a double umbrella stroller and take it with us. I just knew that they will whine and ask to be carried (yes, even the 8 year old) and it will be a nightmare for all of us. We don't mind having a stroller because I know we will be doing a lot of walking for the whole week!

Probably will get one used and re-sell it when we get back.

 

[mousehunter3]

All three of my kids are very active and are in great shape so it's not an issue of laziness. My little one uses our stoller maybe 2-3 times a year (if we go somewhere where there is a LOT of walking). Last time we went, we had a sit and stand. It was an easy decison because my DS had just turned 1 and obviously needed a stroller. My other kids had just turned 4 and 6 and took turns on it. Everyone needed it by the end of the night (heck, if I could've gotten there I would have!). It's a LOT of walking!

My 10-year old will do fine. She rarely complains about walking. My 8 year old is the most active kid ever, but I do worry after all his jumping, climbing, and running back and forth, he will be tired by later in the day. He would most definitely sit in a stroller if I let him. My little one will just be turning 5 and I know he will need a stoller. I am NOT up for carrying him around and he does get worn out after a lot of walking. He will for sure ride in the stroller- not the whole time, but when he is tired, he will have no problem hopping in it.

Anyway, I have decided to rent a single stroller from Apple Strollers. The older two should be fine. We'll be taking a break for dining every day, so that will be a good down time to re0energize. The stroller will be a nice place to put all of our stuff too. I expect that traveling will be MUCH easier this time without diapers/wipes and bottles/sippy cups, etc.! Maybe we won't take it every day, but at least we'll have the option...

Thanks for all your feedback!