Question for those who have kids 6 and under????

[TinkandPooh]

Ok so we were a family of 4:
Myself, DH, DD (13), and DD (15)
We have APs and go often but here is the deal.....in February this year we became a family of 6 when our 2 Nephews ages 5 and 6 came to live with us.

It has been a long time since my DD's have been that small and I just can't remember some things.

We are planning a day trip on April 2nd in about a week and a half to welcome te boys to our Disney Family as they have never been. We plan on getting them APs so we all can enjoy DL as often as we would like.

So now getting to my major question:

I am unsure if I will need a stroller for either of them???
They both just turned 5 and 6 in Jan 09 and Feb 09.

We plan on being at DL for the entire day from opening until at least 6 or 7 pm.....I just can't do the 11pm closing time.......or I will be the one that will be unbearable to be around.

Anyhow so does anyone who has children this age know if we will need a stroller for either one of them or do you think that they will be able to hadle all the walking????


Thanks in advance for your input and advice

 

[Ottilie]

DD5 never uses a stroller anywhere anymore, but she will have one when we go to DL next week. It's a lot of walking for a little one, and I'd rather have one that not- especially for the end of the day.

Even if your nephews don't ride in the stroller much, you will have a "cart" for bags, packages, etc. I'd bring one!

 

[BELLEDOZER]

My boys are almost the same age as yours. When we went to DL in early Feb we did bring a stroller with us but ended up not using it. There is lots of places for you to sit down and take a break, and found that we ended up not using it our entire trip. Took a backpack and a large fanny pack to carry everything in, and it was fine for us. Hope that this helps you out. Have a great day!

Trish

 

[TinkandPooh]

Thanks so much for all the input
It really does help because I really have no clue

I do know that neither of the boys use a stroller here at home but I did not know if a stroller would be a good idea seeing as how they are little and we are going to be at DL for such a long day KWIM?

Anyhow the input has been great and a big help to us in making a choice on how to do our day

 

[Brady's Mom]

Congratulations on adding to your family. We are a family of big age spaces and we do DLR with a few little tricks.

1. Take a stroller or get a Disney one - our 2 youngest are 4 and 6 (almost 7). They do get tired and the stroller is a good place to sit and rest as we commando from one land to the other. If we are in a place with a good concentration of rides we just park the stroller and walk wherever we want. It lets us go at their speed AND our speed. KWIM?

2. Our DS 6 is sensitive to loud sounds and is not a dare devil like his younger brother - so we watch for him to be overwhelmed. Earplugs can work great, since DLR is LOUD! We let him decide when he is ready to do certain rides. He wanted to ride IJ, and was tall enough, but, didn't like it at all and was very overwhelmed. He also won't ride Space since the one time he rode it when he was 4, it totally freaked him out.

3. Snacks - our younger kids need some snacks. I take beef jerky and dried fruit and sometimes granola bars. This helps keep their energy up and their attitudes good.

Hope you have a really fun day with the kids. It will be so fun to see the experience through the eyes of someone who has never been to DLR and they are a great age to enjoy it!

 

[Ross3half]

Our girls never use strollers anywhere but DL. Our 3-1/2 year old rides in a DL stroller almost the entire time. Our just-turned-6 year old rides in one off an on. We usually don't start off with her in one but as the day goes on, she wants a ride for the longer walks. It also helps us maximize our time at the parks because we can move much quicker with them in strollers than waiting for their little legs and wandering eyes to keep up with us. However we usually go at non-peak times when it's easier to move around the parks with strollers.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I would definitely bring a stroller...they can trade off and on sitting in it. Our girls always utilize a stroller at DL and DW. It is just too much walking for them without one. We were last there in November, our oldest was 8yo and she definitely took her turns "riding" instead of walking and would sometimes fight with her 4yo sister on who got to ride and who had to walk! Having a stroller made our time there more bearable, that is for sure.

When we go to Fantasyland, we park our stroller in one place and just go around to all the rides and come back and get our stroller when we are ready to move on to another Land.

Good luck! I'm excited about your new precious additions -- what blessings they will be to all of you!

 

[firefly87]

Absolutely take a stroller!! I am here right now with 5 kids (son & niece 10 y/o, nephew 7 y/o, son 6 y/o, nephew 4 y/o). The 4 y/o def. is in the stroller. The 6 and 7 y/o have been taking turns getting in & out. We brought 2 strollers......when no one is in the 2nd one, it's carrying all our stuff (snacks, jackets, etc).

I also recently got custody of my nephew (the 4 y/o) and this is his first time here. He is having so much fun!!! Good luck with your new blended family!!

 

[TinkandPooh]

I would definitely bring a stroller...they can trade off and on sitting in it. Our girls always utilize a stroller at DL and DW. It is just too much walking for them without one. We were last there in November, our oldest was 8yo and she definitely took her turns "riding" instead of walking and would sometimes fight with her 4yo sister on who got to ride and who had to walk! Having a stroller made our time there more bearable, that is for sure.

When we go to Fantasyland, we park our stroller in one place and just go around to all the rides and come back and get our stroller when we are ready to move on to another Land.

Good luck! I'm excited about your new precious additions -- what blessings they will be to all of you!

Thanks so much for the input and for the well wishes.
We are excited as well to take our Nephews to DL and also excited about having them join our family........just sad about the circumstances that brought them here, but that is ok we are here to make their lives better and it's already happening

 

[TinkandPooh]

Absolutely take a stroller!! I am here right now with 5 kids (son & niece 10 y/o, nephew 7 y/o, son 6 y/o, nephew 4 y/o). The 4 y/o def. is in the stroller. The 6 and 7 y/o have been taking turns getting in & out. We brought 2 strollers......when no one is in the 2nd one, it's carrying all our stuff (snacks, jackets, etc).

I also recently got custody of my nephew (the 4 y/o) and this is his first time here. He is having so much fun!!! Good luck with your new blended family!!

Best wishes to you and your family as well and thank you so much for your ideas and input........oh by the way is it real crowded right now?

 

[QueenDoOver]

I totally second and/or third the "get a stroller" mentality. My son is 6.5 and he is asleep at 8, no matter what! The stroller was a lifesaver for us.

 

[fairykin]

We take twin 5 year olds and aa 7 year old... Take the StroLLerS!
Or better yet.. get a chase Disney Visa and get them for free!

Have a great trip.

And i understand about leaving the park early.. we do the same thing.
Sometimes you stay too long and get too tired and people get grumpy or whiney.

If you leave early you get back to the room with time to take showers, eat a snack.. talk about the day.. and relax.

There is a difference in relaxing and collapsing.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I agree with the stroller. And, honestly, if for no other reason than you end up having SOOO much more stuff for them at that age than when they're older....and unlike the older kids, YOU end up carrying it all! Even my DD who is now 7 wouldn't mind one every once in a while. If you can purchase one beforehand, that would be even better than renting, that way you'll have it for getting back to the hotels. THAT is always the test for us. No matter if you're onsite or have to walk across the street or to the shuttle, at the end of a big day, and especially multiple big days. If you have a Disney stroller, you are unable to bring it past the security area. And, if DCA is closed, they won't let you take a Disney stroller outside the gates of DL.
Some other tips:
I find that they little kids get cold/hot easier and it affects how they can enjoy things. They focus on it until it gets "fixed". Same with getting wet (I always had my boys wear board shorts for their shorts, so if they got wet they dried easily) and hungry.
You have to remind them to drink more often, and you "may" have to take more regular potty breaks and/or remind them to do it.
If at all possible, sleep in or go back to the hotel midday for awhile and get some quiet time and stay late in the parks at least once while you're there, preferrably when they have fireworks. That is big to little kids.
Make sure they have autograph books, and expect them to want to spend time with the characters (maybe even plan a character meal with them, if it's in the budget) and perhaps even the parades.
Plan time at the challenge trail over in DCA or on Pirate's Lair at DL for them to be able to run and get their energy out.
When I was little, whoever I went with made sure I had a Disney shirt with my favorite character(s) on it and a new hat or mouse ears each visit. Now, my DD gets a new pin each trip and occasionally something else. She loves snow globes and the glass animals, so when we have a bit extra, we get her one. She has a special shelf that her "special Disney things" go on.
If you can, get the Disneyland for kids book and show them it before you go and get them to help you plan things.
Since you currently have two girls, something different for you is that YOU will have to be the one to take the boys to the restroom. Probably not something that you've experienced a ton before.
Something we always do when going most places with DD is to pack a deck of cards and/or coloring book with colored pencils (they don't melt like crayons) to occupy them as we're waiting for things (dinner, parades, fireworks, etc.)
Don't be surprised, especially if you're bringing them from a less than desirable home life, if they are overwelmed by Disney to begin with. The noise and smells and sights may be a bit much. Doesn't mean they don't like it, but they may need some help adjusting to it all. We have a boy with sensory issues, so we used to do things like bring his pooh bear with, bring a stress ball with, watch him if he got overwelmed and then redirect, give him chewey things to much on (that helped center him...things like Starburst or gum), and we made sure to give his hand a squeeze and give him lots of hugs. And, he, unlike our younger son and daughter, really needed a mid day nap, even up to age 6. DH and I would often divide and conquer, with him taking our younger son to the pool or staying at the parks and I taking DS1 to the room for a nap.
Also, for security reasons, make sure they know what to do if they get separated from you. If you can come up with a little song or chant to help them remember. They may not even know your full names or last name at all. I'd recommend attaching information into their shoe or onto a lanyard, or something. It is so very easy to get separated (even just exiting a ride, as you have older kids rushing past). We also always had the boys (ours are 2 years apart) in very bright, very obvious colored tshirts and had them matching. And, not red. Bright purple or lime green or bright orange. It helped us immensely, and there was one time at a kids' play area at Sea World that we DID have to hold up the one child and say "I can't find my son, he's 5 and he is dressed "just like this"." Found him very quickly.

Good luck, I'm sure they will find Disney a fun and memorable part of being members of your family!!

 

[DahliaRW]

I wouldn't bother bringing your own, and just go rent one (or two) if you find you need them. If you have a disney visa for the free rental, even better.

 

[firefly87]

Best wishes to you and your family as well and thank you so much for your ideas and input........oh by the way is it real crowded right now?

Yes, I would say it's crowded.......not packed crowded, but it is definitely busy! We are back for our afternoon break.......so many people milling around, it's hard to maneuver. Sometimes you find a nice break in the crowd and can jump in......other times you feel like a fish swimming upstream in the middle of the salmon run!

 

[Canyon girl]

Hey TinkandPooh!

I second (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) the stroller. If the boys are fairly strong, just get one and let them take turns riding. When we saw you last Oct., ds was 5 and used the stroller quite frequently. He is a tall and hefty boy, so he was squeezed in tight! Unfortunately, he did not fit in the stroller this Feb. He did do okay walking during this last trip, but we found that we had to take more sit down breaks for him. Have a great trip! Enjoy the boys because they are so much different than the girls!