Should I bring stroller for 6yr old?????

[WantToGoNow]

Your 4 year old is up from 7am to 1am daily?

I'm impressed.

My 6 year old rarely makes it past 9-10 if he was up early.

The parks aren't always open from 7 am to 1 am depending on what time of the year you are going. In December when we go, the parks close as early at 5 pm (AK), DHS and MK frequently close at 7 pm and Epcot at 9 pm.

My dd will turn 6 two days after we return from our trip. She (nor my ds8) will be getting pushed in a stroller. The way I look at it, if they would be embarassed to be pushed down the sidewalk in front of their friends, then they are too big to be in it period. If they can't handle the walking, then we go back to the resort.

In years past, people would not even give thought to pushing school-aged children around in a BABY stroller - maybe that's why there's more of an obesity problem now in children than there used to be.

 

[happymomof1]

I don't think I am, in any way, perpetuating obesity by pushing my son in a stroller after 12 hours of walking. He's almost 6, and as a matter of fact, I'm sure FEW of us adults walk 10 miles per day or more. How can we EXPECT a child to walk that many miles for many days in a row? I hardly think people who don't walk 10 miles a day are all obese...I am fit and wear a size 2...have since I was a teenager.

At Disney I--wear a pin lanyard---don't do that at home
--wear matching clothes with the rest of my family--not at home
push my kid who's tired in a stroller---not at home
eat at a different restaurant every day---not at home, I cook!

Things are different while on vacation

 

[Kallista]

He's almost 6, and as a matter of fact, I'm sure FEW of us adults walk 10 miles per day or more.

If an adult can't walk 10 miles a day, every day, then that adult is out of shape, and needs more exercise.

I wouldn't expect an adult who is that out of shape to encourage their kids to be in shape, though. Bad habits in parents breed bad habits in kids.

It's possible to be skinny, in poor shape, and unhealthy.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I knew this would eventually go down the ugly "you use a stroller because your kid is fat" road .

We walk approximately 10-15 miles per day while in Disney (we got a pedometer, it's amazing how much you DO walk)

Our DD's, 8 & 10, are lean and athletic, but we didn't push them out of the strollers, we waited until they didn't need them any more and were capable of walking that much, which I think was about 6 or 7.

The february trip our 10 yo came down with a cold and we got her a stroller for the last day. It made a yucky last day better for her.

If you're gonna make your kid is miserable in Disney by refusing to accomodate their needs, then why on earth go?

You can either go to Disney and have fun, or you can go and prove a point.

I know which way I'd rather do it.

 

[brymolmom]

I have a strict rule for our family that after age 5 - no more strollers at WDW. DD will still be 5 on our Sept trip - and that will be it for strollers.

It will be a bigger deal for her not to have one that it has been for ds6 cuz he is just generally more active/energetic and not as much of a complainer.

One reason specifically that I made that rule a couple years ago is due to all the posts that talk about not wanting to'listening to them complain'. IMO - if a child is going to whine/complain during a trip to WALT DISNEY WORLD, they shouldn't be there. And, if dd does whine/complain (which likely WILL happen when we get there) she will be sitting to rest her tired legs and missing a bunch of rides while ds and dh continue on OR if really bad, we'll leave one of the parks early and head back to the room while the rest of the family stays to enjoy it. It won't take long for her to learn that, yes, you can ask for a break or a rest, but you cannot complain and ruin everyone's good time.

It gets to be too much of a crutch for the parents, IMO, and I am worried about using it as one myself. Instead of teaching her not to whine/complain about things like this - I'd just be avoiding it. Hopefully, when given the 'rules' beforehand - it won't even be much of a problem. I'll let you know after Oct when she turns 6! Now, if one of my kids has been great the whole trip and not complained at all and one day just had a bad night sleeping or was feeling a little bit sick or something so was more tired than usual, I would not be against renting one for an afternoon for a year or two more. But only after they know that it is their responsibility to be walking in order to enjoy the fun!

 

[happymomof1]

When I started this thread, I just wanted to know if anyone else used strollers for their going-to-be-6 year olds... It is truly sad that some people have chosen to use this as an outlet to pick apart others. I am no longer going to read or respond to this thread. When you choose to insult others, you have no idea how that ugliness will impact them.

 

[MomLC]

Just went to WDW in April and brought the stroller for dd(7). My mom who is 72 used it most of the time to help herself walk for all of those hours at the park but when dd was tired she did sit in it. I never feel uncomfortable or ashamed when bringing the stroller. For us it helps everyone in my family from not having to lug around my backpack all day, or grandma's purse to helping with packages to umbrellas. No one knows how someone is feeling that day or what may be wrong with an older child in a stroller. I say whatever makes you comfortable go for it and who cares what anyone else thinks. It is your vacation and you have to decide who to make happy. Have a great vacation.

 

[MaumeeMom]

Uh-oh, this thread has taken a turn to the dark side.

OP, it really is a personal choice. You need to do what is best for your family.

Can WDW be done without a stroller? Yes, we didn't use one for our 4yo. Others find a stroller helpful.

In the end it is nobody's business if you have a stroller or not. It is totally your decision.

Good luck.

 

[InkspressYourself]

We wont be taking one for our 4 year old (she will turn 4 while we are there). I'm not opposed to it, but if she sees a stroller she'd rather push it than sit in it so she's a danger to every one

My dh is happy about it, but I asked him where I'm supposed to put my drink. He didn't seem to care about my dilemma.

 

[TKL SHOP]

I would do whatever is best for your child. My dd is 5 almost 6, I am bringing a stroller, just so she can be comfortable and doesn't get lost in the big crowds. Last year leaving fantasmic was a diaster, some lady almost ran her over with her stroller, everyone makes a mad dash for the gates when the park closes, I just like knowing that she is strapped in and can not be seperated from us. Just my opinion, I wouldn't be bothered by what anyone else says or thinks, at least I know my child is comfortable and safe. To me 5-6 is still little, and they do get tired. Especially if they are not used to the hot Fl sun like us. I can walk 10-15 miles per day here in the northeast, but when you add high temps that we are not used to, you tend to tire more quickly.

 

[Cinderella3]

as I tell our friends, it is as simple as this do what is best for your family, everyone has an opinion so just worry about making your kids have a great time at WDW and for everyone else tell them to mind their own business.

 

[LPNmom]

I say bring a stroller, when we were there in 2006, daughter was 6 and used a stroller. She really liked using it during the later parts of the day, and I liked putting snacks and drinks in it!! Even my 9 year old was trying to get in it!

Daughter in Epcot using stroller!!

She slept just about every night in the stroller on the way back to the resort.

 

[scootch]

I take my girls by myself and have used a stroller every year... since they were 2 and 5 till this past year, just turned 9 and 6. Yes, my 9 year old even rode in the double stroller some. It keeps the sun off of them AND keeps them safe. We have lost my youngest(ugghh) before, so I really feel it is worth it to pay for that double stroller.

 

[InkspressYourself]

She slept just about every night in the stroller on the way back to the resort.

That picture is adorable!

Sometimes I wish I had a stroller to sit in.