Should I take a stroller for my 4 year old?

[1Princess1Prince2006]

Hi everyone! We've finally decided to take the kids this year to Disney and will be going in March. I have a DD who just turned 4 and my DS will be turning 2 while we are down there. We will be taking a stroller for him but I don't know if I should get a light weight stroller for my DD or not? She doesn't ride in one normally, but I figured she would get tired and it would be nice to have her sit someplace.

So, should I bring a stroller for her or should I just wing it and rent one when we get there if she gets tired?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Desnik]

We have taken our kids since they were 8 months old and we have always brought a stroller for them. But now I find myself asking the same question you are!!LOL We are going in April and DD will be 9 so she's not the problem, it's DS who will be 4 at the time of our trip. He normally doesn't go in the stroller, except for WDW and occasionally if he's sleepy and we're going to the mall. I am aware of how much walking is involved and DS actually did really well with it all on our last trip. He hardly was in the stroller. So, I was also contimplating not taking his. Then I start thinking about walking in the airport, or around the resort, or carrying him on late nights when he falls asleep and then we have a long walk back to the hotel. Even at DtD, the stroller is useful. I also like to stick him in it when it gets really crowded and I know he could easily get lost. So, in my long winded answer, I say take the stroller! I guess I will too!!

 

[brytorlyn]

We use a stroller for DD5 ( also when she was 4 and 3) and found that we needed it. It was great when she was tired or hot but we found it was also great for giving her a place to sit during the parades or she could snack while we were on the move between rides. Sometimes when there are crowds the stroller may seem like a hinderance but at least you know where your child is and that they aren't being crushed.

As for renting it, we brought our own since we felt it more economical then renting everyday and we could use it in parking lots or those LONG treks to the hotel room or even downtown Disney.

 

[1Princess1Prince2006]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. And y'all do have a point about taking one if she does get tired and then being able to use it around the resorts and other places. Well, I guess I'm off to go and see what kind of stroller I can fit her in to. LOL

 

[daisyduck123]

Yes, definitely without a doubt....bring it. Have a great time!

 

[cakesnjammom]

We went in September with ds 4 and dd 2 and found that we did need a stroller for them for several reasons:

So they could keep up when we were trying to get somewhere specific (you know how they dawdle especially when they are looking all around)

So we could keep uo with them (where they were while we are finding our way around)

To hold our drinks, bag, etc

We found Disney double strollers to be much more accomodating (space and getting around quicker) than our umbrella stroller so we rented one most days. One day we offered someone $5 for their stroller at the stroller return entry and they went for it! They really had nothing to lose...we turned it in when we were done just like they would have.

Transport to and from hotel was also alot easier without two strollers as well!

Have a magical trip!

 

[KimK2006]

We have alway rented a stroller for our kids. My youngest was just turned 7 when we went last year, and we still rented one for him. Although he didn't ride in it all of the time, it was great when he was tired and irritable. It was also great to have it to keep hats, sunglasses, drinks in so we don't have to take on the rides. He is easily distracted, so it is also great to put him in it when we are in a hurry to get somewhere, or we are in a crowded area and don't want to lose him. My 11 year has been known to jump in every once in a while, too!

 

[bucky1023]

I would bring one. The last thing you want is to have an over tired child who doesn't want to walk (been there, done that). I found it most useful in Epcot. That park is a lot of walking and for their little legs it's a long day!!

 

[karibritt01]

Last year DS8 used the stroller as much as DD3! We only had a single, so many times he would ride and hold her on his lap! Be safe instead of sorry... if nothing else, its a great place to store your stuff!

 

[meghan74]

I found that the inexpensive, lightweight strollers were too difficult to push with my DD in them once she was about 4, so I always rent a stroller for her instead of bringing my own. She didn't have any problems walking around the airport, to and from the buses, or around the hotel. We just needed something in the parks themselves. The WDW strollers are really easy to push, even with a large child!

Last year, my DD was 5 and we went with my sister who had a 2 year old. She brought an umbrella stroller to get him from the bus to the park and then we rented a double stroller so that the two kids could ride together. (We just left the umbrella stroller at a ride near the entrance and picked it up on our way out of the park.)

 

[disneyfanfamily]

YES YES YES...

 

[mommykds]

Last year DS8 used the stroller as much as DD3! We only had a single, so many times he would ride and hold her on his lap! Be safe instead of sorry... if nothing else, its a great place to store your stuff!

Same here. We brought 2 light weight umbrella strollers for our 5 & 7 year old last summer. They haven't used a stroller since they were 3 but there is so much walking at Disney that it just makes your day easier. No one wants to struggle with a tired and cranky kids on vacation. The stollers I got were $20 each at Babies R us.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We've never taken a stroller for our oldest, he was almost 4 in 2004 on our trip, and just under 5 in 2005. There was only one time that he asked to ride in a stroller, that was after Fantasmic on the first trip. The other time, he wanted to walk.

We won't be taking one for our 4-yo in May, will plan to rent one in case he needs it, but he claims he's not a baby and wants to "always walk, Mommy. No baby strollers". We'll let him try it.

 

[slo]

I'm a real stroller lover, and I would absolutly bring one for the 4 year old.

My oldest DD still sat in a stroller at WDW when she was 7 years old (a rented one that was shared with her 2 year old sister). I like my kids in a stroller because they won't wander off and get lost (the thought of that frightens me to death). Plus they don't get tired as easily, and if they do get tired, they can fall asleep in the stroller.

 

[yellowtink]

YES, it really saves there legs and you can get around the parks faster.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I'll keep it short and sweet....YES!