Sit and Stand Stroller Questions

[FrostMommy]

We are planning a trip to Disneyworld in October, and I am debating our stroller needs. We have two smaller children who will be 5 and 8 at the time of travel. We also have two teenagers, so the speed at which we walk around is always a compromise between "big kid speed" and "little kid speed." Whenever we go to the zoo, we bring along a wagon to hold drinks, food, jackets, etc. and occasionally a kid when they might need a bit of a leg rest.

I am facing the problem that our wagon is quite a bit thing to pack along in the car when considering that we need to fit luggage too. I have been looking at the sit and stand strollers and wondering if that is a good possibility. My kids are big enough that they don't use strollers at all in a day to day situation, but we all know walking around Disney, especially for several days in a row, can be hard on little legs. Anyone have any experience with these type of strollers? We need something that can hold some snacks and basic needs, along with drinks, and provide occasional seating for the 5 and 6 year old.

Opinions?

 

[Baklava]

Well, part of it is easy- you're not allowed to take a wagon.

 

[Baklava]

Well, part of it is easy- you're not allowed to take a wagon.

Sorry! That wasn't helpful on its own! I cut myself off.

Is your 8 year old going to be willing to use a stroller? (Mine would NOT have been.) Sometimes we find splitting up helps to make the teen more willing to go slowly when we are together.

 

[FrostMommy]

Sorry! That wasn't helpful on its own! I cut myself off.

Is your 8 year old going to be willing to use a stroller? (Mine would NOT have been.) Sometimes we find splitting up helps to make the teen more willing to go slowly when we are together.

I had no idea that the wagon would not be allowed. Haha. Glad I brought it up before hauling the thing to Orlando. As for my almost 8-year-old, she has no issues with using a stroller. I have been wondering if she would fit. I have noticed that she seems to be on the smaller side when I see the kids in her class and scout troop.

 

[kumimama]

The sit and stand is quite heavy to push around with my 2 yo and 5 yo in it. I think it might be hard to stear one with two big kid.

( my 5 yo would walk most of the time, but I expect he would like to sit in the stroller at night.)

 

[unrequited23]

My sit and stand (Joovy Ultralight) has a total weight limit of 90 lbs. My boys (3.5 yr and 1 yr) are already at a combined 53 lbs. I suggest you check out some stores with the kids to see if they will fit/like the sit and stand. I know buybuybaby and ToysRUs have some sit and stands you can play with. Sit and stands do not seem have as much storage as traditional strollers. I would definitely check out garage sales, craigslist and second hand stores before investing in a sit and stand with kids your age.

 

[HCinKC]

Unless your kids are super small, it will be very difficult to maneuver with that amount of weight. In fact, you may be well over the weight limit with an 8 & 5yo. Personally, I think the walking of Disney is really overstated. Of course there are exceptions, but I would think, and quite frankly expect, an 8yo to handle it. Personally, I would think and expect the same of a 5yo. My 6yo is fine. Between small breaks on rides, sitting to eat or have a snack, waiting for family members at rides or bathrooms, even sitting in a line if it is slow, there are plenty of breaks. I also agree that investing in a new stroller with kids of that age is a waste although I suppose you could turn around and sell it on CL after your trip. If you really think your kids will need to sit, maybe look into renting a single with a high weight limit. You could push your 5yo if needed, your 8yo could use it as a chair, and you'll have much better storage than a sit n' stand will offer.

 

[FrostMommy]

Thanks to everyone who has commented, these are some good points. I guess what I should have said is that primarily, we are looking for a stroller to hold our stuff, with the occasional possibility of allowing a kid to sit. That is why we love the wagon at the zoo. We are DVCers heading on our first DVC trip, and will be bringing snack and light lunch items into the parks, and with the 6 of us, the need for as many cup holders as possible is always a concern. I see the kids spending about five minutes in the stroller per 5-6 hours of park visiting. I have thought about just hauling around a couple backpacks, but no one really likes that idea, or the thought of running back to a locker many times during the day. And having tired kids at the end of the day that might want to be carried, on top of carrying all the stuff, is what led me to start researching the stroller options.

I was concerned about the bulk of the sit and stand when getting off and on the bus. I had a Graco double stroller when my teenagers were young, and I do remember the cumbersome of pushing it around. Haha... I was a bit silly at the time and bought one that was a bit extra longer than normal one since it offered the possibility of turning the front seat around so they could share snacks and such. It was awesome, but oftentimes difficult to turn.

I am not planning on spending over $50 for whatever we end up with, and since I have no issue with buying a used on, and so far I have had lucky finding some on Craigslist, but I don't know what it is that I really want.

 

[AshleeH]

We used a sit and stand when my boys were 7 and 4 and again when they were 8 and 5. It was great. The older one didn't always use it, but Disney is hard and demanding on little growing legs. It gave him a place to relax, a spot to watch the parade, a seat for a snack - in short, I wouldn't have traded that stroller for anything. We do an average of 5-7 miles per day and our kids are extremely healthy (the older one is a black belt in tae kwon do) but that amount of wear and tear on growing muscles for a solid week was not something I wanted to worry about.

And in all of our Disney trips we have never had a single meltdown - I credit the use of the stroller in the early years for a huge portion of that. No one was tired, hot, cranky, whining - we have had some textbook perfect vacations as a result.

 

[brockash]

We are planning a trip to Disneyworld in October, and I am debating our stroller needs. We have two smaller children who will be 5 and 8 at the time of travel. We also have two teenagers, so the speed at which we walk around is always a compromise between "big kid speed" and "little kid speed." Whenever we go to the zoo, we bring along a wagon to hold drinks, food, jackets, etc. and occasionally a kid when they might need a bit of a leg rest.

I am facing the problem that our wagon is quite a bit thing to pack along in the car when considering that we need to fit luggage too. I have been looking at the sit and stand strollers and wondering if that is a good possibility. My kids are big enough that they don't use strollers at all in a day to day situation, but we all know walking around Disney, especially for several days in a row, can be hard on little legs. Anyone have any experience with these type of strollers? We need something that can hold some snacks and basic needs, along with drinks, and provide occasional seating for the 5 and 6 year old.

Opinions?

Weight aside, I don't think a 5 year old (even small) would fit in the front of a sit n stand very well. For the ages of your kids I'd either rent one at the park or for storage rent a double from one of the rental companies. We did last year for our 2 month old and 7 year old and it was great and we'll worth the $100 for the week or so.

 

[BlueHippo]

We have the Graco version of the sit and stand. Last trip DS 7, Dd4, and DD 8 months all rode on it together a few times! DS7really didn't sit in it much, and DD 4 didn't either. We would frequently just park it somewhere for a pretty long time (and carry the baby). It was the most helpful at the end of the day when crowds exiting were pretty heavy and they were tired. With all three it was a little heavy to push at the end of the day but that was really the only time they rode on it together- I wouldn't want to push them like that all day but fine for a bit. Most of the other times they never really rode together so weight never was an issue for us. My DD4 (now 5) still sits in the front on occasion and even naps sometimes..and she is tall for her age. We liked the graco because it reclines.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'd rent a City Mini GT single from an offsite place and have the kids take turns when they need a rest. The City Mini GTs are very lightweight, compact when folded, and are big enough to hold a 5 year old or an 8 year old. My 8 year old is pretty much a giant and she would take rests in the City Mini GT single at times on our last trip earlier this month. Yeah, she's not like, lounging back and napping in it, but it does allow her to put her feet up and wasn't a pain to push with her in it.