Stoller for 4yo at WDW? Yay or nay?

[idoteech]

That would be a MOST DEFINITELY! Heck, I'd ride in a stroller with all that walking! I bought 2 lightweight yet reclinable (sp?)(word?) strollers from Target for our Christmas trip. My 2 DD's will be 8 mo. and 3 1/2 years old. You might considering renting, but I know ours will come in handy in the airport too.

Hope this helps!

 

[dazzled]

Another yes here. If you don't have one at home anymore, just rent one there. My 6 yr old DD has not been in a stroller for 3-4 yrs now but on our trip in May she needed one for part of the day. And in no way did she feel like a baby. And of course I had a stroller for my 3.5 yr old DD, too. Like another poster said after all the walking we did at Disney I would have loved a stroller myself!

 

[Mom to 2]

I Was Talking About My Son Feeling Like A Baby, Not Everyone Elses. They Were Asking For Opinions And I Gave Mine, Take It Or Leave It.


Lory

 

[jenjersnap]

We bought a double stroller for our trip to WDW last December after MUCH debate. Our kids were 16 months and 4 at the time. Best decision I ever made. My 4-year-old chose to ride most of the time and it kept his energy at a positive level, i.e., no meltdowns from being too tired.

We're taking it again this December even though he is now 5.

 

[mjh8955]

Our youngest was out of a stroller when we first went (she was about 4) and we had gotten rid of all of ours. I did not want to buy one and didn't like the looks of the rental ones. I wanted a collapsible umbrella stroller so we could take it anywhere. My solution - I hit a garage sale before we left and bought a really nice used one for $8. We didn't even bother to bring it back with us, just gave it to some other family to use. Did the same thing the next year - bought a $5 stroller that time. There were times during the day that our older child sat in the stroller and rested too. I was VERY glad we had it.

 

[fivefordisney]

We rented a double stroller for the week at the parks while we were in WDW this August and it was a lifesaver! We brought a cheapie umbrella stroller for the airport and for travel between the hotel and parks for our two year old DS. Our DD6 took full advantage of the double stroller, hopping in whenever she needed a rest. (Poor DD9 had to walk! )

What I loved about the strollers that we rented was the ease of obtaining them at the parks. We paid for a week and received a book of tickets. Each day when we entered the park we just handed the CM a ticket and our umbrella stroller(they hold it for you) and off we went. What I loved even more about the strollers was that they were so easy to maneuver! It was quite easy to push both kids and they had little mesh pockets that we immediately filled up with water bottles, little fans, "blue blankie" etc! The strollers at MGM were my least favorite--they were jogging type strollers and not as easy to push as the others.

We are returning in December and we plan to rent a double stroller at the park for the week. They were fabulous!

Oh, and we loved the Walt Disney Railroad...you can enter and ride at Main Street, leave your stroller at the Main Street Station and pick up another at the Frontierland. Very convenient!

I think your four-year-old will thank you for providing him with a place to sit and chill out. It is so easy to underestimate the distance that you walk. There are times that we want to cruise-walk quickly- from place to place, and it is just nice to not have to "drag" poor ds around!

 

[fivefordisney]

Oh, and I forgot to add that my DS2 hadn't used a stroller for almost a year before we went to WDW!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I did not think my 5 yo ds would need a stroller last week. I'm not sure what possessed me, convincing me that in 4 months (last trip with the kids) his stamina had increased so dramatically. Needless to say, he needed a stroller right from the beginning. Dh fortunately picked up a cheap umbrella stroller (under $13) for him at Publix. Thank goodness!!!

 

[the kabuki]

A 4 year old WILL need a stroller!!! Heck, I'd like one there too.

I read somewhere that a visitor to WDW walks an average of 13 miles while there.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

And what better spot than front row - sitting comfortably - for the parades!!! Strollers (in WDW) are lifesavers for both the child and the parent! It gave us piece of mind of knowing where exactly the kids are in a crowd, allowed us to get from point A to B quickly if necessary, and kept them refreshed and rested for when they had to be on their feet - waiting in a line, at restaurants, in shows, etc. Everyone was tired at the end of the day and remember they have to take 2-3X more steps than you do to go the same distance.

 

[blessedby3]

I agree- have a stroller for the child. My DD will turn 7 while we are there (and she is small for her age) and we are taking our Maclaren we bought for this trip. She wont ride in it all the time, but it will be there when she is very tired and doesnt want to walk anymore. She can just jump in and out. The last time we were at Disney she was 4 1/2 and she definately rode in the stroller. I am not carrying a tired child around Disney and I would rather enjoy my vacation by not having her whine about being tired!

 

[Nank]

Did not read all other responses.

We were there in September with our 4 1/2 year old. We hadn't used a stroller for him in 1 year or so. WE definitely needed it. Plus he was good about getting in and out for buses and stuff. We were soooo happy we had one for him.

 

[Ali]

For those of you who keep saying they pick up a cheap umbrella stroller - how do they move with your 4 year old or older child in them? I have tried every cheap umbrella stroller for my DS4 - 42 pounds - and nothing steers, moves, etc with him in it. I have a chicco caddy that we have used, andI tried it a few days ago for our trip this weekend and I can't move it with him in it. And I need a stroller to carry all of his stuff - DS is ASD and has specific food isues, so I have to bring all of his food in a coler or he won't eat.

So - I am at a loss on what to do because I don't really want to go spend over $100 for a stroller that will cary him, will need a stroller for this weekend, at Downtown disney and the hotel and the parks... Sheesh!

Alicia

 

[liamandcaili]

For those of you who keep saying they pick up a cheap umbrella stroller - how do they move with your 4 year old or older child in them? I have tried every cheap umbrella stroller for my DS4 - 42 pounds - and nothing steers, moves, etc with him in it. I have a chicco caddy that we have used, andI tried it a few days ago for our trip this weekend and I can't move it with him in it. And I need a stroller to carry all of his stuff - DS is ASD and has specific food isues, so I have to bring all of his food in a coler or he won't eat.

So - I am at a loss on what to do because I don't really want to go spend over $100 for a stroller that will cary him, will need a stroller for this weekend, at Downtown disney and the hotel and the parks... Sheesh!

Alicia

I was wondering about the umbrella strollers too, as all the ones I looked at in April said they were only for children up to 30 lbs. I bought a stroller at Target for about $30 that is lightweight, reclines and I think holds children up to 45-50 lbs. It also has a decent-sized basket underneath and can be fitted with a tray and cupholder. It's made by Safety 1st. My DD4 is lighter than your DS...she's about 35 lbs...but I had no problems steering this stroller and she seems to have plenty of room to grow (she's on the smaller side...just barely 40"). Target also has one that is around $90 that I have heard a lot of people on here recommend, but I didn't want to spend that much since DD hardly ever rides in a stroller except for at Disney.

And to OP, yes, definitely plan on getting a stroller for your four year-old. My DS6 was able to walk the parks in April, but DD never would have made it. Plus, you'll be able to move at a better pace if you're not taking four year-old steps. I liked having my own stroller because it was a lot easier to find among the sea of rented strollers, and it was convenient for the airport.

 

[egoldber]

So - I am at a loss on what to do because I don't really want to go spend over $100 for a stroller that will cary him, will need a stroller for this weekend, at Downtown disney and the hotel and the parks... Sheesh!

You can find a Maclaren Volo for less than $100 and it has a 55 lb weight limit.

 

[Ali]

You can find a Maclaren Volo for less than $100 and it has a 55 lb weight limit.

There are no Volo's here, so I ended up with a Maclaren triumph today at Target. It was the only one I could steer with DS inside it. We tried all of the strollers out in the baby section. I did the the Graco Mosaic at Toys R Us but they didn't have any in stock. My husband is going to freak out that I bought another stroller - but I am the one who ends up with DS at Disney and other places where I can't carry everything. I figured it would pay for itself in rentals by DS's birthday in March - since we will have 4 trips to Disney by then.


Alicia

 

[fabumouse]

One odd thing - some strollers at WDW are bigger than others (not just talking about doubles, some are just wider) so don't be afraid to exchange one that is too small for your 4 year old. And there is NO way I will go through the parks in November for my 4.5 year old without a stroller. Her little legs are going to have to do enough holding her up for hours worth of lines.

 

[funcinderella]

I have 4 and a half year old twins, and I STILL take my double stroller everywhere. Sure, the kids like to walk too, but when they get tired, they want that stroller! Plus, it's got a great big basket, so everyone throws all of there stuff in there too! (Ponchos, sunscreen, cameras, purchases, etc.) Wouldn't dream of going without it!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

my youngest is 6, and in Epcot, he wouldn't make it the whole day, we use our small stroller he hops in and out, but when he's tired, it's a lifesaver!

yeah use this method to
ds6will get tired and I would rather have it then have it mess up the day he can rest it gives us more options

 

[Cinderella94]

Bring the stroller, why not?

My 7 year old brother used his stroller (although 7 is a litle stretching it, but thats just me) while touring all the parks, and it was a nice thing to bring into the water parks so you know you could always leave your stuff somewhere.