Stroller advice - 6yo + 4yo

[MotherRunner]

We had 2 - 2 year olds, a 4 year old and a 5 year old. We rented a sit and stand and my sisters each had a single stroller with canopies. The 4 year old and 5 year old took turns in the "sit" section of the stroller but everyone sat everytime we moved from ride to ride. If you have to even think about it, I would rent one. The sit and stand is a good option bc it doesn't look like a stroller if the 6 year old is weird about that.

I personally miss the stroller going adults only. I like cup holders and storage for all my gear.

 

[Happiest mommy]

I rented a double stroller the last trip we did I knew my older DD would need to sit as she suffers from low muscle tone in her legs and cant walk for very long, we rented thru Magic strollers if I remember correctly and they were great! planning our next trip and would love another double but she is 65lbs so thinking maybe a park stroller would work still i read they are light still dont know, if I were you it sounds like you should rent the double, kids get so tired from all that walking and heat happy planning!

 

[luvmy2babies]

My son has walks more and more each trip and is stroller free at home unless we go to the zoo (it’s huge with hills). Stroller at Disney serves as much as a retreat as anything else for him. He needs a place to get out of the sun and the stimulation sometimes. A lot of noise, especially when it coming from different directions bothers him.

We rented last trip instead of bringing his from home because it was starting to show a bit of wear and he moved like a snail in the airport. I could see the relief on his face when we got off DME and I picked up the stroller. Almost like “Whew, I thought mom had lost it.”
Plus I need it. He rarely naps now; but he took a couple of stroller naps last trip. And we do one late night. My son loves MSEP and Wishes; but once they are done; so is he. I mean we’re applauding at the end of Wishes, he hugs me and says “I loved that mom” and is out cold a minute later. Just me and the two children. I wouldn’t make it carrying him out. We generally have a rental or our own City Mini. Renting the GT for the trip coming as he has gotten 3 inches taller (so far) since we went last.

I’d rent a GT double in your situation. But I don’t know when you are going and how long you are staying. It’s different without the heat. And fatigue may not be an issue the first couple of days when the adrenaline is still pumping from the excitement.

Park stroller seems more convenient as in you can wait and see how the children do even if it is pricier. You just have to hope they don’t fall asleep at the end or that if they do you can carry them or wake them and it not be a disaster. That is why a park stroller wouldn’t work for us at least not yet.

Note: if it isn't a really terribly busy time, you may be able to call a rental company after you are there if the need arises. I've heard of people doing that and getting a stroller delivered the next day.

 

[MsEeyoreLover]

I am in the same situation but have made up my mind for a stroller for my 6 year old. He never naps but every time we go to Disney at some point in the day he goes right to sleep! The stroller is a bit of a hassle but I wouldn't want to carry around a 50lb child . Totally go for it!

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I've never been with a child, so we did our research for our trip with our 2YO DD in September. We decided to buy a light weight foldable stroller and a stroller fan for this trip. You can check it for free at the jetway if you are flying. Plus, it has storage at the bottom. We figured it would be better than dragging her around all day and having to carry her back to the buses at the end of the day when we are exhausted as well.

 

[22Tink]

Everyone's needs are different and you know your kids best! We used a stroller for DD when she was 3, but our last trip she was 5 and didn't need one at all. I don't plan on using one this trip either. She'll be 7.

 

[honeybunches]

I think you'll be very glad to have a stroller, even if it's just for a few breaks. On our very first trip, my older child was 6 and the "baby" was 14 months. We took an umbrella stroller, but ended up renting the double stroller at the park. So glad we had it - they could both ride, and it was so much easier to push than our umbrella stroller (which was an Inglesina, typically really good on most terrain). We swapped our umbrella stroller at the rental spot, so that we'd have something for when we left the park. (Edited to add -- it was such a pain to fold/unfold the stroller when getting on a bus!!)

By the time my son was 4 (and daughter was 9), I took the kids by myself. I didn't think we'd need the stroller anymore. Wrong. I ended up renting a single but switched to a double because it was more comfortable for him. Even though he was stubborn and didn't want to ride all the time, the stroller definitely saved the day when we had been walking around MK or EP all afternoon. He fell asleep during dinner at BOG one night, and it was so nice to carry him to the stroller and have him curl up, then wheel him out. By the time we left the park, he was awake enough to walk to the bus stop. I'm not sure what we'll do on our upcoming trip, since he'll be 6 and probably won't want to ride anymore.

 

[Dominion]

Definitely rent a double stroller offsite. I did when my girls were 3.5 and 6 and they both used it the whole time. I'm actually taking them this fall and I won't do a stroller (they will be 5.5 and nearly 8 when we go) b/c I'll be by myself with them this time and I can't spend 6 days pushing 100lbs around, but I am worried about their ability to do all that walking. I totally get when people say a 6 year old shouldn't be in a stroller, but Disney is a whole different animal, given how large each of the parks is and doing multiple consecutive days of touring.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

When DS13 was five we went with no stroller. He spent the vase majority of 5 days park travelling on my shoulders. With DS4 we have never even thought about going without a stroller

 

[sprousehouse]

My kids are 5 & 7 and we are planning to rent the MiniCity Double GT. My DD7 will tire and will want to ride & being an introvert I imagine she will use it as an excuse to get away and read. Whether it is silly or not I'd rather have it than deal with her whining. Every kid id DS 5 will likely use it less. We are going in early Dec and given the weather we will want to have jackets for the mornings and evenings. I will also be bringing fruit, veggies and snacks, probably even lunch some days so the stroller will give us storage.

 

[22Tink]

My kids are 5 & 7 and we are planning to rent the MiniCity Double GT. My DD7 will tire and will want to ride & being an introvert I imagine she will use it as an excuse to get away and read. Whether it is silly or not I'd rather have it than deal with her whining. Every kid id DS 5 will likely use it less. We are going in early Dec and given the weather we will want to have jackets for the mornings and evenings. I will also be bringing fruit, veggies and snacks, probably even lunch some days so the stroller will give us storage.

Not silly at all. Only you know what's best for your DD. My DD will be 7 too and though I'm not taking a stroller because she didn't need one last year at 6 years old, if she tires out I will definitely rent one for her!

 

[Glittercat]

Our son was 5 when we were last at WDW and we just took breaks when his little legs were tired. It was the both kids first trip to Disney World so we prepped them (and us) by walking -rolling in my case- for several miles everyday for months before the trip. Made a huge difference for endurance, and we'll be doing the same for this trip.

As others have said only you know what is best for your family. Have a great trip!

 

[mom2clr]

I'm taking my girls DD7 & DD4 in August alone. I rented a single Citi Mini and a glider for the 7yo. Although we walk quite a bit here and will continue to do so over the summer, with the glider, my 7yo can hop on if need be and we can save ourselves the whining.

 

[JennysSeven]

We're planning on taking a sit n stand type stroller that holds 2 this time around. Our youngest 2 kids will be 6 and 4, but I fully expect that my 7-year-old will spend the most time riding. He's not as energetic as the 2 littlest ones are.

 

[minniemumma]

So glad i read this, i was debating about hiring a stroller when we are there next for my then nearly 5 yr old. We rented one last year when she turned 3 while on our trip and it worked well. I will be on my own with her this time so i think it will be handy!! Thanks guys

 

[lwc]

My kids were 4 and 6 on our last trip.

We used our double stroller and we're glad we had it.

Now that they are 7 and 9 we won't use a stroller.

We are planning 3 TS meals a day on park days and will pace the day to accommodate their still little legs.

That I can handle.

What I will miss is having the stroller to hold water bottles, snacks, park maps, sweatshirts, etc!

 

[Jewel3k]

I would rent a double. My 9 year old (who was the size of a 7 year old) feel asleep in a double stroller last September at the end of the evening. We don't want to carry anyone, it helps me keep track of my three and I'm a fast walker. Its my vacation, I don't want to deal with whining, constantly counting them and can't always handle walking at the children's pace. If we can make vacation a little more pleasant I'm all for it. Next time when they go at 11, 9 and 7 it might have to be stroller free.

 

[dhardawa]

When my son was three, we did our first non-stroller trip and he did great. He was so excited that he was running circles around us. There's no way he would have sat in a stroller.

 

[kwdw]

Recently went on a trip with a 5 yo girl. No stroller. She never complained about walking - she held up better than the two adults! She had a couple cranky spots - which she recovered from with a snack break. Her big melt-down was leaving the park the last day - and while that was partially related to exhaustion because it was our latest night out/longest day, that was not the whole reason. So yep - we were one of those folks with a kid without a stroller out late having a melt-down. But - it was a KNOWN risk that day going into it. We were staying late for Wishes and a few rides afterwards. That meltdown was a pain. BUT - the pain of dealing with a stroller the whole week if that had been her expectation would have been alot worse. It was awesome being stroller-free.

I think why our trip was successful without a stroller was because we didn't demand super long days of her. Yes, longer than normal for home, but not THAT much longer - just an hour or two tops. In bed between 8-10 pm each day, never up before 6:30 am. We also moved through the parks at a steady pace. No rushing. Breaks as needed. No back-tracking except on the last day. Each day was FULL, but I would not have called it commando style.

Now - when I go with just the boyfriend - we'll have commando days - and while I think the little one would keep up with us for ONE of those days - she couldn't have handled two in a row.