Stroller Advice

[Jerzetta]

Hi All,

We are surprising our DD and going to WDW right before Thanksgiving. Her first trip she turned 4 and we used a stroller all week. She will be 6 now and is very very tall for her age. Do you think we should rent a stroller. Since this trip is a day and half shorter I planned on longer days in the parks but now wondering if a stroller would be a plus to get her stamina up.

Thanks in advance

 

[kmb584]

Hi All,

We are surprising our DD and going to WDW right before Thanksgiving. Her first trip she turned 4 and we used a stroller all week. She will be 6 now and is very very tall for her age. Do you think we should rent a stroller. Since this trip is a day and half shorter I planned on longer days in the parks but now wondering if a stroller would be a plus to get her stamina up.

Thanks in advance

I would say that it depends on the child. My daughter is 6 and hasn't used a stroller in WDW since she was 4. I just make sure to go at her pace (which is usually faster than mine) and we take air conditioned breaks as often as needed. If it were me, I wouldn't rent one until I saw how the first day is playing out.

 

[JenLT]

I completely understand the impulse to get a stroller. There is a ton of walking at WDW and long days can be so hard on little ones. However, the stroller may be a bit small for her. The last time my niece was in a stroller at WDW (rented from off property) she was six and a half. She shared the stroller with an infant. She has arthritis so she sometimes walking too much is painful for her. She rarely wanted to be in the stroller at all. When she was, her head was touching the top where the canopy is and she is short for her age. I might worry about the size if your daughter is tall for her age. She loved having the stroller when it came time to wait for parades etc where you are just standing around. It gave her the opportunity to rest without feeling like she was missing anything. If you decide you do want to rent a stroller see if you can find the dimensions. I don't know about WDW strollers, but off site places tell you the name brand of the stroller and you can look it up on google.

 

[MissDisneyDora]

My DD is five right now and I wouldn't even think about doing the parks without a stroller, I use the Disney ones as I think there's more wiggle room than traditional strollers and they are quite light so pushing one all day doesn't feel that daunting. As long as my daughter can fit in one, I'm going to use one. I find that it makes for a much more relaxing time at the parks with less temper tantrums and complaints about being tired. My DD is also quite comfortable falling asleep in them which means I can relax and get a Dole Whip without having to carry her around. She's a tall 46" for her age and they still work for me.

x
Dora

 

[JenLT]

I use the Disney ones as I think there's more wiggle room than traditional strollers and they are quite light so pushing one all day doesn't feel that daunting.

x
Dora

Good to know that they have a bit more room.

 

[Mikeb1892]

We were there in June, took our stroller from home for our DS2 and ended up renting one for DS8 for last 3 days. We didn't go hardcore touring, but real feel temp was 105 each day and just sucked the energy right out of him. I agree that he is much too old for a stroller but it made him happy and the seat he had for waiting for parades was also very convenient.

 

[Gracie09]

It depends on the kid. My girls are a month apart in age and we're both five on the cusp of six last trip. One really needed the stroller especially at the end the other was fine without but since her sister was riding she wanted to also (we did bring a double). We bought a used double mcclaren and sold it for what we bought it for when we got back from the trip.

 

[AshleeH]

We rented a stroller from Orlando Stroller when my younger son was 6. He was tall for his age too. We didn't use it much, but we were staying at Bay Lake and it was great to walk him to the park with it, park it for the amount of time we were there, and then have it for the ride back to the holder. Really saved my husband's back by not having to put him on his shoulders for the walk back to the hotel. Especially after MNSSHP at 1:00 in the morning!

 

[oceanmarina]

I would say yes, all that walking can be really exhausting for little kids. My kids are 9 & 7 but tire easily (plus we are going in the high, high august heat) I am renting the Mini GT double from kingdom strollers: (It comes in single as well)

https://www.kingdomstrollers.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_term=kingdom stroller&utm_medium=cpc&kw=stroller rentals in orlando


I tried the stroller out when I was at Toys/Babies R us last week & it was very roomy.

 

[merina888]

We leave for WDW for 9 days in 10 days. We rented a City Mini GT Double for my 7 and 4 year old. My 7 year old doesn't use one normally and claims he won't this time, but last summer we also rented and he did indeed use it. It's just too hot and too humid and despite taking breaks, it's more walking than he's used to. My husband is not going on this trip and I don't want to take the risk of it being too much for him because I cannot carry him. My daughter has health issues (congenital heart defect, sensory processing disorder and low muscle tone) so she absolutely will need a stroller.

 

[4littleones]

Go with your gut.
My 5 year old is tiny and still naps. She is a totally different child than my other 3 kiddos. She will be using a stroller at WDW and I can't imagine ever stopping. She just can't hang like the other kids.

 

[HCinKC]

You know your kid best. Every kid is different, and every family has different views on what they want/need. We had a single in May for our 10 mo old. I had toyed with getting a double, so my 6yo could rest. I am SO glad I didn't. He did not need a stroller at all. In fact, my husband and I look forward to the day of not needing a stroller at Disney. With buses, security, crowds, it can be a hassle. I'd never go without one for a baby/toddler, but I, personally, would not have one for a 6yo. IMO, the amount of walking done at Disney is overstated. With breaks for eating, waiting in lines, and sitting on rides, my son was just fine.

 

[keepswimming76]

Like others have said, it depends on your child. My oldest tires very easily and we've always rented a stroller. The City Mini GT Double is awesome. But maybe wait until you get there and see how she does the first day. You can have one delivered very quickly to your hotel if you decide to rent one, or you can just rent a park one.

 

[Jerzetta]

Thanks all- definitely getting one. Going to check out your suggestions. When her teachers see her they think she is in 2nd grade, that tall so I definitely don't want her head hitting the canopy. We are staying at the Contemporary and plan on being in MK most nights so having that for her to climb into on the walk back will be great plus my husband said his back can't carry her at all. Now time to do research.

 

[Go Big Blue]

I have been in the same boat with my DS who at the time of our trip in Nov will be a month shy of 7. He is very tall. He has outgrown our strollers and i know by how he acted on the last shopping trip i will for sure have to rent one. Does anyone have the rental amount for the parks they could share?

 

[sandy0904]

The last time we went DD was 3 and DS was 6 and we brought our stroller from home for little one and rented Disney stroller for DS. We are going again in Nov and kids are now 4/7 and plan on doing the same thing with the stroller situation. I agree that the Disney strollers are easy to maneuver and not hard to push.

 

[ellecg]

We bought a cheap umbrella stroller at an orlando walmart to use for our trip with a 6 year old. We basically parked it in the massive stroller areas and when we went from one spot to another (say Tomorrowland to Frontierland) he got a ride. I think they are advantageous especially at the end of the day when you're navigating end-of-fireworks/parades crowds and don't want your tired child to slow you down/get lost in the mix.