Stroller advice

[walters396]

We are going with DD7 & DS5 the end of Oct. We are not sure about getting a stoller. We are thinking it would keep them from getting tired too early but afraid it will be hard to get around other people and take more time to get through the parks. Are other kids that age using them? Would it be needed at all the theme parks? Any pros/cons would be appreciated.

 

[MariDisney]

My DD was 5 and a few months last time we were there. Next time she'll be 6 and a few months, but she's the size of an average 8 year old. She will still go in the stroller. I don't find it harder to make my way through the park. It is a life saver when she gets tired, which she always does toward the end of the day. If I didn't have the stroller she'd be begging for my DH to carry her. So, until she's 16 or so I plan on renting the strollers. LOL I do get one at all the parks. Once you pay for the day you get a voucher to take to the other parks anyway for that day, so it's not like you have to pay again.

One other nice thing is it's a good place to stash stuff if you aren't having it delivered back to your room...and you can put your mugs in the back pockets. I'm a HUGE stroller advocate!!

 

[2disneybabies]

Hi there...we are also going at the end of Oct. and I am in the same boat. I have DD6 and DS4...I have not been to WDW with my children and I have asked this same question!! I wanted to tell you that I have received so much advise on this and everyone says to definately get the stroller, just to have so they can jump in if they get tired!! Little legs will poop out I guess! There is so much walking around the parks and everyone says it is worth it for them! Lots of people on the boards have this as well as several friends! You can call ahead for the "length of stay" stroller rental. Just tell them how many days you would like the stroller for and when you do this in advance it is a few dollars cheaper! Hope this helped you!!
When are you going?? We will be at OKW from 10/29 - 11/05
Hope you have a blast!!!!

 

[etink67]

I have found that strollers are very useful in Epcot. It is such a huge park and the kids get very tired. Having a stroller meant a more peaceful trip around World Showcase for DH and I.

We usually can get around MGM without a stroller. We like one in MK if it is going to be a long day. I agree that it is good to have a stroller to stash stuff.

 

[ppony]

Glad this question was asked! I was wondering about it myself too. My son will be 6 1/2 when we go again and knowing how tired WE get and he's just not used to THAT much walked by a long shot, I was wondering if we should just get one right away and save ourselves the trouble of going back to get one and risking them being out. Forgive me as I didn't take note when I was there last time as we had brought out own (but it is WAY small for him even now, let alone a year from now), are the rental strollers a little larger? To easily accomodate the slightly older 4-7 year old kids? Or do they just not care how crammed they are and feet dangling, they just curl up?

 

[etink67]

they are hard plastic but their feet will not be dangling. My DS fits in one and he is 7. They are easy for kids to jump in and out of.

 

[vossjemi]

My kids are 3 and 5 and we definitely got a double stroller. A couple times they tried to get us to carry them, but we told them firmly they either needed to walk or ride. It was also nice to put a day bag w/snacks/waters/change of clothes just in case, etc...over the handle bars so noone had to carry that.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Personal opinion: 5yr old yes on stroller, 7yr old no... but since you have both, might as well get a double! LOL
Seriously that's how it worked with us. Years ago when my 7yr old son was just barely turned 5- he went fine without a stroller and our youngest was in our own stroller we brought with us. So I THOUGHT that my just turned 5yr old (this june) would be like he was back then- wrong! After one day we rented a stroller (we don't even own a stroller at home anymore to bring if we'd wanted to!). She just ain't the walking type I guess- atleast not at parks. Truth be known she didn't even want to walk from where we had to drop off the strollers to the bus stop!

I got a double so my son could sit sometimes too if he got tired (that's the 7yr old). But the last trip was just the oldest two and no stroller was needed for the 7yr old. It definitely would have been a hinderance with him- we were able to walk around and do things much faster than with a stroller. But with the youngest- the stroller was the only option... it was either that or listen to her cry all day about not wanting to walk and trying to stop dead still while walking thru crowds and such and keeping up with her when she did that.

 

[DeirdreTours]

We have three children-- 13, 7 and 2. We have traveled to WDW since the oldest was 4. We do not do strollers for children past the 4th birthday. Ever. When I see a healthy 6, 7 or even older child being pushed about like a little prince, I do not think the parent is really serving the best interests of the child.

IMO, children should get tired from a day of adventure! Also, I think a healthy child that cannot comfortably walk, play, ride for several hours should have their overall fitness evaluated by their pediatrician.

It may be that we approach the parks differently than others-- we don't typically stay from opening to closing--instead we will arrive at opening, tour for several hours and then take a sit down break (lunch or snack in some air conditioned spot), tour another hour or two and then take a break at the hotel or see sit down shows.


And, although it is convenient to stash things in the stroller, it is a big pain to take the stroller on buses, trains, etc. Not to mention relocate it after CM repark it throughout the day.

 

[blessedby3]

Wow, what a response Deidre Tours!
I think that most people can judge the overall physical fitness of their own child and dont need a trip to the doctor just because they ride in a stroller at Disney. I take offense that you would think our DD is a princess just because she is 7 and in a stroller. Our DD will have just turned 7 when we go in Nov. (and she is small for her age) and I have an umbrella stroller for her. She has no problems walking at home,zoo, mall, etc., but at Disney parks for 7 days in a row she is going to get very tired. I will have the stroller there for her to jump into if she wants. There is no need for my daughter to get so tired from walking, with possible blisters and hurting feet when a soultion is available. Not to mention her whole temperment is different when she is rested and not tired- if you know what I mean!! I would rather have a happy 7 year old in a stroller than a tired crying 7 year old walking. Its no big deal at Disney. Even some adults that can manage things at home cannot do Disney and have to get a wheelchair. My friend is there right now with her mother who has a bad hip and knees, but manages nicely here at home. At Disney she has had to get a wheelchair though because it is NOT A NORMAL AMOUNT OF DAILY (OR WEEKLY) WALKING FOR AN ADULT-OR A CHILD FOR THAT MATTER. The OP should do what is right for their child and dont pay attention to people who think they know more about what your child needs than you do.

 

[oobidoo]

Thank you, blessedby3. I am glad that someone said that. My daughter was 10 the last time she rode in a stroller, and I wouldn't change it! She was a very small 10yo, about the size of an 8yo, but we were at the parks from opening until close for 4 days, and it was 98 degrees outside. We have rest days in between, but I dont believe in running back and forth to the room 10 times and eating up the park days~that is money down the drain. I rented a park stroller because it was plenty roomy for her, could store our stuff, and we could hop from park to park and still have use of a stroller without having to lug one with us on the bus.

It is nobody's businness but your own what you want to do about a stroller. Even though she was 10, we still wanted her to have an enjoyable visit and not be whining and weepy by 5pm in the evening because of heat exhaustion. She is FAR from a princess, but it was HER vacation too, and that is what we thought was best for her. I have pity for the 5+ year olds that are not afforded the same option.

 

[blessedby3]

oobidoo, to that I say AMEN!!

 

[WiscMomof2]

On our first trip when DD's were 4.5 and 7 we rented a double stroller at Epcot and I'm glad we did because it's so big. They did fine walking at the other parks.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Absoulutely get the stroller. I take my DD's to the park solo for most of the trip and when they are in the stroller I know exactly where they are, it is a big safety feature for me. I will occasionally go to the park with a friend and she does not want to spend money on the stroller, but holding hands with small children, IMHO is much harder to navigate in a crowd then having the children in front of me where I can see them.

I've been bumped into much more often by children looking around and not watching where they are walking but holding an adults hand then an adult pushing a stroller. I nearly knocked some poor child over who came to a complete dead stop exiting Dumbo. She had frozen with panic because her parents were not next to her.

One Easter trip, I lost my DD's hand exiting Fantasmic. The crowds were moving so thick and quickly her little hand was ripped out of mine. FAmilies were jostling trying to stay together. The exit is downhill and the crowd moves quickly. I could still see her but I couldn't move left and grab her. My DH was carrying the then DD3 and he couldn't stop to grab her either. It was like trying to swim upstream.

Unless you let go of the stroller, they are pretty hard to lose.

 

[DisneyAunt]

I also am VERY fond of strollers. DNephs 4 & 7 will get one when we go in November. I think it is perfectly fine.

I don't know about anyone else but I don't think my boys are used to walking as much as we do in WDW. They play and exercise at home but how much can a little kid walk. They jump in and out of the stroller as they choose. There is nothing worse than a whinning child in Disney especially when their yours.

And yes...it is a great place to store things in. We bring water with us into the parks and small cooler bag for snacks and things.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Unless you let go of the stroller, they are pretty hard to lose.

We have a double umbella stroller for our 5 yr old twin sons for this reason. Could they walk? Sure and and they would be pulling on our hands all day tring to see everything. In the stroller we aways can see them, we have less fussing from them and us. I also think it helps them to have their own little place to call their own in the Giant overwelming world of Disney.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We are going with DD7 & DS5 the end of Oct. We are not sure about getting a stoller. We are thinking it would keep them from getting tired too early but afraid it will be hard to get around other people and take more time to get through the parks. Are other kids that age using them? Would it be needed at all the theme parks? Any pros/cons would be appreciated.

DH wanted to ditch the double umbrella stroller for DS7 and DS5 this year, but I wanted it one more time. They do get tired, and I don't want to have to carry anyone!! It isn't that much trouble, and it gives us a place to carry stuff. What we do is park it in a central location, and leave it there while we do stuff in the area. I may consider leaving it at the hotel for AK if we were only going there, but since we will probably go to another park too, we will take it. The only inconvenience I have found is trying to fold it quickly when the bus is coming fast...and trying to stand on the bus holding it.

Control and constraint is another good reason for us to take it. I am afraid they would be all over the place if we didn't have it....

 

[DeirdreTours]

Um, the original poster ASKED for opinions on getting a stroller for her 5 and 7 year olds. I offered my opinion. I am not running around the parks accosting parents and demanding they give up their strollers.

However, a healthy child SHOULD be able to walk and stand just about as long as the average middle aged parent can. If they can't that is definately something that should be brought to the pediatrician's attention. If you don't believe me....ask your pediatrician.

The majority of US children are not as fit as they should be (and over a third are overweight). Every child should be physically active for at least 90 minutes a day with vigorous (running, jumping, etc.) exercise making up at least 20 minutes of that. A child getting that level of activity at home will be fine with the 10 -15 minute bursts of walking throughout the day that is typical of WDW. We just returned from an 8 night/9 day stay and our 7 year old had no trouble at all. We had a stroller for the 2 year old, but even she often walked beside it. An added plus, after a full day of activity-- they both slept long and well every night.

If your child isn't getting the APA recommeded level of activity, then I would suggest that a trip to Disney is great motivation to get them moving more.

I stand by my opinion that pushing them around like invalids is not in their best interests. If you are walking so long that they would be exhausted, then aren't you? Or do you push yourself to the point of dropping while pushing a stroller?

Before everyone gets all huffy and defensive again, let me remind you that the thread in a solicitation of opinions.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We might be odd, but we've gone the last two years when my oldest was 3 and 4, and he didn't use a stroller either trip. I asked him if he wanted one a few times a day and he kept saying no. He did fine walking around. We took a nap/break in the afternoon at our resort, but we were at the parks at opening and stayed until after the fireworks every night.

 

[Skroops]

I wish my 2 yr old would have used a stoller!! We dragged one around the first two days and realized that we only used it as punishment. So we gave it up.
It totally depends on how you plan to navigate the parks if you will want to get a stoller. If you want to take daily mid breaks back to your resort, you will probably not need one. There are lots of times you'll sit, whether in an attraction or sitting down for a meal. If you plan to leave your room in the early morning and not return until late, you would probably want a stroller at some point. We just got back from WDW, and noticed that there were plenty of strollers available each time we went by the front of the parks. I think that if you change your mind and want to rent one later in the day there will be plenty available when you go too.
We saw lots of "big" kids in stollers. Who cares?? We were noticing because we REALLY wanted our strong willed baby to ride and he would not get in one! LOL!
This is nothing to worry about! Get one if you need one.
Have a great time!