Stroller advice

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

That being said, when the day comes that Disney provides adult-sized strollers, I'll be one of the first in line.

LOL!
Me too... except I'd need someone to push me in the stroller. LOL

 

[DeirdreTours]

DeidreTours
You are right. The OP asked for opinions, but you are going overboard insulting a majority of Disney parents by saying that their children should see a pediatrician if their parents choose for them to have the option of riding in a stroller. You are also insulting parents by saying their children are spoiled princes or princesses or worse yet in the second post invalids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is just uncalled for

I said no such thing. Get a grip on yourself. The original poster asked if she would need a stroller for children. It is patently obvious that fit children do not physically benefit from a stroller. I stated the APA recomendations and that a child physically unable to manage walking around for several hours should be medically evaluated. Which they should be. I said nothing whatsoever about your child or your reasons for stroller use. Nor did I use the word "spoiled".

That you feel "lectured" by an opinion that differs (strongly) from your own is your own issue. If you choose to use a stroller until your child enters college, I could care less. My opinion that stroller use is past age 4 is more of a hindrance than a help and that isn't a benefit to the child is my opinion, has nothing whatever to do with you or your choices and cannot be personally insulting to you unless you CHOOSE to twist it to be so.

 

[2disneybabies]

Go back and read your post...it was a lecture, not an opinion!!!
And correct me if I am wrong...you did use words and phrases such as "pushed around like a little prince" and "invalid" not to even mention statistics from the ADA...are you kidding???
Didn't your mother ever teach you...if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all!!!

 

[blessedby3]

I give up Deidre Tours. You obviously dont read your own posts to know what you said. You used the word "prince" (inferring a spoiled child) and invalid. If you dont see that then so be it. And again walking several hours at home at a leisurly pace is DIFFERENT than commando at Disney for 12 hours. I see that you WONT see the difference. I still take offense at your inferring my child is not physically fit. You know nothing about me or my child.

 

[DeirdreTours]

You simply want to feel insulted. I said in my very first post that someone who stays in the parks from opening to closing may feel differently.
Yes, putting a healthy child in a stroller and pushing them around is, by definition, treating them as an invalid. The action directly implies that the child is less capable of walking several miles over several hours than the adult pushing the stroller. In the case of a healthy child, this simply isn't true.

At to the APA guidelines for physical activity, I posted them to support my position that walking through the parks was fully appropriate, non harmful excercise for healthy children. And hopefully, to maybe make a few people think-- Maybe the love they are expressing by preventing "sore legs and feet" could also be expressed by promoting truly strong, resilient, healthy and independant children.

As to saying "nothing at all"-- You can't be seriously suggesting that a discusion thread begun to solicit opinions isn't an appropriate place to post opinions. However, I feel that I have stated clearly what I have to say and have little interest in continueing to reassure you that I am not critisizing you in particular, but discussing a topic generally.

 

[walters396]

I never thought this topic would turn into a heated discussion. Thanks for the opinions/advice. As of now we will play it by ear and see how the kids are doing and we will go from there. As for my children, they are my princess and prince.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Nevermind!

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Nevermind again!

 

[2disneybabies]

DeirdreTours;
Yet you keep posting and keep LECTURING!!
Give it up!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

You simply want to feel insulted. I said in my very first post that someone who stays in the parks from opening to closing may feel differently.
Yes, putting a healthy child in a stroller and pushing them around is, by definition, treating them as an invalid. The action directly implies that the child is less capable of walking several miles over several hours than the adult pushing the stroller. In the case of a healthy child, this simply isn't true.

At to the APA guidelines for physical activity, I posted them to support my position that walking through the parks was fully appropriate, non harmful excercise for healthy children. And hopefully, to maybe make a few people think-- Maybe the love they are expressing by preventing "sore legs and feet" could also be expressed by promoting truly strong, resilient, healthy and independant children.

As to saying "nothing at all"-- You can't be seriously suggesting that a discusion thread begun to solicit opinions isn't an appropriate place to post opinions. However, I feel that I have stated clearly what I have to say and have little interest in continueing to reassure you that I am not critisizing you in particular, but discussing a topic generally.

Okay, so if you are in the parks all day you concede that a stroller might be needed or at the very least WANTED by both the parent and the child in order to have a VACATION- because that's what this is... vacation... not paying all that money just for some exercise. LOL

I don't think it's harmful to children to walk that much (except in the case of them having sore feet and blisters- I can handle that, but I don't inflict that kind of pain on my children unless absolutely necessary and in this case it isn't- not where strollers are available if needed to prevent that)- however, I will still disagree with you that that small children (and believe me- some 4+ children can be very small/short legged) can be less capable (without being MORE tired, more sore feet, and more blisters than the adult) than an adult walking the same distance- as they have to take way more steps to do so. You can't compare an adult walking the same distance/same time to a child. To imply if they can't keep up with an adult without being more tired/etc. unless they are not healthy and unfit is ludricrous- IMO. They are smaller people- not the same... not the same at all. And certainly not my definition of a vacation to try to force them to walk that distance.

Are you trying to imply those that have strollers for 4yrs+ children have the children sitting in the stroller nonstop the entire day or what? LOL

(oh and btw- the princess comment didn't bother me in the least- because yes, my youngest is a princess and she will tell you so and yep, on vacation I treat her as such if I want. Doesn't make her unfit or unhealthy and far from being an invalid though. Vacation doesn't have to be just an excuse to get MORE exercise -for her little body and my sanity as well... because it would be testing the limits on both if I'd not gotten a stroller for her after the first day.LOL )

 

[etink67]

Yes, putting a healthy child in a stroller and pushing them around is, by definition, treating them as an invalid. The action directly implies that the child is less capable of walking several miles over several hours than the adult pushing the stroller. In the case of a healthy child, this simply isn't true.

At to the APA guidelines for physical activity, I posted them to support my position that walking through the parks was fully appropriate, non harmful excercise for healthy children. And hopefully, to maybe make a few people think-- Maybe the love they are expressing by preventing "sore legs and feet" could also be expressed by promoting truly strong, resilient, healthy and independant children.

DS is 7 and plays soccer several times a week, year round. He also plays basketball, ice skates, runs cross country and plays baseball. His stamina astounds me. We tour at a slow pace (not commando style) but I still choose to get him a stroller in Epcot. That park still tires him out and if DH and I want any peace to browse the shops in WS then we like to have him sitting.

Disney is our vacation. Having him in a stroller is not doing him any harm. We have 51 other weeks to worry about his excercise.

 

[DeirdreTours]

I am not asking anyone to defend their child's activity level. The discussion started at the question : Is a stroller needed? Many said it was, I said it wasn't. When posters responded that children couldn't possibly do that walking, I countered that they could and presented why I think that.

Your point about a child's legs beign shorter is totally accurate. However, a child's energy level is much higher than a forty year old adult's. Unless you are a marathon runner or a race walker, you should both be getting tired at similar times. Of course, I am not advocating blistering anyone's feet (are you walking until blisters develop on your feet while on vacation?),

Nor do I think that pushing a child around for a week will destroy whatever level of fitness that child has (although if a parent typically treats a child as less fit and routinely encourages riding rather that walking/biking I do think that impacts the child's fitness).

As sweet as it is to think of my children as little princesses and a prince-- I would never treat them in a way that elevated their personal vacation comfort above the parents (beyond babyhood). Nor would I push their comfort concerns below mine. In our family, everyone's happiness is equally important. It is a vacation for all of us-- We are all there to have fun, explore and enjoy one another's company.

I guess I am fundamentally different in this regard from many in this thread: I would not be at all proud of making my feet sore so that my little princess could see everything while being pushed in a padded chair. Instead, when my feet are tired we take a break (or split up). And, if my child said she was tired, we would take a break as well.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

This is just an idea, but if your kid is tired and needs a break, why not find a bench a chill out a few minutes? It's easy and free.

 

[NCombs]

Well, since the OP appears to have all the comments they need (see post 46) and wasn't looking for this to turn into such a heated discussion, it doesn't look like there is any need for further comment. Maybe we should all move on to safer topics like pool hopping.

walters396-As the OP you can request that this thread be closed if you would like. Have a great time on your trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

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.

Excellent response!!!!! A voice of reason.

 

[tzuhouse]

But wait! Someone mentioned calling in advance if you wanted an extended stay stroller. Where do you call for such a thing? WDW-PLAY? 4-DISNEY?

I've tossed this around a lot. My boys will be 6.5 and just turned 4. We definitely will get a stroller so both can ride, because we will be there all day and they will get tired, or at least grumpy, dopey, or sleepy at some point.

We will be at MGM on a Monday, MK on Tuesday, then off property on Wed. Thurs is AK and Fri is Epcot. Can I get a 4 day rental but have a day in between or would I need 2 2-day rentals? Sat. will be resort hopping. Sun. back to MK. Mon. off property again. Tues. MK for FMT and MVMCP. So, we will actually be at parks for 6 days, but there are days throughout, breaking those apart. Could I do a 6 day rental?

Thanks in advance. My children are extremely fit, so I don't need a lecture or comment, other than answering these questions.

Tick tock, time is getting closer!

Mary

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

 

[Beca]

It is interesting to me that no one has mentioned the "walking on CONCRETE for 12 hours" thing. My child is an "average" 3 yr old (on a fitness level). When she has "growth spurts" she needs a lot more sleep than she does when she is not growing (is that ever truly happening when they are 3?). She can run and play all day long, but when I put her on concrete for many hours, her little feet really hurt her. Okay, truth be told....mine don't feel so good either, but I am 36....she is 3. I don't think it is fair to expect to place a child in a condition of discomfort on vacation and expect them to be happy and perky. Having tired feet at WDW (in my opinion) is similar to being too hot, too cold or too wet to enjoy the park. For this reason, we do not go to WDW in the summer, and we tend to find shelter when it rains. I bring my stroller along so that she can sit in it when she feels tired (or, when her feet hurt after walking on concrete all day....she is used to playing on grass).

Last time we were in Epcot, our dd was complaining that her feet hurt. We went to a "hilly" area outside of the Living Seas entrance to sit, eat some popcorn and let her rest. She ran on that hill and played for an hour chasing and feeding the birds....she had so much fun. The "grassy" area was soft on her feet and it was what she was used to. Then, when we left and started walking across the vast expanses of concrete that are Epcot, she began to complain, so we put her back in her stroller. Maybe it is the hard concrete, and maybe it is a child seeing a vast distance (which, to them is truly much further than it is for us....twice as many steps) that made her feel "tired"....but, whatever...she is little.

I know I am not in the best of shape, but my feet hurt at the end of the day at WDW....I don't think making empathetic accomodations for my child based on this information means that I am not working in her best interests (although, I readily admit that she is spoiled).

If WDW were "carpeted" or "grassy", I don't think kids would need strollers so much, but NO ONE is used to "running and playing" on concrete for 12 hours. No matter how "fit" you are, it would seem that standing and walking on concrete for that length of time would be a struggle....something much easier endured by adults than children.

JMHO,



Beca

 

[graygables]

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.

It's "opinions" like this that make our visits to WDW less magical than they should be. My 7yo appears to be a healthy girl. At home, she can run around and play, she takes dance classes, skates, but she can also fall asleep at 2 in the afternoon from sheer exhaustion. There are no explanations. She also has a brain chemical disorder (not pinned down yet, either) and the stroller helps keep her "organized" so she doesn't melt down as frequently. If not for the stroller, I would be carrying my 70 lb child asleep down Main Street after just a few hours in the park or trying to calm a screaming fit in the middle of the Splash Mountain queue b/c her brain can't take anymore stimulation.

So, what does a healthy-looking 7yo in a stroller mean? It means that airport security makes fun of her and tells me to stop "babying" her. It means that guests at WDW (like yourself) make rude comments and stare and point and sometimes make her cry (and me want to). It means that I have a difficult, if not impossible time using Disney buses. It means that wheelchairs get to use the monorail ramp, but I have to try to manhandle the jogger on before the doors close, sometimes over people's feet who have not made way for a "handicapped" person. I have a card attached to her stroller that indicates it is a wheelchair, but not everyone sees or acknowledges it. I also use a GAC, but it is meaningless in some places and does not protect us from the selfish rudeness of others.

So, before you go making judgment calls about why a kid is in a stroller (and assuming they or their parents are somehow unfit), mind your own business and keep your feet and shins out of my way.

 

[WendyMichaelJohn]

I'm really curious. I've read in a lot of threads that people make rude comments at the parks about 7 year olds in strollers. What rude comments are these? I can't possibly imagine what someone would say, or why they would want to. Clearly if someone makes a rude comment, they're not happy, because regardless of what I think about bigger kids in strollers, I don't really care enough one way or the other to comment on it to someone, much less comment rudely.


To the pp, I mean this with all due respect, but if your child is handicapped, why wouldn't you just say so to the airport security employees who tell you to stop babying her? That would shut them right up, I would think. Also, does this happen to you frequently or has it happened only once?


I don't mean to call ANYONE a liar, but I really, truly cannot imagine what rude things people would say. Do they just walk up to you and say them? Should I expect people to be rude at WDW? Is that just the norm?

I'm just having a really hard time wrapping my brain around strangers being rude on what seems to be a regular basis according to the proliferation of posts here that mention random stranger rudeness/cruelty.

Shel