Stroller advice

[NicsMom1500]

I don't usually comment on posts of this nature.

But here's our situation:

My son was born premature. He is now nearly 6 years old and looks and acts like any normal 6 year old.

However he has low muscle tone and some problems with toe walking for which he has received mild physical therapy. His stamina is lower than his peers.

Over the Summer, he walked in Hershey Park for the first time during a four hour visit. We left the stroller in the car. We were so proud of his progress. Oh, wait Dad did give him a piggyback ride back to the car!

He is not an invalid nor is he a prince (well maybe to me). He does not use a wheelchair. He can run and play like all nearly 6 year old children.

But every visit to Disney World and other small parks, he does need to rest in his stroller. He walks as much as he can but due to the low muscle toe and low stamina, he can not keep up with us (or his peers). We use a folding umbrella stroller for which we know he is too big. I don't believe he belongs in a wheelchair though.

I never thought anyone was looking at our family as if our son was an invalid or spoiled. I don't judge other families. I know all children have different capabilities. Of course it helps that my husband is a behavior analyst. It's a shame that on our January trip to WDW that I now have to wonder who is looking at my son as if he is an invalid or a prince instead of looking at how much fun he is having in a magical place.

Enjoy the magic and may all children find the wonder of WDW truly magical (rather than limiting due to their individual challenges or the severe criticism of others.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

No 3 yr old should walk for 12 hours. Neither should a 7 yr old, or a 15 yr old or a 25 yr old. Shoot, marathoners who walk the marathon only go for about 7-8 hours. TAKE A REST!!!!!

It takes me nearly an hour to walk a 5K race and my feet hurt after that. Then I TAKE A REST!!

No child should be expected to walk on concrete or carpet or feather or sand for 12 hours. That's cruelty. TAKE A REST!

A 12 hour park day is the reason we have park guests pushing other park guests off their space where they waited for the parade for an hour. It 's the reason we have near brawls in lines. It's the reason people ram others with strollers or deliberately walk into a stroller or wheelchair. TAKE A REST!!!!

If you can't take a rest, you are living in the fast lane and need to stop and smell the flowers.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Wow. Good to know that you only descend into petty, nasty, personal comments when really pushed. Can't imagine what your "in character" manners might be.

I am sorry that some posters here are so very insecure about their parenting that a different opinion sends them into hysterics.

I will leave you all to congratulate yourselves on the sacrifices you make for the comfort of your beloved children.

Bye.

Actually, I am not insecure about my parenting skills and I just do not like being told that I am doing my children an injustice by letting them ride in a stroller when it is hot and they are tired.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

Wow. Good to know that you only descend into petty, nasty, personal comments when really pushed. Can't imagine what your "in character" manners might be.

I am sorry that some posters here are so very insecure about their parenting that a different opinion sends them into hysterics.

I will leave you all to congratulate yourselves on the sacrifices you make for the comfort of your beloved children.

Bye.

I don't think we are insecure at all. I know I am not. I think most parents put there "beloved" children first every day not just at Disney. As a parent that is our job. If you don't want/need to use a stroller for your children, that's fine. Just tell us that and move on. As for me I will in Disney World in December pushing my little beloved princes around in a stroller having the time of my life and your opinions nor the opinion of anyone else will change that.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

the CM's do move them to a certain area but you learn the drill so to speak...we did use a stroller for all of our kids (oldest is 9) and the youngest did use it mostly but sometimes the older ones got rides, esp in EPCOT and WS...MGM was smaller but I felt more comfortable with one! AK was small enough that we did not need one for any of the kids (I did not get length of stay rental and I am glad I did not) be aware that the Disney strollers are GREAT but they are expensive IMO and the wait to get one in the morning is a big ordeal!! You have to pay at a seperate line than you pick up, I did not like that system...IMO...but they are large and easy to roll (the MGM strollers were the worst IMO) I am GLAD we got one because or 5 yo was asleep in one for wishes!! Had we not had one we would have either
A gone home and missed Wishes because she was tierd
B carried her around all night!!
C delt with a tierd cranky girl and made our night miserable!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

A 12 hour park day is the reason we have park guests pushing other park guests off their space where they waited for the parade for an hour. It 's the reason we have near brawls in lines. It's the reason people ram others with strollers or deliberately walk into a stroller or wheelchair. TAKE A REST!!!!

Actually I've done 12hr park days often and I've never done any of the things you mentioned. Maybe (notice I said MAYBE, not accusing everyone of this) it's the ones that spend a good portion of the day with transportation/etc. going to the resort midday that then think they have to RUSH everywhere running into people because they are in such a hurry, cutting in line, and pushing themselves to the front of the crowd for parades because they didn't have enough "park time" to sit down earlier and wait for the parade. Those of us that are there 12hrs or so- really don't feel the need to rush like you described. My opinion is: you have that backwards. LOL

 

[2disneybabies]

Is she FINALLY gone!!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Some of you people are very unkind as well as rude. And I'm not talking about Deirdre Tours. Why are you the experts about child care and strollers? Why can no one else express an opinion without some of you getting very nasty?

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

I don't think I am an expert at all. I don't agree with her though and that's that. I still think she was pretty rude herself in her first post on this thread.

 

[walters396]

I think that it is time to close this thread. Again, thanks for all the opinions/advice. I guess the best answer is just do what you think is best for your child/children.

I hope that everyone's WDW vacation is magical. I know ours is going to be.

 

[kilee]

This thread is going to be closed. Another reminder that everyone is entitled to their opinions, however personal bashing just is not needed.