Stroller for 4 year olds

[jngwright]

My boys will be four by the time we go in November. We NEVER use a stoller now, but am wondering if it would be a good idea. Or are they old enough for all the walking....?

 

[nicdanh]

My 6 year daughter still sit in one when we are at Disney. If they had them for adults I probably would too. LOL.
My 6 year does not use it all the time, but at the end of the day or if it gets really hot out.

 

[beattyfamily]

IMHO, absolutely I would bring strollers to Disney for 4 year olds even if they never use them at home. Disney is SO different from the mall or even the zoo back at home.

It's hot, long days and lots and lots of walking. I say bring them!

 

[MareSINY]

I think it depends a lot on the kid, and also on how you do the parks. We're more laid back, take our time, we don't rush from ride to ride. We had the stroller for my 4 yr old niece in September and she never touched it. When I went back with her alone in January I didn't even bring one with me. She never needed it or asked to be carried.

 

[BYC]

Yes! For a 4 year old, I would absolutley use one! He may reject it at first, but by the end of the first day, and all the following days, he will want it.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

nicdanh----that is the cutest signature picture I've ever seen!!!

And yes, I'll be bringing a stroller for my 5 year old next month

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We rented the double stroller for our 4 yo DGS. One side was for his nap and the other was for all our "stuff" that we brought from the resort or picked up in the parks. It was well worth it for us even though there were a couple of days he walked and didn't nap.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I absolutely would!! My son was 3 when we went last year and he enjoyed the stroller when he was hot and tired. When we go next time, he will be 5 and the stroller will be available to him.

 

[wdwlovers5]

My nephew is 5 years old and when we go in Nov/Dec we will bring the stroller. We spend long hours at the park and at Downtown Disney and he welcomes the break from walking all over. If I could fit in one, I'd hop in it myself. He has been going since one year old and always had and used the stroller.

 

[ImagineEar]

Bring the stroller. There is a tremendous amount of walking on a WDW vacation. The Magic Kingdom alone spans 105 acres - MGM 110 acres - Epcot 225 acres and AK could fit all 3 other parks combined inside of it - at 500 acres. Even the distances from the hotel room to the bus and the bus to the parks can be a strectch for some 4 year olds (depending on where you are staying)

I have a very hardy 4 year old (who is the size of your average 6 year old.) He doesn't use a stoller at home anymore either - But - I wouldn't consider leaving the stroller at home for a trip to WDW. You're on the go all day - and coupled with the heat and the excitment you just can't compare it to a normal day at home. Will you be prepared to carry one or both of them from the back of the park if they have a mini melt down or aren't feeling well? My DH had to do that one year - and had serious back pain for the rest of our trip (which meant I had to listen to him complain about it for the rest of the trip ) That's when I vowed never again to be in that situation.

 

[netposer]

I would never want to deal with a stroller at any of the parks. I took my daughter to the parks before she was three and she walked or I put her on my shoulders. Since the age of 4 she's done 90% of the walking (she's now 7). I think strollers cause way to much congestion and bottlenecks.

I realize some people must use them (toddlers and infants) but a healthy 5+ year old should be able to outwalk and outlast most adults.

 

[hollyb]

I will have no problem getting a double for my 9 and 6 year old. We can use it to carry bags if one gets tired they can hop in.

 

[lovedvc]

You're gonna think I'm CRAZY, but I actually brought strollers for both my DSs ages 7 and 4 last August. I figured it's better to make them comfortable and not have to deal with the whining and hearing I'm tired all day. In August it's too hot to have 2 kids wanting to be carried. This year I will only bring one carriage. The big guy is gonna walk.

 

[jngwright]

What kind of lightweight stroller do people use for kids that are 40lbs? I don't want to spend a fortune since we will have to buy 2 for a one week trip.

 

[jeannief]

We rented a double last year for a 5 and 4 year old. The 2 days we didn't rent (figured it was only for a couple of hours) were a nightmare. My kids are healthy and energetic but we walk way faster than their little legs and could cover ground a lot faster so they got tired fast. And they are way too heavy to carry.
We looked at buying this year but wanted a double and the only ones we found had a non-removable bar in front. We don't want to have to lift them in and out so we'll rent again.
If you are getting 2 and don't care about using them afterwards, then walmart sells cheap umbrella styles. We like to only have one stroller and the Disney ones handle really well. I'm with the other posters who also use it to carry all our "stuff".

 

[bjscheel]

Last April we rented a double for DDs 3 and 6 and I plan to do it again in December when they are 5 and 8. (DH says no though). Actually I think the 5yo would do better walking than the 8yo- she is less whiny about such things. But it was nice last time- they rode almost the whole time and nobody got tired or complained. AND I knew where they were at all times. Worth it to me. Only once did they have a stroller-space-sharing issue and one pushed the other out in Morocco. I think that is the only argument they had all vacation and it was quickly over when we spotted Aladdin. I think the stroller made our vacation go much smoother!

 

[GoingtoSeeRella]

Another stroller lover here. Yes, I know they are a pain for some and cause "traffic" but I would never venture to Disney without them. We used 2 single strollers for DD 2 and DD4 last year, and will do so again in TWO weeks and they are now 3 and 5. They never use a stroller at home and I don't even own one anymore, so we're borrowing 2 from my SILs.

My 5 year old is the "princess" and I don't think she could do all the walking yet. My 7 year old DS did do the walking last year and kept up pretty well....but by the time WISHES started, he was sound asleep on Main Street, and didn't even stir when the fireworks started.

So I say Yes! Whether you bring your own or rent, it will make the trip less "whiney"

 

[fitzperry]

Another vote for bringing (or renting--even Disney's double strollers handle quite well) the stroller. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the crowds--trying to maneuver through the massive crowds at Disney when you're only 3'tall can be a daunting task. I feel better knowing my small kids are in a stroller and not getting separated from me.

 

[Mom to 2]

I'm in the minority here--I would never bring a stroller for a 4 year old, but that being said, my kids were never stroller babies. They preferred and we preferred to let them walk since they were walking. The first time we did Disney our youngest was 4 and he did fine, morning till late evening, but also my kids are nights owls and go on limited sleep some how .

All in all you know your kids best, so do what you think would be best.

Lory

 

[ncbyrne]

The only time we brought a stroller with us was when the children were babies. Up until about age 8, we rented the park strollers. I miss having them now because it's a great place to put all your 'stuff'. Now we wind up having to carry it, because the kids are too big! Definitely bring/rent a stroller for 4 year olds. You will most definitely use it, and the boys will be all the happier for it.