Stroller for 5 & 8 year olds??

[Goin2Disney2006]

We are thinking of heading to Disney in May. Our girls will be 5 & 8 and I am thinking of renting a stroller. Am I nuts? I hate to waste the money but I don't think they will be able to keep up with their crazy mom who wants to see everything...

 

[tigerbelly]

It depends..... I have 7 and 4 year old boys and brought a heavy duty umbrella stroller for the 4 year old and he was VERY happy about that. The 7 year old did just fine and kept up with us without complaints.

The thing is though- Magic Kingdom there was a lot of parking and not a lot of strolling. I find that the park is not really spread out enough to warrant a stroller. Same with Epcot. We only really appreciated it when we were strolling world showcase. Hollywood Studios we felt the stroller was unnecessary as well.

The good thing about having one is that if you don't need it you can leave it in the room. Better to have it then not, right?

 

[Goin2Disney2006]

I hate to waste the money and rent a double but I can just see them getting tired and wanting to sit. I can also use it for my back pack and not have to carry it....First we have to decide if we are going or not.

 

[MandiC]

For the 5 year old, maybe. The 8 year old, no way. There are plenty of places to sit down if needed. My 7 and 9 year olds had absolutely no problems in the parks all day long, park open to park close with lots of walking in between. I actually don't even recall either asking to sit, they would when I was looking over the map and occasionally in line. I had our whole days planned and did lots of 'speed walking', they didn't have much trouble keeping up (not that I gave them an option )

 

[Disneylover99]

I would bring an umbrella stroller for your five year old.

 

[tcherjen]

I agree umbrella and if the 8 year old needs it, it is there. My dd is sad we don't have a stroller to take now. She is 7 so she's walking lol.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

DD5 needed a stroller in WDW, but not in Disneyland.

 

[tanyaandallie]

My kids are 2 years apart. When ds was 4 and dd 6 we took the double because it was what we had. DD was happy to sit. When ds was almost 6 and dd almost 8 we went stroller free and they were both totally fine.

You will see this issue debated ALL THE TIME here on disboards. IMO your average healthy, every day 8 year old just does not need a stroller. My ds is 8 now and I cannot imagine him sitting in a stroller. He absolutely would not do it.

5 is an age where I think a stroller can definitely be helpful. My ds was fine without but he was almost 6. I do think touring Disney once you ditch the stroller is SO much easier!!! We were so happy to be done with it!

 

[Schmeck]

We are thinking of heading to Disney in May. Our girls will be 5 & 8 and I am thinking of renting a stroller. Am I nuts? I hate to waste the money but I don't think they will be able to keep up with their crazy mom who wants to see everything...

If you are pushing both kids all day, they will have all the energy at the end of the day and you'll be wiped out, IMO. If your 8 year old has health issues, then it is a different story, of course.

I agree with the idea of bringing a cheap umbrella stroller for the 5 year old (although my 5 year old never needed one) and letting the 8 year old ride in it a little bit if needed. Doesn't have to be roomy and comfortable, just a place to rest.

 

[Sasphnx]

We brought an umbrella stroller this January for my 3yo. Problems we had were the 7yo would get tired and want to sit in it and there would be fights. As well, with our particular umbrella stroller, the kids (bigger than it was designed for) would push on the flexible plastic foot rest thing which effectively acted as a brake against the wheel.... I gave up one day in and for my own sanity - rented a double for the duration. Cost a lot, but my stress level immediately went down.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Remember that cheap umbrella stroller are mostly for kids under 40 lbs. Nicer more expensive ones will hold more. While you certainly might can put a larger child in one, it's not going to be easy to push. There are off site rental places that rent very nice strollers that can hold bigger children. We found that by 5, we did not need a stroller though we always had in the back of our heads we would rent if needed and there is nothing wrong with needing one if that is what works for your family. Our boys flatly refused to ride in a "baby" stroller after about age 4. Many kids at 5 however really do need a stroller to get though the day.

 

[staley98]

A couple of years ago, I bought a great umbrella stroller with extra long handles that could hold a 50 lb child at Walmart. It cost around $35. I recently sold it in a yard sale, so I don't remember the brand.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

IMO, there is NO way you need a double. Both kids will walk the bulk of the day. Maybe you can let them take turns. I would probably make them do the pushing though so •I• still had energy at the end of the day

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We went when DD was 5 and she never used a stroller and we didn't take on.

I would play it by ear. Take breaks. Maybe a midday break. If she positively, absolutely, without a doubt needs a stroller then rent it when it's needed.

No way would I rent a stroller for an 8 year old.

 

[ajwolfe]

We ditched strollers by the age of 4 for WDW. I can only imagine if I asked my now 6 yo to sit in a stroller, he would laugh at me. Maybe you need an umbrella stroller for your 5 yr, but I cannot even fathom why an 8 yo would need a stroller unless there are health issues!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I did not push my children around in a baby stroller at ages 5 and 8 and we did go when they were those ages. They had more energy than I did.

We went with another family that trip - there were 6 kids. A 2 year old that had a child wheelchair (leg braces that did not bend and were heavy), a 4 year old, two 5 year olds, and two 8 year olds. There was the wheelchair and one umbrella stroller.

 

[Goin2Disney2006]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[SweetMissy]

Only you know your kids. When we went when ours were 5 and 8 and the baby was 4 months, we rented a double for them. I wore the baby in a carrier. If we could go back in time we would just rent a single because at the age, we parked it most of the time....they did fine walking. We mainly used it for breaks, me needing a break from baby wearing, changing his diaper and if we had to walk from one end of the park to the other. It did come in handy but a single would've been fine. IMO, my vacation is better enjoyed by not listening to tired whiny kids.

 

[disneywalkers]

We rented a single in January for our 6 and 8 year old. The 6 year old boy mostly pushed his 8 year old sister in it. She's such a diva. Lol. We won't rent one again. We have a 2 year old and a 4 year old that will take one for in September for them. With 6 kids, it's nice to have a couple contained lol. My 8 year old does complain her legs and feet hurt. My suggestion is to start family Disney walks. We do this every year to train for Disney