Stroller for 5-year-old??

[mom22boys]

So, if I am there for 8 days, I can buy an eight day rental and get refunded at the end if we don't use it everyday??

Yes! I am in the same boat. I am going to pay for a 6 day rental, but I bet I might not need it for some days.

One benefit I love about the stroller, that still hasn't been mentioned, is how much safer it is to move through the parks with one. I know a lot of people express concerns about losing children while touring WDW. I love the comfort of knowing my two guys are safely strapped in a stroller when we move from one side of the park to the other.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I don't know how easy or hard this is to do, but if you can rent a stroller somehow from an outside company, I HIGHLY recommend it!

I rented our stroller...a very nice one...from our town car company.
It was only $20 for the whole length of our stay and it was SO nice not to have to turn it in at the end of the day or wait in line to rent one, plus be able to have it on the way out of the parks, ect...

I won't be getting a stroller on my next trip and I know I'm going to miss it.

 

[kidd_freeper]

So, if I am there for 8 days, I can buy an eight day rental and get refunded at the end if we don't use it everyday?? I just want to make sure I understand that right because I assume we will need one for some days / parks, but am pretty sure we won't for other days (esp. AK day). We plan to take breaks in the afternoon and my Dsis loves all the shows so we may end up with a lot of breaks!!! I know the multi-day is a better deal cost-wise, but I was worried about spending too much if we end up not needing the stroller. Please confirm Thanks!!

mom22boys and sandymandr:

I was there in July and specifically asked if I would be refunded the full amount of unused days. I was told "yes". However I paid for 6 days and used them all up, so I don't really have direct affirmation of this.

But I did find this thread (from Janary 2006):
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1000847&referrerid=&highlight=stroller+refund

Note that this deal MAY not be available during the Christmas season.

Just returned from 10 days at WDW and wanted to let everyone know that the multi-day stroller option is back. (This option was not available over the Christmas season becuase the said they often run out of strollers.) If you pay for your stroller each day individually it costs $10 a day. If you pay for more than one day at a time it costs $8 a day. They give you coupons for each day you purchase so after paying once, you bypass the long line to pay the next day you go and simply hand your coupon to the person giving out the strollers. I also was able to get a refund as we didn't need a stroller for one day that I had purchased in advance. So buying in advance saves you $2 a day and also saves you time each morning as you don't have to stand in a long line up to pay. Every moment counts when you are in the race to ride Soarin' at Epcot or the Safaris at Animal Kingdom!

Note: AK is the biggest park (area-wise) and you really need a stroller. OTOH, MGM is the smallest and uses a different brand of stroller...you might be able to skip a stroller at MGM.

 

[PlainJane]

I walked it starting at the age of four, I'm sixteen now. The only thing that has changed is they have added AK since then. I was eight when I first went to AK. I also walked it at Universal and both Busch Gardens. I even had asthma. I just thought someone might want to hear from a kid who has actually done it and didn't have their vacation ruined because they were required to walk. Walking wasn't even something I thought about past the age of six, it was just something I had to do like everyone else.

In the end it's your kid and your decision.

 

[Wishes]

We used an umbrella stroller for our DD when she was 5 and we were so glad we brought it! They fold up so quickly and can easily be placed in a stroller area while you do one whole section of a park. One suggestion - be sure to mark it in some way. Another family almost took ours by mistake because it looked just like theirs! After that we tied our daughter's pink hat to one of the handles which made it much easier to spot. I think if I had to do it over again I would have put our name on it somewhere. Little legs get tired. Last summer we used a podometer just for fun and we walked over 40 miles in the week we were at WDW! Can you imagine how far that is in 5 year old legs?

 

[TinkerbellMama]

OK...this may be silly...but I'm wondering if anyone else has taken along an umbrella stroller for a 5-year-old child? It will be just my DD and I in January, and she doesn't usually nap (though I plan to take a break mid-day with her). Just thinking that the parks involve a LOT more walking than what she does in an average day here, and at night, when she's tired, we could get around faster if I could push her. I'm sure she'd be all for it when she's getting tired. How much of a hassle would the stroller be? Is there a place we could leave it till we needed it?? Or would I be stuck lugging it around with us half the day??

Thanks!

I wouldn't take one for MY son at that age. Of course, he will be 2 Friday and we are just back from WDW...and he spent a grand total of 2 naps in 19 days in that darn thing. I ended up lugging it around with our backpacks in it...royal pain in the butt! We will not be taking any stroller for our next trip (possibly January). Not worth the hassle.

 

[texasthree]

Our son was nearly 5 when we went in May and we ended up having to rent a stroller everyday.

 

[Schmeck]

To those that posted about the child not being in a stroller all day - that's why I first posted about renting for an older child - that way you don't have to deal with the hassle of getting the stroller on and off the bus, back-tracking for it when you've gone off on a ramble, etc. If a child can be in the rented stroller for most of the day, that child shouldn't be so tired that he/she can't make it the 1/4 mile (at most) from the stroller rental to the bus. Of course the parents might be tired from pushing the kid around all day

Our first WDW trip as a family was 4 days long - DD5 walked the entire time (we didn't take breaks back to the resort - full days all 4 days) and DD 2 1/2 walked to and from the resort to the bus, etc. We brought our umbrella stroller, but it wasn't worth the hassle of opening it up at the resort or bus stop (I tended to wrap/tie it closed with our bags, etc.) when she was doing so well walking. It was a really cheap, light one that had a long shoulder strap for easy hauling.

 

[maelstrom]

I walked it starting at the age of four, I'm sixteen now. The only thing that has changed is they have added AK since then. I was eight when I first went to AK. I also walked it at Universal and both Busch Gardens. I even had asthma. I just thought someone might want to hear from a kid who has actually done it and didn't have their vacation ruined because they were required to walk. Walking wasn't even something I thought about past the age of six, it was just something I had to do like everyone else.

I started walking around WDW at the age of 2 and I'm 20 now. I also have asthma. Walking didn't ruin my vacation either. I bet you and I did the same thing when we needed a rest -- sat down & took a break! There was so much to see and do, here was no way I'd be camping out in a stroller or falling asleep.

PlainJane and I are both living proof that it will not kill your child to walk around WDW if they do not have a disability preventing them from doing so.

If you never try letting your kid walk around, how will you know? Children are being conditioned to not have to walk anywhere. Walking is healthy, even for little bodies. When you get tired, you take a rest. Parents who are forcing their kids to go-go-go non-stop at WDW are just creating cranky and stressed children. Go easy. Walk and take breaks.

My mom's attitude with me was this: if you want to get somewhere, you walk, and if you don't want to walk, then I guess you're not going. If you want to drink, drink out of a cup, (soda) bottle, or can, because the baby bottle is gone and we don't do sippy cups. If you want to sleep, there's the big girls bed, and the crib is gone. If kids have no other choice, they do what they need to do, and adjust. That's real life.

That's my opinion. I'm sure you are all offended. I'm sorry, and I truly do not mean to offend anyone. But this has worked for every child in my family and none of us are screwed up because of it. If you are pushing your nine year old around in a stroller at WDW full-time (not just hopping into a younger sibling's stroller for a little bit), really step back and take a look at that.

 

[sandymandr]

Thank you Mom22boys and kiddfreeper for the info on stroller rentals. It makes me feel better knowing how the multi-day rental works! We will definitely do that I love how disney really thinks of everything to give me a worry free vacation

 

[tlinus]

We went during the reallly hot week in October _15-22 and let me tell you it was very nice for DS 5 and DD 7 to have the OPTION to get into the rented double stroller when they felt like it.....to us it was well worth the rental price just to have DS right where I wanted him at times. They walked 90% of the time, but if we wanted to scoot somewhere fast, DS and DD hopped into the stroller (she also has asthma and it was a tad bit agitated by the heat that week) and off we went. DD 11 wanted to ride in it once as well - but I told her no way lets go sit on a bench for a second

Do not let anyone make you feel like a heel because you want to give your child the OPTION to rest in a stroller. It worked beautifully for us!!!

Have fun!!

 

[blessedby3]

I started walking around WDW at the age of 2 and I'm 20 now. I also have asthma. Walking didn't ruin my vacation either. I bet you and I did the same thing when we needed a rest -- sat down & took a break! There was so much to see and do, here was no way I'd be camping out in a stroller or falling asleep.

PlainJane and I are both living proof that it will not kill your child to walk around WDW if they do not have a disability preventing them from doing so.

If you never try letting your kid walk around, how will you know? Children are being conditioned to not have to walk anywhere. Walking is healthy, even for little bodies. When you get tired, you take a rest. Parents who are forcing their kids to go-go-go non-stop at WDW are just creating cranky and stressed children. Go easy. Walk and take breaks.

My mom's attitude with me was this: if you want to get somewhere, you walk, and if you don't want to walk, then I guess you're not going. If you want to drink, drink out of a cup, (soda) bottle, or can, because the baby bottle is gone and we don't do sippy cups. If you want to sleep, there's the big girls bed, and the crib is gone. If kids have no other choice, they do what they need to do, and adjust. That's real life.

That's my opinion. I'm sure you are all offended. I'm sorry, and I truly do not mean to offend anyone. But this has worked for every child in my family and none of us are screwed up because of it. If you are pushing your nine year old around in a stroller at WDW full-time (not just hopping into a younger sibling's stroller for a little bit), really step back and take a look at that.

WOW!! Glad I didnt grow up in your family. This seems a bit extreme. My 3 kids have grown up in a gentler atmosphere (as did DH and I). They are only kids once and I see no need to be so harsh with them. No sippy cups? Guess your mom loved cleaning up lots of spills. Cant imagine a baby under one year going from a baby bottle to a soda bottle or a cup without a lid. To each his own I guess...

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Bring the stroller, it'll be best for you and for the little one, you'll be glad you did.

 

[maxiesmom]

I started walking around WDW at the age of 2 and I'm 20 now. I also have asthma. Walking didn't ruin my vacation either. I bet you and I did the same thing when we needed a rest -- sat down & took a break! There was so much to see and do, here was no way I'd be camping out in a stroller or falling asleep.

PlainJane and I are both living proof that it will not kill your child to walk around WDW if they do not have a disability preventing them from doing so.

If you never try letting your kid walk around, how will you know? Children are being conditioned to not have to walk anywhere. Walking is healthy, even for little bodies. When you get tired, you take a rest. Parents who are forcing their kids to go-go-go non-stop at WDW are just creating cranky and stressed children. Go easy. Walk and take breaks.

My mom's attitude with me was this: if you want to get somewhere, you walk, and if you don't want to walk, then I guess you're not going. If you want to drink, drink out of a cup, (soda) bottle, or can, because the baby bottle is gone and we don't do sippy cups. If you want to sleep, there's the big girls bed, and the crib is gone. If kids have no other choice, they do what they need to do, and adjust. That's real life.

That's my opinion. I'm sure you are all offended. I'm sorry, and I truly do not mean to offend anyone. But this has worked for every child in my family and none of us are screwed up because of it. If you are pushing your nine year old around in a stroller at WDW full-time (not just hopping into a younger sibling's stroller for a little bit), really step back and take a look at that.

Wow that is harsh! Going with that theory, we should do away with all cars because we are making ourselves fat and lazy and we should walk anywhere we need to go!

OP--I just came back from a 6 day Disney vacation with my sis, her hubby, and their 3 kids. The youngest is 6 and she did allot of walking. I ended up renting a stroller for her in Epcot not just because she was tired (not fat, lazy, or any other hateful thing people might say) but because she could not keep up with the pace her 6 foot 3 inch daddy was setting. And her 11 yr old older sister did hop in with her. She had a horrible cough and was on prescription meds, so her energy was low too. There was one day when I wish I could have gotten in, I had seen Illuminations the night before, all the smoke blew on us, and my asthma was letting me know who was boss.

I would go with renting a stroller as you need it. It is allot less hassle than having to tote one all around if you don't need it. And don't worry about what other people might think. You are the best judge of what your child needs.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I always used a stroller for my kids as long as they wanted one. They were probably 5 and 7 the last time we used strollers. I used to bring umbrella ones.
They are great to put our things in. This past trip, the kids are now 16 and 18 , I almost wanted one to push our stuff around in. LOL! By the end of the day I wished I could get into one.

 

[mamamary]

On our last day my daughter (7) wanted a stroller. It is just so much walking. When she got out my son jumped in for about 10 mts. (and he's 9).

 

[SuperTink]

How big are the strollers at WDW? I can't remember. One of my DDs has a slight motor disability and may require a stroller or even a wheelchair, if she becomes too tired or if it gets too hot (we're going first week in Dec.) She's 10 and a big 10, so I don't know if she'll fit in a stroller.

 

[Disney Doll]

My SIL & BIL Brought a stroller when they went the first time...their kids were 5, 7 & 9 at the time. The 5 year old did need it by the end of the day...it's a lot of walking and their legs are short!!!! Actually, SIL said that even the bigger boys flopped into on occasion for a few minutes just to recharge.

Bring a stroller. If she doesn't need it, you'll have a nice thing to push all your purchases in!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

How big are the strollers at WDW? I can't remember. One of my DDs has a slight motor disability and may require a stroller or even a wheelchair, if she becomes too tired or if it gets too hot (we're going first week in Dec.) She's 10 and a big 10, so I don't know if she'll fit in a stroller.

WDW CMs have posted on the boards that the strollers are big enough for a small 12 yr old. Some people rent a double stroller for a larger child. The wheelchairs are adult wheelchairs (I have heard they have a few children's wheelchairs for rent at the parks, but it is few enough that I have never seen one. I have seen kids in the adult wheelchairs, but they don't look too comfortable. Unless the child is adult size, the armrsts will be up around the shoulders and the footrests are too low for the child's feet to rest on them. There are places that rent children's wheelchairs and special needs strollers that are large enough for a person up to 100 pounds. There are links for places to rent them in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board.

 

[Mo-Yo]

Hooray for you stoic sorts who are teaching your kids those "tough lessons" while on a family vacation.

We rented a double stroller for our kids - 9, 7 and 5 - every day of vacation last year. They didn't ride in it all the time, but I was so grateful for it.

It gave us a place to keep jackets, water bottles, souveniers, etc. And it also let those with with waning energy rest while those of us who wanted to see more could. Some make the point that if kids are tired you should go back to your room and rest...or sit on a bench. Why? What good reason could there possibly be for not letting them rest in a stroller so the whole family can enjoy a whole day at the parks.

I guess I couldn't see the harm my husband and I - imperfect parents that we are - did when we wheeled our kids (fat, lazy and stressed-out?) through the parks. Our kids were laughing so much and having so much fun I didn't realize the harm I was doing.

I'll know better next time...they'll walk 20 miles or its a "time-out" on the bench or in the hotel room for them.