Stroller for 8 yr. old? Which one?

[jujube]

I used a stroller for my 7 year old last month, and I thank God I had it. Last time we did without one and I feel like we didnt get as much done, she was dragging herself around. She got tired and cranky. Every child is different. This isnt a trip to the mall, its Disney. We use a Peg Perego Aria. Works great, lightweight and we liked having the basket to put stuff underneath. My daughter wanted to ride in it and we saw plenty of kids bigger than her in the rental strollers. Have a great trip

You saw plenty of kids older than 7 in strollers at WDW? I will be the first to admit that I'm oblivious at WDW. My daughter and her friends are not. They notice everything. If there were plenty of kids at WDW older than 7 riding in strollers, odds are 99 to 1 that they would have said something.

My 18 yo old daughter is petite-4'11''. Her legs are not as long as ours and she gets tired. Instead of taking breaks by seeing shows or just sitting and smelling the roses, I think I should rent her a stroller? I'm a few inches taller and about her weight so maybe we'll switch off.

 

[AZMermaid]

I teach first grade and towards the end of last year a student (my grade, not my class) got in his moms double stroller at her insistence at pick up one day. It was strange because he is a super sporty kid who runs and plays football all recess and he walks one with mom every day and this was the only time she ever put him in he stroller, even though she always had it for the preschooler. He was seven and mortified. The kids did laugh at him. It was awful all around! Now I know it isn't WDW but I honestly can not picture any of my students in a stroller.

 

[justhat]

We just got back from a girl scout brownie trip to Disneyland. We were in the parks daily from park opening till close (which was midnight Friday night, with an 8am opening). The girls were all 7-9yo. Not one needed a stroller. And had someone brought one (or sent one for their kid in the case of the girls who came without parents), that kid definitely would have been mortified.

My 2yo uses a stroller in WDW/DL, but my other 2 haven't since my 2nd was 4yo. And at that time we brought double and the 4yo and 6yo occasionally used the 2nd seat late at night mostly just walking back to the resort. The last time we brought a dedicated stroller (meaning for the big kids), was 10 days in WDW when they were 5 and 3. Single stroller with a standing bar in the back and the 3yo typically rode while the 5yo stood, but more often both walked.

 

[Habbott]

You saw plenty of kids older than 7 in strollers at WDW? I will be the first to admit that I'm oblivious at WDW. My daughter and her friends are not. They notice everything. If there were plenty of kids at WDW older than 7 riding in strollers, odds are 99 to 1 that they would have said something.

My 18 yo old daughter is petite-4'11''. Her legs are not as long as ours and she gets tired. Instead of taking breaks by seeing shows or just sitting and smelling the roses, I think I should rent her a stroller? I'm a few inches taller and about her weight so maybe we'll switch off.

I'm only 5' tall, with parents and siblings that towered over me most of my childhood. At 10 or so I was able to keep up with my 6'1" dad. We went on lots of family walks, and dad was always the pace setter. I think I am now the pace setter of the family, as my dad, with Parkinson's, just isn't as fast as he used to be. My son will be 2 1/2 when we go, and I will be surprised if he is in his stroller more than 25% of the time.

My mom's theory on tired legs and resting has always been to do a long and leisurely ride, have a snack, and then continue. We'll be on site this time, so we'll probably go back to the room for a rest. I am sure the grandparents will want it more than the 2.5 year old.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You saw plenty of kids older than 7 in strollers at WDW? I will be the first to admit that I'm oblivious at WDW. My daughter and her friends are not. They notice everything. If there were plenty of kids at WDW older than 7 riding in strollers, odds are 99 to 1 that they would have said something.

My 18 yo old daughter is petite-4'11''. Her legs are not as long as ours and she gets tired. Instead of taking breaks by seeing shows or just sitting and smelling the roses, I think I should rent her a stroller? I'm a few inches taller and about her weight so maybe we'll switch off.

 

[jessica23]

Your kid will be alright without a stroller. Quit raising a whiney brat. I have never seen "lots" of 7 year olds in strollers at Disney, why? Because 99% would be horrified at the thought and would much rather take a small break when they are tired.
Having raised an 8 year old and have one that will have just turned 9 on this next trip, don't do it. My kids have all walked through a week of DIsney starting at 4, and yes they are healthy active soccer players with several hours of practice and games during the week and miraculously can walk all by themselves for several days straight My 5 year old will not have a stroller either, will be bringing one as I have a baby, but I actually contemplated just using a wrap on my back for her instead as I hate dragging the stroller around.

PS, yes they will be made fun of by a ton of people. And it will turn heads of peers their own age who will point and laugh. Kids do that.

 

[laceemouse]

I always say I am old and fat and even I can walk at Disney. It isn't a marathon. You walk a little, stand in line, sit on a ride, walk a little, stand in line, sit in a show, walk a little, stand in line, sit and eat. Unless you are running criss-cross the park there shouldn't be a problem.

I have to say, for some strange reason my husband walks fast. You know what I do? I yell for him to slow up. And he does.

We gave up strollers at Disney when our youngest was about 5. Thank the good Lord! I think often it is the parents that don't want to give it up because they want to haul a bunch of junk around all day. We travel light and get around so much better without a stroller.

Honestly, my kids just knew better than to whine and complain at Disney. They realized how lucky they were to get to go. Home is for sitting and resting, Disney is for doing and seeing and going

 

[cyndik1111]

"He who is without sin, cast the first stone!"

You need to wear a helmet/protective gear while posting on this board.

Back to the OP, I would suggest renting the disney double stroller. Unless you get a stroller designed for heavier/bigger kids (which will cost $$), that thing is gonna be tough to push....even if she is under the weight limit. The disney strollers aren't terribly comfortable, but they will work if your child is really tired. It may work in your favor. They may be too uncomfortable to sit in if she is just feeling a tiny bit tired. Where a nice cushy one would be too inviting.

 

[maxiesmom]

Your kid will be alright without a stroller. Quit raising a whiney brat.
PS, yes they will be made fun of by a ton of people. And it will turn heads of peers their own age who will point and laugh. Kids do that.

Wow really? Nice.

I can't for the life of me remember seeing any child or adult pointing and laughing at other kids in strollers during my trips to WDW. And I would wonder about their lack of manners if they did so. I do remember seeing kids older than 4 or 5 in strollers, but as it didn't affect me, I went on my way. I would have no idea if that child in a stroller had been sick or injured or was just having a bad day. I certainly wouldn't lower myself to laugh.

 

[Happiest mommy]

maxiesmom I also saw biger kids and thought nothing of it, this is really sad to laugh at a child if children laugh at other children its because that's what they have been taught .....

 

[daraddg]

MaClaren strollers usually hold more weight than other I have seen,try looking for one on ebay,I got mine alot cheaper there by buying a model that was a less popular color and from 2 yrs earlier but it was still brand new in the box and has been a great stroller.

 

[hsmamato2]

Though it IS highly entertaining for anyone with an moderately evil streak.

I love these boards.....

 

[Dizisfun]

Wow really? Nice.

I can't for the life of me remember seeing any child or adult pointing and laughing at other kids in strollers during my trips to WDW. And I would wonder about their lack of manners if they did so. I do remember seeing kids older than 4 or 5 in strollers, but as it didn't affect me, I went on my way. I would have no idea if that child in a stroller had been sick or injured or was just having a bad day. I certainly wouldn't lower myself to laugh.

I am with you. I have been to WDW several times and worked there for a few months. For the life of me I can't remember seeing anyone pointing and laughing at older kids in strollers. And if someone did point and laugh that would be their problem. When I'm there with just my husband or when there with other family members we are too busy to worry about what other families are doing.

 

[calnmace]

You saw plenty of kids older than 7 in strollers at WDW? I will be the first to admit that I'm oblivious at WDW. My daughter and her friends are not. They notice everything. If there were plenty of kids at WDW older than 7 riding in strollers, odds are 99 to 1 that they would have said something.

My 18 yo old daughter is petite-4'11''. Her legs are not as long as ours and she gets tired. Instead of taking breaks by seeing shows or just sitting and smelling the roses, I think I should rent her a stroller? I'm a few inches taller and about her weight so maybe we'll switch off.

Clearly you are oblivious at WDW, because I just came back last month and yes, there were plenty of older kids at Disney in strollers. Maybe instead of commenting on my opinion, you should be teaching your kids not to judge others. I am posting to answer the OP's question regarding a stroller choice, not stirring the pot with more negativity.

 

[4kids4karen]

Interesting thread. My daughter is 9 (58 pounds) and is a competitive cheerleader. We needed to stop by the grocery store one night after her practice. Her ankle was hurting her from a bad tumble landing to the point she was limping. I picked her up and put her in the back of the shopping cart and she was mortified. LOL. Yes, I made her stay in it while I picked up a couple items, came home, and put ice on her ankle. I would never put my daughter in a stroller or shopping cart under normal circumstances. I just didn't want to aggervate the injury until I had time to ice it down and take a good look at it.

 

[sheilanne]

Clearly you are oblivious at WDW, because I just came back last month and yes, there were plenty of older kids at Disney in strollers. Maybe instead of commenting on my opinion, you should be teaching your kids not to judge others. I am posting to answer the OP's question regarding a stroller choice, not stirring the pot with more negativity.

I completely agree. I guess some people live in a perfect world with their perfect children and have nothing better to do than judge. Good luck with your perfect "life."

 

[Schmeck]

Clearly you are oblivious at WDW, because I just came back last month and yes, there were plenty of older kids at Disney in strollers. Maybe instead of commenting on my opinion, you should be teaching your kids not to judge others. I am posting to answer the OP's question regarding a stroller choice, not stirring the pot with more negativity.

We were there in the heat of August, and did not see 'plenty of older kids', nor 'lots of bigger kids' in strollers. Most likely, the parents didn't want to push all that weight in the heat of the summer?

 

[Mabel67]

The world is full of 'plenty of' pedophiles, wife beaters, drug dealers, pet abusers, nose pickers, child soldiers, child laborers, etc etc etc. Just because you have seen a behaviour exercised by someone else doesn't lend legitimacy to that behaviour.

Giving in to a healthy, but whiny 8 year old and pushing that child in a stroller clearly designed for infants and toddlers is not ok. How about leaving the whiner at home and taking an underprivileged child who would appreciate that DW is not a right and they are not princes/princesses to have their every whiny whim catered to. Seriously. If a 5 year old can make sneakers in a sweat shop for 15 hours a day every day, it's not such a stretch to think an 8 year old should be able to walk around Disney for a few days.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Personally I would not want to deal with a stroller with children of that age. I know all children are different but after the age of five all three of mine walked because they actually wanted to. They all did great and i couldn't believe how free I felt the very first time we went without a stroller. It was fantastic!

With that said, I also don't judge anyone who wants to push a stroller around the parks with an older child. If thats what it takes to make the trip easier for them than thats fine. They are the ones having to deal with it not me.

 

[cornflake]

Clearly you are oblivious at WDW, because I just came back last month and yes, there were plenty of older kids at Disney in strollers. Maybe instead of commenting on my opinion, you should be teaching your kids not to judge others. I am posting to answer the OP's question regarding a stroller choice, not stirring the pot with more negativity.

There's a website that got famous just posting pics of way old and big kids in strollers (with their faces blurred), most of them photographed at Disney.

So yes, people do notice, and do mock, and such is life.

If someone wants to push their elementary school-aged kid in a stroller, whatever, but yes, people are pointing and laughing, even if not outright while in their field of vision.

Personally, I can't even begin with the level of no to an 8-year-old who wanted to be pushed around and would whine incessantly otherwise. Want to whine? No fun (or anything else) for you, because I cannot hear that pitch and thus have no idea anyone is speaking until they use a normal human tone and speak rationally.