stroller for 8yr old?

[bscs]

My dd will be 8 when we go back to wdw. she has been when 3 & 5yrs. now I was hopping she wouldn't need a stoller. But she walks around in the store with me for just 20 minutes or so and complains she's tired and needs to go in the cart. She insists she wants a stroller when we go next yr. Will she look rediculas in a stroller at her age? It's also very expensive , Should I insist she walk? Is she just being lazy?

 

[toesmom]

My 7yo hated strollers until she was 4, and now she can't get enough. We purchased a graco second hand stroller, which is excellent because their models are light, fold easily, have huge storage baskets, and can carry even my 11 yo nephew (80plus lbs). Look ridiculous? Not a chance. You'll look more ridiculous yelling at your 8yo to hurry up. Other parents with kids in tow will only wish they had brought theirs.

Look for a second hand one and enjoy your trip.

 

[riu girl]

We rented a WDW double stroller 12/04 for DD (then 7) and DS (then 4). DS is very tiny for his age (maybe only about 40 lbs) and we use a stroller a lot with him wherever we go. DD (then 7) is another story. Last year she was the tallest in her second grade class (about 54 - 55") and maybe about 60-70 lbs. The stroller worked out so well. I thought she would complain since she hadn't been in a stroller for years but loved it. Without it she would have been over tired about we would never have been able to stay as long as we did in the parks. When we go back this year she will be 8 and about 70 lbs. and about 56 ". I will not hesitate to rent one again (although it will cost a lot, $16 per day for a double, multi day purchase). It is well worth the $16/day.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

On our trip this year we rented a double stroller just for Epcot for our 7 yr old twins since we knew it would be a lot of walking and that we were going to be there from opening until midnight. They were a little about it and I remember thinking this will probably be the last time we get a stroller. But you know your DD best and if it works for your family then do it.

 

[Schmeck]

I hope this won't be taken the wrong way - but have you brought up this with her pediatrician? An 8 yr old who can't walk for 20 minutes sounds like she might have a health problem? Hopefully, she's just bored with shopping, and will be too interested at WDW to get bored. But if she does, the rental strollers there are pretty big, but very low to the ground - might feel odd for her?

 

[disneychrista]

It really depends on you and what you want. However, IMO an 8yo should be able to trek around the park w/o the need for the stroller. Strollers are a pain (again my opinion).

 

[Msslaydbug]

There are some jogging swivel wheel strollers that go up to between 70 and 80 lbs ! Try the Bob Revolution, Dreamer Manhattan, Mountain Buggy and Phil and Teds E3

 

[MelodyMack]

My DD is only four, but I would think it being such a huge park (a lot of adults in our group complained about all the walking last time) that I would say play it by ear. You can always go rent a stroller of she gets tuckered out.

I'd budget the money for it, and then I'd tell her if she manages to walk instead of make you rent you'll split the money with her for extra goodies.
Yes...(GASP) bribe her!!!

Mel

 

[the kabuki]

You may be amazed at how much more walking they can do when at Disney vs. at the store with mom!
I know my son complains after 15 mins. that his feet hurt, at WDW he walked for hours with no complaints

 

[Suzanne74]

Personally, I would tell her that Mickey says you have to be under 7 yrs old to bring a stroller in the park and see if that works. If she really seems exhausted then rent one on the days you need it. No need to buy one for just one trip.

 

[minkydog]

Is there a physical reason she can't walk for more than 20 minutes? My guess is that she needs some conditioning. I'm sure it's tempting to get a stroller and avoid all the whining, but I'm just wondering if you really understand how its going to affect your back. Unless you're used to it, it may be unpleasant.(I have a handicapped child who weighs about 100lbs--my arms are very muscular from lifting & pushing him around every day, but it's exhausting).

My suggestion is that you both get into training--start walking every day, gradually lengthening the walk, to build up leg muscles and strengthen knees. Unless she is hypotonic for some reason or has a heart condition, at 8yrs old she ought to be able to keep up with parents that are 20-30 years older than her.

Cathy--mom to Christian, the Amazing Wonder Boy

 

[Nini]

bribing idea!!!! You know, it just might work!!!

My dd is 3.5 so I will HAVE to rent a stroller. I plan on making her walk as much as she can though! I need my baby tuckered out at the end of a day...otherwise, she is in a tricky sleeping pattern right now complete with "slippy black snakes that even eat people" and various "Giant hermit crabs". We have had too much time around her older cousins I think !!!!

 

[minkydog]

bribing idea!!!! You know, it just might work!!!

My dd is 3.5 so I will HAVE to rent a stroller. I plan on making her walk as much as she can though! I need my baby tuckered out at the end of a day...otherwise, she is in a tricky sleeping pattern right now complete with "slippy black snakes that even eat people" and various "Giant hermit crabs". We have had too much time around her older cousins I think !!!!

Wow, what an imagination!

 

[Nini]

Wow, what an imagination!

in the last month. She is really the youngest talking child in our families! The others range from 5 up to 12...so she gets a lot of input I'm sure.

It is beginning to wear me out so if anyone has any suggestions...feel free I am OPEN to all!!!!!!!!!

I am currently limiting what she sees on t.v. (she watches 1/2 hour before bedtime) to things like strawberry shortcake videos and such. I think she has a HUGE imagination and I need to be VERY strict with what stimulation is occuring in those pre-bedtime hours.

uuuuuuugggggghhhhh!!!! Last night she was awake from 1:30am till 3:30am.

 

[ajm1107]

I was there in June and sat down waiting for my DS(6) and our friends outside Millionaire. A gentleman from the UK sat down and commented about the state of our nation and how we are ruining our children’s future. Since I was in the middle of the Happiest Place on Earth, I just looked at him sort of funny. So then he went on. He stated that it was the only country that had obesity morbid disease and that we were unwilling to do anything about it but pass it on to our children. As we sat and talked we watched many children obviously old enough to walk, being pushed around in strollers, consuming high fat snacks. I must admit that I agreed with him. Here is a chance for a child to wear themselves out, and enjoy as much as they can, only to fall into bed so tired from being delioursly happy about being here and what they did. I for one could not stand the stroller. I was so happy that when my child could walk, I threw it away. Since he was two we would walk the zoo, and sometimes he complains, but he has also gone from being the fat baby to a tall boy who needs slim pants (oh yeah we changed our eating habits also). He walked around Disney for 11 days. We took naps because he was tired, but hey so was I. But we swam, we walked and we saw most of it (you never see it all). I just saw for a minute what the rest of the world sees and we don’t. We are killing our kids. Throw away the stroller.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I was there in June and sat down waiting for my DS(6) and our friends outside Millionaire. A gentleman from the UK sat down and commented about the state of our nation and how we are ruining our children’s future. Since I was in the middle of the Happiest Place on Earth, I just looked at him sort of funny. So then he went on. He stated that it was the only country that had obesity morbid disease and that we were unwilling to do anything about it but pass it on to our children. As we sat and talked we watched many children obviously old enough to walk, being pushed around in strollers, consuming high fat snacks. I must admit that I agreed with him. Here is a chance for a child to wear themselves out, and enjoy as much as they can, only to fall into bed so tired from being delioursly happy about being here and what they did. I for one could not stand the stroller. I was so happy that when my child could walk, I threw it away. Since he was two we would walk the zoo, and sometimes he complains, but he has also gone from being the fat baby to a tall boy who needs slim pants (oh yeah we changed our eating habits also). He walked around Disney for 11 days. We took naps because he was tired, but hey so was I. But we swam, we walked and we saw most of it (you never see it all). I just saw for a minute what the rest of the world sees and we don’t. We are killing our kids. Throw away the stroller.

No flames here! As long as you are getting your adequate naps and rest stops it's all good! congrats on ditching the stroller at 2!! I agree about our society 100%

 

[all4fun]

We have taken our 9 year old nephew, 8 year old, and 12 year old neices (3 different trips) and never needed a stroller for any of them. On our last trip with the 8-yr old niece we were walking through the park one day and she ask us why kids her age were in strollers? I personally hadn't even noticed (too busy paying attention to my own good time to worry about what others were doing) but I thought it was funny she had. Just my 2cents, but I think you should try to do with out one. You might be surprised at her endurance if she's having a good time.

 

[Brina]

I would not rent a stroller for an 8 year old. My twins are 5 and I have a two year old. At Epcot my plan is to rent a double stroller and they can take turns. At the rest of the parks my 2 year old will have her home stroller and the 5-year-olds will walk. The British gentleman mentioned a few posts up has a very valid point.

If your 8-year-old has no medical problems yet insists that she needs a stroller tell her it is coming out of her spending/souvenier money.

 

[bscs]

Thanks for all the opinions. I especially liked the bribe idea As for overweight children my daughter is very skinny and tall so I'm not worried about that. I think I will have her try to go without and see how she does. If she is lagging behind and complaining though I won't let this ruin our trip.

 

[kdtwiss]

while I agree we as a nation do have a bit of a problem, this is a simple question about what is best at Disney for a week. The OP was not asking if she should put her dd in a stroller and walk her to her bus stop, or shuttle her to and fro in school. This is Disney - and while children can and yes even willingly DO walk, I see nothing wrong with getting a stroller. It is faster - let's face it adult legs just move faster when walking than children. It is safer - you don't have to worry about your child getting swept away with a crowd of people, or that she will keep walking when you stop to look at a map or tie your shoe. And it is just plain easier than having to constantly chime - "hurry up" or "slow down" Why can't we just say - yes people do it, and leave it at that,. we don't need to be so judgemental.
On a side note when we went in May , my neice and nephew (4 and 7 respectively) who btw are EXTREMELY athletic little children were simply exhausted by about noon. I had to INSIST and in fact go retrieve a stroller myself because their parents thought it was ridiculous. Let's just say I was right. The kids had a place to sit and rest, they were not complaining anymore about the heat or the walking and their parents did not have to worry about keeping such a close eye on them, because as much as a 7 year old boy may object to a stroller - there is no way he will be holding his mommy's hand.
Get a stroller for goodness sake - if nothing else you have something to haul your junk around in!