Stroller for a 4 & 5 yr. old??

[NikNaknJack]

What do you think? We are planning our first trip to Disney with our kids this summer (July) and was wondering if I should buy a lightweight umbrella type stroller to take along. My kids haven't been in a stroller in ages but I am concerned about the long hot days in the sun. My daughter will be turning 5 during the trip and my son will be 4 in August. Do you think they are too big for one of these strollers?

 

[dismom301930]

You will get lots of different advice on this topic, because all kids are different. From my own experience only, I would suggest bringing one or renting one. We went in December and I was so happy I had a stroller that my kids could ride/rest in. I brought a Sit and Stand since I also have a younger DD2, but my older DDs (5 and 6) took turns in the back. I didn't expect my DD6 to ride at all since she hasn't been in a stroller in a very long time, but I was glad she was able to ride when she needed a break. We were at parks all day for seven straight days. That's a lot of walking for anyone, especially kids. We had a wonderful vacation, with very little complaining or whining from the girls, and I think having a stroller helped in that respect.

Have a great trip!!

 

[susykt4]

We just returned from 9 park days with DD6 and DS4. I bought two $10.99 umbrella strollers at WalMart and consider it one of the best investments I've ever made. My daughter is 46 inches and ~50 pounds and my son is 42 inches and 40-some pounds. Both are WAY too big for an umbrella stroller, especially the cheapest one I could find, but both strollers were used daily and still in fine condition when we ditched them at Pop Century before boarding DME back to the airport. The strollers kept my kids happy MUCH longer than if we had made them walk the entire time. I believe we got a lot more park time and a lot less whining and complaining.

This was in early February when the crowds were low and the temps were in the 60s and 70s. I can't imagine not having strollers in hot and busy July! They aren't too big of a deal on the bus or monorail because they're light and easy to fold. If we go again next year, I will definitely get a stroller for my son who will be 5 and will get one for my daughter who will be 7 if she can fit. When I compared the $22 I spent with what it would have cost to rent, I couldn't justify the rentals. Have fun!

 

[nelljay1973]

Thanks for asking the Q..because I was thinking the same thing for DS who will be 4 when go..to stroller or not.

 

[goofy1991]

We're going in May with a 3 and 6 year old and I'm definitely planning on bringing our umbrella stroller. I have a feeling six year old DS will use it, as my 3 year old will be on DH's shoulders a lot of the time.

 

[jenseib]

I think it just depends on the kid. I went when my one DD was almost 5 and hadn't been in a stroller for a few years. I never even thought about bringing one. She had no problems and would've most likely refused it if I got one for her. I think you could just rent one, or a double one, if needed. Or buy one down there too.
I just got back with our 2YO and we brought a stroller, but she really hardly used it. I mostly used it to carry our stuff around in. She only asked about twice to get in it, and few times we coaxed her into it.

 

[susykt4]

I forgot to mention that with having bigger kids we would push the stroller to Fantasyland, park in a central location, experience everything we wanted in that area, grab the strollers and park in Adventureland, etc. The kids were still walking quite a bit but it saved their legs on the longer treks from one "land" to the next. It was also wonderful at World Showcase at Epcot- really kept them happy to ride. We didn't take our strollers to MGM and only took one stroller to AK. I don't doubt that my kids "could" have walked the entire time. I do doubt they could have kept the pace we did without getting crabby and tired much earlier in the day. My 4-yr-old walked all day at a large zoo last weekend and did great until the end when he was trudging along refusing to look at anything. "I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE ZEBRAS!!!!" Pretty funny at the zoo where he can get in the car and fall asleep, but not so funny at WDW when he has to ride a bus back to the resort and then walk to the room.

 

[jennydep]

When we were at Disney for DD's wish trip last year, we got a double stroller at each park for our DD 9 and DS 7. DD needed it because she was undergoing treatment for leukemia and has endurance issues even when she's healthy. DS enjoyed riding in it with her and taking a break when he got tired. We also were able to go longer each day thanks to the stroller.

 

[almburr]

Rent one you will not be sorry. We went in Nov. with a 4 and 6yr old. They managed 1 whole day on thier own. but after that they needed a rest. We rented a double. Keep the ticket and you can use it at another park on the same day for a stroller. You can also rent one for the duration of your time there.

 

[teacher100]

I would rent one. It is also very handy for carrying drinks and other stuff. I don't know what we'll do when our kids grow out of them! I rented double ones the last time for my 4 year old and 8 year old. It was much easier to keep up with them in crowds. When they didn't ride, it was nice for storage. We did try one day without it, and they got very tired and cranky much quicker. Alot of times we'd park it in central locations and come back for it.

 

[englishrose47]

Do they have lockers you can rent? DGS is way to big for an umbrella stroller all day but if we could storeone to put him in just to get to bus and hotel and rent a big one to push all day I think it would solve ourproblem!!

 

[whgrn]

I would definitely get the stroller. On our last trip, my DD6 and DD5 would never have made it for 5 days of park hopping. It was hot (June, 90 degrees) and, while they weren't constantly in the stroller, they were in alot. DD napped in in while we waited for parades! We rented a double each day, and it worked great.

 

[CastleCreations]

I always budget in a stroller rental. I have a 4 and 5 yr old, who love to walk, but walk very slowly. I love the storage space in them, the drink holder, and the easy to use brake on the back. They also steer pretty well, even with 80 pounds of kid in it. They are also very low to the ground, so the kids can get in and out by them selves. They are also not very top heavy, so they don't do the umbrella tip over backwards thing. Can you tell I love Disney's strollers?

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

I plan to rent one for the duration of the trip for my 4 year old. I think she will walk for a while...how long, I dont know? BUT I dont want to push around an empty stroller and at night when the buses are crowded I dont want to lug it all the way back to the resort. $8.00 a day isnt all that bad...for everyones sanity!

 

[ededmd]

Rent the double stroller. Even if only one child at a time rides, the other will appreciate the room and you only have to push one thing around versus 2 individual umbrellas.
My 4 year old always wants to ride along like a king saving his energy for playing (a lot!). The 2 year old is fine with whatever. I wish I could get someone to push me around some days.

 

[englishrose47]

Can anyone tell me about locker rentals also where do you rent strollers at the park and what time do they open???????

 

[jenseib]

Can anyone tell me about locker rentals also where do you rent strollers at the park and what time do they open???????

They are at the front of the parks. In the MK they are under the train station(the lockers). The maps will point them out to you. I' m not exactly sure where the stollers are, but the yare up front as well.
They are decent size for some bags, but I don't think they are near big enough to store a stroller.

I think they all open when the park does.

 

[Disneyolic]

I always budget in a stroller rental. I have a 4 and 5 yr old, who love to walk, but walk very slowly. I love the storage space in them, the drink holder, and the easy to use brake on the back. They also steer pretty well, even with 80 pounds of kid in it. They are also very low to the ground, so the kids can get in and out by them selves. They are also not very top heavy, so they don't do the umbrella tip over backwards thing. Can you tell I love Disney's strollers?

We love renting the double stroller at Disney. We have 3 kids and this works great for us. My kids last visit were 2, 5 & 7 and 2 of them fit nicely at one time.

However, I never noticed a drink holder in the stroller at MK. The only thing attached to them was a mesh pocket in the back that didn't hold too much.

 

[barbmouse]

When our dks were younger we always got a double stroller so that they could ride as they got tired. It was also great to have extra room for stuff when one was not riding. We always looked forward to turning it in at the end of the day and receiving a Disney Dollar.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

This is the stroller that I have used with my DD6.

This one comes in several colors.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...ft&fbc=1&categoryId=2256189&parentPage=search

I also notice this one is on sale and I use the twin like this for my dd6 and dd3.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/inde...ft&fbc=1&categoryId=2256189&parentPage=search