Stroller for a 6 YO

[areno79]

My DH and I will be taking my 6 year old cousin for her first ever trip to Disney next month. My question is...does a 6 yo need a stroller? I think she'll be fine walking, but I'm worried about how tired she's going to be. DH thinks she'll be fine, but I seem to remember when we were there last time older kids (not babies) used strollers too.

Any advice or input is appreciated!

 

[DISNEYFOS]

You may want to just talk about it with her parents. It really depends on the child. Disney is a lot of walking...probably more than what most kids do daily. My cousin had a pedometer on our last trip and she averaged 7 or 8 miles a day.

For Us, My DD who will be 6 for our next trip in a month has to option to walk or ride when we go. Our opinion is its not a big deal to bring a stroller if it makes for a happy child at the end of the day For what its worth, she doesn't use a stroller anywhere else we go.

WDW is usually an exhausting vacation for most adults

 

[Hannathy]

My kids both walked from 4 on and we do long days at Disney and go non-stop. Kids have more energy or they should than adults.

The walking at Disney isn't a marathon it is walk, stand , sit, ride, walk some more. It is a lot of walking but it is broken up with a lot of standing and sitting.

 

[mickimousemama]

I think it depends on the individual child, some kids can handle it and some just can't do it.

My kids are 4 1/2 and almost 7 we walk on average of 2 miles atleast 4 days a week, but they couldn't handle an entire day at our state fair with out the stroller, we were there for about 10 hours and they both cried to ride in my cousins stroller.

 

[btwitkin]

Just got back from WDW a couple of weeks ago. We were with our 5 y.o. DS. The 1st day we didn't get a stroller and he was extremely tired and cranky by the end of the day. We rented a stroller the rest of the week and he was much happier. It made a world of difference.

Our son is extremely active, can run around for hours, but it is A LOT of walking.

Every kid is different, but when we go back in February, we are still going to do the stroller.

 

[happymommy]

It really does depend on the child. I used to bring one until my DD was 7. She would only ride in it part of the time, but actually fell asleep in it that trip - she had gotten strep throat and was burning up with a fever. I was so grateful that I'd brought it that trip! We were staying at the Dolphin, so I could let her rest while we headed back (the fever came on so suddenly while we were at MGM).

My kids stopped riding in them at home for a long time, but I still had one I would only use to bring to WDW. It was lightweight, but fullsize (think Aprica brand, don't remember, it's down in the storage room still). Some kids need more rest than others, and my daughter is one of those kids. I even rented one for a couple of days when she turned 8 at WDW, and she fell asleep in it one afternoon. She gets worn out and needs her rest.

I would definitely talk to the parents as well. If they have one, you could always bring it just in case.

 

[Disney Lovin' Grammy]

My grandchildren are 6 and 4 and we have always used a stroller for them. For our upcoming trip, the plan is to rent one stroller only and have them take turns. Don't know how it will work and could end up we have to rent 2 strollers as the week goes on, but thought we would at least give it a try. I agree with all those who have said it's alot of walking for the little legs of a child, regardless of how much energy they have. Seems like there isn't enough "pixie dust" on the planet to help when you have an exhausted little person or a child who is crying to be carried because they are tired of walking.

Stroller or no stroller...enjoy your trip! Keep in mind, even if you don't leave home with the intention of using a stroller, there are rentals available at all the parks.

 

[areno79]

Stroller or no stroller...enjoy your trip! Keep in mind, even if you don't leave home with the intention of using a stroller, there are rentals available at all the parks.

Sorry, I should have specified...we won't be bringing a stroller. If she needs one, we'd renting one of the Disney ones.

I appreciate all of the input, and I'm going to show my DH this thread when I get home. I am being more realistic than he is on the expectations of a 6 yo to walk 5 miles a day. He doesnt think she'll need it, and maybe he's right, but I just want to prepare him for the possibility. Especially if it's going to be the thing that prevents a meltdown.

Oh, and if she doesn't use it, I can always have DH push *me* around in it!

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

Just remember they are very expensive to rent if you wait and do it in DIsney. It definitley is personal choice of the child and parent. I personally will use one for as loing as he will sit in it. That way I know where he is and it also helps with lugging the junk....
also not sure when you are going but heat and humidity zap energy too.

 

[abcboys]

My 6 year old walked the first few days but by the 3rd or 4th day we got a 2 day rental. It gave him a nice break in the middle of the vacation and everyone was happy. Heck, even the 9 year old hopped in the stroller some. I would think he would have been too embarrased but nope!!

 

[Hannathy]

Most kids at 6 haven't used one for years so if it isn't suggested to her she won't expect it and will just walk.Like I said before I'm with your DH, and it is so much easier to get around with out the stroller.My DH also refused to bring one-I agreed-but he was adamant about not bringing one and all three kids did fine.

 

[badblackpug]

No. I have never had a child in a stroller past the age of 4, and my older kids are not terribly active. Remember it is not non stop walking. You walk a bit, stand a bit, sit a bit. Also, there a a lot of places to sit and take a break (and eat an ice cream!) if you need to. My kids never expected to use a stroller past the age where they used one at home, so they didn't even think to ask for one, and we didn't offer. We do long days, we are not commando, but we are in the parks all day, and they have always held up. They fall asleep on every bus ride back to the hotel, but they handle the walking just fine. The other thing is, you will be pushing a large child along in a stroller, that will be extra work for you. (I will have 2 under 2, so I will be pushing anyway) You will get back to the hotel exhausted, but will have a child who is very well rested and energized from his leisurely ride.

 

[Robbinsgirls3]

I'd say maybe take one instead of renting, or try to sign up for one of the stroller swaps on the budget boards. That way it is no cost to you, and you can try it out, if you don't need it, no money lost? Even when my DD didn't ride in one it lugged all of our water bottles, ponchos, cameras etc so we didn't have to be the pack mules! You always end up carrying tons of stuff at the parks w/ maps and drinks and things you might buy that it is nice to just push it around then carry it all day.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[henry72]

We are bringing one for our 4 yr old. At first we weren't but the more I thought about it, the more I thought he might want to use one since DD will be in hers. So we bought a $7 umbrella stroller at a consignment sale and plan to take it (and leave it) there. If he doesn't want to use it, fine - but if he does, we will have it. At 6, I would think that you wouldn't need one but it really does depend on the child. (And the time of year that you are going.)

 

[calnmace]

I would definitely bring one. Stroller rentals at Disney are expensive and their version of an umbrella stroller (its a good quality one) is around $60 if I remember correctly. Some kids may not mind walking but heck I'd still get in one if I could fit!! Have a fun trip

 

[tjmw2727]

My 6yo neice needed one the 2nd day. This a a child who has not used a stroller in years and walked numerous theme parks including Bush Gardens, she hikes mountains and is very active.

We took pool breaks and didn't go crazy but by the 2nd afternoon she just started to fade, from not keeping up to just not being able to walk anymore.

After day 2 we usually did mornings without a stroller and rented for the afternoon/evenin. My sil wished she had thought to bring a stroller from home but as I said she hadn't used one in years.

So you may want to bring at least an umbrella stroller just in case.

 

[AndyLL]

My son is six and hasn't used a stroller since he was 4 except for Disney trips.

We are typically at the parks from opening to closing and he is usually asleep before we leave. My wife is not allowed to carry him and I can't for very long.

Last trip we ended up parking the stroller for most of the day but it was available later during the night.

For some reason these discussions turn into 'my kid is better then your kid' because he can walk uphill all day at Disney World.

Every family is different. For those that are not there for the whole day and/or take many breaks throughout the day then a stroller is not needed for an active kid.

For those that are extending their kids normal days then a stroller might make life easier and the vacation more enjoyable.

Never get sucked into the arguement that you're a lousy parent if your kid uses a stroller at the age of 6 ( or 5, 4 or even older) at Disney.

People that use that as a measuring stick are not worth listening to.

Andy

 

[loydandmel]

We rented a double stroller for 2 of our 5 days for our 6 year old last year. He Loved it and so did we. We could walk faster and we didn't have to carry as much stuff. We tried a single but he was too squshed so we up graded to a double. He is already asking for one again this year. If it makes life easier and everyone happy it is worth it.

 

[MKB419]

Hi
Last year we traveled to to WDW the kids were 4&3 we got a stroller from a swap and it was well worth it. I did not think they would use it much but they did. So this year we are renting one from Orlando stroller rental. I like having the stroller at the resort. It always seems the closer they get to the room the more tired they are. It can't hurt to have one. Just park it if you don't need it. Have a great trip.
Mary Kay
Hey areno79 we will be there the same time as you at the CBR ,when are you going to MNSSHP party we are going 10/20.

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

My daughter is 6, and we are struggling with the same decision. We go several times a year, and we've never gone without a stroller. However, our last trip was to DL and we did the open to close thing (and we're East Coast people) without the stroller and she did fine. It was pure bliss not to have to spend 10 min at every location parking, unloading and retrieving the stroller. I know that the walking in WDW wears me out, and I know that she always falls asleep at some point.

Pro:
Life is so much easier and takes so much less time without a stroller!

Con:
If they get tired, they may need a nap or you may have to go in early.
You have no where to stash your stuff that you don't want to carry on rides.

I just thought of an easy solution. Take the stroller in and park it in a centralized location. Go through the whole park, when they get tired - retrieve it and use it for the rest of the day...

Thanks for letting me use you to think out loud... LOL