Stroller for a 6yo?

[johannams]

Hello! We’re planning our Disney vacation for May 2008. I have 2 sons: a 12 month old & a 4yo almost 5. By that time my 1yo will be 24 months old. Is he too young to enjoy the theme parks, or will the trip be too difficult on us? And, should I bring a stroller for my older son who will be 5yo almost 6 by the time of the trip? He’s very tall 47”, so next year he’ll be much taller.
Thank you.

 

[snugglepeas]

I think your 2 year old would really enjoy the parks, my 10 month old LOVED the parks last month and we are taking her back when she is 16 months old, as for the stroller you might consider bringing a stroller for the 2 year old and renting for your 6 year old as needed the strollers are plent big for a 6 year old and you may only need it in parks like epcot that are very large.

 

[threekidsandasheltie]

we are going to Disney next week and I have a 10yo, 6.5yo and 2yo. I decided to rent a double jogger stroller from this place near Disney because I know at some point my 6.5yo will get tired and want to sit.

 

[Mommytink]

Where can you rent a double jogging stroller near Disney? I would love this!

 

[threekidsandasheltie]

Where can you rent a double jogging stroller near Disney? I would love this!

http://www.abbf.com/

 

[taximomfor4]

Only you know your children best ... I can share my own experience, though. My youngest was 2 our first trip. She was a delight to watch there! We did, however, have short parkdays and went to bed early every night (no night shows). She loved EVERYTHING! She rode in a stroller that trip, but my 5 and 6yo children walked all day, every day without complaint. Of course, we take it easy, sit in charming spots a lot, etc. We don't run directly from attraction to attraction.

The following trip, dd was turning 3. She rode in a stroller SOMETIMES (when we made her). The other young kids were 7 and almost-6.

The next trip, she was turning 4. We pushed her stuffed Meeko around in a stroller for 8 straight days. She didn't sit in it for a single moment, EVER. We had gotten a MacLaren Quest, so that my other 2 kids could take turns in it as necessary (fits heavier kids)...but they never wanted to, either.

This next trip, dd will be turning 5. We will probably bring the Maclaren again, I think...and may or may not bring it to the parks each day. It was handy to transport all the gear, like extra water...but if we go back next year, we won't bother with the stroller. Out of my 4 children total, I have never had a 5yr old ride in a stroller, wagon, etc for a single moment, EVER, anywhere. They just don't want to, and apparently don't need to at our relaxed touring pace. The littler kids get extra rest-time, too, since not every family member does every attraction. If a few members want to ride something, the others find a nice, comfy, interesting place to wait (Rootbeer Float time!!)

So I'd say, based purely on my own experiences, just bring the 2yo a stroller. IF the almost-6-yo needs to ride occasionally at some of the parks, maybe rent one there. The WS at Epcot seems to be the most grueling walk for my family, although the kids do it for me (It's my FAVORITE!)

 

[auntie]

Our first trip was with a six week old, a 4 year old, and an 11 year old. Our kids are too varied in age to wait for them all to be the perfect age to go. I have found that kids take their cue from the parents. If you are happy..the kids are going to be happy. Remember that they don't know if they are missing out on an attraction. So if a line is too long and it's the heat of the day...skip it...enjoy your resort and take the kids to the pool. Those are the best times you will have . Chances are you will be going again..given that they are young. Don't go with the commando attitude with kids that age. Relax and do and see what you can..and don't sweat what you don't. We have been going with our family since the summer of '91...and we just went again this May. 16 years now! We did use a stroller for our two younger ones. Even the year my daughter was 7 and younger son was 4..we figured we needed it for him. He never set foot in it..she would tire out, and flop into the umbrella style stroller when she was tired. We used to joke that her father will probably push her down the aisle in a stroller, rather than walk her...she had no shame didn't care. I would take one for your six year old just in case. If not..they are easily rented in the parks.

 

[Hannathy]

We never took one once the past 4. My DS was 5 when we went at Easter and he walked everyday and we were there from opening till close. I would not take one for the 6 yr old, kids have more energy than adults and if you can walk it so can they.

My DS was 2 on one trip and it was great, he liked everything, didn't have a pre-conceived idea of how things should be or to do. was easy to feed,was potty trained so no diapers and was easy to push in the stroller, old enough to understand things and to follow directions. It was a nice trip.

 

[taximomfor4]

We never took one once the past 4. My DS was 5 when we went at Easter and he walked everyday and we were there from opening till close. I would not take one for the 6 yr old, kids have more energy than adults and if you can walk it so can they.

...and I wass thinking we were the ODD Disboard family, with children not using a stroller, lol.

 

[PrincessTigerLily]

We were at the world May 29- June 3 with DD5 and DS21months. DS loved it! The most difficult times for us were the bus rides (he had NO concept of sitting still on the bus!) and during table service meals as he finished eating and starting flinging food on me before I finished my appetizer. All in all, it was great, MUCH better than taking him last September at 13 months. DD is 5 1/2 years old so we rented Disney's double stroller and it worked well. I swear I will shell out the bucks every trip that I can cram her into one of those just so I don't have to hear "My legs huuuurrrrtttt!"
Have fun!

 

[auntie]

I don't think its a matter of if they can walk..of course they can do it. However, if it's late ..and you've been at the parks a while, or if you simply need to make tracks, a stroller is a big asset. However, you know your child best. I think a decision like that can pretty much be made closer to the time of your vacation. Every child is different. Even if you go without one, it's simple enough to rent one if you think you need it.

 

[all4fun]

We use a stroller for our four year old but he tires easily and always wants to be carried so having a stroller along is a back saver for us. I look forward to the day when we won't need it but for now I wouldn't even think of going w/out one.

We also went to WDW when ds was 21 mos (and 13mos, and 17mos, and 23mos, lol) and ds enjoyed it more and more each time. There's plenty of stuff for toddlers to enjoy there. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

hth

 

[badblackpug]

...and I wass thinking we were the ODD Disboard family, with children not using a stroller, lol.

Nope. We never take a stroller either. Everybody 4 and older walks. As a matter of fact, they refuse to ride "strollers are for babies!"

When (if) they get too tired, we call it a day. This has never happened, by the way. We usually drag them out of the parks at closing time!

 

[stacy6552]

First of all your 2 year old will love WDW. He may not remember it when he's 20, but he will love it at the time and you will remember all the wonderful things.

When our kids were 6 and 1, we took one stroller. We took mid day breaks almost every day and on the day we didn't we rented him a stroller. When our kids were 6 and 11, we didnt take breaks and we did bring the 6 year old a stroller, which we left behind at the end of the trip. So I think it really denpends on how much you will be doing throughout the day.

 

[mom2luncate]

Your 2 year old will absolutely love it! We took my daughter last year and she wasn't even 2 had she had a blast.

We're going again this summer...8/5-8/13 and our my dd will 2 and my oldest dd will be almost 6. My problem is a stoller for my oldest. Since it will be so hot I want to have a stroller for her as I don't want to carry her and sweat all day long or have her miserable from the heat and not be able to give her a break. However, she weighs 47 lbs. Will an umbrella hold her? Anyone else ever put a child of similar size into an umbrella? I really don't want to rent and pay extra money but I don't want her to be miserable either. HELP!!!!! Any advice would be most appreciated!

 

[mom2luncate]

http://www.abbf.com/

Have you had good results with this company? Are the strollers clean and in good condition? Do they deliver directly to your WDW resort? Thanks!

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, you'll probably have a better idea about the stroller situation when your trip is closer. We always brought umbrella strollers for our kids until they were 6 & 4. On our last trip, the kids were 7 & 5. They walked for the first 3 days. Then DS5 was getting tired, so we ended up renting a double stroller for the last 3 days. DS rode in it fairly often. DD7 rode in it occasionally. I was glad to have it at night after the fireworks so that I knew where everyone was.

Your 2 yr old will love WDW! We've brought our kids at all different ages and they always had fun. It's great to see things through their eyes too.

Your 2 year old will absolutely love it! We took my daughter last year and she wasn't even 2 had she had a blast.

We're going again this summer...8/5-8/13 and our my dd will 2 and my oldest dd will be almost 6. My problem is a stoller for my oldest. Since it will be so hot I want to have a stroller for her as I don't want to carry her and sweat all day long or have her miserable from the heat and not be able to give her a break. However, she weighs 47 lbs. Will an umbrella hold her? Anyone else ever put a child of similar size into an umbrella? I really don't want to rent and pay extra money but I don't want her to be miserable either. HELP!!!!! Any advice would be most appreciated!

I don't know if an umbrella stroller will hold her. We stopped using ours for DD after age 6. She is now almost 8 and weighs about 50 lbs. I know she wouldn't fit in our umbrella stroller. We'll be there at the same time as you in Aug. Normally, I would let my kids walk until they seemed like they needed a stroller, but not this time. Aug will be so hot and humid and DD has asthma, so I will be renting a double as soon as we get there. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We started taking my DD7 to WDW when she was 2-3/4 and of course she's loved it everytime! She doesn't really remember those first few trips, but enjoys looking at the pictures and my telling her about the trips. Also, as others have said, seeing it through her eyes was magical.

As to the issue of the stroller, this will (probably) be the first time we don't take our stroller (and yes, she is 7 now and will be 8 on our next trip). I will admit that the main reason I bring the stroller is to save my back! My DD is petite, only 46" and 47# so she still fits in either our stoller, or one from Disney. Most of our trips it's just me47, my DM67, and my DD. It's left to me to carry all necessary items when we go to the parks. Cameras (still and video), snacks, water, towels, water shoes and bathing suit-for water play, etc. and I am old enough that I wasn't raised in the generation of people who carried backpacks (When I went to school we still had lockers! ). So, I hate carrying one around! Can't stand it-especially in the Florida heat and humidity! My DM likes to carry as little as possible, so she's no help and while I know we can rent lockers, that means having to go back to the lockers to get things and I still have to carry my cameras. Plus I believe the locker rental is about the same $ as a stoller.

For the times we are just going to one park for a few hours, not having to push the stoller around is great, but for those longer days, I'm really going to miss it. The best stroller time we had was a few years ago when my adult niece, who was a DLR CM came, and we got free strollers! We got the double ones and by the time all of us put in our stuff (that trip there were 5 A (all female) and 1 K, there was just enough room for DD to sit! It was great not having to haul anything, and leave our shoulders free!

Also, the stroller has been a life saver (back saver too!) on those times when my DD conks out. Since we are from Calif., sometime the time difference gets to her and she falls asleep during the day, once even on a ride, KS-first thing in the a.m. When this happens, it's wonderful for her to be able to hop in the stroller and take a break. There is no way I can carry her, for any distance, without it killing my back. By the way, my DD is by no means lazy, and she definitely doesn't have a weight issue. In fact, she loves to "extracise" as she calls it, and she's in constant motion, except when she's sleeping !

I'm also going to miss using the stroller to carry our carryon items to the plane. Again, it's always me who does all the carrying-some times I feel like a pack mule! Oh, if only I had a big, strong, man to help carry things!

Have a great time and hope this helps!

 

[threekidsandasheltie]

Have you had good results with this company? Are the strollers clean and in good condition? Do they deliver directly to your WDW resort? Thanks!

this will be our first time using this company, but I read about them here on the Dis boards, only heard good things about them. yes, they deliver the item to your hotel on the day of your arrival. It is cheaper than renting a Disney stroller for the week and looks more comfortable.

 

[mom2luncate]

this will be our first time using this company, but I read about them here on the Dis boards, only heard good things about them. yes, they deliver the item to your hotel on the day of your arrival. It is cheaper than renting a Disney stroller for the week and looks more comfortable.

Thanks so much! Enjoy your trip.