Stroller for an 8 1/2 year old?!?

[dopeyfanatic]

Ok, here we go. This is not a judgement, this is going to be my personal experience...

We went to DL a couple weeks ago. We have a double stroller that we brought. Our kids are 2, 4 next month, and 5 1/2. The older two walked almost completely. The 4 year old would sit a few times. My two year old sat mostly because it was easier to keep her with us, but she did walk a lot also. My oldest never sat unless we were stopped and there wasn't a seat. HOWEVER, at the end of the night when we were walking to go back to the hotel, the kids all sat in the stroller. They were exhausted and all fell asleep. With the exception of the one day we left at 6 and my oldest walked. During the day I don't think the strollers are needed so long as you make sure to take a few breaks so EVERYONE can rest. At the end of the day when everyone is tired is when a stroller would be wanted. Regardless of your age, you'll be tired. It becomes this anxious rush to get back to the hotel to sleep. However at 8 and 10 I don't think they'd have trouble at the end of the day. If you're doing it for 6-7 days in a row staying until midnight, after a few days they may not be able to handle it. If they're having trouble keeping up it's probably because they need more sleep, so sleep in or leave early. This time we slept in every day and it made a WORLD of difference in the kids. They got plenty of sleep, which also allowed their feet to rest. While some kids DO NEED a stroller for breaks, I think a lot of parents underestimate what their kids can/will handle and assume that they'll need one. And of course if it's there, they're going to use it. I would! I say try going as long as you can without one. It's definitely much easier without one. It's a pain to find some where to park it, find it to leave, push it around the people..... Good luck and I hope you have fun!

 

[skooniebird]

My SIL and her family and my inlaws will be at WDW for President's Week. Never been before. We've been several times. We've tried to help her make some plans (dinner ressies, location, etc.). Now she's saying that EVERYONE is telling her that they need to rent a stroller for their girls--ages 8 1/2 and 10. My DH and I think that's ridiculous. We were there when our kids were 7 and 9 and couldn't imagine needing them....they were definitely old enough to make it around the parks and I never remember them getting that tired. My mother, maybe....but not my kids and we do a kamikaze Disney experience (up early and doing everything all the time). Are we crazy? Should I tell my SIL to get the stroller or that her kids will be mortified?

Just think it's nuts. Hoping others will too. BTW, my nieces are in great shape and have no physical or emotional issues. Just normal kids who've never been to Disney.

First 2 days of our 9 day trip everyone but 3 yr old walked. By 3rd day we rented double stroller for 13, 11, 9 and 6 year olds to take turns riding on and off. And these are kids who play on 2 soccer teams in the same season. LOL We would have missed out on so much by their being so tired and needing to go back to the room if they couldn't have had those 5 minute breaks every hour or so.

 

[laceemouse]

People always talk about the massive amount of walking at WDW but to me it is not that bad. I mean, you walk to an attraction, stand in line a while, sit or ride for a while, walk to the next attraction, stand in line for a while....get it! I am old and fat and I manage just fine We quit getting a stroller when the youngest was about 5 and a half. We LOVE it! We travel light and it is just so much easier to move through the crowds without it! And then, we don't waste time looking for the stupid thing when we get out of a show/ride.

 

[pointandshoot]

My parents would have never gotten me a stroller when I was a child at WDW. Off course, it was 1973, only MK was built at the time, and we could only stay 1 1/2 days. Not big enough to tire me after sitting for a 10 hour car ride.

I would be embarrassed if someone checked my DD driver's license to see she was 7 years old and riding in a stroller. Off course, taking karate and weekly hikes in the wood have not toughen her up enough for vacation.

Make'm walk I say. Let them drag 10 feet behind you at the end of the day in the crowd. Or yell off the hook from exhaustion. Or my personal favorite, carry them in 100% humidity and peel them off you like fly paper. Nothing like close family time in high heat. Wear them out so they will sleep at night.

To increase your endurance, try holding your child on a Disney bus during sharp turns while others comfortably relax and watch. Strengthens your legs and helps you do more at the parks the next day!

Joking aside, I love every minute I spend at WDW with my family; tired times and excitement times. I bet everyone here has been apart of tired magical moment with their child. If a stroller helps avoid one of those moments, good deal no matter what age.

My now 7 year old walks some days and rides in a stroller on others. I think she really likes it when I turn the double into a Disney attraction, spin it, and race through Epcot at night. After a few circles at high speed around the world showcase, I wish she would push or carry me up the monorail ramp! And I run a few miles a day.

Being a good parent is hard enough with your own children. Not sure I want to take on more work with everyone else's little princes and princesses.

 

[paigevz]

I don't know what your sis-in-law's kids need.

My older son was "strolled" at 4 and 6, then when we went back at 8, he was not. My younger will be 4 this time, and I'm sure we will rent a stroller. We used an umbrella for the older one even at 6, but at 3, this one is larger than my older was at 6, and I think he'll need a bigger one.........also, he naps, whereas older brother didn't nap past 16 months.

When he's 6, we may not stroll him if he keeps growing at this rate!

I don't think I'd stroll kids that big. Mine at 8 and 9 was fine with the rests we took, but we also always took a midday break, which helped I think.