Stroller for my 8 year old?? I KNOW I KNOW!!

[THEJOEL]

Wow!! Some people are really rough. It was a simple question, looking for a simple answer. I did not asked to be judged. If you have an answer than answer it. If not look away.. For the judging people.. My 8 year sometimes needs a break that's all. Btw, she is a 2x national cheerleading champion!!! I don't doubt her ability nor her ability to listen, she is well behaved... Oh she is also a competition dancer. So please keep your opinions to yourself. In the years I've been on disboards I have never seen a reaction like this. Disappointing, thanks to all who have nice replies.

No problem.. I am all for whatever makes your trip the most enjoyable..

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

We rented disney single stroller for our dd3 and bags. During the trip at some point I had to chase all the children aged 8 to 12 out at one point or another for the 3 year old. Heck I had to make my 45 yr old sil get out one day!

Our last night the 3 yr old napped with dad in the afternoon. The 8 yr old told gma she didn't need one. Ds stayed at park with me. When we met up later....dd8 konked out in stroller and dd3 lived it up!

 

[Alexsandra]

My husband and I had a big debate over this before one of our trips. My son was 6 at the time and my husband refused to bring him a stroller because he insisted our son was too old for one. So we ended up just with the one stroller for my 2 year old. Finally my 6 year old fell sick with a bad cold. After letting him rest for 2 days in bed, we decided to rent a stroller for the remainder of the trip because he was too tired to do it all by foot (especially Epcot and MK). By the end of the trip he was willing to walk the whole park so he did not need one at AK and HS.
I would suggest you try it out without the stroller on the first day. If you see your kid needs one, just rent it. I bet you won't need one for the smaller parks. My boy is turning seven and we decided not to bring one on our upcoming February trip, but only you know your child so it is your decision.
Some people pass judgments but you should just ignore them and do what you feel is right for your family.
Have a great trip

 

[okeydokey]

My DD is such a complainer when walking. Even at the mall. I don't want to deal with whining. Thinking something small for her would help. She is very tiny. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Tell her if she wants to pay for it, you will rent it.

Personally, I wouldn't put a third grader in a stroller. If they whined about it, we would leave the park for a nap.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Personally, I can't imagine putting my kids in a stroller at that age, but to each their own. Our first trip, the boys were 5 and 7 and it never even occurred to me to think about a stroller and we did fine.

But I think what's bothering some people is the fact that the only reason you want one is because she whines. Not worried about her being tired, since she's in such great shape. She's well behaved and always listens. But she whines and she's spoiled. Well, one way to make sure she stays whiny and spoiled is to keep pushing her around in a stroller!

 

[smitch425]

When DS was 7, he woke up with a sore groin muscle on our last park day. He could not even board the bus on his own. We had to lift him. We rented him a single stroller and he was mortified to ride in it. We ended up leaving the park after just a couple of hours. There is zero reason for a child that is in great shape and that old to use a stroller--ZERO. Kids are only spoiled if you allow them to be. Best of luck, and I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. Our first stroller free trip was so freeing. It was fantastic!

 

[tina.tina]

When one reads such nice, helpful posts from people who seem friendly, one feels comfortable enough to ask for advice. Unfortunately, not all of the people who answer our inquiries follow the rule about staying quiet unless you have something nice to say. I'm sorry that you've gotten negative replies.

I wouldn't take a stroller. I would follow a PP's advice & take a snack break- or just a breather- when your DD is tired.

 

[BigAlsGal]

You know....I use to be one of those people who would say "putting your 8 year old in a stroller is ridiculous!!" Now I'm looking down the barrel of twin 6/7 year olds who have NO DESIRE to walk the parks and will ruin an entire trip whining and dragging their feet. If you'd ask the question "would you rather be here or home" you would get a resounding HOME! I don't see the end of this anytime soon but my love for disney is so strong there's no way I'm going to stop taking trips because they're rotten.

Take a stroller. It's not a big deal. No matter what you do everyone thinks they are king parent. Just do your thing. I would just go through kingdom strollers and rent the heaviest capacity stroller and cram her in it.

 

[smitch425]

You know....I use to be one of those people who would say "putting your 8 year old in a stroller is ridiculous!!" Now I'm looking down the barrel of twin 6/7 year olds who have NO DESIRE to walk the parks and will ruin an entire trip whining and dragging their feet. If you'd ask the question "would you rather be here or home" you would get a resounding HOME! I don't see the end of this anytime soon but my love for disney is so strong there's no way I'm going to stop taking trips because they're rotten.

Take a stroller. It's not a big deal. No matter what you do everyone thinks they are king parent. Just do your thing. I would just go through kingdom strollers and rent the heaviest capacity stroller and cram her in it.

Have you considered a solo trip?

 

[Coonhound]

You know....I use to be one of those people who would say "putting your 8 year old in a stroller is ridiculous!!" Now I'm looking down the barrel of twin 6/7 year olds who have NO DESIRE to walk the parks and will ruin an entire trip whining and dragging their feet. If you'd ask the question "would you rather be here or home" you would get a resounding HOME! I don't see the end of this anytime soon but my love for disney is so strong there's no way I'm going to stop taking trips because they're rotten.

Take a stroller. It's not a big deal. No matter what you do everyone thinks they are king parent. Just do your thing. I would just go through kingdom strollers and rent the heaviest capacity stroller and cram her in it.

That's truly ridiculous, those kids need to be left at home if that's the case. There's no reason to put yourself through that if the kids are truly that ungrateful and/or hate Disney. Take a solo trip or maybe you and a couple girlfriends. Have fun on your own, they certainly don't need to be there.

 

[mrshoffman]

I'm not judging. I remember when my friends bragged about their kids "not needing a stroller." In reality, the entire family had to move at a child's pace for the entire vacation. Not fun IMO.
Sure, you could tell her to tough it out. Or, you could shorten your time at the park & take lots of breaks. Or, there's a 3rd option--a stroller for when she feels exhausted! If she's like my girls, she would prefer a longer day at the park with some "rolling breaks" rather than going back to the hotel early. It depends on your parenting style & kids. Bonus, you can put all of your "stuff" in the stroller so you don't have to lug stuff around all day--wonderful in the winter!! You won't use it everyday, but it's nice to have if you need it.
My advice--lightweight, tall handles, cup holder, & bottom basket. (Also, many parents of multiple kids would admit that occasionally their "big kids" took a turn in the stroller. Once, I had 3 kids (2 cheerleaders) on each other's laps in mine!!)
I loved the Maclaren Volo with an after-market cup holder. It's well made so you can prob sell it on ebay when you're done with it.
I don't see how this is any different from people who don't normally use a wheelchair renting a wheelchair for long days at the parks. We don't call them lazy or whiners--their legs just can't quite handle all the fun--similar to a child's. I'm sure you're a fine mom!

 

[bdcp]

In 1989 our boys were 3.5 and 5.5 on our first trip to WDW. It never entered my mind to use a stroller. Both boys were out of a stroller by 2.5 and they were perfectly fine walking the parks. We didn't even go back for naps as we were there in Nov and they were in bed by 9 almost every night. DH carried our youngest DS on his shoulders for a few minutes a couple of times in Epcot, but that was it. Kids have a lot more energy (or should if they're getting the exercise they should) than adults do which is why it always amazes me when people think their kids can't walk the parks. Whining was not acceptable. They're 27 and 30 now.

WDW is the only place I go that I see kids over the age of 3 in strollers.

I also think that if you tell her when she whines that you're going back for a nap that she will suddenly have plenty of energy.

I also agree with other posters about don't ask the question if you don't want the answers. You asked for opinions, right?

 

[Canooknic]

Do what you want to do.

My boys haven't been in strollers since they were 18 months old (waaaay too much energy to sit around!!) but we took strollers on our trip last year. DS1 sat for snacks and a few rests and watching parades, DS2 walked everywhere every day until our 2nd to last day when he was completely exhausted and spent the entire day being pushed around (and the last day with a horrid cold).
We aren't taking strollers for this trip, but will happily hire one if they really 'need' it one day

 

[Samar]

If your child can do competitive cheer leading, they can sure as heck walk around the park. If she'll be whiny the whole time at that age, maybe she just isn't ready for Disney.

 

[robinb]

My DD used a stroller until she was about 7. She was the type of kid who went full tilt until she hit the wall and then she would pass out. The stroller was for US far more than it was for HER. If the stroller makes YOUR vacation better, then what does it matter what other posters/guests think?

The last couple of trips we limited the stroller to Epcot (because it's so big) and evenings (the passing out thing). You may want to try similar rules to help transition her to walking full time.

 

[BigAlsGal]

That's truly ridiculous, those kids need to be left at home if that's the case. There's no reason to put yourself through that if the kids are truly that ungrateful and/or hate Disney. Take a solo trip or maybe you and a couple girlfriends. Have fun on your own, they certainly don't need to be there.

We do solo trips. It's not always easy though to find someone to watch 3 kids. I live for my solo trips but if I had to choose between not going and pushing my kids in a stroller I'll push um all day if it gets me there.

 

[AEpoppins34]

We just got back from a trip where we rented a double stroller for our. 3.5 y/o and 6 month old. At least once a day I'd babywear the 6 month old so our 6.5 year old could ride in the stroller and rest. I have zero issue with older kids resting in a stroller, heck, I would have climbed in too. It's a long day and they're tired, so what's the harm? You know your daughter best and this trip is just as much for her as it is you. Anyone who wastes their energy judging another over something as simple as a big kid in a stroller has way too much time on their hands so don't let them get to you. There's plenty of places to rent a stroller in and around WDW, so I say do it. Be happy and enjoy the trip!

 

[disnut1149]

I would do whatever is the easiest for you and her. Everyone is so busy doing their own thing that I don't think they'll even notice. I know I never look to see how old kids are that are riding in a stroller. I would love someone to push me around in a stroller!! Have a great trip!

 

[1000HappyWishes]

She's eight. She can suck it up and walk.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

She's eight. She can suck it up and walk.

I still contend the whining OP has experienced has nothing to do with walking and everything to do with Mom dragging her all over the mall where she doesn't want to be. My kids whine in the grocery store if it goes over 30 minutes. But, they had NO problems with 15 consecutive hours of MK.

And like PP, my 6 year old ran circles around DW and I. If anyone needed a break, it was US not the kids