Stroller for older child???

[CathieArms]

At 8, I'd honestly make him walk. I took both of my kids just before their 5th birthdays and they both walked. At the strong recommendation of some DIS people, I brought an umbrella stroller, but the once or twice I took it to a park was a huge waste of my time and energies.

Chances are good that he's going to be sooooo into everything that he won't even realize he's walking to much. But, if it were me, I'd strategically plan places and times to stop for meals and cool off or even rest for a couple of hours during the day.

 

[dd50]

Nope - another here who thinks that age is too old for a stroller for a healthy, average child.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I think it really depends on how you are going to spend your day. Yes..most kids over 5 or 6 can walk around the park for the day. If you are hoping on a bus or monorail or getting in a car to go back to the hotel. fine..its not too much walking.

When we go, we are in the Epcot resorts...We don't usually take buses (except AK) or drive. We walk thru Epcot to get on the Monorail for MK and go back the same way..We walk to Hollywood studios. We walk all day, then we usually stroll around Epcot before/after dinner...or take a few walks around the lake at the Boardwalk. Walking allows you to avoid most of the crowds..so thats what we do. Its too much for a child to do. There might be some that have an awful lot of energy..but thats not my children. I run 5-8 miles a day and my legs get tired when I go to Disney.

I'm not too concerned if some want to make comments..If thats how they want to spend their vacation judging others..thats their problem .

 

[DisneyPolve]

Personally I think an almost 8 yr old should be able to walk it..But I am in the minority on this I am sure

Nope I am with you!! I make my 9yr old son walk every night after dinner, 2-3 miles with me, weather permitting of course. 20 yrs ago, you would never see an 8 yr old in strollers in DW. This is why there is an epidemic of overweight kids in the US. It doesn't start by being pushed around Disney in a stroller at 8, the damage is already done by then. It starts when kids don't get enough exercise continuously throughout the year, which in turn makes them not have the stamina to walk Disney. I think there are enough occasions, i.e. rides, attractions, meals, that give kids and adults opportunities to rest without needing to be pushed around all day. Of course, my comments are for healthy children that don't have underlining issues. But with that said my son has Aspies, and he does fine!

 

[mousefan1972]

Have you asked your son if he'd be willing to ride in a stroller at WDW? I ask b/c my 6 year old DD walked all over the parks during our 9 day trip last month, and when I asked her if she wanted to take a rest break in the stroller we brought for her 4 year old brother, she made a face and said "No way! I'm too old for that!" So he may solve your dilemma for you.

 

[mousejunkie98]

My oldest, now 6, has been walking at WDW since he was 4. If he gets tired, we take a rest. He knows if he whines and complains, we'll leave the park, but if he asks for a break without being whiny about it we're happy to stop in the shade and rest. As long as you don't push too hard to go, go, go all day long, there's no reason why an 8-year-old shouldn't be able to walk. By that age they're getting to be physically too big for the average stroller anyway.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

After a trip to the zoo recently and listening to him complain I'm not sure what to do?

Tell him to shut up, he should be happy he's in Disney World?

 

[MichelleVW]

Personally I think an almost 8 yr old should be able to walk it..But I am in the minority on this I am sure

My DD was 8 the first time we went to Disney and I can't imagine getting a stroller for her!! There is no reason a healthy 8 year old needs a stroller.

 

[SarahKate]

We just got back last month from our trip w/ DD who will be 8 on Saturday.

We didn't rent or bring a stroller this time. And she's one who has definitely been a complainer in the past.

Never did have to rent a stroller for her. She rarely complained, even though it was 90+ degrees EVERY day.

I think one of the keys with touring w/ kids is to not be in such a rush to get everything done. Don't push them too far. If they need to rest, then rest. Even if you just sit on a bench in the shade for 5 minutes w/ a cold drink.

In my opinion, a child this age who is healthy and active can definitely walk. It sounds like the sit/stand stroller would be a good investment, but maybe set up the understanding beforehand that he's not going to be in it every minute.

 

[brymolmom]

OP - I'm with you in that ITA that it is SO TEMPTING as it is totally the EASIEST thing we, as parents, could do. Just get them a stroller and the complaining is gone....Could use this theory even when they're 12 or 15 too - as I'm sure all of us would be much happier being strolled around by someone else at WDW.

I, too, have a complaining child who is not much on walking. She, however is healthy and active when she WANTS to be. She is just dramatic and a whiner. That, for me, was NOT enough reason to give into her. I made a rule for our family and that was 'no stroller after age 5'. I made it when my kids were 3 and 5. And as dd (the younger) got closer to 6 I must admit to WANTING BADLY to change my family rule. But I have stuck to it because it would also be easiest to give my kids pizza every night, but I need to step up and be the parent and do what is overall best for them (and the family). And, in this case, once they were a reasonable age to handle it I consider it teaching them to 'carry their own weight' figuratively and literally and to NOT whine about being at WDW - honestly - it is a VACATION. Will they get tired? YES - and did I get mad at dd when she was honestly tired and complaining on our first stroller-less trip? NO - we just rested or headed back to the room. Did she complain when she truly was NOT tired on occassion? YES! But it is teaching her that she is growing up and this is one more thing she needs to do for herself. Would have been tons easier FOR ME to just rent one and she was 6, but FOR HER it was the best thing to have her walk.

I don't think I would ever consider it at age 8 for a healthy child with no special considerations. I do not think that is teaching the right lessons.

 

[cheyandrew7]

We are taking our stroller and then we are going to rent a double one when we get down there my kids are going to be when we go down 5,3, and 18 months

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I agree I definetly would never use a stroller for an 8 yo. Neither of my children used one past age 4.

Yes we go open to close and we go in the 90 degree plus September heat also. At 6 yo and 12 yo yes they do complain at times. Shoot I do. I get hot and tired too.

But IMOP, its too old, and as another pp stated my kids would be appalled if I tried to put them in a stroller.

 

[Britgirlus]

We just got back on Saturday after 10 days in the parks - my amost 7 year old son walked everywhere and did fine. He DID complain about his feet hurting the first day or two (and I admit to thoughts of strollers) - but he was also tired from the late night/early morning before the flight. Once he caught up on his sleep, he did fine. We made sure that if we had a late night, we slept in - if we had an early night, we were up for rope drop the next day. We NEVER went all day. When he was too hot, we found water - it's amazing what cooling him down with a spray bottle did for him Another thing we did in the weeks running up to the trip was wear pedometers - he jus loved to see how many steps he could take in a day - so at Disney he had a blast trying to see how many steps he could get in in one day ! Also - early on in the trip, he saw a couple of bigger kids in strollers and whispered to me that they were "IN STROLLERS and BIGGER than him !" LOL I should add that he is small for his age, so it was possible the kids were actually a year or two younger than him, but he was still surprised they were not walking. (I also realise they could have had additional needs). All in all, he did just fine this year (and last) walking everywhere

 

[mom2val]

We used a stroller first trip when dd was 5. The last 2 trips at 8 & 9 we skipped the stroller. Yes it is alot of walking. Whenever she got tired and whiney we stopped and rested. We'd get her a snack if needed. The hardest part was Dh wants to get from point A to point B asap and I had to basically tell him to chill. WDW is not going anywhere and if we need to sit for 20 mins we need to sit for 20 mins!

 

[squirrel]

I took my cousins to WDW and Universal and they were 8 and 10 yrs old. I never considered a stroller for the youngest.

About 2 yrs ago I saw the posts about older children in strollers and that there was so much walking. I told my cousin that I couldn't believe that he walked the whole time and that people were getting strollers for their kids when they are the same age as he was. He said there was no way he would have sat in one. Of course he is much older now, who knows if he would of sat in one if offered.

 

[Liltx]

If you don't make it an option then he probably won't need one, make it available and you will be pushing him around all day.

My four year old has walked at DL and WDW for over 12 hours at a time, no whining. My 6 year old did it for 8 days straight last June.

If he's healthy I would make him walk but I refuse to push a kid that big. If you want to I won't think anything about it but I will breeze by you while you find a spot to park it. It kills you at rope drop and when toon town opens to see the fairies. Also a pain on the busses.

I would rent if you need it at parks like Epcot and the Animal Kingdom. Skip the Magic Kingdom and HS. Those parks are very walkable for most kids.

 

[laughinplace199]

OP, have you asked your son how he feels about riding in a stroller? A few years ago, when DD had just turned 8, I tried to get her to ride in the stroller. It was August and she has asthma. I was worried that the heat and humidity would be too much for her, so I wanted her to ride in the stroller some of the time. She was wanted nothing to do with it.

 

[joemo]

Personally I think an almost 8 yr old should be able to walk it..But I am in the minority on this I am sure

Actually I am very surprised that an almost 8 year old child would consent to sit in a stroller - DS refused from age 4 as 'only babies can't walk'!

Obviusly do what's best for you, but surely a healthy child of that age should learn to walk around all day if they can't now? How will they cope in later life?

Just my opinion.

 

[tallen429]

Last summer my DS was turning seven and he walked. yes it was hot and it was tiring, but we took lots of short breaks and he was fine. DD is four and there is no way I wouldn't take a stoller for her, even though she will probably walk quite a bit. She's very small for her age and there is no way she could keep up without riding some of the time.

 

[JLVermillion]

I will add my an 8 yr old child should be able to walk. When we were kids not walking was not an option. It is healthy for then. We take a big family trip and all the kids 6 and over walked . We did stop at rest areas and had a couple TS meals , by the time we finished eating due to the fact our are not allowed to run around like puppies instead they must excercise their manners and eat and let others around them enjoy their meals. they are ready to get out and walk. Not to mention they get time in the AC,