Stroller for Older Child

[tfitz7707]

Hi all!! My parents and I are in the process of planning our first Disney vacation with my two kiddos for next summer. So exciting!! When we go, my son will be 3 1/2 and my daughter will be 5 (only 2 months away from 6). Neither of them use a stroller now, but I know that they definitely will there.

My issue is that my daughter currently weighs 60 lbs. and my son 30 lbs. I saw a double stroller rental that would hold up to 100 lbs., which I'm hoping they wouldn't be over next June. However, would that weight difference between them make it difficult to push a double stroller? Would I be better off with 2 single strollers?

Thanks!

 

[ImSoExcited]

I push a 40 lb toddler and a six lb newborn in the recline position with a Snuzzler every day in a City Mini double and the weight difference is negligible. Is that the rental stroller? The mechanics are so perfect that the weight distribution doesn't matter.

 

[tobiana]

I think two strollers are easier if you want or need to split up at some point.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Do you think you could get by with one stroller and they share? Five-Six seems to be the dividing line between needing and not needing one. We did not need one by 5, but many kids do. Renting in the park is also an option. The strollers are easy to push, even with older kids and you would not have to deal with a double on the bus. It could mean carrying sleeping kids back to the room though.

 

[bandksmommy]

I bought a double jogger (used) for our trip with our 3 1/2 and 7 year old, and when he needed to sit for a little bit it was no problem to push (DH did most of the pushing, but even for me it was no problem). If I had only had the 7 year old I wouldn't have bothered, but with a little one we figured since we're going to have a stroller we may as well accommodate both of them!

 

[mjkacmom]

I think two strollers are easier if you want or need to split up at some point.

I would hope that a 6 year old could function a bit without a stroller if they split up!

We just rented a double in the parks for our 4 year old twins, and 6 year old to share - easy to push. The 6 year old is now 13, and only 75 pounds, so I'm guessing the weight of my 3 was about the same as the OP's 2.

 

[rachael95]

I'd suggest going to a local theme park or your zoo, spend the day there. See how your daughter does.

If you think you can get away with a single stroller, I'd do that just because the crowds at Disney can be rough and I'd want less to have to worry about winding through crowds (or through aisles in shops).

If you think your daughter will fall asleep and you need two strollers, then that would change plans, of course. But if it's more for giving her a break throughout the day when the toddler is wanting to stretch his legs, you could probably get by with a single.

Citi Mini strollers have a weight limit of 65 lbs. They're heavier to carry than many strollers, but the folding technology on them is awesome.

 

[tfitz7707]

Thank you all for replying. We're going to be staying in a house off of Disney property, so I'm not worried about taking the stroller on the busses. Also, it would be nice to only have one stroller, but she still takes naps now, so I could see her getting tired and wanting to rest. Plus, I could see arguments about whose turn it is. I'm thinking the double may be the way to go.

 

[bandksmommy]

lol that is exactly why we got the double. We were on vacation. Whatever I have to do to keep the peace! Also, with smallish kids (having just experienced the crowds right after a parade or fireworks) I felt like my kids were safer in the stroller in front of us (trying to leave MK after the fireworks I got hit in the back of the legs at least 30 times....mostly by the same guy). It's easy not to notice someone who's less than 4 feet tall, and even when holding his hand in a crowd people would try to push their way through and get in between us. :-/

 

[HaveKidsWillTravel]

I'd suggest going to a local theme park or your zoo, spend the day there. See how your daughter does.

If you think you can get away with a single stroller, I'd do that just because the crowds at Disney can be rough and I'd want less to have to worry about winding through crowds (or through aisles in shops).

If you think your daughter will fall asleep and you need two strollers, then that would change plans, of course. But if it's more for giving her a break throughout the day when the toddler is wanting to stretch his legs, you could probably get by with a single.

Citi Mini strollers have a weight limit of 65 lbs. They're heavier to carry than many strollers, but the folding technology on them is awesome.

THIS! Test it out!!
I have a 5 year old and 18mo old. I tried a double stroller (Maclaren) at the zoo with the two of them for a day. So glad I did. It was just too 'heavy' with both kids. (45lbs and 20lbs, plus the stroller which is only about 10lbs). But super easy to navigate with . . . .
I know my 5 year old will want/need a stroller, especially since sister will have one. We plan on bringing two umbrella strollers. If we split up then we don't have to worry about who has the stroller. I also like to have my older kid in a stroller as it makes it easier for us to navigate crowds without fear of separation. worst case scenario - we 'park' one of the strollers and get it when we need it. Plus we'll have grandma and grandpa with us, so there are plenty of adults to push and help with buses (which isn't an issue for you).

 

[quakechicago]

We had to use a double our last trip because that was all that was left. That said, it was great! One person could push and I high recommend getting a running board for one side. This would allow either kid to ride up high next to you, see everything, and it's SO fun.

Then you can put the bag in the kiddo's place until they need to sit. Or sleep.

Keep in mind Disney is not like anywhere else. We averaged at our last zoo 7 miles. In Disney on average we did over 15 miles a day of walking (and I had just had outpatient surgery so that was me taking it easy!). It's a ton of overstimulation too and my kiddo who NEVER naps unless terribly ill, slept in the stroller and took a second nap in the hotel every day!

It was super easy to navigate the double (I rented a double again still with just one kid ), and I don't think in an umbrella stroller, the kiddo can sleep as well.

Have fun!

 

[Saimaeve]

My daughter was 6 turning 7 last year when we went.

She did fine walking all day and well into the night. We also walked around our resort (POR) a lot. You'd be surprised how well they do! She was about 40-45 lbs I think?

 

[ktlm]

We went when my DD (who other than WDW had not used a stroller since she was 12 months old) was 5 years 10 months. She still needed a stroller on that trip and we were very glad we had brought it as we had debated about it. She just wasn't old enough to have the stamina for full days without one with all the walking that WDW involves yet. 6 months later we went to DL and 10 months later we went to WDW, and both those trips she was doing the parks from open to close stroller free without issue.

I would absolutely trust your gut that she will still need a stroller. My guess is that you would be better off with 2. I think a double may get too heavy, plus with singles, you can park one of them somewhere as she won't need it as much as her little brother. Our friends actually did a sit and stand stroller when their daughter and son were those ages. Mostly when their DD got tired she would stand and ride and their son would sit, but occasionally when their DD was tired she would sit and ride and their son would stand. That seemed to work pretty well for them.

 

[ktlm]

Thank you all for replying. We're going to be staying in a house off of Disney property, so I'm not worried about taking the stroller on the busses. Also, it would be nice to only have one stroller, but she still takes naps now, so I could see her getting tired and wanting to rest. Plus, I could see arguments about whose turn it is. I'm thinking the double may be the way to go.

Just noticed you said she still takes naps. If she does, I absolutely would have a stroller for her. DD did not take naps after her 3rd birthday (except for in the stroller at WDW sometimes), and she still needed the stroller at WDW at age 5.

 

[tfitz7707]

You all have been so helpful! This is our first trip as a family. The last time I was there was in 1999, so it's been a while. It's going to be definitely be much different, but very rewarding, with my 2 little ones!

 

[jebns]

My daughters are 4 and 7 and I was thinking of renting a stroller. They are 38 and 57lbs, and my older is exactly 4 feet. We were there last November and she definitely took advantage of Disney's rentals but the canopy was a no go due to height. Any thoughts? I'd love one tall enough so she could pull the sunshade.

 

[cjpred]

We are going in September with DS 4 and DD turning 3. We are hiring a double Bob stroller from one if the offsite stroller companies. My friend has a double bob and it is honestly lighter to push with two kids in than my single umbrella stroller. We have never had a double stroller but I know from experience that they will fight over the stroller if they are tired. Also it'll mean we can walk from a to b a little quicker, DS walks very slowly when there is lots to look at. I'm hoping the stroller will mean we can spend more time at the parks and have less grumpy tired kids (and daddy since he gets very frustrated when they are tired!). I think in going to rent from kingdom strollers. It's on today's to do list

 

[cjpred]

Oh and I wouldn't worry about the balance, DS is 47lb and DD only 27lbs, doesn't seem to make a difference.

 

[mahrens77]

Good advice above, but our 6 year old will probably have a turn in the double. Disney is a big place!

 

[MikeP22]

Yeah, I've seriously been considering renting a stroller for my 6.5yo daughter. The only problem is that she's 51 inches tall (as of 2 months ago, so maybe taller now!); we went to Buy Buy Baby to try fitting her in the various strollers that the rental companies have and her legs seriously stick out of all of them!

She hasn't used a stroller in like 2 years, but as people say WDW is a big place and she's right at the cusp where she still gets tired doing the all-day-walking thing. I want to give her somewhere to easily retreat to when that happens, plus we pack lunch and copious amounts of water and don't want to have to carry that in the backpack all day.