stroller for older kids

[Patbeth]

hi. i am a semi lurker for a while now. Tentatively planning our first trip in March of this year. (BTW since it is tentative, less crowded for Spring break or Presidents weekend,? but we would take a week?), We are staying offsite w/ a rental car. 4 days in the parks. Ok that said ,I have 3 kids 14, 7, and 9. my 9 YO DS is small for his age,at around 40 lbs. and my 7YO DD,is about the same.i really think we will need a stroller for them at some point from all of the walking. I think if they are tired they WILL ride in it. We can dump it in a locker, or leave it in the car till needed. not sure about the car tho. how long does it take to go out to the car and back in? Should we get a cheapie umbrella stroller, , or invest in a used bigger nicer one? Drag it on the plane with us?w much does it cost to rent one in the parks? are they readily available, in all of the parks? I would hate to decide that they needed to ride and rest, and not be able to find one.Do they sell out? i expect we would need it in the evening hours or maybe during the hot part of the day. we are hard- core- if- we- paid -that- much- to- get- in- here- we -will -stay- from open- till- close- type of people,if that means anything .thanks for any insights.

 

[thepeach80]

We went in Sept and my 4yo (40#) did not use the stroller at all at WDW until we were leaving and we made him (the baby had already gone back w/ grandma). He was fine not having one. He did nap in it at Epcot at the end of our trip then, but I think by then he was just exhausted and he only napped, he didn't use it besides that.

 

[disneynewbee]

This year my dd will be almost 6 I will still take an umbrella stroller for her just in case but am thinking she will walk for the most part. Mostly I will use it to contain her since she can be easily distracted so if I have behavior problems with her she will sit. This will be the last year I take it for her though. I would maybe rent one for the 7yo if needed but I don't think I would push a 9yo unless they had a medical problem or attention issues where they need to be contained. Even if small a 9yo usually has the stamina to handle the parks.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I say that since your not really sure if/when they will use it, you should just rent one from the parks. They are pretty good size, sturdy, and even though they are not the cheapest things in the world (a double is something like $18 a day) its still cheaer than purchasing one on your own when you never really know if you'll use it again with your kids ages.

Just a thought!

 

[TJA]

Do you currently own a stroller that would work for this trip? I'm one that wouldn't go to WDW without my jogger. My twins were 4-1/2 last trip and they needed it at night and sometimes during the day when it was really hot out. If you think you'll be doing a fair amount of walking outside of the parks, then I'd recommend bringing your own stroller. I really have no comment about renting because we've never done it. Good luck!

 

[5wdwfans]

We are just back from Disney and have been there many times and I thought my 6 1/2 year old would not need a stroller. Boy was I wrong! He was very fussy untill I rented one. He is tall for a 6 year old and weights 65 pounds, we got a double stroller and it worked out great. They are also very easy to push. I would guess both your 7 and 9 year old would be able to fit in a double. The price is good for the all day even if you leave and come back or park hop, or you get a little break for a multi-day visit.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If you need it, rent a disney one. I have seen children up to I would guess 10 or 12 in them. Do what makes the trip better for your family.

 

[TinaLala]

All I'm going to say is who wants to carry an 80 lb. child who is sleeping for hours????

Get the darn stroller, what's the big deal. If anything it will hold your things until the child is ready to sleep.

 

[lclark0621]

All I'm going to say is who wants to carry an 80 lb. child who is sleeping for hours????

Get the darn stroller, what's the big deal. If anything it will hold your things until the child is ready to sleep.

My DS is 4, and 45 lbs. I dont want or need a stroller at home. And I cant find one that is easy to push & comfortable for him (last year was the last year we could use the easy fold up one we had). Umbrella strollers wont do it for my DS. He is not comfortable in them at all.

So this year we are renting one. I know he will walk a good portion of the day, but when he gets tired = cranky, I dont think I can carry my 45lbs DS for long.

And when he doesn't want to ride in the stroller, we can keep the back pack in it.

I always say it, and it is true. After a day in Disney, I wish I could ride in one of the strollers & have someone push me! So if I, as a grown adult get that tired, why would I think my young child would be able to handle it any better?

 

[tanyaandallie]

I'd rent. Your kids are old enough that they will likely be fine without one. but, if they end up needing it, rent it.

 

[happy2go2wdwmom]

hi. i am a semi lurker for a while now. Tentatively planning our first trip in March of this year. (BTW since it is tentative, less crowded for Spring break or Presidents weekend,? but we would take a week?), We are staying offsite w/ a rental car. 4 days in the parks. Ok that said ,I have 3 kids 14, 7, and 9. my 9 YO DS is small for his age,at around 40 lbs. and my 7YO DD,is about the same.i really think we will need a stroller for them at some point from all of the walking. I think if they are tired they WILL ride in it. We can dump it in a locker, or leave it in the car till needed. not sure about the car tho. how long does it take to go out to the car and back in? Should we get a cheapie umbrella stroller, , or invest in a used bigger nicer one? Drag it on the plane with us?w much does it cost to rent one in the parks? are they readily available, in all of the parks? I would hate to decide that they needed to ride and rest, and not be able to find one.Do they sell out? i expect we would need it in the evening hours or maybe during the hot part of the day. we are hard- core- if- we- paid -that- much- to- get- in- here- we -will -stay- from open- till- close- type of people,if that means anything .thanks for any insights.

I heard Pres. Day Weekend is hugely crowded.

Don't keep the storller(s) in your car---it quite a long way back to the main transportation center parking lot---it is not hard to bring it w/ you and stowe it at the park (tip--bring something like a scarf you can tie on that will help you recognize your strolelr over the scads of others).

Not as tough as you think bring your owna nd you may need it most getting back to the car at teh end of the night, right!

40 lb is small for 9 yo---so I say check weight limits on cheaper sorts and get those---if worse comes to worse---you can rent one if you cheap one does not work for you.

 

[rt2dz]

We were at WDW in mid-Dec. DS#1 is almost 7, DS#2 is almost 4 and DS#3 just turned 2. DS#1 walks to and from school each day (almost 2 miles each way) and then runs 2 miles at PE 4 days a week. Then he plays sports. He is very active and, of course, never uses a stroller at home.

At WDW, anytime DS#2 wanted out, he was jumping in that stroller faster than you could blink. He got tired and worn out. DS#2 did not want in the stroller, but one look at his face and you knew he needed to be in the stroller. I kind of liken it to the fact that a huge percentage of kids would like to eat junk food all day, every day, but it just isn't good for them. DS#2 wanted to be out of the stroller walking, but it just wasn't what he needed.

Anyhow, don't feel pressured to not use the stroller. However, I would just rent one when they needed it. The park strollers are very durable and better suited to kids that age probably more so than anything else you'll find. Then, if they don't need it, you haven't been lugging one around. Keeping it in your car would be a nightmare, strollers don't stash in a locker, and having it without need is just a pia.