Stroller for older kids?

[DisneyOma]

OMG! A 5 year old can walk WDW without a stroller? My 7yo (who does have slightly low muscle tone) cannot still.

My older daughter did WDW at age 5 without a stroller. So did her younger sister when she turned 5. But we are big on physical fitness, lots of hiking, sports, etc. Some families are not, but that is their choice.

OP - depending on how many adults in your group, I'd bring one stroller, and then rent one in the parks as needed.

 

[WhitneyBB]

My daughter is 7 and we are planning on getting a stroller for her. Not just for her but we love to have a place to store bags and such. She will walk a lot but it's nice to have a place where she can sit down and rest or even catch a quick snooze if needed. We normally rent one that has an 80 lb weight limit and it's always worked well for us. Maybe your kids could take turns. The double strollers always seem to be a pain getting on and off buses and through doors, etc.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Where do you rent from? We may need to consider this and I want to be prepared. She receives OT and PT for low muscle tone and the heat and walking really are hard on her. Thanks!

 

[roseaster]

Orlando Stroller Rentals seems to have a special needs stroller which will accommodate children up to 100 lbs.

 

[DisneyOma]

My daughter is 7 and we are planning on getting a stroller for her. Not just for her but we love to have a place to store bags and such. She will walk a lot but it's nice to have a place where she can sit down and rest or even catch a quick snooze if needed. We normally rent one that has an 80 lb weight limit and it's always worked well for us. Maybe your kids could take turns. The double strollers always seem to be a pain getting on and off buses and through doors, etc.

Do you leave the bags when you go on rides?

 

[megster1123]

OMG! A 5 year old can walk WDW without a stroller? My 7yo (who does have slightly low muscle tone) cannot still.

What's odd about a 5 year old walking WDW without a stroller? My 5yo goes on walks with me 3-4 times a week and can knock out a 5 mile walk without barely blinking an eye. And that's 2.5 to the park, running around the park and then waking back home. Yes Disney is different, I don't see what the "OMG" is for??? My kid can't be the only active child out there.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

What's odd about a 5 year old walking WDW without a stroller? My 5yo goes on walks with me 3-4 times a week and can knock out a 5 mile walk without barely blinking an eye. And that's 2.5 to the park, running around the park and then waking back home. Yes Disney is different, I don't see what the "OMG" is for??? My kid can't be the only active child out there.

It's OMG, as in it's amazing to me since I didn't know a 5 year old could do that, since my low muscle tone 7yo child can't do that.

 

[eyeblaura]

We just returned with our just turned 6 year old and 9 year old and did it stroller free which was amazing. I hate stroller parking. My 6 year old did great. It was HOT and we did sit or cool down when needed and one day her and my husband headed back about 4 and swam and relaxed for a bit and came back later for fireworks and parade. She couldn't do open to close everyday in the heat (it was HOT and full sun most days last week, heat index 107 etc.) But she did it and we were prepared to rent a stroller if she needed one and we wanted to keep going. My 9 year old had no problems and her and I did open to close a couple of days, she also did it at 6. So while every kid is different I really doubt you are going to need a stroller for the 8 year old, get a single if you think the 5 year old needs it or play it by ear and rent one if needed but it really is much easier to manage stroller free IMO.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Do you leave the bags when you go on rides?

We always leave stuff in our stroller and have never had an issue. I wouldn't leave a purse or camera or anything extremely expensive though.

 

[WhitneyBB]

Do you leave the bags when you go on rides?

Depends on what is in them. We always take phone and wallets with us, but leave like sunscreen and drinks, etc.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Our kids have done fine without strollers after age 4. And our middle child is a teeny, tiny little girl and she managed. Yes, you have to take it a little slower sometimes, but its manageable. We had another baby so we are back in the stroller trenches and I can't wait until we are done with that again!

 

[BLAZEY]

I rented a stroller from an outside stroller company last November when we went DD was 6.5 at the time. I was hotter than normal at the time, and way hotter than at home. DD and I walk to school each day and she started competitive swimming this past spring. She will be days away from being 8 when we go next and I will not be getting a stroller for her. I have mild Cerebral Palsy so we walk at a comfortable pace for me anyways, but I can go all day as we do make it a point to have rest breaks. I would think with her growing and the swimming her endurance will have increased and will no longer need a stroller. A child with medical issues would be different, not sure if at 8 I would have been up to it.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

When DD was 5 we went to WDW. At that time she was no longer using the stroller at home. She probably stopped using the stroller at home around 3.5-4. But we knew WDW was a different beast. We drove down with no stroller and decided if she needed one we would rent one in the parks. She never needed it. We went in August. It was HOT but we did RD, midday breaks by the pool (no naps) and then back to the parks in the evening. We did one TS a day and one CS a day. She never complained once.

Just play it by ear is my opinion.

 

[AZMermaid]

We did 4 days in DL this summer with my 4 and 5.5 year olds and didn't use a stroller. I did actually rent one for my 4 year old the second day and she only sat in it twice. They also did Sea World and the San Diego Zoo back to back at just turned 4 and almost 5.5.

I realize WDW is bigger but we don't plan on getting one this summer. They will be 5 and 6.5- so a year older than DL. Our main issue is they are 17 months apart. If the younger one gets one, the older one complains. If she doesn't, he doesn't. He just turned 6 and is 48". I imagine by June he will be pushing 50" and I'm not pushing that!

For us, the out of sight, out of mind has worked. We are doing two days at parks, one day off and are willing to leave the parks before dinner if it gets to be too much. We are also open to renting if really needed... But I don't think we will need to.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you leave the bags when you go on rides?

Only stuff you won't mind not having if it is taken by another guest.

 

[Hikergirl]

It's OMG, as in it's amazing to me since I didn't know a 5 year old could do that, since my low muscle tone 7yo child can't do that.

Every child is different, its not really an age thing. We've never used a stroller, my kids have been going since they were 4.
I know a family who used a stroller until their youngest was 8.

 

[foxor]

I think it depends on how long you plan to be in the parks, if you plan to be in the parks at rope drop and stay all day, some kids will need a stroller to take naps. If you are planning to take mid-day breaks at your hotel to rest you may get away with no stroller. We have 2 single Maclaren quest strollers (1 I got off eBay for $25!), the other we bought new with our 1st child, they seem to hold a higher weight limit and are sturdy. Plus when your kids eventually outgrow them you can resell them win-win!

 

[Lalalyn]

We've had strollers with us the past two years for our kids (who are now 6, 3 and 3). Our oldest definitely needed one last year. She's now 50" and 65 pounds (yep, that puts her off the growth charts).

I wasn't going to bring one for her this year, but instead rent one at the parks if she winds up needing one. I already have to bring a double for my twins.

Will the park single stroller be big enough for her? I'm not looking for comfort, but big enough that she can sit (even if her knees are bent up to her chest).

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've had strollers with us the past two years for our kids (who are now 6, 3 and 3). Our oldest definitely needed one last year. She's now 50" and 65 pounds (yep, that puts her off the growth charts).

I wasn't going to bring one for her this year, but instead rent one at the parks if she winds up needing one. I already have to bring a double for my twins.

Will the park single stroller be big enough for her? I'm not looking for comfort, but big enough that she can sit (even if her knees are bent up to her chest).

I would definitely avoid using a stroller for your older daughter. You might try taking more breaks, stopping for a treat, sitting for a parade, go for a swim, etc to give her a break. Plus you might try building up her endurance at home by walking more. I bet she could surprise you with her ability to walk if you slow down and take a few breaks. But, if you still need the stroller, you could rent one. Once you are stroller free, you'll love the freedom.

 

[maxiesmom]

We've had strollers with us the past two years for our kids (who are now 6, 3 and 3). Our oldest definitely needed one last year. She's now 50" and 65 pounds (yep, that puts her off the growth charts).

I wasn't going to bring one for her this year, but instead rent one at the parks if she winds up needing one. I already have to bring a double for my twins.

Will the park single stroller be big enough for her? I'm not looking for comfort, but big enough that she can sit (even if her knees are bent up to her chest).

She should be able to fit in a park stroller, but it may have to be the double sized one.