Stroller & older toddler

[casana]

Hi, I'm hoping someone has experience with this - my 3.75 yr old DD only likes to walk, hasn't used the stroller since our last WDW trip last yr, and even then it took a lot to convince her to use it.

On one hand I don’t want to drag a stroller thru the parks if she's not using it but on the other hand she's getting heavy (35 lbs) and I just know she'll want us to carry her when she's tired of walking.

(My other thought is to bring my backpack type sling and hope she'll take that as an option. So far she's not taken to it, I'm thinking of giving it a test ride this weekend… ).

Would you bring a stroller on the trip if you were me? Any experiences with toddlers not wanting ot use the stroller at the parks?
-Ana

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I would bring it. I'm in a similar situation with my DS4 - he's very independent, fit, and active. I know he's going to want to walk, but we live in NH and aren't used to real prolonged heat and humidity, so by late afternoon, I know he's going to be pooped. So we're taking one for him. We'll use it to carry stuff when he's not in it.

You could always bring one in the first day or two, and if she never sits in it, leave it at the hotel for the rest of the visit.

 

[casana]

Good point, we can alway use it lug our stuff around in the airport at least. Of course we'll do our best to bribe her to use it, we'll see how that goes!

 

[UShistoryteacher]

We just got back yesterday and only brought one Maclaren Volo stroller, both my 5 and 3 year old were fighting to sit in it. They were tired by the afternoon and it was especially helpful at night when we came back late from the parks.

 

[bambam007]

I am leaving next week and actually bought a stroller for my ds. I hadn't used a stroller since he was about 14 months or so. We spent $100 on a mac Volo. He likes it more than any other stroller, ever.
When he's not in it he likes to push it.
It was a big choice.
What I like: It's less than 9 lbs, has mesh (great for hot weather), holds up to 55 lbs, comfortable for me to push (it's a little higher than a jogger)

Don't like too much: price, didn't come with a rain cover or cup holder, doesn't recline, small basket.

All in all I would make the same choice again. Only I would buy earlier so I could get a better price from ebay instead of toys r us.

 

[wrighter]

I second the notion of bringing a stroller. When we went in February, we brought strollers for both our DD2 and DS4.5. We were wondering if putting our DS in a stroller was ridiculous, but he needed it. When he wanted to walk, great - we just put our bags on the stroller and followed along. But when he wanted to sit it was there. And don't forget that it is a guaranteed clean spot to sit at any time - waiting for a parade, or fireworks, eating a snack, etc. There aren't always chairs or benches available - but the stroller is!

The real question for us will be whether we take it again next year, when DS will be 5.5!

 

[clorenzen]

Our DD will be 4 this year and I am taking a stroller, even though she hasn't ridden in one since last year at WDW. I just know I don't want to carry her and neither does my husband. I too bought a stroller just for this trip, but I only spent $5 on craigslist so I'm not out much if she ends up not using it.

 

[Dannielle_1]

One suggestion too, is instead of moving your stroller from ride to ride, especially in the MK, park it at one spot then do things in the area, then go and collect it to move onto the next land. This can work really well in Epcot too. For example, park at the Land, and do Living Seas, the Land, Imagination and Innoventions, without having to worry about moving your stroller everywhere.

Heck you probably could leave your stroller in one parking area all day and if you need it, you could go and get it.

 

[PEANUT1]

I would totally bring a stroller. Just park it somewhere centrally located in the park and then you can grab it when you need it. Trust me, she will need it.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I would bring it heck my 7 almost 8 year old still uses one when we are in disney.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

I bought an inexpensive stroller especially for our trip to WDW. It probably won't get used again until we have another kidlet, but I'd rather have it and not use it than go without and have to carry 35-lb DD around the World for 8 days.

 

[momtomatthew]

I would definately use one. DS (4) hasn't used one for a good year at least, but on our trip in Feb., we rented a stroller and it was a life-saver. He rode when he needed to and saved his energy- I'm sure it saved us from many meltdowns!