Stroller or not?

[pkelly6]

Before we went to Disney, we practiced our "Disney legs" and took very long walks around our neighborhood to build stamina. We did end up renting a stroller while at EPCOT for our 5yo and 7yo. It was our mid-stay park and I thought they could use the break. Since you have some time, maybe you could take your son to the zoo or elsewhere where he would need to walk a lot and you could gauge his limit. Good luck!

 

[busymommy2pink]

Or, don't make the days so long. It's totally up to you. Personally, I'd be more likely to tailor my touring plan to a child;s stamina level.

That's easy to say, but the Florida climate is very different than a lot of places. If I tailored it to my youngest, the only one who can't tolerate heat well, we would only ever get an hour in a park each day. Like I said, we don't own a car here by choice. Walking to get groceries is a 3 mile round trip and they do it no complaints in all weather either walking or riding scooters/bikes. In the summer we walk even more per day. But, we live in Canada, we don't have the extreme heat and humidity of Florida. I will happily rent her a stroller for the long distance walks. We park it in a certain area and then only use it to move to the next. Mostly for Epcot and AK. And we do take breaks most days. We never stay open to close in a park, but regardless she simply can't handle it. It's everyone's vacation, she doesn't need to be miserable, and neither do the rest of us. A stroller is a great solution for us. She doesn't use one at home, it's not going to kill her, or observers, to see her in a stroller. I never understand the judgement on this topic. Each and every child is different. My oldest was done with them at 4, this one is 6 and still needs it.

 

[mtdeniso123]

After visiting six years in a row, I'm never surprised at how many older kids are in strollers and nor do I care. Everyone has their reasons- just has we had ours. It was awesome for long days even with naps and it allowed us to enjoy MK thru 1am on 16 hour days. Our kids would fall asleep and it gave us several hours to stroll and enjoy single-rider attractions while they slept. Not to mention, it made parade watching more comfortable for them. We've always rented the stroller for convenient resort delivery and used it as needed. Never regretted it and never cared what others thought. It's a ridiculous expectation on kids to walk for miles and be expected to hang and hang happy. I'm a half-marathon runner and even I wish I had the luxury being pushed around in a stroller

 

[MolonLabe]

Every child is definitely different. We had one stroller on trip with 4 and 6 y/o girls. Definitely needed it. The youngest fell asleep in it a lot and it really helped us stay in the parks longer at night. To help my recently turned 6 year old out, I would put her on my shoulders any time we had a "long walk" ahead of us. i.e. we had a 11pm fast pass for test track and lunch ADR at Tokyo Dining. That's one heck of a walk for any age, lol. Mom pushed the stroller andthe 4 y/o and I put my 6 year old on my shoulders and boom, made it there in record time.

5 and 7 we brought one. It helped some on this trip but mostly it got parked in stroller parking and left for hours at a time, lots of fun trying to track it down after CM's moved it a billion times, lol.

Haven't needed it since. I do keep up the "kid on the shoulders" routine for long walks and alternate them still (at 8 and 10). It's fun for them and helps to keep from tiring them out too quickly.

6 year old boy? I can't imagine *needing* it.

Keep in mind those little legs do get tired and if you do a lot of cross park walking, those trips will turn into miles and youngsters can tire out quickly. IMO it's the difference between being awake for wishes and being passed out somewhere.

 

[kiapepito]

We are going to rent a stroller from an off site place that will even deliver to our hotel so we won't have to worry about flying with it! We have a 6 and 3 year old and I have rented a double stroller. Would I normally place my 6 year old in a stroller anywhere besides D-land or D-world? Nope, but with so much walking, the heat, the walking... we have a longer walk at the end of the night going back to the hotel... AOA... that it is going to be so much easier having them both in the stroller. Heck, if they made a big enough stroller for me, I would rent one! There is nothing wrong with a slightly older child being tired and wanting to sit in a stroller for a break. They have little legs that get tired and if you are visiting the parks for more than one day why are you going to tire them out.

 

[Capang]

We brought our own last year and plan on doing it agin this year. DD is 4 and hasn't used her stroller since last disney trip. She also doesn't handle heat or humidity well and if we didn't have it last year she wouldn't have made it two hours in a park. We only stayed four days so just doing a couple hours in a park was not an option for us. I see no problem with kids in strollers, no matter the age. Some kids just can't walk those distances while others could run laps through the park all day. Bringing your own saves you the money and they can be gate checked on most airlines. Even if it ends up parked in the stroller lot at least you know it's there when it is needed. Enjoy your trip!

 

[BubblyTrip]

I like to have a Citi Mini (rented) to get in and out of the parks. There is a long (for a child) walk that happens with a certain sense of urgency on higher crowd days, and while we don't run, we do move swiftly. My DS could not keep that pace in the past. And getting out of the park or moving around after parades can be intense for certain little ones. People will tell you to slow down or have a shorter day, but set your own priorities. We only get to take shorter trips to DW, so we maximize our days. If we can go longer by having a stroller, we are all fine with that.

My barely six year old is small for his age. I'm still deciding on a stroller for getting in and out of MK and Epcot. I also love having a spot for an extra bag. If we do rent one, we will park it in each land, as we have in the past.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

He's 6, he will be fine even with asthma.

 

[SplashMo]

I would try at AK if it is a hot day because the distance is extreme and heat is also pretty bad and littlee shade....

 

[rotlex]

We brought one last year for our 5 year old, and will bring one again this year now that he is 6. (Did the same with our daughter, now 12, when when she was that age). Tired, cranky, hot child=miserable time for the parent. Bring the stroller, let them use it if needed. Don't listen to anyone on here telling you oh we didn't bring one for my 2 year old and they were fine too. Disney can be a LONG day for anyone, even a parent, and especially for any smaller child.

 

[kaetra]

Less cranky = More Magic

Stroller on if it works for you!

 

[tink9702]

We plan to play it by ear with our 5.5 year old. She's a good distance walker, but she's an equally good complainer.

This was my son in November. 5 1/2 and a complainer. We didn't bring a stroller for him and DH ended up putting him on his shoulders for longer walks. It worked just fine but if you rather have a stroller than use shoulders then do that. Either way most 6 year olds aren't used to being on their feet walking tons of miles in the heat/humidity for the entire day. It's tiring for adults and kids have much shorter legs! Do what's best for your family.

 

[VickieMouse]

I agree that each child is different. We brought one for our last trip for our 4 1/2 year old. However her 8 year old sister used it more - especially at night. This fits their personalities. My youngest daughter can go and go and go on a daily basis, and she needs very little sleep for a child her age. On the other hand my older daughter, who is in great physical shape and small for her age, is just a sleeper and gets tired and ready for bed very early. Neither of them have health issues; they just are different people with different stamina.

With that being said, I would rather have a stroller ready, and if you don't use it then you don't use it. I would say buy a cheap umbrella stroller from home. Then you can just leave it there at the end of your trip. A small investment in the scheme of things.

This year our girls are 6 1/2 and 10. We are planning on bringing the stroller (which is just a small umbrella stroller that we never use at home). We may not use it during the day, but we will probably have it handy for strolling around the World Showcase at night.

 

[sullyfam]

Last trip we did my daughter was 4 (turned 5 while we were there) and son was 7 and we did a single stroller just for her. She definitely needed it still and I'm glad we had it for her. My son however did fine not having a stroller. I think once they hit 6.5-7 most kids would be OK with walking.

You just have to keep in mind how tired and hot they get so work in down time such as TS for lunch and afternoon breaks.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

No stroller for our 6 year old this last trip and it was great (our 4 year old didn't use one on the previous trip either). We were in the parks 6 days, we took a midday break about half of those days. Even though there's a lot of walking there's a lot of sitting also.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

For those of you who rent strollers....
What stroller companies in the Orlando area have you had good experiences with?
Thanks.

 

[Jfsag123]

We are in WDW now. I debated renting a double stroller for mine (4 and turning 7 tomorrow), but went with a single. I knew my 4 year old couldn't hack it, but wasn't sure about the 6/7 year old. She has been doing pretty well with the walking, though. She has occasionally switched out with her brother and had short rides, but for the most part has been ok. It's so much easier getting around with a single and will be even easier when we can say goodbye to the stroller completely.

For those of you who rent strollers....
What stroller companies in the Orlando area have you had good experiences with?
Thanks.

We have used Orlando Stroller Rental twice and have had good experiences.

 

[JanaDee]

After visiting six years in a row, I'm never surprised at how many older kids are in strollers and nor do I care. Everyone has their reasons- just has we had ours. It was awesome for long days even with naps and it allowed us to enjoy MK thru 1am on 16 hour days. Our kids would fall asleep and it gave us several hours to stroll and enjoy single-rider attractions while they slept. Not to mention, it made parade watching more comfortable for them. We've always rented the stroller for convenient resort delivery and used it as needed. Never regretted it and never cared what others thought. It's a ridiculous expectation on kids to walk for miles and be expected to hang and hang happy. I'm a half-marathon runner and even I wish I had the luxury being pushed around in a stroller

I am *always* surprised at how many older kids we see in strollers obviously not designed for pre-teens at WDW. Even my 13 year old DD commented on it on our last trip. Some of those kids were taller than she was!

 

[starsweeper]

Our last trip my older kids were young 6yos. They never acted like they needed a stroller while in the parks. However, we do rode drop for low crowds and plan a mid-day break at the resort for 2-3 hours before staying late in the evening when crowds are lower again.

If you are planning to stay all day or in the mid-day heat of warmer months, it may be more tiring on your child.

 

[Kingdome8]

Next year when we go I will use one for my 4 year old. I like having a stroller as a home base kinda thing. We rent the double from the park. Last year I let my 6 year old sit in it with her. And I will again when she's 7 if she wants.
My girl has no disability and isn't lazy. She's a pure athlete and the most pleasant of any kid I know. But it is a long day and if she wants to ride with her little sister so be it. I do t care or what people think.
If the kids are happy it makes a better day for me and my wife.

Some people will say take a break and go back to hotel. To me that is crazy, why waste park time. But I don't judge. Lol
My kids are now 4 6 and 11.
We have gone in 2008, 2011 2013 2014
Never had a meltdown
#strollersrule