Stroller use, Good or bad idea?

[prince.john]

I'd like to ask some opinions regarding strollers at the parks. I have a 7yr old girl who will be nearing 8 by the time we take our trip later this year. She's very independant, and I know she will not use a stroller first thing in the day. But by 2PM-3PM I feel she could easily be coaxed to riding instead of walking.

Q1: Is a 7/8yr old too big for a stroller?

Q2: Is it easy or difficult to get one later in the day?
(I'm trying to avoid leaving the park, and coming back several hours later.
I feel if she's in a hotel pool, she'll be content not going back to the
long lines and walking again)

Q3: Can you take the stroller on the train that circles the magic kingdom?
Or any similar rides that stops somepkace other than where you started.

Plus any other info you have. Good, or Bad about strollers.

 

[Perditamarie]

Answer in blue:

Q1: Is a 7/8yr old too big for a stroller?

Whatever works for your family.....however, think about the toll on whoever is pushing a 50+ pound kid in the Florida heat. May be a good idea to start a walking regime at home to build up everyone's endurance.

Q2: Is it easy or difficult to get one later in the day?
(I'm trying to avoid leaving the park, and coming back several hours later.
I feel if she's in a hotel pool, she'll be content not going back to the
long lines and walking again)

I don't know....I feel renting Disney strollers are cost prohibitive. If you have a nice swim break & rest, you really may not even need one.

Q3: Can you take the stroller on the train that circles the magic kingdom?
Or any similar rides that stops somepkace other than where you started.

You can only take strollers on the train that can fold up. No rental strollers.

 

[FLAgirl73]

My almost 6 year old weighs about 44 lbs and he spent most of our recent trip to the MK riding in our stroller. We took two of our own strollers with us - one a smaller umbrella and one the type that comes with an infant carrier - because we knew our 2.5 year old and older son would never last doing that much walking in the heat. My personal opinion is that I'd much rather push around my child in the heat than listen to my child whine/fuss etc. about walking in the heat. We did take our strollers on the train, tram, monorail, ferryboat, etc. We didn't even have to collapse them on the monorail or ferryboat. I loved having the under-the-stroller basket because I carried in a softside cooler for food for the boys and water bottles for us all, not to mention a change of clothes in case they got doused on Splash Mt. I would rather bring my own than rent one, the cost is ridiculous.

 

[disneynuts777]

I'd like to ask some opinions regarding strollers at the parks. I have a 7yr old girl who will be nearing 8 by the time we take our trip later this year. She's very independant, and I know she will not use a stroller first thing in the day. But by 2PM-3PM I feel she could easily be coaxed to riding instead of walking.

Q1: Is a 7/8yr old too big for a stroller?

Q2: Is it easy or difficult to get one later in the day?
(I'm trying to avoid leaving the park, and coming back several hours later.
I feel if she's in a hotel pool, she'll be content not going back to the
long lines and walking again)

Q3: Can you take the stroller on the train that circles the magic kingdom?
Or any similar rides that stops somepkace other than where you started.

Plus any other info you have. Good, or Bad about strollers.

1. You need to do what is best for your child. I rented a double 2 years ago late in the day for DD11 who has flat feet, knee problems and asthma. She wanted to keep going not wanting to dissapoint her sister and she was still having fun. Her legs however could not keep going. I suggested a wheelchair she wanted the stroller. Problem solved...everyone happy....ignored the funny looks from some.

2.I had no problem renting a stroller later in the day. Rented it around 4pm in the MK and then got another one at HS around 8pm to do EMH that night.

3. You cannot take the rentals on the train at the MK.

 

[mjkacmom]

We rented one when the kids were 4, 4, and 6, but we just got back from Hershey (much hillier than WDW), and the 6, 6, and 8 year olds did great! It was our first stroller-free amusement park experience, and it was so nice not pushing a stroller around - very freeing. BTW, the 8 year old is only 50 pounds, 49" tall, and the twins smaller than she.

 

[Mom2ChinaGirls]

Thanks for asking this question. We are going in two weeks with a 8 and a 7 year old. I was wondering if they would be too big to fit into a stroller. I have worried about them getting too tired to keep up with the pass.
Thanks for all of the answers.

 

[stacy6552]

When our oldest was 6, we went over the summer and took midday breaks everyday except one. The one day we pushed through, we rented him one without trouble. When my youngest was 7, we spent a day hopping through our favorite things at 3 parks. That day we rented him a stroller and had no trouble picking one up at the last park of the day.

So personally, I dont think the time you rent one would be an issue. However if you are renting one every afternoon, it could be more economical to bring your own.

 

[Aliceacc]

Last year we brought the kids for the 1st time.

I brought a stroller for the then-5 year old, and got tons of use from it.

I think there was one late night in Epcot when her 8 year old sister was so tired that SHE took the stroller and we carried her younger sister. (Huge mistake on my part-- the late part I mean.)

Other than that, my 8 year old was OK.

Do what's right for your family, but I think you'll find that for the most part you can do without the stroller.

If you do think you'll need one, it may be cheaper to buy one here than rent:

http://www.babye-store.com/voflor.html

 

[crisi]

Q1: Is a 7/8yr old too big for a stroller?

My own kids had stopped strollers at exactly that age....at 6/7 we still had a stroller.


Q2: Is it easy or difficult to get one later in the day?
(I'm trying to avoid leaving the park, and coming back several hours later.
I feel if she's in a hotel pool, she'll be content not going back to the
long lines and walking again)

Easy, unless you are going at a high capacity time of year. Disney rentals did get terribly expensive. But if its that or back to the hotel, its a good option.

Q3: Can you take the stroller on the train that circles the magic kingdom?
Or any similar rides that stops somepkace other than where you started.

Most of those sorts of rides you park your stroller and come back to it.


An average eight year old probably won't need a stroller at all, but in particular the Magic Kingdom is a walkable park for kids - even younger kids spend most of their time out of the stroller there. Things are pretty close together, stroller parking is often farther from the attraction than the last attraction was, and the crowds make strollers difficult to work with anyway.

DHS is bigger and more spread out, but still a relatively small park - doable without a stroller if you don't criss cross it a lot.

Animal Kingdom gets to be big, and is really hot in the summer. However, a lot of things to see at AK are best seen standing up (the zooish parts). So you are getting up and down a lot - sometimes its just easier to walk.

Epcot is also big and everything is pretty spread out. Our final year of strollers we would only use them in the evening at Epcot.

 

[okeydokey]

My 8 year old hasn't used a stroller in years and I was glad to be rid of it in the parks. It is much easier to navigate without it and we didn't have to worry about parking it and getting it. They did great walking around, even on the long days.

 

[dizct]

We rented a double for our 8 and 6 year olds at Epcot this year and I pushed them around after completing the Disney Marathon! We told them "no dice" for all the other parks. I think they like the novelty of being little again, and they definately like being pushed at a run (in empty areas). Every family is different so whatever works for yours is best. If nothing else, a stroller is a good place for the kids to sit in the shade and take a break, and a great hauler of goodies. In all the years that we have rented strollers, we always got doubles, paid for all the days rentals on the first day so pick up was easy on subsequent days, and never had a problem getting a stroller in the afternoon.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When our son was younger, we took breaks. Now that he is much older, we still take breaks. Parents owe their children the courtesy of listening to them and taking their pace into consideration. Children start to whine and cry when they are tired, over-stimulated or not getting their way. Move at your child's pace, take breaks (you are really ignoring the fact that the pool IS fun and part of the vacation experience).

Get to the parks when they open to take advantage of shorter lines. Why spend all your time waiting in line? That's the time to take a nice pool break (maybe even a short nap, you'd be surprised how refreshing that is). Then, when you and your child are feeling stronger, happier, energized, head back to the park and take advantage of the parades, shows, EMH if they have it.

 

[laughinplace199]

I'd say just do what's going to work best for your family. Have you asked your DD about the stroller? What does she want to do?

The last time I rented a double stroller was when my DD was 8 & DS was 6. It was August (so very hot and humid) and DD has asthma. I was concerned about her asthma in the humidity, so I rented the stroller. DS6 was fine with riding in it, but DD8 was less than pleased. She wanted nothing to do with riding in a stroller at that age. I did ask her to ride in it at times, but she walked for the most part.

 

[disykat]

I can't imagine coaxing a "very independent" almost 8 year old into a stroller. To me, finding a shady spot and sitting down for a few minutes as a family would be a lot easier than trying to do that.

 

[sk!mom]

Q1: Is a 7/8yr old too big for a stroller?

In my family, it would be too old. My DD would have been way too embarrassed at that age. My children used a stroller some at 5 and never after that. Last summer we traveled with two 4.5 year olds and they only rode maybe 50% of the time and walked the rest.

Q2: Is it easy or difficult to get one later in the day?

Not sure about this one. We rented early and then pushed it around if no one wanted to ride. If you're going in the heat, you might want to reconsider and take a break. We took a break most days for a swim or nap and then headed out refreshed in the evening.

Q3: Can you take the stroller on the train that circles the magic kingdom?

No you leave it and then pick up a new one at the next stop. Just be sure that you take everything with you.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Unless your dd has some kind of medical condition that would affect her stamina, imho at 8 she'd be fine walking. Enjoy the freedom!