strollers for "big kids"?

[Deb & Bill]

If my 10 yr old asked for a stroller for any of the last five years, I would have told him we were leaving the park and heading back to the villa. Take a swim or a nap.

If he can play soccer, basketball, etc., he needs to walk. If he can't do any of these things because of a medical condition, then he needs a wheelchair, not a stroller.

You shouldn't get a stroller so you can commando the parks. Take a break. Leave the strollers for the families for little kids.

Have you stuff sent to the front of the park or to your hotel, so you won't have to carry them around.

If I'm working my athletic, healthy kid so much that he can't keep up, we NEED to take a break.

 

[KLAIT]

I personally think that the decision is different for everyone. Of all the times we have been at Disney, I have never looked at a child in a stroller and thought about them being too old or too big...which I do catch myself doing at home in public places.

The last time we were there, we went to parks for 7 days in a row and by the 5th day, our little guy (5) wanted a stroller toward the end of the day...and I had no problem with that. He was tired and hot.....

I think this is a personal decision and I have the attitude "who cares what people think". I do what is comfortable for my and my family....

 

[lovingthemouse]

reading this post with interest - bringing our 5 yr old grandson in April and if he is tired, a stroller will be rented. Yes, we are taking pool breaks but the nighttime activities- parades, fireworks etc.. are far more enjoyable if you are relaxed and enjoying them.

 

[zurgswife]

My youngest was 6.5 during our last outing in dec...for 15 days...we brought our stroller and are very glad we did....It makes my life easier. We don't do commando but it is a lot of walking and I hate to keep saying try to keep up...or make the other 3 kids slow down...

I'm even considering stretching it one more year and taking our stroller with us next dec.....I do bring my own stroller(only has been used for our Disney outings over the years) so cost is not a factor...

 

[Mr.BsMom]

Our son was 5 last summer when we went for a 8-day vacation. DH did not want to bring a stroller at all, because "He doesn't use one at home, why would we need to carry another thing down there that we don't need?" I convinced him that it would be better to have it and not need it, than to not have it and then have to rent one (spending extra $$ is not something DH enjoys doing). So, we took the umbrella stroller... and used it every day.

The way I look at it... it was totally worth it to have a place for him to sit and rest while we're going from one place to another. (Even from the bus stop to the entrance, or the exit to the parking lot is a good hike.) And if other people have a problem with that, then that's their problem, not mine.

Every child is different, and the parents (or caregivers) should be the ones to determine what is best for them - not complete strangers who don't know anything about that child.

OK.... I'll get off my soap box now.

 

[shortbun]

so glad I don't go through life judging others for how they
conduct their lives. Live and let live guys. wait...I'm doing it.
Someone get my brain a stroller-it's tired!

I won't be revisiting these posts-my buttons have been pushed-lol!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
If my 10 yr old asked for a stroller for any of the last five years, I would have told him we were leaving the park and heading back to the villa. Take a swim or a nap.

If he can play soccer, basketball, etc., he needs to walk. If he can't do any of these things because of a medical condition, then he needs a wheelchair, not a stroller.

You shouldn't get a stroller so you can commando the parks. Take a break. Leave the strollers for the families for little kids.

Have you stuff sent to the front of the park or to your hotel, so you won't have to carry them around.

If I'm working my athletic, healthy kid so much that he can't keep up, we NEED to take a break.

Yeah, 10 is pretty old for a stroller at WDW and you should do whatever you feel is best for you and your family but you should also not tell others what they should do, only what you would do...

 

[vellamint]

to make your family happy on your vacation......

(wishing I could post that picture of my husband in a double stroller in Epcot during the Millenium celebration....only for 2 minutes but it did make a hysterical picture!!!!)

 

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
If my 10 yr old asked for a stroller for any of the last five years, I would have told him we were leaving the park and heading back to the villa. Take a swim or a nap.

You shouldn't get a stroller so you can commando the parks. Take a break. Leave the strollers for the families for little kids.

If I'm working my athletic, healthy kid so much that he can't keep up, we NEED to take a break.

I totally agree. If your older child is so tired they can't walk anymore it is time to go back to the hotel for a break.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

We had to deal with this very issue on our August trip.
We don't do a commando touring style, we take breaks from the parks, days off, etc.

But on one of our AK days our 10 year old son asked for a stroller.
I had no problem at all getting one for him. My husband initially thought it was crazy, but a couple hours later he was fine with it. It was incredibly humid and hot at the time and I think that really beat up on my son.

He had been cranky before we got the stroller, but the rest of our day went smoothly. And he didn't ask for one at any other park.

I wouldn't hesitate to get him one again if he asked for it.
Yes, during the summer kids play outside, running around from morning til night. But how many are doing so on hard pavement, with the Florida heat and humidity? very different situation.

See how happy and relaxed he is?

No autographs, please!

And yes, we still bring the Cadillac stroller for our 4 yr old daughter.......

 

[SuBeat]

Don't know why, but I'm feeling the urge to chime in here.

We all walk. If someone gets tired we stop for a bit or we go back to the resort and take a break. The kids were 4 & 8 on our first trip and trust me, if anyone needed a stroller on that trip it was me and my blistered feet. But when I needed a break we took one and the same goes for everyone else in the family.

If an older child has health problems that's one thing, but at 6 & 10, my healthy, athletic kids can walk.

 

[Sinclare]

I would have to cast my vote for the "yes" strollers are well worth it category. Last year just me and my son went to MNSSHP and we would get up and be there by 7-7:30 A.M.. Even with one of those rented strollers I was so disappointed that he was only able to keep his eyes open long enough to see the headless horseman ride by at the beginning of the parade that night. I ended up leaving way early because he had had all he could take.

Under normal cirumstances I would never dream of letting him ride in a stroller but you have to remember just how huge these places are to a child. For every step that you take it is generally taking 2-3 steps for your child to keep up with you so when you you get back to the motel that night and are massaging your poor tired feet, Imagine how they would have felt if they had walked 2-3 times as far that day.

As far as "just taking the tram back to the motel for a rest", well... thats fine for those that can afford to stay on site, have a AP, are staying for 3 weeks, and have plenty of time to relax and explore everything but many people save up all year to get a 4-5 day trip, have to stay off site where the round trip commute alone is gaged in hours, and have single day or 3 day hoppers.

 

[stitchchick]

ok, this might be an unpopular response but now i see why some of my seventh grade students complain when we have to walk one mile on our yearly field trip to a historic local area. We have to walk to get from the hotel to the historical fort. It takes about 20 minutes. Kids and chaperones with legitimate problems (broken leg, heart condition, etc.) get a carriage ride but the rest of us hoof it. They are twelve and thirteen. Half of them are taller than I am (5'3"). Maybe some of them rode in a stroller at WDW within the past year or two... Seems strange, but oh well, to each his/her own, I suppose.

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by SnackyStacky
I went when I was 7 years old, and my mother would have laughed at me if I had asked to be in a stroller. She told me that I had better be ready to do some walking, cause it would be hot, and there would be lots of walking.

My humble opinion is simply to forego the stroller, and let them enjoy on foot.

Yeah, my first trip was when I was five and I didn't use a stroller. I would have gotten the same thing from my mom, "Are your legs broken?" Of course I was a very active child, so walking around the parks was no big deal.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I tour the parks with my DD's all by myself. It is a tremendous relief to have them exactly where I know they are.

My girls are extremely active which means I don't want to be one of those people that should have gotten stroller's to prevent them shrieking their child's name continuously throughout the day.

In my part of the country going to school is a mandatory during the winter months which means 6-8 hours behind a desk. I guess it must be the ride back and forth daily (they don't need to walk uphill both ways ).

 

[TerriBelle]

I say walk! Our last two trips have been stroller-free and it is wonderful. One thing I will say is that we have not been going in the hot summer. I might feel different than, but we go back to the hotel once the kids start getting tired.

It was easy to get my DD to walk. We went when she was 6 and she was tall enough for the "big" rides like RRC. We told her that if she wanted to ride the "big rides", then she needed to walk like a "big kid". This worked great! Her twin brothers were only 2 and I was not going to end up with three kids in strollers!

Our last 2 trips the twins were 5 & 6. For both trips they did great walking!

A trick for MGM - we bought the light up drink at SCi-Fi during lunch. It comes with an ice cube that lights up. The great thing about it is it turns on /off. We saved it and used it at night during Fantasmic. The kids didn't ask for another light up toy! The ice cube also helped us keep track of them exiting the park. They used the lights to "help" us get home to the BW. The boat line was crazy so we walked home. The kids didn't complain about the walk because they were playing a game with their lights!

Trick for Epcot - Our kids did great at Epcot by doing the mask. They walked thru all the countries, no problem.

Good Luck!

 

[rbuzzotta]

We always rent a double stroller. My oldest (12) does not use it at all but my younger DD's (7,5) do!! My middle DD, who will be 8 on our next trip has back problems. Looking at her you wouldn't think so, she looks completely healthy. My youngest just likes to novelty of being pushed around.......

We don't need a wheelchair now but like the double stroller option.

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

We just came back and had a 7 yr old and 5 yr old in umbrella strollers. It was great, I can't imagine going without it. We were out all day and I got tired. I would've wanted someone to wheel me!

 

[BAST]

We will be going in August (10 nights) with DD's who will be 4 and 6. I was planning to take our own old double stroller along and to simply leave it at WDW when we are done with our trip. However, from what I hear, maybe keeping it for the next trip (when DD's will be 5 and 7) makes sense. We are the commando types - and the stroller is a great palce for the kids to rest.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I may as well get my two cents in too. I have been trying to decide if I am going to bring our double stroller so my just turned 5 year old will have a place to ride. It is so big and such a pain, but I don't want to spend money to rent. Anyway, about a month ago, I read an article about using strollers for older kids. Doctors are very concerned about how manufacturers are making strollers able to carry bigger kids. They feel this may be a contributing cause to the obesity problem. I also read something in the 2003 Unofficial Guide about a family "training" their child so she was in shape before Disney! With all this information, I feel like my 5 year old should be able to walk it, but I know that he may complain and whine. I really don't want to hear that on vacation. I am still undecided but right now I am thinking we will take our double stroller. He'll problably (hopefully) be out more than in, but at least, we would have something for him if he gets tired, especially after the night shows.