Strollers for older kids?

[mannasn]

We'll be visiting May 7-14 with my 2 kids - ages 7 and 4.

I'm trying to see whether or not I really need to shell out the $$ for the double rental strollers while we're there. Gulp!

7 year old is a puny kid who gets tired walking around the mall. I'm trying to talk him out of a stroller, but he says he'll get tired. *sigh*

4 year old is just generally easygoing. He walks VERY slow and I'm always encouraging him to speed up. Probably need a stroller for him, too.

I was hoping to get by with just bringing an umbrella stroller from home for DS-4. But it probably is worth it to rent the double stroller for them both?

How difficult it is to maneuver those things with 2 heavy kids? LOL

 

[beattyfamily]

The rental strollers can take some heavy weight but I'd just bring an umbrella for the 4 if it were me.

Maybe you can go for walks and get your 7 year old ready for Disney. That's what we do. We take lots of walks over the summer to get ready for our Disney trip.

My girls are now 6 and 9 and my older DD stopped using a stroller at age 7 and my 6 year is still in one only at Disney only specific health/medical reasons.

My 9 year old still whines and wants to borrow my other DDs stroller from time to time especially if we stay late to see fireoworks or something.

You could always play it by ear and rent one if you feel he does need one or maybe just at night but still bring the umbrella one for the 4 year old.

Good luck deciding.

 

[sleepyone]

I have 3 kiddos, ages 9, 4, and 2. I have a double stroller and while we're at WDW, my 9 year old will hop in the front of the stroller to rest if my younger ones want to walk a while. Dh and I usually walk pretty quickly anyway and since WDW is so large, she does need a little break now and then.

If I were you, I'd probably want to rent a stroller to give your oldest a break. Possibly though, he could just ride a while when your youngest wants to walk. Just a thought.

 

[gssmks]

IMO, RENT THE STROLLER! RENT THE STROLLER! RENT THE STROLLER! We have been to WDW twice, and the stroller was an absolute life saver. My DD never really used a stroller unless we were amusement parks, zoos, etc. But they are life savers when you are at places like this. I only have one child, but I always rented a double. I brought a disney chain lock and attached our backpacks to the bar on the stroller and it sat in the extra seat. When DD fell asleep, she used the bags as a pillow. As we made purchases, we stored those in the stroller as well. The pocket on the back held our drinks, snacks, etc. What we did was pushed her when we were crossing the park or if she was really tired. The rest of the time, we found a place to park our stroller in the particular area where we would be and left it while we enjoyed the attractions. No one bothered our stuff. Because the bags were locked to the buggy, anyone looking for something to steal would be less likely to choose yours. It's not like they could just pick it up and walk away with it.

We are going to WDW for Christmas this year, and DD will be 9, and I am still considering renting a stroller every day. She will probably look funning riding in it, but I will know that she will have a place to sit and rest in the shade, and I won't have to carry all of the stuff around all day. I just can't imagine carrying my backpack that long.

 

[Aristomommy]

From the way you describe your children, you might need a stroller for your older child. it is such an individual decision and you know your children best. It is not uncommon for older kids sit in the rental strollers but those strollers are heavy to push. Another option is to get a attachment to your stroller where an older chld can stand btw. you and the stroller. Looks like a wide skateboard and I think it's called a buggy board. But your stroller has to be compatible kid for these.

DD was 3 during her first WDW vacation. We brought a stroller, but she was happier walking and I pushed an empty stroller. But she is a very energetic type and can walk hours without stopping. She would nap in the stroller though, which was nice.

 

[Tricia1972]

We have a buggy board for our DS3 and like it. The only word of caution that we have is it can be easy to stub your toes if your stroller handles aren't very long. DH and I are regular size folks, but maybe just take big steps? We ended up stubbing our toes and hitting our toes on teh buggy board quite frequently even when walking at a slow pace.

For our kids (DS3 and DS 6months) we bought a cool tandem stroller from Joovy (actually posted about this earlier today) However, since your kids are older and will probably just need the stroller for the trip, you may want to seriously consider rental for length of stay and just let your oldest DS ride when he gets really tired.

Just in case you are interested in the Joovy - it's about $140 and here is a photo. (Joovy also collapses nicely for compact storage and lugging on a bus)

Buggy board is same principle as the Joovy, but the board that the child rides on sticks out WAY further with the Buggy Board.

 

[my_try]

We got a double stroller last summer at Magic Kingdom for our two kids (ages 6 & 9). At first we thought our 9 year-old would be embarassed to sit in a stroller...but she actually thanked us several times. We were at the park from open 'til close and they both sat in the stroller together several times.

Kathy

 

[Hannathy]

Wow I would NEVER offer a stroller to kids this age! My 5 yr old son did great without a stroller for a week and we were there from open to close all week at Easter. And if size was an indicater of need he would fit the bill extremely skinny and small.(under 35lbs) We haven't had a stroller since he was 3 and I was not buying one for a week or spending all that money renting one. Kids have more energy than adults. IMO 9 is a bit crazy that is a 3rd or 4th grader they can play on travelling sports teams and play 3-4 soccer or softball games in 2 days and attend all day sports camps, I don't think they offer them a stroller there. It is very freeing to not have to deal with it in crowds. And the amt of strollers anymore is really causing alot of jams. This same question was asked recently and then the majority said don't take the stroller it is funny how different the responses are at different times.

 

[Kae]

We went last June DS7 DD4 at the time, We did not rent a stroller in the AM or the first couple of days. The first nite at the MK after Wishes we found a double stroller just left in the middle of Main St-saw the family take their stuff & leave it. So I grabbed it, it was much easier getting out of the park. the same thing happened at Epcot. And it was very hot when we were there, so the stroller made it easier. And I am all for easier.

Kae

 

[hanlin]

I have 6 yo twins and plan to rent a stroller. It makes keeping track of them so much easier. They, too, complain about walking not so long distances and I don't plan on spending my vacation telling them to hurry up or stay with us. It gets old! I think your child will welcome the chance to take a break from walking without having to find a bench and cutting into the oh-so-important intinerary!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Do whatever feels right. If you don't take a stroller from home just know that the ones you rent at WDW are very large, my smallish 9 year old fit fine in one back in October when she was miserable one day with swimmers ear. And don't worry about people who say they can't believe you would consider renting a stroller for your child, to each their own. You would probably never do many of the things they do with their kids that seem quite natural to them. Its all about what works for your family and makes your vacation happy and successful.

 

[Schmeck]

The only problem about pushing the big kids around in the stroller is that it tires you out by the end of the day, yet the kids are still full of energy, since they got the "limo treatment" all day.

I'd bring an umbrella stroller for the younger one, and then rent a single stroller as needed. You might find that you only need one in the afternoon, or one evening at EPCOT!

 

[weirdpaintballr]

I walked the entire time when I was 5 years old(except for the occasional piggyback ride...) So I really don't understand why I see some kids that are absolutely HUGE crammed in a stroller...I guess it depends on the kid though

 

[declansdad]

Get the stroller and who cares what other people say. They are not the one with your children all day.

Even if your children don't use it all the time it is an excellent way to carry your backpack.

 

[kbkids]

Even if your children don't use it all the time it is an excellent way to carry your backpack.

AMEN!! Our last trip was probably our last trip renting a stroller, and I'm going to totally miss it. I understand the "freeing feeling" without a stroller. DH and I have gone several times without the kids, and it was definitely easier getting around. But, we also always take a cooler when we're there with the kids, and it's so nice to carry it around in the stroller. Not sure what's going to cost more - having to buy $3 drinks for a family of four throughout the day, or paying for a rental stroller.

By the way, our kids were 8 and 4 on our last trip. The 8-yr-old would have been fine without the stroller but I didn't want to listen to the whining about her baby brother getting to ride and her not. Plus, if I've gotta push one around, may as well do both of them. While the 4-yr-old could have done it, we would have been slowed down dramatically - he's such a pokey little guy!

 

[MareQ]

Wow I would NEVER offer a stroller to kids this age! My 5 yr old son did great without a stroller for a week and we were there from open to close all week at Easter. And if size was an indicater of need he would fit the bill extremely skinny and small.(under 35lbs) Kids have more energy than adults. IMO 9 is a bit crazy that is a 3rd or 4th grader they can play on travelling sports teams and play 3-4 soccer or softball games in 2 days and attend all day sports camps, I don't think they offer them a stroller there. It is very freeing to not have to deal with it in crowds. And the amt of strollers anymore is really causing alot of jams. .

WOW!!! It always shocks me when people lash out with responses like this. What workd for YOU and YOUR child may not work for somebody else's child. All children are not alike - you do what works for you and don't worry about the other families and what they do. @@ Geez!

To the OP - rent the double - it was a lifesaver on our last trip!

 

[beattyfamily]

WOW!!! It always shocks me when people lash out with responses like this. What workd for YOU and YOUR child may not work for somebody else's child. All children are not alike - you do what works for you and don't worry about the other families and what they do. @@ Geez!

To the OP - rent the double - it was a lifesaver on our last trip!

Hey, it's called a different opinion, not lashing out. Geez!

The OP has to be prepared for various opinions and this topic always gets heated.

 

[MareQ]

Hey, it's called a different opinion, not lashing out. Geez!

The OP has to be prepared for various opinions and this topic always gets heated.

Well then that's YOUR opinion - my opinion is that it's lashing out. Some people are WAY too judgemental when it comes to other parents and their parenting decisions. What works for one family may not work for another family and it's awfully arrogant to believe that somebody shouldn't do something because you (general you) wouldn't do it.

 

[beattyfamily]

Well then that's YOUR opinion - my opinion is that it's lashing out. Some people are WAY too judgemental when it comes to other parents and their parenting decisions. What works for one family may not work for another family and it's awfully arrogant to believe that somebody shouldn't do something because you (general you) wouldn't do it.

Ok then.

The thread was going fine till now, IMHO.

 

[Lorelai]

I find the double strollers difficult to manuver.

My children are 12, 7 and 3 - so we only use the stroller for the three year old.

My older two stopped using the strollers by age 5.

I don't think the doubles would be comfortable for a child as old as seven. But then again, my kids have very long legs and I think they would be really cramped in a stroller any older than four or five.

I say go with the umbrella for the little one. Just take it slow for your seven year old, he should be fine. And if he does just give up on walking, you can always give him a turn and let your younger one stretch his legs.