Strollers for "older" kids

[kayakstef]

We have an 8 and 5 year old who depending on the day will walk and run all day nonstop or not. They are a combined weight of 110 lbs. We were going to play it by ear on renting a stroller in each park. If they get tired later in the day will strollers be available? Thinking we should rent one just to hold a small cooler and sweatshirts and then have it just in case, but don't want to lug it on and off the buses. We haven't used a stroller in years and have plenty of down time scheduled during the week, but on a day to day basis I want to be prepared.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We have an 8 and 5 year old who depending on the day will walk and run all day nonstop or not. They are a combined weight of 110 lbs. We were going to play it by ear on renting a stroller in each park. If they get tired later in the day will strollers be available? Thinking we should rent one just to hold a small cooler and sweatshirts and then have it just in case, but don't want to lug it on and off the buses. We haven't used a stroller in years and have plenty of down time scheduled during the week, but on a day to day basis I want to be prepared.

Use a locker if you really have a bunch of stuff to carry like that. Cheaper than a stroller and won't tie you down. Are you traveling at a time of year that you actually need sweatshirts? I didn't even need them in Dec, although it has happened to some people. Unless your child has special needs, the 8 year old is not going to ride in a stroller...the 5 year old might not even want to. But you know your children best, so you are the only person that can make that decision. There are a lot of "opinions" about older children using strollers on here. So I suggest deciding for yourself.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We have been a few times during busy times and I have never seen them run out of strollers.
No way will I will ever judge a parent for their stroller choices but I will share our experience.
By the time ours were 5, they refused a stroller. DS 6 would not agree to ride in one after 4! We normally do a full week but are not commando. Sometimes we rest mid day, some days not. Last trip he had just turned 5 and not one time complained. DH carried him once....he was asleep when the bus arrived back at the hotel.
If you decide to rent, I would only do a single and they could take turns. 100lbs in a double stroller would not be fun to push.
We have very much needed sweat shirts at WDW. Mostly Dec-Jan trips for us. Temps have varied from a morning low of 27 to highs in the upper 80's. Many cold days for us. We choose to carry very little and have never, even with little kids carried much. Sweat shirts can be tied around waist. Many times we carry no more than will fit in cargo pockets or sometimes a tiny cross body bag. Strollers are a pain to have to park and retrieve at every ride. Just play it by ear and see how your boys do.

 

[wvasweetness]

Our almost 6 year old very willingly rode on a sit n stand stroller. Heck, I would have taken a stroller ride if someone would have pushed me!

I think your 5 year old will most likely want/need to ride. My guess is that an 8 year old wouldn't complain about the ride after awhile.

 

[darnheather]

I'm on the fence with Izzy (7) as well. She's only been completely out of the stroller for 6 months, but I know Disney is a whole nother animal.

 

[wannabemini]

We are taking ours (lightweight, folds with one hand) for our newly turned 6 guy. He could walk all day fine, but will ALWAYS poop out on the way out & that walk to the tram & then walk to the car is too much. He's not very tall, but weighs too much for me to carry with my bad back if he falls asleep.

The "no stroller you're ruining your kid he's big enough to walk" police will weigh in to let me know how I'm failing, I'm sure, but it works for us.

Have a great trip! 6 MORE DAYS!!!

 

[SEA333]

We rented a stroller last time - younger DS was 5 and in Kindergarten at the time (and I have been told on here that kids that ride in strollers past a certain - very young - age are lazy, obese, and spoiled, just FYI) -

Laughable, since DS is none of those - he is 7 1/2 now and weighs 45 lbs! And is in his 3rd season of tackle football where he practices 2 hours/day five days a week, swims, and has played soccer and basketball. Oh...and runs around outside all day long and plays pretend football games with himself and the couch all evening long LOL (he is the QB and the receiver, and the couch is either the defensive line or the end zone LOL).

BUT....he does get horrible, painful leg cramps that really can impede his walking for up to 1/2 hour at a time. They happen randomly and often in the early evening. For that reason, we rented a stroller. Honestly, he never even really used it - maybe once or twice going from one end to another. But it was awesome for holding our stuff so that we didn't have to go all the way up to the front of the park everytime someone wanted a sweatshirt or a drink of water from their water bottle!

We parked the stroller in each "land" at MK, did everythign we wanted to do, then retrieved the stroller and moves on. I loved it, and would really consider doing it again even though the kids wouldn't really need to use it.

 

[rainboots]

I will be getting a double stroller, even though the 3 yr old is the only one who 'should' be in a stroller. My 6yr old will be much more tolerable if she can get a break here and there. I don't understand the militant approach. If this makes our vacation more enjoyable, then why wouldn't we?

And I need to remind my mother that she can only bring a small bag to stuff in our stroller. I bought one, and she is not stuffing all sorts of loose stuff in the basket. I am not going to be at a bus stop dilly-dallying, emptying out a stroller.

She already wondered if she should rent a stroller, just for her STUFF.... Could be a fun trip....

 

[marybrat]

We rented a double stroller when our kids were 5 and 8. Most of the day it was empty, but later in the day it was well worth the cost. Both kids squished into it. Some battles are not worth fighting, especially when you're at the happiest place on earth!

 

[Schmeck]

Plan to rent a double at EPCOT, and a single at the other parks, IMO. The kids can take turns at the smaller parks as needed, but if you plan to do any long days at EPCOT, there's quite a bit of walking involved.

Now you just have to be in shape to push 110+ lbs around when you are hot and tired, good luck!

 

[kerriemiller]

I will be getting a double stroller, even though the 3 yr old is the only one who 'should' be in a stroller. My 6yr old will be much more tolerable if she can get a break here and there. I don't understand the militant approach. If this makes our vacation more enjoyable, then why wouldn't we?

I wish we could "like" stuff on the DIS - I am totally pro stroller. We have a nice double that we bring and it has come in handy. They don't use it all the time most of the time its parked on a stroller parking area but its really nice to have.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Our almost 6 year old very willingly rode on a sit n stand stroller. Heck, I would have taken a stroller ride if someone would have pushed me!

I think your 5 year old will most likely want/need to ride. My guess is that an 8 year old wouldn't complain about the ride after awhile.

That is why no one can really tell anyone else what to do and you really have to judge by what you know about your own child. We couldn't even get my 4 year old nephew to ride in a stroller at Disneyland, and there is no way he would have done it at 8 years old no matter how tired he was. So I'd hate for someone to rent one for a ton of money just for the sweatshirts. If you think you need it I agree with the single stroller suggestion and have them take turns.

 

[Kingdome8]

I rented a double stroller in park for my 5 year old.
And my 8 year old would get in it too.
I didn't care. Better then hearing them say
"can't walk". But my 8 year she is like 50 pounds thin as a rail and the 2 of them are like best friends and love sitting together.
Plus I like having a stroller for stuff.
We also had single stiller for one year old.
Next year I will get another double but for middle child 7
And 2 year old. 9 year old will walk. Lol
Works for us.

 

[Jennybump]

When we went to WDW 2 1/2 yrs ago (in April, so not crazy hot by any means) my 6 yr old ds rode in the stroller more than my 3 1/2 yr old dd. Obviously des cannot ride this time, so I just gave dd the option, and she said she wants a stroller. She has NEVER been a stroller kid, not even when she was a baby, and she may change her mind when we get there, but I'm budgeting for it anyway. ;-)

 

[Kallie724]

My DD will be 6 on this trip and we are brining her umbrella stroller. Like the PP's have said Disney is a whole other animal when it comes to walking and tiring out. I'm sure some of the adults would like to have a stroller at the end of the day.

We like a stroller so we can keep up at our own pace and she's not tired and grouchy from running all over the park. Also because of the stroller we are able to stay out later. She will take a nap in it id she needs to and she won't be so tired for the late nights we do.

Granted Disney is the only place that she gets to use a stroller but I don't see a problem with it if it makes your vacation more enjoyable.

 

[kayakstef]

My actual question was, will strollers be available later in the day or should we pick one up as soon as we get into the park?

 

[WantToGoNow]

If you're paying $30 you might as well get it in the morning. It won't be discounted for shorter hours.

 

[GoldieLocks5]

If you're paying $30 you might as well get it in the morning. It won't be discounted for shorter hours.

I agree with this - if you are going to pay the money i'd just get it early on- you can always park it somewhere and leave it for a while.

my 6yo was in our stroller a lot this past trip (as were my almost 4yo twins)... i'm expecting him to be in it again next year when he turns 7 on the trip- it's just so much walking and he's not used to it - so i'm a fan of always having a stroller to avoid having to hear a tired kid whine, or walking super slow when we are trying to get somewhere, etc.

 

[4kids4karen]

Ha Ha. With back to school around the corner I envision 7 and 8 year olds being pushed in strollers into their 1-3 grade classrooms. I do not know many 7 or 8 year olds that would want their classmates to see them. I know, start your arguments of Disney being a "different beast." LoL.

 

[momof2n2]

I love strollers. I like having all my supplies with me all the time and like to move quickly through the park. Well worth $30 a day in my book.

WDW is a different beast. At over $400 a day on our next visit I'm not meandering at the slowest person's pace. I have my 7 y o hold onto the side of the cart at Walmart if I'm in a hurry.

OP do it your way and just don't run down anyone.