Strollers for preschoolers?

[Panonim]

Ack. I am so unsure whether we need a stroller for our 4yo in DL. We will be taking a small stroller for our 2yo, but I was thinking we wouldn't need one for the 4yo. Now I am having second thoughts. She never rides in a stroller normally, but she does like to ride in the shopping cart every now and then. It would be such a pain to drag a second stroller (or our big double stroller) if it's not really needed. We do have a great Beco baby carrier that we could use for the 2yo, and put the 4yo in the stroller if needed. But I wouldn't want to do that for a long time. And I know we can rent a stroller if needed, but that doesn't help us after we leave the park gates.

We're staying at the Tropicana, so it's very close, but it's still a lot of walking for little legs after a long day.

Just wondering what others have done with similar aged kids? My SIL says definitely bring a stroller for the 4yo, but they have only experienced WDW with kids, not DL. There's a lot more walking at WDW right?

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

I'm probably not much help, since I just purchased a Britax Blink for my 6 y.o. She only rides in strollers at really large zoos & disneyland... but it goes up to 65lbs and she is only 40 so it should last me awhile. We average 9 miles a day of walking at DLR--and we stay onsite. Mostly the stroller is parked and she walks... but for that to and from the hotel and parks--4 times a day, it is a necessity!

I would bring your carrier and the stroller at a minimum. We went stroller-less when dd was 3, and I thought dh and I would die after 4 days of carrying her back to the hotel for nap and at the end of the night. My ergo carrier would have made it much better!

 

[todzwife]

I'd rather have one there in case than have to rent one. We're going to be bringing 2 single strollers for our trip in November and we have 3 kids. 7, 4 1/2 and will be 7 months. I'll probably wear the baby 95% of the time but if I want to go on a ride and she needs somewhere to sleep, I wanted to make sure I had a stroller for her that reclines. We're also bringing a Mac. Volo (got on ebay for $50 shipped) that will be for the 7 YO (he's skinny) if he gets tired. If we find that he's not using it, we'll leave it in the hotel, but after several days I'm sure his legs will be tired. I know mine get tired!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DD hasn't used a stroller outside of Disney for years but she still strolls at Disney I might not bring it for our Thanksgiving visit ~ she'll be 7 and a 1/2 and the weather will be cooler. DD's Disney stroller is a Mac Volo.

 

[DLtorgo]

I would bring two strollers, you can even just get a cheapie umbrella stroller for going to and from the hotel. I park my strollers in one area then have DD walk around the land then when we are ready to go to a different area or park hop we get our stroller. I think it is better to have it because you get tired too and carrying a preschooler is not going to help.

 

[pfeifferdcat]

Only you know your kids, but I stopped taking strollers for my kids when they were about 3 & they never complained. Also depends if you will be getting there at opening & staying until closing.

 

[mmmears]

When my DD was little we used our stroller at WDW since the distances are so huge. At DL, I felt like it was more of a hassle than a help.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

Having just completed a trip with my DD4(Almost 5), I have a few words of advice. At home, she hasn't used a stroller in almost 2 years and only occasionally rides in a shopping cart.

We did NOT bring our Maclaren Volo and after the 2nd day, I was cursing myself. We were there for 5.5 days and we ended up renting a stroller for 3 afternoons. We only rented a stroller when we knew we were going to be park hopping. That's alot of extra steps for a little one. She fell asleep in the stroller every night we rented one. She fell asleep in someone's arms on all other nights.

Fortunately, we stayed at the GCH so we only had to carry her a short walk at the end of the day, but it was still a PITA. Thank goodness my Dad and my BIL was there to help tote her around!

We could have completely survived without a stroller at all. She did a great job of walking until the sun started setting. That's when she got grumpy and I got grumpy and tired of carrying my backpack. We could have always gone back to the hotel at that point, but I didn't want to miss anything at the park. We chose to rent a stroller and carry on, knowing that both of us would be more comfortable.

If I go back anytime soon, I would totally bring my Mac Volo. I feel downright stupid for not bringing it to begin with.

 

[jenniferrose]

On my last trip, my kids were 2 and 5. My 5 year old used our stroller much more than my 2 year old. She wanted to walk more and push her brother around. On the way to/from the hotel, she rode in it though.

 

[DahliaRW]

I would bring the one stroller and your Beco. If you older child needs a stroller in the park rent one. At the end of the day if your older child is too tired to walk back to the Tropicana, put your 2yo in the beco and other child in the stroller for the walk back.

 

[CaseyK]

We are bringing our double stroller- our DD is 4 and DS is almost 2. However, it is the sit and stand so it's not as wide and only there if she really needs it. I was mostly concerned about the walk back to our hotel. Plus, it has better storage! We condidered just bringing 2 umbrella strollers but figured the one would be better.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

We bring a double jogger for our 2 little ones and an umbrella stroller for the 5 year old, but only bring it to the parks at night after our afternoon break.

 

[bumbershoot]

Apart from a jogging strollers that I used for jogging/power walks, we never even used a stroller EXCEPT for Disneyland. And at 4, absolutely, unless you're totally going at HER pace, bring one. I wasn't willing to go at DS's pace, I wanted it to be a *family* trip where we all got to do what we wanted to do, so there were times that he needed wheels to keep up.

And DS inherited my rotten penchant for deep bone leg aches (my mom got them too), so forcing him to walk all day, even when he's tired, doesn't end well...ends at 1am being woken up by crying b/c his legs hurt so bad...

We've brought a stroller on each Disneyland trip, and it's always better to have it than to not!

 

[BecomingObsessed]

We are going with my 21 month old and 3.5 year old and taking a sit n stand stroller. I think that's the perfect solution because it's sorta like a stroller and a half so if your 4 year old gets tired, she plop down on her jump seat, but you don't have to deal with SO much stoller the entire time just for potential use. The standing board will be a good place to put backpacks or purchases as well

 

[noga]

We are going for DD's 6th bday in Nov and we will be brining a stoller. We don't use the stoller normally and haven't for a while, but we walk a lot and if we are staying further away (haven't made hotel choice yet) so at the end of the day we don't want to have to carry her.

 

[Cagirl767]

I have a 3.5 and a 5.5 year old, boy and girl. We now bring a stroller that has a standing step on the back (not a sit and stand though), so both can ride at the same time if need be. We just recently gave up on bringing 2 strollers. One walks while one rides, and they switch off. You just never know if one will suddenly not feel well, have sore feet, need sunshade, whatever, and having the stroller there helps tremendously. Also, for toting around the junque that you just never know you'll need with young kids.

If I had younger kids and we were staying within walking distance, I would dress them in their jammies just before leaving DLR in the evening, put them in the stroller, and by the time we got back to the hotel, they'd be passed out and go straight into bed.

 

[Panonim]

I have a 3.5 and a 5.5 year old, boy and girl. We now bring a stroller that has a standing step on the back (not a sit and stand though), so both can ride at the same time if need be. We just recently gave up on bringing 2 strollers. One walks while one rides, and they switch off. You just never know if one will suddenly not feel well, have sore feet, need sunshade, whatever, and having the stroller there helps tremendously. Also, for toting around the junque that you just never know you'll need with young kids.

If I had younger kids and we were staying within walking distance, I would dress them in their jammies just before leaving DLR in the evening, put them in the stroller, and by the time we got back to the hotel, they'd be passed out and go straight into bed.

Oh now that is a fab idea. I hadn't even thought of that!

So many great tips and advice here, thanks everyone! I think you've all convinced me to bring the 2nd stroller. Our double stroller is a heavy beast to push when it's loaded with 65 pounds of children, plus all the bags/souvenirs/etc. I think we will just bring 2 single strollers.

Now I am going to have to have my DH read this thread because he thinks I'm nuts for wanting a stroller for our 4yo!

 

[Mickeybell]

I have been trying to decided what to do about the stroller situation also. My youngest is almost 4 but I know there is no way he is going to make it without a stroller. He does not use a stroller at home, but Disneyland is much more walking and longer days then he is used to. We dont have a stroller that will fit him anymore so I was thinking we would just rent a stroller. But now I am starting to worry about the walk back to the hotel. We are staying at the Fairfield and after all day in the parks we will probably be caring him all the way! Its alot per day to rent and we will be there for 5 days so maybe we should buy a good stroller instead of renting. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good stroller for a preschooler that maybe I could buy used? Or maybe I could get an umbrella stroller just to walk from the hotel to the park and then rent one? What do you think? If I did bring a umbrella stoller just to use to walk to the park is there anywhere I could park it till the end of the day?

 

[mamaofthree]

To me, strollers are a necessity at DLR for anyone that can't keep up with adult pace of walking. Even if you don't need it the whole time, its nice to have for the short (but boring and incredibly long to kids) walk to and from the parks. You can always park them somewhere for part of the day, and pick them up again later. We have an 8, 6 and 4 yo and take a Mac Volo and a big ol Graco single stroller. The Graco basket holds all our junk, and its old so I don't care if it breaks or someone takes it, lol.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I have been trying to decided what to do about the stroller situation also. My youngest is almost 4 but I know there is no way he is going to make it without a stroller. He does not use a stroller at home, but Disneyland is much more walking and longer days then he is used to. We dont have a stroller that will fit him anymore so I was thinking we would just rent a stroller. But now I am starting to worry about the walk back to the hotel. We are staying at the Fairfield and after all day in the parks we will probably be caring him all the way! Its alot per day to rent and we will be there for 5 days so maybe we should buy a good stroller instead of renting. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good stroller for a preschooler that maybe I could buy used? Or maybe I could get an umbrella stroller just to walk from the hotel to the park and then rent one? What do you think? If I did bring a umbrella stoller just to use to walk to the park is there anywhere I could park it till the end of the day?

Mac Volo ~