Suggestions for 'Big Kid' Stroller Autistic son?

[Rebeccamom123]

I will be headed to Disney this summer with 3 kids, my 12 year old, my 10 year old and my 6 year old son who is Autistic and wonders and bolts easily. We haven't used a stroller for him in years but I'd like to have one for Disney to keep him safely close to us and to have an option for shade for him. Any suggestions for a brand of stroller that won't break the bank that I can use for him at Disney that he can be comfortable in? I don't' want to rent one because we'll be staying at Bay Lake Towers so I want to have it for him to be able to use it to get to and from the parks also. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can provide.

 

[wilkeliza]

I will be headed to Disney this summer with 3 kids, my 12 year old, my 10 year old and my 6 year old son who is Autistic and wonders and bolts easily. We haven't used a stroller for him in years but I'd like to have one for Disney to keep him safely close to us and to have an option for shade for him. Any suggestions for a brand of stroller that won't break the bank that I can use for him at Disney that he can be comfortable in? I don't' want to rent one because we'll be staying at Bay Lake Towers so I want to have it for him to be able to use it to get to and from the parks also. Thanks for any help or suggestions you can provide.

I suggest renting from an offsite location. That way you can have it the entire trip but also don't have to purchase one if you aren't currently using one at home. How big is your 6 year old? Stroller recommendations will depend on his height and weight.

Also make sure you get a stroller as wheelchair tag so you can take it in line with you.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just time for a quick reply.
Follow the link in my signature or look near the top of the board for the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Post 2 of that thread is about wheelchairs, ECVs and mobility equipment , which includes strollers.
If you scroll down toward the end of post 2, there is a list of outside companies that rent strollers and special needs strollers. Renting from one of those companies, you would have the stroller available for use outside of the parks as well as inside.

Depending on his size and weight, you might be able to rent one of the strollers for bigger kids it you might need to rent one of the larger, special needs strollers

 

[lanejudy]

If your 6-yr-old is on the small side, he may fit in one of the larger "traditional" strollers that are available through many retailers.

However, if he is on the bigger side and/or you are looking ahead to use this multiple times in the future as well, you'll want to look into a "special needs" stroller. When she was about that age, we got a Maclaren Major Elite for a WDW trip. It is very much like a large umbrella stroller, folds very compactly and light to carry. If you want a canopy, that is separate and has to be removed to fold the stroller, so it can be a bit of a nuisance to carry on the buses. The footrest also detaches to fold, but we hung a string bag on the back of the stroller and it fit perfectly, just pop the footrest in the bag and sling it over a shoulder when folding the stroller. Another popular brand is Convaid -- and there are various models. I find www.adaptivemall.com to be a fairly good resource for special needs strollers. I'll warn you, these are expensive to purchase and if you/he won't need it on a regular basis you may find insurance won't pay anything. We ended up buying ours used, so that may be an option for you; most states have an adaptive equipment exchange program that lists used items people wish to sell.

Another alternative is to rent from an offsite vendor. Some of the typical baby stroller vendors also rent larger size strollers as well as a special needs Liberty Pushchair. In my opinion, that one is somewhat large, heavy and cumbersome to take on the buses; but some families really like it. Some of the wheelchair or medical equipment vendors also rent strollers for larger kids. I have not used them but Orlando Medical Rentals show several different sizes/styles of big kid and special needs strollers available for rent.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[vratiana]

My tall six year old still fits into a Baby Jogger City Mini GT just fine. You could rent one from on off site company and they will deliver to the hotel. The standard City Mini (non GT) is a little lighter but a little shorter so I'm not sure about the fit. You could check them out at Target or Babies r Us to check the fit. Both have a huge wonderful sunshade which my boys love for Disney. They are pricy so I would rent since you only need it for WDW.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I would start looking for a MacClaren Major Elite on ebay or an equipment exchange place. It would be nice to have even in the airports. That is my go to big kid stroller. You may be able to get your insurance to pay for it, but I doubt it with an autism diagnosis. If he gets therapy at a center, another family there might have one you can borrow. Actually, Amazon has them for $450 dollars which is a very good deal.

 

[CoriM48]

We rent a stroller for our 8 year old; he never uses a stroller (we don't own one) but we only uses it as Disney. We rent the special needs stroller from Magic Strollers, and it's wonderful because they deliver and pick up at your hotel. If your son is on the smaller size, you can rent one of their regular City strollers (we have our small 7 and 6 year old ride in a double).

 

[PineGroveMomma]

We rent a stroller for our 8 year old; he never uses a stroller (we don't own one) but we only uses it as Disney. We rent the special needs stroller from Magic Strollers, and it's wonderful because they deliver and pick up at your hotel. If your son is on the smaller size, you can rent one of their regular City strollers (we have our small 7 and 6 year old ride in a double).

Our kid is a toe-walker on the spectrum. We KNOW we need a stroller for this trip although we've done local theme parks without a problem without one. We're on the fence between renting a BOB Revolution and the Special Needs one (Although I don't see one on the Magic Strollers website... can you point me to it?).

My then-will-be 7.5 year old is 4'2" and 65 lbs. What's your personal opinion based on size/need? Make a BOB work or splurge for the special needs one that she may be swimming in?

 

[JenLT]

Often the off-site vendors will have the dimensions s for their strollers. If not do a web search and you should be able to find out the seat width and length from front to back, and the seat back height. That should help you figure out which strollers your child will fit into. Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

Our kid is a toe-walker on the spectrum. We KNOW we need a stroller for this trip although we've done local theme parks without a problem without one. We're on the fence between renting a BOB Revolution and the Special Needs one (Although I don't see one on the Magic Strollers website... can you point me to it?).

My then-will-be 7.5 year old is 4'2" and 65 lbs. What's your personal opinion based on size/need? Make a BOB work or splurge for the special needs one that she may be swimming in?

The BOB Revolution says a weight of 70 pounds, so that will be OK. But, the 'best' height is up to 48 inches. The issue gets to be foot space, which might be visible in this picture.
https://www.kingdomstrollers.com
If you click on the 'Special Needs' link on that website, it will show you the Liberty Special Needs stroller.

I don't see any special needs strollers listed for Magic Strollers, so it may be they no longer carry it, that the link is just not obvious or it may be something you need to call to ask about.

Orlando Stroller Rental does list the Liberthttps://www.orlandostrollerrentals.com/#

 

[disneydreamer74]

You can see my DD9 in my pic and she is a sensory kid with a severe Anxiety diagnosis. She has to have a private are to decompress from the crowds every so often. She also receives physical therapy for low muscle tone, so she cannot walk long distances without being completely worn out. We have been renting strollers for years. Since she is now almost 10 she is weighing 85 lbs. so we jumped up to the Liberty push stroller. Now, this is a LONGER stroller, but it is so easy to push and it folds easy also. We have no problem with it at all. We pay $100 to rent for a week and it is so worth her having her space and a place to rest when her legs won't carry her.

 

[ez]

my ASD son is 11 and this is the first trip we had to switch from stroller to wheelchair and I have to say he loved it, I guess cause its higher up?? I was so nervous about doing it but it worked out so well. Sounds like all of your kids are younger but just wanted to put my two cents in for when they outgrow strollers.