The eternal question: to stroller or not with 4-yr-old?

[jenjersnap]

DS and I are going on a "just us" trip. Leaving next Tuesday for 5 days. I've been planning all along to bring our single stroller - a Combi that folds up relatively flat and is relatively light, has a basket and sunshade. It's been all over Europe and has never let us down though it's starting to get a little wobbly with age.

But then ... I started wondering if it wasn't going to be a pain dragging it onto busses and pushing it around when DS didn't want to ride ... maybe I should rent at the parks only after all.

DS does like to ride quite a bit. I wonder how longs walks at the airport are going to tire him out. We're starting our trip at WL so it won't be a problem not having one there. But our last couple days we'll be at the Dolphin and I am expecting to walk quite a bit - to MGM, over to the Boardwalk and Beach Club, possibly to Epcot too. I know we can take the boats but I like the freedom of walking when I want (it's the reason I chose an Epcot resort!).

Part of me is worried that I will look like an idiot always pushing around an empty stroller and feel that it is a huge inconvenience ... I can never tell when he is going to want to ride. When we got to the mall, 50% of the time he does and the other half of the time he wants to walk.

What would you do? Rely more on Disney transportation so that I could leave our stroller behind or bring it to have ultimate flexibility? Thanks for any input.

 

[hipmaman]

to totally bring a stroller with a child. If you have a stroller with no child sitting in it at times, you can throw your bag, jackets/sweaters, cooler, whatever that you usually have to carry in your arms. When you need a stroller, you can use it w/o having to go rent it at a certain place, if there is availability, etc.

I go everywhere with one double or 2 singles with my 3 and 5 yrs old. They can't walk for the entire day w/o being tired. I rather push an empty stroller than carrying a 3 or 5 yrs old through the park.

But that's my take.

 

[Del]

My advice --because you asked, and I have 2 girls now 8 and 5 and have been to WDW a few times with them--is to take the stroller THIS TIME!! At age 4 my kids still needed it. But probably by age 5 or the next trip, you could get away with renting at the park if it will be a long day, or just in the evening or towards the end of the trip. By age 5 and taking breaks, our kids held up extremely well. We told them from the beginning that we weren't doing the stroller thing this trip. They also slept well at night. Good luck. --Del

 

[jenjersnap]

to totally bring a stroller with a child. If you have a stroller with no child sitting in it at times, you can throw your bag, jackets/sweaters, cooler, whatever that you usually have to carry in your arms. When you need a stroller, you can use it w/o having to go rent it at a certain place, if there is availability, etc.

I go everywhere with one double or 2 singles with my 3 and 5 yrs old. They can't walk for the entire day w/o being tired. I rather push an empty stroller than carrying a 3 or 5 yrs old through the park.

But that's my take.

Thanks, but it's not a matter of NO stroller vs. having a stroller. It's weighing the convenience yet PIT* of having a stroller available at all times vs. renting one in the parks and expecting him to walk the rest of the time (which I would try to minimize but there would still be some needed). I am leaning toward bringing it though so thanks for the input!

 

[debster812]

Here's my 02c worth.

We took DS to WDW for the first time when he was 5. We hemmed and hawed and hemmed and hawed about whether to bring our stroller or not. We finally decided NOT to bring our own, and to rent if we needed to.

Guess what? The little trouper walked everywhere. ALL OVER WDW for 10 days. He did not ask for a stroller once. He did get a couple of piggy back rides from Dad and Gramps, but all in all, he walked circles around the 4 adults.

Things that worked in our favor:

We were there last week of Jan/first of Feb. Weather was cool. Crowds were light.

I would leave yours at home, and rent as needed.......

Your mileage may vary, of course.

Good Luck! And have a great trip.

 

[Bellefan66]

Stroll away girl! My DD was 5 and only made it till about noon,then pooped out! That stroller came in REAL handy as everyone says, it's a holder for your everything, and most important, we didn't have to leave early, because she couldn't walk anymore! By the end of the day, she felt like a Queen being shuttled around...have fun!

 

[beattyfamily]

IMHO, absolutely bring it. WDW is very tiring and different from everyday life. It will come in SO handy!

I couldn't live without it till they were at least 7 or 8 and my 8 year old even was still complaining last year of being tired and having blisters without the stroller!

 

[ksc37]

I would take one. Especially if it's lightweight, easy to fold, etc.

I have a 2 and 4 year old and briefly considered only taking one stroller (primarily for the 2 year old) on our upcoming trip. Then I thought about the hassle of going back to the park entrance to rent a stroller if my older son started to get tired, and quickly changed my mind. That, and on our most recent trip, there were ocassions when he's gone to sleep in the stroller while walking between 'lands' (and he's not much of a napper at home).

Disney is very hard on those short, little legs. Heck, it's hard on long adult legs, too!

 

[SnowBound]

Most definately take it. Without a doubt. Absolutely. YesSirReeBob. No question. Oh yeah. Ja. Oui. sí. да. Yup. AllRightyThen.

 

[anabelle]

Last year DH made me keep the folding umbrella stoller at home. What a mistake. When our six year old daughter got tired after the end of the day. I had to carry her on my back. That was NOOOO fun.

 

[EagleHasLanded]

I agree. Going to WDW with children under 7 and no stroller is like driving a car with no spare tire.

I always like to have a back up plan.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

. . . and we rented the stroller and that's the way it's been ever since. We rent them at the parks. Now maybe it helps that we stay on-site, but we could never see the hassle we saw other parent's going through juggling child, stroller and whatever else they were carrying. We found that if they had the stroller though the day, they could handle the walk to the bus and then to the room. If you rent though, take something bright to mark your stroller with so you can find it easier among the others.

Remember also that you rent at one park and can leave it and pick up a new one at the next park without spending any more money. In other words, when you rent in the morning, just take your receipt and your name tag and take it to the next park to redeem another stroller. You're renting the use of a stroller for the day and not the use of a PARTICULAR stroller in one park. Very convenient!

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DS was just under 4 when we went to WDW last fall, and we didn't take a stroller for him, just for our 15-mo old (we flew). There was only one time in the entire 11 day trip that he asked to use the stroller, it was after we were done watching Fantasmic one night. DH carried the baby and 3-yo rode in the stroller. I asked him a couple times if he want me to rent one, and he said "No, my little legs can still go".

Just depends on the child.

 

[cepmom]

I agree it depends on the child. You know your child best and his/her capabilities. Every child is different. About 10 years ago (in March) we went with our oldest DD (then 5) she was fine without any stroller. We never even really considered getting her one and she never complained. Two years ago (in November)we went and had a sit & stand stroller for our 2 year old and middle DD (5 years old) used the jump seat on the back several times, but walked most of the time. She really only needed it if we wanted to get through a crowded area quickly or at night after Fantasmic, Illuminations etc. Now this time, we are going in August and we will bring a stroller for our youngest DD (now 5). She gets tired walking around the mall for a couple hours, never mind DW all day and in the August heat! She would never last and I don't want to be stuck listening to her whine or having to carry her!

As far as renting vs bringing your own, I say bring your own. It may be a bit of a pain for when your child doesn't need it, but at least you'll have it when they get too tired to walk and you won't have to go back to the stroller rental area during the middle of the day to get one. And you will have place to store your stuff when he's not using it. Plus I think your own stroller would be more comfortable anyway - those rentals look so hard and uncomfortable!!

 

[kelscross]

I debated that the last trip. Yes you can rent strollers at the parks but sometimes (more often than not) there is still a considerable walk from the stroller return and the transportation back to the resort. Maybe not considerable for adults but for the sleeping child that you had to wake up to turn in the stroller is a very long walk.

I thought my girls wouldn't want to ride so I took them just in case, but they jumped right in..they weren't interested in walking.

Folding them up and getting them on the bus is a little inconvenient, very much so if you have a big bulky one, but we have simple umbrella strollers with a canopy and it was a piece of cake.

Plus, that gave me the excuse to spend the extra money for a monorail resort...ha... you can wheel the kids on stroller and all intact!

 

[shar1066]

rent the stroller...we took our four year old last summer, and its so much easier to rent at the park...get a double, you can sit your bag(diaper) in with the kid...also, during parades, disney allows children to go to the front to see better...you can lock the stroller and it makes a wonderful place for mom or dad to sit for awhile....costs for double $15\day...get $1 disney dollar upon return at end of day.....also, if the child is in a stroller, you don't have to worry about losing him/her in the crowd

 

[donnabc]

I used a stroller with my 5 yo during our last stay...it was easier to keep up with him especially at dark and it held our camera, snacks, etc. Plus DS actually got tired with what little walking he did have to do!

 

[Lesley]

Personally I recommend taking your own stroller. If you have one of those really small light Combi's it shouldn't be a problem on the busses, etc... And its likely that your child will need it a lot.

The first time we took our oldest to WDW he was 4yo. We weren't going to bring the stroller because he never used it at home, but then for whatever reason I tossed it into the trunk as we left. Our first day at the parks we didn't take the stroller with us...we were at AK and it took precisely 15 minutes before our son was asking for a stroller. We rented one that day and took our own with us the rest of the trip.

We still use a stroller with our current 4yo...actually took a double last time (major pita, btw...I prefer the double rentals)...but next time we'll be back to bringing a single.

The rentals are okay...but think about those times you may end up carrying your 4yo because you had to leave that rental in the park and you still need to get to the bus....

 

[jenjersnap]

Hi everyone! We leave first thing tomorrow morning and the stroller is going! Thanks for the advice, sounds like it IS an eternal dilemma.

Lesley, your baby is too adorable!