The great stroller dilemma.....

[jfranklyn]

In January we will be taking our first 2-kid trip. We have taken our dd (5) many times, but this will be the baby's first trip (he will be just 1 when we go).

Here's my dilemma. We have always taken a stroller for my daughter, and she has always used it. But the thought of lugging two strollers and two kids onto the busses and stuff is daunting. Do you think that a 5 year old can survive without a stroller? Are some parks easier for them than others?

We can rent one in the parks, but I'd prefer to save the money if I could.

It doesn't help that I read an article last night in the newspaper regarding the newest weight problem - toddler obesity!! Caused, they believe, by overuse of strollers!!! Ugh!

 

[jel0511]

Well, my 5 Yo has survived WDW without a stroller so it can be done. What I'd suggest is to do what we do, we have a Peg Prego Pliko Stroller. It has a small platform on the back of the stroller in which my DD stands when she gets tired. You can either buy this stroller, which folds up like an umbrella stroller and is VERY compact. Or, you can buy a boogy board attachment and place that on your stroller to use when your 5 YO gets tired. They do have to stand and hold on, but it is useful for a break in the action.

 

[NotUrsula]

If you already have a stroller for your younger child, you can always add a Buggy Board/Stroller Board attachment to it. Look around on the web for dealers; the gadget would run about $45, but can always be re-sold later.

The "step" on the back of a Pliko is really too small for a child to ride on comfortably for longer than it would take to do something like crossing a busy street. You really need to use a hook-on board that is large enough to properly stand on, not just balance on tippy-toes.

 

[jel0511]

The "step" on the back of a Pliko is really too small for a child to ride on comfortably for longer than it would take to do something like crossing a busy street.

I have to respectively disagree with this comment. My DD 5 1/2 now, CONSTANTLY rides on the back of my Pliko and has no problems with it. She can ride it for an hour or more at a time, especially when we're at the mall, and has NEVER voiced her discomfort, she actually really likes it. And if you knew my DD, you'd realize that she would tell you that if something was even the least uncomfortable!!!!

 

[Nette]

Let me preface this with the fact that my only child is only 1 so I really don't have any practical experience.

But....

When we were there 2 weeks ago we saw TONS of kids who were WAAAY too old to be in strollers in strollers (7 years +) and guess what? Most of them were overweight.

My mom also brought up a great point. If you let them ride in the stroller all day, then they are still raring to go when you are completely pooped out.

Personally when DD hits 4 I hope that she will be mostly walking and barely riding in a stroller at all.

I'd say 5 is on the border of actually NEEDING the stroller (but it of course depends on the child). You might try going without it, but you can always rent one in a pinch.

Good Luck!

 

[tjmw2727]

I have also used the Pliko with great success, ymmv. My oldest rode on the back comfortably. Since my SIL now has the stroller for my nephew my youngest will now step on occasionally as well.

To the OP, we stopped bringing a stroller when the girls were about 4. I would however occasionally grab a rental for a late night at Epcot since its a large park and we are out later. If your taking your time and taking a pool break/rest you could be ok. Don't rule out grabbing a rental if your doing a commando day, its very hot or your staying out late!

TJ

 

[scoggs]

I know you said you didn't necessarily want to spend the money on renting a stroller at DW, but there is a place where you could rent one and possibly save money. A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) will deliver what you rent to your hotel and pick it up, so you don't have to take a stroller while traveling. They have a sit and stand stroller that rents for $50-65 depending on your length of stay.... This might be a better alternative than having to rent a double.... I wanted a stroller for those "walking times" from Epcot or MGM to our hotel late at night. But, my kids are a little older...(6&4). What I'm doing is renting a stroller for the week from the transportation company that is taking us from MCO to the Dolphin. Figuring this will work fine for me and I don't have to fly with a stroller. I plan on using abbf to rent a toddler bed for my 4 year old.....

 

[bkcwilliams]

for the 5 year old. We went last November. My son had just turned 4 in August and we planned on renting a stroller for him. The first day we went to the MK and happened to hop on the train to the other side of the park and then planned on coming back to get a stroller. Well, in the end we never went back. He walked all of the parks and never complained about the walking. I think it was something about being at the happiest place on earth...

 

[TerriBelle]

We did! Our twins were almost 5 last November when we visited. I was planning to bring our cheap umbrella strollers with us but we forgot them in the car at the airport. We had a great trip without the strollers. We rented a double stroller once near the end of the trip because they had fallen asleep on the bus from BCV to MK. We went over in the afternoon to see the parade and then we took the monorail to ECPOT and picked up a stroller to use getting through EPCOT.

One thing that worked well for us was the penny press machines. I bought the boys the case and they would search for penny machines. They walked all of WS one night searching for penny machines. When they found a machine I would let them choose one type to get.

Just take it slow and you will be fine.

 

[bunny]

Does anyone have a website for a buggy board? Also if you have used it, what type of stroller does it work on? I have a large stroller which is part of a travel system and a small Combi. I would prefer to take the Combi but don't know if a buggy board would work on it or not. My second thought is using a Baby Bjorn carrier for the baby when the 5 year old needs a break. Any opinions?

 

[BevS97]

I am not taking a stroller for my just 6 year old, we will have the baby in a stroller very similiar to the Pliko, but she can't ride on the step if the stroller is reclined (which it will be for our little baby).
I think if she 'really' needs a ride, then she can go in the stroller and the baby can go in the sling, and worst case we will consider renting a stroller, but I really think she will be fine walking.

I've seen those buggy boards a lot, but I really can't imagine trying to push the stroller with the buggy board in the way - i am sure I would be tripping over it all the time

Bev

 

[homeschooler]

OK First , I don't want to get into the whole over weight debate BUT, ds is 8, not hyperactive, average height and barely 50 pounds. He wears normal clothes but also fits in his brother's hand-me-down slims. I am overweight and dh is overweight. I am not talking morbidly obese but not just a couple of pounds either. We are inactive. The children are not. We don't like TV and encourage play, and not organized sports or exercises.

That said, I wouldn't dream of taking a normal sized child 5 or under without a stroller. I have seen so many very tired parents carrying out children too large to carry easily that are equally as tired. (EPCOT-every parent carries out toddler) I took umbrella strollers (when my boys were 4 & 8, I took the double umbrella stroller). I don't find it at all difficult to push an empty stroller and used it for bags, etc. When a boy tired, he sat. When he wanted to walk, he did. We encouraging walking but the seat was there. It was great for watching parades, an extra seat for rests and my youngest even sat down and took cat naps during the day when we were doing a night show.

Disney is so large and I get so worn out, I can't imagine a child with half my leg length going the same distance in the same time frame and not getting crabby, exhausted and generally disagreable.

 

[Skylarr29]

I agree with the last post, disney is too big to make a child walk the whole thing. Keep in mind every child is different and for some trying to get your child in a stroller might be a nightmare and not worth the fight, but others will tire quickly walking and need a stroller. Best bet is to bring one or rent one that way they can walk when they want and ride when they want , no one gets too tired and everyone is happy and not exhausted and cranky. I would also rent a double stroller, there is no divider between the seats so when the big one is walking you can use the space for bags, for me the cost is worth it b/c it is a pain to have to fold and unfold your stroller a million times a day when boarding trams , busses etc.

 

[susy]

We are taking our son in 44 days without a stroller for the first time (he's almost 6). HOWEVER, I will be renting a stroller for Epcot and AK, since those parks are very spread out and we plan on spending quite a bit of time there. If your child can still use an umbrella stroller, I would bring one. You don't want them to get leg cramps!

 

[Cindymere]

We'll be going in November with my 6 and 4 and 4 year olds. We're planning to rent strollers for all three. My 6 year old is 48 inches tall and 55 pounds, no no where near obese. My twins are also rather thin.

I like the strollers at WDW; though I do wish they had more space to haul things. I love the jog type of wheels and the fact that the bigger kids can still look "cool" while riding in a stroller.

Why anyone would care to have 3 young kids running around all day in the crowds when you can have them quietly seated in a stroller is beyond me. But my kids tend to overwhelm me at home and it is crazy when you add all the excitement of Disney.

I suppose it comes down to personal choice, but I say stroller them until they are physically too large for the stroller

I personally found the "obese" comment to be irrelevant and mean spirited. Even if the kids were truly obese, do you think they could handle 4-5 miles of walking when they normally sit in front of the TV? What do you want them to do, stroke out?

Jennifer

 

[mkcp91]

Originally posted by Cindymere
I personally found the "obese" comment to be irrelevant and mean spirited. Even if the kids were truly obese, do you think they could handle 4-5 miles of walking when they normally sit in front of the TV? What do you want them to do, stroke out?

Jennifer

I don't think the OP intended it to be mean-spirited - the original reference to strollers and obesity by the OP was: "It doesn't help that I read an article last night in the newspaper regarding the newest weight problem - toddler obesity!! Caused, they believe, by overuse of strollers!!! Ugh!"

I think it was just a side comment on a news article. I read the same article - here's a link

Strollers may have role in obesity, doctors say

 

[TerriBelle]

This topic always seems to get heated. I didn't take the poster's comments as mean spirited either. If you like strollers, then use them. Some children need them, while others do fine without them.

We go pretty often so we take it slow and take breaks at the pool or in the room. We never stayed all day at a park, so our kids were able to walk when they were close to 5. I know some people love their strollers - I hated them. I found them a pain to push thru crowds and find after a ride. We thought it was wonderful to wander around the park without them. Our boys liked walking with their big sister. I might have felt differently if we went when it was really crowded or hot!

Everyone needs to do what works for them.

 

[Cindymere]

Somehow I missed that original reference totally.. thanks for clarifying. (I don't use strollers anymore, so I'll save the link for later..24.6 dial up.. links take forever)..

I went back and saw the OP has 1 small child. I think I probably thought when my first was little that we'd never be using strollers at 6. But, let me say 1 whiny 6 year old is MUCH WORSE than a fussy baby lol. It's the dark secret no one tells you!

I even asked my 6 year old a few days ago if he thought he needed a stroller and he said he'd like to have one for when he gets tired. He's skinny, but an armful for sure! I'd hate to think of any of us carrying him any length of time~!

Also, it's the crowd control thing... 3 kids in a sea of 10,000 people.. a stroller is just the safer choice IMHO.

Thanks again...

 

[Cindymere]

I didn't mean for my comments to make it sound like this topic got heated-- it is hard to infer tone on a BB. I do also have a matter-of-fact way about me, so I do tend to put people off with my choice of words

As for finding the boogey board, I believe I have seen them at http://www.therightstart.com thought I'd look for a coupon first at flamingoworld.com And I'd probably check Ebay above all else.

I agree that people need to do what works for them. For my kids, 3 strollers is the way to go (probably 1 double and 1 single).... but if others take breaks and go back to the rooms (this we dont' do... so I can see that might be a huge difference in opinions) then I might try without a stroller.... nahh, I'd probably stick with the strollers.

But, yes, you need to do what works for you!

 

[jfranklyn]

I am the original poster. I certainly didn't want anyone to think that I was making comments about obese kids. I'm sorry if that's how it came across.

My husband and I are definately the type of parents, however, that have been too quick to put our daughter in a stroller through the years. If we wanted to take a long family walk, we always took her in the stroller so we could go farther. However, it has occurred to me this year, as she has started kindergarten, that I used to walk ALOT when I was that age. So we started walking. I walk her to school, which is well over a mile, a few days a week instead of taking the bus. When we want to take a long walk, she rides her bike instead and we can go for 5 miles or more. I think I just wasn't giving her enough "credit" for her stamina.

My biggest concern with WDW is hauling two kids and two strollers onto busses, especially at the end of the day. I think it will be easier for us to just take one stroller for the baby and let my 5 year old walk. Maybe in the more walking intensive parks we can rent a stroller - we'll see how it goes. I particularly liked the comment someone made that basically said "why should I be exhausted and my kids be feeling great!". We've actually had problems with that in the past at WDW. We get back to the hotel and we are BUSHED, and my daughter is running around "rip roaring ready to go" because she was in a stroller all day.

We'll see what happens, I guess!!