To bring a stroller or not??

[Misskitty3]

Last time we went to DLR my kids were 6 & 3 and we brought them both strollers. The strollers worked out great especially at the end of the day. Fwiw, we are at the gates 45 minutes before they open and usually stay until 9/9:30pm ... So definitely a full day for the kids and us!

This time DS will just be turning 9 so definitely no stroller for him! Ha!

DD will be 6 1/2 and hasn't been in a stroller for years. I honestly wouldn't even consider it but besides transporting kids, I love having the stroller to hold our snacks, water bottles, coats, autograph books etc.

So should we bring a stroller with us or just bring backpacks for our stuff?


***

 

[jennabennabofenna]

i guess it just depends on your 6 year old. If you think he/she can make it all day with taking stroller breaks then don't bring one. If not, mabye just a lightweight umbrella stroller.

If it were me, id bring a stroller.

 

[3monkeys4me]

If it were me, we would skip it. If you think your trip will be more enjoyable with it then by all means bring it!

We will be bringing a stroller next trip for our not quite 3 year old. I doubt we will bring it to the parks in the mornings with us, but we will probably take with us in the evenings after we take a break in the afternoon.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We used a stroller until after our youngest DD was 6yo. Just too many miles for her little legs to walk! She didn't use it all the time, but we had it along so she could sit down when she wanted/needed to. Big sis would take turns sitting in it, too!

 

[starshine514]

If having a stroller to store your stuff is is part of your touring strategy, I'd bring it. My 7 (yikes!) year old can do without one, but when I bring one along for the 5-yr-old, she still sits in it occasionally (she does have an inherited blood disorder that causes anemia, so perhaps she gets tired more easily than some other kids her age, but I'd say most kids get a little worn out at Disney). We did a trip sans-stroller in January and truly, I didn't miss it for carrying stuff (other than my 5-yr-old who I ended up carrying some). I did carry a backpack in which I kept water bottles, snacks, hats, etc.

Now, I might feel differently about that if it was hot outside and the backpack was making me sweaty...

 

[BlueBayou]

My kids are 11 and just turned 9 - so it has been few years since we used one at DL. They are not tall and look young for their ages.

But when we went to WDW a few years back we used one. I believe the girls were 6 and 9 at the time. Granted we were 8 days in the park - but the last day or two we rented a stroller. My youngest's ankle was hurting and I had to carry her out of Epcot one night to the bus. My DH and DD9 stayed in park. For the final days we rented one. It was really great for the commando touring. If we wanted to race somewhere we put the kids in it and ran off.

But for the most part - I like being stroller free. We went to DL with my mom with a scooter in October. It reminded me how you have so much more freedom if you are not tied down with a stroller.

If you anticipate that they will be over tired - I say bring one.

 

[todzwife]

We just went w/ our 6 YO (and an 8 YO and 22 month old) and the 6 YO did well until later in the day on days 3/4. The first few days she was fine, but we also had short hours (10-8). By the third day, she fell asleep in the 22 month old's stroller around 8 when we were leaving and our last night she fell asleep around the same time. I was glad to not have to carry her back.

That said, she doesn't have a lot of stamina. She's my whiny child, and I was surprised she did as well as she did.

Only you know your kiddo and how well you think they'd do. If nothing else you can bring one and park it in each "land" while you do those rides and it can store your stuff.

 

[Liat]

I'd bring one or plan on renting there. The only nice thing about bringing one with you is that you can take it off Disney grounds.

My kids are still little, but the next time we go, the oldest will be 5. I'm planning to bring enough seats on strollers that he will have a place to sit come the evening. For me its also nice to have a stroller to keep track of kids when the crowds swell!

 

[seagodess]

I think if your main reason you want one is to hold snacks and stuff you should skip it and bring a back pack. If your DS gets tired he can sit while you wait in lines or you guys can take a break. Personally I have the mind set that if a kid cant walk all or at least most of the time, then they are not old enough to go. Thats why we waited until DS was 5. We expect to take breaks and possibly give short piggy back rides, but for the most part he will be walking.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

i would say rent one if you need it- the extra storage is so nice... why carry everything? plus the kids have a automatic seating area when needed- also helps to throw a kid in when the area gets really crowded like after a show- wouldn't want to loose a kid! LOL...

 

[SpaceMan5]

Last time we went to DLR my kids were 6 & 3 and we brought them both strollers. The strollers worked out great especially at the end of the day. Fwiw, we are at the gates 45 minutes before they open and usually stay until 9/9:30pm ... So definitely a full day for the kids and us!

This time DS will just be turning 9 so definitely no stroller for him! Ha!

DD will be 6 1/2 and hasn't been in a stroller for years. I honestly wouldn't even consider it but besides transporting kids, I love having the stroller to hold our snacks, water bottles, coats, autograph books etc.

So should we bring a stroller with us or just bring backpacks for our stuff?


***

We had the same dilemma on our most recent trip and we decided to go with just the backpack. There were a few times that we eyed the stroller rentals but did without. We just found that we had to take a few extra breaks during the trip for our little guy and he did great. But it sure would have been nice to toss the pack in the stroller

 

[MrsMears]

I think if your main reason you want one is to hold snacks and stuff you should skip it and bring a back pack. If your DS gets tired he can sit while you wait in lines or you guys can take a break. Personally I have the mind set that if a kid cant walk all or at least most of the time, then they are not old enough to go. Thats why we waited until DS was 5. We expect to take breaks and possibly give short piggy back rides, but for the most part he will be walking.

Yes, this.

 

[starshine514]

I think if your main reason you want one is to hold snacks and stuff you should skip it and bring a back pack. If your DS gets tired he can sit while you wait in lines or you guys can take a break. Personally I have the mind set that if a kid cant walk all or at least most of the time, then they are not old enough to go. Thats why we waited until DS was 5. We expect to take breaks and possibly give short piggy back rides, but for the most part he will be walking.

OK. Let's not turn it into one of those threads. DISers, let's ignore that comment and move on, ok?

 

[coaches24]

OK. Let's not turn it into one of those threads. DISers, let's ignore that comment and move on, ok?

Agreed!

My thought is at 6 you can probably get away without a stroller and just use a backpack to carry snacks and other stuff, but if you find you need/ want the stroller then you can rent one.

Or bring the stroller with you and decide there if you want to use it. You could leave it in the room the first day (esspecially if you are staying close by) and if you decide its easier with the stroler go back and get it. (This is probably what I would do just because I wouldnt want to spend the money on renting a stroller).

 

[disneychic2]

I read on here also that it helps to get the kids out walking on a daily basis at home to get them used to the idea and their little legs in shape. Having never taken a small child to Disney, I don't know personally, but this made sense to me. We are taking our almost 5 year old Granddaughter in a couple of weeks and we have been going back and forth about the stroller. We decided to just rent one there if it becomes a problem for her. Hope that works for us...and good luck to you with whatever you decide!

 

[Isatricia]

I haven't been to DL with children yet but will be soon. I have been debating on the stroller as well. My girls don't sit in the stroller any more at the zoo, but I still take it to carry the stuff - jackets, water bottles, hats, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous stuff. I hate to carry a backpack. I still have 5 days to decide, but I am leaning toward taking our stroller.

 

[Misskitty3]

Thanks for all of the great responses! I think we will plan to bring it with us and if we end up not using it, that is fine!

DS and DD don't know it (because the trip is a surprise) but we started "training" yesterday! Today we all walked to school (1mile) instead of driving. The kids asked if we could walk home too! No problem there!

 

[seagodess]

Thanks for all of the great responses! I think we will plan to bring it with us and if we end up not using it, that is fine!

DS and DD don't know it (because the trip is a surprise) but we started "training" yesterday! Today we all walked to school (1mile) instead of driving. The kids asked if we could walk home too! No problem there!

I think that is a great idea.