To stroller or not to stroller, that is the question

[Allensfan]

Hello wonderful Disney Planners..I need advice.

My husband and I are taking our 6 year old son to Disney in Sept. He is a bit small for his age and loves his stroller. At the mall, he gets in and cruises around the entire time. I think his little legs get tired. Anyway, I know he seems a bit old for a stroller, but given how he acts at home and the large amount of walking that will be going on, do you think we should rent one? We have been encouraging him to walk because of our trip and we want him to get used to it. What have been your experiences?

Thanks!

 

[Selket]

We were there last summer when my older one was 7 and I rented him a stroller for several of the days. We found it especially useful in the AK park and Epcot - they just seemed to have the most walking.

It saved wear and tear on him and can you believe this...you can actually have a conversation with someone else while you push the kid! Wow! And you know where he is rather than losing him in the surf.

Those WDW strollers are big and heavy - very sturdy. Don't think twice unless he really doesn't want it!

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

ABSOLUTELY!! When we have gone down, I have seen much older kids in strollers (8 or 9 year olds). They get tired quickly and it's always nice to have a stroller they can crash in for a little while. I say get the stroller so atleast you have it. He may want to curl up for a nap in it for awhile.

 

[bartleby1]

I wouldn't think twice about using a stroller for a 6 year old, especially if he uses one at the mall. Disney is SOOOOOOO much walking. Much more than you would ever do at the mall. I would suggest renting unless you have a really good stroller that can handle a 6 yr old (like a maclaren) because otherwise you will probably get tired pushing it. The rentals are a bit expensive, but they handle like a dream. We were amazed how easy it was to push the double rental with 78 pounds of kid and probably another 15 pounds of stuff in it.

We rented last summer for our 3 and 5 year olds and will definitely rent again for them this summer (they will be 4 and 6). They are still exhausted after a day in disney and that is with using the stroller. Hey, if I could fit in one, I'd be taking my turn also, lol!

 

[cruiserkaren]

We rented one for my 6 year old cousin last week. I had acutally brought ours from home for my dd2.5 and ended up renting a double for the both of them. They wanted to sit together and it was so much easier. I ended up wishing I had just left dd's at home.

 

[jenny2]

Definitely - my DD is almost 6 and we rent or bring one every time. Otherwise she just tires out by the end of the day. Especially if you're going when it's hot. You're going to be walking miles each day! Those little legs get tired.

PLUS it's great to have someplace to hang your bags, put your soda bottles, etc, lol!

 

[hockey mom]

Get one. We got one when our son was 6 and it was so worth it. Mk is a ton of walking.

 

[nliedel]

If he is comfortable in a stroller then by all means use one. You will all be happier and you can carry packages in it

 

[Hannathy]

I guess I'm the one to disagree. I wouldn't. We didn't get one for our 5 yr. old and I loved it! It is so freeing nothing to push or remember let alone manuaver in crowds and it was Easter so crowded. He is small for his age and we stayed all day till midnight. Kids have as much energy as adults, we never even gave him the option. I would rather have the money for other junk.

 

[disneydiva06]

We are taking a stroller for my 5 year old on our upcoming trip in June. He complains about walking at the mall after a couple hours, I know he wouldn't be able to handle all the walking at WDW all day!

 

[crisi]

My daughter did fine on Day 1, but we pushed pretty hard and she spent the next six in a stroller. If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have pushed her the first day, taken it easier, and seen if we could have avoided strollers at the MK at least. I think she is motivated to move at WDW - and I think that is good for my little couch potato.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

does anyone have a photo of a stroller? what it looks like, how big it is? we will need one for my 2 year old. and i am wondering if my 5 yr would fit in to squeeze that is...if he needs a break. thanks!

 

[mom2fivecs]

I'm still up in the air on this one too. My ds will be 6 when we go and while I know it would help his little legs a bit....I just can't see him wanting to be in it and I hate to rent one and just carry the backpack in it...so we will probably try it without on the first day and see how it goes from there. Anybody else ever rent one and then end up not using it??

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

okay, it won't post...here is the link



http://allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mk_stro2.jpg

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

here is the AK ones:

http://allearsnet.com/tp/ak/akstrol.jpg

 

[Schmeck]

If your kid can't walk the mall, you're definitely going to have to get one at WDW. You might want to bring one, as he'll have trouble walking around the resort, to the buses, etc, as well. WDW is a lot of walking.

I agree that it's much easier not to have the stroller - we used one when DD was 2 1/2, and I remember doing a lot of backtracking to the stroller after attractions, lots of parking, unloading it, etc. When she was 5 we went strollerless, and had a much easier time of it! Both my girls are very active though, and had no problem with the exercise.

 

[jeannief]

does anyone have a photo of a stroller? what it looks like, how big it is? we will need one for my 2 year old. and i am wondering if my 5 yr would fit in to squeeze that is...if he needs a break. thanks!

FWIW, my 4 and 5 year old fit comforably in the double last year. We didn't rent one a couple of days and really regretted it. We found they were okay to walk to the parking lots, etc. if we had had the stroller in the parks.
We contemplated buying a cheap double (or 2 cheap umbrella styles) for our next trip and just leaving it there (same price as renting) but we love that the disney ones the kids can hop in and out on their own. The cheap double strollers I've found all have bars that can't come off, so we'll rent again. Well worth it!

 

[Allensfan]

Thanks a lot everyone. I actually was worried I would sound silly posting that question but now that I read the responses, I feel better. He really gets pooped walking the mall and I just can't carry him more than a few feet with out needing a stroller myself!

I just figure why push him to his limits? I want a vacation that feels good to everyone and I know the more rest we can give our kids the better they will feel, hence the more joy they will get out of it.

Thanks to these posts, I will be renting for sure.

I just love you guys! The advice is terrific!

 

[jloz]

We didn't rent one the first day and REALLY regretted it by the end of the day. My husband ended up putting our 5 year old on his shoulders and carrying her to the bus.

After that, we rented a double stroller which fit both our 5 and 8 year old. IT was a little cramped but when given the choice to not fight or walk, guess which they choose. We were reluctant to let him use one but we decided it was a good idea after realizing we were walking almost 5 miles a day. That's a lot for adults never mind the little legs. My husband brought his portable GPS which kept track of the amounts we walked.

If you know you will rent for multiple days, let them know the first day. They offer $3 off per day for more then single day rental. They will give you the receipt for all days stapled together so each day you just have to go to the podium to have the receipt stamped and not wait in the LONG line to pay. Also, if you park hop in one day, just show them the receipt from the other park and you do not have to pay again.

Another suggestion: Bring something unique like a ribbon to put on the stroller to easily identify yours. There are 100's of strollers in each "parking area" and it makes it easier to find.

 

[cara loves the poly]

I guess I'm the one to disagree. I wouldn't. We didn't get one for our 5 yr. old and I loved it! It is so freeing nothing to push or remember let alone manuaver in crowds and it was Easter so crowded. He is small for his age and we stayed all day till midnight. Kids have as much energy as adults, we never even gave him the option. I would rather have the money for other junk.

I completely agree, I wouldn't dream of putting my 6 year old in a stroller. My goodness there was a time when children were working on the family farm all day from the moment they turned 6! (LOL - that may be a bit of a stretch, but you get my point) The children can handle Disney! My children did fine last year. I also think an 8 or 9 year old in a stroller is just plain LAZY. What are we teaching them? They are going to have to learn to walk on their own someday!