To stroller or not to stroller?

[COscrapper]

Yet another 1st-timer question for you experts. We will be at the park for 3 days this week with our 4-year-old son, who rarely rides in a stroller anymore. We are staying at Hojo's and hoping to use the ART bus to get back to the hotel at night, but if it doesn't work out we're wondering if we should have an umbrella stroller with us. DS will most likely be VERY tired at the end of the day, if not passed out already, and there's no way we can carry him around. BUT is it worth it to deal with the hassle of pushing around a stroller all day? I can't imagine it's very safe to leave it sitting somewhere when we're on a ride, so what would we DO with it? Actually, I'm wondering what we "do" with our stuff in general when we're on a ride. If we bring a small backpack with snacks, water, etc., I can't take that on a ride with me either, can I?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

My cousins have a 5-year old and went to DL for a few days. The first day she didn't have a stroller and was totally wiped out by early evening. They had to go back to the hotels. Also, she was cranky by the afternoon.

The next day they got a stroller and whenever she was tired she just hopped in there. It really worked out great for them. She was rested, and they were able to enjoy their visit so much better.

As for carrying everything, I always took a little backpack when my kids were younger and had no problem taking it on the rides with me. I just put it at my feet & wrapped the strap around my ankle for the mountain rides, or just put it on my lap, or used it as a cushion on Splash Mtn. It worked for me.

 

[jham]

My DD4 rarely rides in the stroller anymore either but I will definitely be bringing the stroller for the trip. On our last couple of trips even my DS who was 5 and 6 on those trips was tired in the parks and we ended up renting a stroller for him. I'm sure my DD4 wouldn't make a whole day of walking around the parks without it. It is also handy for "holding" your non-valuable essentials while you are on rides. We will be staying at the Hojo and walking back from the parks on our next trip and I wouldn't want to even attempt it without the stroller. I'm worrying about getting DS6 back at night.

 

[ballarinamom]

We take a stroller every trip. Even our past trip and DD is 7. It made for a more relaxing trip as she was not so worn out. We leave our stroller all over the place and have had no prblems. Our last trip, she was too big for our umbrella stroller. But we used it primarily for getting to and from the hotel and got the free Disney visa stroller to use around the park. (Now the strollers are half price) We left our stroller outside of Star Tours the entire day and even took pictures of it sitting there all alone!

 

[goldies 5]

I agree with Mary Jo. I would bring the stroller. You can park them many places for great lengths of time if that is convenient for you. You will find great parking areas in every land. Just leave it until you are ready for another area of the park. You will be thankful you have it in DTD because it can involve a lot of walking, and a cranky kid can make for an unhappy evening.
I take our backpack on the rides with us. I would not leave mine in the stroller.

 

[mad hatter fan]

I would definitely use a stroller for a 4 year old. You just do soo much more walking than usual while at DLR that many people use a stroller for kids that don't use them at home any longer. When our youngest was in the 3-5 age range we tended to park the stroller in one location (especially for Fantasyland, Toontown, and Tomorrowland) and hit multiple attractions and then go get the stroller again.

I would not worry about anything happening to your stroller when you leave it. We have never had any trouble on any of our trips. Then again, I would not bring a very expensive stroller just in case. Just make sure if you are considering an umbrella stroller that your 4 year old can still be comfortable in it and that the handles are at a comfortable height for you to push it all day.

We have always put our stuff in a backpack and carried it with us onto the rides with no problems. We have sometimes left a few things under the stroller but never anything of much of any value, money or sentiment wise.

Have a great trip!

 

[DangerMouse]

Stroller, DEFINITELY stroller!

 

[grumpy's fan]

I agree - bring the stroller. My DD still used a stroller during our trip last year and she was 7. She just gets soooo very tired from all the walking that after a few days she is completely worn out. Worn out at Disney is just not fun!

 

[JustAKid]

Thanks OP for posting this question, it's a good one, and I'm glad I know now. I was going to leave my stroller at home, I have seen the light

 

[MyMonkies]

I agree with all the others, bring a stroller!!!! We still bring a backpack & keep any thing we care about in it & take it on the rides. Other random things, like maybe a sweatshirt, bottle of water, get left in the stroller.

 

[COscrapper]

Thanks, everyone. I guess that's unanimous!

 

[jenpace]

Another mom of a 7 year old who brings the stroller to DL here

 

[disneymum58]

Definitely bring the stroller. Everything in Fantasyland was so close that we would park the stroller, then pick it up when we were ready to leave for another land.

 

[Casken]

We take a stroller every trip. Even our past trip and DD is 7. It made for a more relaxing trip as she was not so worn out.

My dd is 7 and I would like to have a stroller because I know he will be cranky. I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one who would put a 7 year old in a stroller.

I'd definitely get one. They may be a pain to have to push around but it's better than having to carry your child. Sometimes I wish I was four so I could be pushed around when I got tired (I better be careful what I wish for).

 

[bumbershoot]

Stroller, DEFINITELY stroller!

Absolutely!

 

[grumpy's fan]

Don't worry if people give you weird looks either! My DD is tall for her age and her legs hang way down the rental stroller but I'd rather have a happy 7yr old than a cranky one!

 

[mlenz]

The first time we went we had ou ds 4 years old with us and did not bring a stroller since he has more stamina than most adults he would go from morning till night and be fine, the next time we went we had a baby so we needed the stroller and man I never realised how handy it would be, by the end of each night it would just be packed with stuff. I think we will use a stroller untill our kids are sixteen or so

 

[Brady's Mom]

Stroller!

We take our double jogging stroller when we go for DS 5 and DS 7. We've been taking it for three years now! We can store a bunch of stuff in the bottom - snacks, ponchos and water bottles, mostly. We usually keep our sweatshirts with us since we don't want anyone to take them. Not that they are so expensive or anything - we just don't necessarily want to buy new ones at DLR!

One of the little tricks I learned on the Dis is to park your stroller backwards of everyone else. It can sometimes be a pain to get it out of the line of strollers, but it is super easy to pick yours out of the crowd! And, it is a little more difficult for someone to walk off with your stroller, not because it's locked or anything, but it is just a smidge more difficult and could deter a would be thief.

 

[kailuagirl]

Take the stroller. We left ours parked outside the rides and had no problem. We carried all the valuable stuff but did leave some stuff in the stroller and thankgoodness no one took them But I have read here that alot of people have had things taken out of the strollers. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Nanseev]

I've done both, and fully understand your undecideness. Ultimately, if I know I want to have a long day at the parks, I bring the stroller. If I am planning on a mid-day nap in the hotel or if I'm ok with an abbreviated day (NOT open to close....or even fireworks for that matter), I go without the stroller. It's certainly much more free without the stroller, but a shorter day.