Too big for stroller?

[TJA]

I have a question for those of you put bigger kids in strollers. Don't you get awful tired yourself? I would think that the kids might be rested but the parents would be worn out in some cases.

We never got tired with a jogger. We had a Baby Jogger City Series Double. I forgot to mention before, but another advantage to having the jogger was for when a rain storm hit! Boy was it nice to put the kids in the jogger with the rain cover on and not worry about keeping track of them while rushing through the rain and puddles. DH and I would put on our poncho's and just take our time without worry (unless it was lightning, of course).

 

[AFwifelife]

My kids are still young but I'm planning to keep our jogging stroller for years after they need one for day-to-day activities just for Disney. I've already told DH that when the kids are 7 and 6, I'm still planning to schlep the stroller around. Maybe even when they are 7 and 8 or 8 and 9. Heck maybe I'll just kick them out by that age and they can push me around.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We stopped using a stroller for our youngest at WDW after 4; the oldest went for the first time when he was 3 and didn't use a stroller. It just depends on the child, I guess. We were there last week and saw a huge number of "bigger" kids in strollers.

 

[Klayfish]

Thanks to this thread, I'm now rethinking my plan to have my twins walk the entire time. They're both physically active (both play sports), but WDW is HUGE and we're going for 17 days of near non-stop fun. They're going to get tired. Now I'm combing my local Craigslist for a deal on a double wide jogging stroller. As I said before, I'd rather have them look sort of silly than look cool but be grumpier than...well...Grumpy.

 

[Tondee]

We average 11 to 12 miles when going to MK. I would take a stroller.

 

[Baklava]

If my 6 year old was not special needs (needs a retreat from sensory overload) we would not have gotten her one. We'd rather walk a little slower and take a few breaks.

 

[tink9702]

If in doubt, you probably should have a stroller for the older child too. Sharing doesn't work so well because they always want it at the same time (or at least that was our experience last trip!)

We will be bringing a single stroller for DD in September. She'll be 3 months shy of her 6th birthday. She's on the short side & doesn't like walking. She's very fit and loves to bike, scooter and plays outside all the time, but really hates to walk even in stores. I'd rather have her happy all day instead of upset/complaining. DS will NOT have a stroller this upcoming trip. He turns 7 this month & is extremely active. I will NOT be bringing the stroller on our Hollywood Studios day because it's a ton of shows, and the smallest park, she won't need it. I definitely want the stroller for AK & Epcot because they are so big and we don't do hardly any sitting down there! MK is a toss up. We probably will bring it but park it a lot.

I do think it depends on your style of touring too. We don't take afternoon breaks so it's a long day for the kids!

 

[lynch34]

My son was 8 and he had a stroller. That sounds crazy but I have two others (they were 5 and 3) and strollers are great because kids get tired and when they get tired they get cranky.

Also - if they are all in strollers - I know where they are.

 

[Duckiedee]

We used one constantly with my daughter when she was 5. It is not even a question for us to bring one for my son. We haven't used a stroller with him in a few years at home.

Even if they can keep up - when they crash, they crash. It was hard enough lugging my daughter around who was about 36lbs, my son is closer to 50lbs, on and off the bus without the stroller at the end of the day! I can't imagine carrying them out of the park from Wishes or similar... And then from the bus to the hotel room!

Thankfully my daughter is now 11 and 5'2", so I'm hoping she is fine! LOL

At the worst - you have storage.

 

[brooke789]

We just returned from a 2 week trip. We had 8 park days (days before this were really just partial days using our WP&M entitlements). During those 8 days we walked 63 miles. We have a 2 year old and 2 5 (6 on 6/30) year olds. We took a Bob single and a Maclaren double. It was absolutely necessary on our park days. We were able to get through the crowds/masses faster and easier than when the kids were walking. We questioned whether or not to take the stroller for the older two, but decided if we got there and they refused we'd just not use it. But they were so glad to have the ride. It was no problem whatsoever pushing as far as myself or my husband being tired.

ETA: We did not take the double to Disney Springs or water parks. Only into the theme parks.

 

[drdrowsy]

have you considered getting a "Skateboard" for the back of the stroller?

http://www.babyjogger.com/product/glider-board/

it attaches to the back axle of the stroller. We used this the last time we were there with a 5 and 3 year old and it worked SOOOO much better than renting a double.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I do not take strollers after 3 years old. Unless a child has special needs I can't see it. We are a society of lazy children(my opinion). We take things at the pace of the slowest child and rest as needed. Heck my son refused his stroller in Disney at 1 1/2 and kept up just fine.

 

[Chelle's Belles]

I would put them both in a stroller. Sure the 6/yo *can* walk. But a Disney day is a LOT of walking. You'll all have more fun if both kids can sit and ride from time to time. 6 y/o can walk as long as that's working and ride when it becomes an issue. Of all the bizarre behavior you'll see at WDW a 6 y/o in a stroller should not raise an eyebrow (not that you should care about that.)

 

[Duckiedee]

Thanks to this thread, I'm now rethinking my plan to have my twins walk the entire time. They're both physically active (both play sports), but WDW is HUGE and we're going for 17 days of near non-stop fun. They're going to get tired. Now I'm combing my local Craigslist for a deal on a double wide jogging stroller. As I said before, I'd rather have them look sort of silly than look cool but be grumpier than...well...Grumpy.

Keep looking! Our stroller had died, and I was looking for a used one... I got an AMAZING lightweight single stroller for $15 CDN!!! With a canopy and some storage. Now we have it for the airport! If we had rented for 10 days it was going to be more than $80 US. I was so stoked!!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I used one for my daughter until she was 7 at Disney. She's not 12 and little. Since she was 3 she has been a gymnast (now just tumbles), an avid dancer (now at 12 she dances with high schoolers and in in class 11+ hours per week), and was a cheerleader for a few years in there. So she was capable of walking and certainly NOT "lazy"! But I could move easier with knowing where she was all the time. She was safer in the stroller than out of it. Sitting and "strolling" gave her a chance to look up and around and enjoy the atmosphere more than if she had to worry about where she was walking and where we were in relation to her. When we went when it was hot out, she had a place to cool off and rest a bit. On nights when me and her older brother (now 17) wanted to stay out late, she crashed right there. The stroller also allowed us to have someplace to put extra things so we did not have to lug everything on our backs.

If asked today, she'd still tell you she'd ride in a stroller (and she'd probably still fit comfortably...LOL)...I won't ask but she would have no problem with it.

 

[Crystal824]

I have kids about the same age as you. Mine are 5 and 2. I probably wouldn't get a stroller for just the 5 year old. However, with a younger child, you need a stroller anyway. I get a double. I rent from an offsite stroller place. I don't like the hard plastic ones Disney rents. While your older child will probably walk most of the time, it is nice to have a place if they get tired. Also, it is helpful to have a place to put both kids when getting out of crowded areas such as night shows.

 

[DisneyMom111]

I actually got a double stroller for my son until he was 6 years old, so he could go on one side and my backpack could go on the other. When he outgrew the stroller, I dreaded having to carry my bag! lol I sill want to rent one just to push my bag around!! Also, we went back when my nephew was the same age and my sister and BIL ended up missing Illuminations because my nephew was so tired and cranky they had to leave. So for me it was totally worth it to use it as long as I could, it helped me and it kept my kid from getting too tired to finish out the night. Could he have done it? Sure. But why push it? It's a long hot day with so much walking, let them have the break.

 

[Klayfish]

Keep looking! Our stroller had died, and I was looking for a used one... I got an AMAZING lightweight single stroller for $15 CDN!!! With a canopy and some storage. Now we have it for the airport! If we had rented for 10 days it was going to be more than $80 US. I was so stoked!!!!

No worries. I found a number of them on Craigslist...sent them to my wife who is off to check out one now as I type this. It's one where one kid faces forward, the other faces backward (facing the person pushing, so the kids are back to back). That may be good because it's narrower and will be easier to navigate traffic...and get on/off the trams.

 

[Duckiedee]

No worries. I found a number of them on Craigslist...sent them to my wife who is off to check out one now as I type this. It's one where one kid faces forward, the other faces backward (facing the person pushing, so the kids are back to back). That may be good because it's narrower and will be easier to navigate traffic...and get on/off the trams.

And keep them from fighting. LOL.

 

[CS Torkelson]

We had a Joovy Caboose stroller our first trip for our 7 year old and 4 year old. My oldest walks at home a lot - we take daily walks around our neighborhood several times a week for several miles each time. He's a black belt in tae kwon do and very physically fit. And he used the stroller for a break quite a bit on that first trip. Even if he was just standing on the platform, it gave him a bit of time to rest and he had a place to sit for the parades, snacks, fireworks. I was also able to keep track of both of them as we left the parks with the masses and were jostled this way and that. People might have judged us, but frankly I did not care (and still wouldn't, years later). My kids were happy, rested, and not being dragged through the parks by their arms and whining and having meltdowns like so many others I have witnessed who are overtired and sore and exhausted.

My sentiments exactly!