Transitioning from Stroller to walk. Need reassurance....

[mickeyluv'r]

Oh, strollers at WDW are expensive. If you are on the fence, and your stroller wont be a huge hassle in the airport, then you might be better off bringing it- but plan on leaving it in the room (most days)

Then again, as they say...out of sight, out of mind.

It might also help to know, of all days, Epcot is the most walking. AK is probably lowest.

 

[My3Princez]

I still brought an umbrella stroller long past when my kids would use it. It was our wheeled, parkable backpack for water, snacks, sunscreen, etc. Of course, we've always gone at lower crowd times, so I never had to fight crazy crowd issues, but I really liked having a stroller instead of renting a locker!

 

[staceyeileen]

For everyone using strollers with kids 5+, what kind of stroller are you using? I tend toward as streamlined as possible and the sit& stand I used when my kids were 3&5 started buckling under their weight and being difficult to push. Nephew is a very big 2.5 and hard to push in the compact umbrella and since he's a "fireplug" I can't imagine him fitting well in it beyond 4 at the latest.

I have a Baby Jogger City Elite. Max weight is 75lbs. I still push it one handed with my 5 year old in it.

 

[Lovetherodent]

Well, the first issue is the practical matter of how big your kid is. I never wanted anything bigger than an umbrella (very agile when maneuvering through crowds). I googled the popular "mini" people mention and what I saw was the size of a small city bus. I think I could fit in one of those things, and I wouldn't want to push one around in the park.

I think the second depends on how active your child is. (And you need to be honest with yourself about this one.) My youngest was 7 on our second trip. No stroller, no problem, no complaints, but this was a really, really active kid. If your child is one who does a lot of sitting/screen time and the only real, sweaty, physical activity is a couple of hours of organized sport a week and school recess, Disney may be too much walking, and you'll want the wheels.

 

[monica9]

Well, the first issue is the practical matter of how big your kid is. I never wanted anything bigger than an umbrella (very agile when maneuvering through crowds). I googled the popular "mini" people mention and what I saw was the size of a small city bus. I think I could fit in one of those things, and I wouldn't want to push one around in the park.

I think the second depends on how active your child is. (And you need to be honest with yourself about this one.) My youngest was 7 on our second trip. No stroller, no problem, no complaints, but this was a really, really active kid. If your child is one who does a lot of sitting/screen time and the only real, sweaty, physical activity is a couple of hours of organized sport a week and school recess, Disney may be too much walking, and you'll want the wheels.

She's 48 inches now (yay- most ride level!) at almost 7. We are going in 7 months so she might grow a little
She is extremely active but when she gets tired she becomes a different child. With energy she is dancing and singing while she walks but with her normal bedtime at 730-8 and then going to bed at 10-11, the active child might not be so active anymore and she literally shuts down.

I almost feel like we should buy a $30 stroller just for the heck of it just in case we need it towards the end of the week or our late nights. I know she will be fine the first few days of our vacation though

 

[Belle61513]

When I was 6, my dad said "we can go to Disney but only if you don't use a stroller." I promised I could do it and it was fine. I'm sure he carried me piggyback or on his shoulders some nights, but I walked the majority of it.

 

[kaetra]

I would bring it for as long as I could possibly get away with it. We took a folding umbrella stroller when our petite daughter was 7 and boy was I glad we had it! I was really bummed when the stroller days were over.

Whatever works for you is best. It would not hurt to take it in case you need it.

 

[monica9]

I asked her if she'd ever use it just for the heck of it and she said "no, only if I was really tired then I would absolutely want it." So I'm thinking brining a cheap umbrella and leaving it in hotel room most nights or renting. How much is it to rent? Aren't they really wide and large?

 

[Jennygt]

I know how you feel, my 8 year old still hops in my little ones stroller sometimes lol.

 

[Cedarmom]

We went at the beginning of Feb. I have an almost 6 year old and we went stroller free but with the intention of renting one for a day or two if needed. She was totally fine without one for all 6 WDW days and 2 universal days at the end.

We rope dropped every morning, hit the parks full force all day and then generally wound down and headed back to the hotel after dinner to keep the kids on a semi-normal sleep schedule and minimize meltdowns. I think we were back in the room by 9 every night (we don't do fireworks for issues related to another kid). Had we tried for super late nights we might have had a different experience, but with our touring style, no stroller was needed.

I've seen references to the amount of walking. I wear a Fitbit, and I had between 21k and 25k steps every day. For me, that's in the 10 mile range. Just fwiw.

 

[Tremaine Fans]

After nearly a dozen trips using the stroller, I was soooo hesitant to go without it. Honestly, the transition was no problem and the trip so much easier!

 

[Planogirl]

We always just stopped and rested whenever any of us got tired. I hated strollers and was only too glad to ditch ours.

 

[Disneylover99]

I asked her if she'd ever use it just for the heck of it and she said "no, only if I was really tired then I would absolutely want it." So I'm thinking brining a cheap umbrella and leaving it in hotel room most nights or renting. How much is it to rent? Aren't they really wide and large?

if you really want the stroller, I would just buy a cheap umbrella stroller. I see them at stores for about $20.

 

[Judique]

We've never used a stroller, but I can't wait to take the grands and have a stroller for my stuff!

Maybe I could just get one and pretend the grand was already in the park?

 

[vettechick99]

We will be taking our DDs in June, who will be 8 and 4.5. Our 8yo will be fine. I think at 7-8 they are old enough to keep up and have the stamina. Hello, they have better stamina than we do! We're the out of shape ones.

But if you are worried she may want it as a crutch (and complain tirelessly), you can always reward her at the end of the day by not needing one. Some money that goes towards souvenirs? I would talk it up ("You are such a big girl, not needing that baby stroller any more! And big girls get rewards, blah blah blah"). That way she knows how much she could potentially have by the end of the trip and she can also be looking the whole time at potential items. I'm all about rewarding and distraction tactics. Fatigue is a frame of mine.

BTW, I teach Kindergarten and would recommend that age group would still need one. But by late 1st grade and into 2nd (which I also taught), I think they are typically ok. Unless it's a special circumstance. Have a great time!!

 

[North of Mouse]

Here now, and if all the strollers for that age and up were not being used would sure be easier for everyone to navigate. Of course, the strollers are mostly on the huge size when used to accommodate the larger children, so walking can be a nightmare, especially at night.

 

[North of Mouse]

We've never used a stroller, but I can't wait to take the grands and have a stroller for my stuff!

Maybe I could just get one and pretend the grand was already in the park?

Just being curious, not snarky, but I can't imagine what you would bring, with no babies, that would require something to tote it?

Just dh & I now, I use a crossbody - even have camera & small umbrella, get my water at the CS. Tie my windbreaker around my waist when not using, so hands free and so comfortable and easy to get about.

 

[IrishNYC]

We haven't used a stroller at home since she was 3.5, but we're keeping ourselves open to renting one when we're there in May. DD will be 5.5 then. She's used to a lot of walking, but Disney will be a LOT of walking.

 

[terri33inne]

My daughter was 7 on our last trip & I rented one from Kingdom Strollers (great company BTW). It stayed in our room all day, but if we were going out at night I brought it. It's just her & I, and carrying her is not an option for me, she is a VERY active healthy kid, but Disney is a different story. Also, on our previous trip I didn't have it, and she was getting pretty stressed in the crowd after wishes, with her height being down so low, with all the bumping & jostling. It also is nice when you have to get somewhere quickly. Every family has to do what works for them.

 

[Lovetherodent]

Just being curious, not snarky, but I can't imagine what you would bring, with no babies, that would require something to tote it?

Just dh & I now, I use a crossbody - even have camera & small umbrella, get my water at the CS. Tie my windbreaker around my waist when not using, so hands free and so comfortable and easy to get about.

. I have the same question! I bring more than you because I'm really prone to sunburn and I now have to carry cheaters in order to read a menu, but enough to fill a stroller?