Transitioning to NO stroller- ack!

[Mrs~Incredible]

ok so I know there are lots of stroller posts right now, and I've read every one

What I'm looking for is advice on how to transition AWAY from the stroller, from a packing point of view. Man I loved that thing like to carry our basics-
Ponchos
Sunblock
Misting fan
Snacks
6 bottles of water in soft sided small cooler

DD will be 5 at our next trip (September), and I think for the most part we will go stroller-free, although we may end up renting for the day at Epcot since that place is massive. And it will be hot.

So, even though she won't need one, how's a mama to survive? I really don't want a backpack in the Florida heat That little stroller is almost like a member of the family!

Do I just forget about bringing my own water and buy it as we go? Man that will be pricey. Cha-Ching cha-Ching

Any suggestions on making a smooth transition to the stroller free disney lifestyle with a kid in tow will be appreciated, LOL.

For what it's worth, we stay off site and hit the parks hard for 7 days.

Thanks!

 

[ktlm]

I have a high energy DD. Based on your statement you hit the parks hard, if you still have a small stroller, I would rethink not bringing it. We brought ours when DD was 5, thinking we would wind up parking it that first morning, not using it and would probably leave it in the room the rest of the trip. We used it a whole lot more than we thought we would- especially toward the end of the week- and I would think the heat would make it more useful. Even though DD was very high energy and did not set foot in a stroller other than WDW or DLR after she turned 12 months old, at age 5, she just didn't have the stamina quite yet for open to close days at WDW especially as it got closer to the end of the trip.

As far as transitioning, that first trip without a stroller was hard to get used to. Funny, you are exited about getting rid of the stroller while you are lugging it on vacation and then when you don't have it, you realize how useful it was for carting around stuff. The "Mom, can you hold this for me?" doesn't stop either. I didn't want to drag a backpack. I switched from carrying a Vera Bradly hipster into the parks to a Vera Bradley mailbag, it holds a lot more stuff, but is still a very lightweight purse. It should easily hold the packaged ponchos (not unwrapped or big ones), sunblock and snacks for you, but we don't bring our own water into the parks any more. I could fit a couple bottles in the purse, but then the condensation on the outside would just make things wet. As far as the misting fan, if you really want that, you can get one with a strap. You really do have to give up a few things you carry into the parks unless you want to lug a backpack, but the kids don't need quite as much either.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I have a high energy DD. Based on your statement you hit the parks hard, if you still have a small stroller, I would rethink not bringing it. We brought ours when DD was 5, thinking we would wind up parking it that first morning, not using it and would probably leave it in the room the rest of the trip. We used it a whole lot more than we thought we would- especially toward the end of the week- and I would think the heat would make it more useful. Even though DD was very high energy and did not set foot in a stroller other than WDW or DLR after she turned 12 months old, at age 5, she just didn't have the stamina quite yet for open to close days at WDW especially as it got closer to the end of the trip.

As far as transitioning, that first trip without a stroller was hard to get used to. Funny, you are exited about getting rid of the stroller while you are lugging it on vacation and then when you don't have it, you realize how useful it was for carting around stuff. The "Mom, can you hold this for me?" doesn't stop either. I didn't want to drag a backpack. I switched from carrying a Vera Bradly hipster into the parks to a Vera Bradley mailbag, it holds a lot more stuff, but is still a very lightweight purse. It should easily hold the packaged ponchos (not unwrapped or big ones), sunblock and snacks for you, but we don't bring our own water into the parks any more. I could fit a couple bottles in the purse, but then the condensation on the outside would just make things wet. As far as the misting fan, if you really want that, you can get one with a strap. You really do have to give up a few things you carry into the parks unless you want to lug a backpack, but the kids don't need quite as much either.

Oh my gosh you are my Disney twin! Thank you for replying! It's funny, at 20 months she didn't use the stroller hardly at all but at 3.5 she used it quite a bit when she was exhausted- smart girl! We really had the perfect park regime down for that day- the stroller and my Vera hipster (!) . That trip really turned me on to the awesomeness of Vera bags.

I will look for the mail bag, but also think about taking the stroller for this time too- at least for Epcot and AK maybe.

Thanks again!

 

[Thing 1]

I too think I would rethink not taking the stroller. We did a no stroller trip at age 5 BUT we stayed on site and never did an open to close day and took a mid-day break most days and did not ever hit the parks that hard ever! It at least will delay your worries! If you decide to not take the stroller, you may want to at least not carry water. Buy or get free cups as you need them. We carry very very little into the parks. Cargo pants pockets or maybe a very small cross body bag is it for us.

 

[Dis703]

I would take the stroller as well. I skipped it when I took ODS at 5 and he did "okay," but it would have been a lot easier to have it. I just took one of my other boys at 4 1/2 and rented a single (because we only own a double) and it was so worth it to have. So much easier to navigate crowds, to rush if we want to make a bus or boat that we see boarding but is still far away. Easier when it's raining, when he wanted to chill and snack but we were on route to something and I didn't want to stop. It just makes life easier, period.

 

[chris31997]

ok so I know there are lots of stroller posts right now, and I've read every one

What I'm looking for is advice on how to transition AWAY from the stroller, from a packing point of view. Man I loved that thing like to carry our basics-
Ponchos
Sunblock
Misting fan
Snacks
6 bottles of water in soft sided small cooler

DD will be 5 at our next trip (September), and I think for the most part we will go stroller-free, although we may end up renting for the day at Epcot since that place is massive. And it will be hot.

So, even though she won't need one, how's a mama to survive? I really don't want a backpack in the Florida heat That little stroller is almost like a member of the family!

Do I just forget about bringing my own water and buy it as we go? Man that will be pricey. Cha-Ching cha-Ching

Any suggestions on making a smooth transition to the stroller free disney lifestyle with a kid in tow will be appreciated, LOL.

For what it's worth, we stay off site and hit the parks hard for 7 days.

Thanks!

Go stoller free. It is helpful and nice.

Think what was used last time you went. Did you use the ponchos? For the short time it is raining, in the summer, can you sit and take a break under cover?

6 bottles of water? What about bring one that can be refilled? Maybe 2 if you do not want to share with kids. I do not like sharing with kids.

Snacks......think compact protein. Or even forgo the snacks all together unless it is to skip a meal.

Sunblock is a must. But do you need a bottle with 32oz? Maybe have that bottle in your room and carry a smaller bottle in the parks.

Little one wants autographs or trade pins, she gets to carry those. A small bag works. In fact she can carry a snack or two herself.


Here is what we carry:
camera bag- backpack style it will hold id's, money, sunscreen, refillable bottle(I am nuts about hydration), a bag to cover camera IF it rains
Kids- carry trading pins(IF they carry more than that it is in a bag they carry)

Hubby and I will switch off carry my camera. We stopped carry ponchos. We enjoy getting wet to cool off.

 

[Disneylover99]

Bring an umbrella stroller and ditch the water. Get free cups at counter service locations.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Thanks all- ok so here is a weird question. For water, do you just use the water fountains or do CS restaurants fill your cup for you? I know this sounds strange, but on a trip there with several people, the ones using the water fountains had major stomach issues

 

[squirrel]

I would keep a stroller. I took my nieces at that age and the same time of year. We also hit the park from open to close or even later and we stayed on property with EMH. Some nights we didn't leave MK until after 2am. We would do 2-3 park days and then have a day off, then repeat.

For water I always started the day with one frozen water bottle and then would get CS water and refill the waterbottle. CS can not refill your water bottle. They have strict rules that a cup must be used and can not be used again to refill.

 

[buzznina]

Umbrella stroller with storage We still take a stroller, our last trip in November our youngest DD just turned 6 and I could not have imagined the trip without it. Every where you go will be at the little ones pace, she walked a bunch but we loved being able to tell her to hop in and cover 5x as much ground. Plus, we stay late and with the stroller she never got grumpy from being exhausted. Sorry but I just laugh at the posts where the parents whine about how difficult a stroller is. We have been going with 1 and sometimes 2 strollers and we use the buses A LOT and rarely did we have any issues. I know you can get water filled, but the 4 of us go through a lot of water and the last thing I want to do is wait in another line to get a cup of water. I also agree about not like using a backpack and no I really would rather not have to drink from the water fountains.

 

[kohlby]

Ponchos - We bring both thick and cheap thin ones. If the chance of rain is high, then we bring the thicker ones (but then don't need sunblock and misting fan). If the chance of rain is low or medium, we bring the thin ones.
Sunblock - One sunblock for us all to share. We put sunscreen on at the hotel before leaving for the day as well.
Misting fan - How many of these do you need? Could you use one smaller one?
Snacks - bring less snacks and more compact snacks.
6 bottles of water in soft sided small cooler - We use a brita water bottle that has a filter in it and then just get water at the park. We share the water bottle and refill as needed. The water from the water fountains tasted really gross to me - until I used the filter. I get counter service water sometimes too, but they gave such small cups and it was hard to carry enough water for all of us so we did that less.

 

[squirrel]

No need to wait in lines for free ice water! If you go into the restaurant and look at the lines, they usually have one closed. Walk up to the empty area and wait. Someone always asks what you want - tell them ice water and they bring it to you.

Any place that serves fountain drinks can give you free ice water.

 

[kimj88]

I would not give up the stroller yet. Also, many of the quick service places will give you a free cup of ice water upon request.

 

[DisneyOma]

For water, we bring the filter bottles, and refill at the water fountains. My daughter and I share one.

How many ponchos do you bring? What do you use them for? Do you really need them?

Mister fan - there are misting stations at each park. Or get a tiny one at the dollar store. No need to haul the huge one around. There's plenty of AC at WDW.

Everything else - either one big backpack to carry between two adults, or two smaller ones. Five year old can have small bag that has stuff in it too.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Great ideas!

I think I will ditch the ponchos. And the "snacks" consisted of a PB and J for my picky eater and a couple of granola bars- those could fit in my purse instead of the cooler (but eating them cold was always nice)

I didn't know about the ice water at CS- maybe we will try that or a filter bottle.

I think we will try MK and HS without the stroller, but still bring it for EP and AK. Guess now I just need to figure out whether I should bring ours (and cram her in), rent from an Orlando place so she has more room to nap if needed, or rent at the park.

For the Mickey strollers in the park, have your kids slept in them?

May not be an issue for us (DD is not big on sleeping lol), but curious about your thoughts!

Thanks!

 

[msmama]

My son stopped using a stroller at 5 because he outgrew it and I wasn't buying another.

I've never taken ponchos. Ever. If it rains, we find an inside place for awhile (if rain was forecasted for the entire day I'd probably break down and buy disney poncho's when needed, which has always been my plan, but I'm still completely poncho free).

I do take a bottle of spray sunscreen. We need to reapply often (well, I need to reapply often).

I take a granola bar for every person (or protein bar or something). They are our emergency supply when someone is getting "hangry" but other than that we eat in the parks (found that sharing meals and eating more often, both meals and snacks, works better for us and costs about the same since we're sharing everything).

Sometimes carry a water bottle (if drinking it when leaving the resort in the morning) and then refill it from free water at CS places. In fact, all I drink at WDW anymore is free water.
As for bag, sometimes I do my Vera Bradley hipster but I find that bothers my shoulders after awhile so I went around to MANY stores to find the lightest backpack I could find, with comfortable straps. I ended up finding one at Target but it was years ago. It's pretty light because I don't carry much (wristlet with phone, needed cards which sometimes/often I carry on my wrist, sunscreen, maps, maybe a water bottle, granola bars, small bag of bandaids/first aid - because one of us always seems to have some kind of preexisting issue and that's about it). Other things that may go in through the day are sunglasses and hats (and in cold weather light jackets).

 

[squirrel]

I took a backpack with one water bottle, Cameras (camcorder and camera), bandaids, ziplock bags, hand wipes, sunscreen, etc.

I put the backpack on the handles of the stroller and when we parked it I'd grab it and get in line for what ever attractions we were doing. My niece would have a nap especially on the nights we were going to be up late. The bottom of the stroller had a ziplock bag with one complete outfit for my niece and a poncho. We only needed ponchos one time when we went (out of 4) as they had the worst rainfall ever (CM's were shocked). It rained for a day and a half straight. I ended up buying from Disney as it was really bad.

 

[supertinyluckycat]

I can't drink florida water- it's so gross to me. You could always bring a stroller then leave it in stroller parking while you walk around? Once my daughter outgrows the stroller I'll probably have another baby just so I can bring a stroller to Disney I'm kidding, but I really hate carrying things so for me the hassle of a stroller is totally less than the hassle of carrying stuff.

 

[Gillyrose779]

I have 5 and 6 year old boys and we are taking a stroller- my biggest excuse- I'm so use to having the storage space in the stroller- lol- I hate the idea of wearing a backpack.

I also think it's great when getting through crowds and trying to go faster to make a bus, FP time, etc...

My kids are small for their ages too- 43 and 45" so their little legs can only go so far and I don't want to hear "mom- pick me up- pleeeeaaassseee- my legs are soooo tired" lol

 

[Gillyrose779]

I can't drink florida water- it's so gross to me. You could always bring a stroller then leave it in stroller parking while you walk around? Once my daughter outgrows the stroller I'll probably have another baby just so I can bring a stroller to Disney I'm kidding, but I really hate carrying things so for me the hassle of a stroller is totally less than the hassle of carrying stuff.

That is what we kind of do- take the stroller and park it- then go around that area for a while... go back and get the stroller when we are ready to go to another section of the park.