Using strollers to keep the adults happy?

[TheLittleRoo]

My kids will be 4.5 and 7.5 when we go to WDW in August. I know they *probably* could walk it all, but my younger will whine after not much walking. Most importantly to my decision making is, our pace in the park is not slowed down by little legs dragging heavy feet!

Anyone else feel this way? I know our day starts with: rope drop, be here, be there, get FP's, re-join the group, etc - - I would be frazzled trying to get them to hurry up. So really, the strollers are for the adults to be able to move at an adult pace. I confess: it really is for MY benefit! Just wonder if anyone else thinks the same way! This year I might take two singles though for ease of getting on the buses.

 

[Schmeck]

Your 4 1/2 year old will definitely need a stroller, and I'd bring one from home. I think a 7 1/2 yr old will be uncomfortable in a regular umbrella stroller, plus the weight limit would be pretty low. I'd opt to rent a stroller at the park if/when the older child needed one. For example, you may not need one at MK or DHS, but EPCOT is huge, and I'd like a stroller for me there sometimes as well!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Yes - we always used a stroller because without it the kids would have taken forever to walk - plus when they were little we worried that one would wander off. It was great to store our stuff in too.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

TOTALLY!!!!! My girls will be 4.75 and 8.75(does that make sense? Oh well..), when we go in June and they are LAZY!!!! And whiny, but like the last poster, I don't blame them...that's a lot of walking...I was considering renting a length of stay double...pretty pricey, but I think it will be worth it to have somewhere for them to chill and for us to move at a good pace when needed ...any other suggestions? Also, my girls are pretty big for their ages so the molded plastic, while not very comfortable, would be stronger to hold their tank-like bodies!!

 

[brymolmom]

Hi there. Our last trip in Nov was our first without a double. My cutoff (and might be different if my kids were different) is 6 years old. we took the single and ds6 walked while dd5 rode. It was a little tough especially since we were still letting dd ride. DS6 got very tired in EPCOT but then ended up fine in the end.

This Aug when we go - dd will still be 5...so I'm still within my own cutoff date - so we will again have a single. The next trip totally stroller-less will be very tough though - because she is not much of a walker. I figure on that trip I'll plan a lot of 1/2 days in the parks. This trip I hope to not bring the stroller on a 1/2 day at MK that is planned - to see how it goes and to get her used to it. We'll have lunch ressies at 12:15 - be there at rope drop and be heading back to the room right after. I figure this is a good 'first step' to the stroller-free life.

Would it be easier for ME to just keep them both in one? YES! But I really do not like kids older than 5 in one. I guess to me it is that lazy thing...If you're too lazy to do the work...then you're too lazy to reap the benefits like seeing/doing everything and staying all day. I like to TRY to teach the 'you are responsible for yourself' lesson around now. Does it mean I wouldn't break down in the late afternoon if everyone wanted to stay at EPCOT until Illuminations and rent one for a half of a day even when she is 6?? Of course not - I would do that on a very limited basis. I just don't want to bring a stroller and have them expect it after the age of 5.

 

[soccerchick]

Yes, we took ours last trip. Kids were 8 and 5. DD ended up with a nasty case of strep right before we left and she was wiped out down there. It was a lifesaver for her. A few people gave us weird looks when she was in the stroller, but I could not have cared less.

It made leaving the park after Illuminations, Fantasia, etc. much better b/c we could put DS in it and not worry about getting separated in the crowds.

 

[susykt4]

We ALWAYS took the strollers for adult sanity! Soooo worth it!

That said, our trip last month was our first without strollers. DD8 and DS6 made it through 8 long park days without! It was awesome to NOT have strollers! We were so free. We always used cheap umbrella strollers and just ditched them at the resort when we left. The kids were WAY too heavy for them but they held out for our trips. (I'm talking the $12 Wal-Mart umbrella strollers. CHEAP!)

I guess if I were you I'd take two umbrellas or rent a double (I'm way too cheap to rent) because the stroller you take to keep your younger from whining will probably cause your older to whine equally

 

[ms_missy66]

We just went with our 5 1/2 and 4 year old and there was no way in heck we would have done the trip without a stroller. My 4 year old sometimes just quits. It was a million times easier for everyone to have a spot for her rest. Now granted, there were times this trip (for the first time!) that my girls insisted on walking and we allowed that. But when it got late, or they were tired, they were as thankful as we were for the stroller!

 

[billwendy]

Hi - We used them this last trip so we could last until midnight- the 2 year old used it cause we didnt want to lose her, and then the 4 year old walked most of the time but hopped in and took a nap mid day - then after Spectromagic he was so wiped!! The 6 year old took a spin in it when she got tired late - of course they fell asleep while we were waiting for the ferry!! Man they are heavy when they are sleeping!!!!

 

[Tigger0624]

We decided to stop at Disney on a whim- driving back from another vacation actually- to pick up Resident Season Passes. We didnt have our stroller with us because we had been camping and within 20 min at the park had to rent a double for while we were there- ouch! I originally thought only our 2 younger boys would use it (ages 2 and 4) but within n hour or so, my 7yo was holding his lil bro on his lap so he could ride along too. It was just too much walking for them. We have a week long trip booked the end of this month and I will most definitely be bringing a stroller with us. We have a sit-n-stand that the boys have figured out a way to fit 3 on at a time, so that way I dont have to worry about anyone getting seperated or tired or lagging behind.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

My son will have just turned 5 when we go in June. I am taking a stroller with us. If we plan to go to the park for just a couple of hours, I might leave the stroller in the hotel room. I am taking the stroller for my sanity! I can't carry him if he gets tired.

 

[michael's mom]

Before you all decide to rent a length of stay double at WDW, check out the budget boards to join a stroller swap. I joined 2 (one double, one single) and they are $10/trip $15/trip respectively. The single holds up to 75 lbs, I'm not quite sure about the double...but it is more than that. The strollers recline, unlike WDW ones, and most of the people in the swap are just like you...children don't use strollers at home, they won't need one in an airport, but WDW is a different story.

There are links in my signature for the two swaps I'm in, but the budget board has more if there aren't dates available. (Tinker Bell is the single)

Good luck!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Thanks for the show of support!! It makes me feel like less of a slacker mom for not reinforcing the lesson a PP made about teaching the kids to be responsible for themselves. Which is totally something I agree with and think IS important...hence the guilt over the strollers for MY benefit.

Although I have to say, I guess I do suspend real-world consequences for my kids at WDW. They get treats, donuts for breakfast, eating in bed, etc. which are not allowed or restricted at home. I guess lounging in a stroller pushed by servants (me and their dad!) like Julius Caeser eating grapes is a pretty nice thing for me to give them, but it does so help me get everything done and get the heck out of the park by 1:00. I have really long legs and can walk faster than some people jog, so my kids don't have a prayer (other than my 5'9 DS14 who also has l-o-n-g legs now too )

 

[Mrsdennison]

Our first trip will be in July. My two dd's will be 5 turning 6 and 3. I signed up for a double stroller. I figure the 3 year old will need it and the almost 6year old can use it in the afternoons or if she can't keep up.

We have long legs too and walk fast. My oldest has bad leg cramps at night too when she has exercised lots or did lots of activity. I did too as a child. So the stroller will be a lifesaver.

Mariah

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Take the strollers...who cares what other people think!

 

[DISNEYNV]

Our DD is almost five and I would not expect her to walk all day at the parks. We ate gone from morning to night and if I could be pushed in a stroller by day two I would I don't see anything wrong with using a stroller for an older child at Disney World. We ate not talking walking around a mall here. You literally walk a few miles a day at the parks. Of would be unfair to make a small child walk all day long like that. Don't worry about what others think. It's your child and I would rather push them when they are beat from walking and not have to carry them. A four or five year old is HEAVY!!!

 

[mjmoon]

We were there a couple of weeks ago with our 3 YO and our 5 YO. We had no choice but to bring a stroller for our 3 yo because he had an injured knee and walking all day simply wasn't an option. (I doubt he'd have been able to do it with a healthy knee). We brought a stroller for our 5 year old and he never once needed it. In fact, we were all shocked at how well he kept up with us and never once complained about being tired, feet hurting or any of the other things we as adults were complaining about.. lol

I'm guessing it really all depends on your kids. My 5 yo has a limitless supply of energy so all the walking was right up his ally.

I did see a lot of older kids in strollers and if that works for them, more power to them. I also saw a large wheel chair with two children sitting in it being pushed by dad. The kids were probably both preteen (or maybe a bigger 8 or 9) and too big for strollers. I thought that was getting to be a bit much.. but hey, to each his own.

 

[NMMickeymom]

If I could stuff my very tall 7 year old into a stroller for one more trip, you bet I would do it!! Yes, it's keeping the adults happy! Happy mommies and daddies make for happy kiddies!
So many reasons to do it - crowds at the end of the day/keeping kids contained, fast pass runs, a place to sit for a parade, yup..... happy kiddies!

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,

my girls were 5 and 7 when we went last April, and I wouldn't have dreamed of hiring or taking a stroller for them - they would have thought them babyish. I guess there is a bit of a different mindset over here in the UK perhaps?

We just upped the exercise for 3 months before hand so they felt comfortable walking long distances. We tend to walk a lot anyhow - to school, shops, parks etc. They both managed a pirates and princess day till past midnight too.. but we did tend to not rush things - go with the flow and smell the roses type thing - it was a holiday after all... albeit the best one EVER according to both
Tessa

 

[littlbugmom]

It's all about my sanity!

My 4 yr old absolutely needed one but we got a double so his 8yr old sister could catch a ride now and then. Did anyone notice/care/give us looks?
I have no idea and don't care.

My son will be 6 when we go again. I'm thinking he'll might still get a stroller.