We did it! Our first no stroller trip to WDW!

[Spinning]

WOW! Was it wonderful! I really thought I couldn't live without the stroller....the basket the cup holder...let alone the thought of my son! LOL!
I was surprised how easy it was! My son is a big stroller lover and will ask, "Did you bring my stroller?" he is 5 and HATES! to walk! We did bring the stroller to Florida but never took it out of the car! We packed light, it is amazing you really dont' need a ton of stuff in WDW!
The one thing I did do before we left home I took him to the zoo several times and had him walk all around. When he did that I knew the stoller was my issue not his....yes he likes to be pushed around but WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[sanilacjack]

I'm soooo glad to hear this!!!
My guy turned 5 today (Yikes!! My babys 5!!).
We are doing our major WDW trip in December this year and I have had concerns about the stroller.
We haven't used it in a while, but Disney is different.
Many thanks for the post.
-Kim

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Last summer my 5 y.o granddaughter did better in the parks than her 7 y.o. brother ... by 1PM he was "pooped" and wanted to go back to Ft. Wilderness to swim, while she prefer to stay at the parks with her mom.

Thank goodness for Disney transportation ... Wm and I could go, Cissy and Vicky could stay.

Of course, William loves to swim so that my be why he wanted to head back ... after a swimming break we'd head back to the parks.

 

[tjmw2727]

I so agree.. .when my youngest turned 5 we did without a stroller and especially at MK it was great. No back tracking or waiting for kiddo to get in an out, no searches after the CM's rearrange the stroller etc.

I will sometimes grab a rental stroller now for a late night at epcot particularly toward the end of the trip.

TJ

 

[vicb]

First trip we used two strollers or double, our kids were 3 and 6.

Last trip kids were 6 and 9. The one day I rented a stroller for 6 yr. old he about died of embarrasment! LOL! They all told me he didn't need one but I thought he would. Should have listened to them. He did great the rest of the trip without a stroller!

We just take back packs now and have the kids tie their sweatshirts around their waist... it's nice to travel light!

 

[AZKathy]

This is our first trip without one this May. My DD is 5 and DH says NO MORE STROLLER! He is so tired of folding it up for the buses and finding stroller parking, etc. I now know it can be done!

 

[TerriBelle]

We had our first stroller free experience in November and it was WONDERFUL! So many people are really attached to their strollers but I could not wait to get rid of ours! We had a great trip without it! The boys (twins) enjoyed walking with the rest of the family.

 

[lilallybean]

I want to be free...I really really do but ohhhhh is it at all possible??? DD is 4 1/2 now, but she is tiny for her age and does get tired. She still takes a 2-3 hour naps most days and gets really really moody if she misses her quiet time. Maybe I will take it the first day and see how it turns out and maybe just maybe we can leave it behind the rest of the trip. Cross your fingers!

 

[Spinning]

lilallybean,
My son hasn't napped in a long time. That could be a big issue. Especially if you are not planning on going back everyday to nap. My DD was a big napper and still will take one and she is 7! So we needed for nap time/ or to get back to the hotel.
If you have the space bring the stroller like we did and then if you really need it pull it out! Start with an easier park, like AK or MK and go from there. Also remember at Epcot you can take a boat from the countried part to MGM or to the boardwalk and make some bus transfers if they are too tired to walk back to the front. just a thought.
We rode the boat from MGM over to Epcot it was a nice slow easy ride! Good rest period.
I must say I love the freedom we had this trip!

 

[Ithastobe]

Good for you.. look forward to day we don't need to lug stroller and car seats... This time we're bringing our lightweight double stroller. and only 1 car seat.

 

[Gillian]

Congratulations!! After our first 2 trips with a stroller, we're finally used to it & starting to enjoy the storage. I guess in ~4 years we'll be back where you are. I can't wait.

lilallybean -- maybe a good stroller for you would be a lightweight one that reclines, like a graco kite literider (see walmart.com). Not that you said you were shopping, LOL! Anyway, you may also find that DD gets so excited that this is a great time to condense her naps down to one longer one a day. Eventually she'll go to school & need to have a new schedule for that. Best of luck! I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[disneydebi]

we are going in July, about 4 days after my DD turns 4 years old. I've been debating the stroller issue. I rarely take her places these days without the stroller, mostly because it contains her and I don't have to worry about her taking off! She's big on wanting "uppy", and being carried. At 32lbs its too much to have to carry her, but I also would like to ditch the stroller this time around. Last time we went, my nephew was just about to turn 4, and my inlaws did NOT bring a stroller. They felt if he was big enough to go to WDW he was big enough to walk. Granted, he was a much bigger 4 year old than my DD. My DD was only 2 then, so the stroller was a must, but it was a pain always having to find a place to park it, it got caught in a few downpours while we were on rides, got soaked, etc....

I'd love to ditch the stroller, but I don't want a vacation with a whiney 4 year old always wanting to be carried.....

Thoughts?

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by disneydebi
we are going in July, about 4 days after my DD turns 4 years old. I've been debating the stroller issue. I rarely take her places these days without the stroller, mostly because it contains her and I don't have to worry about her taking off! She's big on wanting "uppy", and being carried. At 32lbs its too much to have to carry her, but I also would like to ditch the stroller this time around. Last time we went, my nephew was just about to turn 4, and my inlaws did NOT bring a stroller. They felt if he was big enough to go to WDW he was big enough to walk. Granted, he was a much bigger 4 year old than my DD. My DD was only 2 then, so the stroller was a must, but it was a pain always having to find a place to park it, it got caught in a few downpours while we were on rides, got soaked, etc....

I'd love to ditch the stroller, but I don't want a vacation with a whiney 4 year old always wanting to be carried.....

Thoughts?

If she uses the stroller regularly at home, mall, zoo etc, I would definately bring it. Trying something new is difficult as it is and why ruin your vacation if she is tired or wandering. Although I love being stroller free there are many evenings esp at Epcot when my 6yo will use a stroller, often falling asleep before Illuminations. If not for the stroller the entire family would miss the fireworks. I would rather have a happy sleeping child and a happy family than a miserable child or a dissapointed family. You could try without and if she does get tired grab a rental, they are pricy though and although they are very easy to push your daughter would most definately be more comfy in her own.

Have fun
TJ

 

[primax]

this is an interesting thread, my DD has not used a stroller since she was 3, but when we goto Disney we always need to rent one.

 

[married2grumpy]

Congratulations! We look forward to that day. We have progressed to the single stroller now instead of the double. This trip was a pleasure. I can only imagine the feeling of going strollerless. It must be wonderful.

 

[keithomas]

went without a stroller last summer for the whole week. DD hadn't used a stroller since she was 2 (trying to keep up with big brother, age 6) so we didn't even consider taking or renting. She did awesome. A couple of days we even hit 3 parks! That hurts my feet and she never complained.

The trick is to take it at THEIR speed and take breaks. A little pre-trip conditioning also helps, as does being used to heat and humidity.

 

[MELSMICE]

We jumped for joy on our first strollerless trip.

Our twin DD's were 4 & our older DD was 7. They did awesome. The 7 yr. old hadn't used one in a while, actually since her sisters were born.

All we did was give each girl a fanny pack & a water bottle. They each carried around their snacks & drinks. They loved being so independent. Of course, I had to adjust the fanny packs before leaving home for their tiny waists.

To this day each one has a fanny pack or small purse they use (they are 10 & 13 now). The rule is "if you bring it to the parks, you carry it".

You feel so free without a stroller. It's so much easier getting through the parks.

 

[dmonroe]

I'm still debating the stroller issue for our next trip. Ds will be 4.5. We never use a stroller around here; but I can't decide if we'll still need one in WDW. Dh is not making this trip--ds and I are traveling with 2 of my friends. I don't mind walking at ds's pace; but I don't think it's fair to my friends (neither have kids yet) to be forced to go a 4 yo pace. We might try it one day without it. If we need one that day, we'll just rent one. After that I can use my own. I don't mind taking my stroller. It takes up no room--a Maclaren umbrella stroller in an Expedition! It would be really nice to go stroller free!

 

[crzy4dsny]

Just returned from our first non-double wide stroller trip. We have a 5,4 and 2 y/o and just took an umbrella stroller. What a relief that was. I can't wait for our first non-stroller trip. But at the same time it is a little sad to think about.

 

[FreshTressa]

LOL, we just bought new ones for my kids 4 and 5!! I am so afraid they will wander off. Now I am wondering If I made the right choice!