What age do you quit the stroller?

[Irish9697]

My kids are approaching 9 & 10 in December and still very small for their age and they have always been. For reference, they are each just 2-4 inches over 4 feet and my dd is 52 lbs. and ds is 55 lbs. which puts them both about the 10th%ile or below.

The first time my kids went to Disney, they had just turned 3 & 4. We used 2 umbrella strollers and it was great. I can't imagine not using one for that trip. We went again just after they turned 4 & 5 and once again, we used 2 umbrella strollers and it worked perfectly. I can't imagine not using them. Later that same year, when they were a couple of months from 5 & 6, we went to NYC and used 2 umbrella strollers with great success. Once again, I don't think that trip would've worked without them.

But, we did a trip to Universal, Seaworld and Kennedy Space Center when they were just turned 6 & 7 and used no stroller. They were clearly much too old and didn't need one then. They did great.

In all of those prior trips, there were 2 adults and the 2 kids. When they were still 6 & 7, but almost 7 & 8, I went alone with them to Disney for a week. No stroller. No way did they need or want one.

We went again early this year just after they turned 8 & 9...a stroller would embarrass them at this point.

 

[jasminesmommy1]

I used stroller till they were 7. Towards end of day my kids got tired of walking and didnt want them getting blisters

 

[squirrel]

For the poster that was going to rent from Disney-check how much your child weighs Maclarens hold up to 55lbs and the Perego P3 that I bought holds to 50 lbs. Also there are other companies that will bring the stroller to the resort and pick it up when you are finished with it and they are cheaper than Disney and you would have it the whole time (to and from the bus and resort)

I bought a stroller as the price was slightly higher than renting for the 2 weeks last year. I ended up using it again this year so it has more than paid for itself.

Check second hand stores, ebay or craigslist for a stroller. Disney also sells an umbrella stroller at the park but I believe it only holds up to 40 lbs and I think it was $60 or more.

 

[5 for WDW]

All of my kids stoppped using a stroller in WDW when they turned 4. They have always done great. We just take things at their pace. Breaks when they need one, etc.

We were there in August for a week and actually needed a stroller for our daughter. She fractured her ankle and was in a boot/brace so, we needed a stroller to use as a wheelchair. She was just shy of 6. Let me tell you, while it was great for her, obviously she needed it, it was such a pain to go back to a stroller! The buses, getting through the crowds, etc. We will happily never have to go back to a stroller again, lol!

 

[DisneyMum4]

We were there in September and my youngest who just turned 3 used a stroller and liked to walk alot, too. However, when it came time for a nap and the others were still going the stroller came in handy. We go at their pace and personally, I feel if a kid needs a stroller then it needs to be used.

The problem with the strollers at the parks are not the kids but the people driving them. I have never seen so many people that use their kids and strollers as weapons and all to push ahead!

 

[tadamom]

We just got back last week and we didn't rent a stroller until our last day. Our kids are DS8 and DDalmost 5....they did great and it was 94* while we were there with like 90% humidity. I probably would have rented one a day earlier but it was a light day for us and we didn't need it. Both kids fit in it okay (they are average size) but since they don't really like for the other one to touch them, it got hectic at moments in the heat of the day. I would totally rent one again.

 

[holden]

We go to WDW in August and the heat is almost unbearable. DD6 was in a stroller this past Aug. and will be in it again this coming Aug. There is no way she could walk all day in that heat. She usually starts out walking in the AM, but eventually sits. We like having strollers anyway - lots of storage for stuff we don't want to carry (water bottles, etc.).

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

For us it was 5 years old.

We told the kids that because they were getting ready to start kindergarten, they were too big to be in a stroller.
It worked great and I sure loved the freedom. I think it helps that we like to get out and take walks too so they got used to walking alot.

 

[BellyBaby]

The problem with the strollers at the parks are not the kids but the people driving them. I have never seen so many people that use their kids and strollers as weapons and all to push ahead!

It's funny because it's TRUE! This is my sister's biggest pet peeve EVER!

 

[gtpoohbear]

We gave up all of our stollers shortly after DD turned 2. DH is of the mentality that if a kid can walk, then they are going to.

Her first WDW trip was in the summer of 2008 - she was 4 at the time. We were there for a week, walked every park over several times, and never heard a single complaint from her about walking. No being carried, no blisters, just well timed breaks So if kids are used to walking, they will be fine without a stroller.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I will be honest here and say that I am bringing a stroller for DS who is 5, and will rent one from Disney is DD 9 needs to take a break--especially for Epcot, I understand that it is a lot of walking and they may not have the "energy" that I have--mind you they have more energy then I do, but when it comes to "I'm paying how much for this vacation-we better do everything that there is to do!" When my friend went down 2 yrs ago he said that he was pushing around Epcot his daughter and later in the day HIS WIFE!! That is still so funny to me!

 

[chanti]

at 18? (no I jest... sorry)

But I do think as long as your child fits in a stroller and you are going to do a lot of walking in a day, it never hurts to bring a stroller. Even if it is just to hang bagage from

Seriously it is a good thing to have a place for your child to sit during parades or when your child is so tired at the end of the park day that they can barely walk anymore.

It depends on your child as well. My 2 1/2 year old is hard to put in a stroller, she's a little hyperactive girl who loves to run around, but at the end of the day it is nice to have the stroller just in case she does want to sit down!

 

[dementia412]

Real World between 2 and 3 years old. At Disney I might have used it for a kid up to four.

 

[philadelphiadad]

My DD will be 5.5 when we go in Dec and we'll be taking a double umbrella stroller for her and her 3 yr old brother. My DD is the type that complains when we go to the mall about too much walking. She is like her mother - very uncoordinated and athletically challenged! Why walk when you can sit?

Sounds exactly like my family!!!
I'm bringing our double for my 6 and 8 year old. I love to have a place to keep the bags and the kids can walk or ride as much as they want.

Dec 6-13, 2009 CBR!!!!

 

[1-disneyfan]

WDW DD6 was 4 when we last went and needed one. I think even now that she's 6 I would bring one.....so much walking on little feet. Heading to DL in 4 days much smaller, no stroller needed even at when she was 4.

Kris

 

[Va-bear]

Never used it past 4 for any of the three. (size doesn't matter, all mine were small)

Ditto!

 

[KELLY]

Last 2 trips we have used a sit and stand. DD ages are now 20 months and 4. My girls would rather walk. But I make the little one sit for now. Next year we will just bring a lighter weight stroller dd will be 5. In all honesty in depends on the kid. Neither of my girls really like the stroller.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Just wanted to note that this is not correct. All of the Disney strollers are the hard plastic ones like you would rent at your local zoo. And when they replaced them (last year I think), even the doubles are rather small.

That said, we had planned to not rent a stroller for dd5. But as the time comes near, we are re-thinking this. I honestly just don't think she will have the stamina and she is a whiner when she's tired. She is too heavy for the umbrella type strollers and I don't want to lug around a jogging stroller so it looks like we will be renting from WDW. My cousin has 4 children and the 3 youngest will need strollers so we will probably rent 2 doubles for the 4 younger children and the 2 older boys (8-9) can take turns if there's an empty seat.

When I said they were like joggers, I was referencing the big wheels, and they are easy to push. My kids are tall, 100% height, the 5 and 7 fit in them fine. And yes, they are hard plastic, I use a hotel towel to provide cushion. Even when we have a stroller they walk a lot, it's just so nice to have it when they are tired or my tall husband and I want to kick it into 'fast walking' mode! They did get new ones last year and I thought they were nice as well. I just prefer to not drag my strollers on and off the transportation. Disney is the only place I use them for my kids, it's so worth it! Have fun!

 

[Colleen27]

4 yrs old.We took her on her first trip last year and never needed one. We started a family walking program 6 months before the trip and she did fine.Granted, we only have one child so it is easier to slow down when she needed to( which believe it or not she didn't need to, we did though lol)

That was our experience too - my kids were 4 & 7 on our first trip and we walked every day for a few months before the trip to get her used to it. Not only did they do fine without a stroller, they had more energy than we did! The only time we had to carry the kids was from the bus back to the room at the end of the day a couple evenings, and that's cause they both fell asleep on the bus after long days.

 

[jenseib]

We gave up all of our stollers shortly after DD turned 2. DH is of the mentality that if a kid can walk, then they are going to.

Her first WDW trip was in the summer of 2008 - she was 4 at the time. We were there for a week, walked every park over several times, and never heard a single complaint from her about walking. No being carried, no blisters, just well timed breaks So if kids are used to walking, they will be fine without a stroller.

I think that mentality is kind of dumb. If that were my DH, I would tell him where to stick it. I know each kid is different. I took my 2 older kids in 1997. My DD was almost 5 then. We didn;t bring a stroller, and she walked all day. She complained alot, and had blisters on her feet os bad that we had to wear a different pair of shoes every day, since each day she developed new blisters. (she did and still does have horrible feet. She wears an 11 now!) We didn't even own a stroleer at that point and I wasn't about to rent one for the prices they charge. But looking back, I wish I would've bought one and used it. Even a cheap one. Because there was just so much complaining. We went again right before she turned 7 and STILL had the same problem. Now with my little one that is 4..almost 5, I will bring one untill she refuses to sit in it, and so far we still use it, even going to the zoo. I love having the stroller. It's not a burden to me. I like the storage, as I have said many times. And DD sits in it now more than when se was 2. Why have a ctnaky kid. Again not all kids are the same, but I know this is a better solution for my family. I think that everyone should just go with what works best for them.