What age is too old for a stroller?

[TotalSnowWhite]

We plan on renting a double stroller, they are bigger, for our 6 year old as well as any of our older kids that might want in at some point (12 and 17).
My 17 yr old has stamina issues since finishing her cancer treatment, she gets winded easily and her feet get blisters on the bottoms when walking great distances.
I remember hearing from a women who said they rented a double one for her young daughter and their bags. She was pregnant at the time and said that at times even SHE sat in that big double one with DD while DH pushed it around! I don't know if I'd do that, but my 17 year old says if she needs to she absolutely will. She used a wheel chair last time we went but she hated how that drew attention to her.

And she doesn't think a 17 year old in a stroller will draw attention? I saw a crowd pic one time with a 20-something guy in a stroller with his son in his lap. Hehe!! I admit, I'd definitely hop in our stroller if I could sometimes.

We took two strollers for DS2 and DNiece5 last May and one for DS3 in December (his bday was in June). Grown-ups only next week, so no strollers at all! We'll take the Pliko in October for DS(then)4 and DNiece(then)7. It has a little footboard on the back for DNiece to ride if she gets tired.

I couldn't imagine asking an older child to ride in a stroller (over the age of 5). Driving or flying I'd probably try to find a way to get one there.

Are wagons allowed?

 

[wdisneyaholic]

When you are paying big bucs for a trip, I say what ever keeps the kids happy. I have a 9yr old and twin 8 yr old boys and plan to rent a double stoller whe we go to Epcot. That is alot of walking for little legs. I'm sure they won't be in it constantly, but after several hours of walking they may want a break. If it means that we get a few extra hours out of them then thats great. I have fibromyalgia really bad and would love to get a break from walking. Too bad they don't make the strollers for adults

Bottom line, do whats right for your family. You are on vacation, have fun and let the kids enjoy themselves.

Just because an older kid is in a stroller doesn't mean they are lazy!

 

[CampbellScot]

this is SUCH a hot button topic. I never knew that strollers would spark such passionate opinion giving!

To the OP- the bottom line is knowing your kids and what they can handle. It is not unheard of to walk up to 16 miles in day at Disney. That's a lot of walking. We rented a double stroller last year and the year before...the kids were 6 and 9 last summer. Are they lazy kids? Not in the least. They are both very athletic kids who are always on the go. Are they used to the oppressive heat and humidity of Florida in August? No.

We were very glad to have the stroller. (we called it a kid transporter!) It allowed the kids to take a break, get out of the sun a little bit and just rest when they felt like it. It's fine to take breaks here and there...but kids get sick of walking. period. A five or ten minute break just sitting is not going to do much in terms of being tired. Once they sit, they want to stay sitting. I don't blame them after a long day. I get sick of walking too. Had we not had the kid transporter, there would have been a lot of whining about being tired...and I think the kids would have been even more fatigued as the days wore on. They held up beautifully. They walked when they felt like it and they rode when they felt like it. Sometimes together, sometimes not. It was fine either way. Everyone was happy. I certainly wouldn't allow the opinions of someone else to stop me from doing what works best for MY family.

You can try to go without a stroller if you want to. See how your kiddo does. But don't let anybody else tell you about your kid and what they need. It's nobody's business why you have a stroller. A LOT of families have strollers for their older kids. It has nothing to do with being lazy nor is it a comment on societal issues...it's a stroller. Don't sweat it! Just have fun!

 

[nicki.momof3]

went all day and most nights until late.. we were fine without one. However he did fall asleep on the bus most nights. He is very light, so carrying him back to the hotel from the bus stop wasn't difficult.

Those late night walks back to the rooms at POR are the exact reason we are taking a double umbrella and single umbrella this trip. I hate carry a sleepy child and don't want to skip cool night time stuff or listen to them whine. Our kids will be 4,5,6. They will walk every morning and after our afternoon nap/ rest time we will take the strollers.

 

[tjbaggott]

"And she doesn't think a 17 year old in a stroller will draw attention? I saw a crowd pic one time with a 20-something guy in a stroller with his son in his lap. Hehe!! I admit, I'd definitely hop in our stroller if I could sometimes. "[/

I agree! When she told me she'd rather sit in the CART, rather than a wheel chair, I smiled and mentioned that that could give her a lot of attention too... , but then she said she'd rather have people look at her thinking "Silly Girl" rather than "poor girl".
I get her point though. Gotta love our Kids

 

[NHMom4]

An umbrella stroller is more light weight so if the kid is to big for it that is it. However, we rented a double last week when we went. We have a 4, 7, 9, and 11 year old. The 7 year old rode most of the time but my 9 year old would sit with her when he got tired or hot. Even if you think the child is too old for a stroller remember the amount of walking, the loss of sleep and the temperature make a big difference. We even had to rent a wheelchair for 2 days for my 11 yr old who had blisters on the bottom of his foot.

 

[jamstew]

We plan on getting two strollers for my DGC (3, 4 & 5) on our Epcot day only. We're taking breaks every day, and I think they'll all be fine. We did SeaWorld for a couple of days last summer and only used one for the youngest. Not comparing SeaWorld to WDW, but it was the only option we had for testing their stamina. It was in July and was miserably hot. Hopefully May at WDW won't be nearly as bad.

 

[all4fun]

When it is harder to push them in it then it is worth.

My 2 cents - you do what ever is going to make your vacation the most comfortable and enjoyable for your family.

I got a laugh out of that one. hehe ITA with the 2nd part too.

I couldn't imagine asking an older child to ride in a stroller (over the age of 5). Driving or flying I'd probably try to find a way to get one there.

Wagons are officially not allowed, although I've seen at least one brought in. Maybe they are more strict when it's a more crowded time (?). http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/dress-code.htm

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller.

We used a stroller for my then 5-1/2yr old last December without regret. It was as much for his his legs, as it was for our sanity. Plus, he is only a couple of feet shorter than me, and there's no way I can carry him around that long! We are heading to DL in a couple of weeks , and we aren't bringing our stroller this time, but we will rent one on an "as needed" basis. I agree this is one of those things that varies by the child. Some kids just either have a lot more endurance than others, or their parents just have way more patience. The endurance to patience ratio in this family must not be very good.

 

[staubinst]

I decided that we will be using one of those sit and stand strollers. My DS is 6and my DD is 1. My DS will probably walk but when he wants to hop on for a ride he can. It will make the vacation much more enjoyable.

 

[Disneymom2266]

Its a personal decision. If your child is small enough at any age, you can bring one, they really come in handy for the stuff you buy at the stores so you dont have to carry it. Nobody should tell you if your kids are too old or not. The umbrella stroller can be a lifesaver. My friend took her two youner ones at age 8 and 10 and rented a double stroller, this way they could fall asleep and she could still visit the shops etc.and not have to rush back to the room when they got tired and whiney.

 

[Miss Ang]

Would it be a PIA topark a stroller then go find it after every ride?

Finding a stroller after every ride is a heck of a lot easier than dealing with a whiny, over-exhausted child. My kids are older now, but when they were little we always used a stroller. It allowed us to still be on the go, even when they needed a break. My youngest took many, many naps in the stroller while we went on with our vacation for the older one. Wouldn't have done it any other way.

I think the summer our son was 6 was when we stopped using a stroller for him at an amusement park, zoo, etc.

 

[arrdee11462]

We used one when DD was 7yo. She was not feeling great from a cold and it was a blessing! I miss using it to put our bags, drinks, backpack etc. on....
Wishing she would still use one (for my benifit) but at 11 she's to big! And she would kill me.

 

[LPNmom]

We used a stroller at WDW in 2006 with our daughter age 5 at the time, it was wonderful at night when she was so tired. She fell asleep in the stroller so many times on our way back to the buses.

This picture was taken after a long day at Epcot! We also used the stroller to pack food and water to the parks, double bonus!!

 

[cyndik1111]

We used a stroller at WDW in 2006 with our daughter age 5 at the time, it was wonderful at night when she was so tired. She fell asleep in the stroller so many times on our way back to the buses.

This picture was taken after a long day at Epcot! We also used the stroller to pack food and water to the parks, double bonus!!

What a sweet picture. ,made me smile! Thanks for sharing. Is that a Bibbity-bobbity-bo- do?

 

[LPNmom]

What a sweet picture. ,made me smile! Thanks for sharing. Is that a Bibbity-bobbity-bo- do?

Yes, both my girls had there hair done at BBB, then we went to Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus in Epcot. She is now 7, and looking at this picture makes me cry... they get big so fast!

 

[metchick]

At work today my coworkers had a huge disagreement around what age is too old for a umbrella stroller at Disney.

I am curious to see what you all think!

Thanks everyone!

We are going to disney again this year, last year I rented a double for a 7 & 8 year old. This year it is just my daughter who just turned 8 (no friends) and I am renting again. To each their own. My daughter is active and healthy and doesn't want to walk all day everyday and I can't blame her. I would love to sit and relax too. On that note, I also think that this is the last year renting a stroller, next year she will be roughing it...lol

 

[mytwokiddies]

We are renting a stroller for my 7 year old girls this June/July. We are going during the hotest and most crowded time of the year. It will help me keep the girls from getting seperated from me as well as give them a place to sit while we watch the parade etc.

It took some convincing to get my DH on board, but I would rather have the stroller and not need it than not have one at all. (we joined a swap so the cost is only 10 for the week)

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Well my 13 would be too old

No really I think it is up to the child.

 

[jodeeb]

My dd(11) would love it if she were small enough to fit. LOL

We rented one the last time we went to DL when my youngest DD was 4. Not only did it help us get around quickly but also, when things became over stimulating for her, she basically pulled the top over her head and we draped a blanket over the edge and she was in her little cave perfectly happy. She was okay to get out for specific rides, but the crowd really got to her at times. Also she is not a morning person, so we could get going in the morning and she could lay there until she was ready to be part of the action. We've also found that it allows us to stay in the parks longer because she will just check out at the end of the day. I cant tell you how many times she has slept thru Fantasmic.

Now that she is 6, our game plan is to have her walk at first then play it by ear. My opinion is, as long as she fits we will keep an open mind about renting one. That way, when you need to get from point a to point b in a croud, it is much easier to manuver a stroller than to drag a whiney kid accross the park.

I agree with an earlier poster. Whatever makes you and your family most comfortable is fine. Think of comfort, not what other people think. After all you payed and planned a lot to enjoy yourself ant WDW and you should make the best of it!

 

[jodeeb]

How do you join a swap? Anyone know where one is posted for June. Thanks.