What age to stop using strollers?

[SGMCO]

I would rent an adult stroller so now that the kids are old
enough to walk on there own, they can push you thru the park.

 

[ZachnElli]

Our first trip with the kids to WDW was in Jan and our kids were 4 1/2 and 1. We only took a small umbrella stroller for our 1 year old. My then 4 1/2 year old DS was fine. January is not hot and sticky, the parks close early and the parks were pretty darn empty. We could casually stroll through the parks to get to rides and not worry about a long wait when we got there. The longest wait we had was 20 minutes for the safari ride. January is a GREAT time to go!

 

[mt mommy]

I think renting a stroller is a good idea. It's better to be safe than sorry. My kids, 4 and 6 both get tired and would ask to be carried if we didn't have a stroller. Carrying them is NOT fun. Having a stroller for "insurance" is a great idea!! Have fun!

 

[minniemarie]

Personally I wouldn't , due to the fact you are going in January, kids will last alot longer.

I stopped using a stroller when my son was 3 in DW (summer) he hated the heat/sweat building up on his back.

 

[pixidust1976]

I will be rental a double stroller for dd4 and ds6 in hopes of keeping them from being too cranky!!!!

Let's hope I can push it!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My 7 yo at age 6 was "big enough" to do without. If doing a nighttime activity, we have brought her an umbrella stroller as she is easier to deal with and transport when she is sleeping. But we are pretty much phased out of that.

I wouldn't dream of not having my 4 almost 5yo in a stroller. She doesn't walk that much at home (8 hours on her feet?) so I wouldn't expect her to at the parks. In about a year when her little legs can better keep up with mom and dad, we will begin phasing her out.

At those ages you would probably do okay with a rental. We live locally so we save the money and just bring our strollers from home.

 

[blessedby3]

We have always used a stroller that we bring from home. Our DD (just turned 8 at last trip) used the Volo this past Dec. and it is great for us. She is a petit little thing and it works well for us to have the stroller since we go commando and she usually falls asleep late in the evenings. We let her jump in and out as she needed and she was much more rested than if we made her walk the whole time. On our next trip she will be 9 and I wont bring a seperate stroller for her. I will have the Quest for our new baby and if DD9 wants to ride then we can put our baby in the bjorn and let DD9 ride for a while. I think it depens on each family/child. Dont let anyone make you feel bad for using one for an older child. They dont have to stay with you and deal with a whiny child from being too tired.

 

[RK13]

Help! We've rented a double side-by-side stroller in the past for DD & DS when we have gone to Disney in the past. The last time we went in May 2007 they were almost 6 and almost 4 and it was getting heavy for DH to push. We are going again in January 2008 - so the kids will be 6 1/2 and 4 1/2. What would you do? Here are the options we are facing:

1. Rent the double stroller so that the kids will last in the parks and hope that DH's back doesn't give out? We don't own a double so renting is about $75 for the amount of time we will be there. But money is not really the issue here. Ease of jumping on the bus, tram, boat, etc... is what I'm thinking too. The kids like the stroller for obvious reasons.

2. Take just a compact stroller for the 4 1/2 year old? My worry is that the kids might fight over who's turn it is to sit in the stroller next. But at least I would have some rest on wheels if needed. Also would hold our backpack nicely.

3. Don't use a stroller at all. The thinking here is that they both might be "big enough" now to walk the parks without a stroller. But I'm not sure.

Anyone else have to make a decision on when to give up taking a stroller? What did you decide? How did it work out for you? I have time to think about it and see if the kids might be able to handle the long walks from buses to parks, etc... Thanks in advance for your advice!

Visited WDW this past Jan, my DDs were 9, 7 & 4. We only used a stroller for the 4yr old. I told my older DDs that if they were tired from walking we would stop and rest, no questions asked. I don't think we stopped. Most of the trip you spend either standing or sitting on a ride.

The year before when my DDs were 8, 6, and 3, we took our stroller and rented a double stroller. Of course they fought over who would sit in which stroller.