What is it with....

[LindsayDunn228]

while I understanding you questioning why school-aged kids need a stroller, i don't agree with your solution. the wheelchairs are for people with mobility problems. simply being tired is not a mobility problem. these healthy, mobile children should just walk. perhaps some time spent with a child who doesn't have the ability to walk around walt disney world could help stop the whining!!! also, i can't stand it when health bodied people are tooling around in the wheelchairs goofing off, popping wheelies, spinning around etc...(much more annoying than a stroller being pushed by an adult).

I totally agree. I became a paraplegic at age 6. No stroller for me here. To hear someone suggest you get a freaking wheelchair for your child when they get tired really chafes my rear.

Being injured at such a young age changes your perspective on a lot of things. I would have loved to have been so tired from walking around WDW all day I could barely walk. At least I was able to walk.

Sorry, rant over.

 

[Allison]

I'm just curious why you seem to think you get to decide the appropriate age for stroller use by people who are complete strangers to you?

And the answer is:

Because your annoyed at the "space" strollers take up and the inconvenience it causes you.

It's really not fair to criticize parents because they aren't doing things in the way that best benefits you, a complete stranger, but are doing what they want to do for their family which, frankly, is none of your business.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm just curious why you seem to think you get to decide the appropriate age for stroller use by people who are complete strangers to you?

And the answer is:

Because your annoyed at the "space" strollers take up and the inconvenience it causes you.
It's really not fair to criticize parents because they aren't doing things in the way that best benefits you, a complete stranger, but are doing what they want to do for their family which, frankly, is none of your business.

I think this is it exactly. What if I said that you are too big and take up too much space so you should stay home? Have some kids and then get back to me. Oh and for those who go on and on about how they leave the park if the kids are tired, well we don't stick around for a crankfest either but if your child decides they have had enough half way through World Showcase and yes kids can make a complete turnaround like that- then it is a very long walk out of the park. Sorry but my 5 year old is over 4 feet tall! I am not going to carry him. If sitting a stroller while we go to the bus/monorail makes him feel better and in turn makes me feel better then so be it. Also- if one child is tired and the rest aren't should they all be forced to go back to the room for rest time? I don't think so. Oh and FTR- we are the farthest thing from a commando family. We don't try to see everything and we go at a pace that works for our kids. I think your OP had a rude tone to it. You can have an opinion without being obnoxious about it. You might also try to put yourself in someone else's shoes before you make such ingorant remarks. JMHO.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Children over the age of 4 in strollers?

When we went to WDW in August, we were shocked to see "grown" children in strollers. Sure, your child may get tired and cranky and not want to walk any more, but isnt that when its time to take a break? Maybe go back to the hotel room and have a swim/nap/juice box? I understand that not all guests are fortunate enough to stay on site, but ther eare plenty of places to sit down in teh shade and A/C, like the Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress in MK, or the American Experiance and Elen's Adventure into Electricity in Epcot, or the Festival of the Likon King in AK, or The Great Movie Ride in MGM.

If your child has walking conditions, maybe rent a wheelchair. It only costs $10, and you get the chair for the whole day. Then maybe your 10 year old wont be sprawling out of a stroller designed for a 3 year old. Plus they can push themselves around, freeing you parents to look after your other party members who really need the attention, like your partners or your other children.

Too many tired little ones for one wheelchair and think a double stroller is better? Wrong you are my friends. That is when a rest, or even taking turns in the wheelchair comes into play.

The reason I rant is because strollers take up far too much room. If you have small children, fine, it is your right to put your little ones into as many strollers as necessary. I know that wheelchairs take up as much room as strollers, but seriously, who is going to bother someone in a wheelchair? Lots of people HAVE to use wheelchairs, not every 10 year old needs a stroller.


Mr. Smith

Thank god things like this will never bother me BTW until my 5 yr olds legs are long enough to keep up with me walking for 12 hrs she's gonna be able to sit in a stroller if she wants to! And I don't look at 5yr old as "grown" You did say children over the age of 4didn't you

 

[Nancyg56]

Sure, I can admit that. All kids have different needs, I'm not denying that. All parents are different as well.

All I know is that with mine (who is older now so this is no longer an issue), we went until he started to get cranky and then we'd take a break at the park. If the break didn't rejuvenate him, we knew the pool would. There's nothing at WDW I need to see so desperately that I'd plop him into the stroller so we could get a couple of extra hours.

I'm a gigantic meanie, though.

You are assuming that the kids you see in strollers are tired and cranky......and you know what they say about people who assume. You are also comparing your parenting decisions to others an feel that yours are appropriate for you so they must be appropriate to the others.

I remember when we took our kids and they did not need a stroller. My DGD is going to be six this month and will be using a stroller. There is no way I would want to see her walking all day because 20 years ago her Mother walked through a much smaller park. She gets tired not cranky. If she gets the opportunity to rest she perks right up. She is barely 4 ft tall, as others have pointed out she takes two or three steps to mine.

FWIW, we are not a commando family, we know we can always go back so we just take in what we want, but I am not going to plan a multi day vacation for at least 5 adults and one child and then force the little one to keep up so we do not need to go back to the hotel. If she wants to sit in a stroller she can, if she wants to walk she does. When she has had enough we go back and relax or swim. For my family the vacation is all about what works for us, not what others have deemed acceptable for their family. We don't do a child swap so the stroller was wonderful when the adults in our family had a chance to go on Test Track and Mission Space while my DD walked through EPCOT with her DD. There was no need to leave but she would have been miserable if she was just waiting, she got to enjoy all of the sights, and relaxed so that she could watch Illuminations, which she enjoys very much.

When we vacation I don't worry about strollers, ECV's wheelchairs or much else. I am too busy enjoying the enchantment on my DGD's face as she trades her pins with the CM's, of smiling as my DH holds our Princess while they watch Wishes, or my DD and her DH as they stroll with my DGD down Main Street.

 

[lillygator]

Children over the age of 4 in strollers?

When we went to WDW in August, we were shocked to see "grown" children in strollers. Sure, your child may get tired and cranky and not want to walk any more, but isnt that when its time to take a break? Maybe go back to the hotel room and have a swim/nap/juice box? I understand that not all guests are fortunate enough to stay on site, but ther eare plenty of places to sit down in teh shade and A/C, like the Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress in MK, or the American Experiance and Elen's Adventure into Electricity in Epcot, or the Festival of the Likon King in AK, or The Great Movie Ride in MGM.

If your child has walking conditions, maybe rent a wheelchair. It only costs $10, and you get the chair for the whole day. Then maybe your 10 year old wont be sprawling out of a stroller designed for a 3 year old. Plus they can push themselves around, freeing you parents to look after your other party members who really need the attention, like your partners or your other children.

Too many tired little ones for one wheelchair and think a double stroller is better? Wrong you are my friends. That is when a rest, or even taking turns in the wheelchair comes into play.

The reason I rant is because strollers take up far too much room. If you have small children, fine, it is your right to put your little ones into as many strollers as necessary. I know that wheelchairs take up as much room as strollers, but seriously, who is going to bother someone in a wheelchair? Lots of people HAVE to use wheelchairs, not every 10 year old needs a stroller.


Mr. Smith

why would you even care? You should worry about you and yours.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Thank god things like this will never bother me BTW until my 4 yr olds legs ae long enough to keep up with me walking for 12 hrs she's gonna be able to sit in a stroller if she wants to! And I don't look at 4yr old as "grown"

Yep, MTE! As for those people that don't like seeing 4 year olds in strollers.....oh well....it's like a bridge, you'll get over it!

 

[KPeveler]

Yep, MTE! As for those people that don't like seeing 4 year olds in strollers.....oh well....it's like a bridge, you'll get over it!

quite frankly, if you pushing your 6 yr old in a stroller keeps me from having to listen to even one tempter tantrum in line, then i say GO FOR IT!

I do not have kids, but i know that even for an adult it is exhausting to do disney all day. if a stroller keeps your family happier, who am i to judge! as long as you don't make me push your stroller, or expect me to treat my wheelchair as a stroller (leave it outside the line, etc), then we're golden!

 

[Nancyg56]

I totally agree. I became a paraplegic at age 6. No stroller for me here. To hear someone suggest you get a freaking wheelchair for your child when they get tired really chafes my rear.

Being injured at such a young age changes your perspective on a lot of things. I would have loved to have been so tired from walking around WDW all day I could barely walk. At least I was able to walk.

Sorry, rant over.

Lindsay- parents did not suggest their kids use a wheelchair, it was suggested by the OP. Most parents here are just attempting to explain why their kids benefit from a stroller. Most are offended that the OP did suggest such a thing. We all realize that we, as well as our children are blessed by good fortune when they can walk around a park and when they do not have the serious health problems that some children are challenged with.

Speaking for myself, I am offended when other parents have determined what it the best way for my family to vacation and assume that allowing my DGD the stroller is because either she or I am lazy. Nothing is further from the truth. Honestly, if Kady was tired her Pa would carry her for hours and if she was cranky her Pa would simply carry her home. Now if he could only carry me

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Lindsay- parents did not suggest their kids use a wheelchair, it was suggested by the OP.

I know I just found the thread, saw another poster had made the point, and I agreed with her

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Some of the replies on this thread have been comical. I really don't understand OP's problem, maybe he/she was just trying to stir the pot. Slow day maybe?

When we're at Disney in April, I'll be happy to rent a stroller for my then 7 y/o and 4 y/o boys if they are tired. And frankly, I don't give a rat's behind if someone gives me a dirty look.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

We have stopped bringing our own stroller, but on ocassion still rent for my
6 y/o Oh the horror. I would much rather that people like the OP look at me and get annoyed then to have my son cranky and tired

 

[dpcheercoach]

I'll jump in here if I may...We brought srollers for our 4yo and 6yo boys this past June. I didn't read every post so someone may have already said this but we use the strollers to prevent them from straying or getting lost or trampled in the crowds. It is more of a safety measure than being lazy or the kids not being "able" to walk the distance. Yes, they do get tired and cranky even with breaks and a stoller, so I am sure without one would even be worse but safety is our main goal. We know right where they are at all times and we can move much faster, even getting out of people's way when the kids are contained.

I don't enjoy myself nearly as much when I am constanly looking over my shoulder for the kids, reminding them to stay close, etc.
Also, we often park the strollers when we get to a section of the park and only use it to move from one section to the other. The long hauls.

My advice is just like any other touring strategy, do what works best for you and your family!

 

[RVGal]

First of all, calling those humongous formed plastic carts that WDW rents "strollers" is ridiculous. Disney made bigger and better "strollers" for rentals because they realized that older children were riding in them. Those with really young ones bring the folding variety from home. I have a picture of my then 5 y/o niece crammed into one of the old rentals at Disney from the early 1990s. Disney took a look around, say, "Hey, the OLDER kids are getting tired and need a break... let's make some money off that..."

If you want to go back and reminisce about the good old days, let's be honest. Those baby blue things with the hard seat and 3 position hard back? Talk about miserable for the kids. And the metal wire foot rest thing??? Ugh. Talk about ankle chewers. Those things seemed designed with discomfort and drawing blood in mind.

If we're talking about the good old, old days... when only the MK was around... hardly a fair comparison, is it?

Second, I've always wondered what people hope to gain by posting a thread like this. Do you really think you will change your next vacation experience? Do you honestly believe that the average Disney-goer will read a post such as this and think, "Well... hmmmm... I am SO embarrassed at the thought that these people will see me pushing my 5 y/o in a stroller that clearly takes up SO much space in the park... I just won't do it. Nope. Not anymore. This random stranger has changed how I will make decisions regarding my family."

As if.

Anyway, I haven't posted on a stroller, heely, refillable mug, parade watching, line holding... oh, you name it... thread in awhile. Didn't want to get rusty.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Lindsay- parents did not suggest their kids use a wheelchair, it was suggested by the OP. Most parents here are just attempting to explain why their kids benefit from a stroller. Most are offended that the OP did suggest such a thing.

Hold the boat! I never suggested that people should trade their strollers for wheelchairs for their children. I said, that if the reason older kids are stuffed into strollers is because they have legitimate mobility issues, then they should be in wheelchairs, not strollers. So, if your child has a condition that limits walking, by all means, rent a wheelchair. I don't agree witth abusing the wheelchair rental system and taking them away from those in need just as I don't agree with doing the same with the stroller rental system. Does that make a little more sense? To be clear, I'm not suggesting that all parents rush out and rent wheelchairs for their children, and I am honestly sorry if it came across that way.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

To be clear, I'm not suggesting that all parents rush out and rent wheelchairs for their children, and I am honestly sorry if it came across that way.

No problem, but sadly, there are parents out there that do that.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Do you know what I enjoy even more than people watching at WDW? Watching people go ballistic on the DIS when someone offers a differing opinion.

Make your decisions, stand by them, and know that not everyone will agree.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

You ask what I hope to gain from posting this? Nothing more than a discussion. It is a discussion board after all. I don't think too many people come to the DISboards hoping to change the world.

 

[BuffettFan]

OP: I understood what you meant about the wheelchairs the first time.

I have to say that I kinda agree.
We've been going to WDW since 1978, and it seems like the number of strollers in the parks has "exploded" the last decade or so. And we always comment that it seems like kids are riding in strollers at older and older ages.

Before you know it, Disney will be renting a "wheelchair-like" devices for older kids who "need a break". And then where do you draw the line? My 13 year old complains about walking sometimes......actually, I complain about walking too! Eventually we'll all be riding around in motorized scooters !

I believe if you have a 5, 6 7, year old who just can't walk anymore, take a break, or see a show, go back to the resort....

I know that's not the popular opinion around here. But I have 2 kids who've been to WDW MANY times, and I haven't considered a stroller since they were about 3 1/2.

 

[HollyJoy]

This is where I'd have to put my foot down. My kids, 8 & 10 will still ask to sit in the grocery cart at the store! I refuse! They are too old, and big, for that!! No way I'd let them ride in a stroller!