What's the oldest age you've used a stroller?

[WiscMomof2]

It was a conscious decision not to take our kids until we were stroller free. However, I did end up renting a double stroller one day at Epcot because they were pooped. Ages were 4 and 6 at the time.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Timely thread! I've been debating this for our upcoming trip where DS who will be 4. He's been out of the stroller for some time at home, so DH thinks we shouldn't bother. But I predict that will just wind up in demands for shoulder rides and a hurt back for DH. We never do more than 3 hours without taking a break in the hotel or a meal, but I still want to bring it.

 

[maxiesmom]

The oldest child I purposely rented for was around 6. It was either put her in a stroller, or have her get lost, as she was walking so slowly she kept getting left behind. However her older sister also jumped in on occasion. Her sister had just been to the doctor because she was having horrible pain in her limbs. Ended up it was severe growing pains, as she always was (and still is at 20) very petite. At 10 she was the same size as her 6 year old sister.

 

[maxiesmom]

Timely thread! I've been debating this for our upcoming trip where DS who will be 4. He's been out of the stroller for some time at home, so DH thinks we shouldn't bother. But I predict that will just wind up in demands for shoulder rides and a hurt back for DH. We never do more than 3 hours without taking a break in the hotel or a meal, but I still want to bring it.

I would definitely take one for a 4 year old. My first trip ever to WDW was with my sis, her hubby, and her just 4 year old son. My brother in law was adamant he would carry his son when he was tired. It didn't take long for him to get sick of it and start complaining. And then there was the time he hit his son's head on a low hanging sign. And the multiple times my sister was kicked in the face when her son was being hiked up onto his dad's shoulders.....

Yeah, bring the stroller. Or have money set aside to rent one.

 

[Catvondita]

I agree with many others here that it's a bit much. Also I don't know any kids that age that would WANT to be in a stroller. I would say prep your kids before hand and take several breaks through out the day. You can always go on longer attractions (Ellen's Energy Adventure, go on the People Mover for a couple rounds etc.) and that way you can still rest while being entertained. You can also take a break and go back to your hotel for a nap.

 

[Disneylover99]

6

 

[tsme]

Unless there is some special reason (handicapped, etc) I don't think a child over 5 yrs old would need nor want to be in a stroller. We've been going every year since our DD was 5 & we haven't used a stroller. Children have more energy than us older peps & can make it walking. As another posted said get them started walking beforehand will help too.

 

[starsweeper]

My older kids visited at ages 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9--we only used a stroller when they were 2 & 3.
My younger kids are 4 & 3 so they still use a stroller for part of the day. If we don't visit again until Oct 2017 (almost 7 and 6), I don't plan to use a stroller.

 

[ReneeA]

We took a stroller the first year we went with kids...they were 2 & 3. I hated it! I hated folding it up and dragging it on and off busses, I hated maneuvering through crowds with it, I hated trying to find it in the stroller area after CMs had moved it15 times, I hated that my2year old wanted out every single minute she was in it. Despised it...so the next year, when they were 3 & 4 we left the stroller home.

We went for 9 days, kept a nice easy pace, and they did fine. We carried them both one night after fireworks, but it was not bad. It was a 1000x more enjoyable trip for us without the stupid stroller.

 

[lovehoney]

3 for my middle DS. My youngest DS hiked all over Big Bend National Park by the time he was 4.

 

[prudence64]

If I did use a stroller it would the rented ones - no dragging strollers on buses for me.

 

[Magpie]

My kids were out of the stroller before turning three. We get a lot of snow and I never enjoyed pushing a stroller through all that mess. I'd rather just walk slow. Besides, it's good for them.

When I see elementary school aged children in strollers, I tend to assume they're disabled in some way.

 

[crazylady]

Last trip I rented one for the youngest was a young 5 but for family harmony, the 8 year old rode in it sometimes. We go less commando which each trip so you might not find yourself rushing to get to everything on your next trip. Also we like to go to the park every other day to give us a day of recovery after a long park day.

 

[GPC0321]

No healthy 11 year old child should need to be pushed in a stroller. That kid is only 4 years away from high school and drivers ed for goodness sakes. He/she should be running circles around YOU and wearing YOU out at that age.
I personally think once kids reach school age (5), they should be done with strollers.

 

[scrapquitler]

Last year my kids were 7 & 10 and after the 1st day of the kids whining that they were tired, I rented a double stroller for the rest of the trip - it made a world of difference....it was our 1st trip and we wanted to go, go, go and knew the kids would tire out way before DH & I. We did 5X more than we could have without it and it was a great trip. The kids loved sitting in the stroller and we never heard a complaint!

We are going back, kids are now 8 & 11....what's the oldest age your kid was in a disney stroller?

I don't think I need it for AK or DHS, but there is so much walking in Epcot and so much ground to cover in MK it would help....

My 8 year old daughter spent part of the day sitting in her one year old brother's stroller at Epcot on a very long park day. He was sleeping in the sling, so I was not going to argue with her over it. A tired happy kid is better than a crabby kid.

(I will mention that she was probably only about 50lbs at that point, so it's not like I had a BIG gigantic kid in the stroller.)

 

[maxaroni]

3.5 DS wanted no part of a stroller at age 3, he'd be climbing out.

 

[cluno]

3 & 5 with a double stroller for them.

We went again with our kids now 12, 9, and 6 with no stroller, and it was awesome! DH and I high-fived every time we breezed past a stroller parking area.

 

[kathy884]

When DS was six, I rented a double stroller at Epcot. That's the park with the most walking IMHO. And lol my eight year old nephew and my 11 year old niece (ages at the time) took turns riding in there with him. No one used it all the time, but it was nice to have with kids who were getting a little tired after a very full theme park day. We're pretty commando (rope drop to closing with only food breaks).

The unofficial guide says to get one if your kids say they want one and use it. And to otherwise skip.

 

[gtpoohbear]

With DD, our stroller broke when she was 2 and we never replaced it, and never missed it. Spent a week at WDW (in the hot summer!) when she was 4 and she never once complained of being tired.

We did however, use a stroller for DS at MK last year (he was 4) because we were in the park for 18 hours and I knew he wouldn't make it that long. The stroller was given away immediately after that trip. (Ironically, on the trip when he was 2, he spent a total of about 3 hours in the stroller during the whole week, and walked the rest of the time)

Personally, I wouldn't allow my kids to ride in a stroller any past 5. Kids are supposed to have more energy than adults. If they can't keep up, something is wrong. Make sure they have good shoes, are eating healthy meals, and staying hydrated. And of course are getting regular exercise at home. If they are otherwise in good health, and all of those things are happening, there should be no need for a stroller.

I know this can be a heated debate, but that's my $0.02 anyway

And keep in mind that if older kids are in a stroller, they WILL get funny looks, and maybe even comments. Obviously that's not cool, and I would never do that or let my kids do that, but unfortunately it will happen. And it's not something I would want to subject my kids to, if I could avoid it.

 

[Tashak]

DS was 2 on our last trip, a little over a month before he turned 3, we barely used the stroller. This time he'll be just over 3.5 and we've decided not to bring it, he is better at walking the parks than we are. lol