What's too old for a stroller?

[MamaMinni]

My DD's will be 5 1/2 and 7 when we go for 2 weeks in the fall. My 7 year old is already asking if we're going to bring 2 strollers like we did last year...is 7 too old for a stroller? We would need to gate check both at the airport, but the benefit would be the "non battles" between the sisters about whose turn it is to ride. ahhh!

 

[Inurdrems9]

 

[BBG-BLT]

Up to each family - for us 5 is too old because we're old and I figure heck you guys walk and when you're tired we'll all go back to the hotel for a rest. If you can keep going but they can't and you want to keep going then I'd get one.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

We took one stroller for DS4 and DNiece7 in September. However, we took our Pliko, and it has a foot board on the back for a child to stand. The kids had a tiff every now and then, but DNiece was happy to walk more often than not. When she was tired enough to ride, DS was ready to run. And part of the time no one was sitting in it.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

Well, there are a LOT of varying opinions about this on the board. Personally, I think if 1. You're willing to lug an extra stroller and 2. Your stroller will hold the 7 year old, do it.

 

[sk!mom]

My kids didn't need or want one past age 5. At 5, DS still loved to ride and DD was a sometimes- if she was tired.

Our last trip included a 7 year old, 8 year old, two- 4 year olds, and a 2 year old. The 4 year olds rode some but mostly chose to walk. The two year old loved walking or riding on his dad's shoulders (and his dad was cool with that) and really hated the stroller. Surprisingly, to me, the 7 and 8 year olds rode a lot.

If your DD is asking then you should probably take one for her.

 

[badblackpug]

This is a heated topic, but I really think past the age of 4 most children should be able to walk the parks. Now before everyone jumps on me about hidden disabilities and whatnot, I mean children who do not have any type of developmental, physical or neurological delay or diagnosis.

My kids, who, by the way, are not particularly active at home, all managed to walk the parks from the age of five on. Even in the summer heat. Were they tired at the end of the night? Yes, and so was I. Did their feet hurt sometimes? Yes, and so did mine. Did they whine about waiting fro the bus? Yes, and so did I. Were they grumpy when I woke them up to get off the bus and walk to the hotel room? YES!

I know a lot of folks have expressed the sentiment that it is easier to push their kids in a stroller then have them whine and complain and ruin the families trip, but that is not the way things work here. Here adults make the decisions, and are not, generally, manipulated by children.

 

[Hannathy]

This is a heated topic, but I really think past the age of 4 most children should be able to walk the parks. Now before everyone jumps on me about hidden disabilities and whatnot, I mean children who do not have any type of developmental, physical or neurological delay or diagnosis.

My kids, who, by the way, are not particularly active at home, all managed to walk the parks from the age of five on. Even in the summer heat. Were they tired at the end of the night? Yes, and so was I. Did their feet hurt sometimes? Yes, and so did mine. Did they whine about waiting fro the bus? Yes, and so did I. Were they grumpy when I woke them up to get off the bus and walk to the hotel room? YES!

I know a lot of folks have expressed the sentiment that it is easier to push their kids in a stroller then have them whine and complain and ruin the families trip, but that is not the way things work here. Here adults make the decisions, and are not, generally, manipulated by children.

I agree. Mine never used one past 4. If this middle aged out of shape woman can walk it then kids in the prime of their life can walk it. Mine would never even have thought of a stroller past preschool. To them it is only for toddlers or babies and I agree.
Mine actually weren't grumpy, more like walking zombies back to the room! And they never complained about their feet hurting, and only of being tired when everyone was tired.
With a 5 1/2 and 7 yr old We wouldn't be bringing any strollers.

 

[Michguy04]

We are here right now and would be lost without our strollers. Our boys are 6. I picked up some cheap umbrella ones and they have worked out great. They fold easy enough and are very light weight. We brought them right on the plane and they were tagged to go underneath. No problems. I highly recommend them!!!

Carol off to MK today!!!

 

[Michguy04]

Well, there are a LOT of varying opinions about this on the board. Personally, I think if 1. You're willing to lug an extra stroller and 2. Your stroller will hold the 7 year old, do it.

I agree..they are not to old to ride in one. I can't believe the people that let their kids walk!

 

[Acklander]

It really depends on your touring style and your kids. Ours didn't use a stroller past the age of 4 BUT we're not the type to be at the parks from morning till night. Also, before going on vacations we used to go for walks every day to help the kids build up endurance and by the time we were there it wasn't an issue.
You do what works best for you and your kids.

 

[ancestry]

It really depends on the child, the parent and their family interaction.

Personally I don't care what others do. If it works for them then go for it.

In our family, my youngest kids wouldn't not use a stroller after the age of 4. They went to Disney for the 1st time last year at the age of 6 and had no problems walking everywhere. Using a stroller for them didn't even cross my mind.

 

[happymommy]

We took one the last time when my kids were 6 and 8 I think. I was glad to have one, since they both got sick that trip. My DD fell asleep in it, and she was burning up with a fever one afternoon! We were staying at the Dolphin, so I could keep her in it, and we took the boat from MGM back to the room. I don't know how I would have gotten back to the room without the stroller (my DH wasn't with us that trip, but I could have had someone from Disney help me I guess). Turned out she had strep throat (had a doctor come to the room). The stroller really was a life saver that trip!

I think whatever you want to do is fine. Lots of folks don't use them, lots do. My kids didn't use them at home, but we always brought one to Disney until that age. Even when my DD was turning 8, I rented one a couple of days, and she fell asleep in it. She wears out easily; every child is different.

If it's no big deal to bring one, I would do it just in case. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

My kids will be the same ages on our trip and we are going to take one for them to take turns in. That is what we did last year and it worked well. If they were both tired DH put the younger one on his shoulders. We also go to the parks all day and do not go back to the hotel in the middle of the day. Also, we are staying longer this trip. I am going to borrow one from a friend because I sold ours last summer after our trip, since we were not sure when we were going to be able to go back.

 

[RMulieri]

Thats up to you...For us ..4yrs old was too old.She never used one at home and I wasn't bringing one with us.We didn't even give her the option.We told her what the expectations were, we explained we would gladly take plenty of breaks and rest if she needed it.We were prepared to go at her pace.She surprised us and had no issues nor complaints...and this was in the heat and humidity of Sept

 

[tbuot]

Outside of the parks and in our everyday world both of my children didn't use a stroller after 4.

HOWEVER, when we went to WDW after they were 4 we rented the double strollers for our two children. Why? Because we always go to WDW in summer and it is HOT, we can get from location to location much quicker, the stroller stored our stuff, and the kids weren't so tired. The last time we used the double stroller were when the kids were 7 and 10. We got some looks but whatever we weren't dealing with hot cranky kids and got to see everything.

 

[VAfamily1998]

My youngest was 3 on our last trip, and we did not use one. Our other children were 5, 7, and 9 at the time of the trip.

On previous trips, when the youngest was younger, we did feel we needed a stroller, so we brought our double stroller, and sometimes the older ones would sit in the 2nd seat.
One of these trips our kids were 18 months, 3, 6, and 8. The other trip was several years ago, so we only had 3 kids at the time and they were 6 months, 3, and 5.

We try to go during the least busy times (our first two trips were in January, and our most recent trip was in November 2009) so the parks are not open as many hours, which makes it easier for our kids to not need the stroller breaks. During our November trip, we did end up renting a stroller at MVMCP because the younger two were falling asleep and it made it easier.

After two trips with strollers, we found it easier to go without a stroller to the park--no need to find "stroller parking" at attractions, only to come out and find the stroller was moved by a CM to somewhere else. After finishing a ride or show, we just immediately went to the next, no need to "get the stroller" and wheel it around.

 

[DrMomof3]

We have 3 kids: 6, 4, and 2. If we don't provide a sitting option for all 3 kids, we have major fights on our hands. Especially at the end of the day. I am certain that when the youngest is 6, we will go stroller-free. With the eldest being 6, he wants a seat when he's tired - just like the other 2. We do push empty strollers around quite a bit but I'd rather have the option than have the fights. My 6 year old is perfectly healthy but quite small for his age and he just gets tired (my 4 year old and 6 year old look like twins because they are almost the same size).
On our last trip the 6 year old (he was still 5 on that trip) fell asleep in the stroller at least 2 times and we were very happy to be able to let him sleep. We also find it convenient when dealing with big crowds to have all 3 kids in the strollers so nobody gets separated.

Until I joined disboards it never occurred to me that anyone would judge me (or anyone else) for providing a seat for a 6 year old! I guess I'm lucky that my 6 year old looks younger than 6 so nobody would criticize me!

Amanda

 

[maxiesmom]

I would much rather be at Disney World with a happy, well rested child in a stroller, than one who is grumpy and tired because they were forced to walk. But maybe that is just me.

I don't believe there is any magic age at which a child should suddenly be too old for a stroller, and therefore forced to march thru the parks. All children are different. Just turning 5, or 6, or whatever doesn't magically make it easy for some kids to do all that walking.

A couple of years ago I rented a stroller for my then 7yr old niece. It wasn't even because she couldn't handle the walking. It was because she walks painfully slow, and we all got pretty sick of going "Come on, Kailey honey. You need to walk faster." And it wasn't like we were speeding thru the parks. She just likes to kind of mosey, and take everything in. She still does.

Do what feels right for your family. And don't worry about what anyone else thinks. That is the only "right" way to answer this question.

 

[Redwolf8812]

Definitely a personal decision, based on each child/family needs & personalities. But if it's not a problem to lug the stroller, bring it. What the heck, if your child doesn't need it, you always have something to lug your "stuff" around (water bottles, souvenirs, etc.).