When did you stop needing a stroller?

[Tinkmom]

I had my "Eureka" moment one Disney day while trudging up a slight hill, pushing (and I mean pushing) a 60lb kid in a stroller, while being gently poached by the Florida sun and wondering exactly what shade of red I was becoming, when a languid hand drifted out of the shady recesses of the stroller to gesture for a juice pouch. Am I a butler? A Sherpa? Is that a perfectly healthy kid with sparkling sandals? I was done that day.

Just because you can push them, doesn't mean you should...even if you can rent a stroller that pushes like a dream. I would only offer a stroller for the 4 yo and get the whole family on a walking plan so you don't spend YOUR vacation trying to decide if you are a butler or a sherpa!! The kids were aged 5, 6 and 7.

I love this story and actually LOL'd. MANY of the kids in strollers at Disney have no reason to be carted around like ancient royalty!

 

[maddiesmom0116]

This year my kids will be 4,6 and 9. Last time we went they were 3,5 and 8 and we used a stroller.
This year I don't actually own a stroller. So I'm wondering what others have done with kids this age. Have you survived without a stroller.
We will be there for 4 full days and a 1/2 day.

I do have some wonderful friends who I'm sure I could borrow a stroller off (I won't rent)....I guess I'm wondering from other with experience if I should bother.
Thanks!

Epcot is tough on a 4 year olds little legs, it depends if how you tour the parks, I still did a stroller last year when DD was 5 for a long EMH Epcot day and one long day at MK, she used it part of the time, but the other 2 smaller parks and short days at MK she was fine walking. Honestly the stroller was nicer for me then her, it is great storage. next trip she is 6 and I won't be doing any stroller time.
You know your little ones the best and if you think they can still have a great time and not get too worn out walking then go for it, dragging it around is always a hassle for me.

 

[Tinkmom]

Our first trip my oldest child was 4. Never really considered a stroller for her. We hadn't used one anywhere else since she was a toddler, and she would have been offended if I had suggested she ride in a stroller!

First trip for my other child he was not quite 2, and his sister was 8. I was only adult. I got a stroller for about two hours and felt like it was much more hassle than help! Both kids are perfectly healthy and were excited to be at Disney, and we were fine with a backpack.

 

[RMulieri]

I had my "Eureka" moment one Disney day while trudging up a slight hill, pushing (and I mean pushing) a 60lb kid in a stroller, while being gently poached by the Florida sun and wondering exactly what shade of red I was becoming, when a languid hand drifted out of the shady recesses of the stroller to gesture for a juice pouch. Am I a butler? A Sherpa? Is that a perfectly healthy kid with sparkling sandals? I was done that day.

Just because you can push them, doesn't mean you should...even if you can rent a stroller that pushes like a dream. I would only offer a stroller for the 4 yo and get the whole family on a walking plan so you don't spend YOUR vacation trying to decide if you are a butler or a sherpa!! The kids were aged 5, 6 and 7.

Love this! We never even gave our 4 yr old the option of a stroller.She knew before I booked the trip..She had to walk.Now we did do a family walking program 6 months prior, and we did tell her we would take plenty of breaks and rest.We also only had one child to deal with which made it easier.But we honestly had a great time, and she outpaced and outlasted us most days

 

[VAfamily1998]

When we went in November, our kids were 9, 7, 5, and 3. We didn't use a stroller except at MVMCP, we did end up renting one because the younger two were starting to fall asleep

When the kids got a little too tired to walk through the parks, Dh and I would let them ride on our shoulders (mostly the younger two, not the older ones).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They could probably survive. I determine if a stroller is necessary based on if I have to carry a sleeping child at the end of the night.

My 9yo and 7yo clearly no longer need it. Though 7yo will sometimes ride in it if she is exceptionally tired and my 3yo has no interest in riding in it.

I can't do a shoulder carry due to the condition of my neck (reverse curve--a shoulder carry actually causes me pain!)

Your age is probably a good age to try going stroller-less...but IMHO, EPCOT may be your biggest challenged due to the size of the park.


I have popped into the parks with all three of my kids without a stroller. The just turned 3yo still could have used it....but we were only in it for a couple of hours.

 

[barnaby1]

Our last trip with dd 3.75 was stroller free (2 weeks). She did fine (with only the very occasional piggyback). We never offered a stroller but if had I suspect it would have been used for novelty value.

I agree with the leave the stuff behind mentality. I have now got it down to a bum bag. Liberating isn't the word!!!!!

 

[KY*Figment]

The deal was if you are old enough to go to kindergarten you are too big to use a stroller. So, the stroller was gone before my youngest started kindergarten. Keep in mind when it's gone then it's slower moving w/ more breaks.

 

[starsweeper]

We have a trip in 2 weeks and I'm debating whether to take our two light-weight single strollers. My kids are 3.5 years old and like to walk a lot now. We rarely use strollers, except for long trips to the mall, but even then they walk most of the time. We have a free room with Marriott points, so we may go without strollers and rent a double if we find a stroller is needed.

 

[Suellen]

We don't bring any stuff for the kids so I don't quite know what stuff you mean?

Well you said you didn't want to have to bring a backpack ~ which indicates you have "stuff" you need that you would put in a backpack.

The ONLY thing I can think of that we MAY need to bring is sunscreen. Even that we only usually tour for a few hours at a time and I think if I lather them good before we leave ~ we should be fine.

Not sure what else we actually "NEED" at the park.

As far as not having a cup holder ~ we just drank our drink and then when we were getting on something we finished them up. Never cared much for the drink after in sat in the cup holder for any amount of time in the warm Florida sun anyway.

Sounds though like you really WANT to have the stroller ~ in which case you should just bring it.

We haven't used one at home since DD(2.5) was about a year old.

We used a sit and stand at WDW for a few trips. Oldest DD mostly walked ~ even at Epcot when we stop at each country they sit for a good while to color at the KidCot Station anyway. Lots of rest in between.

 

[imthatgirl]

Well you said you didn't want to have to bring a backpack ~ which indicates you have "stuff" you need that you would put in a backpack.

The ONLY thing I can think of that we MAY need to bring is sunscreen. Even that we only usually tour for a few hours at a time and I think if I lather them good before we leave ~ we should be fine.

Not sure what else we actually "NEED" at the park.

As far as not having a cup holder ~ we just drank our drink and then when we were getting on something we finished them up. Never cared much for the drink after in sat in the cup holder for any amount of time in the warm Florida sun anyway.

Sounds though like you really WANT to have the stroller ~ in which case you should just bring it.

We haven't used one at home since DD(2.5) was about a year old.

We used a sit and stand at WDW for a few trips. Oldest DD mostly walked ~ even at Epcot when we stop at each country they sit for a good while to color at the KidCot Station anyway. Lots of rest in between.

Well I'm a photographer. so I do bring 2 cameras. I have never brought sunscreen into a park, we just put it on in the parking lot and we're fine. Then there are things that we buy, or snacks and drinks. I do carry a bag, not a backpack and when we walk I've always out it down in the carriage.

I haven't decided if I want to bring the stroller...so I asked other people's opinions about them. I thought that's what this group was for

 

[GingerJay]

We used a stroller on our most recent trip (2010) for my DS(3) but didn't on the trip previously in 2008 since he didn't come. I never realized how much of a hassle having a stroller actually was- with the crowds and the stroller parking, etc. We won't bring it again..we really didn't use it much on our trip, anyway.

 

[Kit'smommy]

Our trips are so much more fun without the stroller. We just carry a backpack with the ponchos, camera and water bottles.

DS used one when he was 5 in Epcot, but I think he would have been ok without it. He was great in all the other parks.

 

[Suellen]

Well I'm a photographer. so I do bring 2 cameras. I have never brought sunscreen into a park, we just put it on in the parking lot and we're fine. Then there are things that we buy, or snacks and drinks. I do carry a bag, not a backpack and when we walk I've always out it down in the carriage.

I haven't decided if I want to bring the stroller...so I asked other people's opinions about them. I thought that's what this group was for

Well it is... but for all the opinions you have gotten you keep coming back to bringing it ~ so it sounds like that is what you really wanted people to tell you to do.

I'm just saying if you want to have a stroller in the end ~ no ones opinions really matter. You need to just do what will make you and your family happy.

No stress.... Just do what you know will make your trip easier/better.

For US that is no stroller ~ sounds like for you it is a stroller.

 

[livie1205]

we just got home and we did not take a stroller for my dd4.We took it easy and she did fine all week.

 

[love__goofy]

Me, personally, I take a double jogging stroller. When I pay for Disney World, I want to see it, and see it all...lol. So I would rather not take breaks or drag my 4 year old around; she weighs no more than 28 pounds and is still only 39 inches tall...bummer for the 40 inch rides. We go in 3 weeks.

For us, the stroller holds our Nikon D90, video camera, snacks for the kids, bottle water, sunscreen, the kids pins if they decide to take them off, possibly a jacket when we go in November, ball caps for the kids if they want them. Also, if we are eating at Cinderella's Castle or Akershus my daughter will want her princess costume, but then change back in to regular clothes. Basically, yes, I take everything and the kitchen sink. I like to be fully prepared. With 4 kids ages 10 and under, I have always tried not to be left hanging without something I might need. Oh, and don't forget the ponchos if it might rain.

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

We were there last week for our last and final trip with a stroller! We went to DL last year sans stroller and it was wonderful!!! This year in WDW we found a central location (like the stroller parking at the end of fantasy land), ditched the stroller, and then had it at the end of the day when she crashed.

My DD is 6. I know that is too old for a stroller anywhere else, but I just can't carry 55lbs of sleeping 6 yr old. It's in all of our best interests to have it for the end of the day.

This trip was a compromise. This trip you can have it, but it is the absolute last trip that I ever push a stroller. I enjoy walking in a fully upright position

I will miss a place to stash the stuff. Ponchos, resort mug, pins, camera, snacks, etc...

As I learned by parking the stroller for most of the day, and leaving it at home for the DL trip... Being without a stroller saves SOOOOO much time and energy!! You never realize how much time you waste moving from stroller parking to stroller parking.

 

[ratlenhum]

My son is 8 and we still get him a stroller. He lasts longer during the days. The one day last year we didn't get a stroller, three times other people with strollers not watching where they were going (eyes should always face the same direction you are walking people!!) he got hit by strollers. Once he fell and ripped his knee open, the 2nd wasn't too bad, and the third time took a chunk of skin off the back of his foot near his achilles tendon.