when do you stop needing a stroller?

[amybethchristiansen]

Of course I would never actually let my kids laugh at a child in a stroller for that exact reason. I am all about children with any sort of disability or actual reason for being in a stroller to be in a stroller. Their legs might get tired is NOT a legitimate reason.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

I honestly don't know what makes people be nasty on a Disney board of all things over stroller questions. I think people can just be rude in general. I detest baby binkies and dislike formula unless absolutely necessary for babies but I sure don't feel the need to tell others not to use them.

To the OP - do what you think is best for your child. It DOES make a difference how long their legs are as the smaller children have to take more steps to keep up. For us, years ago we found that we had to rent a stroller for our 3 1/2 year old on the second and third day at Disney because she was so flat out exhausted. She walked all day the first day then just passed out in her sisters stroller at the end of the night. That was enough for us.

This year, I am taking a 4 year old and we bought a stroller to take him. He has been out of a regular stroller for at least a year and a half. However, he has a medical condition that makes him extra tired. There is flat out no way that he could walk all day without some type of assistance. Believe me, no one would want to laugh at him in front of me or I would give them an earful. Everyone should be fortunate enough to be completely healthy but they are not.

Anyway, off my soap box. Do what you feel is best. For a child older than 4 that is healthy, I wouldn't bring a stroller. I would plan on renting one a couple of days if you have to but don't mention it to the child. That is my opinion. Only you can judge the endurance of your own child. My 7 and 8 year olds will walk but that is my choice.

 

[amym2]

When they got so big that pushing a stroller was too much work for DH and me. At ages 5 and 7 they didn't use one, and they are both small kids. Maneuvering around crowds is so much easier without strollers. They can be good for hauling "stuff," but by age 5 all we really needed was a few snacks and water and that fit into a small backpack.

 

[DSLRuser]

I guess there always has to be one troll throwing out insulting comments and trying to stir the pot.

Nothing negative about my comment.

Do you think a marathon runner wakes up and says, I think I will run a marathon next week. No, they train and slowly build up their stamina adding distance until they can do the marathon.

Same thing goes with kids. If you child is getting tired too easily, maybe it's time to train and slowly get them to go further. not, put them in a stroller and do the work for them.

 

[Tara922c]

My dd just turned 4, and will have just turned 5 the next time we go. (we are normally there right now, but do to a layoff, and dh's new job, we couldn't go this year). I can't imagine not bringing dd's stroller next time we go even though she NEVER uses it at home. I used it two weekends ago when we went to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, and I was GLAD I brought it even though my dad said she is too old for a stroller. We arrived at 11am, and left at 7 PM, and when we left, dd was passed out cold. She only weighs 30 pounds, but carrying 30 pouds of dead weight for several blocks is not fun. I say bring a stroller, if you need it , use it, if not leave it in the room. If the 7 year old needs a stroller, then rent one!

I think on our next trip I may even fork over the dough for a rental stroller. Our zoo has the same strollers, and they were so wonderful! DD was able to hop in and out with ease! At our zoo a double cost 11 bucks for the day, so we will see when the time comes.

 

[momtobrynncess]

This question usually heats people up quite a bit and I don't really understand why. Everyone knows their own kids and their capabilities. For me personally, my kids are very petite. My 7 year old is not much bigger than my 5 year old and they were the same ages as yours last October when we went. We took a double stroller and we're so glad we did. We are even *gasp* going to rent one AGAIN this coming October when my oldest will be 8 and my daughter 6. I know my kids, and I know that their legs are no longer than most 5 or 6 year olds and that is just too much walking for them. It may be different for you and I know it varies greatly on these boards.

Thanks for having the guts to say this. It's a lot of walking for kids. And only we know what our kids need. Last year dd was 7, this year 8 (obviously). We rented one for one or two days of full park days (Epcot and AK are the ones we find where we get the most tired), but not for the whole trip. If we are only spending partial days at the park, we don't bother. You're right though, people have definite opinions on this topic. I say, like you do, it varies.

 

[mmay60046]

If the Stroller Nazis here want to get all worked up about something, when we were there last week we saw an able bodied couple in their early-mid 30's renting scooters at Epcot and laughing about it. We saw them a few times that day stopped on their scooters in busy areas and impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic while chit-chatting with each other and drinking beer. I normally don't waste any thought on such lazy, inconsiderate people but after seeing those two I kept seeing others on scooters and thinking "I wonder if THEY really need that scooter" and it annoyed me that seeing these two made me think this about others who most likely really needed them.

 

[bellelab]

We are bringing one stroller for our kids to share and honestly, I'm not sure who will be in it more, DD or DS. If I could afford to, I would rent a double every day of our trip. I hate to do that because I could buy a nice one but it would be more difficult to push around than the park ones and then we'd never use it again. DD can be quite annoying about the stroller even though she is 6. If we are at the mall and her 3-year-old brother is in the stroller she will whine and complain that her legs hurt and she's tired of walking, and it's just not fair that her brother gets to ride. I just don't know what to do about it. I'm afraid with our one stroller we bring, I'll hear it all the time and the trip will be miserable. If DD gets tired then she can ride for awhile but then DS will start up the complaining, I'm sure! I don't know. I just wish stroller rentals weren't $30 a day.

 

[DSLRuser]

I can't imagine not bringing dd's stroller next time we go even though she NEVER uses it at home.

That's just it. People would be surprised at what their kids could do if they were given the chance.

 

[IslandAdventure4]

Mine will be 5, and 3, we are bringing our double stroller, for quick naps, and also the basket to hold all the goodies.

 

[mill4023]

nevermind

 

[jayandstacey]

We are bringing one stroller for our kids to share and honestly, I'm not sure who will be in it more, DD or DS. If I could afford to, I would rent a double every day of our trip. I hate to do that because I could buy a nice one but it would be more difficult to push around than the park ones and then we'd never use it again. DD can be quite annoying about the stroller even though she is 6. If we are at the mall and her 3-year-old brother is in the stroller she will whine and complain that her legs hurt and she's tired of walking, and it's just not fair that her brother gets to ride. I just don't know what to do about it. I'm afraid with our one stroller we bring, I'll hear it all the time and the trip will be miserable. If DD gets tired then she can ride for awhile but then DS will start up the complaining, I'm sure! I don't know. I just wish stroller rentals weren't $30 a day.

Which is why they are $30/day. If stroller rentals were only used by families with toddlers, it wouldn't be a big deal and the prices would be lower as the demand would be less.

But Disney knows precisely where the demand is, and tinkers with the price to balance those who NEED vs. those who WANT. Unfortunately, the reality is that it splits instead into those who can AFFORD vs. those who CAN'T AFFORD. I suspect Walt would not approve here.

This is all due to the vastness of Disney World. Any single park is doable for all walking ages. But 4 parks, 2 water parks, etc...That's when a stroller becomes a strategy for a family wih 5 to 10 year olds (or thereabouts).

It is neither good nor bad - some families take this approach (mine does) others dont. But Disney knows that many do rent who would not in any other circumstance. And if fact, it is precisely those families (like mine) that don't even own strollers, thus are even more likely to rent.

My personal wish is that Disney found better ways in the World to lessen the walking burden. They do a LOT with busses, but consider the parks in the order they were built, and the transportation offerings:

- MK - Train, monorail, boat, bus (and wedway!!)
- Epcot - Monorail, boat, bus
- DHS - Boat, bus
- AK - Bus

Clearly, MK was designed to provide alternatives to walking, while AK simply does not. So strollers get used more, by more people, in all parks.

And they cost a bunch.

 

[ccgirl]

Just want to add the comment regarding strollers and scooters that not all disabilities are able to be seen. Some are invisible. That does not make them any less of a disability.

To the poster about the 6 yr old that whines because the 3 yr old is in the stroller; if you are looking for advice......
I just tell my DD8 that she had the same things when she was that age and now she is just too old for it. She asks this a lot when I help her brother (3) clean his room and not hers. I tell her she was treated the same at that age but she's a big girl now and can do things herself. If you weren't looking for advice; just ignore.

 

[JohnneyB]

Once my kids were past the age of 3 we stopped bringing the strollers. I guess I'm in the minority here but it is easier without having to deal with folding it to get into the buses, getting thru crowds, parking and retrieving it, etc. Our kids were fine with walking everywhere at ages 4 and 5. Just take breaks when needed.

This is our practice with one exception. I carry mine on my shoulders a lot. We love not needing to park, retrieve, fold, unfold, and take extra space. We try to be "minimalists" in the parks wherever possible. Also, this keeps me honest. When I am carrying my 3 or 4 year old on my shoulders, and I begin getting tired, I know that they are getting tired and it is time for a break. This is the great "commando" preventer for our whole family. In the end, every family needs to figure out what works for them and have a great vacation. You don't get those moments back, so make the most of them.

 

[addot]

Many years ago when our youngest was 4 years old we had a stroller for her. She quickly learned to jump out of the stroller when we pulled up to a stroller parking area. At the end of a long day at EPCOT, we were heading back to the main gate, walking pretty fast to beat an oncoming thunderstorm. We were passing by a large stroller parking area at one of the main pavillions and she thought we were stopping so she jumped up out of the stroller. I didn't notice and ran over her. No one was hurt - we still laugh about it. But that is when I thought she probably doesn't need the stroller any more.

 

[ses1230]

Nothing negative about my comment.

Maybe not exactly a negative comment, but you made a judgement about the OP and her DD, which was uncalled for. Just because you cut off the stroller at age 3 at WDW doesn't mean that will work for everyone, their kids or their situation. Conversely, have an older child in a stroller doesn't work for everyone. It's a vacation, not everyday life.

 

[alloyd1170]

My kids are 9 ds and 5dd. We stopped using a stroller for the younger one at 4 (last year we didn't use one). Both kids did just fine. We were just there last month and would arrive at the parks around 11, go all day (usually stop for a nice long 1-1.5 hour lunch around 3), then stay until after hours (11-12 ish). DD is full of energy and went non-stop until we were about 5 minutes away from the resort.

I did miss having some place to store rain coats, snacks and drinks, but I LOVED not having to deal with folding it up on the bus/boat, or having to go out of my way to park it/pick up after every few rides. I wonder how much time I wasted trying to find it among all the other strollers, especially if it had been moved.

 

[finedice]

Gosh, I only find myself posting about passionate issues. Let the flames begin - If your kid is older than three, they should WALK unless physically unable!

 

[ckdisneyfan]

We are bringing one stroller for our kids to share and honestly, I'm not sure who will be in it more, DD or DS. If I could afford to, I would rent a double every day of our trip. I hate to do that because I could buy a nice one but it would be more difficult to push around than the park ones and then we'd never use it again. DD can be quite annoying about the stroller even though she is 6. If we are at the mall and her 3-year-old brother is in the stroller she will whine and complain that her legs hurt and she's tired of walking, and it's just not fair that her brother gets to ride. I just don't know what to do about it. I'm afraid with our one stroller we bring, I'll hear it all the time and the trip will be miserable. If DD gets tired then she can ride for awhile but then DS will start up the complaining, I'm sure! I don't know. I just wish stroller rentals weren't $30 a day.

We are planning an October trip, DD's will be 3 and 6. I plan on taking an umbrella stroller for DD3 and maybe one for DD6 for the same reasons you have mentioned......

 

[gray2402]

I hated having to have a stroller. It was honestly a pain in the butt for us, so we pushed the kiddos to walk the parks ... that meant no stroller for DS on our last trip when he was 2y11m old ... he will be 3y9m old on this July trip and no stroller again. We did a lot of 'test' runs at the zoo and such and he did awesome! He had already given up naps so no biggie there ... we planned breaks and we sat down if we needed to.

My DD will be 1 week from turning 7 years old for this July trip and she has not used a stroller since she was 3 either... this was at Disney Paris though. We did use one for her when she went to WDW at age 2y4m. Then no more for her next trips at age 5y4m and age 6y2m.

That is what works for us. It does not really matter to me what others do as long as they refrain from running over me or my kids!!