Will 4 yr old need stroller?

[sleepingbeautymama]

Should I bring a stroller for my 4 year old? I am concerned about all the walking and wonder if she'll be able to do it. We have an umbrella stroller but it really hurts my back to push it and I'm sure it would be even worse for dh to push it. What are the rental strollers like and how much are they to rent? Also is there an age or weight limit on them? Thanks

 

[SammieG]

the rental strollers are quite big and as far as I know there is no height or weight limit on them.

As to whether a 4 year old will need a stroller? Well that depends on your daughter. It depends how much walking they are used to doing, and how cranky they get when they are tired. My son is now 6 and this is the first year that we wont be hiring a stroller for him but ive known 3 year olds who walk quite happily around the parks.

It also depends how YOU tour the parks. If there are lots of breaks and rests then she is more likely to get away with not needing a stroller.

one great advantage of the stroller though, is somewhere to carry all your stuff!!!

 

[laluna]

Hi! My DD was 4yr 4mths when we visited in Feb of this year. We too have an umbrella pushchair and did take it with us but to be honnest, we tended to park it somewhere for a lot of the time! This was at her request; she was so excited she was happy to walk. We did things at quite a slow pace though (as I was 4 months pregnant) and she managed fine. We just tended to leave the pushchair at the places where you leave them in front of a ride or attraction. It was useful at the end of the day when she was tired.

Laluna

 

[Lindy Loo]

I would take it and use it to carry bag etc. She can then hop in and out when tired, thats what we plan to do and our Dd is 4 yrs 6 months in Oct.
The hire ones look very big and hard to push. PLUS we used the buggy to get back to the car at the end of a long day!

 

[amyedreger]

We took our DD last January when she had just turned four. We had a stroller and I was glad we did. In fact, we are going again in February and will be bringing an umbrella stroller for her then too. It is a TON of walking, even if you do take your time and go slowly. I think you will be glad you brought one if you do. Plus, if you are flying, there can be a lot of walking at the airport and she might just feel more comfortable sitting - and, you'll always know where she is at going through the crowds at the airport.

BTW, One Step Ahead sells umbrella stroller extenders that actually lengthen the handles on the stroller - might save your back a bit

 

[indigoxtreme]

This past Sept our 4 yr old DGD needed one. I brought one just in case. She normally walks everywhere and has not used a stroller for a long time. She was more than happy to ride and used it 90% of the time. I think heat and the long days may have played a part plus the excitement of being there and the number of strangers around, she felt comfortable in her world.

 

[JFrey4240]

Our DD is 6 and we still take our stroller. She does really well walking for about the first two days and after that she rides quite a bit. Good thing she still fits in it! It's nice to put things under it so there's less for us to carry.

 

[alloyd1170]

Murphy's Law (I think)-If you dont get a stroller, your child will want one, and if you get one, he wont want it! I have a one year old so I will be using a stroller for her anyways. I will also bring my sling to use (mainly for lines) with her so if my 4 yr old son does get tired, he can always use the stroller. If he ends up using it a lot, then we can rent one. Im not lugging another one just for him!

alison

 

[powellrj]

It depends on your child. We were never a stroller family, so we didn't use them, but you will see children as old as 9 or 10 in strollers when you are there.

Its a long hot day for kids, and if you think your kids would use it, go for it.

 

[laughinplace199]

Last Dec, we brought umbrella strollers for DD6 & DS4. They both walked a fair amount, but it was nice to have the strollers when they were tired. We do not tour commando-style, but even at our relatively slow pace DS still fell asleep in the stroller a couple of times, so I was very glad we had it.

 

[ReneeA]

My kids are 3 and 4 1/2, and I'm taking the 2 umbrella strollers we bought for the trip last year. I'm not sure either will want to use them...we went to the zoo yesterday and neither would stay in the wagon...but better to be safe than sorry.

Great idea to park it in a stroller corral for the majority of the day and come back and get it if need be.

 

[Christypl]

I'd take it. If for nothing else than to push all the junk I end up bringing with me!!!!

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

My son was 5 years, 10 months, just shy of 6. We didn't own a stroller for him anymore and never gave it a thought, but after the first day, that evening we rented a stroller. It was worth EVERY PENNY. I have read comments about people thinking older kids should be walking, but I don't care what other people think I think all the excitement, heat, etc. can just be too much sometimes for the younger ones. If my tush would have fit in that stroller, I would have been in it myself.

Oh, and the friends we travelled with brought an umbrella stroller, but ended up renting one anyways. They handle nicely and are roomy and shade the child.

 

[missmun52]

I would say bring one. Most 4 year olds are not use to walking around in the HOT HOT sun all day long. even if they walk at home, being out in the heat and humidity usually makes them tired. As far as the stroller you can get the extenders for the handle I am not sure but i believe babies r us sells then or www.onestepahead.com . Usually the back ache is caused by you having to bend because they are so low.

 

[MELSMICE]

I think it all depends on the child. We have always liked to take the bare minimum when we went to the parks, therefore, my DD's stopped using them at either 4 or 5. We figured if we needed one we could rent it.

We never took big bags or anything into the parks, so we didn't need a stoller to carry things. Everyone had a fanny pack & sweatshirts/jackets got tied around the waist.

 

[mybgirl]

WILL make it good for all you and your 4 year old.
Our first trip to DISNEY my DS was just six year old we rented one . And I would do it again .

have a GREAT TRIP

GOD BLESS

mary

 

[debbi801]

It was great at the airport, walking from the entrance to the gate and then gate checking it. It was great for when he got tired, especially towards nap time, we could push it straight onto the monorail and then let him nap in the stroller once we got back to the hotel. Not to mention someplace to keep all the stuff we collected, refillable mugs, change of clothes, purchases, etc.

 

[Buzz & Woody]

our kids were 8 months and almost 3 when we first went. Our last trip they were 3 and 5. We've always brught a stroller for both boys. For us, it's a saftey thing-we know where they are, buckled in, not getting lost. We don;t have to give them a "shoulder ride" and we have a basket underneath to put drinks and things in. DS's will be 6 & 4 when we go and I think that we will still bring one the next time that we go.

 

[Tink-n-Peter]

My DD(6) and DS(5) do not use a stroller any more. However we will be bringing a double stroller for our trip this July! Between the heat and the all the junk we need to bring the stroller will be used to carry something!

As other have mentioned, better to safe than sorry.

Good luck!

 

[YEKCIM]

We've used a stroller every time, since our (petite) daughter has been on board, and she will turn 8 while we are there in July. First time, she was 5-1/2, and we initially did not go with the stroller. After a day and a half of carrying her a good bit of the time, we rented a "buggy" ("strollers" are for babies, but it's OK for a big kid to ride in a "buggy") and never looked back.

IMO, a stroller will greatly increase your child's "staying power" and, thus, yours also. He/she will be able to go longer, do more, and be less crabby...and so will you! Also, as ours demonstrated on several occasions, when they get tired, they simply zonk out in the "buggy". Mrs. YEKCIM and I had a very nice evening at Eppacot after the little YEKCIM-ette did just that. We toured, she slept, and we all had a nice time.

Oh, and just fyi, the YEKCIM-ette *will* have a stroller at her disposal for our 7 day visit next month. We've already planned to get a multi-day pass. She probably won't ride as much as last time, but when she gets tired, she can ride...in the shade.

~YEKCIM