Will a 6 year old need a stroller?

[4boys4me]

My DS will have just turned 6, and is a very slow walker when he gets tired. do you veterans recommend a stroller or are they more of a hassle? Do the rental strollers hold much stuff?

 

[decker96]

Our DD was 5 on our last trip. I didn't think she would need a stroller, so we only brought one for DS2. We ended up renting a double or bringing ours and renting another single every day! She got tired way sooner than I thought she would and having her and DS switch off didn't work because he walked SOOOO SLOW we would end up carrying him anyway.
The rentals all have a mesh bag hanging from the back which hold some small items, but there's no basket. Not alot of storage on them. If you have an umbrella-type I would bring it, I didn't find toting ours artound a hassle at all. Otherwise I would rent one.

 

[ziggystardust]

On our last trip - we had a 5 year old and a 9 year old with us. We knew there would be times where the 5 yr old wouldn't want to walk anymore so we knew we needed one. My BF's sister ended up renting a double stroller - to hold some extra bags or whatever - it ended up being useful b/c the 9 yr old would jump in it at the end of the long day. (and for seating at illuminations). It was def. worth it.

 

[IandGsmom]

We rented one for each of my twins 5 of the 7 days we were there. The days they had them they lasted longer, did not complain as much and had more energy. They give a discounf on multiple day rentals so ask about that and make sure you get your $1 deposit back each day. I don't remeber it holding that much stuff. It really depends on you and your kids. I saw soo many parents holding their sleeping toddlers/kids and I appreciated the strollers that much more.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I saw soo many parents holding their sleeping toddlers/kids and I appreciated the strollers that much more.

I saw the same thing and was very glad we had ours.

My boys are 5 and 7 and we brought our stroller along. And once a child is sleep it is very difficult to wake them up and get them to walk anywhere. At that age mine are too heavy to carry so I was grateful for the stroller, because at the end of the day it was easier to push them then it was to carry them.

 

[jennymouse]

It all depends on your child. My DGD was 6 the first real week long trip to WDW I took her on and she wouldn't be caught dead in one. But she's really funny about anything babyish for some reason. She was offended when I asked if she wanted one.

I took her, now 9yo, and two of her friends with us last week, sisters, one 7yo and one 11yo and hadn't even thought about renting a stroller because of thier ages and because I was just used to not renting one. After a day of walking around in the heat the 7yo said "I want a stroller. I don't like walking." It was kinda funny really because she's kind of quiet but sure spoke up about that. She had to remind me as we entered the park because if she didn't I would forget, but I got her one everyday after that. It helped her stamina and she was just bubblie happy after that.

I didn't find it to be a hassle at all. My DGD and the 11yo sister pushed her sometimes.

 

[ChuckGA]

I highly recommend one for a 6 year old.

Chuck

 

[zurgswife]

We are taking ours (it is strickly in the basement besides trips to disney) for my just turned 7 yr old.....It makes it easier on everybody....she can keep up with the older kids without complaining and I have the storage space...gotta love the storage space...

 

[Gupsmom]

Depends on the child...and what your goals are for the day.

My kids (last trip they were 6,5 and 4) walked for the first 5 days but then we needed to rent a double stroller for the last 2 days. They like being out in the open where they can see everything and they are good troopers.

also...it depends on what you want to get done. We tend to do the mornings in the park and then leave. We often return in the evening. We take a look at where we will be for both morning/evening. If we're doing Fantasyland we don't bother with a stroller. It's more of a hassel than a help because all the rides are so close. You spend your whole time moving/fetching the stroller. But, if we're doing World Showcase, we almost always get a stroller. It's just too much walking and I don't want to be stuck in the American Pavilion with 3 foot sore kids.

I'b bring the stroller just to be safe. You can always leave it in the room. If nothing else, strollers are great for carrying your stuff around too.

Jess

 

[minmate]

I second the above post. It's a good idea to bring one just in case... or rent one at least. When we took our 5 and 4 year old dd's, we'd do the Early Entry without one (around Fantasyland/Tomorrowland area) and then go back around 10 and rent one -- there were no wait lines then for the strollers either!

The nice thing about the strollers is that you can leave stuff on them... we kept the canopy open and put our bags on there or pulled the straps on the backpack really long and sling them around the handle of the stroller and tie the top loop of the backpack to the handle with a bandanna ... worked very well. If you rent one, be sure to bring something to identify it as yours. We used colored bandanas... but you can use balloons, a bright colored backpack, towel.... whatever you think of... You'd be surprised how much more quickly you can locate your stroller that way.

 

[Daisy64]

We always rent and I asked my 7yr old if she wants a stroller for the day in MK this time, her reply " of course Mommy!!" We don't own a stroller anymore so that tells you how much we use one at home, my DS is almost 5 and he loves riding in it at the parks too.

Daisy

 

[ehsween]

When we last went to WDW, my children were 2, 4, and 6. My 2 year old definitely needed it and I thought my 4 year old would too. It ended up my 6 and 2 year old used it the most. My 4 year old was very energetic and simply just wanted to walk. My 6 year old had some virus the whole week that caused a headache and 101 degree fever (so did 2 year old). Luckily Tylenol took that all away, so they lived on it all week! But anyway, due to his illness that week, he was happy to have somewhere to ride. That and the fact that even if he wasn't ill, he's just the type of kid who'd rather ride than walk.

So it really depends on the child. If I were you, I'd take one or rent one just in case.

 

[Del]

I am not aware of disconts for multiple day rentals? Does anyone have any info? Thanks

Del

 

[CarolynNC]

I vote wholeheartedly for the stroller. I wish I could have had one to cart me around last week!

Carolyn

 

[madelyn]

We took our own double stroller last week for our almost 6 year old (July 21 b-day) and 28 month old. My older son would be in and out of the stroller but on our last day at the parks, we took a bus from MGM to Animal Kingdom late in the afternoon. Both kids fell asleep during the bus ride and we were so glad to have our stroller. They ended up both sleeping in the stroller for the first half of our meal at Rainforest Cafe. I don't know what we would have done if we didn't have the stroller. It's possible for me to hold the 2 year old and eat but not the 5 year old!

 

[Jane and Ian]

Most definitely. We hired one for our 6 year old, but only in MK, but he needed it towrds the end of the day. Without it he would have been very cranky.