Will we need a stroller?

[sarahmae3]

We sold our only stroller a couple of years ago, so wondering if we really need one for our trip. Our youngest will be almost five when we go to WDW. She's fiercely independent and likes to 'go go go' all.the.time. She does not like holding hands at all. Do you think we could get away without having one?

 

[cleverclovers]

Yes. She should be old enough to walk on her own. However NOW is the time to stress that holding hands is necessary. Unless she wants to be hooked up to a harness. (One with Mickey or Yoda on the back might appeal to her).

 

[ses1230]

You know your child best but imo Disney is a whole different ballgame so you can't compare it to being at home, the mall, the zoo, etc. If you really don't want to bring one, see how it goes - you can always rent one at the park or from an offsite company.

Personally I would take a stroller for a 5 rear old.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

If you aren't taking one, I'd suggest to start taking long walks with her in the summer heat to build up her endurance.

 

[mum2four]

Yes, for that age I would definitely bring the stroller, or at the very least, plan to rent one in the park. Stroller usage at home vs. at WDW are very different things. Also, keep in mind that it's very nice to have your little one in a stroller if you ever find yourself immersed in a large crowd (after parades, fireworks, etc.)

 

[AndreaA]

Our boys were 4.5 during our last visit and I was VERY glad we rented a double baby jogger stroller from Kingdom Strollers. Not only was it much faster moving through the parks, we were able to attach fans to the stroller to keep the boys cool, and just not having to walk also kept them cooler. We were there in September, so it was HOT.

Additionally, having a stroller is GREAT for carrying all the "stuff" you usually need with younger kids, including water, snacks, autograph books, purchased trinkets, etc., not to mention my own cameras, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc..

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

We sold our only stroller a couple of years ago, so wondering if we really need one for our trip. Our youngest will be almost five when we go to WDW. She's fiercely independent and likes to 'go go go' all.the.time. She does not like holding hands at all. Do you think we could get away without having one?

Good for you on ditching the stroller!!!!! Your DD sounds like a real trooper----she'll make the Disney commando's proud!! You should be just fine without a stroller!!!! Go at her pace and just hang on to her!! You can always set a few bucks to the side and rent one in the park......but only if you must!!

 

[wdw4rfam]

My DD is six and we got rid of our stroller after last years trip. She is a whiner, so I'm worried, but we are so excited for our first stroller free trip. I do have magic strollers bookmarked just in case, but not telling her it's an option

 

[Crl1817]

My daughter is four and only rides now when I make her because I am walking our very energetic dog. I definitely plan to have a stroller at disney world.

This thread might interest you: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3277702

 

[Aurora0427]

I'd rent a stroller- we like Kingdom Strollers. They'll deliver it to the resort. Disney is huge and exhausting. If she's not a hand holder, that's going to be a big problem. Not trying to be Debbie downer, but 4 is still kind of little!

 

[worm761]

I would suggest going and seeing how it goes. A stroller is not a necessity at Disney. It can be done without one. I think if your kid is go go go then she will do fine without a stroller. If she needs a break I suggest a Mickey bar and a bench. Or maybe a show or long ride.

DS was a brand new 5 when I took him for the first time. He walked all of the 8 day trip. We just went at his pace. He didn't use a stroller at home and I never thought about using one at that age.

DD is 4. We leave for vacation in 24 days. I have no plans for a stroller. She can walk at home. She is very active and enjoys walking. We have done nature trails and just walking around exploring the downtown area to the tune of over 5 miles a time with minimal stopping. She spent more time out of her stroller at two and half than in that I didn't take on our next trip and then sold it.

While I know that some kids can't handle all the walking, some can and do. Yours just might be one that does.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Its a hot topic.... but I found the stroller to be a lifesaver for our four year old. She couldnt make it all day with all of that walking. I would personally bring an umbrella stroller for a five year old. Park it when it isnt needed and go get it when she gets tired.

 

[AAPDisney]

My daughter is 5 1/2 and i'll be getting a double stroller so that she can have a spot. I want her to be able to conserve her energy as much as possible (and hopefully be in as good a mood as possible!) anyway, if my youngest is in the stroller, she'll want to do the same.

 

[tinktinktink]

Dd will be 5 and we will take a stroller. We do make her walk most of the day, but let her ride at night. We've gone the last 2 years and the stroller has been great as far as storage. We took breaks and walked at her pace. Mid day we did let her ride and nap. We stay in the park from open til close so that's a long time. That may also be something you want to factor in.

 

[delgrec]

We went without last year when DD was 4 1/2. She rocked it. I think it depends on your DD but my vote would be to go without and rent if it proves to be an issue. Have fun!

 

[AndreaA]

I'm always surprised by how happy some people are to ditch their strollers. Good grief, I will be upset when my boys refuse to use one - heck, I may rent a single anyway just for our stuff! The idea of lugging it all around or - worse yet - making the kids lug their own stuff and hearing them complain or risking them losing something is not something I'm looking forward to. At. All.

 

[Aurora0427]

I'm always surprised by how happy some people are to ditch their strollers. Good grief, I will be upset when my boys refuse to use one - heck, I may rent a single anyway just for our stuff! The idea of lugging it all around or - worse yet - making the kids lug their own stuff and hearing them complain or risking them losing something is not something I'm looking forward to. At. All.

This. Exactly

I am not ditching the stroller until everyone is able to walk around the parks all day long with little to no whining, and can carry their own crap.

 

[cskollmann]

If your child is a walker rather than a sitter, you don't need a stroller. And what I mean by walker is that is if your child is regularly walking eveywhere rather than asking to be carried after two blocks. Our first was a walker straight from the beginning, and he did fine at 3.75 years with no problems (but we managed the trip around his needs, not ours, by returning to the room in the afternoon and keeping his regular bedtime of 8 o'clock; don't expect a child who is still napping to go 12 hours on the go with no nap!). We planned a nap time in our schedule and he had no issues. If your child can nap in the stroller and you want to stay in the park during nap time, then yes, get a stroller. In many ways it's easier if they are willing to ride and nap in the stroller, but every kid is different. Based on your description you'll be fine, but don't skip naps or keep her up too late.

 

[kohlby]

It doesn't sound like you'll need one. As for the hand holding, tie a small cord or something to your backpack or belt loop and have her hold it. It could even be yarn. Then put it in your pocket when it's not in use. (If not on the backpack). We had the stroller for the younger one of the moment and had a small piece of rope tied to it. That way, a child could hold onto it. It was easier for the child than holding a hand it seemed. Just make sure that the cord isn't long enough that other people could get tangled in it at all.

5 seems to be the age when many kids don't need one anymore - some do, but plenty don't. You're going when it's cooler so that will help. Physically, all my kids would have been perfectly fine without the stroller at that age, and we're fairly hardcore at times, but they rise to the occasion. However, I have one who needs the stroller for emotional reasons due to his sensory issues so he will still be using it for our next trip at 5.

We're rope droppers and tell our kids that we'll stay in the parks for as long as they can handle. It's amazing how much they can handle and what great moods they're in when told that! (Plus, I'm careful to watch for signs of us needing to leave. We're not mid-day breakers but do sometimes leave around the dinner hour and don't stay super late unless it's the end of our trip. My kids were way past nap time at that age and there was no way that was happening. But I could get them to sleep at night, so that was our focus.

 

[sarahmae3]

Thanks everyone! I think we'll just see how it goes, and if she seems to need one while we are there we can always rent one. I'm pretty sure she'll be fine without one, at least for the first few days, after that she may get worn out. I do like the convenience of having a stroller for all of our "stuff" but my kids are all old enough/mature enough now where they can carry some of their own things.

As for the hand holding, yeah, its something we are constantly working on with her but as I said she's fiercely independent. She usually does pretty well just walking beside us, and she does like to hold Daddy's hand more than Mommy's sometimes. She may be only four, but she thinks she's fourteen! Maybe she would like one of those wrist straps that could connect her to us, or something? Not sure, I'll have to think on this one.