Would you still use a stroller at DL for a 4-year-old?

[mamaCta]

We used a cheap umbrella stroller in WDW when SDD was 7. There was no way she could have kept up the same pace as the 5 adults she was with. She mostly used it when we were crossing long distances, getting from park to parking lot, and she would sleep in it on our way out of the park after the fireworks. It was also nice to have a place to hang our lunch bag.

 

[Amommy21]

I don't do strollers for kids over 3. DS walked full days from age 2 on.

 

[starshine514]

I would. He's going to be a very young 4. I lugged one around for my youngest until she was 5.5 and then I finally told her no more (if it was up to her, she would still be using one, as would her older sister who is 8). Since you're going to have to have one for the little one anyway, I might think about a tandem (or sit and stand, they are smaller) so that you aren't pushing around an empty stroller if he doesn't use it (but I'm pretty sure he'll use it some, especially if he sees a younger sibling getting to use one). I recommend a tandem rather than a side-by-side because it can be difficult to push a side-by-side if there is only one child in it, or if there are weight differences in the children.

 

[larina]

I don't do strollers for kids over 3. DS walked full days from age 2 on.

He must have amazing stamina. We use a stroller and take breaks in the room. I can't imagine any of my kids walking all day at Disneyland at 2. I think if I tried it would look ugly.

 

[DznyPrnces]

Yup. I was just there about a week ago. I have a just turned 4 year old DD and a (at the time) 5 month old DS. I only took a single stroller and brought an ergo. Around 4 DS fell asleep in the ergo. Since the stroller was free and we were going clear across the park I let my DD hop in. Once we got to our next ride I realized she was asleep. She probably would have been ok otherwise, but it was nice she got a nap in. It just confirmed for me the need to rent a double when we go to WDW in May (I don't have one).

 

[sherilaine]

I know this is a bit off topic but can you imagine sitting in a stroller and being pushed around Disneyland - getting out only when you see something you like or there is a ride you want to go on - my would that not be the best thing!!

Kids have it too good!!

 

[cymbaldiva]

I know this is a bit off topic but can you imagine sitting in a stroller and being pushed around Disneyland - getting out only when you see something you like or there is a ride you want to go on - my would that not be the best thing!!

Kids have it too good!!

Kids do have it dead easy now - back I'm the day I had to actually walk! LOL

 

[larina]

I know this is a bit off topic but can you imagine sitting in a stroller and being pushed around Disneyland - getting out only when you see something you like or there is a ride you want to go on - my would that not be the best thing!!

Kids have it too good!!

Oh, I completely agree. My kids are great walkers! Always have been, but Disneyland is a lot of walking. They don't stay in the stroller all day. my son walked about 80% of the time, but the 20% we needed it, i sure was glad to have a stroller. If they get tired before you can get out of the park, it is nice to have the stroller for them to relax, and maybe even fall asleep, in. I physically can't carry a toddler, or even a baby, the distance necessary to get them back to the room once exhausted. Having the stroller allows us comfortable travel back to our room.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but at what age do you think strollers is inappropriate then? I'm not a mother yet, so my question isn't as important, but when the time comes I don't want to be judged like these people : Too Big for Stroller.

Anyways, from personal experience, my parents took two strollers in for me and my brother when we were 4 and 2, as well as when we were 5 and 3.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I say yes. We actually take our sit & stand for our 4 & 2 yr old. He can walk most of the time, but when we're in a hurry or walking a long distance, he can hop on.

 

[dblaettl]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but at what age do you think strollers is inappropriate then? I'm not a mother yet, so my question isn't as important, but when the time comes I don't want to be judged like these people : Too Big for Stroller.

Anyways, from personal experience, my parents took two strollers in for me and my brother when we were 4 and 2, as well as when we were 5 and 3.

This all really depends on the family. We strive to be very active and push our kids a lot physically, so at 4 we don't use a stroller anymore. Would I expect everyone to do the same? Absolutely not, because since we don't use a stroller and don't allow the stroller to be used for naps, we are limited to properties close enough to the entrance to allow for midtime naps. Trying to get a 4 year old to walk at a forced march all day long without a break is sheer madness for an average child.

 

[MCBWHITE]

Yes! citystrollerrentals.com will deliver a tandem to your hotel....totally easy and worth it! We used it (and the umbrella stroller we brought from home) for our 4, 3 and 1YO. It's a side by side and I didn't have any trouble at all maneuvering in crowded Halloween parks last fall. But, it's totally what you're comfortable with...I prefer side by side over the sit & stand Tandem we have at home.

 

[thespores]

I second city stroller rentals!! Loved them! She was so great to work with! A very real person who aimed to please!

 

[starshine514]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but at what age do you think strollers is inappropriate then? I'm not a mother yet, so my question isn't as important, but when the time comes I don't want to be judged like these people : Too Big for Stroller.

Anyways, from personal experience, my parents took two strollers in for me and my brother when we were 4 and 2, as well as when we were 5 and 3.

The general census is that the point of no return on a stroller is a child's 6th birthday. Age 5 is a bit of a gray area, but most don't have an issue with it. 4 and below is generally considered fine.

When I was still using a stroller for my 5 year old, her 7 year old sister would hop in whenever it wasn't occupied and I felt funny pushing around a child that age in a stroller (like someone would be taking our picture and we'd appear on that website); however, I generally did let her ride if her sister wasn't just because it would hurt her feelings if I pushed it around empty when she wanted to ride. I'm so glad to be stroller-less now!

 

[wallawallakids]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but at what age do you think strollers is inappropriate then? I'm not a mother yet, so my question isn't as important, but when the time comes I don't want to be judged like these people : Too Big for Stroller.

Anyways, from personal experience, my parents took two strollers in for me and my brother when we were 4 and 2, as well as when we were 5 and 3.

I would like to say that in everyday life, Yes. 4 is too big for a stroller. BUT in Disneyland, no. No way. We are a very active family. We walk everyday to school (A one mile walk each way). We hike all summer. All 4 of my kids are involved in sports. My 5 year olds can easily walk 5 miles. What they can't do is walk from 7 am- 10pm non-stop! Maybe if we just had them we would take more breaks in the hotel room, or stop more on the benches to let them just rest but we have an 11 year old and a 9 year old who are "go-go-go". It isn't fair for them to be asked to stop and wait for their little brother and sister to catch up and it isn't fair for me to ask the twins to always keep up with their older siblings. So in my experience, a stroller is a necessity. We have a Peg Perego, so one sits, the other has a little boogie board on the back to stand. They take turns in it. Last year at WDW we did a lot of parking the stroller in one part of a land, walking around for the rides, then picking the stroller up and moving to another land. The most invaluable part, for us, at DL is the night time walk from the park back to the DLH. By then both are tired, cranky and ready for bed. The stroller prevents DH and I from having to carry both back. (Also, I love the basket under the stroller for all the junk we carry into the park.) This is just my opinion and I have no issues with those that disagree. However, I could not see forcing any little kid to keeping up pace with older ones. It is supposed to be a fun vacation for them too. I don't want it to be bootcamp!

 

[tbgmom]

Take the stroller! Our last trip was when ds#3 was 4y3m old, and we didn't even own a stroller any more because he NEVER used it at home. However, there was so much excitement, walking, and so little sleep at DLR he definitely needed it, and we rented one. It also helped keep track of him in the crowds because we were there between Christmas & New Years, so having him in the stroller meant I always knew where he was.

We also went to Sea World & Legoland. He didn't need the stroller at those parks, but I don't think we did quite as much walking there as we did at Disney.

I'd bring just an umbrella stroller for your older child so that if it turns out he doesn't really need it you aren't stuck with a double stroller, but you have it just in case.

We won't be getting him a stroller this trip - but he'll be 7.5. In my book that's old enough to walk. He survived last summer at the Calgary Stampede all day without a stroller!

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but at what age do you think strollers is inappropriate then? I'm not a mother yet, so my question isn't as important, but when the time comes I don't want to be judged like these people : Too Big for Stroller.

what a disgusting website. They take literally a millisecond of a family's day and post pictures of children. Sick people.


We didn't even own a non-jogging stroller at home (and that was used for jogging excursions) until we got really into Disneyland and I didn't want to pay to rent. My touring style was not conducive to the normal touring style of a child (morning to night, move it move it!) AND my guy got a tendency for deep bone legaches from my side of the family. I take leg pain seriously but also toured like a madwoman. I think DH wanted a stroller too!

We used the nonjogger at Disney through our visit when he was...6? No probably 5, I can't recall 100% (no it was 5) but I remember one exhausted trudge back to our awful room at the grand where we wished the Volo wasnt left in the room that morning! We brought it with us to WDW for our first trip there when he was 6 and we never even unfolded it. Just like that he was done!

What an awful website that is.

 

[everwondering]

When my older kids were younger, I actually bought a Sit & Stand stroller used from one of those children's consignment stores. We used it a few times, but it was primarily purchased with our vacation to Disneyland in mind. It definitely was a must have. After our vacation, I listed it on craigslist and actually sold it for what I'd paid. So, basically, it was a no-cost rental.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Yes and even beyond 4. My DD strolled *only at Disney* till she was 8, not as often as she got older but at 4 she spent a lot of time in one. Their legs are little, I'm beat after a day and a 1/2.

 

[crystal1313]

I have a 3 year old boy and a just turned 5 year old boy. We bring two strollers. They are too heavy to push in a double and I feel we get around better with two versus a double, but that's us. They are life savers. We generally jut park them in whatever area we are in and only use them when we move clear across the parks or when we park hop. I think they are most efficient at night, when everyone is tired and they are sleepy. At least I know my arms are happy they are in a stroller and not being carried. You walk and stand so much at the parks. I think it would be really hard for a 4 year old to be expected to do that without you carrying them a lot.