Yet Another Stroller Thread - DD6

[Tasmen]

My daughter will just have turned 6 when we visit (we are going for her 6th birthday). She hasn't been in a stroller for 2 years and I'm wondering if we'll need one while there. I'm looking for advice/comments from parents that have taken a 6 year old before. Did you find that having a stroller was more nice than hinderance?

 

[pheonixheart]

My ds6 hasn't used a stroller on his last two trips to wdw. One when he was 3 1/2 and then last year at 5 1/2 he is an extremly active young man who gave up naps at 2. I think it depends on if your comfortable just holding her hand or if she will need a break from walking I believe when ds was 3 1/2 I used the stroller for epcot but not mk

 

[DVCmom4]

We are going in Feb and this will be our last trip with a stroller!!! HURRAY!! Our youngest turned three in Sept. our 7 year old has not used one for years. But you know your child best it you think she may need one bring or rent one!

 

[Tasmen]

My ds6 hasn't used a stroller on his last two trips to wdw. One when he was 3 1/2 and then last year at 5 1/2 he is an extremly active young man who gave up naps at 2. I think it depends on if your comfortable just holding her hand or if she will need a break from walking I believe when ds was 3 1/2 I used the stroller for epcot but not mk

That's sort of what I am on the fence about. I imagine she'll be high huffing pixie dust the majority of the trip and super full of energy and excitement. I'll probably rent one if for no other reason than to make entrance and exit of the parks easier and less worrisome. I suppose I was just looking for validation that 6 isn't too old to be in a stroller

 

[pheonixheart]

I don't think 6 is too old for a stroller when at Disney....but def with the Mk he loved being able to walk and "navigate" where we were going. He's also always been very good about not taking off and always having a family hand. We are also going down in feb (our first "slow time" visit) I love that we are to the point where I don't have to carry a huge bag of "supplies" or worry about pushing a stroller that is way too short for me and makes my back ache!

 

[twinboysmom]

We brought my nephew when he was 6. Did an 8 day trip in early June. No stroller. When we were tired we sat and rested, sought out air conditioned rides and attractions when we needed it, took some time to enjoy an ice cream or drink. He was on the small side, not particularly active, and preferred to play video games and eat junk food. He did fine. Comparing that trip to the ones I do now with a stroller, it is so much easier not having a stroller.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why would you even consider this for a normal 6 year old who hasn't used a stroller in years? She is too old.

 

[Camshell]

I took my 6 and 7 year old. Neither had been a stroller for 2 or 3 years. We didn't even consider using a stroller. We just made sure to keep our touring such that we didn't wear anybody out to the point of exhaustion. Lots of breaks, snack breaks, slower sit down rides, etc. If your kiddo hasn't used one in 2 years I think you could get away with not even needing to offer it.

 

[cjbcam]

When we went last march I had a two year old a 5 yo a 8 yo and a 10 yo. We rented a double and super glad we did. My 8 yo is very small and we ended up laying down one side and the two,5 and 8 yo all fit. My kids never use a stroller at home and I guess cause my eight year old looks more like five we never got any weird looks or anything. It was nice cause they weren't as tired and its easier to keep your eye on them in the large crowds. That being said if all my kids were 6 and older I don't think I would. My 8 year old went in it cause it was there not because she needed it. When we go in This Jan my kids will be 3,5,9 and 11 and we will only be getting a single for my 3 yo.

 

[MSSANDRA]

There is nothing wrong with having a 6 year old in a stroller if that is what she needs or if it just makes for a better trip for you. DS is 7 and we did not need one even on the trip he was 5. We really debated it, and looked for a stroller to rent or buy, but decided that we would go without one and rent in the park whenever we needed to. We never did. We did rent one one night at Epcot because he had been sick the day before but he REFUSED to ride in it. I pushed it around a bit and abandoned it.

 

[powellrj]

I am looking at pictures of DD when she was 6 at WDW, and we never even considered getting her a stroller. She did great. I think I needed to stop and rest more than she did!

 

[nicolepitts]

we are renting one for our kids. my 5 year old can be a whiner and she gets tired pretty quick so she can ride away and we can keep going!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Our son last used a stroller at 4 and walked after that time. We took frequent breaks, sometimes back at the resort, and moved at his pace instead of a commando-trying-to-see-everything pace. It worked well for us.

 

[Kristibo42]

We have never used a stroller for anyone older then 4. If they can't do it go back in the afternoon for naps or take lots of breaks. Unless for medical reasons I can't image any 6 year old wanting to be in a stroller.

 

[blessedby3]

There is nothing wrong with a 6 yr old in a stroller at WDW. Everyday life maybe, but WDW is not everyday life and it is TONS of walking.
Our DD is 6 and we will take our Mac Volo for her to use when need be. She won't ride in it all the time, but by the end of the day her little legs will be very tired. She is a small fry anyway and it is a lot of walking.
There are times when it is just safer to be in the stroller as well. When leaving the fireworks, etc. the people are just crazy and I feel better with her in the stroller. It also comes in handy when we are rushing to get to our ride using FP and we are running late She would never be able to go as fast as the rest of her family moves
Sometimes we will just park it for a while (like when we are in Fantasyland) and come back thru and get it when leaving.
You will see kids MUCH older than 6 in strollers at WDW.
Each parent knows their kids needs and there is not a yes or no answer to this question. Do what is best for your family

 

[luvmy2babies]

My daughter was 7 when we went the first time and had been 7 for a while so it’s a decent difference. That trip was also in November. It depends on some things. Looking at your ticker, it appears you are going towards the end of May. It will be quite warm, which will have an effect on your daughter’s stamina. It also depends on how you like to tour. Will you be willing to go at her pace and rest periodically? I pretty much go at my children’s pace at Disney, but I’m also the only adult on our trips. In my trip report I got several comments similar to “That’s amazing, I could never do that” in regards to our pace and schedule and we still ended up skipping our plans for the last night due to my daughter being tired. She said she was anyway. Might have been a TV show she didn’t want to miss.

It also depends on how many days you plan to be there. Days 1 and 2 aren’t as much of an issue as say days 3 or 4 onward. My 3 year-old had a stroller but he walked quite a bit on our last trip. We’d park the stroller and I’d just go back for it if he asked for it. He didn’t even nap the first few days of our last trip (not for my lack of trying). We didn’t have long days and we were going to bed early. On day 5 I believe, we were on the bus coming back from DHS around 5. He was talking about all he had done that day and how much fun he had. Then he asked to sit on my lap. That was the last I heard from him that day. He was out for the next 14 hours.

Of course you also have time if you start now to build up her stamina if you have any concerns about it. If you’re willing to pay the price of the park strollers you could also just wait and see how she does.

 

[Tasmen]

There are times when it is just safer to be in the stroller as well. When leaving the fireworks, etc. the people are just crazy and I feel better with her in the stroller. It also comes in handy when we are rushing to get to our ride using FP and we are running late She would never be able to go as fast as the rest of her family moves

The safety was part of why I was considering it. I know how thick and crazy those crowds can be after a parade or fireworks and I do worry, like a protective momma bear, about her getting lost in the thick of things.

I imagine most of the time she won't care about the stroller and will want to walk around. It is those times that she is tired that I worry about.

We don't plan to commando tour and will take things at a leisurely, kid style pace. I have six months before the trip so I'm in planning uber worry mode, I guess

 

[bumbershoot]

She hasn't been in a stroller for 2 years and I'm wondering if we'll need one while there.

Has she been to WDW in the time since she stopped using the stroller at home?

Does she routinely walk 5-10 miles in a day?

What is your touring style like? Are any of the adults into "commando" style touring and incapable of slowing down? (this is my style, by the way, I'm NOT judging it...but it's important to know how the adults tour and if it can be changed) If any of the adults will be like that, will the rest of the family be able to go at their own pace without anyone judging anyone? (took us years of Disneyland trips to get to that place in my family...trying to find a middle ground made everyone miserable)

I don't think 6 is too old for a stroller when at Disney....

I agree.

We owned a jogging stroller for jogging, and ended up with a stroller that was used for Disney and one time to test it out on a walk to the farmer's market (got one block and despised the thing, returned it immediately and bought a new one). In other words, we NEVER used a stroller in our normal daily life. I carried or wore him, or he walked. Period. But at Disney all bets were off.

Why would you even consider this for a normal 6 year old who hasn't used a stroller in years? She is too old.

Because she probably doesn't normally walk 5-10 miles a day. Every day. Nor does she likely stand in line for hours a day (which IMO wears out the legs and back worse than walking).




OP, the end of my own personal experience was this: We brought our Volo on our first trip to WDW, which was when DS was 6.5. And it never got unfolded or used at all. He didn't want it, didn't need it. But we were GLAD that we had it, just in case. So it might well be that she doesn't need it.

Of course, we did buy out the store's Epsom salt stock, and took baths in it every night, to deal with sore muscles! And that was DS, too. So...no stroller = epsom salt baths for our family.

 

[Tasmen]

Has she been to WDW in the time since she stopped using the stroller at home?

She hasn't. We used a stroller on our last trip to WDW (she just turned 3) and DL (she was 4.5).

Does she routinely walk 5-10 miles in a day?

Not really. She's extremely energetic but I could see her getting pooped with all the line standing.

What is your touring style like? Are any of the adults into "commando" style touring and incapable of slowing down?

Mini-commando? I'm willing to take things in stride if necessary but oh do I like a schedule. PLAN PLAN PLAN.

I'm figuring we'll end up with a stroller as I would rather have it not use it than find out I need it and not have it.

Thank you everyone for the advice.

 

[sarasamsmoms]

I would bring it! When we went in April my DS was 7 and DD was 2. Towards the end of the night DS was in the stroller and I was carrying DD. Fun Fun! That said my 7 yo is very athletic and active but we tend to do it commando style from sun up to way past sundown too! My husband always say "less scheduling this time?" LOL!