Youngest Park Walkers

[DisMN]

Has anyone here NOT rented a stroller for their little ones? Years ago we trained our 3.5 yr old granddaughter to walk long distances and we only had to rent a stroller once or twice in the evening for her.

We're hoping we can get our grandson in the same shape and not feel like we HAVE to get him a stroller but I'm wondering if we'll be looked at like we're mean grandparents or something. LOL

What's the youngest you'd take a child into the parks withOUT using a stroller? We're hoping for some long stretches in the parks but we're also willing to take lots and lots of rest breaks, so we're really not going full out every moment of every day.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't imagine not having a stroller even for a 3.5 year old, and I am NOT a stroller person. I have a jogging stroller, and then we have or rent a smaller one strictly for Disneyland...

Plus, I get the worst leg aches (so bad as a little kid that I was tested for RA, the ped was that worried about the pain), and DH remembers horrible growing pains, and our almost 4 year old seems to have inherited both, so if he does too much walking in a day, even though he CAN do the walking, he is miserable at night.

If I were in your shoes I might count myself as lucky that it worked with the girl, but just bring the stroller for the boy, just in case. And get him some good shoes.

 

[NJfamily2007]

My son was 4 years, 3 months when we went in December. He hopped into our daughter's stroller a few times in Epcot and we rented one for a late night at MK (11:00) I think that you'd be fine to just rent one for Epcot if needed. There is ample opportunity to rest throughout the day.

 

[doodle]

We have never rented, or taken, a stroller. The youngest one of ours has been at WDW was 4. He did very well walking everywhere and the only time he needed help was when we were running for a bus, and then my husband carried him.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[hmacmahony]

The first time we went to disney, my kids were 12 weeks, almost 2 and almost 3. We brought, ONE SINGLE stroller for all three, and really NEVER used it other than to haul stuff around. We were there 10 days, the baby stayed in the sling, or bjorn, the other two walked (actually RAN) pretty much everywhere. We just took our time, and if they wanted to stop, or sit, or see something we did. We did everything we wanted to do, we even hit 2 christmas parties, and left around 1 in the morning from the parks. (we actually used the stroller at night the first time, the almost 2 year old crashed around 10).
I would see how it goes, my kids HATE strollers, and always have, but they have been taught to stay with us, and we understand to go at their pace. I enjoyed having it, mainly as a place to store our stuff (which we had a lot of).

 

[rainwatter]

I am debating weather to bring a stroller for DD or not. I don't really want to pay the new prices, so I will probably bring one with us. Sometimes mommy needs something to lean on too

 

[RllngRckBrw]

Our son was not in a stroller anywhere (except WDW) by the age of 3 but we still rent one at Disney. He will be 6 this summer and we will be renting one in May. We spend all day (from ropedrop to fireworks) in the parks and as good a shape as he is in from soccer, swim lessones, and the normal little boy stuff, he still gets tired and cranky if he has to walk all day.

 

[myhusbandnofanofdis]

Last year our just turned 4 year old walked all day at all 4 parks. As another poster said, we probably picked her up to run to a bus or something, but we didn't carry her much at all.

The only dangers with having a 4 year old walk is that other people don't expect young ones to be walking, and she was almost run over by people with strollers a couple of times.

 

[missminniemouse]

At age 3 our DS didn't use the stroller much anymore. He decided to walk most of the time on his own. At age 4, we told him he could have a stroller on 1 day of the trip....his choice of day. He chose the day we were at Sea World to take the stroller. What happened that day? He mostly walked anyway! He never asked for a stroller any other day on the trip and has successfully walked on every trip since then.

 

[GinCar]

When my DD was 4, we took a cheap umbrella stroller. I was glad we had it because of the crowds and heat. Although she wanted to walk a lot, there were times when we would have her get in just so we could get from point A to point B much quicker. We were there in July

 

[zickig]

This year my 5y/o is walking and my 2y/o and 1y/o are going to be in the stroller. Next year we will have a new baby with us on our trip so the oldest two will be walking, that means the youngest walking will be 3y/o next trip. I think that by 3-4y/o they should be able to walk some on their own with lots of breaks to rest their little leggs.

 

[tweedlemom]

We did not rent a stroller for our 3 and 4 year olds and they did just fine.

 

[lclark0621]

We stopped using a stroller at home when my DS was around 2.5. He hated the stroller & refused to go in it.

He is going to be 5 on our upcomming trip & we still rent a stroller. And he gladly goes in it in Disney World.

No way I would go to Disney with a small child & not have a stroller.

Heck, there are days in Disney I wish they would rent stollers for adults! It is A LOT of walking. And I know how badly my feet hurt at the end of a long couple of days. I couldn't imagine doing that to a little one.

This way my son stays refreshed & happy during the trip & we avoid the exhausted melt downs.

 

[ilovecoasters]

DS9 has been going to Disney almost weekly since he was born. As soon as he could walk, we stopped taking strollers. He just wasn't interested, didn't want to be carried either. Guess we were lucky.

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

My DS is not a stroller person. He hates to be locked up. He'd much rather be able to walk "like a big boy."

We went in February, and he was exactly 3.5 years old. We had absolutely no problems at all.

 

[DisFlan]

Heck, there are moments now when I'd like a stroller.

We first took our son when he was almost 6, and we didn't even think about a stroller for him. We were walking through Epcot when he saw another kid in a stroller and shouted, "Why's that boy in a stroller? He's bigger than ME." (And our DS was big for his age.)

I now sometimes wonder about all the older kids I see in strollers - like 7 or 8 year olds. And even older - one lady me told her (pudgy) daughter was 9 and "didn't like to walk". Many of these kids look like they could use the exercise (this little girl sure did), and they look plenty old enough to walk.

DisFlan

 

[pickles]

I am afraid my theory is if they walk the miles I walk, then we will all be tired at the same time. If I am pushing them around the whole time, they get to sleep and rest and I dont and then they will be awake when I am ready to sleep.
I also agree many kids NEED the excercise, just like many of us adults do.
Now, I would use a stroller if I had a toddler or baby or if my excuse was to push their junk around and not have to carry it all

 

[mygirl]

"in shape" or not, toddlers get tired. whew - i get tired running all over WDW and we are a very active family. while i highly encourage my kids to walk/run as much as possible, i would never even consider a trip to WDW stroller-less until my kids were 5+. my 3yo dd was a trooper last year and pretty much walked the whole time - evenings were another story. she was just plain worn out and more than happy to sit back in the stroller.

i would never "make" a child that young walk WDW. i would be prepared to bring/rent a stroller - even if it is only for a few hours everyday...

 

[pickles]

Mmmm...I guess the answer also depends if you are going commando style or if you go back to the room for breaks

 

[taximomfor4]

Our first trip, kids were 2.5, 5,6,11. The 2.5 yr old rode, while 5 & 6yo's held onto either side of the stroller. Easier to keep track of them all that way. And it was Easter Break, so super crowded.

We pushed a stroller around on dd's 4th-birthday trip. All day every day. It held a stuffed Meeko, a bunch of water bottles, and my camera bag. Oh, and the diaper bag (spare clothes, sunblock, etc). What did it NEVER hold? A child. Bummer, becaues I'd bought a maclaren just for the trip.

Next trip, youngest had 5th birthday. Pushed a stroller with Meeko in it again, and the diaper bag (supplies again, not diapers). Not a single child rode for a single minute. Only brought the stroller because I'd bought it just for the prior trip. Plus in August we needed lots of water bottles!

With kids in tow, we just move around less quickly, take breaks both in and out of the parks, and don't go from dawn to dusk every day. (Even I would get cranky then).