Youngest Park Walkers

[DisFlan]

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

LOL! Yes - that's mainly why my sister wanted/got a stroller last fall for her girls, 4 & 6. The girls were past the Baby Bag stage and weren't much interested in the stroller, but it held a HUGE amount of stuff. I explained to my sis that she could skip the cost of the stroller and just have everything she bought sent to the resort.

The only time we really needed a stroller was for late night - the 6 yo fell asleep during MNSSHP. The 4 yo wouldn't go near it and was wide awake for the whole thing.

DisFlan

 

[Nienor]

My son was a confirmed stroller hater as soon as he could walk. We went to Disney when he was 2.5 Of course, I didn't have a stroller anymore of my own, because he would never ride in it. I rented it one day thinking he would need it at Magic Kingdom. All I did was push the stroller from one spot to another all day long. I never rented a stroller after that day. However, sometimes I'd like one to haul around all our stuff.

 

[ScarletFire]

We never took our kids to WDW when they were babies. They went as toddlers and we rented strollers occasionally. Basically, when the kids asked, which wasn't often. Back then, we toured much slower. I did not expect the little legs to tour commando style. As the kids aged, our touring style changed. Now that the kids are pre-teens, we walk miles. Whether to rent a stroller depends on your touring pace.

 

[EltonJohn]

To me, a "mean grandparent" is the one who does not encourage their grandchildren to exercise when they are capable of doing so. I think it's great that you want to prepare your grandson to walk this trip! If he gets a little tired and cranky then just take him back to the hotel for a nap or a swim.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

How good are you at giving piggy back rides?

We took an umbrella stroller until age 5 or 6. But, we're commando folks.

Depending on the time of year, the stroller is a nice dumping spot for all your jackets and other stuff. Just put a rain cover over it. The CMs are notorious for moving strollers out from undercover and into the rain.

 

[DisMN]

Some great thoughts everyone, thankyou for sharing!

To answer some questions about our grandson, he's never been big on riding in a stroller. We also don't tour the parks commando style and never have so he won't be holding us back or anything. LOL

With our granddaughter we started "training" her by taking walks daily in the summer, gradually lengthening the distance. By the time we left we knew she'd be able to tolerate a 3 mile walk and we were right. The only time she used a stroller at WDW was in the evening on two occasions.....by then she wasn't too tired to walk, just too tired to stay awake.

What age is considered a toddler and what's considered a baby? Our little guy will be 3 and a half when we go, the same age our granddaughter was for her first trip. If he's even half as fun as she was it will be well worth it.....seeing the world from the eyes of a child is a wonderful experience!

Pickles, I like your theory about everyone getting tired at the same time. It kind of makes sense, you know? I tend to think the same way I guess.

 

[KorieDWnut]

My youngest is 4 and I haven't even owned a stroller in well over a year. We don't use them at home at all, not for walks, not at the mall, nothing.

BUT..

We are going to WDW this August and there is no way I would go WITHOUT a stroller. I know my kids. My kids would still be in strollers if I even still had one. They always loved the stroller and never fought to get out of it.
I am not going in really hot August without a stroller. Just one, a single, probably just an umbrella. I just feel more comfortable at the parks with one. It holds my stuff, it holds a tired kid.

But if you have the sort of kid who you think will do fine...then go without one!

 

[RMulieri]

We leave in Sept , and I have dd4 walking up to 2mi per day right now.I am not opposed to getting a stroller, but I want her to walk as much as possible ( she hates,hates,hates the stroller)

 

[jpeka65844]

We traveled in March with friends who had a DS 3 and a DD 4. I was SO impressed! They didn't even bring a stroller and rented one one day at AK; the kids didn't even ride in it so they didn't rent one again!

They didn't whine or complain and kept up GREAT! We did take some mid-day breaks (sit down lunches, back to hotel, etc.....) so they weren't totally wiped out!

My DS was 1 yr 4 mos at the time. We brought a stroller for him, naturally. He wasn't into holding hands at the time.

We're going back in June when DS will be 2 yrs, 7 mos. Curious to see how he'll do.