When do you stop renting a stroller?

a_lynnie

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jan 11, 2016
Hi friends! We won’t be returning until 2020- but by then my son will be 8, and I’m assuming even taller than he is now at 49”.

My question is- when did you stop bringing/renting a stroller? I know his little legs will get tired regardless of his age (we are park open-closers) and I know I love the convenience of a stroller for things we buy/jackets/bags/yada yada.

Our last trip was 12/18 and he was still fitting into a Summit X3.

Just looking for some input! Thanks!
 
Only you can really answer that question because it varies person to person. With my daughter we did not go until she was 5 and she absolutely refused a stroller and with the younger girl (goddaughter) she refused at 3.5 to even talk about using one and at the parks I have seen parents with much older little ones (8-10) still needing one.
 
When we went in 2018 my kids were 9 and 7 and that was the first time we didn't rent a stroller. Both kids knocked it out of the park and walked without complaint...until our last night my daughter was given a piggy back ride through EPCOT.
 
I'm not entirely sure an 8 year old will want to be in a stroller. There are definitely people who use them at that age, but I'd be more inclined to not rent and then rent in park if he absolutely needed a break.

Just a word of warning, there are few things more divisive over here than "is x age too old for a stroller?"

As much as I say I enjoy having the stroller, I cannot wait until we're stroller free and I can return to just a cinch sack on my back....
 
We took my son right before 2 and DD was 7 on that trip. We just used a single for DS and DD never complained or tried to sit in it. We were in the parks for 10-12 straight hrs a day and did alternate between parks and water parks over the course of the trip, but still walked a minimum of 7 miles a day. DD was having too much fun to want to sit down or rest. We are looking forward to not taking a stroller on our next trip when DS is 4.

Everyone feels differently about this and every kid is different as well, but I personally think going without a stroller is much easier once kids are past the napping and needing to carry extra clothes and diapers stage. No need to park and find the stroller and easier to navigate the crowds. By alternating rides, shows, and the occasional sit down snack break, little legs get a bit of a break throughout the day.
 
My kids stopped using strollers by 5. We just returned from a trip with my niece, she was 4 and didn't use a stroller. It's obviously up to you and what your child needs. My personal opinion is baring medical needs, a stroller past 5 or 6 is a bit much.
 


We're not getting a double this time as the girl is now 5. If she can go to school, she can walk. That said, due to my limitations, we take it slow, and go back to the hotel during the heat often. The 3.5yo doesn't really like the stroller, so if the girl gets tired, the boy will be happy to walk. The last trip in Oct. she told us her favorite part of WDW was being pushed around the world. That was a bit of a red flag, for us, of being too spoiled. I think she mostly just loves the snacks, but she's 5 now and she can definitely do it. Everyone is different and I think touring styles also highly impact this.
 
Our last trip our oldest was 7 and we went with just a single for the 5 year old. It went fine. He rode occasionally when the younger one wanted to walk. Now I'm really glad to be rid of the double since I'm doing a single parent trip later this year.
 
We had a double for my 3 yr old and 7 yr old... both went in it for long stretches or when they were tired. We are going back in 2020 and my son will be almost 9 by then.... I am assuming we will rent a single by then LOL.
 
Hi friends! We won’t be returning until 2020- but by then my son will be 8, and I’m assuming even taller than he is now at 49”.

My question is- when did you stop bringing/renting a stroller? I know his little legs will get tired regardless of his age (we are park open-closers) and I know I love the convenience of a stroller for things we buy/jackets/bags/yada yada.

Our last trip was 12/18 and he was still fitting into a Summit X3.

Just looking for some input! Thanks!
6 was our cut off. It really is freeing not to have a stroller. :)

ETA-We are taking my 8 year old twin niece and nephew in June. No way would they want to ride in a stroller!
 
Hi friends! We won’t be returning until 2020- but by then my son will be 8, and I’m assuming even taller than he is now at 49”.

My question is- when did you stop bringing/renting a stroller? I know his little legs will get tired regardless of his age (we are park open-closers) and I know I love the convenience of a stroller for things we buy/jackets/bags/yada yada.

Our last trip was 12/18 and he was still fitting into a Summit X3.

Just looking for some input! Thanks!
Whether hiking, camping, or touring other cities/countries, all my kiddos did so w/o a stroller somewhere around the age of 3. Same for DGD.

I really like WDW policy of having new purchases delivered to the hotel so we neither had to keep account of it or lug it around but I don't recall ever feeling weighed down by outerwear on vacation. A down jacket or sweater tied around the waist was fine when needed.

We are not park openers to closers although could be (maybe;)) without children in tow. Guess in time we found that making allowances for every family members' needs trumped reliving our earlier lives.
 
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Maybe you should consider changing your touring plans a little? I know all children are different but I just can’t imagine (even though I have seen it) an 8 year old without medical needs in a stroller. Maybe a rest period in the middle of The day for everyone? Your trip isn’t until next year so start getting DS in “Disney shape” by walking every day, encourage a sport that he would need endurance for ( soccer maybe) and Try some test runs at your local zoo or amusement parks without the stroller. I think you will find he will be just fine. Good luck and have a wonderful trip
 
This is truly one of those things where, as the saying goes, "you do you" and that'll be the right answer. For some, anything past 5 is wrong because kids without medical needs shouldn't use one. That's the right answer for them. For us, we determined it was the best thing for our needs. That's the right answer for us.

We used a stroller until the kids were 8 or so and have zero regrets. They were all to happy to get the free ride.

Walking around WDW is nothing like walking around the local mall or zoo.
 
My girls are athletic and can usually out walk me, their Mom and just about everyone else, however when we took them in August we rented a double from WDW a few times. They were 6 and 8 at the time. It was freaking hot, randomly the skies opened to release torrential downpours, and it was HOT. For my family it was worth the money and effort to be able to let the kids jump in and get out of the sun or the rain. DAK was a good example of the kids melting.

I suggest that you play it by ear. You can rent for a day at a time should you feel you need one at times, and you can leave it in the park when you leave. No need to drag it back and forth to your resort. You may be surprised at the stamina kids have, or how heat or humidity can affect the same child.
 
Our first WDW trip our kids were 4, 4 and 6 and we did not bring a stroller. They had been out of the stroller for a year or so. But there was whining so I can see using a stroller for big trips past the recommended age of use (which was 4, probably older now). But 8 seems way too old. Maybe 5 or 6 like a PP mentioned. Just my opinion to be taken with a grain of salt. (also can share a single stroller between 2 kids as many times I see doubles that have zero kids in them so a single would be just fine considering each kid would only be in it a little bit....also just my opinion so don't flame me)

I will add that it was a pain to haul a stroller around and fold up and navigate a crowded park so it was more easy for us to listen to a little whining from the kids. Also we took them out for proper naps and decent bedtimes so as not to overdo it.
 
This is truly one of those things where, as the saying goes, "you do you" and that'll be the right answer. For some, anything past 5 is wrong because kids without medical needs shouldn't use one. That's the right answer for them. For us, we determined it was the best thing for our needs. That's the right answer for us.

We used a stroller until the kids were 8 or so and have zero regrets. They were all to happy to get the free ride.

Walking around WDW is nothing like walking around the local mall or zoo.

Exactly. My DH was not on that particular trip but he was well aware of the excessive heat and humidity that we were experiencing. If he called once, he called a dozen times to be sure the kids had a stroller ready if they needed it and that we had purchased good hats. I sent a picture of their happy hot sweaty selves perched in a stroller pointing at their sun screening hats! LOL! Seriously, that was a horrible time in DAK, and if you have a child like ours Nola, who could not tolerate that level of heat, that stroller was a lifesaver. We beat feet out but the increase in heat and humidity came darn fast.
 
Since you know you are going in 2020- at least 7 months from now start him walking daily. Go for walks and bike rides to build stamina over the summer.

Years ago we calculated distance between our house and Disney. Over the months prior to going we logged miles walked and biked- we did over 1000 as a family.

Mine were walking Disneyland at 4 and 5. They did Disney World in 1st and 3rd grade. No stroller and never crossed my mind to rent one. An 8 year old without medical issues should be able to walk.
 

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