When do you stop renting a stroller?

It seems parents questioning whether to use a stroller for 6-7-8 year olds want confirmation that it’s acceptable. To some it is and to some it isn’t.

Think it’s just easier for some to get one for the older child for the ease of getting through the day. Others just have kids walk and tour at their pace.

Not implying this to any poster but kids today just don’t seem to be as active. Sadly schools cut physical education and recess. Kids don’t get activity at school. Then some just go home and veg playing video games or on computer. Sadly electronics and phones are the norm when you see families out at the store (kids in cart watching videos on cell phone), families out eating each on cell phone.

It’s only a decision you can make for your family whether you get a stroller or not. If your 6-7-8 year old wants to ride in one great - mine wouldn’t have been seen in one but that’s the way we were. Never thought of getting one. Also this was in early 2000s when parks weren’t nearly as packed and it was slow in September.


Oh my, this is a generallity that I can attest is not at all true in my town. This town supports gymnastics classes and we pay for them. We also have just implemented a slight pay for play for extracurricular sports, and that was very sadly put into place when it was clear that the Ed budget could nto support it fully any longer.

I think people come here to get an idea what they may face if they choose to rent a stroller in WDW. From the range of answers, it makes sense to check ahead and buckle up, IMO.

I think it is easy to post here, passing all kinds of judgment onto strangers who are honestly looking for feedback to help them plan a vacation that is way different than many other destinations. We rented a stroller for my DGD and for my two little Princesses, all when they were out of strollers at home. These girls had more energy and stamina than I ever had, and could run circles around me. What they could not do (each was different) was manage the heat in DAK, outrun the torrential rain in MK and DHS, or get away from the over stimulation in some of the parks. We knew our kids, we knew what was the best decision for any one of them, and we made a decision that worked best for our family dynamic on any given park day.

I think it's great that your (in general your) kids walked all day and were just peachy at the end of the day. I have seeen other families dragging drooping children out at 3 and those kids were done. That's fine too. I wanted to manage my trip so that when we left the kids were still in one piece, having as much fun as the adults. I figure other parents want that as well.

I have vacationed in many kinds of destinations, and WDW is the only one that I would have even thought about a stroller over the age of 3 for any number of reasons. I would never tell another parent that their decision is "just wrong" when I have no idea why their decision was made, and figure that a little respect goes a long way.
 
We've got a trip in August and the kids will be 6, 4.5 and 1.5. We'll have a double stroller and I'm sure the 6 yo will be in it every once in a while, but she'll be walking most of the time. I think 5/6 is usually when people go without a stroller but whatever. It's Disney and you'll be out in the hot sun and walking far more than usual. If they want to ride a stroller go for it. If it allows you to get more out of your day, good for you and rock it. Damn tickets are expensive and if having an 8 yo in a stroller allows you to stay until 8pm instead of 6pm, then it's worth it.

I for one would sit my butt in a stroller at the age of 38 if someone would push me. I'll support Disney Rickshaws if anyone wants to start that club with me.
 
No need for all the judgement. You know your own kid. If someone is strolling around with their 7 year old in a stroller it's not going to ruin your personal vacation.

Last time we went we had a stroller; my daughter had just turned 6. We really only used it as a "home base." She walked most of the time but when she got tired after lunch she hopped in and took a brief nap while we strolled around. We went to MNSSHP that year and didn't leave the park til after 10 and she was sound asleep in that stroller. My husband would have been carrying her otherwise. We rented one because we didn't still use one at home obviously.

We're going next year and that daughter will be 9. She'll be walking of course. It will be the first time for our 2 year old. She is at that age where you blink and she's off somewhere. I cannot imagine not having a stroller for her. She'd be gone in a heartbeat. And carrying 35-40lbs around the park doesn't sound like fun.
 
Oh my, this is a generallity that I can attest is not at all true in my town. This town supports gymnastics classes and we pay for them. We also have just implemented a slight pay for play for extracurricular sports, and that was very sadly put into place when it was clear that the Ed budget could nto support it fully any longer.

I think people come here to get an idea what they may face if they choose to rent a stroller in WDW. From the range of answers, it makes sense to check ahead and buckle up, IMO.

I think it is easy to post here, passing all kinds of judgment onto strangers who are honestly looking for feedback to help them plan a vacation that is way different than many other destinations. We rented a stroller for my DGD and for my two little Princesses, all when they were out of strollers at home. These girls had more energy and stamina than I ever had, and could run circles around me. What they could not do (each was different) was manage the heat in DAK, outrun the torrential rain in MK and DHS, or get away from the over stimulation in some of the parks. We knew our kids, we knew what was the best decision for any one of them, and we made a decision that worked best for our family dynamic on any given park day.

I think it's great that your (in general your) kids walked all day and were just peachy at the end of the day. I have seeen other families dragging drooping children out at 3 and those kids were done. That's fine too. I wanted to manage my trip so that when we left the kids were still in one piece, having as much fun as the adults. I figure other parents want that as well.

I have vacationed in many kinds of destinations, and WDW is the only one that I would have even thought about a stroller over the age of 3 for any number of reasons. I would never tell another parent that their decision is "just wrong" when I have no idea why their decision was made, and figure that a little respect goes a long way.
When people ask for opinions on a message board they get them. There will be ones that agree with the OP, and those that don’t. If a person wants opinions they have to expect both sides - agreeing and disagreeing.

I simply stated why we didn’t get one and my view. You don’t agree with my view and that is fine.

This thread was ‘inactive for almost 3 weeks’ until yesterday and then a month old post of mine is quoted- always interesting to read old things!

If people don’t want opinions they shouldn’t ask!
 
I just returned from a last minute trip with a 12, 10, and 6 yr old. My first without a stroller in over a decade. I did 9am-10pm with many sit breaks and my youngest did just fine, in fact it was my 10 yo first trip without a stroller too because when she was 7 we used a double stroller for a 7 and 3 year old. It was a lot of work pushing 100 pounds through the park. This trip it was wonderful not having to backtrack to find the stroller or maneuver it through the summer crowds. It was worth being more thoughtful about what I carried in the backpack and my 12 yo carried some of his own stuff in a string backpack. Just do what's best for you and make sure if you get a stroller that it will be big enough...8 has a wide range of heights and weights.
 
We just went this mont with two 8 year olds. It was their first trip 100% walking. They held their own just fine but were looking for ANY opportunity to rest their legs. They both said theyd rather have had a stroller! 😆

Our last trip (they were 7) we had a double stroller. So, the 4 year old always had a seat and the two of them took turns in the second.
 


When the stroller starts to just be something we pushed "stuff" around in. We didn't feel a stroller was in any way convenient, so when we started finding that we were going places and pushing around jackets and bags more than an actual kid, is when we started leaving the stroller behind.

The great thing about the parks is that if you try to go without the stroller and later on wish you had one, you can go get one. :)
 
One great thing about letting the kids stay in the stroller longer is that you reduce the fear of being accidentally separated from them in a massive crowd--for you or for the kid(s)--whoever happens to be the bigger worrier. ;)

(On a related side-tangent...one thing, as an adult anywhere---Disney, a theme park, a store, anywhere---that I always try to avoid is walking between a parent and child, because I know that creates a moment when they cannot see one another. And with kids, sometimes a moment is all it takes for them to wonder away, or to freak out. I don't see a lot of other people trying to avoid that same thing, though, and I'm never sure why, especially when I see instances where it means the person walking has to come very close to either the parent or kid when they could go behind the kid and have more space. I guess some folks take the idea of the shortest distance between 2 points being a straight line very seriously.)

Anyway, never lost a kid who was in a stroller, but when DS #1 stopped using a stroller he got away from DH & I together at the grocery store in the blink of an eye, and then he ditched my MIL at Target, too. So one good reason to keep pushing them...at least you know where they are! ;) ;)
 
Our kids didn’t want the stroller much after 4 or 5. However we sometimes picked one up toward the end of our trip when they were getting tired. They’d all take a turn here and there. On one trip it was especially helpful for a hot day in Epcot. So I’d say get one as needed. You may not need it the whole time if the kids are over 4 but if they are getting tired and cranky and everyone else is still going strong it just might get you thru.
 
We did our last trip with a double they were almost 8 and 5. It wasn't that they couldn't walk, but they tired out from all that walking. It was nice to be able to let them chill out and have a snack while we kept moving to our next ride or show. Some will say just stop and take more breaks. We did try that, and lets just say 15 minutes here or there just wasn't enough of a break for our family. While we always liked the perk of storage for bags, cup holders, etc...the stroller was heavy to push at times. It got soaked in the rain once and took forever to dry, collapsing it for the bus or monorail got annoying for my DH, and removing everything for security got old real quick!
Our next trip they will be almost 10 and 7 and we definitely will not be using a stroller. I am kinda excited to be free!
You do what is best for you! :)
 

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