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.
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!
Doing walks around the neighborhood for a short time (a month, two months) before the trip is going to be mostly placebo effect. Don't get me wrong, all exercise is good exercise. But that's not really going to do a ton for conditioning someone for a week at WDW. WDW gets the best of DW and I after a while.
I give you credit as the last thing my dh and I want or need at WDW is extra exercise!!!I think there's a distinct difference between "can" and "should". Can most 8 year olds walk? Sure, probably. Should they? That's a personal judgment call for the parents/adults. For us, we would have rather pushed them and helped keep them from wearing down. Plus, frankly we liked the extra exercise. The choice anyone else makes is up to them, no right or wrong.
Doing walks around the neighborhood for a short time (a month, two months) before the trip is going to be mostly placebo effect. Don't get me wrong, all exercise is good exercise. But that's not really going to do a ton for conditioning someone for a week at WDW. WDW gets the best of DW and I after a while.
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!
OP isn’t going until 2020- minimum 7 months away if going in January 2020. Seven months of exercise will condition a person for walking. With so many schools cutting PE class kids today aren’t active and need to get outside and moving rather than playing video games (I AM NOT SAYING OPs CHILD DOES THIS).
If OP and family walk or bike daily they will be conditioned by trip time. No able bodied 8 year old needs a stroller IMHO which is what OP asked
If you feel a family walk is going to condition someone for walking and standing in WDW for a week, fabulous. As I said, all exercise is great, so it's never a bad thing. Plus it's great family time. However, IMHO it's kinda like saying your goal is to swim the English Channel, and to prepare for it you're going to spend 20 minutes each day doing laps at the community pool.
Again, "need" vs "want"....
An able bodied 7 year old doesn't need a stroller unless their parents want to keep them in the park all day dragging them around to every single attraction. Even then they don't need it, the parents just want it so they don't have to deal with the crankiness they caused by running the kid ragged.
That's the truth but everyone skirts around it here.
That's your truth. Not sure how you'd know it's the truth for others, but each to their own.
It's quite the assumption to say they are "dragging" kids around and "cause" crankiness...and you know what they say about making assumptions.
ETA: Even if that is someones' truth, so what? If having the kid use a stroller will prevent them from getting cranky and allow them to spend more enjoyable time in the parks, why is that a negative? If the kids want it and the parents are good with it, I fail to see the concern.