Strollers for big kids, really???

Avatar for dklauduc
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Strollers for big kids, really???
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Mon, 01-29-2007 - 1:39pm

I read something on one of the web sites (can't remember if it was allears or another) that highly suggested using a stroller for kids up to age 9 or something. That just blew me out of the water so I wanted to get some real life perspective on this. My boys will be 6 and 3 by the time we go and are both super high energy. The big one hasn't sat in a stroller since he was 12 months old and the little one not since he was 14 or 15 months. They both always hated the stroller and much preferred to walk wherever we went.


Right now, we don't even own a stroller either of them could fit into. We are planning on borrowing a Sit & Stroll from a friend to use as a convenient car seat option that's easy to wheel through the airport. I know there are rentals at the parks but $10/day for a single and $18/day for a double seems pretty pricey for an uncomfortable plastic thing. Also, there is ZERO chance of the 3yo napping in a stroller, any kind.

 Dana, mom to Kevin (10/24/01) and Jason (10/15/04)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2001
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 1:46pm

I can only speak from my experience with my 3 and 4 year old niece. My SIL wound up going out and buying a Jeep Double Stroller for them and they sat in it the WHOLE time. We stayed for EMH's at night and they both slept in it while the adults and my 8 yr old nephew were going on rides (one of us stayed with the stroller).


Melissa






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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 1:47pm

We used an umbrella stroller until Aly was almost 6 at Disney (nowhere else, of course) and when she was 7 (3-day trip) we rented one day.

Alysha


Avatar for dklauduc
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 1:54pm

Where did you find an umbrella stroller that

 Dana, mom to Kevin (10/24/01) and Jason (10/15/04)

Avatar for shelb31
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Registered: 08-12-2006
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 2:02pm

My ds will be 9 in April and dd will be 7 in June.

Disney 2010
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 2:34pm

She was very tiny, but getting tall and at almost 6, she was pushing the rubbery bar (where the feet go) down. But she's always been tiny. At almost 6, she was probably 40 pounds or so.

Alysha


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Registered: 04-26-2006
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 3:00pm

We were there last summer and my boys had just turned 4 and 2. My DH balked at the idea of taking 2 strollers because he thought our oldest was old enough to walk. We only took one stroller to MGM our first evening there and wound up carrying one of the boys almost the entire time. My DH never said another word about us taking 2 to every park. That being said, my boys like to ride in strollers when they get a chance, which is not often because our home is in such a rural area. I also think my oldest liked to be in the stroller to feel more secure. DW parks are huge and parades and such get crowded. I imagine it is pretty intimidating to be so small and surrounded by tall people. Plus, like someone else said, it helps you keep up with them . I just found in one of my guidebooks that the avergage amount a person walks at DW is 6.5 miles/day. That is a lot more than I am used to , not to mention my kids!
When/if we go back this spring, I fully plan on both boys riding in strollers again. We used an inexpensive umbrella type last year, but the rubber foot rest is now broke (I've had it since oldest DS was a baby). I have been looking at resale shops for a light weight umbrella type. I am hoping to find a Maclaren. I found one last week, but it was pink. I don't think my DH would like that very much :)

HTH!
Charis

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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 3:06pm

I also think my oldest liked to be in the stroller to feel more secure.

GREAT POINT....I totally agree!

Alysha


Avatar for lynntabor
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 3:52pm
We have gone a few times in the last two years and I always bring my DD "big" stroller.
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Avatar for laurieh88
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 3:59pm

Your children sound a lot like mine! With 3 so close in age, we did not encourage or use a stroller past the age of 3, and we did not rent one at Disney past that point. However, we tried not to be in a hurry. There were a lot of sitting breaks in our day. It probably depends upon how you attack the parks. I should also mention that we travel in the off-season, and it's not as crowded. That can make a difference.

We did have a stroller for my almost-3 year old this past December. She was 39 inches tall and about 32 lbs. We brought an older umbrella from home, and it broke....I think she was too big. We ended up buying an umbrella at Epcot, and it was great. $35 I think, and it was big enough for her. If we go back again when the littlest is almost 4, I'm not sure if we'll bring the stroller or not. I guess it depends upon whether or not she grows out of it!

Laurie in OH, mom to

Alex, 12 years old
Julianne and Leah, 10.5 years old
Audrey, 3 years old

WDW visits in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006!




Edited 1/29/2007 4:12 pm ET by laurieh88

LAURIE IN OH, Mom to:


Alex, 1

Avatar for cl_ktbugsmom
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-29-2007 - 4:44pm

First - if you rent a stroller it's not a 'stroller' like what you normally think of when you hear the word - except at Disney Studios. See pictures here -http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/strol_faq.htm - approx middle of the page. They are low and flat,

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