Stroller 5 year old?

Amy11401

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jan 7, 2018
My son is 4 in a half now. We have not used a stroller in over a year....in fact we no longer have a stroller anymore. We have gone to smaller amusement parks and other walking areas and he has been fine but I know it is not the same amount of walking as Disney. Anyway when we go to Disney in the fall he will have just turned 5. Has anyone gone with a child that age and not used a stroller? What were your experiences like?
 
This topic is discussed, and hotly debated, here often. The answer is to do what you feel is best. Our kids stopped using strollers at home when they were 3 or 4 years old, I don't even remember exactly. But we had them using strollers at WDW until they were 8, and I don't regret one second of it. Nor do I care what others' opinions of it are, there are TONS of kids at WDW that age that you'll see in strollers. WDW is huge, gigantic, megasized...oh and it's pretty big too. :D All 3 of my kids are athletes, play year round sports, so fitness wasn't an issue. But our trips are long and it's a ton of walking. We decided we would rather have them fresh and happy than tired and cranky. We didn't want to have to leave the parks just because their legs had gotten tired from walking. Besides, it was great exercise for DW and I, we didn't mind at all (we're fitness nuts).

Do what's best for you.
 
I think you have to decide how your family will see the parks. Will you want to be on the go, or to take frequent breaks? Would you want to go back for a nap, or maybe do a stroller nap and stay in the park?

A stroller will give you the ability to cover more ground. It can also be a safe space for a child if they get overwhelmed. Without a stroller you pace will be slower. And you will probably need frequent breaks to give their legs a chance to rest. Neither way of touring is wrong, but you have to know what will make your family happy.
 
My DS stopped using a stroller in "real life" much sooner than we stopped the stroller in WDW. As others have said, do what will work best for your family.
 
We did both. When my daughter turned 5, we went to Disney (we were there on her birthday). She used the stroller because we had a double and my son was only 2.

We rented a stroller when my son was 5. To be exact, my son was 5 years and 6 months, so he was older than your son will be. We ended up using the stroller twice during an 8-day trip, and one of the times it got soaked in the rain because we didn't do a good job putting the rain cover on it. I think because my daughter was walking everywhere, it was easier to have him walk too. In a pinch, since he was only 5, we could still carry him. I carried him one night from somewhere in Epcot all the way to Yacht Club.

By then, we were taking weekend walks of about an hour. It might be good to take family walks leading up to your trip if you think you might go without a stroller, just to give him some practice.
 
Bought the lightest one we could afford before our first trip when our son was 5 1/2. Didn't use it everyday, but it was great for the huge Orlando airport, and a few long park days. When we got home, I sold it for a great price ( it had only been used for one week). Epcot and Ak are huge. Kids get tired and need a break. Sitting having a ride with an ice cream was great for our son.
 
It is a tough call. When he was younger would he ever fall asleep in the stroller? If he did, I might consider it for a late afternoon in park nap. Also, think of how easy he is to carry should he get completely worn out at the back of a park. Some kids are light, some are solid. We took our sit and stand with 2.5 & 5 olds. Our older boy took several naps. He would sit if we needed to get somewhere fast or if it was very, very crowded. He was sort of in a lollygagging, amazed by everything, not always aware of sticking with the group phase at the time.
 


We didn't use one when my son was 4&1/2 and he did great but his cousin who was 5&1/2 was not.
 
My daughter is 5. We stopped using a stroller at home years ago. But I take one to Disney. I walk beteeen 15,000 and 25,000 steps a day at Disney. And we are not commando park goers. My daughter has to take 1 1/2 or 2 steps for one of mine. So that’s a lot of walking. We take a stroller and park it in an area and do things around it. Then move it to the next section. So she still walks a lot. I also have her in it when it’s really crowded, like during fireworks or park opening or closing. I can just keep up with her a little.

We stay onsite and only use the buses. The small bit of aggravation on the buses is worth it.
 
My son is 4 in a half now. We have not used a stroller in over a year....in fact we no longer have a stroller anymore. We have gone to smaller amusement parks and other walking areas and he has been fine but I know it is not the same amount of walking as Disney. Anyway when we go to Disney in the fall he will have just turned 5. Has anyone gone with a child that age and not used a stroller? What were your experiences like?
Sure did. We slowed down a little and DD did better than expected for the first four park days. By park day 5 we rented a park stroller to go from land to land. It was fine and worked for us. It was so freeing not taking a stroller. Do what works best for you and your family. Strollers can always be rented in park if necessary. They are not super comfortable but if you don’t need it for long periods of time then it is a cheap option.
 
We used a stroller when DD & DS were 5. It worked well for us - also a great seat for them to sit when watching the parades.
 
My son is 4 in a half now. We have not used a stroller in over a year....in fact we no longer have a stroller anymore. We have gone to smaller amusement parks and other walking areas and he has been fine but I know it is not the same amount of walking as Disney. Anyway when we go to Disney in the fall he will have just turned 5. Has anyone gone with a child that age and not used a stroller? What were your experiences like?
something to think about are you planning to see any of the fireworks or evening shows and leaving right after? it is crazy leaving and holding on to your child in the huge crowd. at your son's age it would be easier to keep up with him in the leaving crowd. during the day you can park stroller in stroller area and walk to the different rides in that area
 
Thanks for everyone sharing their experiences....it is something we will think about.
 
We also used a stroller when my DD and nephew were 5 & 6. We were there in July and it was hot. The strollers gave them a nice break. We did not use one when my DS was 6. That trip was in December and he managed fine. We did have it in our budget to rent one if we thought he needed it.
 
We will be using strollers forever! My two will be 3 and 4 at their next trip and there is no indication that we are close to giving them up on long walking days. They both like to alternate walking and riding at the zoo and it’s really convenient at the end of the day in crowds and parking lots. That doesn’t even go into the basket storage and cup holders!
 
We went when my son was 5 and my daughter was 3 and had a double stroller. The 5 year old took naps in the stroller but didn’t use it while walking around. Then we went when they were 5 and 7 and the 5 year old did not need the stroller. It was very freeing to not have one. But they took no naps even though we tried to go back to the room and we were all a lot more tired than the first trip where they napped in the stroller.
 
My son is 4 in a half now. We have not used a stroller in over a year....in fact we no longer have a stroller anymore. We have gone to smaller amusement parks and other walking areas and he has been fine but I know it is not the same amount of walking as Disney. Anyway when we go to Disney in the fall he will have just turned 5. Has anyone gone with a child that age and not used a stroller? What were your experiences like?
Because you have experience going to smaller amusement parks already without a stroller - and he is used to that concept - I would suggest you try to go WITHOUT a stroller. You already know how to manage a park without a stroller. And if it proves to be too much - rent one then.
 
My son is 4 in a half now. We have not used a stroller in over a year....in fact we no longer have a stroller anymore. We have gone to smaller amusement parks and other walking areas and he has been fine but I know it is not the same amount of walking as Disney. Anyway when we go to Disney in the fall he will have just turned 5. Has anyone gone with a child that age and not used a stroller? What were your experiences like?

My kiddos are 6 and 7 and we are bringing a stroller. Tired, cranky kids can completely ruin a trip (especially if your kid is particularly whiny when tired). We would never use one at home but Disney is another story. If you are at all unsure I'd just rent one. If you do your first day at the park and your son is fine then don't use it again. But it's one of those "nice to have's" IMO. I've talked to so many people with older kids who say they wish they had just gotten one instead of having to carry kids when they aren't able to walk anymore. I can't imagine carrying my kids when they are "done" in hot weather when I am ALSO tired. Alternatively, I can't imagine listening to whining all day because they are exhausted and not used to so much walking.
 
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My son will have just turned 7 for my next trip, and I plan on bringing one. We used a stroller for him at Disney when he was 5 as well. We stopped using a stroller for him when he was 3 or 4 or so... but.... for Disney... that's a whole different story. I specifically bought one JUST for Disney.... WELL worth the money in my opinion. I got an umbrella one from Target... but... it was a "nicer" umbrella stroller, sturdier and with taller handles than the other ones, so I did not haver to "hunch over" while pushing it, much more comfortable since I'm tall. Not only does the stroller offer a "break" for our little ones, but... I just feel "safer" with them in it, navigating through the huge crowds, especially when it's dark. One night when we left MK right before Happily Ever After started... the crowds were THICK. I was so glad my little guy was in the stroller, otherwise, I would have had to carry him, and I was hot and sweaty. No thanks. He doesn't like crowds either, so... I know he appreciated the "safety" of the stroller as well. I wouldn't even think twice about a stroller at Disney for any child less than 7 years old.
 
We have long stopped using a stroller at home, but still used a double in November for my 5 and just turned 7 year olds. I'm even considering bringing it again next time. It was nice to be able to contain them in large crowds and get from one place to another quickly if needed. My 5 year old fell asleep a few times, so it was nice not to have to hold 40 lbs of limp child. Everyone is different, but a stroller has been well worth it for us.
 

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