Strollers a must!

[Heather Jackson]

We recently travelled to Disney with our 6 and 3 year old and wouldn't have made it through the days without our double stroller. We rented it from Kingdom Stroller and couldn't have been happier.
The strollers from Disney do not recline, do not look comfortable and have no storage at all.
For less than the daily rental price at Disney, our stroller was awaiting us at our hotel and was a top of the line City Elite. Ample storage, reclining seats and easily maneuvered with only one hand.
The process couldn't have been easier and Kingdom Strollers couldn't have provided better customer service if they tried.
If you think your primary school aged child does not need a stroller, you are very wrong!

 

[cowanfamily]

Thanks for the infomercial

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

We went for the first time when my boys were 8 & 4. We have gone back every other year since then. No stroller, not even once. Didn't bring one and leave it in the room nor did we ever consider renting one. Guess what? They survived! They had no tantrums or melt downs, were exhausted at the end of the day then had a good night's sleep. We have always had the best vacations there. Sans strollers. So no, they aren't a necessity or requirement for EVERY family.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I would be very careful regarding this. Disney just implemented a policy for ECV's Wheelchairs etc that if they are rented from an outside company, only certain companies ( there are 5 of them) are allowed to drop off their equipment at the resort for pick up later by the resort guest. Im sure that strollers are in the same category. Contact Disney or your Travel Agent to make sure that the company you rented from is authorized to drop the rental off for you. If it is not, you must make arrangements with the company to meet them to get the equipment from them. Have a great time everyone!!! Marie

 

[thomas998]

We recently travelled to Disney with our 6 and 3 year old and wouldn't have made it through the days without our double stroller. We rented it from Kingdom Stroller and couldn't have been happier.
The strollers from Disney do not recline, do not look comfortable and have no storage at all.
For less than the daily rental price at Disney, our stroller was awaiting us at our hotel and was a top of the line City Elite. Ample storage, reclining seats and easily maneuvered with only one hand.
The process couldn't have been easier and Kingdom Strollers couldn't have provided better customer service if they tried.
If you think your primary school aged child does not need a stroller, you are very wrong!

The biggest question is what was the cost. We always found the cheapest solution was to stop at the local target or wal-mart, buy a double stroller and then just leave it when we left... the normal daily rate most places charges makes it a bit silly to rent a used stroller with god knows what germs attached compared to simply buying a new one.

 

[Figgy1]

Thanks for the infomercial

Took my ds when he was 5 took the stroller. My backpack rode the entire time my ds not once and we did 10 days commando style open til just about close fireworks every night. Each child is different

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The stroller discussion is a big can of worms. @figmentfan423 is right...every child is different.

We took our girls on their 3rd trip to WDW in November and while we rented a stroller (from a competing company that is slightly cheaper ), we found that our 6 year old really didn't need it- not one bit. Which is funny, because she's so tiny she's about the size of an average sized 4 year old! Seriously. Her sister, who just turned 4 (avg size)...needed the stroller a little bit more, but both girls went several nights totally stroller free and pulled a full day at AK without the stroller at all. DD4 complained once about her feet being tired...we told her that the only option was leaving... yea- she walked complaint free for several more hours. We went into this pretty certain that a stroller was of no need for the 6 year old, but rented the double just in case...1) just in case we judged wrong 2) just in case she was jealous that her sis had a stroller to relax. Turned out to be $ wasted, but at least we know next visit will be 100% stroller free.

Now, if you find your family needs a stroller...I'm fine with that. Every child and family is different and you need to do what's best for them. BUT- to suggest every family with a school aged needs a stroller is JUST-PLAIN-WRONG.

 

[BigRedDad]

Every child and family is different. Without a stroller, you travel at the child's pace. With a stroller, you travel at the parent's pace. It also comes down to how active/lazy children are. My daughter complains about walking all the time, but does it. She swims close to a mile every other day for swim. You just have to pace yourself, know when your child is "done", and take breaks. You would be surprised at how much of a break they get when you get to the resort pool. They are full blast again and if you are lucky, they go down for an hour or two nap. This gives you much more time at the park in the evening.

 

[allgiggles]

We recently travelled to Disney with our 6 and 3 year old and wouldn't have made it through the days without our double stroller. We rented it from Kingdom Stroller and couldn't have been happier.
The strollers from Disney do not recline, do not look comfortable and have no storage at all.
For less than the daily rental price at Disney, our stroller was awaiting us at our hotel and was a top of the line City Elite. Ample storage, reclining seats and easily maneuvered with only one hand.
The process couldn't have been easier and Kingdom Strollers couldn't have provided better customer service if they tried.
If you think your primary school aged child does not need a stroller, you are very wrong!

No, you're wrong. Not every kid needs a stroller at Disney World. We've traveled to Disney with children under 6 on 3 different occasions and none of them used a stroller. And they didn't complain about the walking (they knew we expected them to walk before we got there). We walk for fun at home, so they're used to walking 2 miles a day several days a week. We spend long days in the parks but we rest when we need to -- it's not like we're running a marathon. I know some kids do need a stroller, but definitely not all of them. Your last statement is really just ridiculous since thousands of kids have managed to enjoy themselves at Disney World without a stroller. Oh, and the Disney strollers *do* have some storage on them -- there are several mesh pockets on the back for storage and beverages -- I've seen them packed to the gills with stuff. Poor attempt at subtle advertising for KS, too.

 

[Lucyred]

Glad I caught this thread. I was wondering about a stroller for our 5 yo DD for our trip. I don't think we'll need one. She going to be so excited to be there that she is not going to want to sit. Plus we plan on having a relaxing afternoons by the pool.

I do agree with everyone else thought, not every school age child would need a stroller.

 

[Figgy1]

Glad I caught this thread. I was wondering about a stroller for our 5 yo DD for our trip. I don't think we'll need one. She going to be so excited to be there that she is not going to want to sit. Plus we plan on having a relaxing afternoons by the pool.

I do agree with everyone else thought, not every school age child would need a stroller.

The trip I took when my youngest was 5 the backpack rode my ds walked!!!!! He opened and closed the parks for 10 days in June. Know your children and have them walk before the trip to see what they can handle. If your on the fence a cheap $10 umbrella will probably be more than enough just ask the backpack!!!! LOL

 

[Disneyhead'71]

When we toured Disneyland when my kids were 3 and 7, we did not use a stroller. The wife carried the Backpack filled with the necessities. And I did the "Disney Carry" (on Dad's shoulders) when necessary. We moved as fast as we wanted. We did let the 3 year old nap on a quiet bench around 4 o'clock for about an hour.

 

[Clowd Nyne]

Bring cheap umbrella strollers. They are easy to fold up and take on the bus. Two kids two strollers and no problem loading up

 

[tare]

Yes when they are little strollers a must!!!!! Plus you don't have to carry anything around.

 

[Gers78]

while we're on this topic, it is easier to have double stroller or 2 umbrella ones? I have a double one..my older is 5 and gets tired easily but its awfully heavy to push them around, not that they will be in it alot but the times they do its an arm workout.

 

[Master Yoda]

while we're on this topic, it is easier to have double stroller or 2 umbrella ones? I have a double one..my older is 5 and gets tired easily but its awfully heavy to push them around, not that they will be in it alot but the times they do its an arm workout.

Two singles are easier. Trying to navigate a double through Disney crowds is a bit like taking an 18 wheeler through residential streets. You can do it, but it can be a pain.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Apparently I'm "wrong," and thank God for that! We went last year with our 4 and 6-year-olds and had a ball. We never used a stroller. Not for a single minute. Nor did we carry the children anywhere. They used their feet and legs and walked on them like they'd been doing it for years! So did we! It was amazing how our appendages transported us around a park every morning from rope drop to lunch, nipping through the slow-moving crowd unencumbered by the need to push or park a wheeled conveyance. We even walked to the bus stop afterwards, standing proudly erect! After a nap-and-swim break at the resort, why, we put our shoes back on and walked around parks AGAIN! It was amazing! God's Leg Rentals was... well, a Godsend! I don't know how we'd have made it every day without our legs! Anyone who says that healthy, fit, able-bodied adults and children can make it around the parks without using their legs is just wrong!

Seriously though, as stated by the "first responders" above, strollers are nice to have if you need them, but not everyone does, and no one likes to be told that if they don't agree, they're "wrong." Let's try not to step on (or roll our strollers over) others' toes.