stroller for 6 year old?

[Esmommy2008]

I'm looking for opinions on using a stroller for a just turned 6 year old. Part of me thinks I should bring one so dh & I don't have to carry him when he tuckers out. Is there a good stroller to buy for a 6 year old? I hate like heck to use the Disney strollers when bringing one would be so much cheaper. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[epsmith921]

Have you looked at renting? I don't know the size of your child, but the rental companies offer strollers with taller seatback heights and higher weight limits that would potentially work.

 

[TheGoodes73]

Our DS is now 10 years old - and we miss the stroller days! It was always great to have the extra storage place (along with a place for him to rest).

Our last trip with a stroller was when he was 6 years old. He used it, and we used it We used a Maclaren stroller, and it was sturdy for our hefty 6 year old.

He also had no problem when we went the next year without it....and we had some late nights.

You will see many older children (5-8) in strollers - it's really up to you!

 

[NicholeB630]

Our daughter will be almost 6 when we go in December her birthday is in January so she basically will be just about 6. Then our son is 2.5 when we go. I hardly use our stroller at home anymore because my son doesn't like to ride in it. We are going to rent a double stroller though from one of the rental places in FL. I just know they both will ride at Disney as its so much walking and especially at night. Even when I do take it out at home my daughter wants to ride more than walk. I'd rather have one and let her ride in it then listen to her complain about walking and being tired. I hope to park it in certain areas and walk from ride to ride that are close together then have them ride when we have to walk far and at night when were leaving or through more crowded areas. My daughter also is only 40lbs so she isn't too big and can still fit in one.

 

[msmama]

Size is more important than age when it comes to strollers (and it may not be cheaper to buy one if he's big).

My 6 year old is over 50 lbs so strollers that go past that weight limit are in the $200+ range.

So, he has no choice but to walk because I'm not shelling out big bucks for a Disney only stroller.

 

[jworthy]

Try kingdom strollers. They have great strollers at reasonable prices and great service. They will deliver to your hotel, which helps coming and going from the parks.

 

[Esmommy2008]

Thank you all for the info, I think I'm going to look into renting one

 

[MrsGoofyMitchell]

I KNOW my 6 year old will need a stroller! We are renting a single Britax from Baby Wheels Orlando - very reasonable!

 

[wallawallakids]

We went when our twins had just turned 6 and I thought we might need one. I decided to wait and see how they did and I was SO glad I did. Both of them walked from park opening to closing, no complaints! Plus it was SO much easier. No folding to get on and off the bus, no worries about where to put the stroller, no trying to squeeze through the stores/crowds/ small walking areas. IT WAS OUR BEST TRIP EVER. I cannot tell you how nervous I was, and how amazingly freeing it was after. I loved it!! And my kiddos are not big. My DD is actually a 32 lb 7 year old now! We did take a few more resting breaks, but if your 6 year old has been walking at home and hasn't used a stroller in a long time, my thought is they can do it there. It isn't as bad as our imagination lets us think it is. You might be pleasantly surprised...and if it doesn't work out, you can always rent when you are there. Good luck!

 

[JanBlessed]

I took a stroller when my son was 4 and he barely used it - but I did! It was more convenient for my parents and I to put our things in. If your child is 6, I'd say, really think about it. I have not used one for him anywhere since that trip. I rolled, folded, unfolded, wheeled around people, fell behind him and my parents. Really regretted taking it, despite the commodity of putting our things in it. It was cumbersome even though it was such a great stroller: the BEE. I literally put it away after that and never touched it again.

Now with a baby, I'm back to the stroller ....for now.

 

[aedgar850]

We've rented from Kingdom Strollers many times and have never had an issue. We rent the City Elite single each time and it fits our 4 year old perfectly...and the 9 year old when she gets fussy too

Even if you don't think your kid will need one, rent it. It's nice to have to store purchases, drinks, bags, etc in. Plus our kids usually tire before we do

 

[buzznina]

We currently have been taking a sit-n-stand and we love having it with us, for storage etc. Our DDs and take a break and we do not have to stop if we do not want too and if in a hurry, it is much faster pushing the girls in the stroller than going at a 5 year olds pace or ending up carrying her. Rarely have any issues finding stroller parking, or folding it up and taking it on buses or trains. If you can get an umbrella stroller, it's 10 x's easier and very compact.

 

[ShannyG]

For our trip in November I am renting a Baby Jogger stroller from Kingdom Strollers for my 6 and 4 year old. There is too much walking for their little legs. A lot of times we end up pushing around an empty stroller between rides, but it is well worth it for the long walk back to the buses.

 

[cattywampus]

Renting City Elite (75 lb capacity) in November.

Why is it whenever someone asks for stroller advice, people insist on regaling everyone with tales of their kids walking. Get a clue -- WE DON'T CARE!

 

[mjkacmom]

Renting City Elite (75 lb capacity) in November.

Why is it whenever someone asks for stroller advice, people insist on regaling everyone with tales of their kids walking. Get a clue -- WE DON'T CARE!

When people come here and ask advice on whether or not they should get a stroller for a 6 year old, everyone is welcome to chime in, even those of us who choose not to infantilize our grade school children.

I'm going out on a limb when I state that the majority of 6 year olds at WDW are not going to be in strollers. They will be WALKING.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Six seems to be the dividing age between yes and no. MOST under 6 do need a stroller and MOST over do not. Six is a toss up. The trip that DS was 5, we debated forever on what to do. We finally agreed to budget park rental into our trip and rent when and if we needed. We did not need it BUT our friend with the same age DS did need it. Both boys were super active, healthy kids, but just different. I have seen kids as young as 2 or 3 walking, and kids as old as 10 or 11 in strollers. You will see tons of six year olds in the rental strollers because parents did not think they needed them until they got to WDW. Strollers have so many pros and cons. I personally do not like having to keep up with it and retrieve it after each ride, and we carry very little, so not an issue there. There are very nice getting out of a crowded park at the end of the day, or anytime crowds are too heavy. Strollers on the bus are a pain, but so nice to get a sleeping child back to the room from the resort bus stop. Do what you need to do to keep everyone healthy and happy!

 

[OZMom]

Do what you need to do to keep everyone healthy and happy!

I learned my lesson when we went to the local fair without our stroller / wagon recently. DH and I thought, oh their old enough to suck it up and walk now. After 8 hours, my kids finally hit their limit and we had to cut the day short. So for Disney we will be bringing a BOB double jogger because it was the only one DS1 could fit in (he's very tall). We are rope drop to closing type of vacationers and while DS1 hates to be in the stroller, by late night hours he's going to beg to be in it. If he doesn't, I've got a place to stash all our stuff It also helps me keep track of them getting while we're getting from point A to point B. I think I would take the advice of the people who recommend renting from the outside places, one of them carries the BOB strollers and I highly recommend them for an "older" kid.

For what it's worth, my kids are healthy, active and far from "infantalized" as someone so condescendingly insinuated. Lets face it, at the end of a 12 hour Disney day, even the healthiest adult wants to be pushed in a stroller!! Stroller haters can hate on my 5 year old in the stroller all they want, but we will be a happy non whiney family making the most of our only Disney Vacay

 

[brymolmom]

Renting City Elite (75 lb capacity) in November.

Why is it whenever someone asks for stroller advice, people insist on regaling everyone with tales of their kids walking. Get a clue -- WE DON'T CARE!

OP is asking for OPINIONS on whether a 6 year old would need a stroller...Some people are going to offer the opinion (and facts of their kids) NOT needing one. I'm guessing this is the opposite opinion to your own...But if you truly don't care about reading alternate opinions, my suggestion would be to stop reading posts asking for others' opinions on the topic as we will not, obviously, all agree with you.

OP - I'm in the 'don't need one' boat. In fact, my belief is firmly that an able-bodied 6 year old NEVER NEEDS one, however, some parents and kids WANT one at that age still - there is a difference. Our rule was no stroller after age 5 and even then I think the high 5's were a little much. It is tiring for the adult to push a kid that size/age around all day. It is good for them to learn that they have some work to do for the fun too. I do miss the storage space but the freedom of NEVER having to search for our stroller is PRICELESS. LOVE being stroller-free.

IMO if you never even imply that a stroller is a potential OPTION, most 6 year olds would never even think of it and will just walk without a thought of it. And I also would let it be known that carrying a 6 year old isn't an option either. Sitting on a bench when they're totally wiped and need a break - that's a good idea.

 

[QueenQueso]

Last time, my boys were 7 1/2 and almost 2. We rented a city mini GT double stroller, with a rain cover, and it's a safe bet that if we are able to go next year (the boys will be 9 and 3), we will be doing it again. I know there are people who will be turning up their noses at the thought of a 9 year old in a stroller, but if you saw us in the park, you would think they are 4 and 6 instead of 3 and 9. He's very small for his age and he has practically no stamina whereas his 'little' brother is a bit big for his age (and while he is capable of walking for ages, he is a 'runner' so it's best to keep him contained). We have a sit & stand at home but after renting the city mini I wish I would've bought one of those instead, it was sooo nice. Also, we went in September when it rains practically every day so the rain cover was absolutely needed.

 

[rimomma66]

My son is 4 (will turn 5 in December) and he is 48.5" and 62 lbs. Yeah he's tall. We have a City Mini GT that still works great for him. I'm bringing it in December. He barely used it in April when we went but those few times he said his legs hurt and I made him ride in it were worth it. I know a few places rent the GT and it's worth it!