By: Nicole Judson, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
When you have young kids it seems only natural to carry your stroller along on your theme park vacation. But when do you consider leaving it behind? This is a question that comes up with parents of "older" young kids and I see it discussed amongst moms and dads on Disney groups, but I don't really see it addressed that often.
As a travel planner, I am in the parks relatively often. Sometimes I am with my kids, and sometimes they stay home. For reference, my children do have an age gap so this is a topic I have even discussed with my husband for our own trips! My son is 7 and my daughter is 2; so you can see where the topic might come up for us!
Actually, we had a personal experience just last year with the question, "stroller or no stroller for the 6 year old." To make a very long story short, we did NOT bring a stroller for him, and we ended up renting one of the lovely red Disney strollers. This was our first long Disney trip, and my son's first without having a stroller so the experience was new for all of us.
Now listen... I plan trips A LOT...for clients, myself, and my family. I see MANY ways to "do" theme parks. There is not really a right or wrong, as long as it fits your travel style and needs. But I think the answer to this question is a little more nuanced than just "yes" or "no."
When this topic of conversation comes up with my clients I have them self reflect on a few questions.
1) How many theme park days am I doing?
This alone can answer your question. I would say between 1-2 park days you can leave the stroller at home and just be mindful of allowing rest time during your day. On the flip side, 3 or more days, and you might find it's beneficial for your "older" kids to have the option.
2) What is my park style?
This follows the same theme as the above question. Are you a "rope drop to close" type of family or do you take your time arriving, go back to the resort, or leave before sundown? Evaluate your style with the number of days you're doing, as well as the amount of steps you will be getting in.
3) What is my child's temperament?
This one is something only you can answer. I know it might feel silly to push around a 7 year old, but think about how your child handles days out and multiply that by 100. Between the sensory overload, extreme heat/humidity your child might not be used too, and the long hours, it might make more sense for your family.
At the end of the day this is a personal choice for you and your family. But, if you decide to forgo the stroller and then decide you might need one after all you do have a few options!
At the end of the day, every family has different needs. Just be mindful that Disney and Universal Studios both have restrictions on stroller size and wagons are not permitted unless you have prior approval for medical reasons. Your travel advisor will be happy to talk this out with you! It might seem like a simple question but your vacation and experiences matter! Happy Travels. Please reach out to Nicole or Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation.
