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OK this year (2010) will be our first trip w/o a stroller. My ds is 6 (will almost be 7) and I just don't think we'll need one. HOWEVER, with that being said, I'm really nervous about losing him in the parks. I have always taught him to stay nearby and stop when I tell him to; however, he has ADHD and tends to go wherever his little mind leads. Would it be crazy to use those hand holder things? He HATES holding hands and I thought this might be an alternative. Can someone tell me about their experiences w/ their first time w/o strollers.
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Have you considered a cellphone ... one of the ones with the kid-locator GPS things? If you already have a web-capable cellphone yourself, something like this one or this one, would let you quickly figure out where he'd gone to (depending on how closely it indicates location; hopefully it's one accurate to within 2m .... that'd let you pinpoint him very quickly).
Plus, he gets to feel safer and more grown-up, if he has a phone that he can use to call YOU if he gets separated.
...
Also, quite frankly, there's always the option to use a LEASH.
Years ago while visiting family near D.C., I took my sisters on a trip to the Mall, and one of the Smithsonian museums. The 12 and 14 year old sisters were never a concern; however, the 7 year old WANTED to be on a leash (which she had brought, of her own volition); she truly insisted. It was a pretty nice one, actually ... basically a big spiral-coil thing, like a phone cord (but in glittery purple, of course). One end was worn around her wrist, the other, I was able to affix to my belt. She truly felt safer (when I suggested that she didn't need to do that, if she thought she could just remember to stay close to me ... well, that idea did NOT make her happy), and it really did become impossible to "lose" her, even in a crowd. Heck, if anyone in that crowd had tried to walk between us ... that leash would have stopped them cold, anyway.
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We were at the parks for 6 days in Sept with my 3 boys ages 6, 4, and 2. My 4 & 6 yr old both has ADHD. We decided to get SafetyTat tattoos that have our phone number on them just in case they became seperated. Luckily, we were never really seperated, but it gave me a bit more peace of mind. The tattos last the entire 6 days even through the bath tub and pools every day.
Also, I'm sure it varies with each child, but my 6 year old still tried to crawl into the stroller from time to time. For us, we had a double stoller for the smaller 2 kids so we would have brought it regardless, but it was nice to let him sit down when he was tired instead of arguing to get him to keep up with the rest of us. You may want to bring a stroller for "just in case" plus its always nice to have a place to put everything during the day... honestly, I kinda fear the day my youngest doesn't need it anymore.... not sure what I'll do
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"With kids the days are long - but the years are short."
You know your DS best. If you think a wrist strap/hand holder device will work
than I would go for it. However I would try it out at home in several situations
first before your trip. Maybe talking with your DS about what would happen if
he walks away from you (ie going back to the resort for the day as a
punishment) might work. What do you do at home when he walks away from you?
I would continue that at WDW so you are consistant.
I leash my kids! I leashed my oldest DS who also has ADD until he was 8. I tried it that trip without, since he was bigger, but he got distracted putting something in the trashcan and got separated from us briefly. That is when we leashed him. He was a little embarrassed at first, but he was scared enough that he almost got lost that he got over being embarrassed.
Thanks guys, I think I'll do some "practicing" around town like the other poster said. I'm sure it will give both of us an idea of how we will need to handle things in the parks. :-) I feel better already.
I say go with the stroller - the last time we went my DS was 8 and my DD was 4 - we got the stroller for her but my DS whined nonstop about getting to ride in it because he was tired. We'll be getting one in April when DD is 7 and DS is 11
The leash is an excellent idea for the first time at WDW without a stroller. Did this with my Dnephew on two trips. On the third trip he knew the boundaries that the leash let him go from the previous trips and kinda stayed within that distance. It was funny really no leash but it was as though there was......
I have a 7 year old daugher that was 4 when we went to Disneyland. She did fine all day (long days) without a stroller. This is our first trip to WDW ~ so do you think we will need a stroller for her? Thanks.
I really, really, REALLY want to rent a stroller from Orlando Strollers this time for our then 4yo ds, however, I can see us still ending up with a double stroller for DD, who will 10.5 when we go. Our problem is if we rent a stroller for DS, he thinks it's *his* stroller and doesn't want to let his big sis in when she gets tired, but at Disney prices I refuse to rent two double strollers, or even a single and a double. It ought to be an interesting trip.
I like the idea of trying out the arm band before you travel. My DD has ADHD and honestly, she's really good about staying with us, however, I know there are different degrees of ADHD and if you are worried about him wandering I would definitely look for some way to keep him close by. DD now has a cell phone and we plan on making sure she has it with her at all times, even though we've never been seperated before. Just makes me feel better knowing she has it if we do get seperated.
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My reasons for breathing!!! MGM Studios October 2007
I'd bring a stroller and ahand holder/leash thing. We always do this with our 2 year old DS now for when he wants to walk but still a comfort to have a stroller. I swear my DH feels like he needs a hand holder for me since my ADHD kicks in all the time in public places. The hand holders have come in handy for us for rest stops on long car rides with DS so he can't go too far from us, and I have to use it at times when I don't have either of our strollers too trips to the mall.
I have a 7 year old daugher that was 4 when we went to Disneyland. She did fine all day (long days) without a stroller. This is our first trip to WDW ~ so do you think we will need a stroller for her? Thanks.
I highly doubt you'll need one.
You alreay said that she did fine without, at age four, in Disneyland. Well, although the WDW parks are indeed bigger ... your daughter is also three years older, and (presumably) that much more able to handle walking on her own for the day.
And remember ... Disney provides a LOT of places to stop, sit down, and take a rest-break. Places that have neat views of the attractions and similar, so that you aren't just resting, you can also be talking about what you want to do next, or whether X ride looks like fun.
There's also more than a few shows to take in, that would provide a brief sit-and-rest break. The Tiki Lounge, in the MK, for example.
[...] I can see us still ending up with a double stroller for DD, who will 10.5 when we go. [...]
... at ten years old, unless she has a medical condition, she should never ever need to ride in a stroller. Or perhaps what I should say is ... maybe when your ten-year-old gets that tired, you shoudl take it as a sign that "now is a good time to stop and take a break for 30 or an hour" ...?
...
It astonishes me, that parents will let children as old as 7, 8, 9, and even 10 ride in a stroller. If I'd suggested a stroller after I turned FIVE, my mother would have probably blown a figurative gasket. Certianly, the answer would have been a very firm "no, you're too old to be treated like a baby; if you need to take a break, we'll sit down for a while and take a break."
So, I honestly just can't fathom the idea of letting a ten-year-old ride a stroller when s/he gets tired.
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Would it be crazy to use those hand holder things? He HATES holding hands and I thought this might be an alternative. Can someone tell me about their experiences w/ their first time w/o strollers.
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I leashed my oldest DS who also has ADD until he was 8. I tried it that trip without, since he was bigger, but he got distracted putting something in the trashcan and got separated from us briefly. That is when we leashed him. He was a little embarrassed at first, but he was scared enough that he almost got lost that he got over being embarrassed.
It ought to be an interesting trip. 
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