Hey there, hi there Sorel! Thanks for stopping by
planDisney where you're always welcome as can be.
My young Mouseketeer is the same age and size as yours, and my husband and I have spent a lot of time discussing our stroller strategy for our upcoming
Walt Disney World adventure. Our 7-year-old leaves his wheels behind when venturing out at home, and for day trips to the theme parks, but on a multi-day vacation, we like to have the option to use a stroller when logging those Mickey miles. According to my Apple watch, our feet carry us over 10 miles (16 k) per day when visiting the theme parks, and that's a lot for any kid to handle, especially during the warmer months of the year.
We decided to rent a stroller through ScooterBug, Disney's preferred third-party vendor, for our next vacation. At 48 inches, I'm not sure our son will be able to fully recline and stretch out in a stroller, but it will provide him some comfort and much-needed walking breaks when he needs them. There might be some days of our trip when we leave the stroller in our resort room, and other times we park it near the entrance to a theme park land, but we will absolutely use it when touring
EPCOT and for trekking from the bus stops to the theme park entrances, as these can be some of the longest distances to cover. With ScooterBug, we reserved a stroller in advance for the length of our stay, and it will be dropped off and picked up at Bell Services at our
Resort Hotel by a company representative. It's so convenient!
If you still aren't sure about renting a stroller and don't anticipate needing it for your entire trip,
you could rent a stroller at the theme parks on an as-needed basis. Disney strollers are recommended for children who weigh 50 pounds (23 kg) or less and could accommodate a 48-inch child who fits the suggested weight limit. A taller child would not be able to recline and sit back under the canopy, but could certainly use the stroller to sit for a quick break.
I hope this helps with your stroller decision, Sorel! Whether you decide to rent from Disney or ScooterBug, check out the attached video for some tips from fellow panelist, Crystal, on how to spot your stroller in a crowd. Thanks again for coming to see us at planDisney, and we can't wait to see ya real soon!
Betsy