Need a double pram that can accommodate a 5 year old- suggestions?

[TheCraicDealer]

We’ve just booked WDW for next November and will have DD (will be 5yo) and DS (will be 18mos) in tow. Having been several times before I’ve accepted that I’ll need a double pram that will accommodate both kids- obviously DS will need wheels but DD isn’t a great walker at the best of times, never mind after long days/miles/heat etc.

My preferred plan is to identify the brand and model I need and then keep an eye out on FB marketplace over the next 12mos, as this will mean that I have the pram in the airport to store them/their stuff or let them both rest if there’s any delays. However I’m also open to hiring one from one of the stroller hire firms on arrival if there’s an American brand that would suit. I do not want to rely on the hard plastic park ones as I’d like to have one that we can use for travelling to/from our accommodation, the rooms often being a bit of a trek from the bus stops after long days.

So does anyone have any recommendations for a double pram that will accommodate a just-turned-5 year old for this trip? DD is on the petite side for her age. I have looked at the manufacturers’ weight limits for the Baby Jogger CityMini which were alarmingly low, and this was the stroller I seemed to remember seeing lots of 4-7year olds in last time we went!

I'd be looking at a single pram + buggy board.

7-year-olds in prams - really?

Don't prams go by weight, and surely a 5yo would be well over the limits - and also just generally too big to fit (eg legs)?

Could you just rent whatever WDW offers while you’re in the park?

I haven’t been in a long time so not sure what options they offer.

sorry never mind! I clearly don’t read well!!

Mountain Buggy Duet fits the bill, plus easy to fold and push. Also reclines for the inevitable naps after long days.

Was also going to say mountain buggy, the weight limit is 25kg I think for each kid. We will be hiring a plasticky one for our just turned 6 year old I think when we go next year because it’s so so far from the carparks into the parks themselves, never mind when you’re actually in there! Although we are staying at contemporary which I hope will help/ When I went last year I saw loads of quite old kids in buggies so I won’t be embarrassed haha.

I know someone with a similar situation and they just took 2 singles. It was very rare one adult would be going anywhere with both. So they're either split them or set up one parent at a play area while the other dashed off to a ride. It worked really well for hem because their 5 year old wasn't a great walker and this way they could zip around the place, they were more comfortable in crowds and like that getting back to the rooms was easier.

I'd bloody love a buggy in Disney, they're long days, so much walking and jet lag to boot.

Has your 5 year old got any disabilities? Presuming yes then you can ask your local council disability team about special aids such as a special needs pushchair, they are actually very lightweight. I wouldn’t opt for a double pushchair hard to manoeuvre around the parks especially as your older child will likely be too big for the compact ones

You can hire a buggy we used Kingdom Strollers when DSwassmsll

If you have two adults then I'd take two singles or hire one.

Take a single buggy and hire a double stroller at the parks

I don't think it's unreasonable for a 5 year old to need a rest sometimes. Wdw is huge. 40 square miles.
The baby jogger city minis have big seats (up to 22kg in the US I think), they fold very easily and have huge hoods which are brilliant for shade.

Get a pair of lightweight umbrella fold buggies. Much more flexibility that way. If you think it really likely that one parent may be left with both children needing to ride at the same time, then get a set of buggy connector clips.

Having done disney with a big, active 5yo, I absolutely agree that a buggy should be available for them!

Most people have/hire baby joggers - the buggy parks are full of them. I definitely wouldn’t attempt to push a 5yo in a cheap umbrella fold. Personally wouldn’t bother though, been with 3 and 5yos and just used one, and hired a second one the one night we stayed later. Doubles are extremely bulky just for the odd sit down and mine have always been more excited than tired - neither of them has ever napped in a Disney park from as young as 1 🤣

Yes, for WDW. Have you ever been? Magic Kingdom alone is 140 acres in size, they literally drive you from the car park to the ticket and transportation centre due to size. There are 12,000 car parking spaces just for Magic Kingdom.

Unless you have been you have no idea how big it is and how far you walk. Pushchairs on UK Disney forums are recommended for children up to the age of 6 because you walk for miles and miles and it is hot and humid with late nights for firework displays. Disney's own buggy hire are hard plastic moulded things to take the weight of older children. Singles are weighted for 50lb child. I think I would be tempted to do two singles whilst there as a double would be heavy to push for one person all the time.

First time I went my youngest was 4, we did not have a pushchair or hire anything. She managed absolutely fine (I also had a 6&7 year olds they were so excited just kept going). When my youngest was tired we stopped and had a sit down and snack. I genuinely thought op’s 5 year old had a disability apologies

Yes- really.

Have you ever been with kids? The place is massive- when I last went pre-dc, DH and I were doing between 30,000-35,000 steps per day just tramping around the place.

We’re going next year with a 7 and 5 year old and I absolutely will be renting one of the park strollers to give them a rest while we’re moving between activities and parks. DD will be 7 and has ASD- there will be times she needs a break so having the opportunity to sit down, pull down the stroller hood and decompress will make a massive difference to her.

It and about nipper double. Each seat has a weight limit of 22kg

We hired a double out there a few years back from Kingdom Strollers. Worked out very convenient for us (oldest was 5 at the time). The parks are a lot of walking so wise to consider!

Thank you for your mickey-shaped nuggets of wisdom everyone. The mention again of the baby jogger city mini made me double check the weight limits and it’s actually 50lb per seat, so if I do go the double route that seems like a goer. Love the fold on it too, looks like it might make me feel like a magician.

Noting the comments however about bringing two singles rather than a double, people make good points about them being harder to navigate in busy areas. We’re going at what should be (oh please holiday gods) a relatively quiet time in the parks, but I know what it gets like at peak times. Definitely something to discuss with DH!

Just to add, DD is a healthy 5 year old, but loves her sleep and (whilst her stamina has improved the last few months) she’s still not a great walker distance-wise. We’re working on it but you have to plan for the child you have. I can foresee some long days and I know she’ll appreciate being able to have a rest or sleep which will hopefully help stop us having to tap out when everyone else in the party wants to keep going. I have seen the poor buggers bent double trying to push a primary school age child in a tiny $40 Walmart umbrella stroller obviously bought in an emergency and I do not want to be one of those people!

I've never been to WDW but I know I occassionally put DD in a phil and teds pushchair when she was 5 and she was nowhere near the weight limit! (She's 17 now so no idea if they are still available)

It's completely normal for up to 7ish I'd say to be in prams at Disney. People are proper cunts for suggesting your child has a disability because she might not be able to walk 10 miles in a go. There's a very good reason Disney hires out pushchairs that practically hold an adult. I would take your own pushchair for the 18 month old and rent one of the Disney ones. The doubles are a pig to push.

We took our out n about single for our trip earlier this year and saw a few people with the double version. Our daughter had just turned four when we went and very rarely used the pushchair at home but spent some time in it every day (including a few naps!) out n abouts are really sturdy and have good resale value.

I loved my stroller got sad when DS was 6/7 can’t remember which and outgrew it (he is 5ft5 at 11). Really good for leaving the water bottles in etc when going on rides (especially at universal that you can’t take bags on). Easy to park (make sure you park in an actual park space) if you don’t need it for awhile.

loved kingdom strollers dropped off at hotel and the coll3cted at the end

It was over 20 years since my children were 3 and 6, but we hired double strollers in the parks, 6 year old was slim and average height so was fine.

You can rent suitable ones at the park. I actually had both of mine in my single (but large metal framed) one because it's huge amounts of walking, aged 3&5