Should You Bring a Stroller on Your Disneyland Visit?

A trip to Disneyland Resort with young children raises several questions for parents during the planning stages. One of those questions will likely be whether or not to bring a stroller into the parks. There are certainly good reasons to bring a stroller, but also good reasons to leave it at home, too. If you're planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort and are trying to decide whether or not to bring a stroller with you, consider the following points when making your decision.

How old are the kids? Kids under five years of age will almost certainly need a stroller in the parks of the Disneyland Resort. Unless only a few hours are planned inside the parks, a child under five years old will almost definitely have trouble keeping up as the family makes its one way from one side of the park to another, and back again. Many five year olds can handle a full day in the parks without a nap, or any resting aside from the rest they get while sitting down on rides or at meal times. The vast majority of kids aged six and up can likely handle full days in the parks without a stroller, provided a long walk back to a hotel at night will not be required.

On-site hotel, or not? As previously hinted at, many kids may find it very difficult to complete a walk back to the hotel at night after a full day of walking in the parks. If a walk to an off-site hotel is required, seriously consider bringing a stroller for children even as old as six. For those staying in one of the three hotels of the Disneyland Resort, check distances and monorail options before making your final decision.

Unnecessary strollers can be cumbersome. Unless a stroller is desired to carry items like jackets and souvenirs through the parks, one that is brought in but not needed can become a real burden to take around and keep track of in the parks, especially if you're also trying to keep track of the child who decided they'd rather walk than ride in the stroller. If you get to the parks and decide you don't really need your stroller, or won't really need it for several hours, just park it and come back to it later. It's convenient to park it near one of the train depots in the park, and then just hop the train to your stroller later when you decide you need it.

Consider the information and then make your decision, knowing that if you opt to leave your stroller at home but then find you need one, it is easy to rent one inside the parks.