I just didnt want to be that mom that had a way to old to be in a stroller kid if kids his age commonly make it through these trips without them.
Hi! It saddened me (and to be honest ... also outraged me) to read the above sentence in your reply.
Please do not allow others to make "you" OR "your child" feel bad about deciding to use a stroller.
If that is what's best for your family then do it.
No justification or explanation required.
Those who have offered advice to you on this thread have been very kind and supportive. However, if in the parks you cross paths with those who are judgmental of your stroller use (although I highly doubt you will encounter this situation because most families I've encountered in the parks are friendly) please just ignore them.
Again ... my simple philosophy: you tour the parks the way you want and if using a stroller makes it a happier experience for your family then do it. No justification or explanation required.
Sorry ... side rant: Unfortunately, there will always be judgmental people no matter the situation and no matter where you go. For example, last month I was in Costco and overheard some woman comment to her partner "you sow what you reap, if it were me blah, blah, blah". This woman was remarking on a "huge meltdown" some child was having while in the cashier line up. The poor mom had to literally drag/pick up her child in order to leave the warehouse.
From her comments, I guessed that the woman bystander assumed that the child was having a huge meltdown because of a denied toy that the child wanted to purchase. Perhaps this woman was correct in her assumptions. Perhaps there was another reason for the meltdown. However, who cares what the reason was behind the huge meltdown. If anyone has been a parent, we all eventually get to experience epic, embarrassing meltdowns in public. Not a fun experience for anyone but it happens!
Personally, I felt really sorry for the mom. I'm certain she was very embarrassed by the meltdown (her child was very loud and bystanders everywhere) but she did her best to deal with the situation (ie. try to calm her child while she paid for her items and then drag/pick up her child in order to leave the warehouse). Unfortunately, I doubt the child would have calmed down if they remained in the warehouse ... sometimes you just need to remove the child to a quieter place (willing or not) before the child will calm down.
Again ... my suggestion: if you receive judgmental comments or looks from bystanders, be like Elsa and "just let it go" and ignore the judgments. They do not matter. Do what works best for your family.
Good luck and have fun in the parks no matter what you decide!