I know this is a little early for this (we haven't even hit summer yet) but I could really use some suggestions. I have done some searches through old threads trying to find information on getting a youngster prepared for all the walking in the parks - and have found some good tips. If we were going in the spring, summer or fall, this would not be a problem as we could take our DD with us out walking. However, we will be going in January. There will be lots of snow here, it is a bitter cold time of year and kids are not exactly jumping up and down to go out into -40 weather. Heck neither are us parents!! She's a little too young to come to the local gym with me, and although we have an indoor walking program at the rec centre, it is only open for walking during school hours. We get outdoors some (sliding, fishing etc.) and Kass wants to join karate and gymnastics this fall - but will that be enough to keep her up to snuff to walk the parks? Ideas?

This tends to be used by older people, but around here there's a mall walking group that gets together and does "laps" around the local mall (indoors!) for exercise in the winter.

That's kind of like what I do with my dog during the loooooong Saskatchewan winter (hello fellow Canadian!) at the pet stores that let you bring your animals with you. How old is your DD going to be for the trip? If she is still small enough for a stroller I would recommend that for when her little feet get tired.

I also don't know how old your daughter is but you might want to consider renting a stroller towards the end of the day when she is getting tired. The strollers you rent at the parks are large enough for kids who wouldn't normally use one to still be able to manage. I wouldn't worry too much, in my experience kids usually have energy to spare when they are having fun. My kids only had a problem at the end of the day when we were trying to exit the park or in extremly long lines (and that's more from being bored).

Even my 4yo who INSISTED he didn't need a stroller took one during an MGM EMH in the evening. We kinda folded him up inside, but he was quite comfortable!

Kass wants to join karate and gymnastics this fall - but will that be enough to keep her up to snuff to walk the parks? Ideas?
It can be. It depends on the program. My son teaches the 3-7yo karate classes, and it gets their endurance up pretty good. It really depends on the program. How old is she? And I agree with the mall walkers.

My 6.5 year old daughter takes Irish dance- and now she can out walk both her Dad and I. We are also from the 'True and Native land', and this year we had record breaking snowfalls all winter- so very little outside play, but when we got to DL, our daughter hung in there with us so well.
On the other hand, this was the first trip that she didn't use a stroller. Both of the trips the previous year when she was 5 and 5.5 we got her one.
She's a tall kid and she still fit the rental strollers.

Thanks for the tips...sorry it took me awhile to get that out to everyone. Kass is 6 and will be turning 7 on the day we head to Magic Kingdom.
As for mall walking, we live in a small town and although we do have malls, there is maybe three or four stores in each - not a lot of walking to be done there. (Hello to you too my fellow Canadian Freakygeek!) In another post it was suggested that I look into the 'walking at home' video series which sounds like a good idea also. I'm sure she will do fine, and as mentioned, we can always get a stroller for her later in the day if necessary.
Thanks again everyone!!

Hello Canadians from your "southern" neighbor in Wisconsin! We live in a small town, too, kassandrasmom. Do you have a YMCA? That was a godsend when our kids were little. Actually, it still is!

Nope! No YMCA. We do have a nice rec centre though. However, the winter walking is only accessible during school hours. Public skating is only available on Sundays (we do have an outdoor rink by our house - however it is usually commandeered by older kids playing hockey,) and most of the programs offered to kids Kass's age revolve around hockey. (Being the home town of the Pronger boys has made Dryden quite a hockey focused town.) Kass likes to skate but has not been bit by the hockey bug as of yet! I have some time to figure things out and it will depend also on what she ends up choosing as her extracurricular activity.