In Defense of the Stroller Pushers

[englanddg]

You are right that the marketing has definitely swung further and further towards a younger demographic. If you ever watch some of the old WDW resort "propaganda" videos from the 80s they focus just as much on the resorts and activities outside the parks as the parks themselves. They talk about boating, hiking, tennis and shopping. Not that those things would exclude kids but they are not marketed specifically to kids. Today's marketing for WDW tends to lean more heavily towards younger kids and the characters in the parks.

It's the whole "memories" push that started in the 90s or so, I think. Here, watch this...1982



Then watch this...1994



Then this...2010



I agree, it became less about marketing what has always been seen as a "kids" venue to adults, and more about marketing memories. And, they've stuck with that.

 

[GoofGoof]

It's the whole "memories" push that started in the 90s or so, I think. Here, watch this...1982



Then watch this...1994



Then this...2010



I agree, it became less about marketing what has always been seen as a "kids" venue to adults, and more about marketing memories. And, they've stuck with that.

I still love that 2nd one from the 90s.

 

[unkadug]

The stroller pusher at that point committed assault and battery, What transpired between the CM and Guest is none of your business if they were a safety hazard a Security CM would have MOVED them one way or another.

Safety hazards are dealt with by Cast Members. Security is there for other reasons.

It appears that you have a chip on your shoulder and are just waiting to take someone to court.

Have fun with that. I'm done with you.

 

[englanddg]

I still love that 2nd one from the 90s.

I, actually, think they are all very good marketing campaigns, but the three supported your statement, so I posted.

 

[GoofGoof]

I, actually, think they are all very good marketing campaigns, but the three supported your statement, so I posted.

I agree. The progression is pretty obvious.

 

[ford91exploder]

Safety hazards are dealt with by Cast Members. Security is there for other reasons.

It appears that you have a chip on your shoulder and are just waiting to take someone to court.

Have fun with that. I'm done with you.

After having my wife bowled over AND a frail old man needing medical attention because they were hit by the SAME stroller pusher - who did not stop. Yeah the next one is going down I don't want to SUE them I want them to have an arrest record to think about.

 

[unkadug]

After having my wife bowled over AND a frail old man needing medical attention because they were hit by the SAME stroller pusher - who did not stop. Yeah the next one is going down I don't want to SUE them I want them to have an arrest record to think about.

Yep....chip

 

[ford91exploder]

Yep....chip

Yes indeed - physical injury definitely re-aligns ones thoughts on a subject

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yeah, no. Just because you yourself claim to pay attention doesn't mean all the fault falls on the other guests. My legs and ankles have been victims of strollers and even wheelchairs plenty of times, and it sure as hell isn't always my fault. People pushing strollers or wheelchairs don't always pay attention, just like guests. How is walking ahead of someone with a stroller or wheelchair and getting hit and bruised the guests' fault?

 

[Wilt Dasney]

It's the whole "memories" push that started in the 90s or so, I think. Here, watch this...1982

Holy crap, I want to go to that park!

 

[englanddg]

Holy crap, I want to go to that park!

To be fair, it's not limited to the US parks...

 

[CaptainessKylie]

It is said that Disneyland was built by a father for his daughters. His daughters who were already grown. The idea of Disney parks being built for very young children is a recent phenomenon.

I always had the belief he created a family park. Family being adults and children.

 

[networkpro]

I would think so by intuition.

But WDW often defies logic that applies to the rest of the world. It is it's own little bubble. Raising the prices of strollers does not affect the WDW audience. Never does.

WDW is full of these amazing people who look like they live in a trailer park but who have infinite disposable income. They can afford a doubling of prices. The higher prices then mean they want to get their money's worth. They feel entitled.

Interesting as I was chatting with one of the CM's from Veracruz, MX at the Margarita Shack when someone asked what the style of his guayabera shirt was. It immediately sparked a funny conversation in Spanish about how trashy the customers dressed and no self respecting person at home would allow thier family members out of the house looking like that.

 

[Britt]

It is said that Disneyland was built by a father for his daughters. His daughters who were already grown. The idea of Disney parks being built for very young children is a recent phenomenon.

Oh for sure!! The recent targeting of young kids is new...but the parks have always been meant to be enjoyed by the whole family....including the little ones

 

[Britt]

I don't know if it's the time I go, or what, but I have never seen anyone intentionally get someone with their stroller or scooter. Or go barreling through the parks with a stroller/stroller, thankfully. Most seem to be well aware of their surroundings...or at least smart enough to veer off to the side when looking at their phone, camera, maps or having to stop the stroller. The only time we did have any issues were people who would walk DIRECTLY across the path of my MIL in her scooter (replaced hips, knee and rod in back). She did her ABSOLUTE best to avoid ankles, shins....however the blatant disregard for her presence there was unnerving. People would walk their kids and families RIGHT in front of her or cut her off...KNOWING she was there.

I DO dislike the sea of strollers sometimes....especially the walkway between IASW and PPF, but I have just accepted it comes with the territory at a place like WDW and don't figure I have any less of a right to be there with kids than the person there without!

 

[Wilt Dasney]

Frankly, as much as I love Disneyland, I think the park's dimensions play a role in this, at least out here on the Left Coast. The park just wasn't built for a.) the crowds they get these days, b.) the...erm... d i m e n s i o n s ...of the average guest in 2013, or c.) the strollers families use now, which wouldn't have looked entirely out of place when German tanks rolled into Poland in 1939. Thanks to my schedule, most of my visits to the park are on the weekends, and it is not infrequently an absolute madhouse. Meanwhile, take a walk over to DCA, built with more of these modern trends in mind, and the walkways are a lot more manageable. (I know, to some extent that's because fewer people want to go there in the first place.)

The point is, Disneyland's cramped walkways can be very charming and seductive if you visit on a Tuesday morning in April, and they can be downright murderous if you decide you have a hankering to ride Indiana Jones on a Saturday night around Christmas.

 

[G00fyDad]

 

[Cesar R M]

View attachment 40695

time to sharpen up!!

 

[G00fyDad]

time to sharpen up!!

This debate is pointless. It will never be resolved, and both sides of the argument "stick to their guns" so vehemently that they refuse to acknowledge the simple truth of the situation. It does not matter if you push a stroller or don't. If you (not you Cesar R M) fail to watch your surroundings then it is you that is the careless one. This is one of those arguments that gets out of control just like refillable mugs, ECV's, pool hopping, etc... Everyone in this discussion is so certain that they are right and everyone else that disagrees is wrong. Honestly, I expected it to be shut down on the first page.

 

[Gabe1]

Why, why do the strollers have to be tanks. If you half to push the kid in a tank, tank must yield to pedestrians,, no excuses. To get kids from attraction to attraction what is wrong with an umbrella stroller? 2 kids each push one? Save the guests.