Not to digress too far from the topic, but what did parents do with their toddlers back in the 70's and 80's before the use of strollers at theme parks was so over utilized that we must have enormous parking lots for them at many attractions??
Strollers have become the bane of my existence when I visit any theme park over the last dozen or so years. Especially Disneyland and WDW's Magic Kingdom. Rude parents clogging up walkways by parking them where they are clearly not supposed to be, rude parents ramming them into other guests heels, legs, etc., rude parents just stopping anywhere they please to search through the many bags, back packs, etc. overloaded onto these sherpa style survival kits (there are things called lockers that can be utilized), or rude parents plowing through packs of people as if the stroller was their own private bulldozer...er... audience removal system. I've seen blithe parents knock other guests over with the stroller and people falling onto the stroller - - not very safe for the child IN the stroller!
I remember as a child I actually WALKED around when visiting a theme park and when I got tired, we stopped and enjoyed an attraction, sat on a bench, had something to eat, went back to the car or hotel for a while, etc. I wasn't hauled around like I was in a rickshaw. No wonder we have so many overweight children. Last time I was at the Magic Kingdom during extra magic hours, there were HUNDREDS of toddlers in strollers out even at midnight, nearly all of which were crying, whining, etc. as they most likely should have been in bed at that time, not being hauled around hours beyond what is reasonable by thoughtless, inconsiderate parents. Ironically, it was at Philharmagic that this became so intensely noticeable as the majority of the auditorium was filled with crying toddlers. I regretted trying to enjoy that attraction at that time. Figuring it wouldn't be filled with crying, whining toddlers at MIDNIGHT as it can be during the afternoons.
I'm sure there are times when it is best to use them, and understand that. The nice people utilizing strollers out of sheer necessity or using good judgement as to when to use one, and following good, polite behavior in public are becoming few and far between unfortunately. Strollers have sadly become an excuse for some people to attempt to avoid actually dealing with the realities of forcing a toddler to spend 15 hours in a theme park in 85 degree heat. It's just not smart and justifying the expense of the trip to Disney on this isn't reasonable either - it's bad judement. Some parents need to realize that they cant do the same things the same way they did before they had kids. Dont ruin your kids enjoyment of the trip out of your unrealistic view of how the trip should go, give the kids a break.
Sorry for that....rant over.
So, if this group of folks looking over blueprints even is something as minor as a stroller parking lot - - - ANY way to get these major negative impacts out of the walk ways and find more space to park them, is a huge plus, even if it's just while guests are enjoying a somewhat lengthy attraction. Fewer strollers in the streets = better (AND SAFER) overall guest experience.
Ok - I know I'm going to get knocked around for what I posted, as some will take offense to what I said ....... <sigh>
By the way, crying kids notwithstanding, Philharmagic is one of the best new attractions to come from Disney in the last decade. It's my favorite 4D experience in any park, even though I LOVE Muppetvision.
