Random thoughts from MK visit today (AKA Stroller Encounter)

[ChrisFL]

Is it spring break for small kids right now, because although the wait times were somewhat high at MK, the crowds and strollers were off the charts INSANE!!

I went with a co-worker who's AP was about to expire, we started at Epcot which was not too busy, saw lots of old folks though....went to MK around 3:30 PM and tried FP+, was able to reserve pretty much anything it looked like, even at that time of day.

The crowds were crazy though...just masses of people everywhere. Also, it got so bad, that at the big bottleneck between IASW and Peter Pan, there were 3 CM's along the area directing people to keep going and that there was two-way traffic. I've been there at many busy times but never saw this happen!

But even worse than when I usually visit, a few times per year, was strollers. Strollers over here, strollers over there, strollers on your tram row, strollers filling up your monorail cabin. Strollers in the front, strollers in the back, strollers running over your ankles or stroller mom attacks.

I don't know if the FP+ is causing more traffic to walk around instead of queueing more than FP- but there are some MAJOR crowding issues right now...even if the hub gets fixed.

There has to be a solution to this stroller epidemic.

 

[ImagineerDude]

OK, first we (myself included) need to stop blaming EVERYTHING on FP+. And spring break in February is just wrong to me (it's 8 degrees here in Indiana...NOT spring weather!) but I guess it's possible. My only thought is that there is no off-season in WDW anymore. People, by the thousands, go EVERYDAY. I think strollers should just be banned during afternoon hours especially (yeah, right!) Anyone know how much Disney makes off stroller rentals per day? And I always chuckle because fantasyland is simply an extremely organized stroller parking lot

 

[ChrisFL]

OK, first we (myself included) need to stop blaming EVERYTHING on FP+. And spring break in February is just wrong to me (it's 8 degrees here in Indiana...NOT spring weather!) but I guess it's possible. My only thought is that there is no off-season in WDW anymore. People, by the thousands, go EVERYDAY. I think strollers should just be banned during afternoon hours especially (yeah, right!) Anyone know how much Disney makes off stroller rentals per day? And I always chuckle because fantasyland is simply an extremely organized stroller parking lot

I will say that I saw relatively few blue Disney strollers today...a vast majority were not Disney strollers.

 

[jlsHouston]

HAHAHA, the first thing that came to my mind was birth control...omg...I don't know what the solution is because I think families with very young children visit the park earlier than years before. My youngest was 6 when we first went to DL. The thought of a stroller for a 6 year old never even crossed my mind. But I brought my grandkids to WDW the first time when they were 6 & 4 and yep it took my daughter about 4 hours to decide she needed a stroller to make her way around MK and to spend 10 hours in the park.

 

[Gabe1]

I know there was a mass exidous from Illinois to Florida this weekend. It is Casmier Pulaski Day on Monday and there is Teacher institute days tacked on each end of the weekend too in many districts. Pretty much all flights were booked heading to MCO. I got caught up in an unexpect bleep of families in April of 2012 when Massachusetts had a mid April Spring break well after most and after Easter, I was surprised too.

As for the strollers, I wrote this on another thread. Basically Disney being shortsighted in a couple of ways.

My kids were 5 years apart, I did the stroller thing for 10 freak'n years. I needed diapers, wipes, clothing changes, formula, insulted bag, baby food, bib, there is lots of stuff baby needs. My DS first trip was 14 months and my DD first trip was 2 months. I left the stuff in the stroller, I didn't drag all this stuff into restaurants or attractions.

Now my oldest is 26 and I've seen what has changed that has made the stroller nightmare worse. First Disney went to these huge double wide plastic strollers, Disney started it. When mine were small Disney only had the TANK metal strollers, one kid. Yep they hurt if you hit someone however they were narrow and not long. Stroller corals were not designed for the Disney Double Wide plastic strollers. Then Disney decided to go beyond reason in price hikes. I paid $5 day + $1 deposit. Anything in the $30 a day range and guests chose to bring their own or rent from an Orlando based company. Now you have guests that would rent a stroller for a nominal fee refusing to pay $30+ a day and dragging these huge strollers on buses and trams along with boats and monorails. Disney pushed the guests into this.

When I am the empress of the stroller world I will replaced the Disney owned strollers. They will be compact once again. They will not be rented for more than $10 a day, (the strollers will still pay for themselves in a week or two.)
Guests will be allowed to bring in their own strollers only if they fit the maximum size range. Strollers brought onto transportation would only be allowed onboard if they fold to a maximum size range. The one and only year I had two strollers was when my DD was a newborn. I rented one of Disney's 'ole TANKs and we put the infant in an umbrella stroller. These two strollers combined didn't come close to the size of Disney Double Plastic strollers.

Yes, guests will whine a bit at first but they will learn to bring smaller strollers, just like a maximum sized suitcase and maximum weight on an airplane. And the fools that are in charge of stroller purchasing at Disney Parks will learn quickly to buy strollers that fit in their freak'n corrals. It isn't that difficult to solve Disney!

 

[RandomPrincess]

It's also Mardi Gras Tuesday. I know crowds are higher because of that too.

 

[Gabe1]

It's also Mardi Gras Tuesday. I know crowds are higher because of that too.

That will do it, Mardi Gras exodus is even greater that the Escape of the Frozen Illinoisans.

 

[Gabe1]

But seriously what was the matter with these? When the Studio's opened in the late 80's there were no metal tank strollers in this park. Disney offered a nice version of the small umbrella stroller with a shade shield along with a small basket under. Really does anyone need more than this in the parks?

Me...No!!! Does Disney need to charge more than $10 a day for this? No. They'd solve their own dilemma. It reclined too.

 

[Soarin2u]

I seriously can not take those strollers. They take up way to much space. People love parking them in the way of others. It's just not convenient . We normally go during a off-ish time, but I still feel the number of strollers consists of at least 3/5 of the actual number of people there. The Corrals clutter the park! To many strollers! People need to teach their kids how to walk or wait to take them till they're just a bit older. My father used to carry me, when I five or six occasionally.

I don't hate that Disney provides them I just don't care for the people who take advantage of them.

 

[rob0519]

Is it spring break for small kids right now, because although the wait times were somewhat high at MK, the crowds and strollers were off the charts INSANE!!

I went with a co-worker who's AP was about to expire, we started at Epcot which was not too busy, saw lots of old folks though....went to MK around 3:30 PM and tried FP+, was able to reserve pretty much anything it looked like, even at that time of day.

The crowds were crazy though...just masses of people everywhere. Also, it got so bad, that at the big bottleneck between IASW and Peter Pan, there were 3 CM's along the area directing people to keep going and that there was two-way traffic. I've been there at many busy times but never saw this happen!

But even worse than when I usually visit, a few times per year, was strollers. Strollers over here, strollers over there, strollers on your tram row, strollers filling up your monorail cabin. Strollers in the front, strollers in the back, strollers running over your ankles or stroller mom attacks.

I don't know if the FP+ is causing more traffic to walk around instead of queueing more than FP- but there are some MAJOR crowding issues right now...even if the hub gets fixed.

There has to be a solution to this stroller epidemic.

The MK was built for families and that means kids. My opinion is:
1). There is no slow season anymore. The Disney Marketing Machine is filling the park to capacity each day because quite frankly, there is no other park to which you can take children. The other parks do not have the attractions to entertain children small enough to be in a stroller. Which leads me to my next point.
2). I am shocked and dismayed at the size and age of children that are being pushed around in strollers at the MK. I don't think any child past the age of 5 or 6 should ever be in one unless there is a medical reason. I've seen children that looked like they were anywhere from 7-10 being pushed around by Mommy or Daddy.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

The MK was built for families and that means kids.

Yes, kids. Like Grade 2 Jimmy and Grade 3 Suzy. NOT toddlers 3 and under who were too young to comprehend most of what the original park's rooster featured.

Now that in-park population has exploded since 2000 and Disney has been scrambling ever since to accomodate them, and there's no end in sight to the problem.

And yes, if you're pushing a healthy 8 or 9 year old in a stroller, you're not doing anyone any favours. It's another accomodation that's become abused.

 

[MOUSEGIRL]

On our last trip at the begging of December the strollers were out of control. I think I spent more time on a Disney bus waiting for some dad to try and figure out how to fold this massive stroller than actually ridding the bus. The first time we took our son was when he was six and he walked the entire time. we waited to take him until he was big enough to walk all day by himself. I understand families with one child in school and a baby , but leave the toddler with grandma and let your 5 or 6 year old have a great trip. Please learn how to work the stroller before you try to get on the bus and at the end of the day please try to keep your 2 year old from having a melt down on the bus.

 

[copcarguyp71]

OK, first we (myself included) need to stop blaming EVERYTHING on FP+.

I don't think the OP blamed it at all...just postulated it as a possible cause asking for others input and opinion. Not trying to nitpick on you but I can see where your post could be taken as a bit abrasive to @ChrisFL

I don't know if the FP+ is causing more traffic to walk around instead of queueing more than FP- but there are some MAJOR crowding issues right now...even if the hub gets fixed.

 

[SAV]

Not the stroller thing again.

I don't get why anyone thinks it is their right to decide that someone should or shouldn't use a stroller and to try and dictate what type of stroller they should use.

My kids are now past stroller age, but I loved having one for them when they were younger. Notice, I didn't give an exact age because nobody else can decide when it is right to use one or to not use one. It is an individual thing based on the child. Each person knows their child and it needs to be remembered it isn't just "your" vacation, the other people are on vacation too. It isn't all about your convenience.

I always see "only for special needs kids". What if they are but it isn't outwardly obvious? Are you to judge?

Or those that think that the kids need to be taught to walk or to wait. These are theme parks that are welcoming to children, so everyone should expect kids to be in them. Strollers aren't illegal to bring into the parks, so why not use a stroller? I don't need to put my kid through a 6 month fitness regimen and teach them to "eat, sleep and say your prayers like good little Hulkamaniacs" for a trip to Disney so they can walk so it pleases someone else. I know that at the end of the day, I am tired out. So I can only imagine how tired a child who has to take at least 2 steps to my one would be if they were forced to walk everywhere. So then you would get many more tired and crabby kids in the parks(moreso in the lines waiting) and being even more obnoxious because they are tired and crabby. (Please don't reply back about "then you need to discipline the kids so they don't do that", they are children and when tired, they freak out).

Why should someone "wait" to bring a child to Disney? Some of my greatest memories are of my son and daughter when they were 2 years old. If I would have waited, no memories.

And I just can't let this last one go. "but leave the toddler with grandma and let your 5 or 6 year old have a great trip.". Really?!?! So in my situation, both of my parents and both of my wife's parents were DEAD, so we didn't have any Grandparents to "leave them with". Should we have not went to WDW because we had a young child with us? I mean come on already. That is just so ridiculous.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I don't get why anyone thinks it is their right to decide that someone should or shouldn't use a stroller and to try and dictate what type of stroller they should use.

You're right. Disney is private property, which means they have the right to decide what is and isn't acceptable to bring to their parks. Just like airlines do with luggage.

it isn't just "your" vacation, the other people are on vacation too. It isn't all about your convenience.

That goes both ways stroller parents. But people without them are less likely to run over ankles and clog walkways, would you not say?

I always see "only for special needs kids". What if they are but it isn't outwardly obvious? Are you to judge?

I don't care what condition (real or percieved) your child is in. If you abuse the stroller policy, or fail to use them properly, I will judge you.

Strollers aren't illegal to bring into the parks, so why not use a stroller?

Because you're adding to the problem?

Why should someone "wait" to bring a child to Disney? Some of my greatest memories are of my son and daughter when they were 2 years old. If I would have waited, no memories

You'd have different memories, not "no memories". WDW will still be there when they're older.

And I just can't let this last one go. "but leave the toddler with grandma and let your 5 or 6 year old have a great trip.". Really?!?! So in my situation, both of my parents and both of my wife's parents were DEAD, so we didn't have any Grandparents to "leave them with". Should we have not went to WDW because we had a young child with us? I mean come on already. That is just so ridiculous.

I believe the word "grandparent" could be substituted with "relative", or "sitter" in this case and that no harm was intended by the poster's suggestion.

 

[morningstar]

Schools in my area have a week-long winter break in February between holidays and spring break, but it was a week or two ago.

I think it's plausible that FP causes more crowding. That should be the effect of FP, not to result in you getting to ride fewer rides. It should just be moving people out of queues. Think of how many people were contained in queues on busy days. These people are going to be walking around, on standby rides, or in shops or restaurants instead. Presumably in the future Disney will build attractions with less queue space and probably use the leftover space for more open space (or, likely, more/bigger shops).

Sometimes when you see a big kid in a stroller, the stroller was brought for the little one, but when the big one got tired he decided he wasn't too old for a stroller, and would you rather have a whiny kid or a stroller kid?

 

[rob0519]

Yes, kids. Like Grade 2 Jimmy and Grade 3 Suzy. NOT toddlers 3 and under who were too young to comprehend most of what the original park's rooster featured.

Now that in-park population has exploded since 2000 and Disney has been scrambling ever since to accomodate them, and there's no end in sight to the problem.

And yes, if you're pushing a healthy 8 or 9 year old in a stroller, you're not doing anyone any favours. It's another accomodation that's become abused.

I agree to a certain point on the 3 and under crowd. We took our children for the first time at five and two and a half. Granted, this was back in the late 70s, so there was only one park and the crowds were nothing like today. The elder of the two remembers some, but not all of the trip. The younger one enjoys looking at the few pictures we have, but does not remember one single thing.

Having done it, I personally don't understand why anyone would take a child under 3 to WDW, but they all have their reasons. I try to not let it bother me.

 

[Andrew C]

Not the stroller thing again.

I don't get why anyone thinks it is their right to decide that someone should or shouldn't use a stroller and to try and dictate what type of stroller they should use.

My kids are now past stroller age, but I loved having one for them when they were younger. Notice, I didn't give an exact age because nobody else can decide when it is right to use one or to not use one. It is an individual thing based on the child. Each person knows their child and it needs to be remembered it isn't just "your" vacation, the other people are on vacation too. It isn't all about your convenience.

I always see "only for special needs kids". What if they are but it isn't outwardly obvious? Are you to judge?

Or those that think that the kids need to be taught to walk or to wait. These are theme parks that are welcoming to children, so everyone should expect kids to be in them. Strollers aren't illegal to bring into the parks, so why not use a stroller? I don't need to put my kid through a 6 month fitness regimen and teach them to "eat, sleep and say your prayers like good little Hulkamaniacs" for a trip to Disney so they can walk so it pleases someone else. I know that at the end of the day, I am tired out. So I can only imagine how tired a child who has to take at least 2 steps to my one would be if they were forced to walk everywhere. So then you would get many more tired and crabby kids in the parks(moreso in the lines waiting) and being even more obnoxious because they are tired and crabby. (Please don't reply back about "then you need to discipline the kids so they don't do that", they are children and when tired, they freak out).

Why should someone "wait" to bring a child to Disney? Some of my greatest memories are of my son and daughter when they were 2 years old. If I would have waited, no memories.

And I just can't let this last one go. "but leave the toddler with grandma and let your 5 or 6 year old have a great trip.". Really?!?! So in my situation, both of my parents and both of my wife's parents were DEAD, so we didn't have any Grandparents to "leave them with". Should we have not went to WDW because we had a young child with us? I mean come on already. That is just so ridiculous.

I 100% agree with you. I will be taking my daughter on her first trip to WDW when she is 2 1/2. This doesn't mean I will be running over people with a stroller. It will mean I will have my entire family at the parks together for the first time...the way it should be.

 

[MissingDisney]

In February, A lot of schools have midwinter break. However, the week or two after this, many elementary and middle schools have conferences and half days. I know a lot of people specifically do not go for midwinter break due to the crowds and instead to take their week kids out of school during the week of conferences as they are only missing half days and often have substitute teachers during this time. Spring break is a whole different beast. Our spring break is not tied to the holiday and instead is a set week every year regardless of Easter. This makes for awesome trips when it is a few weeks prior to Easter and crowds are lower. When it coincides with Easter, we avoid Disney like the plague now that we have experienced that craziness. Never again.

As to the stroller debate, just my two cents. It is amazing the rejuvenation and energy a midday break and Nap can provide children. Even at three, my kids no longer needed strollers at Disney. We planned for downtime, rest, relaxation and never made plans that would terribly interfere with their little body clocks. If a parent insists on pushing around an exhausted, cranky, (sleeping) toddler in a stroller, they are probably not at Disney for their kids, they're there for themselves. Our children visited Disney younger than 3 however we took the trips knowing we would experience limited things based on what our children were capable of. We always thought of it as a family vacation, not a Disney vacation; The real and true attractions were my children; Disney was just a bonus.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We're 1 week away until spring break starts for us, but back when I was growing up- we had a mid-winter break for a week in February. We are also building up to Fat Tuesday for Mardi Gras, but most people I know who live in areas that get this time off would never dream of leaving their traditional parades and festivities for the Orlando area. i.e. any influx for this, IMO, would be more people from non-Mardi Gras areas who thought it might be neat to see Universal's far superior (compared to what WDW does) Mardi Gras festivities. A lot of people with preschool age kids- not bound by grade school attendance policies - are also more likely to be hitting WDW at these times.