So why weren't there many strollers back in the day?

[Goofyernmost]

I can tell you unequivocally that you are incorrect. As someone who grew up in Florida and went to Disney on multiple school and youth group trips that other kids would abuse the system with Wheelchairs. It was the thing to do as teens back then and Disney let it happen often. This is why I made the comment in the first place. And wait times for them because they were "mobile" and could get up and get into the moving vehicles got on fast many times. This was in the 90s. It wasn't until fast pass came into play that it eliminated the wheel chair lines and the need to bypass it. I have many friends who could do the whole park back in the day when wait times for rides were always 45 minutes or more and they would be on in 10-15 minutes.

I never said it didn't happen that the thing was abused, what I said was that nothing was really gained by a lot because they did hold up the ride opportunities maybe because of the teenage jerks. Back then there was no FP so the lines just moved quickly anyway. I was referring to now. Nothing is actually gained by just having a wheelchair or a scooter. You know from your experience and I know from mine while dealing with a person with cerebral palsy with a real need to use a wheelchair that there was a wait and sometimes it was a long one. The fault for the abuse was completely in the hands of Disney. They were so afraid that they might accidentally identify the wrong person as abusing the system that they just let anyone go and they did, back then, get some advances, but, those with legitimate problems were judged by the rest of the crowd.

 

[The Mom]

Please keep the discussion civil.

 

[21stamps]

Except that wasn't true. The time waiting with a wheelchair was sometimes twice, or more, as long because there are only so many people needing assistance that can ride the rides at the same time in case of an emergency evacuation being necessary. I can vouch for the fact that sometimes those waits were very long. Now with the new system there is nothing to be gained by it, so if it happens, well those folks are in for a big surprise. Scooters took care of a different degree of need. If someone has a scooter it is automatically stating that they are, at least, temporarily mobile and can get from scooter to the ride, but, may have some limitations as to how long they can walk or stand. Big difference and one that allowed people to actually enjoy the parks until everyone decided that it was their job to determine who needs one and who doesn't. There is no gained ground any longer and all it did was cost them a lot of energy and money to use the scooter. I can also tell you, from experience that those things may seem like a fun thing to do, but, the fun wears off really quickly.

I have to disagree with this. My grandmother was in a wheel chair for the last 5 of our trips together (late 80s-early 90s). There were certain rides where we skipped the line and went in a different entrance, not all of them, but there was a few.

 

[OneofThree]

So many conditions necessitate a stroller.......I won't even bother.

Since I'm the helpful sort, I'll list them for you: 1,2,3,4 and then 5-years.

 

[OneofThree]

How am I going to do this? By telling little Timmy to hurry on his little 4 year old legs?

4-years old? I know it's a long thread, but you might want to read it before you post something like this.

 

[Tk0021]

To answer the original question for what seems like the hundredth time on this very long thread....... the main reason for more strollers is more people and more people bringing younger children. The older kids in strollers does add to the overall number of strollers but it does not impact the total number like some of the people on this thread seem to think.

 

[OneofThree]

To answer the original question for what seems like the hundredth time on this very long thread....... the main reason for more strollers is more people and more people bringing younger children. The older kids in strollers does add to the overall number of strollers but it does not impact the total number like some of the people on this thread seem to think.

There are now easily more than two or three times the number of strollers in the parks today as there were years ago, while attendance in the MK for example, is less than double what it was. So where are they coming from?

*Hint: People aren't having more kids now, but the people who are having kids now seem to think stuffing their middle-schooler's in strollers is the thing to do.

 

[Tk0021]

There are now easily more than two or three times the number of strollers in the parks today as there were years ago, while attendance in the MK for example, is less than double what it was. So where are they coming from?

*Hint: People aren't having more kids now, but the people who are having kids now seem to think stuffing their middle-schooler's in strollers is the thing to do.

I stand by my statement and the many others that agree.

 

[OneofThree]

I stand by my statement and the many others that agree.

Sure. Just know that the "hundredth" or the hundred and first time of repeating the same convenient, but baseless opinion isn't going to suddenly make it any more true. Damn those pesky facts.

 

[DisneyFreak]

I can live with the strollers and see the need for them. All I ask of Stroller drivers is this...

• Please do not let any pre-teen drivers take control of the Stroller
• Please stay off your phone as you maneuver through the crowd and pay attention (that goes for us non-stoller drivers as well)
• Please stay off my heels

 

[Tk0021]

Sure. Just know that the "hundredth" or the hundred and first time of repeating the same convenient, but baseless opinion isn't going to suddenly make it any more true. Damn those pesky facts.

Same goes for your comments.

 

[OneofThree]

Same goes for your comments.

If you can't recognize the difference between fact and an a editorial, you just might be the reason the nightly news is completely unwatchable these days.

 

[Tk0021]

If you can't recognize the difference between fact and an a editorial, you just might be the reason the nightly news is completely unwatchable these days.

Read the thread

 

[Willmark]

Alright. Let's do this.

Disney is expensive, no doubt. From 8 am to 9 pm, I want to do as much as possible to justify the cost of tickets. How am I going to do this? By telling little Timmy to hurry on his little 4 year old legs? By making him walk at 8 pm when he should be practically asleep? How about catching the bus when the fastest he can run at 9:30 pm is equal to a 100 year old tortoise?

We live in a dog-eat-dog world (Disney World, that is). I want to beat everyone to the Mine Train at Rope Drop. I want to walk quickly from Tomorrowland to Frontierland. I want to do 30 rides in a day because Gosh Darnit, I paid for it.

So, I'll take my stroller, thank you very much. I paid to be here. I don't want to spend 75% of my day in lines and walking between rides.

I can imagine that "back in the day" people were a little more relaxed at Disney World. They took their time between rides (which did NOT have 3 hour waits BTW). They let Little Timmy walk because they weren't in a hurry.

I want to make most of my day(s) at Disney. Sue me.

And so does every other family going to Disney. Unless I missed the free tickets getting handed out they paid for their vacation too.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I have to disagree with this. My grandmother was in a wheel chair for the last 5 of our trips together (late 80s-early 90s). There were certain rides where we skipped the line and went in a different entrance, not all of them, but there was a few.

That was true and what I was talking about, however, but, in spite of the fact that far fewer attended WDW if they were wheelchair bound (and that was even if the person was somewhat ambulatory, no option) we went almost always to what was actually the exit instead of the entrance. That didn't erase the fact that they still only allowed a certain number of people, considered needing addition assistance if an emergency should happen. That was what held it up. If they felt that it was only possible to rescue two people, that was all that were on the ride at that time. I'm sure they still do that, but, they start out in the same line as everyone else. Yes, they did have a alternate entrance, but, that didn't make it a whole lot faster if at all. Wheelchairs probably still do get that response, but, scooters are automatically known to be used by people that have at least some mobility.

 

[21stamps]

That was true and what I was talking about, however, but, in spite of the fact that far fewer attended WDW if they were wheelchair bound (and that was even if the person was somewhat ambulatory, no option) we went almost always to what was actually the exit instead of the entrance. That didn't erase the fact that they still only allowed a certain number of people, considered needing addition assistance if an emergency should happen. That was what held it up. If they felt that it was only possible to rescue two people, that was all that were on the ride at that time. I'm sure they still do that, but, they start out in the same line as everyone else. Yes, they did have a alternate entrance, but, that didn't make it a whole lot faster if at all. Wheelchairs probably still do get that response, but, scooters are automatically known to be used by people that have at least some mobility.

Ah ok, I misunderstood your first comment. I did always feel like we had shorter waits when we could enter in seperate from the main entrance though.

 

[Tk0021]

Sure. Just know that the "hundredth" or the hundred and first time of repeating the same convenient, but baseless opinion isn't going to suddenly make it any more true. Damn those pesky facts.

Facts? What facts are you providing again? Oh yes, it must be the one where you state there are two or three times more strollers in the parks now. Well, what is it two or three? fact checker? Maybe it’s 2.3 or 2.7 or maybe it’s 10? You don’t know because your guessing. Possibly it’s a convenient, but baseless opinion

just like your comment about people are having less kids( fact,I will give you that) but more people are stuffing their middle schoolers in a stroller. Not a fact just a convenient, but baseless opinion

 

[Shells15]

Not buying into the idea that there are more kids that age visiting WDW. These days, I see more older people, more single people, and more people without kids than ever. Look no further than this forum and you'll find people wanting to push their 10 year old around in a stroller. I was 9 and my sister was 8 when we first visited. Our parents about ran everywhere all over the parks and typically did not return to the resorts for afternoon breaks. I don't ever recall my sister needing any sort of special care or emergency management personnel to rescue her from. . .get this -walking. I've got 5 kids. At age 6 -no more stroller or grocery cart. Why -because they don't need it and don't want it. If I had to guess, the reasons for the current stroller epidemic might because a) parents don't teach their kids how to behave and b) parents sit their kids in front of television and X-box instead of playing outdoors.

I agree with both points A & B. To speak specifically to point B:

I have noticed plenty of packing lists that say extra battery packs/chargers for the mobile phones, not because of the park apps and being used as a camera (which I completely understand), but they need to charge their phones for the sake of their kids who can't seem to make it through a line with being able to watch TV on said phones.

I don't get it... we didn't have them back in the day, yet we made it through perfectly fine. It's called vacation for a reason... leave the "TV phones" at home.

 

[Disneyfreak Jen]

I agree with all the previous posters. I want to add that “back in the day” people didn’t travel they way they do today. It was considered a real luxury. Today people go on vacation not only to vacation, but to celebrate birthdays, graduations, their dogs graduation from obidience school, etc. so there’s a lot more people spending time and money at Disney.

Growing up in my house, it was considered a luxury to eat out at a restaurant, and our vacation every few years was a week at the Jersey shore. I only went to Disney as a kid/young teen with relatives, not my parents, and that was when I was old enough to remember 11&14.

The parks are bigger, the resorts are bigger and much more numerous, there are 4 parks now not only 2. People are also lazier, kids are lazier and not as physically fit, parents want the easy way out so they get a stroller.

 

[Shells15]

Here’s my take on leaving the parks when the kids are too tired. For a lot of people Disney is a family vacation. A family vacation is supposed to be enjoyable for the whole family (including even the parents). The family is made up of more than just the youngest child. If you have an older kid or 2 and your youngest falls asleep in the stroller at night it allows the rest of the family to continue enjoying their time. Sleeping in the stroller is not harming the younger kid at all. Everyone stays happy. Kids need to learn at a young age that it’s not always about them. Sometimes they get dragged places the rest of the family wants to go. They learn to take one for the team.


100% agree on stroller size. I blame Disney for this. They need to consider making a rule defining stroller size. People may still break the rule but it would cut down on some of those monster strollers.

I agree on your first point. My grandma lived near DL. All 6 of the grandchildren would go visit her; sometimes all (or most) at the same time. When we went to the park one year in August, we did activities together, but with 5 kids ranging in age from 1.5 yo to 17.5 yo old at one point, we didn't restrict the older ones for the sake of the youngest one. What would it serve to have the oldest kids in the group come down to the activity level of the youngest, especially during nap time?

Also, to speak to your second point, strollers currently have a rule defining size. Unfortunately, this seems to be trampled on regularly and monstrosities are constantly being brought in. This rule needs to be enforced, and possibly reevaluated, for appropriate size limitations in our changing times.