Stroller Thievery

[adamcav]

Hey Everyone,
We’ve been to WDW countless times, but this coming August will be our first trip ever with our first baby. She will be 14 months in August and we were looking into buying an umbrella stroller (not only for this trip, but for other destinations as well).

Last week we were browsing our options, weighing (literally) the ups and downs of each model and price.

Then just the other day we began to wonder about theft. These strollers, surprisingly, can be quite expensive and the last thing we would want is to spend a good bit of money and have it swiped.

Does anyone have any information or insight about this? Do private strollers get stolen in the parks outside attractions?

Also, does anyone have a favorite brand/model or stroller for the parks? Our main concerns we size and weight (specifically for bus travel).

Thanks!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

If you're concerned about having your "all singing, all dancing" stroller stolen from WDW then don't chance taking it - buy a cheap one for the trip, or, rent one while at Disney

 

[ELopez]

We have 4 children and have taken them all to WDW as babies and toddlers. We have never had a stroller stolen, but I have read stories on these boards that say it does happen.

When we go (and we will be this October - our youngest just turned 2), I have a few things I consider when choosing a stroller:
- Does it recline? If you think he/she may need to sleep in it, this is very useful.
- It needs a sun visor of some sorts.
- It probably needs some type of basket/storage (I wouldn't bank on hanging very much on the back)

If we are flying, I never take a stroller that I have spent a lot of money on. The risk of it being damaged or lost is just too high.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[happymom52003]

I would suggest getting one that is designed for travel. We have two Combi travel strollers like this one http://www.strollers.com/Combi-287528-CBI1213.html

We bought them for our kid's first trip to WDW....my youngest was 12 months and my oldest was four years old.

We loved them so much that I ended up using it at home for my youngest rather than her regular stroller.

They are high quality, but much more affordable than some of these $200+ umbrella strollers you see.

They are lightweight, easy to fold quickly (I can fold it while holding my DD), and have a carrying strap. VERY nice for the boat and bus transporation at WDW when you have to fold your stroller up.

I also like that their weight limit goes to 55 pounds. My oldest is now 6 and can still fit comfortably in the stroller, and will be able to for quite a while since he is 48 pounds. Of course he only uses it at WDW when he gets tired....he walks most of the time, but we still take it for him to use in the evenings when he is tired.

As for strollers being stolen, I'm sure it happens, but I've never worried about it. I think belongings that are left in strollers are more likely to get stolen than the stroller itself.

We always tie bright scarves to ours to make them stand out more, and we usually end up tieing the kid's Mickey balloons to them as well. I think if you make them stand out they are less likely to be taken.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Hi, we've never had any problems with our personal stroller coming up missing. We've had 10+ trips with various strollers (we now use a Peg Perego double but it is showing it's age and my oldest is getting to be too big for it) with never a problem. You will hear some reports of stollen strollers but I think most often it is a case of mistaken identity (this happens a lot with the Disney strollers). There are also cast members at many of the attractions whose job it is to move strollers to keep things looking neat so your stroller might not be in the exact same place it was when you went into a ride.

Some suggest tying a clear plastic bag containing what looks like a dirty diaper in it for "protection" against theft. A balloon would work too but not at AK. We usually put some of those Mickey Mouse and/or DVC stickers that people hand out around the parks on the stroller to make it more identifiable too.

 

[disneydiva72]

I usually rented because it just turned out to be so much easier with the buses and stuff. But we did bring our own stroller one year, I had no problems with anyone stealing my stroller, the only thing is sometimes the CM will move the stroller and when you walk out you all of a sudden panic. :lol:

 

[kadesha]

I usually rented because it just turned out to be so much easier with the buses and stuff. But we did bring our own stroller one year, I had no problems with anyone stealing my stroller, the only thing is sometimes the CM will move the stroller and when you walk out you all of a sudden panic. :lol:

LOL! That's me!! My husband thinks I'm nuts, I always panic, but we always find it!

 

[Disneykidder]

The Disney strollers are great, durable and roomy but they aren't cheap. Around $10 a day. Also a drawback is having to carry a dead weight sleeping child to and from the buses if you rent a stroller.

Disney sells Kolkraft strollers in all resorts/DTD for $30 and they are good. They fold easily, have a cup holder, very small hanging mesh bag, moving canopy for the child but they do not recline. It serves its purpose, though, for toting a hot child around.

 

[Kelsybelle]

We were at WDW this past April and we brought our own umbrella stoller for our 20 month old daughter. It's a Graco and cost somewhere around $20.00. It's nice and light and folds up in a snap! It also has a little canopy shade that helped block out the sun. We picked out a pink one and we never had any problems finding it and nobody snatched it one us, thank goodness! For $20.00 it wouldn't have been the end of the World if someone did take it!
My sister did have an expensive umbrella stroller stollen on a trip about 9 years ago and she was absolutley heart broken! I felt so bad for her because she (not a smart move) had left some things that couldn't be replaced in the pouch on the back of the stroller like the babie's autograph book with all the characters name's signed in it! I definatley learned from her and on this past trip the only thing I left in the pouch on my stroller was a small tube of sun block!

 

[ZambeziZelda]

So, ironically enough, I was on stroller parking duty the last two days while waiting to get officially trained...The one thing I'd like to say is PLEASE don't leave your electronics and other personal belongings on the stroller!

Yesterday alone I saw 3 cell phones and 5 digital cameras left right in the open in the stroller parking section. I ended up keeping an eye on things because it made me nervous, but the CMs in the area are NOT in charge of watching your valuables.

I spoke with a very nice woman who had had over $200 in cash stolen from her stroller the previous day. It's absolutely heartbreaking that people would steal in the Most Magical Place on Earth, but it does happen.

I'd imagine that a stroller loaded with bags, especially with valuables in view, would be much more likely to get stolen than a mostly empty stroller with maybe a few essentials (diapers, bottles, etc.)

 

[Kelsybelle]

So, ironically enough, I was on stroller parking duty the last two days while waiting to get officially trained...The one thing I'd like to say is PLEASE don't leave your electronics and other personal belongings on the stroller!

Yesterday alone I saw 3 cell phones and 5 digital cameras left right in the open in the stroller parking section. I ended up keeping an eye on things because it made me nervous, but the CMs in the area are NOT in charge of watching your valuables.

I spoke with a very nice woman who had had over $200 in cash stolen from her stroller the previous day. It's absolutely heartbreaking that people would steal in the Most Magical Place on Earth, but it does happen.

I'd imagine that a stroller loaded with bags, especially with valuables in view, would be much more likely to get stolen than a mostly empty stroller with maybe a few essentials (diapers, bottles, etc.)

I agree with you, you are toally right! I guess I'am conditioned to think that once I'm on WDW property that everyone is going to be trustworthy and not steal. People are people and unfortunaley those with bad clepto habits are going to take it on vacation with them! Thats why anything of importance stays with us.

 

[disneydiva72]

This is a great stroller to bring and its only 19.99, it comes in a bunch of fun colors too...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2785252


OH! and heres a tip, and I cant even express in typed words how great it is LOL....buy one of these... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2574766

Put it over your stroller every time you leave it, I cant tell you how many times we came out of a ride and we were the only people with a dry stroller, all the moms would be like "Omg WHERE did you get that? Here in Disney? I need one!" lol

 

[Kelsybelle]

This is a great stroller to bring and its only 19.99, it comes in a bunch of fun colors too...

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2785252


OH! and heres a tip, and I cant even express in typed words how great it is LOL....buy one of these... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2574766

Put it over your stroller every time you leave it, I cant tell you how many times we came out of a ride and we were the only people with a dry stroller, all the moms would be like "Omg WHERE did you get that? Here in Disney? I need one!" lol

Thanks for the link, we'll be getting that for our next trip!

 

[disneydiva72]

^ Your Welcome! Its my favorite tip to pass onto Stroller Moms, it is, in my opinion, the best thing invented. :lol:

 

[maryszhi]

get a cheap one, i mean i trust disney, but some people want to ruin the magic. dont leave valuables, and clearly mark your name on it , and put something like a scarf. this is what we did for my cousins and it worked perfectly

 

[coltow]

Hey Everyone,
We’ve been to WDW countless times, but this coming August will be our first trip ever with our first baby. She will be 14 months in August and we were looking into buying an umbrella stroller (not only for this trip, but for other destinations as well).

Last week we were browsing our options, weighing (literally) the ups and downs of each model and price.

Then just the other day we began to wonder about theft. These strollers, surprisingly, can be quite expensive and the last thing we would want is to spend a good bit of money and have it swiped.

Does anyone have any information or insight about this? Do private strollers get stolen in the parks outside attractions?

Also, does anyone have a favorite brand/model or stroller for the parks? Our main concerns we size and weight (specifically for bus travel).

Thanks!

We had purchased a MacLaren lightweight a couple years ago. It was great but it had a few drawbacks. The basket was very small and it didn't recline as much as I'd like. We used it for DS from when he was 2-4. With next DS being only 17 months on next trip (August as well) we decided to get a new stroller ( http://www.maxi-cosi.com/maxicosi/productdetail.aspx?id=59 ).

We made sure when we went looking to take DS with us. We put him in and out of multiple strollers and practiced folding and unfolding them a few times. We decided on this one because it had a big basket, reclined, was a little wider which we thought would mean he'd get a little more air. It also folded/unfolded easily and had a rain cover that zipped right on to the visior. It had a nice handle when folded to help carry it and it only weighs 19 lbs, which is a little more than some but DH said it didn't feel that much.

I keep a luggage tag (Tink one to be exact) on my stroller at all times with our address and phone numbers on it. When we travel to WDW I also add my resort and dates, just in case. CM's do move them so don't panic if you don't see it in the exact sopt you left it. Keep in mid the comfort of your child first and don't let the thought of it being stolen deter you from getting and bringing your own.

 

[danpam1024]

We have a Peg Perego Pliko, LOVE IT. Still used it at night for DS who was 5, fell asleep comfortably. We also have bought cheap glow sticks from Costco so we can easily spot our buggy in the dark. DS will be 6 this year, still pretty small though. We are taking our buggy for our EMH at night, in case he can't walk back to BC. I have reupholstered it with skulls on fire to make it cooler:ROFLOL: Nothing has ever disappeared, but then again, I only leave stuffed animals and towels in it :lol:

 

[disneydiva72]

We also have bought cheap glow sticks from Costco so we can easily spot our buggy in the dark.

Oh, thats a good idea! Its easy to spot when the CM push them all together like a train wreck.

 

[Kelsybelle]

All these great tips are so helpful! From a rain shield to glow sticks we'll have one tricked out stroller!

 

[DisneyNeighbor]

I have three children and have never went to Disney without a stroller. My youngest is 7 and we still take one to keep snacks and drinks in. Plus on of them is bound to be tired and its not fun getting dead weight back to your resort or car.

Never had anything stolen or even touched in ours. But we always make sure to put something on the stroller that makes it stand out. Towel, ballon, jacket or shirt on the handle.

Has anyone ever been caught stealing a stroller or something from them. I would guess that most cases people end up taking the wrong stroller and some may not figure it out until they leave the park.