Do you really know what it means to keep a stroller longer than the age of 3? Do you really?
Do you really know what it means to subject your child to a medical treatment that will leave a scar on their body? Do you know what it means to agree to medicines that may help your child, but have long lasting affects on their body? Do you you know what it feels like to have to administer medicine that will hurt your child while they beg you not to do so?
Do you understand that some people keep their children in a stroller because that is what allows them to enjoy Disney World when they would otherwise not be able to?
I'm sorry, I truly am, that strollers got in your way on your trip. I'm sorry that you had moments where you could not do what you wanted to do right then and there because of a stroller.
However, tonight when I gave another dose of medicine to my child. Tonight when I spoke to a friend who can experience Disney because she can use a stroller with her 7-year-old. Tonight, when I realized...no one realizes what I have to go through right now in order to get the right use a stroller with my older child.....
Tonight when I sat down and read this thread....I realized that no one gets the right to judge. No one knows what goes on each day in someone else's home. No one knows what it takes to get to that moment when someone else may see you at Disney.
I would trade a million strollers for what I just experienced in the last 10 minutes with my child. However, I can't....and in exchange, I will use a stroller at Disney in September with my older child with my head held high and with absolutely no regard for what others may think.
I'm sorry that threads like this upset you. And I have a feeling that you are probably not one of those folks who uses the stroller for a battering ram, clogs up the pathways by stopping in the middle of a crowd, or just plain exhibits rude behavior. Unlike most of the stroller crowd, you have a NEED instead of a want. I'm sure you would much prefer to not have to deal with any of what you deal with. But you do for you child. And you should never feel bad for doing what you have to do.
I do understand what it takes for parents with a child with a NEED. But you must try to understand that these threads are not aimed at you or anyone with genuine need. And I'm sure you must see the stroller abusers, and be affected by them as well.
Every time one of these threads gets going, people who have genuine NEEDS for strollers, or scooters gets upset. Make no mistake, no one is pointing a finger at any of you. As long as you are courteous. Just because someone has a need, doesn't mean they can be discourteous. So try to understand, that no one is annoyed with you for having to do whatever you need to do. It's those who are abusing the privilege, and there are many of them.
So let's break it down.
There are way too many strollers, small and large. The parks are becoming way to crowded with them. How'd this happen?
1. More people are traveling with babies and toddlers, or special needs children who really NEED a stroller. These folks are not the problem.
2. More people are continuing to use strollers for children who no longer need them. While it's a debate about what the cut-off age is, I would argue that if your child is over 4, healthy, with no special needs and doesn't nap, you don't NEED a stroller. You just WANT one. Face it, no one is actually on their feet walking for ten hours straight. We all take breaks, watch shows, and eat. Very few stroller are built for a 7 year old, and yet there they are jammed into them. And this group is growing. This group is one of the problems.
3. More people are using strollers to carry more stuff they feel they need in the parks. On the one trip I used a stroller, I was guilty of this. I had a nice umbrella stroller and hung the diaper bag off the handle. But this isn't really what I'm referring to. I'm talking about people who bring in large strollers that they really use as a cart to haul multiple bags and coolers around. And this group will always say they need a stroller because their 9 year old kids get too tired. Sorry. You don't NEED one. You WANT one. This is another big problem group.
4. Stroller manufacturers have been making large strollers that provide convenience for older children. Here's a real offender. If they didn't make the giant strollers, they would be in the parks in the first place. I don't mean the decent sized double strollers. I mean the big SUV ones that don't fit through the doors, that one person can barely push on a flat sidewalk with no crowd. This is one of the bigger problems.
5. Parents have gotten more and more indulgent, and look for the easiest solution. (We all do it to some degree) This kind of fits in with number 2. Today's child has figured out that the louder they complain, the more their parents will cave in. So the 7 year old who is fully capable of walking the parks gets pushed around in a stroller, and forces the parents to bring a huge assortment of treats and drinks and whatnot into the parks so they can get immediate gratification instantly. Or they explode. Kids have unlimited will-power. We don't. My DD tries this all the time. Since I don't ever give in, she stops.
Now for those of you with a NEED, meaning a child with some type of special need, you are exempt. You are not part of the problem. You are probably being affected by the problem even more that the rest of us. You are also not in the majority.
I can hear it now. "Nobody has the right to judge anyone else" Well, we all do it, everyday. We do it here, and in real life. I'm just acknowledging a problem that is getting worse and trying to figure out why. And I know that when I read other peoples complaints, I try to think if I've ever done any of those things that bothers people. I have, and I have stopped. I have become a much better park guest thanks to threads like this. And I take no offense at anything I disagree with.
I believe that this problem will escalate. I believe Disney, at some point, will have to step in and begin to ban certain types of strollers unless the parent can provide proof of need. Or Disney may decide to ban all outside strollers and force people to rent their strollers just to keep the parks from becoming one big stroller parking lot. I'd hate for this to happen. I'd much prefer that we all just use some better judgement before taking all those strollers to the parks. And really, am I asking too much for everyone to just use some common courtesy when using whatever stroller you do use?
