The great "stroller" conspiracy.

[RiversideBunny]

In addition to just being a great vacation destination, the nature of Walt Disney World attracts a higher proportion of people with mobility problems and guests with small children. Those types of guests don't usually go hiking in the mountains or camping out in the desert or horse back riding in Colorado or gliding through the trees in Costa Rica.

WDW provides a safe, accessible family environment that appeals to a wide range of guests.

:king:

 

[KCMO]

There is that word again.
they NEEDED a new car

Well yeah - their new mega-stroller probably didn't fit in the back of the old one so of course the NEEDED a new one.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I guess most people visiting WDW cannot read or understand English.

This pic maybe more than a year old, but it is still the norm. I have seen the entrance to the Land when people are starting to double park strollers and you cannot even get through.

 

[Dayma]

Strollers are needed for all of us who have children, and thank god we have them .

 

[Lucky]

In addition to just being a great vacation destination, the nature of Walt Disney World attracts a higher proportion of people with mobility problems and guests with small children. Those types of guests don't usually go hiking in the mountains or camping out in the desert or horse back riding in Colorado or gliding through the trees in Costa Rica.

WDW provides a safe, accessible family environment that appeals to a wide range of guests.

:king:

Even if there were no young kids, disabled people, etc. in their way I think most of these people would find something else to be unhappy about. Some people just like to complain, and some like to denigrate other people to feel better about themselves.

 

[Uponastar]

Mabye it's just me, but I don't really pay much attention to strollers, especially parked ones. It's just a part of the nature of the beast in a family-geared atmosphere. If I spent my timing sizing up each stroller situation, trying to determine if the family in question really requires all it is schlepping around the parks, I'd miss a lot of the fun stuff I'm actually there to see.
Sure you can complain about blocked paths and ankle bangs, but there are also plenty of pedestrian traffic jams. And just because people are upright and ambulatory doesn't mean they can't be annoying and rude.
Dealing with crowds is part of the experience, and sure it can be a negative one. But why not focus on the positives and take the rest in stride? There are plenty who'd wish to be in your stroller-banged shoes. Be grateful.

 

[SleepingMonk]

...But why not focus on the positives and take the rest in stride? There are plenty who'd wish to be in your stroller-banged shoes. Be grateful.

Because I'm not perfect, I don't have an unlimited supply of patience and I haven't reached sainthood yet so things still annoy me.

And since this is an internet forum where people discuss the good as well as the bad it seemed reasonable to start this topic.

It's obvious I'm not the only one to notice the trend, and I'm far from the only one to be bothered by it.

 

[Uponastar]

Because I'm not perfect, I don't have an unlimited supply of patience and I haven't reached sainthood yet so things still annoy me.

And since this is an internet forum where people discuss the good as well as the bad it seemed reasonable to start this topic.

It's obvious I'm not the only one to notice the trend, and I'm far from the only one to be bothered by it.

You're absolutely right. You have the right to discuss things that annoy you. I was simply stating my point of view, as well.
And you're right that others share your views. In fact, I do get what you're saying about the size of some of the strollers.
This type of thread encourages debate, of course. It can get ugly. But it doesn't have to as long as people remember that opinions on such things differ.

 

[RiversideBunny]

.... I'm not the only one to notice the trend....

The next step of course will be- wait for it-
electric battery powered motorized strollers with air conditioning and DVD players and cup holders.

:lol:

 

[KCMO]

I do have sympathy for young parents. I tend to think that a big part of this is driven by commercialisim. There are so many thousands of items out there marketed to parents to "make life easier". Its easy to see how a parent might encounter a particular item, find it helps out in some situation and decide that they need to have it. But if you do that with enough items, next thing you know you are carrying around more stuff than oregon trail pioneers.

It just seems like so many folks loose track of the forest for the trees and fail to recognize the tipping point where the convenience gained by having some individual item along gets outweighed by the hassle and bulk of carting around so many items. Sure it might be nice not to have to seek out the first aid station when little johnny skins his knee - but was that small convenience really worth carting around a two pound first aid kit for seven days?

 

[One Lil Spark]

Its easy to see how a parent might encounter a particular item, find it helps out in some situation and decide that they need to have it. But if you do that with enough items, next thing you know you are carrying around more stuff than oregon trail pioneers.

Let us not forget what happens then...

 

[Disney Soldier]

:wave SleepingMonk great thread you started!!!

 

[daliseurat]

^It's understood that the word "need" does not need to be grammatically used in its strictest sense at all times. "Need" to be translated only in the strict sense you're demanding is pointless, and leads to never-ending application.

For instance: Do you really need wide walkways free of strollers? Do you really need for your shins to not be bumped? Do you really need to care about how other guests tour the park?

Like I said before, the person pushing it is having a much less fun time than you are. Period. They're just having a slightly better time than they would be dragging their kids. Seems like a fair point of compromise to me.

I don't NEED a walkway free of strollers. I do NEED to be able to at least get through so my child's bladder doesn't explode.

I do NEED people to be careful not to smash into me, because I could topple over onto their stroller and child and cause harm. Which is something that no one wants. (And yes, I have been knocked over and almost fell right onto a child in a stroller, and I'm an athletic guy with good balance)

I don't NEED to obsess over how other people tour the park.

You make a good point, in an amusing way, but this whole issue of NEED is really all about people constantly defending their actions that have a negative impact on everyone else. And many of these defenses are nonsense. And that is where people get all bent out of shape. If you are going to spend the day at a park with a baby or toddler, or special needs child, you probably do NEED a stroller. If you have a healthy nine year old with no special needs who just likes to complain, you don't NEED a stroller. I don't NEED to carry three different cameras around the parks. I WANT to. And as long as my carrying those cameras isn't ruining anyone elses day, I don't care what anyone thinks. And frankly, I don't care who has a stroller as long as they're courteous.

Strollers are a problem in the parks. It's a fact. There's too many, and too many oversized ones. Unless Disney can do something to accommodate all these extra vehicles, we are going to face a time when you can't move at all.

Somehow, years ago, people visited the parks and had a grand time without so many strollers. And the LARGE strollers didn't exist.

 

[Mstr Gra-c]

Thats a two way street though - as a society we have become way too willing to inconvenience everyone around us rather than let ourselves be inconvenienced. Stopping in the middle of a path and causing a traffic jam that delays hundreds of people rather than taking the extra fifteen seconds to stear off to the side for your snack/map consultation/whatever is the epitome of self-centered-ness. Is it appropriate to have a road rage style incident in response? - No. But that doesn't excuse the underlying behavior either.

Should I slow down and shake my fist at the lady who almost drives into me on the morning commute because she was putting her eye make up on while driving? - No. But it doesn't mean her behavior was acceptable or should go uncensored either.

Tell me again why I shouldnt do that?

 

[Mstr Gra-c]

^It's understood that the word "need" does not need to be grammatically used in its strictest sense at all times. "Need" to be translated only in the strict sense you're demanding is pointless, and leads to never-ending application.

For instance: Do you really need wide walkways free of strollers? Do you really need for your shins to not be bumped? Do you really need to care about how other guests tour the park?

Like I said before, the person pushing it is having a much less fun time than you are. Period. They're just having a slightly better time than they would be dragging their kids. Seems like a fair point of compromise to me.

First of all NO. There is a unique and definite divide between a want and a need. And knowing this distinct divide is tantamount to understanding not only the proper protocol within society as a whole but also in more intimate societies such as Disney World. We must demand of others the highest level of responsibility, the same level as to which we hold ourselves. (the problem is that most of us have become lazy no-goodniks.)

Second, alot of people are using the INANE argument of "you dont know about those people so dont act like you do..." argument. All you have done is echo the same sentiment in reverse to defend your argument sorry...it holds no water.

 

[Phonedave]

^It's understood that the word "need" does not need to be grammatically used in its strictest sense at all times. "Need" to be translated only in the strict sense you're demanding is pointless, and leads to never-ending application.

For instance: Do you really need wide walkways free of strollers? Do you really need for your shins to not be bumped? Do you really need to care about how other guests tour the park?

Like I said before, the person pushing it is having a much less fun time than you are. Period. They're just having a slightly better time than they would be dragging their kids. Seems like a fair point of compromise to me.

You know what. I have NEVER had my shins bumped, nor been run over. Nor have I cut people off or landed in a grandmothers lap. Quite honestly I don't care how other people tour the parks. If you take a look back over all of my posts (yes, I know, nobody wants to do that) you will see I am pretty much a live and let live kind of guy. I have my opinions (as do most people) and I will state them, but I don't attempt to foist them upon others.

However I do call out errors in discussions or arguments. In this disussion many people have stated that if you have kids you NEED all this stuff. This is just not true. I have gone many places with my kids and a person with normal healthy kids does not NEED all this stuff, in the strictest, or even loosely applied, sense of the word.

Go back and look thought all the posts in this thread, and notice how need is used. It is not being used in a loose sense that can be translated into "it makes life a lot easier" It is being used as a required justification for large strollers and copious amounts of supplies.

-dave

 

[KingStefan]

Because I'm not perfect, I don't have an unlimited supply of patience and I haven't reached sainthood yet so things still annoy me.

And since this is an internet forum where people discuss the good as well as the bad it seemed reasonable to start this topic.

It's obvious I'm not the only one to notice the trend, and I'm far from the only one to be bothered by it.

Not to wax too, too metaphysical here, but here goes:

Your feelings about things are caused completely by the things you think and believe about the world. Your experiences come from these thoughts and beliefs.

So you can choose to be annoyed / bothered ... or not.

You can see things as a problem, an impediment to enjoyment, if you will, and you can even try to take steps to change the situation, whether it be something simple that you have control over, or whether you are tilting at windmills (which in this case if you tried to do something about the strollers I think that you would be). But you can do all that without being "annoyed".

So, I'm not passing judgment here, nor am I trying to tell you what to do. You have every right to be annoyed. I'm just pointing out that whether or not to be annoyed is a CHOICE you make (and this goes for the others who are bothered, too).

OK, enough philosophy. Back to the stroller bashing and supporting. k tnx bye.

P.S., I LOVED your OP. I :lol:'d a lot. I thought it was just great! Very well written. And 007Mickey's response had me :ROFLOL:

 

[GenerationX]

I do have sympathy for young parents. I tend to think that a big part of this is driven by commercialisim. There are so many thousands of items out there marketed to parents to "make life easier". Its easy to see how a parent might encounter a particular item, find it helps out in some situation and decide that they need to have it. But if you do that with enough items, next thing you know you are carrying around more stuff than oregon trail pioneers.

It just seems like so many folks loose track of the forest for the trees and fail to recognize the tipping point where the convenience gained by having some individual item along gets outweighed by the hassle and bulk of carting around so many items. Sure it might be nice not to have to seek out the first aid station when little johnny skins his knee - but was that small convenience really worth carting around a two pound first aid kit for seven days?

I disagree completely. People definitely weigh the convenience vs. the hassle. Is it worth it to lug around rain ponchos for everyone? If you're going to be touring in the afternoon in the summer, it probably is worth it. Takes up a lot of space, but allows for the family to save money and keep touring during a downpour. Videocamera - is that worth it? Probably. Personally, I hate carting around a bunch of crap, but I'd also rather keep touring than have to find First Aid just because someone has a blister. When it's just me and one of the boys touring, we carry a lot less.

You know what. I have NEVER had my shins bumped, nor been run over. Nor have I cut people off or landed in a grandmothers lap. Quite honestly I don't care how other people tour the parks. If you take a look back over all of my posts (yes, I know, nobody wants to do that) you will see I am pretty much a live and let live kind of guy. I have my opinions (as do most people) and I will state them, but I don't attempt to foist them upon others.

However I do call out errors in discussions or arguments. In this disussion many people have stated that if you have kids you NEED all this stuff. This is just not true. I have gone many places with my kids and a person with normal healthy kids does not NEED all this stuff, in the strictest, or even loosely applied, sense of the word.

Go back and look thought all the posts in this thread, and notice how need is used. It is not being used in a loose sense that can be translated into "it makes life a lot easier" It is being used as a required justification for large strollers and copious amounts of supplies.

-dave

If it rains, do you need a rain poncho? No, you won't die without it. Will it make touring 100 times more pleasant? Yes. So, you're right, I don't strictly NEED to carry around a rain poncho. Though, if you're going to argue word usage - you bolded the word "need" from my post - remember that I had qualified "need" with "might". "Might need" makes more sense to me than "want". I really don't want a rain poncho. I might need one.

Finally, hauling around a lot of stuff is not fun for anyone. People make their own choices based on the specifics of their family, their risk tolerance, their budget, and their touring plans.

 

[BrytEydBelle]

I don't have a problem with strollers in general. I live in a neighborhood with tons of young families and they all converge at the mall, and the strollers are never an issue. However, Disney seems to make some people go insane. While a good 90% of people seem to be able to push a stroller with no problem, it is that bad 10% who use the stroller as a battering ram to force their way through that make me crazy.

You can tell who the bad ones are by how they react when they run into you. The parents with manners apologize, the ones who are using the kiddie SUV as a weapon just keep going. It got so bad the last spring break I was there that when my sister and I got hit by a stroller, we would deliver a backwards kick to it. Didn't hit the children, but the parent pushing could feel an impact. People have to learn their manners somehow.

 

[MousDad]

And knowing this distinct divide is tantamount to understanding not only the proper protocol within society as a whole but also in more intimate societies such as Disney World. We must demand of others the highest level of responsibility, the same level as to which we hold ourselves.

I don't know man - it's a theme park, not a spiritual retreat. I could flog myself after every ride and wear sackloth between the hours of 1 and 5 PM in August, but I ain't gonna.

Here's my unapologetic position: The disdain for people using strollers for their children at WDW for me falls somewhere between a joke and discrimination. Any logistical problems the use of strollers has caused is the fault of and should be corrected by the company that caters substantially to the offending clientel, and is both non-prohibitory, non-regulatory, and contributory to the use of the item.

And yes, I think it's perfectly acceptable for any parent to say they need a stroller to have a good time at WDW.