What not to do at the World...bringing this for the first time

[minniemickeyfan]

Hi all! So we've made many trips over the years w/ our daughter starting when she was 7 (now 16)so we've never had a stroller while at the parks. We are going this Jan w/ our new 6 month old son so a stroller is a must.
So I have nothing against those who have strollers, but I have always not liked when people run me over with them (who does?) or when a stroller is used for a changing table. So I am asking you if there's anything else to know what might really annoy people or advice you can give us for maneuvering strollers while at the World?

 

[monkeysammich]

I've had a stroller every time I've gone with my children (over the past 5 years)... the most important thing to remember is that you're not alone in the park and you may need to stop and let people through or to go the long way to avoid the biggest crowds. You will get frustrated when people cut you off constantly and then if you happen to nudge them on accident, they will blame you for the downfall of Disney parks and that of civilization itself.

Just don't be selfish and know that you're taking up some extra space and that YOU need to take the extra time and effort to account for it.

 

[Britt]

You'll find out that 99.9% of the time that someone gets bumped or nudged with a stroller, it's because the one without, was probably not paying attention and walks directly in front of you. The only person I ever hit in the ankles was someone who walked right out in front of the stroller on their phone. They apologized to me and I glared at them for bumping into my baby...LOL.

I recommend keeping yourself pretty packed up in your diaper bag or 1 backpack so when it's time to get on a bus, you're not holding it up while you unload. Keep the stroller between your knees or lock it up when you get on the monorail! I've seen soooo many strollers go sliding across the monorail because people forget to lock it.

 

[copcarguyp71]

The fact that you are concerned and care enough to ask should be all the info you need .

 

[graphite1326]

The last time I was at WDW my foot was run over by a stroller while they were in a hurry passing me. Just got a dum look, not even a sorry.

 

[bdearl41]

Here is my thing, if your kid is over the age of 3 and you have a stroller you are a bad parent! Simple as that. And that is being lienient. Take your kid to the pool/room for a nap between 2 and 5 in the afternoon and youll be able to enjoy the entire day.

 

[bdearl41]

You'll find out that 99.9% of the time that someone gets bumped or nudged with a stroller, it's because the one without, was probably not paying attention and walks directly in front of you. The only person I ever hit in the ankles was someone who walked right out in front of the stroller on their phone. They apologized to me and I glared at them for bumping into my baby...LOL.

Gotta disagree here, If you hit someone with your stoller, you bumped into them. All of us non stroller people try to avoid strollers like the plague.[/quote]

 

[minniemickeyfan]

You'll find out that 99.9% of the time that someone gets bumped or nudged with a stroller, it's because the one without, was probably not paying attention and walks directly in front of you. The only person I ever hit in the ankles was someone who walked right out in front of the stroller on their phone. They apologized to me and I glared at them for bumping into my baby...LOL.

I recommend keeping yourself pretty packed up in your diaper bag or 1 backpack so when it's time to get on a bus, you're not holding it up while you unload. Keep the stroller between your knees or lock it up when you get on the monorail! I've seen soooo many strollers go sliding across the monorail because people forget to lock it.

Good advice for the bus and monorail. Thanks

 

[minniemickeyfan]

Here is my thing, if your kid is over the age of 3 and you have a stroller you are a bad parent! Simple as that. And that is being lienient. Take your kid to the pool/room for a nap between 2 and 5 in the afternoon and youll be able to enjoy the entire day.

I agree that big kids can walk and don't need a stroller, but last time I went with my niece who was 3 1/2 she really needed a stroller. She wanted to walk most of the time, but at this age six miles a day or so is a bit much. They have to take more steps than us adults do.

 

[KCheatle]

Well, I guess I'm a bad parent! My 6 year old daughter still relied on a stroller when we went in May. We have a double stroller - one where my 2 yo sits in front and it has a little bench on the back. She didn't ride on it the entire time, but she definitely used it to sit and relax or stand (it has a little stand-on place) when we knew we'd be treking across the park. I just don't see any reason to make her little legs try to maneuver all of the people and get exhausted! If that makes me a bad parent, then that's a label I'll learn to live with

Anyway, my stroller advice is to park it. Use it to get long distances and then park it in the general vicinity of where you intend to go. For example, we take our stroller to Fantasyland and then park it by the castle and do all of Fantasyland sans-stroller. Then we use it to trek to wherever we will go next and park it again. That will help you to avoid tons of problems.

My personal stance on this is that people go (or should go anyway) to Disney world with the full expectation that it is swarming with children who use strollers. If you don't expect to get hit a couple of times with a stroller, then you're just being naive. It doesn't matter how careful you are, at some point there's just going to be a collision because it gets crowded. People on both sides (stroller users and non-stroller uses) need to keep their cool about it and realize it's not a big deal (never heard of a death-by-stroller) if there's a collision. Just something you gotta get used to.

 

[Gt2BtheGoodLife]

I think the biggest thing is to be informed. when you are parking your stroller make sure its in the designated area, and for brownie points do a fold/unfold trial run for trams, busses, and monorails just so ou know how close to yhat yellow line youve gotta be before you need to pack up

 

[Britt]

Gotta disagree here, If you hit someone with your stoller, you bumped into them. All of us non stroller people try to avoid strollers like the plague.

[/quote]
Yeah, sorry my " is about to step in front of you without looking" radar was off.

 

[Howdy]

Our last trip we had our 12 month old (Logan) and our friends' 4 year old. We took strollers just to give Logan a rest from being carried all the time as he wasn't yet walking. After the second day of waiting for them to deal with letting a 4 year old decide if she wanted to walk or ride and wasting HOURS of our trip (5 minutes at a time, 10-15 times a day adds up) I was ready to either leave the stroller behind or leave the friends behind. I don't mind carrying Logan all day every day, but my wife can't, so I only got my way one day out of the six. The day without the stroller was perfect for me, I didn't have to wait for anything, walk out of the way to drop it off in stroller parking, or deal with not being able to fit through tight spaces/get past crowds.

We are going back in February (without the friends) and I know that we'll have a stroller with us for airports and whatnot, but if I have my way I'll just carry Logan everywhere that he doesn't want to walk. He'll be 17 months that trip.

 

[minniemickeyfan]

I think the biggest thing is to be informed. when you are parking your stroller make sure its in the designated area, and for brownie points do a fold/unfold trial run for trams, busses, and monorails just so ou know how close to yhat yellow line youve gotta be before you need to pack up

good idea...we were out yesterday and realized we need to be more efficient with opening and folding the stroller.

To all parents (as you are already aware): your a good parent when you take a stroller for your child even if they are older than others. There is no "correct" age to be taken out of a stroller and made to walk all day.

 

[real mad hatter]

No pushing stroller and texting at the same time.

 

[jlevis]

I think the biggest thing is to be informed. when you are parking your stroller make sure its in the designated area, and for brownie points do a fold/unfold trial run for trams, busses, and monorails just so ou know how close to yhat yellow line youve gotta be before you need to pack up

Get some of those beach towel clips on ebay to put on the handle of your stroller. It will stand out in the sea of strollers.

 

[Gt2BtheGoodLife]

Get some of those beach towel clips on ebay to put on the handle of your stroller. It will stand out in the sea of strollers.

Yeah, or anything to help designate your stroller, especially if it is one of the brands that is rented by the 4485278 stroller rental places in the Orlando area. Even if it's not, make sure its something on the handle or something because there is a chance the stroller may be moved even if it is in stroller parking just to accommodate space and all. I'd think maybe like bright duct tape on the handles or something but that's just me.

 

[Goofyernmost]

My personal stance on this is that people go (or should go anyway) to Disney world with the full expectation that it is swarming with children who use strollers. If you don't expect to get hit a couple of times with a stroller, then you're just being naive. It doesn't matter how careful you are, at some point there's just going to be a collision because it gets crowded. People on both sides (stroller users and non-stroller uses) need to keep their cool about it and realize it's not a big deal (never heard of a death-by-stroller) if there's a collision. Just something you gotta get used to.

I suppose that it's a good mind set to have but I have to say that I have been going to WDW regularly for 30 years and have never been run into by a stroller. I am always aware of where they are and make sure I don't put myself in harms way. I don't understand how anyone can think that a person pushing a stroller will intentionally run into you. What exactly do they have to gain by it. They get distracted just like everyone else in the place and they cannot stop a stroller as quickly as a person can stop walking or jump in front of them.

They are there, it's a fact of theme park life, so be aware of their presence and you will not be run into other than possibly completely accidentally. BTW, I don't believe that a 6 year old cannot tour the parks all day while walking. Yes, they whine about how tired they are, but if you want to find out if they are just making noise, just ask if they want to go back to the hotel and use the pool. You will see brand new life spark up right in front of you. I started taking my kids to the park when they were 6 years old and never needed a stroller.

I had a pretty serious leg injury back a few years ago that I still have the effects of, I'm over-weight and 65 years old. If anyone needs a stroller it's me, yet I still walk it all day. Everyone has that need reversed. Kids, when motivated, can go forever like that EverReady Battery Rabbit.

 

[bubbles1812]

good idea...we were out yesterday and realized we need to be more efficient with opening and folding the stroller.

To all parents (as you are already aware): your a good parent when you take a stroller for your child even if they are older than others. There is no "correct" age to be taken out of a stroller and made to walk all day.

Yeah those 8 and 9 year olds really really really need those strollers... Not to mention that 12 year old whining about his feet hurting, sitting in the stroller while his 4 year old brother was walking around (and had been all day) just fine. That was my all time favorite. But nope, no correct age whatsoever... sooner or later I really hope they start making "big kid" strollers for the 10-19 age set. That'll be the most fun time ever for mom and dad.

That said, I think you are awesome for being considerate and asking for advice about strollers. I recognize them as a necessary evil for younger kids and for those I consider age appropriate for a stroller, I have no problem with them. You most definitely fit into that category, and I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Susan Savia]

We noticed on our last trip in September some folks had a wheelchair and their two kids (about 8 or 10 years old) were sitting side by side being wheeled around in it. I think just little things like moving a stroller to the side in a store so it doesn't block isles or out of the main flow of traffic if your stopped to read a map or folding it up when boarding a monorail will help. Thank you for caring.