LOL. Maybe they should ban kids at Disney, j/k....
Strollers on busses and monorails.
- Thread starter Penelope Brewster
- Start date
LOL. Maybe they should ban kids at Disney, j/k....
Looking at pictures from the 70s, 80s and even early 90s you never see that many strollers if any.You have a stronger constitution than I do. Sights like the below have led me to rethink why I spend money on being a DVC member.
Jess_S
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 14, 2015
This exactly. As a parent with a little one who still uses a stroller (2.5 yrs), I'm offended by the fact that rude parents have given me a bad name. I take my son on public transportation with his stroller. Though carrying him, a diaper bag and a folded up stroller onto a bus or train and then trying to find a seat before the darn thing starts moving is a challenge, I do it.
maxiesmom
The Mean Squinty Eye Works
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2004
Disney is not just for kids. I have taken many trips to WDW without kids. Those who do have kids need to be considerate of others, just the same as people without kids. Having kids along is not a free pass to be inconsiderate or rude.
ParrotBill
Yo ho, yo ho, a parrot's life for me
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2005
If they start enforcing strollers out of aisles on buses it will get really tense... Most people keep them in the aisle and many simply board and stand in the aisle with them. Many times they are last on a full bus because they wait to fold the stroller until the bus arrives, so others go past them and the they board last. There won't be any seats left. And when they finally learn to be ready, I know a lot of people will be real grumbly to see 5 to 8 seats taken by strollers while they stand!
I guess I have to throw my 2 cents in here. The wife and I are both in our 60s and I am pushing 70 very quickly. We used to live one hour away from Disney and had passes where we went almost every weekend. We now live in AZ, but manage to visit WDW at least three times a year, sometimes more. We raised 4 children going to WDW and as they married, took our grandchildren and now great grandchildren. We have been on the user end of strollers and the receiving end. I honestly can't remember ever getting hit by a stroller where the parent/adult didn't apologize, even those not speaking English. Going to the parks, ferry or monorail, kids are extremely excited and usually parents are more concerned with keeping their children under control as far as excitement. Leaving the parks, everyone is tired; strollers have not been a problem for us. For most part, the adults we have encountered with strollers have been very courteous on the resort buses. Most times on the evening buses, I have given up my seat (if I had one) to parents, mothers and fathers, with small children. Sometimes, I have had to convince them to take it. I remember the days holding a sleeping, tired child on the bus. My wife has taken packages and strollers from parents and held onto them on buses. Strollers just haven't been that big of a deal to us; now, those old farts (remember, I am pushing 70) in those ECVs, that's another story......
Of course Pregnant Women, Elderly and Handicapped would keep their seat also should those with sickness or pain or just to tired.
I would give my seat up for any of those catagories that appeared to need my seat. As a grandmother that has pushed a set and stand stroller for my 2 and 3 year old grandchildren and stood and held the folded stroller on many mickey buses, I have given up my seat for male and females trying to do the same. .....................
mrsksomeday
My Prince uses a power wheelchair!
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2006
Here is a picture of the wording on the side of a Disney bus:
Disney is for EVERYONE, not just children. Be patient, be kind, be considerate of others.
TheRustyScupper
Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2000
1) No problem.
2) Take less stuff.
3) I can remember taking kids and only a small bag of necessities.
4) One does not need to bring everything . . . after all, how much does a little kid really need?.
5) If nothing lese, wear a backpack to hold all the stuff.
I'm in that stage now, where pushing my kids in a double stroller is the norm. While it would be great to not have to fold the thing, I'm always trying to be respectful of other visitors, wether when we're moving about, or if we ever have to use public transportation of any sort. If there is no sign declaring it AND the situation allows it, I won't try and fold the stroller. But, if I had to (and this is definitely more the case in Disney) I would fold it up. Thank goodness we also have those baby carriers to help carry our little ones, that way it lessens the difficulty of dealing with lugging a folded stroller and a baby.
peg110
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2015
I am not saying that you should give up your seat to some one by virtue of them having a stroller. Some folks can deal with this better than others. If, however, you encounter the small mother trying to balance a child in the arms, a bag on the shoulder, holding a fold up stroller and trying keep from falling as the bus/tram/monorail lurches forward or back (starting and stopping) that maybe a considerate person with nothing in their hands and otherwise unencumbered and healthy, might offer up the seat to the mom to make it a bit easier on them. You are absolutely right that it's subjective. If I see someone struggling to stand (for whatever reason) while I sit, I might be more inclined to offer them my seat. Please note that the "Subjective" view goes the other way as well. When that same mother sees who is struggling sees someone who is young, healthy and unencumbered just sit there (and even purposely avoid looking at them) the subjective opinion is then made as well (then they take to the Internet to complain about how inconsiderate other people are).
It's a 2 way street all around with much give and take. Some are better at it than others. All I am saying is to try and see things from someone else's point of view before making your decision.
While the picture is of the "Stroller" parking area (and not walking through the park), I don't think it's the strollers alone that would make me re-think the DVC, rather just the overall crowds. (strollers or not)You have a stronger constitution than I do. Sights like the below have led me to rethink why I spend money on being a DVC member.
You are right, there is no free pass for being inconsdierate or rude. Kids, No Kids, Stroller, No Stroller, ECV, No ECV, Hot Weather, Cold weather, etc... We all have our "Good" and "Bad" days (weeks, hours, moments, etc) but it's not a free pass. While we may understand that you (not necessarily YOU specifically, but a generic "You") are not pleased and/or having a bad/rough time, the hope is that you don't take it out on others who may or may not be having a similar situation as you.
Strollers, ECV's, Wheel chairs, crutches and canes are all a way of life for some (as are backpacks, bags and souvenirs) and understanding and courtesy are key to getting through the day.
I have NEVER seen 5 to 8 seats taken by strollers. If I did, however, I would be grumbly too. In fact I don't generally see ANY seats taken by strollers. At most maybe standing room is limited because of strollers.
peg110
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2015
This is kind of my mind set as well. (although I don't deal with strollers any more). If it causes an inconvenience to others, I will do what I can to try and minimize it.
pooh4evr
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
My kids are over the stroller age but we have taken many trips with strollers. We were always told to fold on the monorail, unless there was room in the handicap accessible car. Why shouldn't they have to be folded. Imagine how long the bus lines would be if nobody folded them.
To the OP, I don't know what you consider a huge stroller, but there are dimensions Disney deems too big, you may want to check.
To the OP, I don't know what you consider a huge stroller, but there are dimensions Disney deems too big, you may want to check.
Tinkerdreams
Disney Princess
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2007
What Disney should consider doing is taking 1 or 2 monorail cars and making them seatless. Along the same lines as the tram at MCO. These could be used exclusively for people with stollers, wheelchairs, scooters, etc.
skier_pete
DIsney-holics Anon
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2006
It did not surprise me to see this discussion devolve the way it did.
TO the original posters point: The buses require people to fold up their strollers. This may be a law, but it also should be common courtesy. We should ALL be courteous to eachother. People without kids/strollers should understand that strollers are a necessity/godsend to parents. However, parents should understand that people want to get on the bus and get to/from the parks in a expeditious manner. They do not want to give up their spot on the bus so you don't have to fold up your stroller. Adults with older kids should be patient with the parents lugging the stroller, and if they have to hold the little ones in their arms, you should give up your seat on the bus. I will ALWAYS give up my seat on the bus to someone holding a small child.
As far as the monorail goes...I don't think they would EVER ban strollers on the monorail. There could be a point where they require you to fold them. Again, a massive 2-3 child stroller might take up the space of 4-5 guests on the monorail, maybe even more if it prevents people from reaching the seats. If they change it and require you to fold it up, please just be courteous and follow the rules.
As others have said - Disney is for everyone. Having kids shouldn't give you a priority. (And yes,we've had our daughter in a stroller for about 5 trips before she outgrew it. We were still pushing her around in a stroller at WDW long after she wasn't using it anywhere else...probably until she was about 7.)
TO the original posters point: The buses require people to fold up their strollers. This may be a law, but it also should be common courtesy. We should ALL be courteous to eachother. People without kids/strollers should understand that strollers are a necessity/godsend to parents. However, parents should understand that people want to get on the bus and get to/from the parks in a expeditious manner. They do not want to give up their spot on the bus so you don't have to fold up your stroller. Adults with older kids should be patient with the parents lugging the stroller, and if they have to hold the little ones in their arms, you should give up your seat on the bus. I will ALWAYS give up my seat on the bus to someone holding a small child.
As far as the monorail goes...I don't think they would EVER ban strollers on the monorail. There could be a point where they require you to fold them. Again, a massive 2-3 child stroller might take up the space of 4-5 guests on the monorail, maybe even more if it prevents people from reaching the seats. If they change it and require you to fold it up, please just be courteous and follow the rules.
As others have said - Disney is for everyone. Having kids shouldn't give you a priority. (And yes,we've had our daughter in a stroller for about 5 trips before she outgrew it. We were still pushing her around in a stroller at WDW long after she wasn't using it anywhere else...probably until she was about 7.)
TheRustyScupper
Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2000
1) Alas, I disagree.
2) Carrying kids on the bus is the parents choice, not requirement.
3) I always surrender my seat to oldsters and handicapped.
. . . their condition is usually not one of their making
. . . the deserve our kindness AND OUR RESPECT
4) Holding babies usually is not a chore, as their are carriers that could be used.
. . . holding older kids, who could easily stand is a choice
. . . holding sleepy or tired or cranky kids is ridiculous *
* Parents know that their kids are getting sleepy-cranky-tired. But, they keep them at the parks. They seem to think the kids will act differently at Disney than at home. When the kids start to get out-of-sorts, the parents should know enough to take them back to the resort. I see parents straggling into the resort every day I work, when they should have brought the kids back much earlier. And, I will not go into the number of kid melt-downs caused by the children being cranky after being dragged all day in the parks.
HeatherL1985
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2015
We only left our strollers unfolded on the monorail/boats if there was room to do so. If it was a packed house, we broke everything down and tried to make ourselves as compact as possible. We missed a bus once because we were still cleaning out/folding the stroller so we waved it on. Not a big deal...there will be more busses.
I took my toddler to the World in May and read a lot of stroller etiquette before we left. I knew that people got frustrated with clipped ankles, "distracted driving", etc. so I made sure to stay as close to a wall as possible, make our way into a store aisle to check the map/chat/etc., and if the crowds got shoulder to shoulder to walk ever so slightly slower than the crowd around me so that there was a good buffer of space between my kids toes and the person in front of them.
What I found, however, was that as soon as I achieved a buffer, someone would literally step into it! The three times I clipped someone's ankles it was because someone had unexpectedly lifted their leg up and over the front of my stroller and hopped into the void to gain two steps on the rest of the crowd. Then they'd glare at me and I would apologize sheepishly for...I guess not stopping in the middle of a heavy crowd and immediately rebuilding the buffer in time to avoid them?!
It just took me right back to when my mother was dying of cancer and we would wheel her around the grocery store. People treated her as such a non-entity. They would stop right in front of her, block aisles and not notice us waiting, cut her off, step over her, etc. So, try as I might, I have a really hard time not applying this past experience to people who complain about strollers even though I KNOW there are a lot of jerkwad parents out there giving us stroller families a bad name.
I really feel that Disney is just too desirable and accessible to sustain their volume of guests at a level of quality they advertise.
I took my toddler to the World in May and read a lot of stroller etiquette before we left. I knew that people got frustrated with clipped ankles, "distracted driving", etc. so I made sure to stay as close to a wall as possible, make our way into a store aisle to check the map/chat/etc., and if the crowds got shoulder to shoulder to walk ever so slightly slower than the crowd around me so that there was a good buffer of space between my kids toes and the person in front of them.
What I found, however, was that as soon as I achieved a buffer, someone would literally step into it! The three times I clipped someone's ankles it was because someone had unexpectedly lifted their leg up and over the front of my stroller and hopped into the void to gain two steps on the rest of the crowd. Then they'd glare at me and I would apologize sheepishly for...I guess not stopping in the middle of a heavy crowd and immediately rebuilding the buffer in time to avoid them?!
It just took me right back to when my mother was dying of cancer and we would wheel her around the grocery store. People treated her as such a non-entity. They would stop right in front of her, block aisles and not notice us waiting, cut her off, step over her, etc. So, try as I might, I have a really hard time not applying this past experience to people who complain about strollers even though I KNOW there are a lot of jerkwad parents out there giving us stroller families a bad name.
I really feel that Disney is just too desirable and accessible to sustain their volume of guests at a level of quality they advertise.
Crystal824
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2008
I'm not sure you could move more people if strollers were folded on the monorail. For my family, we get on the monorail with out double, DH, and me. If we fold the stroller, it still takes up a bit of room even when folded and now the kids are out of the stroller too (two more people talking up space), plus to fold it we have to remove the diaper bag from underneath and the soft sided cooler so additional stuff also taking up space...we are probably holding them items but they do take up space.
We always fold our stroller before the bus gets there, but we are often standing in the aisle with our kids and stroller...so I'm not sure how we are going to keep the stroller out of the aisle if we are standing in it ourselves. Even if we aren't standing, many of the Disney busses are configured so that you face the other passengers at the front of the bus making the aisle wider there but there is non aisle to store stuff.
PsychoCelloChica
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2014
Disclaimer: I'm childfree by choice... so you'll never see me wrangling kids or a stroller.
I'm just generally amazed at how many more kids are in strollers these days... I parents posting now of "DD8 doesn't use a stroller anymore, but I'm thinking of renting one for the trip in case she gets tired". Of COURSE your 8 year old is going to get tired at Disney. You're supposed to get tired after all the fun and walking. And if that means that you have to slow down a bit and take it at the child's pace, then that's what you should do. If it means that you only visit 1 park instead of 2, or take a midday nap, or don't stay from 8am to 1am, then that's what you do!
My first trip was at 5 years old... I was well out of a stroller in normal life, and therefore there was never any consideration that I'd need one at Disney. My parents just toured at my pace and took breaks when needed.
Thus endeth my 'parents these days' mini-rant.
I'm just generally amazed at how many more kids are in strollers these days... I parents posting now of "DD8 doesn't use a stroller anymore, but I'm thinking of renting one for the trip in case she gets tired". Of COURSE your 8 year old is going to get tired at Disney. You're supposed to get tired after all the fun and walking. And if that means that you have to slow down a bit and take it at the child's pace, then that's what you should do. If it means that you only visit 1 park instead of 2, or take a midday nap, or don't stay from 8am to 1am, then that's what you do!
My first trip was at 5 years old... I was well out of a stroller in normal life, and therefore there was never any consideration that I'd need one at Disney. My parents just toured at my pace and took breaks when needed.
Thus endeth my 'parents these days' mini-rant.
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