$31 rental for a double stroller.

[Melora]

Let's see... less strollers in the park... maybe less people going to Disney because they are mad about the stroller price increase....

Works for me!

Seriously though..... anyone who has worked with big corporations know that there are a lot of reason behind certain decisions and changes aren't always for the clear cut reason they appear to be.

And again, let's all try to remember that it's no ones business but their own how they want to deal with their children at Disney. My kids (as I have said) are very tiny. My 7 year old looks like hes about 5. A stroller at Disney has nothing to do with how much exercise they get at home (we're on vacation, not at the mall for an hour or two). My son runs on the 1st grade track team but I still am going to get him a stroller when we go so he can sit when needs to, get out of the sun when he needs to and I have a place to put my drink, bags, maps etc.

 

[jenleahs]

Are you saying that your trip is costing $13,000 plus souvies and extras? ($13 X 10 = $130 which is 1% of $13,000).

WOW!

there are 5 of us, and rt air and special stuff planned...in my own defense....

 

[lrab1126]

My guess is that like at DL the rental strollers are taking up too much room in the stroller parking areas and while at parades and shows, as they are usually bulkier than strollers that people bring in. This price increase is likely to reflect the cost of constantly having to move strollers around as a result and to encourage people to bring thier own. I don't think that Disney offered these rentals as money makers, but rather as a convience for their guests (which ends up making them more moeny as that is less time you need to go elsewhere, you can pack more souveniers on the stroller, etc.)

You may be onto something, but Disney would have been smarter to simply reduce the supply of strollers they rent everyday if it;s not about being a money maker. They have the control to decide how many strollers to have in their fleet on any given day. And as far as moving around strollers...they also move around personal strollers too so even if people start bringing their own that is not going change the man power.

 

[suzybeezy]

Just called disney and confirmed these prices effective 4/6/08

Single stroller is $15 - or $13 length of stay
Double is $31 or $27 length of stay
Wheelchair - $10 per day - $8 length of stay
ECV - $45

The gentleman I spoke to said they haven't received much of any complaints regarding the price change. I ask where formal complaints could be registered and he gave me this email address: wdw.guest.communications@disney.com

May I suggest we start an email campain to complain? Maybe if enough folks complain it will have some impact. But if we say nothing, there will be no hope for change.

 

[EnnEss]

I don't think it matters WHO uses a stroller and what there purpose is for renting....EVERYONE pays the same amount of money regardless of what they do with it! I can't stand it when people feel it is their right to judge what the appropriate age is for stroller usage. If Disney didn't want the double strollers in the park they could eliminate them altogether, I hardly see how it could be abuse when they are willing to rent them to whomever is willing to pay!

I think as someone who has gone to disney and seen it over time I can say there are sooooooo many more strollers now than in the 80s, I have pictures where you literally cant see a stroller. Now there are blue oceans of them outside of rides.
It's fine to judge and voice opinion in this forum, its not like I'm out telling people my opinion at the park while they are on vacation. I don't like being told to keep my opinions to myself and would much rather here someone else's opinion so I can expand my thought process than have them muted for my own sense of right.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Wow! Talk about price gouging, this is serious!
[sarcasm] Way to Go Disney - stick it to some of your best guests. [/sarcasm]

 

[GrumpyFan]

I don't think it matters WHO uses a stroller and what there purpose is for renting....EVERYONE pays the same amount of money regardless of what they do with it! I can't stand it when people feel it is their right to judge what the appropriate age is for stroller usage.

I have to argue with this a little. I've seen people with teenage kids in the strollers, when clearly they aren't made for that.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No need for a stroller here, other then probable grandkid trips in the future. The amount of replies on this piqued my interest to open and read a few. Wow, that is some increase.

 

[ES0412]

Just tossing in my .02 cents here...

I think we all know deep down that no matter how many emails get sent or how many complaints get filed that nothing is going to change.

I agree that the increases are too much and maybe if they had crept up a little at a time than most people wouldn't really care about it but that didn't happen and it's going on everywhere.

For those who plan on buying strollers and bringing them - if you're flying than most likely you'll be paying extra to check it because most airlines are charging for anything over 1 bag, this too is ridiculous but it's a sign of the times because of these greedy fuel companies, so add that into your cost. I know it's cheaper to bring your own but isn't the convenience of leaving it at the park while getting on the bus alot easier?

Donning my flamesuit now...

I've been to WDW more than 30 times and I have to say that the amount of people, for whatever reason, that are renting ECVs has gotten way out of hand. You can tell they're inexperienced at driving them because they're crashing into everything and people too, which is dangerous. I've pushed people through WDW in wheelchairs because they needed them and I think people are just getting the ECVs because they think it'll be easier and they won't have to have anyone push them.

I've been the route of renting strollers for my kids, they're all grown now and I'm renting them for my grandchildren now and like someone said earlier, the cost of it is minimal to what we're all spending to go to the Most Magical Place on Earth...

Rant over...

 

[Suzanne74]

I can't stand it when people feel it is their right to judge what the appropriate age is for stroller usage. If Disney didn't want the double strollers in the park they could eliminate them altogether, I hardly see how it could be abuse when they are willing to rent them to whomever is willing to pay!

Sorry, if you can't stand it - it is just my opinion which is what the boards are all about. All I said is that may be one of the reasons the double strollers are going up so much in price while the singles aren't. Many 1 child families were taking doubles over a single because it was worth the small price increase. I have also seen many families with one young toddler and a much older kid get a double for the same reason. I think many people will re-evaluate whether their kids truly need a stroller or if they need a double and the ones that will need them everyday will bring their own which are far less bulkier then the ones WDW have. Then there will be some that will pay the price no matter what and WDW knows this. Overall it will save room around the park and WDW will probably still make the same amount of money they did before the price increase. It is a win win for them. Sad but true.

I know many need people truly need strollers and ECV's and it is a shame the prices are going up for those people, but ECV's get you to the front of the line and double strollers allow parents to use them as shopping carts so there will always be people who use them not what they are meant for. You can say it is someone's right because they paid the stroller fee but they are affecting everyone else in the park. It affects the flow of the park and also leaves them sold out constantly to people that truly need them. Could you imagine a single mom coming into Epcot with 18 month old twins only to find out there are no more strollers available and then see 1 child families with double strollers all over the park? What about an elderly person trying to make it around the park when 2 teens are on a ECV driving around laughing (seen it!) When there is theft in a store, who pays the price? The everyday consumers - not the business. There are cheaters and then there are people that have to pay for the consequences. If Disney can cut back on how many strollers are in the park and still make the same amount of money, why shouldn't they do it? It will also hopefully allow more people that truly need them a chance to get one past noon on a busy day.

DL doesn't have double strollers for "traffic" issues so why are you so astonished that WDW might think of increasing their prices to decrease the amount as well?

 

[GrowingUpDisney]

Just called disney and confirmed these prices effective 4/6/08

Single stroller is $15 - or $13 length of stay
Double is $31 or $27 length of stay
Wheelchair - $10 per day - $8 length of stay
ECV - $45

The gentleman I spoke to said they haven't received much of any complaints regarding the price change. I ask where formal complaints could be registered and he gave me this email address: wdw.guest.communications@disney.com

May I suggest we start an email campain to complain? Maybe if enough folks complain it will have some impact. But if we say nothing, there will be no hope for change.

So, let me get this straight...I could rent a wheelchair - which has enough room to seat both my boys together - for 1/3 of the cost of a double stroller?

 

[ES0412]

So, let me get this straight...I could rent a wheelchair - which has enough room to seat both my boys together - for 1/3 of the cost of a double stroller?

Very good point! I guess we can expect to see more wheelchairs now, huh?

 

[bartleby1]

So, let me get this straight...I could rent a wheelchair - which has enough room to seat both my boys together - for 1/3 of the cost of a double stroller?

Hmmm.... I can see a new trend starting here, LOL!

 

[GrowingUpDisney]

I wouldn't do that as someone who may really need a wheelchair will not be able to get one because I rented one; HOWEVER, I can see that happening once people realize they can do it....

 

[disney-super-mom]

Please, I really hope that doesn't happen. My DS 8 is autistic and has hypotonia (weak muscle tone). He looks perfectly normal on the outside (although a little thin and pale with dark circles under his eyes), but he absolutely needs a wheelchair for the parks.

I certainly hope that parents of strong, healthy kids, wouldn't do that. That would be terrible on so many levels.

We already got terrible looks before having our DS in a stroller when he was 7 and 8. I can just imagine the looks we'd get when people think we rented a wheelchair so we wouldn't have to pay the price of a double stroller.

Not to mention the fact that if all the wheelchairs are rented out to parents to use for their perfectly healthy kids by the time we get to the gates, what in the heck are we supposed to do? Where does that leave the guests who truly need a wheelchair for some kind of disability?

 

[kimbac3]

I just sent an email. My kids are out of the stroller stage but I still find it outrageous!!

I bring my own wheelchair so that doesn't effect me .... however I bought my chair for $100 and have used it on three trips so far. Much better value.

Kimba

 

[bartleby1]

Please, I really hope that doesn't happen. My DS 8 is autistic and has hypotonia. He looks perfectly normal on the outside (although a little thin and pale with dark circles under his eyes), but he absolutely needs a wheelchair for the parks.

I certainly hope that parents of strong, healthy kids, wouldn't do that. That would be terrible on so many levels.

We already got terrible looks before having our DS in a stroller when he was 7 and 8. I can just imagine the looks we'd get when people think we rented a wheelchair so we wouldn't have to pay the price of a double stroller.

Not to mention the fact that if all the wheelchairs are rented out to parents to use for their perfectly healthy kids by the time we get to the gates, what in the heck are we supposed to do? Where does that leave the guests who truly need a wheelchair for some kind of disability?

I don't think that anyone with any sense would actually do that. I believe that post was made in jest to show how ridiculous disney is being by charging the price they are for a stroller.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I don't think that anyone with any sense would actually do that. I believe that post was made in jest to show how ridiculous disney is being by charging the price they are for a stroller.

Yes, I think the post was made in jest as well, but the thing is, is that I believe there are people out there that will do this. I know it's going to happen.

 

[bartleby1]

Yes, I think the post was made in jest as well, but the thing is, is that I believe there are people out there that will do this. I know it's going to happen.

Yes, there will always be people out there who have no morals and will do the wrong thing, but hopefully they will be in the minority. I'm sure there are some people who rent ECV's currently who don't truly need them too.

 

[GrowingUpDisney]

I don't think that anyone with any sense would actually do that. I believe that post was made in jest to show how ridiculous disney is being by charging the price they are for a stroller.

That is exactly right! I would NEVER do this...but I can, unfortunately, see people doing this as some people think they are better than others and don't care about other peoples' needs.