Bring Expensive Stroller? Do you think it would be "taken"?

[Patsfan7]

Ok, I read on another board that there is a problem with strollers 'disappearing'. I never really thought of this problem at Disney. I guess I always feel as though in a magical world where nothing can go wrong, so I didn't think anyone would do that to anyone at the Happiest Place On Earth.

I just ordered an expensive (for my budget) stroller, with the sole purpose of bringing it to The World over the next few years with the two kids. It is the Baby Jogger City Series Double. It has two wheels in front, so I was thinking of maybe locking them together so nobody would want to take it, and the CM's would still be able to do their straightening of the strollers by tipping it back on its rear wheels. Is this a good idea? Does anyone else have any suggestions for us? Thank you in advance.

 

[mom_of_5]

Here's my thought for you. First your stroller sounds large and cumbersome, I had a single and double jogger and they are not easy to fold and cary if you need to use the bus, train, ferry boat and anything else. Something to consider. Second we just got back and I worried for months over my new pink Peg Perego that cost $400. I wanted to bring it for ease in trasporting 1 1/2 year old to and from parks and it also has a standing board for my 3 year old but the thought of it being stollen almost kept it home. I am so glad we brought it, every time we left if I came back to it thankfully. I did leave garbage and somtimes a dirty diaper in the basket to scare people away though. This is not to say that it does not happen, mark it with something ie. garbage, permanant marker any thing to keep people away. Good luck.

 

[mom_of_5]

Ok here is another thought. While we were there I did see people bringing children into the parks in umbrella strollers, then renting a single or double stroller and letting the stroller people hold on to their other stroller for the day, or you could put it in a locker for the day, just to have something to trasport the little ones to and from the parks.

 

[glass slipper girl]

I hear you! I just bought an expensive stroller for baby #4 and we plan to bring it with us to WDW and it makes me a bit nervous. I've brought a Peg Perego that was about $300 when new (but is now a few years old) and had no problem with that. I've brought 2 other strollers that were over $100 and had no problem with them. This one is more than that though so I am a little worried. It's a "trendier" stroller though and I think that is part of it. I will just keep reminding myself of a few things...first that travel insurance covers me if something is stollen and 2nd that I have seen more than one Bugaboo stroller that retails for $800+ at WDW (and not locked up) and they were being left alone. So my stroller will not be the most expensive thing to enter the park. If it is stollen, I will be beyond upset but it is just a possession and insurance will replace it. It will not be the end of my world.

I wouldn't worry terribly much about the size of the BJCD. It folds a lot more compact than other joggers. Still bulky, but if that is what your kids are most comfy in then (at least IMHO) it is worth the mild inconvenience on the busses and train. You can still roll on to the monorail and boats. If you have something with a smaller fold that the kids are comfy in, great but if not...bring this one and be thankful for that comfort factor both for the kids and for ease of pushing for Mom and Dad! My new stroller has a bulky fold too but baby will only be 4 months old so comfort is a big thing and DH and I are willing to deal with it. We're staying at the GF and will only have 2 days where we will be on the bus. If it is truly awful, we'll take a cab but we've travelled with a sit and stand that isn't much smaller than what we are bringing for baby this time around.

 

[badblackpug]

I think the main issue with stroller-napping is with WDW rentals. People just take your rental rather than pay for their own. After all, they all look alike, so who can tell!

 

[happymommy]

I used to take our $400 peg perego double to WDW and never once worried about it being stolen. Both kids would nap in it, so it was great to have. Honestly, I think stealing personal strollers rarely happens. Then began taking the $350 aprica one - no problem. Just took it for the last time - tempted to leave it for someone there, but brought it home. I wouldn't worry - maybe tie a balloon or scarf to it to make it stand out - that way someone would be uncomfortable running off with it. I even leave our backpack in it when we go on rides - if someone wants some teddy grahams and a change of clothes hey go for it. Never a problem.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I'd be much more concerned about the bulkiness of that stroller than having it stollen...

We usually take 2 umbrella strollers to Disney. We HAVE had one stroller stollen... thankfully it was just a cheap umbrella... no huge loss.

We recently got a double stroller, but it's a lightweight easy fold (Chicco), and that's my BIGGEST requirement for Disney... it HAS to be portable and EASY to fold.

 

[rt2dz]

I've taken a double jogging stroller (not a cheap one) to WDW before and have had no problems. Not with it being taken and certainly not with using it.

I've done light umbrella strollers, travel systems, tandem doubles and the jogger. The jogger by far was the best. We rarely take the bus, but have done so out of necessity--and with the jogger. In my experience, it's a little more difficult, yes, but barely so. And the much, much bigger ease through the parks, MORE than makes up for it. But everyone's tolerance is different.

 

[Patsfan7]

Thank you all for posting , I am both encouraged that some of you have gone with expensive strollers, and come home with them and a little freaked that some have had their strollers taken .

I am not concerned about the bulkiness, as we drive everywhere, (I have panic attacks on the busses, so we rent a car), and as far as the folding goes, it has two straps in the seats you just pull up on. (I haven't received it yet, so I am guessing from the marketing that it is as easy as they profess) My husband is a big 6'4" so, he can deal with the stroller.

I am thinking nothing could be bulkier than the last stroller we brought which was the older sit n stand model which can have two seats, (so it is bigger and heavier than the newer ones) At that time, my husband had to leave the trip early so the only place I felt it cumbersome was getting it onto the x-ray machine at the airport. My main concern is leaving each day with it. EEK!

 

[Evil Queen]

Might want to check the size too. This was on the Disboards............

Things prohibited

not sure how strick they will be with anything bigger.

 

[Manda]

I brought my Maclaren Techno XT. It's definitely not a cheap stroller, but it was by no means the most expensive or nicest stroller there. When people were leaving there $700 Bugaboos sitting outside, I figured that there was something better to steal than mine. Just make sure you park next to a better, easier to steal stroller. I'd considered bringing my BOB jogger this time around, but it just seems way too bulky to be worth the effort.

 

[Patsfan7]

Might want to check the size too. This was on the Disboards............

Things prohibited

not sure how strick they will be with anything bigger.

Thank you for that! I never even thought to look into that, that size may be a problem. Thank goodness it will not be, as the stroller is only 29" wide. 45" and 48" tall and length. Thanks again!

 

[chobie]

I am astonished at how honest people are at WDW. I have left my purse somewhere in the parks on about 4 different occasions. Each time it was promptly handed over to a CM with nothing missing or out of place. I have had my rental stroller taken many times. I do believe that is because they all look alike and it was a mistake. It would be unlikely that even if someone was dishonest enough to take your stroller they would attempt to get out of the park with something that can easliy be identified by the owner. They would have to grab it and flee the park as fast as possible.

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

I wouldn't worry - maybe tie a balloon or scarf to it to make it stand out - that way someone would be uncomfortable running off with it. I even leave our backpack in it when we go on rides - if someone wants some teddy grahams and a change of clothes hey go for it. Never a problem.

I agree. We marked our stroller with colorful ribbon and left our backpack in the basket everytime.. Never a problem for us. The ribbon was a huge help in locating our stroller in the sea of them in stroller parking as well Have a great trip!!

 

[Touareg]

All the above suggestions are great! Also, never leave anything behind that you arent willing to lose. Smaller strollers are more nimble and easily parked. However they have limited capacity. Lazyboy size strollers are clumsy yet allow for lots of storage. Either way, never leave anything important in the stroller and walk away. Otherwise you only have yourself to blame.

 

[flortlebap]

The UG says to tie a diaper bag with an apparently soiled diaper to the handle bars. Oh and mark it with a distinctive ribbon. That way you shouldn't have a problem

 

[pjupton]

Might want to check the size too. This was on the Disboards............

Things prohibited

not sure how strick they will be with anything bigger.

36 x 52 inch limit on strollers... think that means 36 inches wide and 52 inches tall? I'm having a hard time thinking of anything that big except triple or quad strollers. I'm also thinking that triplet & quad or more families ought to be allowed to bring in anything they want ;-)

 

[momofbgtwins]

I just bought a BJCD for my big twins (42"/40#, 40"/38#) . It is wonderful, and will only be used on vacation (Disney, Sea World, etc) It is big, but folds very easily. And, most importantly, the kids fit in it, and will for a few more years.

As an aside comment - why is it when people post a specific question, (in this case whether an expensive stroller will be stollen), do others feel they must interject their opinions about the stroller in question. For everyone who thinks we should all buy cheap umbrella strollers to take up less space, they don't make them to support big kids, especially in a double model. And no, I don't think I should use two singles, as I can predict that suggestion, too!

Sorry to rant so much, but I did a lot of research on strollers for bigger kids. When I've used the search feature on this board I ended up having to read through post after post of people off the thread topic, but offering their views on strollers - different models, singles vs doubles, whether jogging strollers were prohibited, etc. It was very time consuming and annoying!

 

[mom_of_5]

I just bought a BJCD for my big twins (42"/40#, 40"/38#) . It is wonderful, and will only be used on vacation (Disney, Sea World, etc) It is big, but folds very easily. And, most importantly, the kids fit in it, and will for a few more years.

As an aside comment - why is it when people post a specific question, (in this case whether an expensive stroller will be stollen), do others feel they must interject their opinions about the stroller in question. For everyone who thinks we should all buy cheap umbrella strollers to take up less space, they don't make them to support big kids, especially in a double model. And no, I don't think I should use two singles, as I can predict that suggestion, too!

Sorry to rant so much, but I did a lot of research on strollers for bigger kids. When I've used the search feature on this board I ended up having to read through post after post of people off the thread topic, but offering their views on strollers - different models, singles vs doubles, whether jogging strollers were prohibited, etc. It was very time consuming and annoying!

The reason I believe many people may get off the thread topic is to be helpful, and give their insight to other parents who may not have researched as well as you. We are not trying to annoy you, we are all here for friendly help.

 

[tacomaranch]

Yes, I don't mind reading other thoughts about all kinds of things when I am desperate to find a stroller. All opinions are just that. We are here to support each other and help out.

Let's keep up the good works!