Disney World Strollers

[kschn3671]

Hi. I am taking my 7 month old to Disney World for Thanksgiving and need some advice from the seasoned Disney World Parents.

I plan on taking my own stroller to Disney World. I know that you cant take your stroller into any of the rides, attractions or show buildings, but I am not sure about stores/restaurants. Does anybody know if you can take your stroller into the following locations?

1. The Seas with Nemo and Friends (I dont plan on doing the ride, but walking around the exhibits). Could I take a stroller in if I go thru the exit area (near the gift shop)
2. World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney
3. Any of the bigger eating areas such as Pinnochio Village Haus, Electric umbrella, Peco Bill's, etc?

Does anybody know where the designated stroller parking is in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot? If anybody has a map that would be great?

 

[DisGirl819]

No strollers in the Land or the Seas with Nemo. There is ample stroller parking right outside between the two pavilions.
Yes, strollers are allowed in all stores. Strollers are generally not allowed in restaurants, but we have been allowed on the odd occasion that our baby was asleep and it was our ADR time or something like that.

 

[shadeauxe]

We are thinking of bringing a child carrier in addition to the stroller for situations when the strollers aren't allowed and you want to save your poor arms. Plus she loves being in the backpack.

Our daughter is 18 months and 24 (I think) pounds.

 

[supermomva]

We went to WDW Thanksgiving 2011 and I took our stroller that time for our then 18month old. It was SO worth it...if I remember correctly, there were few, if any, rides that let you take your stroller in. I don't even think we could take it into the Energy Ellen Degeneres ride at Epcot....sorry I can't remember, but I learned quick that while the stroller was a bonus to have, it was better to have your valuables (i.e. everything in my opinion other than napkins, etc) IN your backpack/diaper bag. The CMs have definitely got stroller parking down pat so when you approach your ride, have everything OFF of it or ready to be grabbed, including baby, because most of the time, the stroller parking isn't near the entrance or exit. You will get into the routine of it after a few rides and/or attractions.
We are taking our daughter who is now 3 1/2 at Christmastime (yes, we're nuts!) and we will be taking the stroller again, even though she probably won't use it as much...just handy to have...and it's a good polite crowd parter

 

[CourtneyL]

You can usually take the stroller into the quick serve dining locations. If its very crowded, they usually have cast members handing out menus at the door and you can ask them if its ok to bring the stroller in. Most of the time its easier to just park it outside, but with a 7 month old I can definitely see the advantage to having the stroller with you!

Regarding stroller parking... Its labeled where you can and cannot park strollers. The cast members will be organizing the stroller parking area and making neat rows. It helpful for them if you park your stroller inline with the others.

 

[DbleTheFun]

We are thinking of bringing a child carrier in addition to the stroller for situations when the strollers aren't allowed and you want to save your poor arms. Plus she loves being in the backpack.

Our daughter is 18 months and 24 (I think) pounds.

YUP this!!!! We traveled with our Baby Bjorn on the first trip when boys were 11months and it was the best. Often times it was much easier to keep them strapped onto our chests than to move them from their stroller all the time (We took the stroller too). It was handy when on rides as well, since it freed up our hands for taking pictures etc... while letting them "see" their surroundings. They were SO wide eyed for It's a Small World!!!

 

[kschn3671]

So, do most people have their infant (My son is a whopping 8 lbs at 7 months) in their baby carrier when they go on the rides such as Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, etc. or do they take them out and put them on their laps?

As far as strollers in the stores, is it hard to manuever like in a World of Disney Store when it is very crowded and would be better to have baby in carrier?

Any suggestions would be helpful?

 

[Reddog1134]

Regarding stroller parking... Its labeled where you can and cannot park strollers. The cast members will be organizing the stroller parking area and making neat rows. It helpful for them if you park your stroller inline with the others.

Even if you park your stroller in a neat row, chances are it's still going to get moved as the CM's constantly condense the rows when strollers are removed.

We rarely found our stroller in the same spot we left it.

 

[DbleTheFun]

So, do most people have their infant (My son is a whopping 8 lbs at 7 months) in their baby carrier when they go on the rides such as Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, etc. or do they take them out and put them on their laps?

As far as strollers in the stores, is it hard to manuever like in a World of Disney Store when it is very crowded and would be better to have baby in carrier?

Any suggestions would be helpful?

we found that keeping them in the carrier was easiest... front facing if they were awake, so they could see and experience it all (They remember their first ride on Winnie the Pooh right?!)... and then if they were just about to doze off, we turned them around so they could be comfy and we would enjoy!

We also purchased "peltor ear muffs" (which were a lot harder to source 7 years ago- but are alot more common now) that our twins wore on our first trip. We would put them on before any loud rides... and also for the fireworks... (It also worked like magic in their stroller when we wanted them to pass out for a nap)... they block alot of the heavy noise, but are comfortable over the ear and made for kids. They were the best investment for our trips when they were that young!!!

 

[kschn3671]

Can you take them into Chef Mickey's or Cape May Cafe? Or do you leave the stroller somewhere near the restaurant (Do they have stroller parking at the restaurants?)

 

[DbleTheFun]

Can you take them into Chef Mickey's or Cape May Cafe? Or do you leave the stroller somewhere near the restaurant (Do they have stroller parking at the restaurants?)

All TS restaurants have stroller parking in the general vicinity. you can sometimes take your stroller into CS locations if you can find a space where it doesnt block aisles between tables.

You will not be allowed to take the stroller into any TS restaurants, but they will offer a high chair... or if your child is still in the "bucket" and you reserved a table big enough, you can take the bucket with you an place it on one of your seats at the table.

 

[sephorachick]

Here are some things I wrote about strollers from CM perspective


http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2012/09/strollers-wdw.html

http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2012/08/guest-experiences-from-fantasyland-cm.html

 

[shadeauxe]

Here are some things I wrote about strollers from CM perspective


http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2012/09/strollers-wdw.html

http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2012/08/guest-experiences-from-fantasyland-cm.html

Some guest ordered her daughter to pee on the floor? Gross.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Disney for Families board.

 

[Angel Ariel]

1. The Seas with Nemo and Friends (I dont plan on doing the ride, but walking around the exhibits). Could I take a stroller in if I go thru the exit area (near the gift shop)
2. World of Disney Store at Downtown Disney
3. Any of the bigger eating areas such as Pinnochio Village Haus, Electric umbrella, Peco Bill's, etc?

1. No strollers at all.
2. I doubt strollers would be a problem, but I've never been there with a stroller.
3. I have not had a problem taking our DD into Pecos Bill's in a stroller. Our first trip she could not sit up on her own, so high chairs were out. On our second trip the crowds were low enough that it wasn't an issue.

 

[Angel Ariel]

So, do most people have their infant (My son is a whopping 8 lbs at 7 months) in their baby carrier when they go on the rides such as Winnie the Pooh, Little Mermaid, etc. or do they take them out and put them on their laps?

We did both on this last trip. DD is now getting long enough that it's more comfortable for her to sit on our laps, or on the seat b/w us, than to stay in the carrier while I'm sitting. At 7 months, though, I was keeping her in the carrier for those rides.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Can you take them into Chef Mickey's or Cape May Cafe? Or do you leave the stroller somewhere near the restaurant (Do they have stroller parking at the restaurants?)

Chef Mickey's has reclining infant high chairs for babies that can't sit in a regular high chair, just make sure you ask for them. We were not allowed to bring our stroller in there.

 

[Tigger1221]

It depends on the time of day if you can take your stroller in a CS restaurant. We were told yes some times and no others. We were allowed to take the stroller in Ohana's when she was asleep in it and they also have the sling you put the car seat in if you have that with you. (we drove). They had no problem with it, it was even an option on the screen. However we had a horrible experience at Beaches and Cream. We told them we needed a highchair and waited over 40 mins. When they sat us they said we couldn't have a highchair only a booster seat. I was very annoyed since I could see the highchairs but they said we couldn't use one due to fire codes. Also be aware that if they aren't letting strollers in CS places then they might also be making you wait to get your food to sit. This happened to us too. I was going to start feeding DD while DH ordered but they wouldn't let me sit at any of the open tables. I had to hold a mad struggling toddler while about 15 tables sat empty and they were SLOW. I know this is there for a reason but it was still annoying and I wish I had known. I advise eating at off times.

I have never had a problem in the shops. For the Seas and the Land I used her carrier when she was smaller.

 

[sephorachick]

Some guest ordered her daughter to pee on the floor? Gross.

Yes, I was shocked myself. I will NEVER forget that lady!

 

[luvmy2babies]

My Ergo carrier made our first trip a lot easier. I wore my son at 10 months in it for quite a bit of our trip. He was in it whenever we were on the bus and he was in it on quite a few rides like Small World, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan. And it was a life saver moving around the Land and Seas Pavilions since you can’t take a stroller even through the door. I did take the stroller into most QS restaurants, but we usually ate at off times like lunch when it first opened. I did not take it into any TS restaurants.