Do strollers ever got stolen?

[castleeto]

I go to Disneyland alot and have never heard of a problem with strollers being stolen, but I'm wondering if the same is true of WDW. I have a small stroller that I LOVE. It's lightweight, I can fold or unfold it one-handed, it has a big enough storage basket, and best of all, dd LOVES it too! The only thing is that it wasn't cheap, and I'd hate to lose it. I realize it's always a possibility, but has there been any kind of problem with stroller stealing, especially the expensive ones?

Thanks!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

Sounds like you have a Mclaren like we do. We got ours about 18 months ago after getting tired of lugging our big Graco stroller through the airports. When we lived in CA and went to Disneyland we took a big double jogging stroller with us. My BIL & SIL were visiting with their 2 girls and we had our son and I was worried about it a bit as well. It was pretty new at the time and not cheap. But it was never touched and was fine.

We are going to WDW in about 2 1/2 weeks and are a bit concerned about have our Mclaren stolen. However, I was more paranoid about things getting stolen at Disneyland than I ever have been at WDW. So I don't know what to expect.

I hope someone with some experience will post a reply.

April 1986 - off-site
Sept 2002 - Port Orleans
April 2004 - Disneyland (day trip)
August 2004 - Disneyland (day trip)
March 2005 - Disneyland (day trip)
Sept 2006 - off-site

 

[castleeto]

Yep. Mine's a MacLaren too, and a cute hot pink one, so it's kinda unique.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Sorry... as I do not have any little ones and cannot add much other than:

Would it be ridiculous to bring it to use for the airport, downtown disney, and around the resorts and just rent one in the parks for the day? They used to give multi day discounts for the strollers...

 

[alloyd1170]

Ive had our Mac Quest at WDW twice with no problems. Others have suggested marking yours with something to make it stand out in a crowd of strollers. I use a bright colored bandana, iron on contrasting colored letters spelling out our first name, and using lots of pins, pin it to the sunshade. When I park the stroller, I open the sunshade and can find it easily. I also take some bright colored duct tape and put some pieces along the frame, and stick some labels with my cell # on the frame (somewhat hidden in case I have to prove its mine) as well.

Do be aware that CMs will move your stroller to clear a path. Some people get a bike lock and lock the front wheels making it harder to push for a long distance. Balloons tied to the handle are popular, but I read that balloons arent allowed at AK.

Now I have heard lots of stories about the rental strollers getting taken. In either case, dont leave anything of value in yours. The only thing that I leave in ours are diaper supplies, ponchoes, and the raincover.

alison

 

[Mrs264]

My princess is three. We've had her to Disney at age 6 months, 8 months, 1 yr and 2 yr. All four times we took our stoller from home. Never once have I had a problem with theft (knock on wood) nor has my sister who has been going with one alot longer than I have. You will occasionally find it in a new location because the cast members move them around after shows, etc. I usually tie a bright bow on the handle to make it easier to spot. We leave all of our personal belongings in the stoller too. Maybe we're too trusting...but this is Disney after all.

 

[jands]

We had our stroller taken I'm assuming accidentally as there was a very similar stroller left near where we had parked ours. We had gotten onto the jungle cruise and when we returned our stroller was gone. We came back many times that evening hoping that our stroller would return and every time that other stroller was still there. Checked with guest services and the lost and found department but our stroller was never turned in. Have to say I was disappointed that we weren't offered free stroller rentals for the rest of our trip, but I guess I can understand why they didn't. Was quite a trick getting luggage, carry-ons, diaper bag and a 2 year old to and from the airport without a stroller. Have since made a few trips and had no problems - have our last name in very large letters on the back, and wrap something around the handle.

 

[mom_of_5]

I go to Disneyland alot and have never heard of a problem with strollers being stolen, but I'm wondering if the same is true of WDW. I have a small stroller that I LOVE. It's lightweight, I can fold or unfold it one-handed, it has a big enough storage basket, and best of all, dd LOVES it too! The only thing is that it wasn't cheap, and I'd hate to lose it. I realize it's always a possibility, but has there been any kind of problem with stroller stealing, especially the expensive ones?



Thanks!

Yes they do, it is rare but it happens. My advice make it unappealing by leaving garbage or dirty diaper in basket. Tie a large obnoxious balloon to the handle. Close the wheels so it can not be moved quickly or easily. Park it next to a more expensive stroller. You get the idea.
My Peg Perego is bright pink and expensive as well and I was worried at first but they realized it would be easy to spot since I saw no one else in any park all of 6 days with a pink stroller. Good luck.

 

[mytwotinks]

Sorry... as I do not have any little ones and cannot add much other than:

Would it be ridiculous to bring it to use for the airport, downtown disney, and around the resorts and just rent one in the parks for the day? They used to give multi day discounts for the strollers...

In our case it would be about $100 to rent a stroller for our length of stay. On top of that it is pretty gross to think about what may have happened in the stroller you get. You know diapers leak!

 

[sha_lyn]

most of the time when we here of it here on the DIS it is one of 2 things....

There were items left in the stroller, most often cameras or purchases from the parks
or a similar stroller was left behind

 

[mytwotinks]

I just bought a bright pink Maclaren to take with us this month. I never even worried about my Combi being stollen on our last couple of trips, but thanks to all of these threads now I am concerned!!!! I am going to tie some curly ribbon to the handle of mine. That stuff is pretty hard to break off so somebody would have to work for a while to take it off. I don't think that anyone would walk away with a stroller that had something that made it clear that it was obviously mine and I don't think that someone would take one that they had to "work" to get.

 

[QueenGoblin]

Ours was swiped at WDW just outside the Carrousel in May of 05. It was a very common type ($20 green umbrella stroller sold at every Babies'R Us in the county) so it is very possible someone picked it up by mistake...but someone may have gotten tired of herding his/her own child, and decided to borrow it. It turned up in the Lost and Found a couple of days later, so either the person figured out it wasn't theirs, or decided they didn't need it anymore and abandoned it somewhere.
This is JMHO, but I don't think a stoller being of the "expensive" variety is going to make it more of a target. I would guess that most of the times stroller are stolen it is a case of mistaken identity or convenience for the stroller snatcher. So I think making your stroller stand out with balloons, dirty diapers, bandanas, etc. will cut down on the chances of it being mistaken for someone else's, and also make it a less attractive target for someone who might decide to swipe it for their own use (too obvious.)
Last I heard they had discontinued the length of stay discounted rentals. So if you are thinking renting vs. bringing your own you probably should count up how much it is going to cost you to rent one over your entire stay. You might find you could almost replace your own stroller with what it would cost you to rent one at WDW, espcecially when you figure in the convenience of having a stroller at the resort, DTD or anywhere else you might want to "stroll."

 

[ekball]

Just an idea for another "deterrent"...

My plan is to have a rain cover on the stroller while in the park - folded up onto the shade and out of the way when strolling around, but pulled down over the stroller (loosely) when we park it and go into a ride. I've read this recommendation a number of times on the boards - putting on the rain cover when on rides - because of the frequent rain showers that hit out of nowhere. To me it's a "kill two birds" plan - stroller will stay dry if it rains, and someone will be less inclined to take it with the rain cover on (not as easy to stick kids in and dash away with). I've played with the cover and have found a way to easily fold it up and down without taking it off each time. Hopefully it will work out easily.

 

[brandylouwho]

I agree with the previous posts. It seems much more likely for someone to take your stroller by mistake than for it to be actually stollen. Decorating or marking it/personalizing it should help alleviate that problem. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Could it happen? Yes, but I think the chances are very slim.

 

[Cinderella_68]

We had our nearly-new stroller stolen at Disneyland. It was a good stroller. Out of dozens and dozens of trips since childhood, it happened while we were in HISTA. The CM's were wonderful and even replaced DD's cotton candy that she has finally gotten us to buy, but hadn't tasted, yet, so that we could go to HISTA. We got a free rental and the Lost and Found gave our DD a toy after seeing her tearstained face.
Since then, we always bring a bike lock which is attached to the frame and loops through the wheel, making it impossible to use.
We go through the trouble because I never want to have that horrible feeling of being violated on vacation again. It was a horrible feeling.

 

[Oceana]

We bought a moderately priced double stroller for our upcoming trip. I really stressed over exactly how to keep it safe as $180 for a stroller rental is just not realistic

anyhow I went and got some fabric paint and painted our name on it. It should be fairly obveous it is our stroller!

julie

 

[sha_lyn]

LOL julie, love the smiles for the family

So what type of paint did you end up using?

One suggestion I had for julie but it wouldn't work for her stroller was to print up an iron on Ttshirt transfer with the last name on it using dinsey fonts pics etc

 

[Oceana]

LOL julie, love the smiles for the family

So what type of paint did you end up using?

we used that bubble type paint like people used on T shirts in the 90's (i have a photo up on AM)

It looks way cooler than I ever thought possible

julie

 

[ribbot]

I read on here recently that someone posted about if you had a Disney Visa card, that stroller rental is free. Can anybody verify this? And if not now, can someone that is going to WDW, please check on this at the stroller rental and post back? I'd be very interested in knowing this.

P.S. We had our rental stroller stolen while at Epcot---sure made for a LONG walk back to the front gate with a 4 year old after the show. We had left nothing in it, so that's a good thing. But it's SOOOO aggravating!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I read on here recently that someone posted about if you had a Disney Visa card, that stroller rental is free. Can anybody verify this? And if not now, can someone that is going to WDW, please check on this at the stroller rental and post back? I'd be very interested in knowing this.

P.S. We had our rental stroller stolen while at Epcot---sure made for a LONG walk back to the front gate with a 4 year old after the show. We had left nothing in it, so that's a good thing. But it's SOOOO aggravating!

I remember seeing something about that, but I believe it was Disney Land