Do Strollers Really Get Taken?

[hidetherum]

I've heard accounts of strollers being taken whether it be accidentally or not in the parks. I'm kind of concerned because we will be having to park our stroller to ride some of the rides with our 4 year old and our 2 year old.

I'm aware that you can bring your receipt in and get another one if you are renting one of Disney's strollers but I'm concerned about my stuff in the stroller. I won't be leaving any gold bars or anything in there (ha ha ha) but it is OUR stuff!

Any tips?

 

[AZMickeyfans]

We always take a stroller for Ds3. When he was a baby and my daughter was 3 we took 2 strollers. I didnt want to invest in a double because I knew she would be growing out of it quickly so we borrowed my mom's stroller that she had for our kids. We put Disney luggage tags on ours so they can easily be recognized.

We have never had a problem with our stroller being taken. Sometimes CM's move them (Small World!!!) but we always find them. We also leave them for hours at a time if we are touring Fantasy Land and dont want to keep moving the stroller.

I usually carry one camera bag that has our money, passes, keys and cameras in it. This I take with me all the time and never leave it.

If we dont get a locker for the day we always have sweatshirts and the occasional hat that we decided we didnt want to continue wearing. these items are always left in the bottom of the stroller. We haven't had anything taken so far. The stuff that I leave in the bottom can easily be replaced just in case.

 

[tracer]

We have never had a problem with our stroller being taken. Sometimes CM's move them (Small World!!!) but we always find them. We also leave them for hours at a time if we are touring Fantasy Land and dont want to keep moving the stroller.

.

I think that happens to us everytime we are there! We have never had a problem either our strollers being stolen or anything being taken out of them. We leave some snacks and unimportant small things in the basket when we leave them. Luggage tags are a great idea.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Just like AZmickeyfans, we often leave ours parked in one spot and come back hours later! We have never had a single problem, and the only times ours even got moved by CM's is at shows like Playhouse Disney, Aladdin, and sometimes Small World.

We have gone many many times, usually with a friend and we have two doubles and not so much as a baby wipe has been missing. Have we been lucky? Perhaps, but out of all our trips all these years and even before my kids when I was with family that had strollers, nothing has ever happened.

Having said that, I only keep water bottles, capri suns, baby wipes, diapers and sweatshirts in the bottom. My camera stays on me, and money/passes stay in my pockets! If the drinks or diapers and wipes get taken, well then someone needed them more than me and I would head back to the hotel and get more.

I honestly don't think you'll have a problem. I would bet it ranks up there with chances of getting your car stolen. I'm not saying it won't happen, just that chances are slim in a few days that you will be there.

Andrea

 

[munchkinsmom]

If you take your personal stroller, the likelihood of it getting stolen is small. Like other posters have mentioned, Cast Members will probably move it from one spot to another for various reasons.

That being said, I will confess that our Maclaren double stroller was stolen from us at Disneyland Labor Day weekend 2005 (Day One of a multi-day trip to the DLR). As APers, we'd gone to the the DLR many times, taking various strollers without incident, but I guess the odds were not in our favor that time around.

My folks decided to take the kids to "It's a Small World" while DH and I rode Space Mountain. They parked it in the designated stroller parking spot in front of the ride, several rows deep. When they came back, the stroller and items in the basket (which included some jackets and my children's diaper bag) were gone.

We reported it to guest services immediately and stopped by each day to check if it had been recovered, but unfortunately, we never saw our beloved stroller again. We continue take a personal stroller to the DLR (bought the same type that was stolen), but now we lock it each time we leave it. It's probably overkill, but as they say, "Once bitten, twice shy." We don't want to go through that experience again.

It's not my intention to worry anyone about whether their stroller will get stolen and the odds are that it won't, but keep in mind that it does happen.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I've heard more often of things left in the stroller getting taken (an autograph book, purchased souvenirs, jackets.) But even that isn't terribly common, so I think if you're just smart about what you leave in it, you should be fine.

We had a luggage tag on our stroller. Also did not leave anything in it that we'd be very upset to lose. We carried everything with us in a backpack that DH or I wore when we had to leave the stroller. We left sweatshirts (not souvenir ones), water bottles, maybe even some bananas or other snacks. We carried purchases, diapering items, change of clothes for the little ones, wallet, tickets, autograph stuff, etc. Even though the autographs were simple squares of colored cardstock, they would have been difficult to replace, and DS6 would have been upset to lose them.

 

[abby]

When we have rented a stroller we have not had any problems. I take a cheap scarf (got mine at walmart for .99) and tie it to the handle, so we can find it in a sea of rental strollers. I also carry in a backback or fanny pack the money, ticket, camera et al......and do not leave that stuff in a stroller.

 

[kelmac284]

I was VERY lucky in that all the times I took my personal strollers I never had a problem with the stroller OR anything I left in it and I will admit I did leave souveniers and even my video camera ( well concealed of course) but I did leave it a few times underneath stuff so I could ride splash or whatever and didn't want it getting ruined.

Of course after hearing what I have heard I would NEVER do that again and I thank god no one stole anything.

It always amazed me the stuff people would leave in their strollers and no one ever seemed to take it but then on our trip this past veteran's day my daughter left her purse in the basket on Big Thunder Mountain and immediately went back and it was gone. All it had in it was a brush too which was a total bummer and I also dropped my viser and we didn't recover either but while we were at GS someone reported having their stroller stolen and they had their child's medicine and some other valuables. It is really sad to me that people would do this at someplace where people are going to have family time but there is always those bad apples in the bunch.

 

[XTinabell]

I don't have kids so I can't tell you about strollers getting stolen but I do want to say that I'm shocked to hear that there is a problem. My DH and I walked by thousands of strollers lined up outside rides, and we didn't even give them a second glance. I hardly noticed the strollers because I was so frickin thrilled to be where I was I think I was in lala land. Anyway, it is so sad to hear that ppl steal strollers in the land of happiness but I guess it happens everywhere, good lesson for me to remember when I do have kids.
Thanks for posting this question.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I would like to hope that the actual strollers getting taken are by mistake since they look so much alike. Last time in front of Peter Pan we say 4 that were exactly like ours. That is why we use the big, bright yellow luggage tag. The scarf is also a good idea.

Now things taken underneath the stroller are just mean people who don't deserve to enter Disneyland in the first place in my opinion. Who would steal a child's purse! Terrible. DL is one place where I like to escape the realities of the world!!!!

 

[kelmac284]

I would like to hope that the actual strollers getting taken are by mistake since they look so much alike. Last time in front of Peter Pan we say 4 that were exactly like ours. That is why we use the big, bright yellow luggage tag. The scarf is also a good idea.

Now things taken underneath the stroller are just mean people who don't deserve to enter Disneyland in the first place in my opinion. Who would steal a child's purse! Terrible. DL is one place where I like to escape the realities of the world!!!!

Tell me about it. I mean there was nothing in it so we thought that someone might realize that and throw it down or away but NOPE. Plus I dropped my visor which only costs like 5 bucks but it is the kind with the rope thing in the back and they are really hard to find and the ONLY kind I can wear that don't give me a headache. I had it attached to my bag and when I opened my bag at night to take a pic it fell off. I didn't even leave the area and someone picked it up from right where I was standing.

I mean who would even WANT a used hat. That is just gross to me. I mean "I" don't have lice but THEY don't know that. Know what I mean.

Plus I had someone steal my prescription sunglasses for god's sake. I mean come on NO ONE else could wear them but me.

I would bet money too that my visor AND the purse probably got thrown in the trash and although Disney says they go threw the trash I bet they don't.

Oh well it is just frustrating though and if I had lost something REALLY valuable I would have been devestated. I am ALWAYS honest. I found a cell phone in a shopping cart once and returned it. But that is just me I guess.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I think it's safe to say that although rare, it is sad that think that a bit of reality and everyday life must come in to mess with the magic, but that it does happen so everyone should be aware, but not necessarily afraid or paranoid. I am so sorry to those this has happened to. Little things or not, it feels like a violation. I am glad for the most part that these things do not happen.


Andrea

 

[JimmyJackJunior]

Just returned from five days there. We had a collapsable personal stroller. We accidently even left our video camera haning on there for a couple of hours and had no issues. We also had a rented Disney stroller. We lost that one once in five days and the only personal effect we lost was a hair clip. Who knows if it was even stolen or taken on purpose given they all look the same.

 

[nun69]

on the stroller note, does DL rent out double strollers? I need to purchase a double stroller (since I have one 14 months and one on the way) but since I haven't purchased it yet, I was wondering if I could rent one there. Leaves us more room in our van since we will be driving from WA state! Also, do you think it's OK if the 6 yr old rides as well...don't know how tired he may get by the end of the day. thanks!

 

[wendypooh22]

We had an attempted stroller-napping take place right in front of our own eyes! We were sitting waiting for fantasmic and our 2 disneyland strollers were parked 5 feet from us... 2 young boys (maybe 12-13 yo) grabbed them and tried to roll them away to their awaiting family... My sister jumped up and grabbed onto the strollers before they got far and showed them the tag with OUR name on it... They were upset and even argued... How they can claim that the strollers were theirs since we had our own personal tags on them in addition to the paper tag in the top from DL, But they eventually let them go. Some people sitting next to us were kind enough to help her get them to our table..
That was the only negative experience with a stroller... I had brought my personal double stroller many times before and never had a problem with any of our personal items (juice boxes, jackets, tissue etc..) left inside...

 

[familyoffiveAZ]

on the stroller note, does DL rent out double strollers? I need to purchase a double stroller (since I have one 14 months and one on the way) but since I haven't purchased it yet, I was wondering if I could rent one there. Leaves us more room in our van since we will be driving from WA state! Also, do you think it's OK if the 6 yr old rides as well...don't know how tired he may get by the end of the day. thanks!

Not that I'm aware of. We haven't been to DL in over a year, but at that time they didn't rent them.

 

[MATTERHORN]

on the stroller note, does DL rent out double strollers? I need to purchase a double stroller (since I have one 14 months and one on the way) but since I haven't purchased it yet, I was wondering if I could rent one there. Leaves us more room in our van since we will be driving from WA state! Also, do you think it's OK if the 6 yr old rides as well...don't know how tired he may get by the end of the day. thanks!

No they don't have doubles. Not only that but they DO NOT recline. It is not suitable for a newborn at all. I personally wouldnt' even use it for a 1 year old since they could not nap and get comfortable and I like to recline mine and change my kids in the back with a changing pad under them! Much easier, faster and cleanerthan using the restroom ones all the time, especially with you having two in diapers.

Also just for pure comfort level of cushion (there is none) and storage for two little ones (very little storage) I would take your own.

Andrea

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Also, do you think it's OK if the 6 yr old rides as well...don't know how tired he may get by the end of the day.

Whenever DS2 was out of the stroller, DS6 hopped in, even in the morning when he clearly wasn't tired. At first I thought it was odd, but in the evenings when he wasn't tired, I thought he'd been pretty smart.

We did get a few looks from people; I gather it's not as common for older children to ride in a stroller at DL as it is at WDW. But we did see other older children in strollers by the late afternoon and evening, so I don't think it's a big deal.

I say if your DS6 wants to ride in the stroller, let him. If he's too embarrassed to do it in front of his peers or due to odd looks from adults, then don't force the issue. (My DS6 is plenty shy and sensitive, but didn't care about anybody else, he was comfortable.)

 

[MATTERHORN]

Absolutely!! DD6 rides in our double if there is an empty seat and I would never stop her. Their legs are still little for all that walking, I say let him.


Andrea

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Also, do you think it's OK if the 6 yr old rides as well...don't know how tired he may get by the end of the day. thanks!

Dd6 rides in the stroller when ds3 is out as well. In fact we always took 2 strollers (borrowed my mom's lightweight) until this last visit for not only her to ride in when she was tired but for extra storage. We just left in one place for awhile if she found she wasnt tired. Last time I said we weren't bringing 2 because she was big enough not to need one that day. (It was shortened park hours not open til midnight) And we were only there for one day. Dd is also very tall for her age. She is 56 inches tall and just turned 6 so she doesnt really fit in one anymore.

i wouldn't worry about what people think. Sometimes it's nice to give them a break plus they dont get so CRANKY!!!!