Fantasmic with a stroller questions

[DSNY4ever]

Hi, overplanner here . So we have done Fantasmic before (but never with a child) and from what I remember you parked the strollers down by the line for entering the theater- is that right? And then how do you get back to get your stroller and exit the park? We are going on a night that by the time Fantasmic lets out the park will be closed, and from what I remember last time (5 years ago), they opened up some back door and led everyone out through there so we didn't pass back through the stroller area.

Do people with strollers have to have someone try to back track through the crowd to retrieve the stroller...and is it a mess trying to find yours? Or how does this work?

 

[angelmom27]

The personal strollers are stored in the same area. As for the park strollers you drop off take all your stuff and then when you leave you grab a stroller and go. You would have to go with the crowd and get back to the same area to find your personal stroller.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Yes, we will have our personal stroller. So I guess that guarantees the back of the pack for the shuttle line. I guess we'll have one of us go retrieve the stroller and the other will just carry DS out and try to find each other outside. I am not sure which job sounds worse?

 

[Lilliputian]

Just stay together. Getting out of Fantasmic is always a zoo, and if you go together, you can put him in the stroller as soon as you get to it. They may not even open an alternate exit anyway.

If you do try to take 2 separate exits, there's very little chance that it will go well. It would take you forever to find each other. We always have my husband stay with the children at the entrance to the stroller area while I go find the stroller. I deliver the stroller, we put the appropriate children in the stroller, and we all leave together. Even then, it's hard to stay together in the massive sea of people. We all hold on to each other or the stroller.

 

[acceber32]

I second what ^^^^ PP said. Stay together. Its a zoo of people. The last time we went we took our big stroller and while it took extra time to get it, it wasn't too bad. And we were not the last to leave or catch a bus. They did not open an extra exit either. There is no need to rush. We took our time, got our stroller, went to the bathroom and then went out to catch a bus. We did have to wait but it wasn't anything worse than any other time.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Yes, I remember it being a complete zoo every time, that is why I thought maybe splitting up would make it faster and we could call each other..? But I will trust your guys advice and stick together, that is true that they might not open that back exit out of the park too. I remember back long ago in the dark ages before cell phones, my husband and I used walkie talkies at Disneyland once

 

[Paradise18]

If I can offer a suggestion I would tie a balloon or a glow stick to your stroller. We used a balloon once and I was able to locate our stroller very quickly in the dark.

 

[brockash]

I would just park your stroller across from Tower or Terror, next to the bathrooms (where you would normally park it for ToT). We've done Fantasmic! for years, and after our first experience, we started doing this with the stroller and I think it works better. We just follow the crowd of ppl. out, but we don't have to stop at the overcrowded stroller parking area. Once we're out of the Fantasmic! area, there's usually no one around and we just grab our stroller and go. If you're going to have to go out the regular way anyways, I'd certainly do this and avoid the crazy stroller parking at Fantasmic!

 

[DSNY4ever]

I would just park your stroller across from Tower or Terror, next to the bathrooms (where you would normally park it for ToT). We've done Fantasmic! for years, and after our first experience, we started doing this with the stroller and I think it works better. We just follow the crowd of ppl. out, but we don't have to stop at the overcrowded stroller parking area. Once we're out of the Fantasmic! area, there's usually no one around and we just grab our stroller and go. If you're going to have to go out the regular way anyways, I'd certainly do this and avoid the crazy stroller parking at Fantasmic!

Good tip thanks. I am debating the balloon idea, but we are doing a split stay at AoA and AKL, so we'd have to get rid of it half way through the trip- and is it a pain to take on the shuttles? I don't ever remember balloons on crowded shuttle rides, haha.

 

[angelmom27]

I would just park your stroller across from Tower or Terror, next to the bathrooms (where you would normally park it for ToT). We've done Fantasmic! for years, and after our first experience, we started doing this with the stroller and I think it works better. We just follow the crowd of ppl. out, but we don't have to stop at the overcrowded stroller parking area. Once we're out of the Fantasmic! area, there's usually no one around and we just grab our stroller and go. If you're going to have to go out the regular way anyways, I'd certainly do this and avoid the crazy stroller parking at Fantasmic!

I was thinking the same thing but wasn't sure if they would move it. Good to know its a good option. If we do DHS is May I will use this option.

 

[rachael95]

It doesn't have to be a giant balloon, you could also use one of those mini-balloons on-a-stick you see at the check out line at Walmart periodically. Or a pin wheel. Or really anything that breaks up the typical outline.

I bought a $2 lantern that has an LED light to hang on our stroller. Glow sticks wrapped around the handle work as well. I've also heard of people using battery powered Christmas lights.

Just something that a typical person wouldn't have on their stroller to mark yours out from the other sea of typical strollers.

For the day-time, use a loud-patterned bandana or ribbon. Just like you would tie something on your luggage at the airport.

You can also make a sign (search the web for pre-made graphics) that says the stroller belongs to your family and laminate it.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Thanks, I like the pinwheel idea. My son loves pinwheels! Although I WISH we had a city mini because I love them so much, we have a unique bright blue less exciting stroller that I don't see many other people with very often. Hopefully that will help too.