has anyone ever had a stroller stolen at Disney?

[QueenGoblin]

Our cheapo Koolcraft umbrella stroller was "borrowed" during our May 2005 trip. It turned up later in the lost and found, so I think someone decided they needed it more than we did that night, but then left it in the park, or someone with the same kind of stroller took it by accident, but realized their mistake after we left the area.
Even though ours turned up, I think I would hesitate to bring my Maclaren to the parks. I love it too much I may just make due with the trusty old Koolcraft again b/c I won't be heartbroken if it disappears.

 

[algg]

Just got back yesterday, had our expensive double stroller, even left diaper bags in bottem and had no problem. If you are worried, look at garage sales for cheap strollers, can get great deals.

 

[cdotla]

Good for you to get your stroller back! I can't believe the nerve of some people! And what kind of example does this teach the kids??? It is not like the stroller was mistaken for theirs or anything!

If I was your husband I would have taken the personal pleasure to confront them myself!

We came out from an early breakfast at Crystal Palace to find our Maclaren gone. A CM took a description and gave me a voucher for a free rental for the day. Whilst I went to collect the rental my husband walked around looking for our stroller, as it was still early and not very busy. He saw a family using it to push their large son around. He told a CM in the area and they approached the family who apologised and gave our stroller to the CM to return to us. We have taken at least one stroller on each vacation to WDW and until that day we'd had no problems, and we've had none since. I'm not willing to risk losing my Bugaboo though, or having it damaged on the plane, so I've just bought a new stroller to take to WDW next month for my DD's 1st birthday. DH and I look forward to the day we can finally do WDW without a stroller

 

[cdotla]

I have a $500 Peg, so I am not totally unsympathetic when I say this. I had the same concerns about our stroller getting stolen.

But honestly? If you are going to be that worried about it, simply buy a cheaper stroller, even a used one just for the trip and resell it.

Do NOT plan on locking up your stroller every time it is parked...which will be a million times a day - LOL! Trust me, it will be such a nuissance to you. There are enough things to worry about with 2 kids (or more) in the park.

 

[Tinkerbell2002]

We had a cheap Kolcraft umbrella type stroller stolen at MGM last July. We have been to Disney 5 trips with a stroller including a double McClaren and this was the only time our stoller was taken.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

We went this April and never had a problem with ours. I was worried about the same thing and it turned out okay. We have the double Dreamer Design ( also on the pricey side ) and I could not have done without it. It allowed us to enjoy some of the parks while our girls slept ( 4 and 2 ) We almost took our regular double stroller ( no jogging tires ) but we would have been wiped out from pushing them so far. Anywhere we left it we just folded it down and put a bungee around it. No biggie.....

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We have never had an issue. Our stroller is on the more expensive side (and I wouldn't leave home without it, though!!!), but I don't worry about it being stolen in WDW any more than anywhere else I might take it and "park" it for a little while. I have also heard that you cannot lock them, as CMs need to be able to move them.

 

[wilderness01]

Yep, we had our stroller stolen at the MK. It was about 8 pm, so my guess is that someone's child was tired and they needed a stroller. We were there for another 11 days and it never turned up in the lost and found. There were also 2 CM's working at the ride that were supposed to be overseeing the area. They said they didn't see a thing!

 

[all4fun]

Well our strollers really haven't been anything all that special but we've never had issues with anyone taking them. They have been moved by the CM's from time to time and we've had to hunt them down but nothing that didn't take more than a minute of looking around for it.

As for the prev posters that have had their strollers taken - the gall of some people. I will just never understand. I wouldn't blame CM's overseeing the area for not noticing though. They can't possibly keep track of which one belongs to what family and if someone nonchalantly walked up and took a stroller they would probably just assume it belonged to them. (not trying to insinuate that the pp did blame them but just an observation).

We actually just bought a new stroller for our next trip as the old one needs to be retired after several trips (we've more than got our money's worth out of it considering what it's saved us in rental fees!). This one is a bit more unique looking so hopefully no one takes a shine too it and decides to "borrow" it or steal it. But I won't be locking it up because as a pp said, that would become a big hassle in a short amount of time. But actually, I'm more worried about the airline damaging it than it being stolen at WDW, to be quite honest.

hth

 

[dcforbreakfast]

Yes, other posters are correct that you cannot lock your stroller to anything.

The CM's need to move them if people park them in the wrong spot (stroller parking usually has a sign, sometimes it is not right at the attraction).

If they are locked and a CM needs to move it, they will cut the lock. You can lock the wheels together, so they can still move it on the back wheels.

Also, as some others have mentioned, the CMs often move the strollers around to make room for more (I'm sure someone on here has a pic of the sea of strollers) so you may need to look around.

This is all a good argument for making your stroller stand out so you can find it.

 

[wilderness01]

As for the prev posters that have had their strollers taken - the gall of some people. I will just never understand. I wouldn't blame CM's overseeing the area for not noticing though. They can't possibly keep track of which one belongs to what family and if someone nonchalantly walked up and took a stroller they would probably just assume it belonged to them. (not trying to insinuate that the pp did blame them but just an observation).

I agree, but in the heat of the moment, on the first day of your trip, with a tired, crying 3 year old, it is hard not to blame the two CM's standing there. We were frustrated that we were now out our stroller and they were seriously confused on if they could help us. How about going and getting us a rent a stroller? I didn't think that was too much to ask for. Our kid was heavy, we had two other small kids with us, they were all crying, it was hot and now we had no place to put him. I suggested that they call a manager, and after a lot of time had passed, they did. The manager immediately gave us a slip to go back to the front of the park to get a stroller for the rest of the night. He actually offered to go have one of the CM's get it for us, but we went ourselves since we were going that way. Now looking back I can be calm, but believe me, at the moment I was anything but. This little theft cost me not only aggravation and time, but $75. I went to go buy another stroller at Walmart. The road was closed, I can't remember why, and I only knew one way to get there that the hotel gave me. I instead stopped at a Carter's outlet that I accidently found. They had umbrella strollers for a mere $35, if you spent $40 in clothes. So there I was buying $40 in socks, underwear, etc. because I couldn't find anything I liked. It was at the end of the summer so the selection was slim. I remember thinking "what a rip off, a $75 cheap umbrella stroller!" Again, looking back, this wasn't that big of a deal. But at the time, it was. The kids wanted to go to the parks that next am but we couldn't without a stroller. Our youngest hated the rent a strollers and cried his head off so I had no choice but to go either get another stroller or take him back to the park and let him cry it out in a rented one. Rented by us now, because Disney said they could only "give" us the one for the rest of the day/night the day before when the theft occurred. We didn't want him to cry it out on vacation. Different story if we were at home and he was getting used to something new. It would have been cruel at "The Happiest Place on Earth!" It would have ruined it for the rest of the kids as well. It just wasn't a good situation because someone else was selfish and took the stroller that we bought.

 

[Colinsmom]

Here's a tip if you suddenly find yourself stroller-less mid-trip:

Go to the bellhops at your hotel and be VERY nice but very pitiful. You'll probably leave with a stroller (not a fancy one, but functional) to use for the rest of your trip.

When DS was 2yo, we flew with a gate-checked Peg Perego P3. American failed to put it on the plane, and then it took two days to catch up with us. American gave us a cheap loaner umbrella that barely pushed with DS's 35lbs in it. We appealled to the bellhops at AKL and they took me back into the luggage area. They had a number of (again, older but functional) strollers to pick from that they said that people would just leave behind in the rooms, and let us use one until we had our stroller back in hand.

Of course, they may just give you directions to Wal-Mart, but it is worth a try!

 

[disneyfan551]

It may look silly, but I wrap metallic wire/garland (purple w/stars) around the frame of the stroller. It would take a while for a thief to get it off, and I would guess they'd be in a hurry if they were stealing a stroller! I have a new Mac I'm taking in Sept., and I pray it will be ok!

 

[firsttimermd]

I read a funny idea the other day. The poster suggested making a "decoy" dirty diaper and placing it on top of the stroller and perhaps one in the seat as a deterrent. If nothing else it gave me a giggle thinking about sitting there figuring out what to mix to make the nicest brown color possible to place in the decoy. Their thought was that if there was a stroller without a poopy diaper nearby, perhaps they would choose that instead. Not great for the other person, but every man for himself I guess.

Hopefully, none of us will have to deal with it. I do like the idea of making it as unique as possible before going with stickers or garland or whatever. I'm figuring no one would want my dirty, bent stroller anyway, but with an older child getting hot and tired and grumpy, who knows if someone might decide they really need one. Ugh--even at the happiest place on earth we can't escape peoples' selfishness. Thankfully most people are good, honest folks.

Take care!!

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I read that too-in the UG. Took a diaper, DH poured root beer on it, put it in a clear plastic bag and tied it to the handle of their stroller.

I start laughing just thinking about it!

I plan to check out Home Depot and getting those neon colored strips they tie to mark off property or tie to stakes. Or using the grip tape you can buy at a sporting good store in bright colors and wrapping around handle, frame, etc. And attaching my name address and ph to my stroller.
I also plan to do something a little similar to our rental car so its not too hard to pick out in the parking lots (tie strips to antenna, get DIS antenna topper, ribbons to door handles- something)

I read about various ideas in books and on here and plan to put them into affect on our first "stroller" vacation. Those plastic ones look awfully uncomfortable for a little one.

 

[luvmysoxfan]

i was just coming to post this very question, and found your thread!

i can't decide weather to take my fav Maclarean & risk it being stolen or my good, big basket graco & risk the airlines ruining it? hmmm...

i just can't stand those cheapie ones, and i agree, the plastic ones don't look too comfy for dd...


wilderness01: i agree also, as a former cm, when you're in rotation for 'stroller duty', you generally are also greeter & line/queue organizer, it's a tough job sometimes! i can see where a cm wouldn't recognize if a stroller is being stolen or mistakenly swapped simply by being busy.
it sure does stink that either of those cm's didn't jump right up and go get a new one for you though...i'm sorry to hear that. aknowledgement and service recovery are so important. i hope to make up for it something extra magical happens on your next trip.

 

[lolafrances]

When we took DS1 last year we went to Babies R Us to buy a cheap umbrella stroller to take instead of our Peg Perego. We ended up buying a Maclaren and loved it so much that we use that stroller exclusively in everyday life at home! We now have two boys and we even bought the double Maclaren to use everyday as well. (I have way too many strollers, basically - not to mention my BOB for jogging)
For our upcoming trip we are going to take DS2 in the Maclaren again and DS11m in the Baby Bjorn. The double stroller is just too much of a pain to drag along.
Tying a string or something to your stroller is a great idea... I want to believe that most stroller thefts are mere accidents!