I am going to vent; please bear with me

[Judy from Boise]

I have been going to DL since 1965. The use of strollers has exploded through the years. Toddlers and babies needs strollers, I get it. But I do feel that strollers as overused to haul stuff, enable commando touring, and because frankly children are out of shape.
Strollers have also become mini SUVs, or even Hummers ! The number of strollers in the parks has degraded the experience in my eyes.

But that is my personal feelings and generalizations. It is not a judgement on any specific stroller user. It is not meant to challenge your right to use a stroller. Not meant to start a debate. Just my honest thoughts.

 

[Judy from Boise]

PS, maybe to really start a debate I should admit I don't like when people reclines their seats in the plane either !

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

PS, maybe to really start a debate I should admit I don't like when people reclines their seats in the plane either !

Well really..who does? LOL

 

[MrsMears]

I have been going to DL since 1965. The use of strollers has exploded through the years. Toddlers and babies needs strollers, I get it. But I do feel that strollers as overused to haul stuff, enable commando touring, and because frankly children are out of shape.
Strollers have also become mini SUVs, or even Hummers ! The number of strollers in the parks has degraded the experience in my eyes.

But that is my personal feelings and generalizations. It is not a judgement on any specific stroller user. It is not meant to challenge your right to use a stroller. Not meant to start a debate. Just my honest thoughts.

I agree with you 100%. My pet peeve are the side by side strollers. They are a newer invention and the park wasn't built thinking that people or families would be taking up that much of a footprint!!! As a society, we really don't need to be jumping on the bandwagon supporting every new invention that someone happens develop promoting laziness. I'm waiting for the strollers the size of play pens with adjustable leashes attached for when you let the little one out of the cage.

 

[Mugglemama]

it helps families and it's a whole lot better than 1000000000 toddlers getting loose. Oh man could you imagine?!

I noticed SOOOOO many barely-able-to-walk toddlers running loose on our 8 days in the parks from early to mid May.

We stopped using a stroller at DLR when our youngest was 3 (and that's the oldest age any of our kids have been in strollers at DLR...), but we also held their hands in the parks at all times when walking through crowds once we stopped taking strollers.

I really can't even tell you how many little babies me, or members of my family, came very close to tripping over or stepping on during our most recent visit. I would guess most of them were in the 12-16 month range (like I said, barely walking). I would gladly deal with the stroller-pushers if it meant those little bitty babies were not being allowed to run into crowds where they could be trampled.

If people are going to insist their tiny babies walk through the parks...at least keep them safe (not to mention the people trying to avoid tripping over/stepping on them can easily get hurt in the process). Sheesh.

 

[mikana876]

What a weird and petty debate. Strollers? Really?

Anybody who is adamantly against strollers is weird. Sorry. But true.

My 3 year old often takes naps in his stroller if we are out and about. There are only two things that lull my child to sleep and that's cars and strollers (so basically motion). When he was a baby, the baby swings were a godsend.

This is my vacation. I want it to be relaxing. Having a stroller available to hold all my child's medications while also giving him a nice place to nap makes my vacation pleasant. If you and your family had a good vacation with young children and no stroller, that's great! I'm happy that worked for you. But that sounds awful to me and it's not how I want to spend my vacation.

I have also never hit somebody with a stroller, nor have I ever been hit with a stroller.

In summary; if somebody wants to give this single mommy a dirty look while her 3 year old naps in his umbrella stroller, go right ahead! I'll be too busy having a wonderful time in one of my favorite places on earth to care! And if I did notice, I'd probably just feel bad for you, being grumpy is an awful way to spend your time at Disneyland!

 

[Judy from Boise]

guess that put me in my place....I am weird and petty. Oh well.

here at the DIS we are comfortable with differing opinions that do not require anyone's character to be called into question.

 

[CamoMama]

You know what is worse than strollers? Groups of people who stop in the middle of the walkway and pull out their map, blocking the rest of traffic.

THIS! I was at DL Sunday Monday and Tuesday and this was the biggest problem that I faced. Groups of 5-10 people stopped in the middle of the walkway, practically lined up across it so no one can get by. Also people in large groups who walk side by side, so people going in the opposite direction are stopped dead in their tracks and get run over. I had this happen several times this weekend. Yes, I was alone, so it was easier for me to move around most of the time, and I always kept to the side when walking through groups, but I found many times that large groups would walk straight at me when I was pressed against the wall with nowhere to go and give me a dirty look when I couldn't get out of their way. If they just step behind the person next to them rather than NEEDING to walk side by side holding hands the whole time, we would all have plenty of room.

I have as yet not been run into by a stroller or an ECV, just large families who insist on taking up the entire walkway.

 

[pixiewings71]

What a weird and petty debate. Strollers? Really?

Anybody who is adamantly against strollers is weird. Sorry. But true.

My 3 year old often takes naps in his stroller if we are out and about. There are only two things that lull my child to sleep and that's cars and strollers (so basically motion). When he was a baby, the baby swings were a godsend.

This is my vacation. I want it to be relaxing. Having a stroller available to hold all my child's medications while also giving him a nice place to nap makes my vacation pleasant. If you and your family had a good vacation with young children and no stroller, that's great! I'm happy that worked for you. But that sounds awful to me and it's not how I want to spend my vacation.

I have also never hit somebody with a stroller, nor have I ever been hit with a stroller.

In summary; if somebody wants to give this single mommy a dirty look while her 3 year old naps in his umbrella stroller, go right ahead! I'll be too busy having a wonderful time in one of my favorite places on earth to care! And if I did notice, I'd probably just feel bad for you, being grumpy is an awful way to spend your time at Disneyland!

Then you are lucky, because it does cause cuts and bruises when it happens. Weird and petty....hmmmm As for being adamant about no strollers, I'm not, not at all. In fact I adore watching littles sleep in their strollers but I do NOT appreciate being run into and then given the evil eye as if I'm somehow to blame that the 100 people in front of me stopped with no warning. I'm sure as heck not going to give anyone the evil eye for using a stroller, as long as they aren't using it as a battering ram. To be honest, I don't even notice one until it hits me in the ankles or runs over my foot and it sure as heck isn't going to make me grumpy until I am rammed or run over.

THIS! I was at DL Sunday Monday and Tuesday and this was the biggest problem that I faced. Groups of 5-10 people stopped in the middle of the walkway, practically lined up across it so no one can get by. Also people in large groups who walk side by side, so people going in the opposite direction are stopped dead in their tracks and get run over. I had this happen several times this weekend. Yes, I was alone, so it was easier for me to move around most of the time, and I always kept to the side when walking through groups, but I found many times that large groups would walk straight at me when I was pressed against the wall with nowhere to go and give me a dirty look when I couldn't get out of their way. If they just step behind the person next to them rather than NEEDING to walk side by side holding hands the whole time, we would all have plenty of room.

I have as yet not been run into by a stroller or an ECV, just large families who insist on taking up the entire walkway.

The big group thing happens to us all the time, and we are a family of 4. We usually walk 2 and 2, the girls in front of us but there are times we go to single file and even then we get the dirty looks. It's lame. LOL

 

[starshine514]

I don't think most of us would be debating this if everyone was careful and considerate. I think the big problem is that when people with strollers (or wheelchairs or ECVs) are not careful or considerate, other people can get hurt a lot more easily than when a person walking isn't, and they get in the way more than a single walking person.

The parks are expanding, crowds are larger, hours are longer and families end up spending more hours/day in the parks in order to experience everything. Should we be wanting to experience everything? Those Disney planning DVDs sure make us feel like we should, as does the price that people pay for admission.

Strollers allow families to experience more during their vacation by allowing young children to stay in the parks longer and be less grumpy. I'm guessing we'll continue to see more strollers in the park, regardless of the discussion here.

 

[Teki]

Decided to share my two best stroller stories.

on my fiances first trip to DLR we were attempting to leave after the fireworks show. Ourselves along with most of the crowd were heading toward the front gates, mean while a man pushing his stroller toward DFi was coming the opposite direction of the crowd while facing behind him in an effort to communicate something to his wife. The stroller almost rammed in to DFi, who in a split second decsion knowing he was going to fall either way threw him self to the left to land on a middle aged woman rather then on a the sleeping toddler. The women thought he was trying to push ahead proceeded to cuss him out. He apologized and we shuffled away from the situation as quickly as possible. Now the Dad never realized what had happened and afterwords I wasn't angry because he bumped us, or because he had the nerve to have a toddler in a stroller (toddlers in strollers are fine by me). I was mad because while walking in a crowd he wasn't paying attention to where he was going.

I don't think its the stroller people should be upset with I think its the user. I have had just as many people at DLR walk right in to me, push there way between me and a display I'm looking at, sit way to close to me during a show, and be generally inconsiderate with out strollers as I have with. People not paying attention causes more accidents then the strollers them selves.
The Bottom line is people need to be courteous to others so that we can all enjoy our time in the parks. That goes for people on foot, in groups, in electric wheel chairs, pushing strollers, holding children, parenting children etc. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

On a lighter note when my baby sis was a year old we took her to Disney in a stroller (hit no one and were hit by no one, its the user not the stroller also we never brought a bus sized stroller always the small one) we were waiting in line at a souvenir store when my 11 year old self looked down and noticed my baby sis waving a 100 bill around. I took it from her and tapped the lady in front of us on the shoulder asked her if she dropped it and she had it was apparently her "getting home money" and she was very pleased to not have lost it.It had fallen out of her wallet when she had gotten her money out to pay and landed in the stroller. So yay for a stroller that day

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't think most of us would be debating this if everyone was careful and considerate. I think the big problem is that when people with strollers (or wheelchairs or ECVs) are not careful or considerate, other people can get hurt a lot more easily than when a person walking isn't, and they get in the way more than a single walking person.

The parks are expanding, crowds are larger, hours are longer and families end up spending more hours/day in the parks in order to experience everything. Should we be wanting to experience everything? Those Disney planning DVDs sure make us feel like we should, as does the price that people pay for admission.

Strollers allow families to experience more during their vacation by allowing young children to stay in the parks longer and be less grumpy. I'm guessing we'll continue to see more strollers in the park, regardless of the discussion here.

This exactly....and it goes BOTH ways, people walking need to be considerate as well.

 

[chrissiecutie]

Ok- maybe I'm the minority here but if you intentionally jump in front of my stroller or my sister's wheelchair & are accidentally hit because of your own actions.....well that's your problem.

Yes, I know sometimes it can't be avoided or you get pushed in front etc. But if someone intentionally leaps in front of me in an effort to get somewhere faster- do they not deserve to suffer the consequences??

And yes- of course I would never want to run you over or injure you. And of course I apologize if it's my fault. But what Im saying is that there are folks out there who view strollers & wheelchairs as "obsticals" in their way....

 

[wvnative]

I have nothing against strollers. If your family needs one, then you need one. I get it. However, I have never run into a stroller even on accident and when pushing one you need to pay attention and heed the fact that it does not give you the right of way. Everyone else in the park paid to be there as well.

As someone else said, I generally don't even notice strollers until they hit me. I cannot go faster than the folks in front of me and hitting the back of my legs/feet will not make me, or the hundreds of people in front of me, go any faster. Once, ok. Twice, maybe. Anymore than that qualifies as lazy and inconsiderate.

Of course, I also avoid Fantasyland, parades, fireworks and F most of the time so as not to have to worry about the strollers.

And Ugh! Don't even get me started on people who stop in the middle of the walkway. I generally make a comment about them not being the only ones in the park/store/mall as I walk around them.

On our way out of the park on our last day in March, there was a woman letting her daughter (8-10) push the stroller. As we walked by, the mom said "OK. but if you run into anyone I'm taking it away." lol, Go Mom!

It's all about being courteous to those around you. Oh and IMO the parks are not just geared towards kids, but to the child in all of us.

 

[Corpsebride]

Well, I have no kids. It is obvious that stroller pushers need to be as courteous as those of us who don't use them. And the ECV and wheel chair users, come on, if you cut someone using an assistance vehicle, your a jerk. Assuming that someone is lazy or too fat or what ever.... that is just terrible. If one has the guts to think that way, then by all means, stop said person and ask them why they are using it.
Now, my only 2 complaints are this:
Letting children push strollers, especially when they are too short to see over the top of the stroller. I have been tripped and almost tripped quite a few times, and never had the parent stop the kiddo , nor apologize to me.
and my other complaint is kids swinging for the fences with the swords, guns and Light Sabers. I have been smacked in the face, an arm and leg and back, all separate times. and unfortunately not once did a parent say they were sorry. Just buy that stuff on the way out. I get it, If you buy them the toy now, they want to take it out of the package and play with it. I don't know what Disneyland was thinking. And I would prefer , if , when I am in line and you are holding Sonny boy , that he doesn't lean over your shoulder pointing his gun 2" from my face. Just not nice.
Other than that, stroller away. If I had kids, I would want them to have a place to sit, relax, nap, and carry the ton of stuff that comes with kids.
I must say, this has been a neat thread, and no one was nasty . Yay Disney Spirit!

 

[chrissiecutie]

I too agree that stroller use has exploded through the years- as has wheelchair use. As a sister with cerebral palsy- I've been touring Disney with strollers (she used one until she was literally too big & switched to wheelchairs) and wheelchairs my entire life...even though I'm not the one actually using them. More recently, my son was hit by a car and broke his back. He's healed and doing much better but his stamina is no where near it once was....so chances are on our next trip to DL, I will be rocking the giant sized jogging stroller.

What I've learned is that you never really know why the person needs/wants to use a stroller or wheelchair and it's really not your place to ask or judge. Though it may be difficult to bite your tongue with a group of teenagers uses the wheelchair rentals as a way to cut in line....

As a lifelong Disney stroller/wheelchair traveller, I can say that we have always been super careful of others. BUT others have not always been super careful of us. An electric wheelchair is very difficult to navigate in a crowded park and with the explosion of people using them, it's become even more difficult. I think most people who use strollers & wheelchairs will tell you that causing bodily harm to others is the last thing on their mind while visiting Disney.

It all comes down to common courtesy. Treat others the way you wish to be treated....and try not to wait until your kiddo makes my ankles bleed before deciding that he shouldn't be in charge of pushing the stroller.

 

[CheshireGato]

my other complaint is kids swinging for the fences with the swords, guns and Light Sabers. I have been smacked in the face, an arm and leg and back, all separate times. and unfortunately not once did a parent say they were sorry. Just buy that stuff on the way out. I get it, If you buy them the toy now, they want to take it out of the package and play with it. I don't know what Disneyland was thinking. And I would prefer , if , when I am in line and you are holding Sonny boy , that he doesn't lean over your shoulder pointing his gun 2" from my face. Just not nice.

Totally agree!! Never been hit with a stroller, but I must have sword/gun/light saber targets all over my body. Or maybe I just look like an easy kill for kids
Not once have I had parents apologize to me either.. Kind of bums me out.
But putting that aside, as long as the ride doesn't break down while I'm waiting in line, I'm still happy