I just got back and I have a comment about strollers

[RubySlippers]

We just got back from a 10 day trip. We go to WDW at least once a year and most of the time we use WDW transportation while we are there. Our son is to old now for a stroller but This trip we saw a huge increase in the amount of strollers people were bringing on the buses,monorails and boats.

I know that Disney raised the prices of strollers and now sells strollers that are cheaper than renting for most people but I don't think the powers that be thought of the huge impact this would have on the transportation department. On one bus to MK I counted 15 strollers. They take up a lot of space on the bus and are cumbersome and really there is no place to put them on a crowded bus that is leaving a park at closing. I saw one fall over and land on a small child in the seat next to it. She was bleeding from a small cut on her face because of it. Disney really needs to make renting strollers an affordable option for famlies again.

Ruby

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

That's a very valid point. You should email Disney and let them know of your observations.

Hang on while I hunt for the email address..

Here's the snail mail address:
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10,040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

OK, so "search" is not working for me today. I'm sure someone else knows the email address by heart. I would definitely write them - they should know that the price increase is not only affecting families with children who pay for the rentals, but other guests as well.

 

[starbox]

ITA - you know there's a problem when it's cheaper to rent a car than it is to rent a stroller. IMHO, it should be a perk for onsite guests - which would free up the busses.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We've had annual passes the past year (first time because we lived in PA before) and I can tell you that we are there different days, different times of day, sometimes use Disney transportation, sometimes stay overnight at a resort on property, and the increase in strollers has been amazing! Lots of people bring their own that "fold up" but they really aren't small or lightweight. I've seen parents struggle to hold or carry babies and toddlers while the other one struggles to get on the bus/boat with the big heavy folded up stroller. Not for me I can tell you. Our boys were past the stroller stage when we first started our Disney vacations and boy am I glad. We've even seen people with triple strollers (obviously ones they brought with them) and I have to wonder what they do with 3 kids, a large stroller, and two parents. ;-)

 

[Feralpeg]

Disney outsourced stroller rental. This is the trend of the future with Disney. I think it will take more than crowded buses to get them to take it back.

I have also seen a huge increase in the number of private strollers. There are many more at DTD. I really hate them in the stores.

 

[kaffinito]

Disney outsourced stroller rental. This is the trend of the future with Disney. I think it will take more than crowded buses to get them to take it back.

I have also seen a huge increase in the number of private strollers. There are many more at DTD. I really hate them in the stores.

I'm sorry, I must have missed this last year. You say they are bringing strollers into the stores?

 

[mickaholic4077]

The first time that there is a major accident with the strollers,Disney will argue they aren't responsible because they don't own the stroller concession anymore and you will have to deal with the company who runs it.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I agree....email them!

 

[KTMEMOMMY]

Sorry to hijack...but what's the cost to rent for a week?

Thanks...Lisa

 

[disnut8]

IMHO, it should be a perk for onsite guests - which would free up the busses.

Disney transportation is available for everyone, not just on site guests.

I don't have kids anymore, just one grandchild who would need a stroller (he's two). My son would bring the same simple umbrella stroller that I bought specifically for Disney World for his big sister five years ago.

The thing I see as a person who just observes is that yes, people are bringing their own strollers. But the big ones they use at home. I know - the kids are used to them. But some of these things are just down right huge! I guess I've never seen the point of having something that is the size of a small car to push your child around in.

 

[photobob]

When my daughter was four on our first trip we used the umbrella type stroller that would fold up pretty small and not take up that much room. I tend to agree about the enormous strollers particularly when they are used in stores, come on people. I do remember one time at MGM(it was still MGM then) two women pushing the double strollers walking side by side cutting a swath 10 feet wide (ok it was probably eight but you get the point) and wondering aloud why people kept getting in THEIR way!

 

[safetymom]

I don't think all those personal strollers were from the price increase of the park rentals. I wonder how many people even knew there was a price increase until they got to WDW.

 

[karensi]

Disney transportation is available for everyone, not just on site guests.

I don't have kids anymore, just one grandchild who would need a stroller (he's two). My son would bring the same simple umbrella stroller that I bought specifically for Disney World for his big sister five years ago.

The thing I see as a person who just observes is that yes, people are bringing their own strollers. But the big ones they use at home. I know - the kids are used to them. But some of these things are just down right huge! I guess I've never seen the point of having something that is the size of a small car to push your child around in.

As a grandmother who recently bought a double Peg Perego for my DGS's, for our recent trip to WDW, I believe I can tell you why some people decide to bring strollers that are larger than the umbrella strollers. We (DD and I) decided on the double Peg Perego because both of the seats reclined allowing either both or one of the children to sleep comfortably when they were tired. This was great if we were in the parks or even a restaurant, and one of the kids was tired. Also, this stroller had the room we needed in an underneath basket to hold a diaper bag, sweat shirts, change of clothing,packages,etc. There was also a front tray for each child, so that eating snacks was no problem. We needed the double, and also a single (which also was not an umbrella stroller), as DGS's are 4 yo,2 yo and 6 months.

I guess everyone does what works best for them.

Just my opinion, but I can tell you, we were very happy to have this stroller with us, even though, it was not as small as an umbrella stroller.

We stayed off site and never used the bus system. Possibly, if we had to fold it up for the busses we might have re thought this stroller. But for our needs, it was perfect.

 

[RubySlippers]

OP here....I just want to be very clear... I am not saying anything against people who bring strollers. I understand the need. What I am saying is that MORE people are bringing them IMHO because of the crazy cost that Disney is charging to rent them! and I don't believe anyone thought about the impact that would have on the transportation system.

Ruby

 

[Feralpeg]

I'm sorry, I must have missed this last year. You say they are bringing strollers into the stores?

Yes, they are. I do a lot of shopping at World of Disney. Lately, I've seen a huge increase in strollers inside the store. It really makes it difficult to get around in the store when strollers are blocking all of the lanes.

 

[lrab1126]

we noticed last week a HUGE increase in people with strollers. We also noticed many who actually thought they did not need to collapse them to get on the buses and boats!!! This caused huge delays and on the buses it was truly unsafe. People did not secure them or handle them on the buses with care. We saw a young girl get whacked pretty hard with a falling stroller when the bus was moving. I understand the need now to bring your own b/c of the cost, but I really wish there was signage everywhere at transportation depots that spelled out the need for people to collapse them and use caution. I was hit with more strollers on the monorail last week, i have 2 bruises on my legs from stroller attacks lol We opted to rent despite the increase.

One other thing about strollers...specific to stroller parking...they need to figue out a new parking area for fantasy land near peter pan...it bottle neck's there big time b/c of the totally chaotic stroller parking.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I think the increase in the stroller rentals have caused more people to bring their own stroller. We go about 3-4 times a year and have never seen more then one or 2 strollers on a bus.

We are taking our niece in January and she will have just turned 6, DH said no way jose are we renting a stroller...she can hoof it!

 

[Schmeck]

The old rental strollers were never really well designed for the smaller guests at WDW anyways, so the big honkin' strollers from home have always been there, as babies and toddlers (under age 2) needed the support. But I can see people bringing the big honkin' ones for their older toddlers now, to hang all the crap that they bring with them as well.

Are people getting upset when others pass them and get on the bus because no one feels like waiting for them to unload the strollers, hold the kids, and then collapse the strollers as the bus is loading?

 

[maxiesmom]

I've only been back one week, and I didn't notice any increase in strollers on the busses. And I was looking for them too.

 

[jfulcer]

we noticed last week a HUGE increase in people with strollers. We also noticed many who actually thought they did not need to collapse them to get on the buses and boats!!! This caused huge delays and on the buses it was truly unsafe.

We were there in April when the price increase hadn't really been around too long. We had brought ours as a backup for when DD gets tired. One night we're all standing in line at the MK to get on the bus to go back to the resort and the bus driver was loading in a ECV. While he was doing it this lady comes up and starts to push her stroller up the ramp and he waves her to stop and finishes up. He then proceeded to try to explain to her that she needed to fold up the stroller and a parent would have to carry the sleeping child. Much back and forth later, she disgustedly went back to DH in the back of the line and made him pick up the child. She was quite unhappy.

As we were loading into the bus then, the driver presses a button on the dash that then spews out a recording saying that for the safety of all guests, strollers and wheelchairs would need to be folded up/etc. I've never, ever heard them play that before. Maybe it was added in anticipation of the new cost increase.

Needless to say, the stroller we brought broke in Morocco halfway through the trip and DD hoofed it the rest of the trip. We were so proud of her.

She was happy that the stroller got to go to stroller heaven in the happiest place on earth.