In defense of stroller pushers

[WIcruizer]

I should also point out that as a family we have been pushed, poked, prodded, and otherwise rudely been treated in countless ways at WDW. Strollers are just a small part of that.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

That's a whole lotta stuff!

My family does not require that much junk. I'm sure you could cut back if you tried.

What can she cut back on? I know when I had an infant, a 4 & a 6 yr old, I carried all that... had no choice... what do you leave out? I now have 13, 17 & 19 and guess what we carry sometimes... Purell, camera (2 of them now regular & digital), snacks, water bottle, sun screen, Tylenol, cell phones (one each) poncho or jacket depending on the time of year & if we plan on going on one of the water rides ... a change of clothes. Difference now is we have to carry it instead of putting in on or in the stroller. We each carry a back-pack &/or fanny pack. If we are only going to the parks for a few hours (1 or 2), we only take a water bottle (clip on us), tie jackets around our waist & then we don't have a bag that needs to be checked. We cram what we can in our pockets cell phone, pass, small travel size sunscreen & some Tylenol wrapped up tissue...we leave the camera's & snacks at the room.

 

[pennylynn]

Having been to Disney many times without children it was a revelation to me when I went with my neice, her husband and three little boys. The strollers were wonderful. We knew where the kids were all the time and when they got tired they took turns riding in the stroller. That said I'm reminded of the time that I saw a stroller put to the maximun use. We were in line for the bus after a late night at Epcot. The couple ahead of us had a stroller with (I thought) two little ones. But when they started to unload the stroller to get on the bus, lo and behold, there were four little ones. One on the rack under the seat and a baby on the hood. I can imagine the trouble these people would have had if they would have had to carry a couple of sleeping children and push a stroller. I don't know what brand of stroller it was but it must have been very sturdy to hold four little ones.

 

[DVCajun]

Everyone always has an excuse for their own behavior and accepts no excuses for anyone else's behavior.

I say if each one of us has one bad "moment" where we accidentally inconvenience someone else (i.e. we're too slow to fold up the stroller, or we didn't see you in front of us because our walking child spilled his coke all over himself at the moment you decided to turn left) that equates into a whole LOT of complaining.

Why don't we just cut one another a break and just let it roll off?

Wouldn't that make a nice change?

Me and my stroller will see you in the World!

 

[WaltD4Me]

The people in front of them may not know they're tailing them closely, so it's the pusher's responsibility to maintain a generous space between themselves and those around them, and be sure they have room enough to stop if someone comes to a sudden halt.

Ok, personally, I find it tough sometimes to have "assured clear distance" with or without a stroller. When the parks are crowded it's hard to leave all that much space in between you or between your stroller and the person in front of you, especially in the case of a sudden and complete stop. To me if you are walking on a walkway then you walk. If you decide to stop you need to move off to the side....and since we are talking about vehicle to stroller comparisons, it's the same if you are in a car...if you are driving down the road and have to consult your map, do you just stop in the middle of the road to do it?

I've done WDW with and without a stroller and I've bumped into people with and without a stroller...it happens...sometimes it was my fault, sometimes the other persons...I've never felt it was intentional. Yes, some people are thoughtless and rude, but I think the ratio of rude stroller people and rude non-stroller people is about equal, so can't we all just get along?

 

[goodferry]

I have pushed many a stroller through WDW and have found, through personal experience, that the ones you rent are the most troublesome. They are heavier, and more difficult to maneuver. Not to mention the fact that you aren't used to pushing that particular stroller, it's not always easy to judge stopping distance, how much room you have in front, etc. It is similar to driving an SUV when you are used to driving a Honda Accord. Now we always bring our stroller from home and have much less trouble.
I guess what I am saying is that we should give each other the benefit of the doubt. Next time someone clips your ankle, instead of getting instantly angry, step back and look at the situation instead of assuming that they were out to get you. I am not saying that childless people, or those with grown children hold all the responsibility, far from it. What I am saying is that we all share responsibility to be careful, it doesn't all fall on the stroller pushers.
Recently a friend walked out into a crosswalk without looking and she was hit by a car. She is paralyzed. It doesn't make her feel any better knowing she was in the right, she wishes she had looked where she was going and it had never happened.
As far as pulling your limbs in on the busses, look at all the more space there is in the aisle and the width of most strollers, and it's easy to see that people aren't being rude when they bang into you, they just are trying to fit through the space that is there.

 

[Maridw]

For Stroller renters now a days, be glad that they changed the type of stroller they rent out. They used to have strollers that had a mind of their own.

In 97, we went with my best friend and her DS who was 5, but a big, hefty 5 yo. He was not used to doing alot of walking and so we got a stroller for him. This was before they have the ones they have now. We rented one at MGM and were going thru the Backstage Tour. They have the ramp at the entrance and guess who got stuck trying to push the stroller up the ramp that was jam packed with people. ME!!!
Now usually I could manage something like this but, this stroller was not cooperating in the least and with a 50lb 5 yo and all our other stuff, it was not going up the ramp at all. The rest of the group were walking on up and here I am struggling with this stupid stroller Finally I had to holler at my DH & BF to get some help. Neither of them had given it a second thought, even though we had been having trouble with this stroller all day. My BF got her son out of the stroller and DH helped me straighten it out because it was trying to go under the railings and I was able to manage it then.

Because of this experience I always watch out for strollers and wheelchairs and try to make sure that I don't cut in front of them while walking. (You never know if someone has a rogue stroller ) Thankfully I have never been rear-ended by a stroller (knock on wood). But I have seen people like the ones described - that wait til the last minute before getting on a bus to unload everything and fold it up. But I have also seen people struggle with a child in their arms and a stroller to get on the bus and maneuver it down the aisle while trying not to smack anyone in the legs. I have seen people with their legs sticking out in the aisle watching this same person come down the aisle and not move their legs until they have been smacked by said stroller. Come on people, you see this person struggling and coming right at you and yet you don't move until they have hit you. What did you expect? That they could magically maneuver it around your legs with out hitting them? I don't think so. Get real. DH, DD & I will offer assistance if we can. There have been a few times that DD has stepped up and offered a hand before I could offer.

 

[jann1033]

Finally I had to holler at my DH & BF to get some help.
.

good points although my foggy brain kept thinking you meant your husband and your "boyfriend" i was so shocked till i figured out it was your "best friend" i had to read it 3 times

 

[jann1033]

Trust me.....if it weren't for all those little 'red sports car' non-stroller pushers weaving in and out of stroller pushing 'minivan traffic' most of the problems the non-pushers are complaining about would be eliminated.

Oh, and someone pushing a stroller has just as much right to any narrow path as any non-pusher......as much as that may displease some. Really, you may find an inconsiderate stroller pusher who doesn't consider those around him/her when they stop........but I've seen just as many inconsiderate non-pushers who don't seem to care about other when they stop as well. People are people, and having or not having a stroller doesn't change that.

Can't we all just get along.

this is kind of funny as you accuse the non pushers of all th problems then say can't we get along

i can only speak for myself but while in Jan , off season, pretty empty parks,i did have many strollers way too close to my ankles ( ie while i was walking at a steady pace with the crowd after the ak parade, the 3 strollers across directly behind me, basically blocking most of the main ak path( they were always behind me btw, they came into the path after me) repeatedly plowed into me. usually two were 1/2 way up beside me while one was behind me banging me since evidently they figured i could walk on the shoulders of everyone in front of me to get out of their way.
however i am not even talking about these per say as right then it was crowded and i am giving them the benefit of the doubt..

i am talking about the rude battering ram types at ak who blocked the entire paths with the strollers so everyone , men ,women, children, elderly with walkers,other strollers, stray cats, universal guests, ex wdw CEOs, i thought i even saw mickey himself get tossed over the front of one, everyone walking either way had to get off the path or get hit...

and no one cut out in front of them like little red sports cars, they were barreling through like snow plows and too bad for you if you didn't get out of the way fast enough. sorry but no one is entitled to do that imo

 

[loles]

As I am planning a trip with a stroller, one thing I always try to do is act as a "Lineman" for the "running back", aka Grandma pushing the stroller. Since she tends to be a little slower, I try to walk in front of her so that if anyone gets run into, it is me. However, this gets tiring too. Seems to me that people everywhere need to be more aware of others around them. Of course, vacation at WDW is probably the last place anyone is looking at the people around them - they are experiencing the World! And rightly so...

That's just my two cents...

 

[GoN2WDW]

Disney should have separate buses for people with strollers. Before everyone flames me and rants and raves, hear me out. I've been a stroller pusher and now am not (thank goodness! ). The bus is always an issue - tough for those with strollers, packing them up, hauling them on the bus, carrying the kid at that point, etc. - tough for those without strollers, waiting for them to load, getting banged into with a stroller, not getting on the bus because strollers are taking up space, etc. However, if they had special buses where you could just wheel your stroller on and into a little "stall" area and not have to completely upset your apple cart, wouldn't that be easier? And for those who don't have them, you could use a "stroller free" bus - still being packed like sardines, but that won't change...

Just a thought....

 

[jann1033]

Disney should have separate buses for people with strollers. Before everyone flames me and rants and raves, hear me out. I've been a stroller pusher and now am not (thank goodness! ). The bus is always an issue - tough for those with strollers, packing them up, hauling them on the bus, carrying the kid at that point, etc. - tough for those without strollers, waiting for them to load, getting banged into with a stroller, not getting on the bus because strollers are taking up space, etc. However, if they had special buses where you could just wheel your stroller on and into a little "stall" area and not have to completely upset your apple cart, wouldn't that be easier? And for those who don't have them, you could use a "stroller free" bus - still being packed like sardines, but that won't change...

Just a thought....

but then there would have to be threads like "why do the stroller buses come more/less than the non stroller buses" " can i take my 50 yr old refillable mug on a stroller bus and fill it at universal" " " why do the non stroller bus people get all the towel animals" and the ever popular " can i take my beer filled cooler on a non stroller bus with my aunt sade, uncle jack and their german shephard" . i don't think i could take one more "hot " topic!

 

[princess momma]

As a stroller pusher I have complaints about lots of things. How about the slow elderly woman in front of me. Should I tell Grandma to speed it up? Or the disabled people in electric scooters or wheelchairs. Maybe we can find a way to segregate them so they don't get in my way or accidently bump into me. (sarcasm intended)

No one person has more of a right to be at WDW than another. We all annoy others without meaning to. And no matter what you do you will be in crowds, you will have to stand in lines. If you're becoming annoyed with people why don't you just relax, and enjoy yourself. Maybe you need a break. Sit down and have a snack or a drink, and maybe you'll feel better afterwards.

Be kind to others and they will be kind to you.

 

[daisax]

mom needs to pack diapers, wipes, clothes change, formula, bottles, sippy cups,snacks, baby food, spoon, dish, bibs, Purell, various just in case medicines. Then as a family we need water bottles, snacks, jackets for temp changes, camera, autograoh books,pens and Passporter.​

There were generations of us who managed. A good sized diaper bag can carry essential changing items for infants, including formula/jar of food, bib and spoon if necessary. That doesn't require 3 backpacks and a duffel bag

We traveled a lot when I was a kid and we didn't haul water bottles and snacks and changes of clothing around. Maybe in the car going to or from we'd have something, or we'd split a drink in the park or we'd wait until lunch.

Seems like in preparing for every eventuality people are weighing themselves down unnecessarily, and what is meant as a convenience becomes an albatross.

 

[Maridw]

but then there would have to be threads like "why do the stroller buses come more/less than the non stroller buses" " can i take my 50 yr old refillable mug on a stroller bus and fill it at universal" " " why do the non stroller bus people get all the towel animals" and the ever popular " can i take my beer filled cooler on a non stroller bus with my aunt sade, uncle jack and their german shephard" . i don't think i could take one more "hot " topic!

good points although my foggy brain kept thinking you meant your husband and your "boyfriend" i was so shocked till i figured out it was your "best friend" i had to read it 3 times

Didn't even think about it being able to mean Boyfriend instead of Best Friend. I just got tired of spelling EVERYTHING out.

 

[jann1033]

[
There were generations of us who managed. A good sized diaper bag can carry essential changing items for infants, including formula/jar of food, bib and spoon if necessary. That doesn't require 3 backpacks and a duffel bag

.

well i am in that older generation too and am thrilled i no longer have to lug around 1/2 a houseful of stuff we needed for a couple of tiny kids. we now carry only what we can fit in our pockets but that simply wouldn't work with the "under 5" bunch. i can't imagine parents hauling it all on their backs all day, i just don't want the loaded down stroller to plow me over