Is it safe to leave in stroller?

[cfrith5]

I think I asked this years ago but would like some fresh responses. We have these smaller (7x7) Creative Memories albums we use to have the characters sign. With 3 kids it's too much to take on the rides, but I always get nervous leaving them in the stroller (in a bag) at each ride we go on. Have you ever had anything stollen from a stroller? They were totally fine on our last DLR trip, but I get worried. Thoughts?

 

[Carolynleanne]

Ooo boy, id be worried. Not because people stealing stuff from strollers is a big thing, but more so because of the special items you'd be leaving. Personally, it wouldn't be worth the risk to me.

The only things we've left under our stroller was a blanket and a few snacks/water bottles (which, btw were fine.)

 

[cfrith5]

Ooo boy, id be worried. Not because people stealing stuff from strollers is a big thing, but more so because of the special items you'd be leaving. Personally, it wouldn't be worth the risk to me.

The only things we've left under our stroller was a blanket and a few snacks/water bottles (which, btw were fine.)

I know, it's so hard! Actually now that I think about it, I think about half the time I would carry them on the rides (in a backpack). But it was kind of annoying.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I would probably leave them. I usually leave things I have purchased (nothing too valuable) in the bottom of the stroller covered up. I only take a small backpack that carries my wallet, phone, etc on rides. I've never had any problems, but you never know. Just depends on how comfortable you feel doing so...You're likely to get answers all over the place

 

[Carolynleanne]

I know, it's so hard! Actually now that I think about it, I think about half the time I would carry them on the rides (in a backpack). But it was kind of annoying.

I understand. I always hate lugging our stuff onto rides. Were lucky that we always travel with my side of the family and there are a few who don't go on much. Whoever doesn't go on the ride gets stuck with the stuff.

Whenever we all go, I tend to make my husband carry the backpack, hehe

 

[KateDrake]

We leave just about everything in the stroller, and it's never been a problem. I know a lot of people think their stroller or stuff has been stollen, but I think that is most often due to CMs moving the strollers around or someone taking a stroller that looks like theirs by mistake. I've even forgotten and left my purse there before, and it was right there in the stroller.

 

[MagicMomma1]

I'd NEVER leave my pocketbook or camera with our strollers but have zero qualms about leaving everything else (blankies, bags of merchandise, etc.) behind. We've NEVER had any issues, even when we've parked the strollers somewhere for a seriously extended period of time. Maybe we've just been lucky but I'm very comfortable doing this.

It's doubtful that anyone would take anything that was obviously of no value (except to you and of the sentimental variety). But to avoid inadvertant stroller thievery due to mix-ups and the like, do something to personalize your stroller. Tie an inexpensive bandana or a quirky little toy or something to the handle.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Someone mentioned using clear ziplock gallon baggies for things left in strollers. That way would be theives would quickly see something looked uninteresting and move on to someone else. If I were to leave something like that in there, I would put it in a baggie wrapped in extra underwear.

 

[larina]

The only thing we leave in our stroller is water bottles and non-Disney, plain jackets or sweatshirts we are willing to lose. I've seen too many people upset over having their stroller itself, or the contents of it, stolen at Disneyland.

 

[jdb in AZ]

My niece left a Coach diaper bag in a stroller. hullo? She figured it would be safe since they were at Disneyland, after all. When they reported the theft to security they were told that four Coach bags had been stolen that day.

 

[cats mom]

Our rule of thumb was only leave things we wouldn't be too upset about if they went missing. Rain ponchos, an old blanket or jacket, water bottles, a few snacks... no biggie. Coach bags, expensive new purchases, money, special memory books... probably not the best idea.

9 times out of 10 everything is probably going to be just fine, but if you happen to be the 1 in 10 that the stroller theives hit (and yes, they are out there, even at Disneyland) will you be devastated? If so I say don't leave the important stuff unattended.

 

[cfrith5]

Someone mentioned using clear ziplock gallon baggies for things left in strollers. That way would be theives would quickly see something looked uninteresting and move on to someone else. If I were to leave something like that in there, I would put it in a baggie wrapped in extra underwear.

That's not a bad idea!

 

[cfrith5]

Thanks everyone! I will probably try to bring a backpack on most rides with the albums in it, just to be safe.

 

[martikus]

Our rule of thumb was only leave things we wouldn't be too upset about if they went missing. Rain ponchos, an old blanket or jacket, water bottles, a few snacks... no biggie. Coach bags, expensive new purchases, money, special memory books... probably not the best idea.

9 times out of 10 everything is probably going to be just fine, but if you happen to be the 1 in 10 that the stroller theives hit (and yes, they are out there, even at Disneyland) will you be devastated? If so I say don't leave the important stuff unattended.

This is my rule too. Which meant autography book and noise reducing headphones went on every ride. I put them in a small bag (think those recycle bags from grocery stores) and then just pulled the bag out to carry on the ride and then put the bag back when we were done. No rearranging needed. Worked out great.

 

[coaches24]

We have been twice with a stroller and have had one issue with something disappearing out of the stroller. I bought DD a flounder plush one morning while waiting for the rope drop in DCA and it disappeared while we were on a ride. Now it's possible it fell out or DD dropped it and none of us noticed but we think someone grabbed it since we stupidly left it out in plain site in the seat of the stroller (or that's the last place we remembered seeing it.) ironically DW has left her IPhone in plain site a couple times each trip and no one has snagged it. And we have never had an issue with things in the bottom storage covered or not.

 

[MerryJ]

We left a diaper bag hanging on a the handle of the stroller when we were there. I don't think it was ever touched - certainly the bag was still there and nothing was missing. It wasn't a fancy bag (came free with the stroller, I think) and only had snacks, water bottles, and a few little things like bandaids, etc.

We had autograph albums that I made from cheap photo albums and index cards. At first, I left them in the stroller, but after they had a few signatures in them, I carried them in my purse, because I figured the kids would be upset if they went missing.

Interestingly, on our third day or so we were going to leave the stroller on Main st. when we went in to see something, with the bag hanging on it, just as we had every other time, when a custodian (someone emptying garbage cans) suggested we should take our bag with us. Basically saying that someone might steal it. It was kind of them to give us the warning.

The story from a previous poster makes me wonder if our little stuffed animal was stollen. It could easily have been lost, but my DD had a tiny stuffed classic Winnie the Pooh that she was carrying - it probably got left out in the seat of her stroller when we went in to something. It is equally possible that she dropped it, though! Fortunately, it wasn't an extra special one!

 

[furb & dez]

Only leave things in your stroller that you would have no qualms about tossing into the next trash can you see. This includes the stroller itself.

If you leave something unattended in a public place, you're definitely earning your stupid taxes for the day.

 

[K311y0h]

I've left merch in the bottom of the stroller countless number of times and nothing has ever been stolen. But we all don't always ride the same ride together because we have two little ones, so most of the time someone is with the stroller. But when we do leave it, we haven't had problems.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks everyone! I will probably try to bring a backpack on most rides with the albums in it, just to be safe.

Good call.



I've had things stolen twice! First time was a brand new pirate hat, which was hidden underneath an old sweatshirt and a baseball cap. Those things were there, the hat was not.

Second time it was a stupid lousy FREE balloon. Tied to the handle with long ribbon, the balloon was secured to the ribbon with a plastic doohickey. Ribbon was still there. Plastic doohickey was totally intact. Balloon was gone, no remnants like if a bird popped it or whatever.



Free balloon, no financial loss, but it didn't feel good. The hat was actually replaced by a super-kind CM two nights later when DS was talking his ear off about our trip, and about the "bad pirates" who had taken his hat. (bad pirates b/c we didn't want him thinking bad thoughts about Jack Sparrow and gang, who were still around at the time, and pirates b/c we didn't want him thinking bad thoughts about fellow guests) CM was lovely and made us "whole" again.

But it still doesn't feel GOOD, to have things stolen from your stroller.

And then when we got to thinking about it, when the stroller's sitting there, who knows WHAT is happening? We've seen birds in strollers, squirrels...yuck! DS is past the stroller stage now, but while he still was, we didn't even leave bottles of water in them after our two incidents, because of the "who knows what has happened" thoughts that ran through our minds... Do I want to drink from something a squirrel might have gnawed on? NO.



And for the OP, something with sentimental value, that *cannot* be replaced at the parks (unless you carry extra CM albums with you), and that would take time to make a close copy of what you had (Disney album, waiting in lines again), yeah, don't leave that outside in public.

 

[c4riley]

Someone mentioned using clear ziplock gallon baggies for things left in strollers. That way would be theives would quickly see something looked uninteresting and move on to someone else. If I were to leave something like that in there, I would put it in a baggie wrapped in extra underwear.

The extra underwear part.... LOVE it!!

I've had my diaper bag stolen out of my car before, and all I could think about was that I wished I had left a dirty diaper or underwear in there
We are planning be there in October. I will have my stroller with me, and I plan to leave replaceable items in the bottom of it. I would think that if you put them in ziploc bags, they would be most unattractive to thieves who are hoping for valuable items....