JUST BACK :( Stroller& Personal Space PROBLEM

[jann1033]

Just curious, are these problems (stroller bumping issues) more of a problem at peak/summer times? We're going in the lowest crowd level week of the entire year. I would assume there is just generally more room for strollers and people at that time? Do you think the heat adds to the tension?

Shel

we always go off season and the worst place for stroller problems even then is AK imo..maybe cause the paths are smaller overall and on the animal viewing paths people are standing around viewing animals( duh) so sometimes it is a few people deep which make the paths even more narrow. that is where i saw most of the evil fathers ramming people.( also after the parade there) pllus due to the path size not awhole lot of room to get out of their way.
Fantasy land was also bad with strollers parked and moving every where

could be some of the "jump out in front of my stroller" culprits were just trying to save their skin and get out of the way of the kamakazi stroller pilots

 

[cleo]

I edited the edit to remove the profanity. It was likely a case of forgetting the reason for the edit shows up. For years the mods did not type out a reason for editing and sometimes we forget it will show up when we do type it out.

I am absolutely certain the moderator who edited first did not intend to have the profanity show.

 

[cttinkerbell]

I think we all need to be a bit more aware of all the folks at the parks both with and without strollers. we are all there to have a good time right?? If you were riding a bike would you intentionally run into someone because they stopped in front of you? when you are using anything with wheels you should be going at a pace that is safe and will allow you to stop, yes even abruptly if it is required ( we all have to do this in our cars!). There are a lot of first time visitors that do need to use their maps and while it would be more considerate if they move out of the way of traffic, sometimes it just isn't possible. any stroller pushing parent that would intentionally run into someone regardless of the situation just seems a bit over the top to me. what if your child was injured?? Likewise if someone is swearing at people with strollers the same applies...maybe it's me but I just don't get it. It's disney and isn't the whole purpose to have a great time????

 

[xmelissax]

We walk slow (which bothers a lot of people) and keep a good distance between other people. We did this when our kids were in strollers and now that they are long out of them.

Thank you! I would much rather someone walk slow than do something else that could potentially cause an accident. I admit sometimes people walking slow annoys me, but I much prefer it to the alternative cause I can always just walk around slow walking people.

 

[JohnNJ]

also get the people that have huge backpacks and keep turning around almost knocking you over

If I turn around and you get hit with my backpack, it's not my problem. You should not be close enough to me to get hit with my backpack.

 

[kizmac]

OK, maybe because I've been to Disney so many times and not rushing from one thing to the next, but I actually expect people to stop dead in their tracks. If you have never been to WDW the sight of the castle is enough to stop anyone. We actually look for people who are doing this. We love to see the look on their faces! I think too many people are in too much of a hurry and are way too close to the person in front of them. We walk slow (which bothers a lot of people) and keep a good distance between other people. We did this when our kids were in strollers and now that they are long out of them. I think the key is respect, which is sorely lacking in most people today.

I totally agree with you! We have been there 5 times with strollers (doubles, singles, rentals,you name it) in the past 6 years and I have really never had issues. Could be the time of year that we go because it's September and the crowds are thin . I can understand the tensions being higher with the heat and crowds though.

It's Disney World and I totally anticipate people being distracted with the scenery and having a brain fart that someone may actually be behind them. But, I am not usually breathing down their necks and can go around. I'm sure that I have bumped someone with my stroller at some point but a polite "I'm so sorry" or "excuse me" is all that transpired. It happens. Not the worst problem I can think off at the park.

Now... I am sorry but if someone yelled "***" in Disney or anywhere for that matter, in my kids face, that's a different story. I actually thought the "sad clown" was funny. Ok, maybe not the politically correct response but better than some other responses I can think of. I would have a hard time saying I'm sorry to that person.

 

[madhouserobey]

you stroller bashers are probaly the people that can not walk in a straight line.two weeks ago at hersherypark i told my wife to watch and i pushed the stroller slowy in a straight line and you would not believe the non stroller persons who do not watch were they walk.AND YET THEY you still blame the people pushing the strollers.how about you watch were you walk once in a while.

 

[Otimon]

John, your empathy is astounding! Just this morning I was walking in front of Test Track when a gentleman with a stroller came past me from the rear on my left and there was an overstuffed backpack hanging off that whacked me hard in the leg. He said, "Oh, sorry" and continued on.

He had loads of room to move to my left as he passed but instead chose to continue straight and whack into me. Am I to assume it was my fault I got hit for being where I was?

 

[LoriDee]

I'm a considerate stroller pusher but, I don't know how many times I've been cut off by individuals w/out strollers. I think if people would pay more attention to what is going on around them and not so caught up with their own personnal space. We wouldn't have this issue. Don't get me wrong, I love my personnal space and I have a difficult time with people I don't know getting into my personnal space. But, I'm not so caught up in my own space that I don't know what's going on around me.

Otimon at least you got an appology. Not that it matters when your hit with a giant backpack. The other day I was walking by a woman who swung her purse over her shoulder and hit me with it. She didn't even acknowledge it. I in turned and said "EXCUSE ME!!".

I know accidents happen but if people would just acknowledge the incident and simply say "I'm sorry." and ask "Are you all right?" I think all of us would not be so irritated. Here I am trying to teach my DS(10) and DD (1.5) about manners and I'm not seeing adults use them. I'm not sure what happend to MANNERS but, a lot of people have lost them.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[JohnNJ]

John, your empathy is astounding! Just this morning I was walking in front of Test Track when a gentleman with a stroller came past me from the rear on my left and there was an overstuffed backpack hanging off that whacked me hard in the leg. He said, "Oh, sorry" and continued on.

He had loads of room to move to my left as he passed but instead chose to continue straight and whack into me. Am I to assume it was my fault I got hit for being where I was?

He wasn't wearing the backpack so, in effect, you were hit by the stroller. Not the same as being close enough to get hit by a backpack that is worn properly.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Okay, you guys are frightening me to death here. As a new grandma with a bum knee I will be the official stroller pusher when we get to WDW in seven weeks. I haven't pushed a stroller in over twenty years! Please reassure me that I won't kill anybody who decides to stop short for whatever reason. And I will be one of the ones moseying along. Don't want my sweet grandson to miss one magical thing!

 

[homer424]

I never had a problem with my stroller when we had one in the parks. I am not sure if it is because we are slower walkers or what, but I only heard about the problems on the boards, never experienced it for myself.

Then we went with a wheelchair for my grandmother.

I have talked about this to death on other threads but I just can not get over how people flat out ignored or stepped over my grandmother in the wheelchair. We walked slow because it was hot and hard to push the wheelchair. I had people stepping over my grandmother to get in front of her then just stopping, rushing past us and knocking into me, and the best was when someone stepped off the curb in between my grandmothers feet in the footrests, tripped over her feet and said "Watch where you are going!" to me. Unbelievable. We REFUSED to let this stuff get us down or ruin our trip but I was truly saddened by the amount of people who just couldn't care less for a disabled person.

 

[jann1033]

you may not kill anyone but beware, you will surely be rammed if you get in someone's way

 

[jann1033]

. Unbelievable. We REFUSED to let this stuff get us down or ruin our trip but I was truly saddened by the amount of people who just couldn't care less for a disabled person.

yeah really says something doesn't it? it amazes me to hear the animosity on some of the anti scooter-wheel chair threads!!

 

[philhamel]

This thread is bumming me out. We are taking our 7 and 4 year old boys in 2 days and I am renting a stoller because I want us to have fun. If my 4 year old (maybe even the 7 year old) has to walk all day, we may as well stay home. They will be miserable.

I see this as not a "stroller" problem, but as a "people" problem.

Some people without strollers are going to be ignorant and cut you off, stop short, whack you with something, give you a dirty look, and whatever, with no thought of an apology (except maybe expecting one from you). Odds are pretty good they are going to do it to people without strollers as well.

Some people with strollers are going to be ignorant and cut you off, stop short, whack you in the ankles, give you a dirty look, and whatever, with no thought of an apology (except maybe expecting one from you). Odds are pretty good they are going to do it to other people with strollers as well.

Some people just are ignorant, are never wrong, it's never their fault (especially not their childrens fault), are "entitled" to go ahead of you, and deserve to be first, always.

Unfortunately it's just the way some people are.

I am 6' 4" and 280 pounds. I have spent my whole life sitting in the back of theaters and other seated events or sitting uncomfortably low so as not to block someones view. When at standing events I often stand in the back or crouch down uncomfortably so as not to block someones view.

I am confident I will work very hard to be considerate of those around me and I'll probably still whack someone. They will get a heartfelt apology and they can take it or leave it. Life is to short to get worked up about stuff like that.

Remember, stollers and backpacks don't hit people, people hit people.

I would like to quote my WDW stoller guru Montana Disney Fan (from an earlier post on this subject);

"...try to be polite, but dont take any crap either"
and
"Bottom Line? Screw 'em. Have fun!!"

 

[cpayne1997]

Let me start off by saying I am a proud double stroller pushing Mommy . I believe that WDW is for people of all ages. Including the ones that are too small to walk around a park for more then 1 hour. There will always be strollers at WDW........get used to it!!! I tried really hard not to run into anyone but please understand that if you suddenly stop it is harder for me to suddenly stop as well. I am pushing a stoller with at least 40 lbs of kid in it!!! Hellooooooooo I can not stop on a dime. As for rude comments......if I hear a rude comment from behind me about how quickly I am moving I will slow down. It is in my nature have you ever heard "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all". That rule applies here. Same as if you say something ugly about me and then cut in front of me don't count on me "trying" as hard to stop to avoid hitting you . Don't get me wrong I am a nice person I just will not be punished because I want to bring my 2 small children to the happiest place on earth.

 

[Skroops]

personal space is at a premium. We went in July and although we are not the kind to hurry, it seemed that our stroller (with baby in it) was often in other peoples' way. It was wierd. The public seemed different than in years past. I admit that people stopping and congregating in the smack middle of the street was kind of frustrating. It caused "clogged arteries" that made lots of people more frustrated. It was too crowded to hurry anywhere, but there was no way to navigate the stroller easily. Memo: this IS a place for kids people. I know, flame me if you must, but strollers are used here. Everyone must watch out for each other and be considerate. If you cut infront of a moving stroller...do so at your own risk.
Different subject, my baby while IN the stroller in a NON smoking street at Epcot almost got a cigarette burn on his face as a lady swung her cig in her hand as she closely passed by us. Talk about a near fist fight. I told her to smoke in the smoking area and she almost punched me and I almost had her bring it on...(thankfully DH was present).
There is definately a growing feeling of general rudeness that I swear didn't used to exist everywhere. Tuning it out is crucial to a good vacation.

 

[Otimon]

He wasn't wearing the backpack so, in effect, you were hit by the stroller. Not the same as being close enough to get hit by a backpack that is worn properly.

John, your empathy is not only astounding, it is now in outer space!!!!
Hope you make it back to earth one day soon and don't get hit by flying debris on the way down.

Personally, I've found most guests to be very considerate of others when pushing strollers. It is probably when they get distracted that accidents happen.

 

[pampam]

This is quite an interesting thread. I thought I'd bring out a thought not mentioned yet. When someone is pushing a stroller or wheelchair, it takes effort to get the momentum going, the same as pulling a wagon. Once you get going, it's easier, because the initial effort has brought the momentum up to speed. However, strollers and wheelchairs do not have brakes like a car, so they cannot stop the way a car does. When driving a car, one needs a few feet for stopping clearance. When one is pushing a stroller or wc the momentum is broken, and it will not stop as quickly as some people think. If one leaves too much space between the stroller and the person in front, it will quickly be swallowed up by the crowd. Going around corners is another problem, because the stroller or wc needs to make a wide turn, like a tractor trailer needs extra space. However, in a crowd, that space is at a premium.

Another thought. I've been pushing a stroller and wc for 34 years, so I've had quite a lot of experience. Once we went to Disney with another friend and lady in a wheelchair. They followed us, usually, because we know WDW. She kept ramming the wc into me, which of course was annoying. However she was not experienced at pushing a wc, so I didn't complain. Once we traded, and she pushed my dd and I pushed the friend. Now the friend is a very large lady. It took more strength to get up the momentum. Further, her large bulk hid her footrests, so I couldn't judge the distance between her and the crowd ahead of us, and I found myself at a disadvantage, as an expereinced wc pusher. Sorry this is so long, but I thought it brought out some valid points.

 

[jann1033]

just a fact, I don't know if this is nationwide but in our area strollers are banned from indoor venues ( arenas and such) because they are hazardous in a fire. i would imagine the thought behind this is in a congested situation ( such as trying to get out of a burning building or being in a crowd at wdw) they easily trip people and cause congestion.