Kepping stroller safe?

[Woodmnky]

Our plan is to have a backpack with important/expensive/hard to replace items and the rest will stay in the stroller. I figure the stroller will have our snacks & water along with a cheap change of clothes for DS. I had one of the lovely people on the DISign board make me a stroller licence plate which we will zip tie on to avoid stroller confusion. I would be ticked if someone took the stroller, but at least it will not be the end of the world.

 

[mousehunter3]

We just got back. We brought two backpacks in every day. We didn't leave anything valuable in them- snacks, waters, wipes, etc, but we leave one in the underneath basket and one right on the seat every time we went on a ride or into a restaurant or whatever. Nobody ever touched them. There are SO many strollers and so many people in and out of those areas getting their stuff and a lot of people leave stuff in their strollers. I am surprised to hear that anyone would steal things actually. It just doesn't feel like that kind of atmosphere with all the families there.

Also, I tied a unique looking scarf to my handle so it was easy to spot my stroller. So glad I did!

 

[AllThingsFigment]

In the past we've never had any problems with our stroller. On our most recent trip I started using a stroller lock and locked the back two wheels together. If someone really wanted it they probably still could have taken it but I figured with so many strollers there they would just move onto another one.

For our next trip we'll be renting a city mini and I will probably use the stroller lock again. I'm not so much worried about someone stealing it, as I'm about someone accidentally taking it since there are so many city minis inside the parks. I'm also going to tie something to the handle bar to help it stand out as well.

 

[DizkneeDad]

Agree with all others. Never leave anything you are willing to lose to theft.
There are small cable locks that attach to strollers. You can run the cable through the wheels. It won't stop someone from picking the stroller up but it will certainly draw attention to someone trying to roll it away with the wheels locked.

 

[sbastin02]

I guess one backpack with all important stuff and then a smaller one with change of close for kids. We need to bring our cooler (we really should not be going to Disney $$$ wise but want the kids to have fun) so we need to bring in food and water. We rented a city mini double cause we don't have a double so at least there is insurance on that. I have LED lights for night time, stroller tag and will tie bows on it so we know it is ours.

Thanks everyone.

For our backpack we need I will have diapers, wipes a few first aid things, camera, money, small toys I got for the kids so I won't have to buy much there. Might look into a stroller lock too.

 

[sandyplayer]

We wrote our name in large black sharpie across the canopy so it was not taken. It was a red umbrella and there were others like it. We also tied a bandana to it.
We left some stuff in it to lighten our load, but I put it in a xlarge Ziploc so thieves could see it was nothing of value. I left things like diaper wipes, hand sanitizer, and extra outfit (cheapie, my just in case for my son) but the expensive things stayed in my backpack.

 

[chrissy4585]

Our stroller was stolen. We had nothing of value in our backpack, but I put my prescription sunglasses and my camcorder in the stroller pockets. I went on a ride with no wait and when I got off the whole thing was gone. My advice, use clear bags. Put return address labels on autograph books and any of your things.

We checked lost and found daily. The stroller showed up two days later. No backpack or sunglasses or camera.

 

[dsneprincess]

I guess one backpack with all important stuff and then a smaller one with change of close for kids. We need to bring our cooler (we really should not be going to Disney $$$ wise but want the kids to have fun) so we need to bring in food and water. We rented a city mini double cause we don't have a double so at least there is insurance on that. I have LED lights for night time, stroller tag and will tie bows on it so we know it is ours.

Thanks everyone.

For our backpack we need I will have diapers, wipes a few first aid things, camera, money, small toys I got for the kids so I won't have to buy much there. Might look into a stroller lock too.

This is the best plan. Important/valuable bag goes with you in rides. We take food, water, snacks, diaper and wipes as a 1 day supply, so if we lose, it is not devastating for the entire trip and need replacing. I just repack/replenish nightly. We have been MANY times with stroller and been very lucky! Have fun!

 

[makclair]

we wore a cross body backpack. If you have kids young enough to need a stroller you pretty much won't be taking at least one on the rides where you couldn't take your backpack on. In the stroller, we kept our water bottles/refillable mugs and backup clothes (nothing special , like a walmart disney tee/shorts and a bag of diapers/wipes/changing pad covers (ziploc).

 

[SnowWhite1979]

Since its heavy and hard to fold and clunky, what do you do about getting it off and in the busses? Or do you take different transportation?

 

[squirrel]

Tie or hang something from your stroller. It makes it easier to see in the sea of strollers and helps others from thinking it's their stroller.

I also did the ziplock with a change of clothes in the bottom. I took everything else but the water bottles.

You can get free ice water at any of the CS locations.

I have been 4 times with a stroller and 10 park days each visit with a few extra MNSSHP nights and the only thing someone tried to take was a balloon from the Dance Party that my niece didn't want to hold onto while we were inside dancing. I saw the dad taking it from the stroller and he gave it back when I said that it was our stroller.

 

[glassslippergirl]

DH was really worried about this before our first trip with our son in May. We went so far as to buy an inexpensive stroller off of craigslist. But that stroller broke as we were testing it out, so we were left with ours. DH bought a wheellock for the stroller even though he had read online that cast members often cut these as they move strollers to accommodate new ones. He was super worried about stroller issues.

Long story short (well shorter), we had no reason to worry. I carried my purse and DH carried his camera bag on all rides. We left the diaper bag on the stroller (I figured if anyone asked me for something in it, like a diaper, I would give it to them anyway). There was no reason to worry at all. The stroller and diaper bag were always in tact when we returned. After the trip, we returned the wheellock to Home Depot unused.

If over packing is an issue that you just can't resolve, I would suggest renting a locker for the day. Put all the extra stuff there. I agree with PPD that I would rely on Disney for a lot of the things that you plan to carry. A first aid kit is absolutely not necessary. Just go to the first aid in the parks if you need something. The nurses there are some of the nicest people I've ever met, and it's a more sanitary environment to put on a bandaid than a bathroom or park bench. You can also save on bottled water by getting cups of water free from counter service restaurants.

When you think about how many strollers are in the park in any given time, the chances of something happening to yours are very low.

 

[dailymom]

My husband seems to be stressing about taking our stroller, but doesn't want to rent one. He keeps trying to talk he into just taking our Ego carriers, but with a 1 and 3 year old, I keep telling him no way. I will have to refer him to these posts to help ease his mind.

 

[MouseOfGold]

I'll be bringing a nice double stroller so I plan on buying a stroller lock to lock the wheels. I also have a hook that locks onto the handle bar. I plan on locking the bag onto the stroller with the hook lock and only leaving diaper/wipes/non valuable items in the bag. I will have a crossbody bag or something around my neck to keep my $, ID, camera, etc with me while on rides. I figure if your gonna take diapers out of my bag then you must you desperately need them.

 

[Disneychica18]

I'll be bringing a nice double stroller so I plan on buying a stroller lock to lock the wheels. I also have a hook that locks onto the handle bar. I plan on locking the bag onto the stroller with the hook lock and only leaving diaper/wipes/non valuable items in the bag. I will have a crossbody bag or something around my neck to keep my $, ID, camera, etc with me while on rides. I figure if your gonna take diapers out of my bag then you must you desperately need them.

Be careful locking the wheels. The cm's move strollers around and having the wheels locked could damage them.

 

[chrissy4585]

Our 1 year old stayed in the Ergo for 90% of our time in the park. No problems at all.

 

[Tigger1221]

On DD's first trip I was worried about the stroller. I bought a stroller lock. It was very annoying to use and keep taking on and off. On our 3rd day at Epcot a CM broke it while moving the stroller. It was dark and I guess they didn't see it and rolled the stroller. It must of taken some force because it was hard to get back off. We obviously didn't use it any more and have been on 3 more trips since and it's been fine. We have a backpack but we take that with us. I

 

[jeno19]

These are great tips! Thanks! I need to go to the fabric store and make a bright colored strap to put on it lol

 

[disneywalkers]

We have been going yearly for almost 10 years. Each trip 10 days at Disney and 4 at other parks. We have never had a problem. I tie a homemade sign with our name on it and a ribbon. I also always put a rain cover on it. I think the more someone would have to mess with to take it and make it not look like yours the less likely to steal. We also end up renting a double for older kids and I tie that one to the one we own lol