Our (personal) stroller went missing today

[hallie]

I'm willing to bet that the majority of thefts are not by parents there with their kids. I am willing to bet that there are locals with an AP who troll the parks looking for items to steal. They know people leave valuables in strollers. Then they can take the valuables to the local pawn shop, resell, etc. The parks are an easy target since there is so many people and cast members do not know who owns which stroller so someone walking off with one is not a red flag. Husbands typically go get the stroller while the wife and kids are sitting on a bench, etc. so even a man alone is not a red flag. Disney doesn't have any responsibility over items left unattended so setting up a sting operation isn't an interest to them.

I think you'd lose that bet. It's just as likely to be tourists stealing stuff as it is locals. I use to live in Florida and most people I know, NEVER went to Disney, they even grew in Florida & have been to Disney maybe once, most never. It's a total misconception that locals spend all their time at Disney, it's simply too expensive for a lot to even afford and some believe it or not have no interest.

 

[twinboysmom]

We have local family in the Orlando area (aunts, uncles, first cousins) and they have warned us numerous times about the stroller theft rings that hit the theme parks. You steal a couple of high dollar strollers a day and sell them for $100 each and that annual pass pays for itself pretty quick.

I don't think it's offense to locals. It is what it is. There is crime in all areas and theme parks are a prime location for theft.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Highly depends on the stroller and insurance policy.
I know our stroller is $1200, plus the cost of renting a replacement in the mean time, and our excess is only $200.

Your stroller cost $1200??

In that case, don't be surprised if it is stolen. You should never bring an expensive stroller on vacation, especially to WDW.

And a problem with filing an insurance claim on something like this, even if the claim exceeds the deductible, is you can find yourself in a real bind if you have a subsequent catastrophe and have to file a claim. The previous claim counts and you can end up forced onto a costly high risk policy. This happened to a friend of mine. She filed on something minor and then lightening set her house on fire. It was a mess.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

mummabear's signature indicates she's in New Zealand, which I assume has different pricing on certain goods (like high end strollers) and different insurance laws than we're used to here in the U.S.

Mummabear...I would highly encourage you to look into renting a stroller from one of the offsite vendors, for a number of reasons.


As for the "who's doing the stealing" issue...I would venture to guess that a lot of thieves are local to the Orlando area, just for logistical reasons, but probably not AP holders. I'd also guess that a lot of the stroller thievery isn't done by people stealing to fence the goods, but rather stealing a stroller because they're jerks who don't want to rent their own, or didn't think to rent one themselves before their kids started melting down in the middle of the park.

Due to Disney's high ticket cost, a lot of would-be local thieves are deterred right there, especially with so many other tourist haunts in the Orlando area with easier access simply due to the high cost of going into a Disney (or even Universal) park. I also don't see stroller (or any other type) thieves lasting too long at Disney with the level of security they have there, so I can't imagine that many thiefs would hold APs, because caught stealing even once, I'm sure Disney would revoke that AP right there.

I don't doubt the OP's story, but stroller theivery is so rare that it's just not something I worry about too much.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We have local family in the Orlando area (aunts, uncles, first cousins) and they have warned us numerous times about the stroller theft rings that hit the theme parks. You steal a couple of high dollar strollers a day and sell them for $100 each and that annual pass pays for itself pretty quick.

Interesting. You'd think that would be something the local media would be interested in writing a story on...but Google reveals nothing. Sounds like an urban legend to me.

 

[SimonSez]

I'm sorry you had this experience. Please keep us posted, and as others have noted, go to Guest Services daily IN PERSON. Seems to make a difference.

Yes, this! A few years back I lost my cell phone at MK, we checked with CMs and guest services several times that day with no luck (it was our first day at the parks). Every day thereafter, we called lost and found but no cell phone matching its description had been turned in. When we got home a week later, the cell phone was there waiting for me! I wonder now if it was at L&F the whole time, and I might have gotten it back sooner had I followed up in person instead of on the phone Hope you get the stroller back, can't believe how low some people can be

 

[JimmyV]

We have local family in the Orlando area (aunts, uncles, first cousins) and they have warned us numerous times about the stroller theft rings that hit the theme parks. You steal a couple of high dollar strollers a day and sell them for $100 each and that annual pass pays for itself pretty quick.

I don't think it's offense to locals. It is what it is. There is crime in all areas and theme parks are a prime location for theft.

There are so many strollers on the market that sell for under $75 new that there is no way that a secondary black market of stolen used strollers could sell for $100 each.

Interesting. You'd think that would be something the local media would be interested in writing a story on...but Google reveals nothing. Sounds like an urban legend to me.

Not just the local media. How about the local police? Do you know how easy it would be to bust such a ring? Used strollers just aren't something that you see outside of tag sales and consignment stores. Consignment stores aren't going to keep buying strollers from the same people over and over again without getting suspicious. "Gee, sir. Just how many kids do you have??" And used strollers at tag sales sell for $25 and under. Good police work with specific descriptions of stroller makes and models could comb the consignment stores and tag sales and find these strollers in a single weekend, assuming that they are being stolen in numbers large enough as suggested above.

 

[gibsontrio]

Well, I'm happy to report this ends with a somewhat happy ending !!!!! My stroller was indeed stolen, but the thief ditched my backpack ( 100+euro backpack) ! To those that have this happen, KEEP on lost and found . I called them several times before I had someone really search for my bag ( the most important item lost) The stroller was a thrift store purchase made strictly for this trip ( my 3 yr old doesn't typically sit well) so in the end wasn't a big loss. I really really hope they needed to use it more than I , or I hope it collapses on their fingers and makes them bleed. I feel Iike warning everyone I see, don't bring your valuable stroller to Disney!! I thought we were immune!!

 

[gibsontrio]

. I don't doubt the OP's story, but stroller theivery is so rare that it's just not something I worry about too much.

I'm guessing the by the outcome the thief had a tired child , ditched my expensive bag ( with snacks ) and took the stroller . If they were out for money they would have stolen the bag as well.

 

[lvstitch]

I've worked in casinos and whenever someone's purse or bag was stolen (please don't hang your bag off the back of your chair) we usually found it. Most of the time they would just remove the valuables and chuck the bag.

 

[JimmyV]

Well, I'm happy to report this ends with a somewhat happy ending !!!!! My stroller was indeed stolen, but the thief ditched my backpack ( 100+euro backpack) ! To those that have this happen, KEEP on lost and found . I called them several times before I had someone really search for my bag ( the most important item lost) The stroller was a thrift store purchase made strictly for this trip ( my 3 yr old doesn't typically sit well) so in the end wasn't a big loss. I really really hope they needed to use it more than I , or I hope it collapses on their fingers and makes them bleed. I feel Iike warning everyone I see, don't bring your valuable stroller to Disney!! I thought we were immune!!

Glad you got back the thing that really mattered. Sounds like a classic case of: steal stroller....look for valuables....keep any small, easy to conceal valuables....ditch the backpack that held the valuables.....ditch the stroller. Thankfully, you didn't leave any valuables in the backpack, so in the end, the thief got nothing from you! If someone looks hard enough, they will find the stroller too. No way that a thief is going to keep an easily identifiable stroller, especially if it was a thrift store purchase and not a high end model.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm guessing the by the outcome the thief had a tired child , ditched my expensive bag ( with snacks ) and took the stroller . If they were out for money they would have stolen the bag as well.

Was everything still in your bag? It's amazing it was recovered!

 

[hallie]

Well, I'm happy to report this ends with a somewhat happy ending !!!!! My stroller was indeed stolen, but the thief ditched my backpack ( 100+euro backpack) ! To those that have this happen, KEEP on lost and found . I called them several times before I had someone really search for my bag ( the most important item lost) The stroller was a thrift store purchase made strictly for this trip ( my 3 yr old doesn't typically sit well) so in the end wasn't a big loss. I really really hope they needed to use it more than I , or I hope it collapses on their fingers and makes them bleed. I feel Iike warning everyone I see, don't bring your valuable stroller to Disney!! I thought we were immune!!

Glad to hear you got the most important items back!!!!

 

[JimmyV]

I'm guessing the by the outcome the thief had a tired child , ditched my expensive bag ( with snacks ) and took the stroller . If they were out for money they would have stolen the bag as well.

I really don't think so. What they were after was what they were hoping to find in the expensive bag. (Wallet, cash, credit cards, watch, camera, jewelry). That stuff can be concealed easily. A thief would not walk around a park with an easily described bag when they know that the parks have security (both undercover and obvious) and security cameras. Too risky. And they wouldn't walk around with a stolen stroller when that too could easily give them away.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Well, I'm happy to report this ends with a somewhat happy ending !!!!! My stroller was indeed stolen, but the thief ditched my backpack ( 100+euro backpack) ! To those that have this happen, KEEP on lost and found . I called them several times before I had someone really search for my bag ( the most important item lost) The stroller was a thrift store purchase made strictly for this trip ( my 3 yr old doesn't typically sit well) so in the end wasn't a big loss. I really really hope they needed to use it more than I , or I hope it collapses on their fingers and makes them bleed. I feel Iike warning everyone I see, don't bring your valuable stroller to Disney!! I thought we were immune!!

Glad you got the backpack back at least!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Well, I'm happy to report this ends with a somewhat happy ending !!!!! My stroller was indeed stolen, but the thief ditched my backpack ( 100+euro backpack) ! To those that have this happen, KEEP on lost and found . I called them several times before I had someone really search for my bag ( the most important item lost) The stroller was a thrift store purchase made strictly for this trip ( my 3 yr old doesn't typically sit well) so in the end wasn't a big loss. I really really hope they needed to use it more than I , or I hope it collapses on their fingers and makes them bleed. I feel Iike warning everyone I see, don't bring your valuable stroller to Disney!! I thought we were immune!!

I'm glad to see it worked out (somewhat)!

 

[staceyeileen]

There are so many strollers on the market that sell for under $75 new that there is no way that a secondary black market of stolen used strollers could sell for $100 each.

Sorry, I just have to laugh at this. I've sold used strollers for HUNDREDS on craigslist. Do you know how much nice strollers cost these days? A $500 new stroller is not unusual, and some are over $1,000. Granted, the OPs stroller doesn't seem to fit into this category but maybe the thief doesn't know the difference.

OP, glad it worked out for you!

 

[tup1830]

For all those that say to get a cheap stroller for disney....

The reason why some people spend good money on a stroller (i spent over $1000) was so that my daughter is super comfortable in it, it handles everything i need and is super easy to navigate.

Most people use their stroller sparingly while at home, but in Disney, you're using it a lot more.

If people talk about being comfortable (clothes, shoes, hats, etc) why wouldn't you want your little one to be the most comfortable possible for a day that will be draining to them?!?!?

With all the technological advances from disney, plus them manning a person for stroller parking...why not have a stroller check?

 

[mom2rtk]

With all the technological advances from disney, plus them manning a person for stroller parking...why not have a stroller check?

Why not go one better and let you check the kid with it?

 

[JimmyV]

Sorry, I just have to laugh at this.

Sorry, but you aren't going to find enough of those at WDW to make a theft ring worthwhile. Those high end strollers are easy to describe and spot. Police would have no trouble tracking them down on the secondary market. That is, assuming the thief even getgs out of the park with one. The strollers that people take to Disney are 99% of the under $75 Graco variety.

 

[JimmyV]

With all the technological advances from disney, plus them manning a person for stroller parking...why not have a stroller check?

Why not slap a MB on it and allow the RFID system to track its every move!