Rolling backpack update 2/4-2/13/05!!!

[Laugh O. Grams]

Good news to all of you anti-Rolling Backpack people:

When we were at the parks last week, for 10 days, mind you, we only saw 1, count 'em 1, rolling backpack the whole time!! The way everyone was going on in the last thread about the horrors of the rolling backpacks, people getting kneecapped, children crushed, vacation ruined, etc., I thought I'd see them everywhere!!! I guess it's safe for everyone to go back to the parks and enjoy themselves again!

 

[safetymom]

I was at MK today and saw 2 of them.

 

[Rafikifan]

Good news to all of you anti-Rolling Backpack people:

When we were at the parks last week, for 10 days, mind you, we only saw 1, count 'em 1, rolling backpack the whole time!! The way everyone was going on in the last thread about the horrors of the rolling backpacks, people getting kneecapped, children crushed, vacation ruined, etc., I thought I'd see them everywhere!!! I guess it's safe for everyone to go back to the parks and enjoy themselves again!

There's probably a reason for that. After the controversy and varying answers I emailed WDW and asked them if rolling backpacks were allowed. I got an email back saying someone would be in touch with me (which I really didn't expect.) A very nice CM PHONED me and told me that they are not allowed to be rolled in the parks and not allowed on/MK attractions. He said that they request guest store them in lockers but unfortunately many guests ignore that and walk on past the lockers. He said that if they are carried on one's back a CM probably won't say anything but that CM's are told to stop anyone rolling one and ask them to please use the lockers and since it is an ever growing problem recently that they are instructing CM's to be much more viligant in enforcing the rules. He re-iterated it was due to safety hazards for other guests. Please no flames, I am just letting you know what Disney said their policy is.

 

[cyndibelle]

we went the second week of feb with ours and had no problems...rolled right up to some rides...no one ever said anything to us....i think that disney and for that matter alot of companies will tell you what there policy is and tell you what you want to hear...as in our cm's are to tell people with them to carry them on their backs if they see them rolling them..just like people who smoke....i have seen many people smoke in whatever area of disney they want...and no cm is walking up to them saying excuse me miss or sir...you need to walk all the way down there..around the corner....and smoke...thank you..have a magical day...they know we have paid good money to come to their resorts parks etc..and no one wants to hear someone telling them to put something on their back or put out that cigarette ...cause 9 out of 10 times they know what they are gonna hear...lets not start this foolish backpack stuff again...

 

[Philly81]

we went the second week of feb with ours and had no problems...rolled right up to some rides...no one ever said anything to us....i think that disney and for that matter alot of companies will tell you what there policy is and tell you what you want to hear...as in our cm's are to tell people with them to carry them on their backs if they see them rolling them..just like people who smoke....i have seen many people smoke in whatever area of disney they want...and no cm is walking up to them saying excuse me miss or sir...you need to walk all the way down there..around the corner....and smoke...thank you..have a magical day...they know we have paid good money to come to their resorts parks etc..and no one wants to hear someone telling them to put something on their back or put out that cigarette ...cause 9 out of 10 times they know what they are gonna hear...lets not start this foolish backpack stuff again...

Everyone who travels to Disney spends lots of money. Does that give anyone carte blanche to ignore the rules? Just because you "might" get away with something doesn't make it right. I'm not going to respond any further since I am not the judge of anyone's morals but sometimes people astound me with their attitudes. It's no wonder so many children that I teach have no respect for authority.

 

[cyndibelle]

breakin the law ...breakin the law....come on its a backpack for god sakes....but if it wasnt that ..it would be a stroller or people who walk backwards...or people who walk on the wrong side of the street ...or or something...people are people everyone is different...everyone has their reason for doing their thing...get over it and enjoy your vacation...you know to disney world...the MOST MAGICAL place on earth!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

we went the second week of feb with ours and had no problems...rolled right up to some rides...no one ever said anything to us....i think that disney and for that matter alot of companies will tell you what there policy is and tell you what you want to hear...as in our cm's are to tell people with them to carry them on their backs if they see them rolling them..just like people who smoke....i have seen many people smoke in whatever area of disney they want...and no cm is walking up to them saying excuse me miss or sir...you need to walk all the way down there..around the corner....and smoke...thank you..have a magical day...they know we have paid good money to come to their resorts parks etc..and no one wants to hear someone telling them to put something on their back or put out that cigarette ...cause 9 out of 10 times they know what they are gonna hear...lets not start this foolish backpack stuff again...

We returned on Tuesday and only saw rollers 2x. One was a huge, bright yellow, soft sided cooler, no way would it fit on a ride or in a locker!!

Since you mentioned smoking I have seen a CM direct a smoker, who was smoking in a non-designated area, to a designated area. Most recenty was on Tuesday 2/22 outside TT at Epcot. The woman was asked nicely to move to the smoking area and to extinguish the cigarette until that time. This is something I have seen many many times - exactly the senario you describe - at all of the Disney Parks.

Of course who knows if WDW will display the same enforcement of a rolling back-pack rule but I have seen them warn a couple entering the park that they would be expected to carry, not roll the backpack.

TJ

 

[foxfire]

People smoking outside designated areas bother me more than the rolling backpacks. I have family members with asthma who are affected badly by cigarette smoke. We try very hard to avoid it but do run into smokers from time to time who are in restricted areas.

Of course, I have never been the victim of a roll by attack. I might find myself pretty bothered if that did happen.

 

[civileng68]

Do we have to really get another Roller thread started? It starts off innocently and ends up a HUGE debate about people breaking rules. The people who really think that murder is not as bad as a roller and that the "rule breakers" are such a big deal really need to rethink their priorities as it just seems so juvenile to me. In fact there's more things ON THESE FORUMS worth fighting about 100X more than this topic, yet, as in the "You know you've been on these forums too long when" topic, some just HAVE to be right. REGARDLESS of the situation.

 

[HayGan]

I'm not really familiar with the whole rolling backpack controversy but I can't help wondering why people think that rolling backpacks are terrible. How could they possibly be worse than strollers. My double stroller is about 15 times bigger and heavier than my Gap rolling backpack. I'm not planning on using my backpack in the park but I was planning on using my stroller

 

[Sandyincanada]

After tripping on a backpack a week ago, I can answer that one, lol. You can easily see a stroller at eye level, they are hard to miss but to see some of those rolling backpacks, you have to be looking down as many are very low to the ground. I didn't see too many of them when we were there.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Just curious - Do people bring these on their rides or do they have someone hold them while they ride (like a child swap)? It's one thing to park a stroller while riding, but would someone park this? Can they possibly ride with in their laps?

 

[WDWBetsy]

I think it just comes down to people being courteous and aware of their surroundings (not stopping in the middle of the walkway, not looking where they're going, waving a cigarette around, bumping into you in line, sticking their feet in the walkway, etc.). When I first met my husband, he had no clue when he would be in someone's way or didn't think about looking before backing up in a supermarket aisle. He has since been trained.

I am very conscious of how my actions may affect someone else. As someone who is very klutzy (mainly due to having a form of MD), and who often sprains her ankle on a little rock on the sidewalk, I watch where I'm walking constantly and always try to keep my arms and legs out of other people's space. I would feel horrible if I bumped into someone or hurt them in any way.

The majority of people who run into others (be it bumping into or running a stroller or rolling backpack into you) at Disney World are not meaning to hurt anyone intentionally. I think it's just a side effect of being a) tired from all the walking, b) blissfully unware due to all the magic, or c) so full from that last PS that their brains are in a food coma. Then there are those who just don't pay attention and get mad when they are the ones who hurt someone.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Rafikifan]

The difference between strollers and rolling backpacks is that strollers are pushed in front of you where rolling backpacks are behind you and tend to sway from side to side. I do NOT think anyone would purposely run into someone else but those things seem hard to manage for some people.

 

[jazznms]

Why do u need that much stuff

 

[civileng68]

Why do u need that much stuff

lol, If you're a man, one thing is obvious, you're not married yet!

This is a daily question in the life of a married man.

 

[wendy1974]

I think it just comes down to people being courteous and aware of their surroundings (not stopping in the middle of the walkway, not looking where they're going, waving a cigarette around, bumping into you in line, sticking their feet in the walkway, etc.). When I first met my husband, he had no clue when he would be in someone's way or didn't think about looking before backing up in a supermarket aisle. He has since been trained.

I am very conscious of how my actions may affect someone else. As someone who is very klutzy (mainly due to having a form of MD), and who often sprains her ankle on a little rock on the sidewalk, I watch where I'm walking constantly and always try to keep my arms and legs out of other people's space. I would feel horrible if I bumped into someone or hurt them in any way.

The majority of people who run into others (be it bumping into or running a stroller or rolling backpack into you) at Disney World are not meaning to hurt anyone intentionally. I think it's just a side effect of being a) tired from all the walking, b) blissfully unware due to all the magic, or c) so full from that last PS that their brains are in a food coma. Then there are those who just don't pay attention and get mad when they are the ones who hurt someone.

Just my 2 cents.

I totally agree with you and I think that you hit the nail right on the head. We can all agree to disagree but when it comes right down to it for some of us the issue may be rolling backpacks for others smokers and for others strollers. The thing that connects all of these pet peeves is that they are done by rude people who have the attitude that it is their vacation and they will do whatever they want. When you have individuals or families in the Parks that show a constant disregard and lack of respect for those around them then you have a problem. These are the people slinging their rolling backpack into your knee/blowing smoke in your face as you walk infront of It's A Small World/mowing you down as they run into the back of your legs with their double stroller/(insert your experience here)

 

[HopperFan]

Then there are those who just don't pay attention and get mad when they are the ones who hurt someone.

We were leisurely walking with the flow of the crowds when suddenly a rapidly approaching family of adults, clearly speeding in the Fantasyland zone, began to cut their way through the crowd. A twenty-something in their group was driving a large rolling backpack vehicle. She was traveling way too fast and paying no attention to the vehicle she was towing. While we all saw their caravan approaching we were not aware of the vehicle in tow until the last minute because of it's proximity to the ground. Fortunately my DD (11) is very athletic and agile and attemped to hurdle/jump ahead to avoid a collision. The driver never slowed, swerved or made any attempt to avoid an accident. She clipped the back of my daughter's leg. At this point, due to speed and poor driving, she lost control of the vehicle which then rolled. Unable to correct herself, she also went in a forward motion. The driver did not fall (she was still able to keep upright by holding onto her vehicle) but placed her rear bumper high in the air, at which point another member of her caravan rear-ended her. We stopped to check the damage to my DD's leg and when we looked up - expecting an apology or possible exchange of insurance cards all we got was a very dirty unmagical look as if we had somehow been the cause of this accident. I venture to say that had we called the Mickey Patrol she would have cited for speeding, following too closely, not yielding the right of way, reckless driving, lack of control of her vehicle and based on the look in her eyes....as possible DUI

YES, it all boils down to people being rude. While I don't like those backpacks - the backpack did not cause the accident - the guest caused the accident.

 

[HayGan]

YES, it all boils down to people being rude. While I don't like those backpacks - the backpack did not cause the accident - the guest caused the accident.

That is exactly what I was thinking! I don't understand why people get all upset at lifeless objects when its is the humans that are (or are supposed to be) responsible for the items that are the problem.

 

[civileng68]

That is exactly what I was thinking! I don't understand why people get all upset at lifeless objects when its is the humans that are (or are supposed to be) responsible for the items that are the problem.

Exactly!

What is boils down to is that anything can be dangerous if in the wrong hands. Sure the strollers are "PUSHED' not pulled, but that's mighty technical when the people are doing the pushing. People are responsible and in many cases those strollers are just as bad and in my opinion MUCH worse since theres 50 million of them, when the people pushing are inconsiderate.