safe to leave strollers unattended ?

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We have never had a problem, but we don't take expensive strollers either, ours are out of strollers so we just take a cheap umbrella for DS4 to rest his feet during long walks at Epcot and AK.

 

[stormer]

We have brought our stroller on our past 7 trips. I prefer to have it so my kids are comfortable. I don't leave anything in it and look at it as the stroller can always be replaced if something happens.

Last August it rained so we put the rain cover on our Maclaren and went into Pizza Planet to wait for the rain to pass. We came out and our stroller was moved and our rain cover was stolen. I was really mad (I bet someone took it for their stroller) but it didn't stop me from bringing my stroller back on our next trip. We went back this past February and I spent $30 on a new raincover so of course we had perfect weather. Not a drop of rain the entire 8 days!

 

[Art 1]

Years ago, maybe 18 yrs ago. When we came out of it's a small world our rented stroller was gone. Sure enough I found it parked a few hours later, the people did not remove our name from it. I removed their things, set them on the ground and took the stroller.

 

[jerseyshoregirl]

YES....strollers do get stolen at Disney World. Last April 2009 we went on a 7 day vacation to DN staying at the GF. We went with another family and their Baby Jogger stroller was stolen.....the saddest part of all was the toddlers handmade blanket was covering the seat and they still took it. A blanket the toddler sleeps with EVERY night so as you could imagine not only the stroller being stolen, but the blanket also was upsetting to all of us. We were hoping that maybe the person that took the stroller would at least leave the blanket somewhere in the park but it was never found.
We were told by Disney security that this does happen on occassion, its just not something you hear about. 3 days later when leaving the DN park we had seen another couple with security and they were so upset, I had to ask them what happened seeing they were standing there with a child under 1 and a toddler (thinking their stroller was stolen) and sure enough their stroller was stolen, diaper bag and all.
The GF at first gave our friends a temp. umbrella stroller to borrow, but our friends drove 45 mins to Babies R Us in Orlando for a replacement identical stroller along with a BIKE LOCK! After that we all locked our strollers together. We would just tell the staff on hand at rides that did the moving of strollers that ours were simply locked up. We did try to park them in more out of the way areas and plenty of the times we'd come out of the show and ours would be solo in a spot, but they were still there!
We leave tomorrow for Disney and we are bringing good strollers (2).....we plan to lock them up with two locks, both locks going thru both front and back wheels.
Having a stroller stolen at any park is a huge inconvenience, especially when you travel via flight and need that stroller. My Best suggestion....bring a lock if you don't want to take the chance. It could really happen anywhere!!
Have a great trip and DN!!!!

 

[NickandNorah]

I have been with strollers 4 times and never had a problem either!

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

We haven't had a problem yet with anyone taking our stroller, aside from it being moved by CMs. There was one occaision where my DW accidently left her purse in the bottom of the stroller, almost in plain sight, when we went on the TTA, and I remember us looking at it from the ride hoping it was still in there! Fortunately, we had parked in a shadow, and we got luck that time, (it will NOT happen again). We've always decorated the stroller, for easy ID, and whatnot. The last trip our stroller was a "lemon"... a Rockstar umbrella, bought new for the trip. I opened it up at the airport to put DD1 into it, and presto, one of the brakes broke off....it went downhill from there, to the point I joked about wishing someone WOULD take it.

For DD2, I did not want to bring her clunky stroller, so we bought a new one, a Graco Mosaic (with the Mickey designs on it), and have test used it at the mall a few times to make sure it wouldn't fall apart ASAP. This is our last trip with a stroller, and I think this time I am bringing a small lock for the back wheels, I am not sure if a mickey stroller might be too tempting for some. I hate to think that others would do that, especially at somewhere like Disney, but I work somewhere where theft happens pretty much every day, from all walks of life. It happens.

 

[bytheblood]

Strollers do get stolen as do the contents that are left in them. If it were me, I would buy a cheap stroller and take it with me just in case. If you do not want to lug it home, you could always pay it forward.

 

[creamypuffs]

Bumping this topic and had a question. I read thru all the responses and will definitely plan on putting something on our stroller to easily identify and I plan on using a lock to just lock our wheels together.

It has been awhile since I've been to Disney and I didn't have a child before so I probably also didn't notice it. Are there actually stroller parking - specific areas - at every ride and show? For example, if I am heading to the It's A Small World, is there a stroller parking right AT the entrance/exit area of that ride?

Also, when people say that the CM moves the strollers to more appropriate area, how far are we talking about? Is it still within the same stroller parking area? OR are we talking about potentially moving a stroller from the It's A Small World ride to the Flying Dumbo stroller area or farther (just examples but not necessarily these rides)?

Thanks.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Bumping this topic and had a question. I read thru all the responses and will definitely plan on putting something on our stroller to easily identify and I plan on using a lock to just lock our wheels together.

It has been awhile since I've been to Disney and I didn't have a child before so I probably also didn't notice it. Are there actually stroller parking - specific areas - at every ride and show? For example, if I am heading to the It's A Small World, is there a stroller parking right AT the entrance/exit area of that ride?

Also, when people say that the CM moves the strollers to more appropriate area, how far are we talking about? Is it still within the same stroller parking area? OR are we talking about potentially moving a stroller from the It's A Small World ride to the Flying Dumbo stroller area or farther (just examples but not necessarily these rides)?

Thanks.

if I remember correctly, there is stroller parking right outside of It's a Small World. When our rented stroller got moved by CM's, it was never far away.
I think once it was as far as from Peter Pan to outside mickey's Philarmagic. But generally if you park it at the stroller parking it will be where you left it.

 

[chartle]

Bumping this topic and had a question. I read thru all the responses and

1. will definitely plan on putting something on our stroller to easily identify

2. and I plan on using a lock to just lock our wheels together.

It has been awhile since I've been to Disney and I didn't have a child before so I probably also didn't notice it.

3. Are there actually stroller parking - specific areas - at every ride and show? For example, if I am heading to the It's A Small World, is there a stroller parking right AT the entrance/exit area of that ride?

4. Also, when people say that the CM moves the strollers to more appropriate area, how far are we talking about? Is it still within the same stroller parking area? OR are we talking about potentially moving a stroller from the It's A Small World ride to the Flying Dumbo stroller area or farther (just examples but not necessarily these rides)?

Thanks.

1. Good idea

2. Did not read all the posts in this thread or if I did at one time forgot what was posted, but a lot of people start the vacation locking their wheels and by the second day just give up because it becomes a pain.

3. there are designated stroller parking areas but not at every ride. Also there are designated no stroller parking areas.

4. if you park in a designated area it may get moved within that area. If not in a designated parking area it will get moved to one. You may have to look around a bit. Bottom line always park in a designated area.

One major area that always seems to be a problem is the Land at Epcot. You can't bring one into the building.

 

[Finally08]

How timely....today was our first time ever to rent a stroller (dd just needed a break) and someone took it.
We were in a designated parking area at epcot...when we parked it there were maybe 50 strollers. When we came out there were about 15 and hers was gone. We spent 10 minutes scouring the area to see if it was moved and never found it. Gone, along with our stuff.

 

[aubriee]

We plan on renting a stroller from one of the offsite rental places when we take my GS down there in Feb. I'm sure alot of people do the same thing. I know the rental places put a card with your name on it on the back of the strollers, but our last name is very common. I thought about taking a bandana to tie to it, but again I'm sure most people do this too and there are only so many colors of bandanas. What unusual item do you use to mark your offsite rental stroller? and if someone does take it, do the rental places charge you a certain price since they are all used? and then do you have to pay for another rental?

 

[deegack]

We plan on renting a stroller from one of the offsite rental places when we take my GS down there in Feb. I'm sure alot of people do the same thing. I know the rental places put a card with your name on it on the back of the strollers, but our last name is very common. I thought about taking a bandana to tie to it, but again I'm sure most people do this too and there are only so many colors of bandanas. What unusual item do you use to mark your offsite rental stroller? and if someone does take it, do the rental places charge you a certain price since they are all used? and then do you have to pay for another rental?

I don't think off site rental put your name on the strollers. The Disney rentals do. If an offsite rental stroller is lost or stolen you have to pay to replace it which can be several hundred dollars. Most places offer insurance which is cheap and I would get.

However, I have brought my high end stroller to Disney and never had a problem. So has my sister and she never had an issue We didn't leave anything of value in it and didn't leave it for hours.

 

[mmlooney]

Bumping this topic and had a question. I read thru all the responses and will definitely plan on putting something on our stroller to easily identify and I plan on using a lock to just lock our wheels together.

It has been awhile since I've been to Disney and I didn't have a child before so I probably also didn't notice it. Are there actually stroller parking - specific areas - at every ride and show? For example, if I am heading to the It's A Small World, is there a stroller parking right AT the entrance/exit area of that ride?

Also, when people say that the CM moves the strollers to more appropriate area, how far are we talking about? Is it still within the same stroller parking area? OR are we talking about potentially moving a stroller from the It's A Small World ride to the Flying Dumbo stroller area or farther (just examples but not necessarily these rides)?

Thanks.

The farthest I have seen my stroller get moved was at AK. It was at the safari ride and it was moved to a different parking area. A CM showed me where it was. We have been to disney 5 times in the past year and a half and have not had ANY issues with anyone taking our stroller. (it is a nice $700 bumbleride double too) The one thing about the locks is that when they circulate them if you have a lock on the wheel it will be really difficult for the CM to move it.

 

[BillBrasky]

Leave ours unattended for hours on end all the time, and have always gotten them back. Sometimes even with the kids still in them.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

We plan on renting a stroller from one of the offsite rental places when we take my GS down there in Feb. I'm sure alot of people do the same thing?

We rented from Orlando Stroller Rentals and they have a small tag (flourescent yellow, I think) with your family name. We were there in September and while I know the parks are busier at other times of the year but we never had an issue once with finding our stroller. All we tied to it was a small orange ribbon in the center of the handle. It was amazing how easy it was to spot. I think you would be fine picking a bandana or maybe two.

I would recommend purchasing the insurance that will replace the stroller if it is lost or stolen. Otherwise I believe you are responsible for the replacement cost. The stroller we had was valued at approx. $300.

 

[Daisy-J&D]

The farthest I have seen my stroller get moved was at AK. It was at the safari ride and it was moved to a different parking area.

This happened to us too. Our stroller was moved in other parks but it was moved and hidden @ the safari. We had a moment of panic after checking all of the stroller and not finding it. It ended up tucked WAY back in a corner behind a bush!!

 

[raidermatt]

While every ride does not necessarily have it's only stroller "parking lot", there are designated areas in the general vicinity of every ride. Some rides just share an area. It's best to look for it and leave your stroller there because if you leave it anywhere else, a CM is going to move to the parking area anyway.

Once it is in a designated area, it may get moved within the area but not to another area.

We have brought a decent umbrella stroller (think about $100 retail) on every trip and have never had it stolen. We never leave anything of value in it.

If you are going to bring a double I'd make sure you have a rain cover for it. Many areas are uncovered. We just use a poncho but I doubt that will fit over a big stroller like that.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you keep food in the stroller, seal it in something. Just last month, spotted a squirrel raiding a stroller in Animal Kingdom.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

We plan on renting a stroller from one of the offsite rental places when we take my GS down there in Feb. I'm sure alot of people do the same thing. I know the rental places put a card with your name on it on the back of the strollers, but our last name is very common. I thought about taking a bandana to tie to it, but again I'm sure most people do this too and there are only so many colors of bandanas. What unusual item do you use to mark your offsite rental stroller? and if someone does take it, do the rental places charge you a certain price since they are all used? and then do you have to pay for another rental?

We rented from Orlando Stroller Rentals, and they do put your last names on them. It's a very obvious sign, and I think that most people would spot their own name easily. While it seems that a lot of people somehow mark their strollers, I was surprised at how many different methods were used. We used a bright red leftover Christmas ribbon to tie to ours. But like I said...the name tags are so big that I think it would be hard to accidentally take someone else's if you're paying attention at all.

If the stroller gets stolen, you do have to pay to replace it. You can get insurance if you're that worried, but it wasn't something that caused me any concern. There are just so many strollers all over the place, the odds of it happening to you are slim.

Always expect your stroller to be moved by CMs, so don't panic if it's not where you left it. We sorta treated the strollers like a modified valet service...we'd park it in an out-of-the way area and always expected to go on a stroller hunt when we came out of a ride.


ETA: the other thing you could do is rent the stroller under a different last name (i.e., make your reservation under a "fake" name). The name on your credit card doesn't have to match the name on the stroller. You can probably also ask your rental place to put a different last name on the tag just to eliminate the possibility of confusion.