safe to leave strollers unattended ?

[Sunnywho]

We once had a meal voucher (which was a paper certificate back then) stolen out of our diaper bag attached to the stroller.

Granted our dumb for putting the voucher in the diaper bag but someone had to have rummaged through it (or seen us putting it in). It's odd that they took the voucher and not the whole bag.

We were broke and needed that voucher!
Anyway we were careful in trips to come to leave only the stroller and not the stuff.

 

[jkid721133]

I just got back from a trip 12/25-12/30, the busiest time of Disneys year. I have a expensive Joovy double stroller. I left it in stroller parking at various places all week and had zero issues. In fact,this is the third trip with that same stroller and I never even thought twice. I think you are ok.

I didnt leave valuables in there either.

 

[PanamaMike]

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

I spotted a squirrel making its way through a row of strollers at Sea World in November.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I saw someone starting to take a stroller that wasn't theirs in front of Peter Pan.

The wife happened to look over and said to her husband "Someone is taking our stroller."
We got out of his way while he leaped over the chains to stop them.

It was full of their stuff including having a balloon tied to it.

It looked to me like the people taking it didn't care and just wanted something for their tired child to ride in and these peoples stroller just happened to be the first one they saw - I did see the small child climbing into it.

The man did get his stroller back from them and didn't join the que again. I'm sure it put a damper on their trip since I bet they didn't want to leave the stroller unattended anymore.

I think I'll recommend the bike lock idea to my sister if she ever goes.

 

[creamypuffs]

are there also stroller parking areas in front or near all restaurants or do the restaurants tell you to fold it up and bring to your table?

 

[notnothin]

We use our buggyguard stroller lock on every trip. The device is quick and easy to use and we no longer have to worry about thieves.

 

[aubriee]

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.

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.

Since our last name is so common, this is probably what we'll do. We may just ask them to put my grandson's first name on it. It's not that common. I'll probably also purchase the insurance though.

 

[Wadecool]

are there also stroller parking areas in front or near all restaurants or do the restaurants tell you to fold it up and bring to your table?

It depend on the eatery. At Pecos Bills, we rolled the stroller right up to the table and DD ate from there.

 

[jpolak]

Other than having a CM move it we have never had a problem. I have even left my backpack under the stroller adn it's never been touched. I don't leave anything valuable in it, but it's still never been bothered.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We didn't have any problems leaving our strollers unattended, but I wouldn't leave anything valuable in them. I had a small waistpack and DH carried a small backpack and we used that for our park essentials and to carry our IDs, cash, cameras, cell phones, etc. I would only leave items in the stroller that you wouldn't mind having to replace if needed (e.g., ponchos, change of clothes, water bottles, snacks, etc.). The CMs may move your stroller around to make room and keep the stroller holding area organized, but we never had any of our strollers disappear.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I have a Jeep Liberty stroller. I put red ribbon all over the handles and stickers on the cupholders as a way of personalizing mine. We take our bags with us when we leave it somewhere. We have never had an issue with anything being taken from it or it being taken. It has been moved (up to 100 yards away) at times so it is a fun adventure trying to find it.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Just want to note since I last replied to this thread we are

stoller free!!!!!!!!




Woohooo!

 

[thatcrazydisneygirl]

More than twelve years ago, we had a serious problem with our family stroller being taken. To remedy this problem, we put what appeared to be a dirtied diaper in a bag on one of the stroller's handles. It solved the problem pretty quickly.

 

[bstnldy]

good question..I was wondering the same thing......from all the posts it seems there is nothing to worry about. =)

 

[ohanaMAMA]

the only trouble we ever ran into (aside from the CM stroller relocation) was our stroller cover being stolen. It was a very rainy day and someone just walked off with it. I was MAD poor DD had to sit in a wet stroller all the way back to our resort.. and we had to take time out to go buy a new cover and had to rent a disney stroller the rest of the day while our stoller dried out. but.. its Disney.. and you get over it.

 

[Tara922c]

More than likely, no one is going to take your stroller. If it is taken, it was most likely either moved or someone took it thinking it was theirs. I would highly suggest tyeing a ribbon on the handle, or put something on the stroller that distinguishes it from the rest of the strollers. You would be shocked to see how many strollers are left after the parks are closed. (just don't leave valuables in the stroller, or even a bag with non-valuables in it. Most theives want something more valuable than a stroller, they take the stroller--take the bag--ditch the stroller. And yes there are thieves who pay to get into disney!! My friend had her wallet stollen out of her backpack while in a line!)

I had a friend go to Disney several years ago. On their last day, they visited MK before driving back to Texas. When they got home, they took their stroller out of the car, and realised... it wasn't their stroller. Not much they could do. (Luckily it was a 10 dollar umbrella stroller).

The way I look at it is, I paid 100 bucks for my stroller. It has spent a total of 16 days at Disney PLUS countless trips to the zoo, parks, festivals, the mall, ect. If someone steals my stroller, I still feel that I am ahead. The rental fees are outrageous!

 

[gilsan]

We have never had any trouble with leaving our stroller in fact we have even left parcels in the bottom and never had trouble.

We did however catch this guy taking things out of the bottom of someone else's stroller at Epcot.

As far as I know he is still at large.

 

[jennyjinx3]

We have never had any trouble with leaving our stroller in fact we have even left parcels in the bottom and never had trouble.

We did however catch this guy taking things out of the bottom of someone else's stroller at Epcot.

As far as I know he is still at large.

 

[mama2ethan04]

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!!!!

So that was 2009? My McClaren was stolen from MK in September of 2009. I know it was stolen, because I found it posted FS on the Orlando Craigslist a few weeks later. I had someone contact the CL seller, so I got all her info. Then I reported her to Disney and the Orlando police.

I also did some cyber-stalking of her....only to find out that she had many friends on Facebook that worked for Disney. I've always wondered if one of them was letting her into the Parks.

Hopefully, my dilligence shut her down for good and she never ruined another family's vacation. It's tough to explain to your 4 year old that someone decided to steal her pretty pink stroller and her light up Minnie toy on your 1st day of a 7 day vacation. To this day she still talks about the "mean lady" that stole her stroller.

 

[realhousewife]

We took our stroller on our trip in Nov. I put a ring of lime green ducttape on the handle to help me find it in the crowds b/c the CM's do move them a lot.

Also, we mistakenly left our $900 video camera in its case on the seat of the stroller right in front of Pirates of the Caribbean during a crowded afternoon. We realized it 1/2 way through the ride. I ran pretty fast to find the stroller after we got off the ride. To my relief, it was still there! A CM had moved it to the parking area and put the sunshade down over it. It was a pretty small case and would have been easy for anyone to put it over their shoulder and walk off with it.

I don't recommend leaving your valuables out in the open, but I feel that the MK is a pretty safe place. If people are shelling out thousands of dollars on a trip, they are pretty unlikely to steal while they are there.