Sick and Tired of Being Attacked by Strollers

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I too have been the victim of stroller wrecklessness.

and sometimes those strollers are carrying free-loading infants who didn't even pay to be in the park!

 

[nkereina]

The other thing to think about is maybe, just maybe they had no idea they actually ran into you. We have a larger tandem double stroller (we call it our limo because of how long it is) and I know there have been times I ran into my DH's heels or bumped into things and not even realized it. I really try to be cautious and courteous with my driving, but sometimes accidents happen and are not realized.

If you have a stroller, you shouldn't be walking in such close proximity to someone to ram into them without realizing it. If you're driving a car in traffic, you should space yourself so you don't rear end someone. If you're in the grocery store, you should not be so close to someone to ram them with the grocery cart. Sure accidents happen but if drivers of all things would allow for personal space and are aware of their surroundings, it would happen less frequently. I think OP wanting to take such drastic steps is unnecessary. If stroller driver apologizes, there's nothing left to do then IMO.

 

[marmalade]

If you have a stroller, you shouldn't be walking in such close proximity to someone to ram into them without realizing it. If you're driving a car in traffic, you should space yourself so you don't rear end someone. If you're in the grocery store, you should not be so close to someone to ram them with the grocery cart. Sure accidents happen but if drivers of all things would allow for personal space and are aware of their surroundings, it would happen less frequently. I think OP wanting to take such drastic steps is unnecessary. If stroller driver apologizes, there's nothing left to do then IMO.

You obviously have never been to WDW during a busy time period (xmas, easter), or after a parade is over or after the fireworks. There really isn't much personal space in these situations. You can have all the personal space in the world but if someone just decides to change direction without any warning you can't just stop the stroller or grocery cart or CAR.

 

[stitch1094]

I understand your frustration but as a father of 4 who has been pushing a stroller through WDW for the last 10 years, you also need to understand how many times people will suddenly stop dead in their tracks and/or dart in front of you unexpectedly. Many times people are so wrapped up in their own vacation experience that they can ruin someone else's.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

If you have a stroller, you shouldn't be walking in such close proximity to someone to ram into them without realizing it. If you're driving a car in traffic, you should space yourself so you don't rear end someone. If you're in the grocery store, you should not be so close to someone to ram them with the grocery cart. Sure accidents happen but if drivers of all things would allow for personal space and are aware of their surroundings, it would happen less frequently. I think OP wanting to take such drastic steps is unnecessary. If stroller driver apologizes, there's nothing left to do then IMO.

After the 2nd incident this trip, we were very attentive to who was behind us... DW and I were constantly aware of who was behind us and moved away from strollers and ECVs... we warned each other.. "Stroller behind you...", and "Stroller coming...".

While on stroller attack alert.... I noticed a lot of people in a hurry pushed their strollers within inches of the people in front of them (maybe family, maybe not). It sort of reminds me of how people drive here in Maryland... if I allow a safe distance between me and the car in front of me... someone is bound to cut me off and drive into that space.

I remember pushing DS in his stroller at WDW when he just turned 3 and it was difficult to maneuver the stroller in a crowd. I remember people trying to cut us off in a hurry.

Not hurrying has really made a difference in our trips to WDW. We don't watch the fireworks from the hub or Main St. I don't want to be in that exiting crowd. If stuck in a crowd, instead of following the cattle herd... we grab a coke float and just sit and wait it out... or duck into a shop. And if we really don't have to see the parade or fireworks, it's a great time to do rides with no wait. And some rides offer a glimpse of fireworks. I'd really like to ride Astro Orbiter during the fireworks. I bet that's nice.

 

[Dizfan4life]

I too feel your pain. I've been run into by strollers not only at Disney World, but at our local malls. I've even encountered a member of a tour group stepping over the front of my stroller, with DD (2 1/2 at the time) in it, waiting for a parade to start on Main Street. This is something, unfortunately, that you need to just roll your eyes at and remember that it takes all sorts of people to make this world go around and that there is rude, inconsiderate, unruly individuals all around us and it is not going to get better over time. Just keep in mind that you are being the better person that respects others and who doesn't intentionally run other people over.

 

[WDSearcher]

Well, for the incidents I mentioned... I was more concerned about DW and DS to make sure they were OK. I was irritated but it obviously was not worth doing anything about...

While I'd feel better following them and confronting them about hitting us, I probably wouldn't do it. If they were still nearby (didn't take off), I would confront them... if they apologized, I'd probably ask them to please be careful.... if I got an entitled rude attitude, I'd probably ask the nearest CM for security... although I'm sure the CM/security would be more interested in making sure we were OK and happy than to chase down someone....like other posters said... what good would it do?

I am thankful for the many kind people that come to WDW and certainly overshadow the rude people. When at WDW, I try to do little acts of kindness whether it's letting someone go ahead of me in line, or giving away a trading pin, sharing fast passes, giving up my seat on a bus, and that kind of stuff.

And that's the thing.

You had a couple of incidents during an entire vacation, and you willingly admit that the kind people certainly overshadow (and, I'm thinking, far outnumber) the rude people. So maybe just dwell less on the rude folks and celebrate the kind ones. And honestly? If you spend your trips to busy places -- WDW or wherever -- constantly looking for strollers that might hit you, you are actually far more likely to get hit than if you just go about your day. Because that awareness of "someone behind you" will cause you to take detours you hadn't planned or step over or walk faster or stop and shift direction -- all to avoid a stroller. At the same time, you'll be making sudden moves and changing direction and not watching what's in front of you (because you're constantly looking behind you), making it far more likely that YOU will run into someone else.

If you have to chase someone down and MAKE them apologize, they don't mean it. Would it really make you feel better to have a half-hearted, unsympathetic apology? And honestly ... if someone had accidentally rammed into you with a stroller and then spent the next five minutes feeling horrible about it and apologizing profusely, is that going to make your DW's ankle not hurt?

And calling security is, IMO, simply a huge over-reaction. If security were to arrive at all (because my guess is that "getting hit by a stroller" would be pretty low on the priority list against other security issues, unless you could prove it was premeditated and purposeful), would you truly not feel just a little silly filing a formal complaint because someone hit you with a stroller and didn't apologize?

 

[ols386]

I tend to find that sometimes In The World people move rather slowly and just when you think they are going to move or start moving they don't. i know that when I am using my stroller I am conscious of those in front of me but at the same time people need to move a bit quicker. Especially after the parades.

In very crowded areas, like following a parade, you can only walk as fast as the person (people) in front of you.

 

[thedonduck]

If you have a stroller, you shouldn't be walking in such close proximity to someone to ram into them without realizing it. If you're driving a car in traffic, you should space yourself so you don't rear end someone. If you're in the grocery store, you should not be so close to someone to ram them with the grocery cart. Sure accidents happen but if drivers of all things would allow for personal space and are aware of their surroundings, it would happen less frequently. I think OP wanting to take such drastic steps is unnecessary. If stroller driver apologizes, there's nothing left to do then IMO.

I guess I have to disagree with you. WDW (especially during the busy times) there is no real thing as personal space... see all the various threads/arguments about saving spots at a parade (I won't get into it here). There are many people crowded into small spaces and most people are worrying about getting themselves and their family to where ever they are trying to go in the quickest time. Many times said people (with or without strollers) make random/quick decisions and this is what causes the accidents. Many people get heels/toes run into because of a "little too late" decision. Like I said before, sometimes it happens and the "driver" doesn't even realize it... could that have been the case in any of these situations???

 

[maxiesmom]

I understand your frustration but as a father of 4 who has been pushing a stroller through WDW for the last 10 years, you also need to understand how many times people will suddenly stop dead in their tracks and/or dart in front of you unexpectedly. Many times people are so wrapped up in their own vacation experience that they can ruin someone else's.

This exactly. For every person that was hit by a crazy stroller nazi there is a good hearted stroller pushing person who has hit people because people keep cutting them off.

The bad behavior is not just on the part of the people with the strollers. There are a lot of idiots who seem to think playing chicken in the park with strollers is a good idea.

 

[Colleen27]

If you have a stroller, you shouldn't be walking in such close proximity to someone to ram into them without realizing it. If you're driving a car in traffic, you should space yourself so you don't rear end someone.

But just like in traffic, there are no shortage of those at Disney who see any bit of open space as a place to cut into to get where they're going 3 seconds quicker. Driving a stroller at Disney is like driving a car near a mall/shopping center at this time of year - if you leave more than a half car's length gap someone WILL shoehorn into it, and if you think you can wait until such time as you can maintain a safe following distance you may as well just park because you're not going anywhere.

 

[Lynn57]

Yes, I've been hit by strollers too in WDW. I tend not to dwell on them since I don't want to waste my vacation time being angry at random strangers that either have no idea I'm angry or could care less.

 

[Guzzi]

dude we have made 5 trips to the world and have never been hit with a stroller. You have to be aware of your surroundings and never stop in traffic, kinda like driving around NYC.... not to hard, just hit the gas and keep going

 

[Luv Bunnies]

It's not just people with strollers who tend to run into people. If you counted how many times you were run into, bumped or brushed by anyone or anything (including strollers or just people), I think you'd find that you were bumped by a person at least as many times, if not more, than you were by a stroller. You just notice the contact with a stroller more because it's metal or plastic and can hurt a lot more than an innocent bump by a person.

After a parade or fireworks, it's nearly impossible to walk with the crowd and hold your own space. There are simply too many people trying to go in all directions for anyone to maintain a few inches of space on each side, no matter how hard they try. This has become especially evident when travelling with my DS16 who has Asperger's and is extremely sensitive to being touched by strangers. Between DH, DS13 and me, we have to build a "family cushion" around him so that if anyone bumps him, it's us and not a stranger. We try to avoid mass exodus situations all together, because it's just too hard for him to deal with it.

 

[BLTLDZ]

Spare me. If I had a quarter for every time my ankles got rammed by a stroller or scooter, I would be rich. Keep calm & carry on! Don't let it ruin your day! It's disney! Strollers are everywhere! Do you think it's very fun for the stroller -pushing parent to have to navigate through crowds of inconsiderate people? Just saying! I watched this poor young mother trying to navigate a double strooler through massive crowds in MK last thursday...I felt so sorry for her, as people were cursing at her

Oh, and for the record, I do not have any children.

 

[KCMiller]

What I always feel bad about is the poor KID in the stroller. Seriously, watch their scared little faces sometimes in a crowd, especially when Mom or Dad is just shoving the stroller through the crowd like they're parting the Red Sea or something. Imagine what it must be like for them . . .


KC

 

[ols386]

dude we have made 5 trips to the world and have never been hit with a stroller. You have to be aware of your surroundings and never stop in traffic, kinda like driving around NYC.... not to hard, just hit the gas and keep going

Just because you've never been hit by a stoller, doesn't mean that many others have not. Consider yourself lucky.

I agree, you have to be aware of your surroundings whether you are steering a stroller, or just on foot walking.

 

[goofyernmost]

I think you need to be a little more aware of your surroundings if you are being hit that often with strollers. you know, anticipation, peripheral vision, that sort of thing.

I agree that's good advice but don't blame the victim. For the rest of our trip... we were constantly looking behind us in crowd situations making sure we were not being tailed by a stroller. But should I really have to walk with one eye looking behind me? The incident with the person hitting DS6 -- DS was behind the rope marking the parade route pointing at something (his arm was extended over the rope, and the person who clipped DS's arm was running and pushing the stroller very close to the rope. He was going so fast, had no control of the stroller.

Well I have been to Disney World 28 times since 1983 and Disneyland once. I have never been hit by a stroller, ETV or anything else. No one has ever bumped into me or even come close.

Kind of makes me wonder why others have such a problem. I'm not necessarily saying that the "victim" had a contributing factor in the situations, but it does seem a little odd that someone would get hit multiple times and others not at all.

I saw a lady get hit (slightly) by an ETV last week. I saw the whole thing. She and the person she was with were walking ahead of an older gentleman with an ETV. She had basically stopped to look at something and as the ETV person attempted to go around her she stepped into his path. He wasn't following too close before they stopped and had a clear path around them when he started to go. This woman went ballistic. First she screamed out, supposedly in pain and then turned around and proceeded to lay into the poor guy. He didn't run into her...she ran into him. You would have thought that he stole her first born or something. I usually stay out of these things but I couldn't stand it any longer so I headed over there. She and her friend did their screaming and by the time I got over there they had walked off. No visible damage was done except to the old fellow that by then was very upset (nice way for him to have to deal with WDW). I told him that I saw what happened and it wasn't his fault, and that he shouldn't let it bother him.

My point is that strollers and ETV's or Wheelchairs have as much right to be there as anyone else. Whenever there is a large crowd people have to be responsible for themselves and make sure that they are not in harms way. Others are not responsible for your safety...you are! Accidents do happen and I'm sure that unless there is a place to carve notches in the stroller to keep track of how many people they ran over in a day...I truly doubt it was done on purpose. Chill out and pay attention to your surroundings.

 

[BillBrasky]

This is why I never go to Disney without hiring a Brazilian tour group to flank me on all sides. They're great at shock aborption.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

It's not just people with strollers who tend to run into people. If you counted how many times you were run into, bumped or brushed by anyone or anything (including strollers or just people).......
After a parade or fireworks, it's nearly impossible to walk with the crowd and hold your own space. There are simply too many people trying to go in all directions for anyone to maintain a few inches of space on each side, no matter how hard they try.....

In Magic Kingdom, this is even more true since the Magic, Memories, and Me show was added before and after the fireworks.... People seem to stay longer in their spots on Main St. and the hub and don't move. Can be really hard to get out of there. Got stuck in wall to wall people trying to exit out of there and won't do it again... I prefer to be on the edge toward Liberty Square and then head toward rides on that side of the park as soon as fireworks are done and just stay away from Main St. until the crowd clears.

When sitting on the ground anywhere for parade, fireworks, show, etc... I have a rule for DS to put his hands on his lap so they don't get stepped on. DW and I usually sit on the sides of him so people don't trample on him...

For now, we just stay away from strollers and ECVs as much as possible... at least behind us.