Sick and Tired of Being Attacked by Strollers

[Arabelle]

Well said! Common sense and courtesy go a long long way!

 

[Ariel8676]

I agree with common sense and courtesy...
I am a Mom of 4 and go to WDW at least once a year, i take a stroller.
There are many times people will walk in front of you, stop in front of you, cut you off, etc..we try our best to stop as fast as we can, but sometimes its unavoidable. If i happen to hit someone with our stroller, i will apologize..but people shouldn't think they can just walk in front of a stoller..again common sense and courtesy..

 

[Momloveshockey]

While I agree accidents can happen...but seriously one lady was using hers as a ramming device right after Wishes...really! I had to put my foot up behind myself so that the stroller hit the bottom of my sneaker and not my ankles.

 

[larryz]

I do think people should lighten up a bit about strollers, and accept that somtimes it is not the stroller users fault their is a bump. Sometimes it is the fault of the ones without the stroller.

Occasional contact does not equal using the stroller as a battering ram.

Anyone can excuse (and expect) the former, and shouldn't have to tolerate the latter.

At some point in the exchange, it becomes apparent whether or not the contact was incidental or intentional. If intentional, then the stroller driver has already crossed the boundary of acceptable behavior.

How would anybody like it if someone intentionally hit them with a Davy Crockett rifle, or intentionally dumped a Dole Whip over their heads, just because in the mind of the assaulter, they weren't walking fast enough?

No, my friends, the intentional stroller rammer commits assault and battery, and gets away with it, because most people are too adult to descend to the level of the rammer.

I understand OP's frustration. And I think we've seen good examples of how to retaliate without stooping to violence; kudos to those masterminds of subtlety!

 

[humboldthny]

So, you would not mind if I rammed a stroller into the back of your heels.... and I didn't stop, or apologize, or ask if you were ok, and instead... I took off in another direction to avoid the situation?

If any of the people who hit us would have exercised some common courtesy and stopped, apologized, and made sure DW and DS were OK after those incidents... we would have said thank you for stopping... and just got over it despite the pain. I bet there are a lot of injuries caused by careless people pushing strollers, some serious.

I didn't read all the responses, but I think the root of the issue here is that you are assuming people would respond to the situation like you would...that's simply not going to happen. Of course there's a good portion of the population that would stop and be polite and apologize...but you should know better than to expect that of everyone, unfortunately. That's just the way it seems to be nowadays. Was it right that that they did that? No. Did it put a damper on your day? Yes. Could you have done anything to change the situation or create a different outcome? Probably not. Teach your kids to be polite and courteous, demonstrate the same values yourself and let it go.

 

[maxiesmom]

Occasional contact does not equal using the stroller as a battering ram.

Anyone can excuse (and expect) the former, and shouldn't have to tolerate the latter.

At some point in the exchange, it becomes apparent whether or not the contact was incidental or intentional. If intentional, then the stroller driver has already crossed the boundary of acceptable behavior.

I agree with you, hence the use of my word "sometimes".

I do think though that the people who use their strollers as battering rams are the minority. And if someone decides to chase them down and accost them for their lack of manners, they are just lowering themselves down to the same level. You have now become as big of a jerk as the one who hit you. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[santadog]

Sorry you're having these problems - never happens to me (also never have people walk up and stand in front of me or my kids at parade time).

I guess being the 6'2", 210 pound heavily tattooed bald guy has it's advantages.

 

[smidgy]

We believed in our idea - a family park where parents and children could have fun - together."—Walt Disney


I dont think he said a park for empty nesters looking to rekindle their romance....just saying

First and foremost it is a park for families and of course all are welcome. My point was if you have a problem with strollers banging into you or kids crying in restaurants then WDW is not the vacation for you. BTW I have gone to WDW on 2 seperte vacations where it was just me and the wife and will travel there again without kids. If a stroller or two bang into me then so be it.

well, whatever Walt said, he didn't build most of WDW, and whoever runs it doesmarket it to empty nesters, retired persons, etc. and I DID see ads for rekindling romance and showing elder couples in the ad.. (just sayin') therefore, it is NOT specifically for children.

and there is a difference between the level of ambience and "quietness" you expect at say, Crystal Palace, then you would at Le Cellier or California Grill. you would never expect a romantic dinner at Whispering Canyon! you would be nutz! but a romantic dinner at Jikos? yes.

I have found many parents to be polite and considerate with the strollers. and I have seen some push their way through like a battering ram.

we are all there for different reasons, we all paid our money to be there, and should be considerate.

 

[LisaBi]

Accidents happen...absolutely. I've been on both ends.

The number one thing that would help me not run into you when I'm pushing (a wheelchair, not a stroller, in my case) is PLEASE don't just stop dead in your tracks. That is just like a car doing 70 mph slamming on the brakes - there's a good chance the person behind you may not be able to stop in time.

If you need to stop to check a map or time guide, or get your phone, or....gently move to the side - just like changing lanes and pulling over to the curb if you have car trouble.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

 

[ccgirl]

well, whatever Walt said, he didn't build most of WDW, and whoever runs it doesmarket it to empty nesters, retired persons, etc. and I DID see ads for rekindling romance and showing elder couples in the ad.. (just sayin') therefore, it is NOT specifically for children.

and there is a difference between the level of ambience and "quietness" you expect at say, Crystal Palace, then you would at Le Cellier or California Grill. you would never expect a romantic dinner at Whispering Canyon! you would be nutz! but a romantic dinner at Jikos? yes.

I have found many parents to be polite and considerate with the strollers. and I have seen some push their way through like a battering ram.

we are all there for different reasons, we all paid our money to be there, and should be considerate.

Well put. My DH and myself went for a later dinner at Cali Grill (9pm) hoping that we could have a little romantic time. Much to my surprise, he presented me with a diamond wrap. Was trying to be romantic but the children in the two surrounding tables really squashed the mood. The parents had absolutely no control and it was obvious the children were tired. I did say something to the parents and they replied, "this is Disney World." Yes, it is DisneyWorld for everyone. Just because you are at Disney world does not mean you can let your children run around others tables constantly banging into others chairs and letting them scream at the top of their lungs. When my children have had tantrum's I have always removed them from the restaurant, whether it be Cali Grill or McDonald's for pete's sake!

Accidents happen...absolutely. I've been on both ends.

The number one thing that would help me not run into you when I'm pushing (a wheelchair, not a stroller, in my case) is PLEASE don't just stop dead in your tracks. That is just like a car doing 70 mph slamming on the brakes - there's a good chance the person behind you may not be able to stop in time.

If you need to stop to check a map or time guide, or get your phone, or....gently move to the side - just like changing lanes and pulling over to the curb if you have car trouble.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

Another well put post.

 

[smidgy]

this weeks newsletter from allearsnet.com features an article about spending a romantic valentine's vacation with your sweetie at Disneyworld. the author was excited to snag a LeCellier ADR for a romantic dinner.

 

[ppony]

We just returned from a short visit (4 park days) where it was only my hubby and I. We've been 9 and still are, regular stroller users and have been for the better part of 12 years. Our Oct visit will once again, employ the stroller. This time though I was paying some pretty good attention to strollers (and ECVs) and how I felt about them and those using them fresh from the "stroller trenches" as it were. In my experience this past long weekend, I was thankfully never run into by anything on wheels, nor was my DH. We did notice some using their double strollers (why was it always the double stroller?) as a battering ram to get through, that almost always happened in late afternoon when I'm sure patience was low. Most of all though, I was also noticing how many people w/o them were constantly stepping in front of or not giving any room to the things on wheels. If you (as a stroller of ECV driver) were going slow to avoid hitting someone, you were always going to be stepped in front of or cut off by someone that saw your speed. I felt bad for them actually.
This was also our first time ever using the buses as we always rent a car w/ the kids. At least from my experience this time, I'm happy to report that all strollers were well folded up and owners kept them well in check as well as ECVs. Even though a poor elderly couple that got on had waited over an hour and a half for a bus to accommodate both of them and they drove them so poorly w/ respect to loading, they were kindly and sweet and they even voiced how bad they felt for the bus driver who was loading them. The wait was what it was, if I had been in a hurry, I'm sure the ugly monster of annoyance would have crept in but I'm glad I wasn't and it was easy to keep a good perspective.

I'm also not sure if it was just where we were staying because the busses for BLT and once when we went to the BC, were not crowded and never had actual lines per se to get on. I did see all the value resort stops though at the parks and DTD with actual lines and many people. SO, that could have been a far different experience and mine was only that, MY experience. It was good.

I'll be back in the stroller trenches again this fall. And mine is actually a wheelchair for my youngest, so I'll be getting the hairy eyeball everywhere I go. try to have compassion and not judge OK?

 

[ppony]

Accidents happen...absolutely. I've been on both ends.

The number one thing that would help me not run into you when I'm pushing (a wheelchair, not a stroller, in my case) is PLEASE don't just stop dead in your tracks. That is just like a car doing 70 mph slamming on the brakes - there's a good chance the person behind you may not be able to stop in time.

If you need to stop to check a map or time guide, or get your phone, or....gently move to the side - just like changing lanes and pulling over to the curb if you have car trouble.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

I was grateful for not having the stroller this time as even on my 2 peds/gams , I narrowly avoided some crash and burns for people making a dead stop in front of me in the middle of walkways. Pull off to the side!

I guess being the 6'2", 210 pound heavily tattooed bald guy has it's advantages.

It sure does! I'd steer clear too, and my brother is 6'1, 320 lbs, bald and tattooed. I just learned the respect. Dude, you don't fear needles, you're NOT going to fear me.

 

[thewigs007]

And this crazy thread continues.

There is enough info in here for both pro's and cons.
Thanks for sharing

 

[Lucky4me]

With all due respect, I think this is less about rude stroller pushers and more about WDW burn out.
I have suffered with this affliction as well.
The cure is skipping WDW a year or two and sitting on a beach for a week instead. Or going to the Grand Canyon. No big crowds or strollers there.
Then, when you go back to WDW, everything is new, fresh and sparkly magic again. (Including your attitude, so when someone does shove a stroller into your ankles, you just don't care.)

 

[mcsmiley64]

It does happen and it hurts. We haven't had an issue with it for a while though. We try to be last when big crowds are moving.

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

Well, ya know what? I am EXTREMELY tired of people w/o strollers (i.e teenagers, adults, adults with older children) not watching where the *bleep* they are going or MORE often starring directly at us with our double stroller with my 7mo old in the front and 4 year-old in the back running in front, expecting us to stop while cutting sideways, stopping or just running into our children. We *maybe* ran into someone once, but I doubt it. However, there were many times where full grown adults ran into my infant. Many times when these adults holding hands of other children started to cut right in front of the stroller knowing they would hit it, stared my DH straight in the eyes and kept walking. Saying NOTHING. Not an "excuse me" or "I'm so sorry" - nothing. It is much easier for adults and older children to watch where they are walking and counter than it is for adult with a Hummer of a stroller. The parks were not even crowded. There was no reason for anyone to have to bump into us or come that close. Except the tunnel vision of "it's my vacation I don't have to have manners or pay attention".

 

[lizabu]

These kind of threads are funny. I hadn't been to WDW in years and was a little nervous about going what with all the Brazilian tour groups lurking out there. Strollers and ECV's recklessly tearing through crowds and running people over left and right and leaving devestation in their wake. I was worried about what people had become. I recently went to WDW and in 8 days not one person in my party or 7 was run over by anyone and we never once encountered a single rude person. I witnesses two people running down Sunset blvd and being to to stop by a CM and completely ignoring her by that was the only "bad" behaviour I saw from anyone. I think we all have to be aware of our surroundings and polite to one another and everything is fine.

 

[larryz]

I recently went to WDW and in 8 days not one person in my party or 7 was run over by anyone and we never once encountered a single rude person.

And how exciting would your thread about that trip be? Imagine reading...

"I went to Disney and (a) had a great time, (b) didn't see any rude CMs, (c) didn't have any encounters with rude guests, (d) wasn't run over by a stroller, (e) wasn't stuck on any rides, (f) didn't get pushed out of my parade spot by a pushy woman with 4 screaming kids, (g) didn't reuse my refillable mug from last year/1994 (nor did I see anyone else use one), (h) didn't park at a resort while visiting a theme park, (i) wasn't annoyed by BTGs (in fact, was delighted to be invited to sing/chant along in line for POTC), (j) enjoyed seeing the characters, all of whom spent plenty of time with us, signed anything we held up to them, and didn't attack us in any way, (k) didn't encounter any line jumping (except for the BTG's, who were all jumping up and down in line), (L) stayed in our own resort pool, (m) enjoyed great bus service from our resort to anywhere on property we wanted to go, (n) didn't get stuck on a shut-down monorail, and (o) shared our after-the-window TSMM FastPasses (tm) with a family on their first trip to the World who couldn't get their kids moving in time to make it to DHS before noon."

 

[CurlyJo224]

With all due respect, I think this is less about rude stroller pushers and more about WDW burn out.
I have suffered with this affliction as well.
The cure is skipping WDW a year or two and sitting on a beach for a week instead. Or going to the Grand Canyon. No big crowds or strollers there.
Then, when you go back to WDW, everything is new, fresh and sparkly magic again. (Including your attitude, so when someone does shove a stroller into your ankles, you just don't care.)

Getting hit with a stroller hurts the same whether you're burned out or whether it's all, "new, fresh and sparkly."