Smoking & stroller wagons banned May 1!

[Tinkerbell19672]

Another thought....for those wondering how to go back to hotel and nap or how to fit multiple kids in big strollers. What did families do in the 50s do when coming to Disneyland? I don’t think they had huge strollers back then, just umbrella strollers or similar. Locals can just go home for the day. Is it because DL is so expensive now people feel they need to spend morning until night there? I think if a baby is tired enough, they’ll nap in the parks.

 

[RedM94]

Another thought....for those wondering how to go back to hotel and nap or how to fit multiple kids in big strollers. What did families do in the 50s do when coming to Disneyland? I don’t think they had huge strollers back then, just umbrella strollers or similar. Locals can just go home for the day. Is it because DL is so expensive now people feel they need to spend morning until night there? I think if a baby is tired enough, they’ll nap in the parks.

Umbrella strollers did not become popular until the 1970's. This is a 1950's stroller. What did families do in the 50's, some smoked and drank while pregnant, and the only seatbelt was my mother's arm reaching across the bench seat when she slammed on the brakes.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

View attachment 391686

Umbrella strollers did not become popular until the 1970's. This is a 1950's stroller. What did families do in the 50's, some smoked and drank while pregnant, and the only seatbelt was my mother's arm reaching across the bench seat when she slammed on the brakes.

LOL, so true! But also kids walked more and probably didn’t use strollers as much when older

 

[RedM94]

LOL, so true! But also kids walked more and probably didn’t use strollers as much when older

Touché! Glad you can take a joke.

 

[agamble]

LOL. I don't think Walt saw a lot of buggies at DL in his day. It was probably less likely people would bring an infant. And toddlers used to walk.

We have 3 kids. Have visited at least once a year since our oldest turned one. We have used different strollers. Our favorite is a lightweight stroller as it is much easier to maneuver around the crowded parks. It has a basket and is larger than an umbrella stroller but smaller than our original Graco. I've seen many jus like ours. We have had kids nap in strollers and gone back to the hotel.

As far as 70% of guests being local, that really depends on the time of year.

 

[gary1955]

Walk to the tram, wait for the tram, take the tram, walk to your car, put the stroller in the car, exit the parking lot, drive to your hotel. Getting back is even worse because you add security. It isn't a short process, an hour may be a bit excessive but it isn't a 15 minute trip to get out of the park and to your hotel.

in the "old days" we used to go between the park and hotel two or three times in a day. both staying within walking distance and by car. with these breaks it frequently would be in the park early in the morning to closing this way.

these days it has become an ordeal with traffic, parking, security screening and ticket scanning. the time it takes can very greatly. if you hit them all at the wrong time it can easily be an hour hotel to park.

now it is more likely than not morning and afternoon in the park, afternoon and evening or morning and evening with one longer break.

 

[lcp9]

Another thought....for those wondering how to go back to hotel and nap or how to fit multiple kids in big strollers. What did families do in the 50s do when coming to Disneyland? I don’t think they had huge strollers back then, just umbrella strollers or similar. Locals can just go home for the day. Is it because DL is so expensive now people feel they need to spend morning until night there? I think if a baby is tired enough, they’ll nap in the parks.

Yes, this is exactly why. When I am paying $1000/day to be there, I am not wasting half of our family’s time at a hotel. I want to reiterate I don’t care about the wagons - we don’t use them and don’t need to, but we do have a double stroller that meets the requirements and can also accommodate all 4 of our kids if necessary. There have absolutely been times 3 of the 4 have been napping and it works for us. I just think the flippant advice to “go back to your hotel and nap” is not useful or realistic for many visitors.

 

[lcp9]

I also have personally been run over by more ECVs, and/or actual people who are wider than the new stroller width limit, but that’s just my experience.

 

[gary1955]

Maybe Disney can add a new Sleeping Beauty land within Fantasyland. In it there will be small sleeping rooms that can be reserved for in-park naps (adults or children). FP+ may be needed.

an idea and opportunity for Disney. bring in some of those sleeping pods that they have at some of the large international airports. I can think of three places they can set them up. unused or underutilized portions of the Innoventions building (could be space themed), one of the "sound stages" in the Hollywood section, and the AMC theater building.

View attachment 391686

Umbrella strollers did not become popular until the 1970's. This is a 1950's stroller. What did families do in the 50's, some smoked and drank while pregnant, and the only seatbelt was my mother's arm reaching across the bench seat when she slammed on the brakes.

somewhere there is a picture of my brother and me in one of those from 1959 or 1960.

 

[sweethannah]

Yes, this is exactly why. When I am paying $1000/day to be there, I am not wasting half of our family’s time at a hotel. I want to reiterate I don’t care about the wagons - we don’t use them and don’t need to, but we do have a double stroller that meets the requirements and can also accommodate all 4 of our kids if necessary. There have absolutely been times 3 of the 4 have been napping and it works for us. I just think the flippant advice to “go back to your hotel and nap” is not useful or realistic for many visitors.

It might not be ideal for you but for what its worth lots of people spend 1000$ day to be there and the attitude of ' I've spent xxxx$ to be here..' is part of the reason why the wagon situation got out of hand. I'm not saying you are implying entitlement as I understand your point was about what you consider wasted time at the hotel but that sentiment was prevelant in several online communities regarding the wagon ban. There is definitely a more umm... commando approach some visitors take to Disneyland. From open to close and it's all go go go.. then you have kids breaking down and crying or passed out on benches from sheer exhaustion. That's no fun for the kids or the parents. Everyone is different but we enjoy hotel time as a way to refresh and relax after a lot of overstimulation.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

It might not be ideal for you but for what its worth lots of people spend 1000$ day to be there and the attitude of ' I've spent xxxx$ to be here..' is part of the reason why the wagon situation got out of hand. I'm not saying you are implying entitlement as I understand your point was about what you consider wasted time at the hotel but that sentiment was prevelant in several online communities regarding the wagon ban. There is definitely a more umm... commando approach some visitors take to Disneyland. From open to close and it's all go go go.. then you have kids breaking down and crying or passed out on benches from sheer exhaustion. That's no fun for the kids or the parents. Everyone is different but we enjoy hotel time as a way to refresh and relax after a lot of overstimulation.

I agree. Makes me sad to see kids melting down and exhausted. Taking a break at the hotel can be part of the vacation, relaxing by pool, hanging out in the room, etc.

 

[GingerRage]

Strollers have to be no larger than 31" wide and 52" long. That's still pretty big and I feel is generous.

I noticed at the bottom of the article that they've also banned loose ice and dry ice (I didn't realize anyone brought in dry ice). I was surprised about the ice ban. Is that a roundabout way of curtailing ice chests?

The only things I can think of for dry ice is either for medications or breast milk? Maybe? Is there another use for it? ‍

 

[sweethannah]

The only things I can think of for dry ice is either for medications or breast milk? Maybe? Is there another use for it? ‍

I read somewhere ( maybe here? ) it was implemented so security doesn't have to search around in the ice to make sure no contraband was hidden in or underneath it.

 

[GingerRage]

I read somewhere ( maybe here? ) it was implemented so security doesn't have to search around in the ice to make sure no contraband was hidden in or underneath it.

Yes, that’s my understanding regarding the loose ice. Dry ice I thought was “packaged” kind of like an ice pack (because you shouldn’t touch actual dry ice with your hands). I was just trying to think of a pertinent use for it and all I could come up with is temp sensitive medications that must remain cold and breast milk (though I’ve only ever heard of dry ice for breast milk when it comes to shipping it, I never heard of someone using it for day to day cooling)

 

[mamapenguin]

nvm

 

[Kender]

The side by side doubles are not allowed from what I’ve heard.

As long as they are no bigger than 31"W and 52"L, they'll be allowed. There are some side by side double strollers that fit those dimensions. They are not specifically banned like wagons are.

 

[alvernon90]

I just think the flippant advice to “go back to your hotel and nap” is not useful or realistic for many visitors.

It's useful and realistic -- many people posted right here that they actually do it. It can be done. I think what you mean is you don't like it and you're not going to do it.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread has been running pretty smoothly so far -- good job, everyone, for trying to stay on topic and keep the comments focused on the new rules, not on personal parenting styles.
Just a reminder to keep the thread running smoothly by keeping the comments respectful all around. Just because a comment is of a differing opinion does not automatically mean that comment was insincere or meant to be insulting. So let's give each other the same grace we'd like to receive.
Now, back to the discussion!

On an interesting note: Spoke with a few plaids in the parks this evening. They have been receiving a lot of interaction regarding these changes. They agreed that the negative commenters are the loudest. But (and I found this interesting) they agreed that most of the response has been quite positive.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I have twin daughters and twin granddaughters. We always had two strollers. A double stroller was just too cumbersome and too hard to maneuver, especially in crowded places like DLR.

 

[WaterLinds]

Great news about the smoking zone going away.

I’m disappointed about the stroller ban though. We don’t currently have that type of stroller and have a Joovy sit and stand, so we aren’t affected, but I had planned on purchasing a Keenz wagon for when our littlest (who has autism) gets older so he could have had an area to escape to since the canopy comes down and so he wouldn’t drag his feet like he could in a traditional stroller. Since the weight limit was so high, we thought that would be great to last him a long while. We saw several on our trip but never once saw any sort of issue or problem due to them and the crowds were packed. Maybe we were just lucky to not have that issue, but I tend to have more issues with parents letting their kids run while swinging their toys around, smacking people with the toy (I saw this several times) then I do with kids riding in a stroller. I also have to laugh at the comment about happy kids up above. That’s a pretty broad statement. Throw in overstimulation and excitement (even if you maintain their regular schedule) and you never know how your kids will react—they are kids and are unpredictable little beasts We have been lucky so far with our kids and only have had a couple moments, but I could completely understand another child not being happy the whole time.

Agreed, I am curious how/if Disney will address the role these stroller wagons play for families with special needs kids. I have never used one, but friends with special needs kids have raved about how life changing the Keenz wagon is for them—for kids on the spectrum, kids with mild to moderate mobility issues, etc. As I understand it they are more affordable and more portable than a wheelchair or stroller wheelchair, and a better fit for kids whose needs are moderate but not severe.

I gather they’ve exploded in popularity with families that may not have that level of need and have apparently been causing problems. (I was at WDW 2 weeks ago and didn’t notice a single one, so I was surprised by the announcement and by the strong sentiments about them here!) It is a shame that people have apparently been using them in a way that was disrespectful and disruptive to other patrons. I don’t know if it will be possible for Disney to find a way to accommodate special needs families, but hopefully something can be done.