Stolen Strollers

[chloelovesdisney]

While I've never had an issue with our stroller on a trip, there have certainly been reports on here from time to time of stolen strollers and more frequently, bags taken from strollers. I don't expect any problems but would not leave anything behind while we ride that I would be upset about losing.

 

[Aggiegrl]

Never had a problem.

One thing I've done before was to remove a wheel from the stroller and throw it in my bag. I know it is not possible with all strollers (cheap umbrellas, Maclarens), but many of the expensive strollers have this feature.

I figure in a sea of strollers, who on earth is going to steal one missing a wheel?

 

[Cousin Orville]

Been taking a MacClaren for 9 yrs now. Never had one stollen. We don't do anything special other than marking it with yarn or ribbon on the handle.

 

[mom2rtk]

Your odds of having a stroller stolen at Disney are low. But they are not zero.

A good friend of mine had hers stolen from the Magic Kingdom a few years back. No, it wasn't just moved. It was stolen. The diaper bag was dumped out a ways from where it was taken. Security told her at the time hers was the 10th stroller taken that weekend.

Only your daughter can decide how much it would upset her trip if it happened.

 

[maxiesmom]

Your odds of having a stroller stolen at Disney are low. But they are not zero.

A good friend of mine had hers stolen from the Magic Kingdom a few years back. No, it wasn't just moved. It was stolen. The diaper bag was dumped out a ways from where it was taken. Security told her at the time hers was the 10th stroller taken that weekend.

Only your daughter can decide how much it would upset her trip if it happened.

I agree. Only you can decide how much risk you are comfortable with. Stroller theft is not that common, but it does happen.

I think it was about a year ago when someone posted about seeing someone walk of with their stroller, calling security, and following them to the parking lot. Ended up the thief had a trunk full of strollers.

If you are at all worried about your stroller being taken, either take off a wheel and carry it with you, or run a chain through the back wheels.

 

[tnd]

I have taken strollers to Disney World on 8-10 trips and have never had one stolen, nor had anything stolen from it (but I don't leave anything good in them). Our strollers are all relatively expensive (not top of the line, but not $20 ones), but it has never been an issue.

 

[d-r]

we've probably had 300 park days with a stroller and never had a problem with them.

 

[tajz90]

25+ trips, 10 to 12 (maybe) with a stroller, 2 umbrella strollers stolen. Thank goodness we never brought a really good one.

It does happen even though I think it's not a frequent occurrence.

 

[LisaTC]

It has been many, many years since we had need of a stroller for the parks. Way back when, we would rent the stroller and on many occasions, had our stroller taken while we were on a ride. An inconvenience, but no big deal. This is my question.....we will be taking our grandson for his very first trip. My daughter wants to take his comfy stroller (which is also very expensive). For those of you with small children....how often are strollers taken (stolen) and have any of you had your personal strollers taken?

To specifically address the theft issue, I think the incidence is low all things considered. I think what happens more is electronics theft. Every so often we'll hear on the DIS about stroller theft, but in general, I think is fairly low. However, if you have something "attractive" in your stroller storage area, the easiest thing could be to just stroll away with the stroller, take the items and ditch the stroller, which I've heard happening.

I'd concur with those about avoiding stroller usage at DTD, if you can. Seems more likely to have issues there since it isn't "gated" like the parks and far more easy for escapees. Putting something fluorescent attached to it (scarf, handkerchief, etc) is a great tip!

 

[MichaelaF]

I've wondered sometimes if people actually have just thought it was stolen because CMs moved it too far. I can think of two times at least (maybe three) where it took us 10+ mins just to find our stroller. In one case (during MNSSHP, outside the Haunted Mansion) I think we looked at least 15 mins and asked a cast member before finding it had been moved around the corner to another stroller area. I understand it, but it's very frustrating. It was definitely one thing I liked that DLR does better - DL never messes with your stroller, so it's always where you left it.

 

[china mom]

July 2007, we left our stroller parked off to the side, unobtrusively, near the from or AK and spent a big portion of our day touring without it. When we returned it was gone. After and exhaustive search and asking numerous cast members, we asked at Guest relations who queried lost and found to no avail. We made a lost and found report and gave up.

We checked with L&F the remainder of our trip and eventually assumed it was stolen.

A few days after we returned home, we received a call from L&F. They had our stroller but had no details as to where it turned up. Luckily, we were returning in a week and they held it for us.

Two theories:

A cast member moved it and it got lost into the system for a few days.

A guest "borrowed" it and abandoned it after their trip.

Only the stroller knows.

 

[tajz90]

A guest "borrowed" it and abandoned it after their trip.

Only the stroller knows.

The first incident for us, there was a terrible rainstorm, park had mostly cleared out. We folded the stroller and left it in a corner and proceeded to ride ToT over & over & over again. Each time the stroller was there, until it wasn't. We asked the CMs. We looked all over. We finally assumed that a guest thought we abandoned it and decided to use it I get through the storm. At least we hope it was that innocent. We filed a report. Called lost and found each of our remaining days and it never showed up. Disney provided us a stroller for our remaining days at no charge. They were very nice.

Lol! Only the stroller knows!

My advice, take only what you're ok with losing. Large possibility that nothing will happen, but on the off chance, you won't lose more than you can handle.

 

[pigletgirl]

This is why we aren't bringing our nicest stroller to Disney. I plan on putting things on it to make it identifiable but the most expensive things will be our cellphones and camera. Most likely DH and/or I will have the camera.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

When we took our grandchildren to WDW when they were little, I just bought a couple of inexpensive strollers and used them. Then I didn't spend a minute worrying about theft or airline damage. The ones I got were perfectly comfortable for a trip to Disney.

 

[lahobbs4]

We had a personal umbrella stroller stolen last year. It had our name down the entire side of it. I really want to buy a lock for the wheels this year but don't know how the CMs will feel about it. It was a pain in the rear dealing with that last year.

 

[maxiesmom]

We had a personal umbrella stroller stolen last year. It had our name down the entire side of it. I really want to buy a lock for the wheels this year but don't know how the CMs will feel about it. It was a pain in the rear dealing with that last year.

You can lock the back wheels together. That way, it is not worth much to a crook, but the CMs can still move the stroller if they need to. Never ever lock it to anything, like a rail. That is a good way to get your lock cut off.

 

[Belleandtinker]

We've gone on about 10 trips to WDW and DL with a stroller. Never lost one.

We make a sign for it, place a loud ribbon, leave it with crumbs/trash and park it in the correct "parking lot" - we would bring/rent a stroller before going without.

 

[MouseOfGold]

I know someone who had her stroller stolen at wdw. So when I brought my "nice" dbl on our last trip I used a stroller lock. CM's were still able to move it around & I didn't have a problem with the lock breaking the wheels or anything from it being moved. Someone could always cut the lock cord with wire cutters I'm sure but it gave me peace of mind having it.