stroller as battering ram - We couldn't believe it!

[Disneyonmymind]

When we were at the AK last week before opening. We went through the turnstyles and made our way up to the crowd awaiting the rope drop. The crowd grew fairly thick around us but not scary. I had my DD2 in her stroller and my DD8 was squatted next to the stroller talking to her sister.

From behind comes this guy with a rented double stroller who just gives DD8 a deliberate bump and then says "excuse me". She practically was knocked off her feet but managed to get up and out of his way. I helped her up and then turned back to this neanderthal and gave him a piece of my mind, but he didn't even blink. Then we watched him as he made his way through the crowd by bumping and then saying "excuse me". He bumped young and old alike - little kids, old ladies, no problem. His target was his family who were waiting for him at the front of the crowd and he was going to get to them no matter what. It was hard to believe my eyes. At least he said "excuse me" instead of "Get out of my way". Apparently, he had some manners after all.

Btw - We witnessed numerous incidents of rude or boorish behavior in the parks but this guy is the only one worth retelling. I try not to dwell on the negative and I don't. But this guy took the cake.

Jackie

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I swear, it seems like some people think having a stroller or a wheelchair gives them a license to just slam people out of the way. I see stuff like what you described happen every year, but this year seemed particularly bad. At MK one night a couple weeks ago, my parents and I were walking towards Tomorrowland when this man pushing a stroller (with nothing but bags in it, mind you) comes flying up behind me. Instead of going AROUND the three of us, which there was plenty of room on both sides to do so, he rams into the back of my feet. I turned around wondering what the heck had hit me, and by then my dad had stopped and moved to the side of the bridge to take a picture of something. So, even more room for Mr. Rude to get by, but oh no! He instead flies past me, but apparently I didn't move quick enough for his liking because he still managed to run over the toe end of my right shoe as he jerked the stroller in front of me. I had heavy Reeboks on, but it still hurt like heck. And while I was howling in pain, he turned around and looked and then just stuck his nose up in the air and continued on his merry way, no apology or anything. I was so angry. Huh, it practically sounds like it was the same man you dealt with. People can just be so daggone rude. Sorry to hear about your bad experience as well.

 

[aubriee]

When we were there in January we saw quite a few rude stroller pushers using them as battering rams to get through the crowds. The worst we saw was a lady at AK right after the parade ended. We were all following the parade out and there was simply no where to move, but slowly forward with the rest of the crowd. This lady came pushing through determined to make her way through the crowd. She hit me a couple of times and I turned around and glared at her. She just glared right back and very rudely said 'get out of my way I'm in a hurry'. I said 'aren't we all, but as you can see there is no where to go'. In just a second she rammed the stroller into my 8 y/o GD who stumbled and would have fallen if I hadn't caught her. At that point we were on the bridge and I told her that if she bumped us one more time I would chunk that stroller over the bridge into the river. She again said 'well get out of my way then'. I again asked her where she wanted us to move as we were on the edge of the bridge with people in front and behind us. At that point several people around us started yelling at her. She never apologized for running over me or my GD. She suddenly swerved her stroller to the left and literally knocked a little boy (about 5 or 6 y/o) off his feet, skinning both of his knees, and making him cry. She just glared at him and finally continued to push her way through the crowd, as the rest of us stopped to check on the little boy.

This past May I had a much better experience with strollers only getting bumped into twice (by the same lady while waiting to check in at the Rose & Crown). Once she realized what she was doing she immediately apologized and it was no problem.

 

[C.Ann]

Why do people even bother to go to the parks if they have to spend the entire day "rushing" from Point A to Point B? It's a vacation - not a marathon!!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Rude people are rude people whether they are shoving with their body, their stroller or a wheelchair. It is a shame they have to dampen other's visits.

 

[polyfan]

It is also just as rude for an entire family to be standing around looking at a map while people are trying to walk by. If you need to stop please move to the side.

 

[lillygator]

It is also just as rude for an entire family to be standing around looking at a map while people are trying to walk by. If you need to stop please move to the side.

ITA...
I think in the OP's story the man was quite rude....purposefully getting through the crowd.

I for one, never use the stroller as a battering ram - but I have hit people on accident...those that are walking and just STOP to see something or pull out the map or something....sorry but hey if you were driving a car and just stopped you are going to get hit from behind...strollers are not that easy to stop on a dime, especially doubles...

 

[vascubaguy]

I hate those freakin strollers... and the people that stop in the middle of the walkways... what's even worse... when some people with a stroller are crossing those walkways and then decide to stop dead center to figure out which way to go!

On another note, having been on the other side of the fence and pushing someone around in a wheelchair. Some people are just awful about crowding right up against the wheelchairs and then running in front of the chair to "get ahead" (usually they hit the legs in the front and then glaring back like you ran into them). A lot of people just don't watch where they are going and when you aren't in their direct eye-level line of site, you better watch out! A few people almost ended up running right into the side of the chair as they thought they were just cutting across in front of me and didn't notice the wheelchair I was pushing.

Disney should require operator permits for those strollers, and CDLs for the doubles!

 

[JoyG]

knocking kids over on purpose with a stroller is unbelievable...Is there any way to get these people charged with assault? Some of these stories go beyond just being rude.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

Wow, Aubriee, your rude lady was even worse than my rude guy.

For the record, I pushed my stroller the entire week and I admit that I inadvertently bumped peoples ankles several times for various reasons in thick crowds. I'd say it's almost unavoidable. BUT, I always apologized and took measures to not repeat it. I was also bumped accidently a few times by apologetic people. I don't even remember the details because it really didn't phase me.

IMHO, People who stand around to read a map are not even close to being in the same league with the man & woman purposefully using the stroller as a battering ram. Although it may be rude, they are not purposefully being mean and nasty. They probably don't even realize it.

Jackie

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes. Take the key out of an ECV, grab an item out of the pouch in back of a wheelchair, or even grab the baby from the stroller and give him a good hug and tousling. Then they will stay around while you can holler for security and try to charge them with assault.

Use your cell phone and call 911 if you wish.

THe name of the game is, don't let them get away.

Ya' know, Disney should put "license plates" on its rental strollers and wheelchairs so other guests can easily report miscreants! I suppose that even without such ID, some guest sooner or later will make a claim against Disney (alongside a request for some extra fastpasses) saying that the wheelchair was the offender as opposed to anyone sitting in it or pushing it.

by then my dad had stopped and moved to the side of the bridge to take a picture of something. So, even more room for Mr. Rude to get by, but oh no! He instead flies past me, but apparently I didn't move quick enough for his liking because he still managed to run over the toe end of my right shoe as he jerked the stroller in front of me. I had heavy Reeboks on, but it still hurt like heck. :

How about taking a picture of Mr. Rude to post on the web (here?) or send to some newspapers?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Heard often on the Howie Carr talk show (Boston, weekday afternoons, 3-7), the voice of Mayor Thomas Menino: "If you see something suspicious, call 911".

 

[tashast]

Wow, Aubriee, your rude lady was even worse than my rude guy.

For the record, I pushed my stroller the entire week and I admit that I inadvertently bumped peoples ankles several times for various reasons in thick crowds. I'd say it's almost unavoidable. BUT, I always apologized and took measures to not repeat it. I was also bumped accidently a few times by apologetic people. I don't even remember the details because it really didn't phase me.

IMHO, People who stand around to read a map are not even close to being in the same league with the man & woman purposefully using the stroller as a battering ram. Although it may be rude, they are not purposefully being mean and nasty. They probably don't even realize it.

Jackie

I have to admit, I am one of the ones who would never realize that standing reading a map was a problem. I guess it is because I don't have kids so I have don't have to worry about strollers or because my FI is over a foot taller than me so when we talk in areas where it is noisy, he at times has to bend over so I can hear him. Otherwise, his voice just goes out into the wide open space.

 

[loriandmatt]

ok - let's try to find a lesson in all of this rudeness........

if you plan on renting a stroller please take the time to have your entire party wait while you get it and then travel together to your next point. don't do as this offender did and fight your way thru crowds comando style to get to your group who has gone on without you.

- lori

 

[jonestavern]

When we were there in January we saw quite a few rude stroller pushers using them as battering rams to get through the crowds. The worst we saw was a lady at AK right after the parade ended. We were all following the parade out and there was simply no where to move, but slowly forward with the rest of the crowd. This lady came pushing through determined to make her way through the crowd. She hit me a couple of times and I turned around and glared at her. She just glared right back and very rudely said 'get out of my way I'm in a hurry'. I said 'aren't we all, but as you can see there is no where to go'. In just a second she rammed the stroller into my 8 y/o GD who stumbled and would have fallen if I hadn't caught her. At that point we were on the bridge and I told her that if she bumped us one more time I would chunk that stroller over the bridge into the river. She again said 'well get out of my way then'. I again asked her where she wanted us to move as we were on the edge of the bridge with people in front and behind us. At that point several people around us started yelling at her. She never apologized for running over me or my GD. She suddenly swerved her stroller to the left and literally knocked a little boy (about 5 or 6 y/o) off his feet, skinning both of his knees, and making him cry.

That's just not rude that's assault.

Jean

 

[eeyore45]

Every time I read one of these threads, I always remember our incident - and I dont think there are many that have this guys huzpah!

AK, getting on Rafiki's train, the way they have the queue there, I knew there would be problems, I get nervous remembering a time when I was little and was trampled... so the train stops, we get in, and this guy takes his collapsed stroller, and throws it THROUGH the window, hitting my dd8 and then having the audacity to say THAT's HIS SEAT!! DH had to hold me back, put us on another train.... you cant imagine how angry I got!! Growl!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Grab a baby from a stroller? That is absurd. I assume you are kidding. One act of rudeness is no excuse for another!

 

[Laurajean1014]

When we were at the AK last week before opening. We went through the turnstyles and made our way up to the crowd awaiting the rope drop. The crowd grew fairly thick around us but not scary. I had my DD2 in her stroller and my DD8 was squatted next to the stroller talking to her sister.

From behind comes this guy with a rented double stroller who just gives DD8 a deliberate bump and then says "excuse me". She practically was knocked off her feet but managed to get up and out of his way. I helped her up and then turned back to this neanderthal and gave him a piece of my mind, but he didn't even blink. Then we watched him as he made his way through the crowd by bumping and then saying "excuse me". He bumped young and old alike - little kids, old ladies, no problem. His target was his family who were waiting for him at the front of the crowd and he was going to get to them no matter what. It was hard to believe my eyes. At least he said "excuse me" instead of "Get out of my way". Apparently, he had some manners after all.

Btw - We witnessed numerous incidents of rude or boorish behavior in the parks but this guy is the only one worth retelling. I try not to dwell on the negative and I don't. But this guy took the cake.

Jackie

Not everyone has grace, patience and joy in their lives. Be happy that you do and don't let others affect your day. Sorry to hear about this.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I don't know about anyone else, but if someone hurt or knocked my DS4 or DD9 (on purpose, not accidently), they wouldn't be walking away. I would grab them and knock them down until a CM came over or my DH would. I would so whatever possible to press charges.

I have used a stroller on my last 3 or 4 trips, and have always been careful of hitting others, but it happens, and we apologize. Whenever we stop to look at a map, we pull over, or my DH yells at me to pull over .

 

[dkrause716]

I know it's not easy pushing a stroller around in the crowds and I know I have inadvertantly bumped a few people in the ankles--but gosh, I always said excuse me and I'm sorry! And we never used a stroller as a weapon or weapon of mass destruction!! Now that we are "strollerless" I admit that I sometimes forget to look down and I have actually tripped over people's strollers. Again, I say excuse me.

I makes me sad that there are so many rude people out there. Imagine the example they set for their children! Oh, but that's right-- these same people send them to school to learn manners and values. They don't have time to teach these at home!

Disney Magic to all Maybe pixie dust will help us to remember our manners.

 

[HLAuburn]

OMG, I think we were attacked by the same person!

On our last trip, we were leaving the area in front of the castle after a show. Everyone in the crowd was going the same basic direction as fast as the crowd was moving. I hear "excuse me" from behind, so I ignore it...we're all going as fast as we can. Then I feel *thud" against my leg, and the lady has run the stroller into me! I was shocked! I turned around in disbelief and to shoot her a not-so-Disney look, and she says " I SAID excuse me!" Huh? So that means if I don't respond like you want you can run into me?
Dh had to literally drag me away! I was livid!