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

[Marseeya]

I'm not in any way saying this excuses such rude and deplorable behavior, but I can kind of understand why people get so frustrated. I can't tell you how many times my DH and I got separated by people in a hurry and it was extremely difficult for him to catch back up to us because the crowd would just multiply between us! We were trying to be considerate and not hold hands and take up a lot of space that way, but people used it as an excuse to move ahead.

So maybe some of the people being mowed down had inadvertantly separated a family and the rude stroller bulldozers were just trying to catch back up

For the most part, though, we tried to avoid hordes of people like that. Very unpleasant experience.

 

[old one]

Strollers in Disney. Pre-stroller days - people made me crazy when they acted like them having a stroller gave them the right to just butt in front of people and just "take" their space. First trip with stroller - I was absolutely amazed at the number of people who either because of rudeness or just not being aware would step right into/in front of your moving stroller. And I mean walking in the flow of "traffic" and someone just cut in front of you from no where. It's no wonder some people get hit by strollers. On the flipside....there are still many people who abuse using a stroller....but I'm more aware now of the number of people who are just oblivious to them or think they should go in front of you because you aren't moving fast enough. So stroller user - no stroller user.....there are just some really rude people out there.

I think you have a very good perspective on what is happening.
There is all kinds of issues occuring. Stroller rage, others cutting strollers and wheelchairs off, people trying to out run strollers/wheelchairs, people stopping abruptly then getting made when you accidently hit them, groups stopped in the middle of the road just to talk makeing everyone one else try to get around them. Lets not forget the ECV, people who have never driven one do not understand that they do NOT move smoothly or react quickly. You can stop a stroller or a wheel chair 2-3 times faster than and ECV can stop. So we have to give them a little extra room.

Now on top of all this issues listed about ( and them some) add capicity crowds, gawkers, commando tourists, children looking everywhere but where the are walking ( not that I blame them) Hot weather, short tempers, cranky spouses.... it's a wonder any of us get out alive.

 

[Gary M]

How about the people with the strollers with 3 big wheels, I think they are called jogging strollers. It seems like a higher percent of people with these weapons, are really rude. I have heard that WDW won't allow these in the parks, but I have seen several in the parks over the years. These are serious battering rams.

 

[MPLsDad]

I think I'm always going to carry a soda (not water) when trying to traverse crowded areas. This way if someone hits me or anyone in my family with a wheelchair or stroller and isn't polite about it, I can give 'em a soaking! Maybe hot coffee would work too!

 

[crabmeal]

For those that hate strollers please remember that Disney World is a family park, created with children in mind. Those little ones in strollers have every right to be wheeled around the park. I have never and will never use my stroller as a battering ram. If I accidentally hit someone I always apologize. I once hit someone with a diaper bag by accident but not the stroller. So let's not have some bad stroller pushers give us all a bad name.

 

[teachingmykids]

Next time you're there LOOK and see just what is in the stroller! 9 out of 10 times it's full of packages, ice chests, shoes, etc. People rent them to haul their junk around not their kids. I also noticed a new trend, rolling suitcases. I saw dozens of them on my last trip.

 

[vascubaguy]

you know what's worse, I noticed that some people that rent the wheelchairs don't appear to really need them... I think they rent them to get ahead in some of the lines... AND to haul stuff around in them!

 

[picantel]

I'm sorry but if someone deliberately knocked my child over and hurt him I would jack him upside the face(or her). I know I know don't hit women but if they hurt my child on purpose then they get what they deserve.

 

[lillygator]

If you are driving a car and stop and someone hits you from behind, it is THEIR fault, not yours. Even when the traffic is bumper to bumper, you are responsible for making sure you are going slow enough and have enough space that you can avoid hitting people in front of you. While I agree that it is irritating when people stop in the middle of a pathway and don't make an attempt to move aside, that doesn't give you the right to run into them.

I NEVER said who's fault it would be....


I SAID you would get HIT if you stop!

 

[Ray Stanz]

I always hate them kind of people because every where ya' turn there is at least one of them, also I don't think kids younger than 2 and a half yrs. should go to Disney World!!!

 

[monorailsilver]

As a stroller pusher I'd be ticked off!

During my non-stroller visits we used to rush around to get from point A to point B in a timely manner.

But now with our strollers we just take it easy & relax during our Disney vacation. We didn't rush because we had a kid in tow (this year we will have 2 in tow). We knew we'd be back again so we just strolled along.

Don't people realize that they have kids & kids do not need to be rushed so mom & dad can get on Space Mountain?????

And if I do accidently bump into someone, I do apologize or it is because the walker wasn't looking & walked into me. But I try to avoid bumping into people.

I personally can't wait til I don't need a stroller anymore & can just use a fanny pack to carry my crap (vs now with diapers, wipes, food-food allergic child).

 

[RickinNYC]

For those that hate strollers please remember that Disney World is a family park, created with children in mind. Those little ones in strollers have every right to be wheeled around the park. I have never and will never use my stroller as a battering ram. If I accidentally hit someone I always apologize. I once hit someone with a diaper bag by accident but not the stroller. So let's not have some bad stroller pushers give us all a bad name.

You're right, but only to a point. Disney World is a family park for ALL types of families, whether those family have children or otherwise. That said, EVERYONE needs to be aware of their surroundings and courteous to each other. Having a stroller does not give anyone special dispensation from that rule of thumb. Personally, I don't care if someone hits me with their stroller provided they follow-up with an apology. If they don't apologize, they hear it from me. You don't strike me as the type that would do such a thing, however. It's those individuals out there that either intentionally hit people in order to get through crowds or those people that hit others, are perfectly aware of their actions, and do not apologize. Those are the people the DIS board folks are talking about on this particular thread.

 

[blueiis99]

I can completely relate to people being sepeated, and needing to "catch up". I would me most willing to assist anyone in a situation like that....all they have to do is say" excuse me My family has slipped away do you mind if i cantch up with them" I would willingly do anything to assist.

But the out right rude behavior of ramming someone is uncalled for.

 

[taximomfor4]

I don't think kids younger than 2 and a half yrs. should go to Disney World!!!

Nice. I disagree. 'Nough Said.

 

[elliemae1192]

I always hate them kind of people because every where ya' turn there is at least one of them, also I don't think kids younger than 2 and a half yrs. should go to Disney World!!!

Whatever.

 

[lllovell]

you know what's worse, I noticed that some people that rent the wheelchairs don't appear to really need them... I think they rent them to get ahead in some of the lines... AND to haul stuff around in them!

You are mistaken here about wheelchair renters (and it has been discussed MANY times that you can't always tell what someone's reason for needing a wheelchair is - so judge if you want, but you are going to be wrong and get peeved for nothing). If you have a disabilities card, you get front of the line access to some rides, but being in a wheelchair alone does not guarantee you this right. If I stopped using the wheelchair on my last trip and let my children ride for a bit while I stretched my aching legs and lower back, you would have no way of understanding that without that wheelchair, I would last 20 minutes TOPS. You would instead see a person "renting a wheelchair to cut in line and then pushing kids in it other times".

Strollers are SOOOO hard to navigate at WDW. I have used them many times with my children and occasionally do hit people, run over toes (one woman stopped dead in front of me and turned, I couldn't even react before I had run over her foot - she was lost and looking around), etc. It is NEVER intentional. There are those for which is IS obviously intentionally rude behavior. As a previous poster said, until you are on the other side, you cannot imagine what WDW with a stroller is like and if you ever tried to push one, you would be much more tollerant of people occasionally accidently bumping you. The rude jerkos are just rude - there are everywhere in life. Unfortunately, there is no test before entering WDW to keep rude people out.

 

[mill4023]

I NEVER said who's fault it would be....
I SAID you would get HIT if you stop!

But by saying that, it sounded as if you are blaming the people who stop.
I've had to hit the brakes and stop plenty of times in traffic and never been hit from behind. And I shouldn't have to worry about being hit if I have to stop for some reason. As far as driving, the law requires that you stay far enough back to avoid hitting the person in front of you if they have to stop. All I was saying is that the same thing should be true if you are walking or pushing a stroller. Trust me, I understand the irritation when people just stop in the middle of a walkway. I'll admit that I've intentionally bumped people with a stroller. Very gently mind you, just enough to get them to notice me, and only when I've said excuse me several times loudly and they still don't seem to hear me and there is no other way for me to get around them.

The bottom line is that people get frustrated when they are in crowded places. Some people get more frustrated than others and some people act inappropriately in response to this frustration. It is not just stroller pushers, ECV riders, umbrella carriers, etc. It's just that some people are rude and some people aren't.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I didn't read the whole thread- just the OP and a few posts... but I have to say HOW RUDE!
We ended up renting a double stroller after the first day of our trip and let me tell you... big diffrence in how some people treat strollers. For instance that guy you are talking about was bumping into people intentionally and saying "excuse me" as if that excused his deliberate behavior! ugh

For me it was trying desperately not to hit anyone but I'm short and can't really see over the stroller well- so there were a few times I "misjudged" how far out the stroller was and I bumped into a few people's ankles. My reaction? "OMG, I'm so very very sorry... are you okay? I'm so sorry, I'm trying to hard not to hit anyone with this thing! Are you sure you're okay?... I'm so sorry". Ugh, I felt so bad when I rammed into someone. I almost burst out crying when I hit a little girl's leg.

There were quite a few times that people almost got rammed/ran over from trying to "beat my stroller"- just walking right across in front of it when I'm walking along. I did utter a few times under my breath (as they walked away) you know these things don't stop on a dime just because you want to cross right then. ugh (I didn't say it loud enough for them to hear. LOL) I can't stop it when I don't know you're going to walk in front that quickly all the sudden- not when I have 2 children in there that their combined weight is almost as much as I weigh, plus the stroller itself ofcourse! I had to do a LOT of quick manuevering because otherwise people would be falling into the stroller on top of my kids! People with strollers need to be careful, but by the same token other people need to watch out for strollers and not try to walk across right in front of them like that. I do that when I'm going without a stroller (ie: solo trips). Goes both ways.

As far as driving, the law requires that you stay far enough back to avoid hitting the person in front of you if they have to stop.

You cannot do that like you can when driving. When you are in a park walking you can't keep that kind of distance- someone else will just get in front of you and continue to do so no matter HOW you try to keep your distance from those in front of you... or try to walk across in front of you within inches of the front of your stroller, etc. It's simply not the same as, nor is everyone abiding by the same rules as, driving.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I always hate them kind of people because every where ya' turn there is at least one of them, also I don't think kids younger than 2 and a half yrs. should go to Disney World!!!

Well, ya lost me on the 2.5 part, Ray.
My son goes everywhere with me/us, and he never cries, never makes a peep, always enjoys himself...smiles, laughs, "talks" up a storm. So he will certainly be going to WDW MANY times before his third birthday (when we'll have to start paying for him to experience the magic )!!!!
People ask me, "Doesn't he ever cry?" Nope...not unless he is just dead tired or REALLY hungry. And then of course I nurse him right away, so that never lasts more than about thirty seconds.
And even if a baby DOES make a little noise...so what?? Or do you not think babies can enjoy WDW?? Not flaming; just asking an honest question. I know mine will LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! He already very much enjoyed DTD/RFC.

 

[mill4023]

You cannot do that like you can when driving. When you are in a park walking you can't keep that kind of distance- someone else will just get in front of you and continue to do so no matter HOW you try to keep your distance from those in front of you... or try to walk across in front of you within inches of the front of your stroller, etc. It's simply not the same as, nor is everyone abiding by the same rules as, driving.

Agreed.
All I meant was that if someone stops in front of you, you can't just ram through them and blame them for stopping. On the other hand, you also can't be expected to stop instantly if someone darts in front of you or if it's so crowded that you have to be close to the person in front of you.