Stroller Commandos-Interesting Observation

[inkkognito]

We were at USF yesterday, and after reading the infamouse "pubic hair" thread, I was on high alert for all of the shocking, moral-destroying differences that I apparently missed on my countless other visits. I didn't hear any inappropriate lyrics as such (although I suppose that "Love is a Battlefield" could skew impressionable young minds and teach them that relationships aren't worth it so they will become weird mountain cabin dwellers writing manifestos or cat ladies shacked up with dozens of felines). The drunks I saw were all quite cheerful (one of the best rides I ever had on Mummy was with a carload of inebriated fellow passengers with whom we spent the whole time yelling and cheering like crazy people). We missed the make-up show, but Beetlejuice has its risque parts, so I'm sure plenty of little juniors and juniorettes were scarred for life by his veiled references to grabbing handles and whatnot (personally, that is one of my favorite shows).

But the most interesting observation I made was that there are 80 percent less stroller commandos than at Disney World. At WDW, it seems that I am always beeing run over my Mrs. I-Can-Breed-So-Get-The-Heck-Out-Of-My-Way and her stroller laden with enough supplies to feed the Fifth Panzer Division for a week. At USF, I was only narrowly missed by two death-strollers, and in racking my brain, I can't remember any other close calls on my previous visits. Maybe the Mummy Dust keeps 'em at bay...I don't know, but it's just another reason why my DVQ (Disney Visit Quotient) is down 70% while my USF/IOAVQ has skyrocketed lately (that and the god-pass, of course).

 

[Metro West]

But the most interesting observation I made was that there are 80 percent less stroller commandos than at Disney World. At WDW, it seems that I am always beeing run over my Mrs. I-Can-Breed-So-Get-The-Heck-Out-Of-My-Way and her stroller laden with enough supplies to feed the Fifth Panzer Division for a week. At USF, I was only narrowly missed by two death-strollers, and in racking my brain, I can't remember any other close calls on my previous visits. Maybe the Mummy Dust keeps 'em at bay...I don't know, but it's just another reason why my DVQ (Disney Visit Quotient) is down 70% while my USF/IOAVQ has skyrocketed lately (that and the god-pass, of course).

That's because..as you said..WDW has MANY more commando adults than USF since they have to get everything done in one day and I know exactly what you mean..I've nearly been stroller kill more than a few times myself. That's the only real drawback to Disney...too many strollers and parents who don't seem to care if you're in the way or not!

Long live the magic!

 

[ChrisFL]

yes, yes, yes....when i worked contract at the Disney parks, I renamed MK, I called it "Stroller Encounter" because thats all we'd do all day, dodge strollers, oh and the occassional seagull.

I can't believe how much crap they put on those things, they're like baby SUV's!

 

[yaytezIOA]

Stroller Encounter
Yeah, our kids arent teens, so it wasnt that long ago that we had to use the strollers.....but we never had the gerber baby tanks like some of these moms do. And the one thing, you can always tell the disney moms at Universal....they just stand there and look at you when you dont run out of their way like "uh, dont you know I pushed this thing out! HOW DARE YOU NOT MOVE."
You do get some who want to run you over, but for the most part there is plenty of room for everyone. And a lot of dads are doing what I do, put the little one up top on the dad canopy. Keeps them from dragging behind, and keeps you from running into people.

 

[lorax123]

We're part of the stroller patrol. But I agree with you. I don't understand the SUV fetish and I don't understand the big stroller fetish either. I made sure we had a small, light, easy to manuver umbrella stroller for this trip. Doesn't hold a lot, but sure makes it easy to out run all those big pieces of crap people have.

But the crowds in Disney are far different than the Universal crowds. It just seems like a dog eat dog world over there. No one wants to give an inch, but they sure do want to take yours.

 

[robvia]

It's because the kids are younger at Disney (age 2-8), whereas at Universal it's more of a thrill ride crowd with kids over 8. Yes, there are babies at Universal, but not as many.

People who visit Disney are obsessive about their planning, they go every year because they're brainwashed. Therefore, they have a robot way of thinking.

The main advice we give for Universal is to arrive early, so you'll see a bunch of people at the gate early in the morning, but after that, everyone is ok.

The big annoyance at IOA would be the tour groups that play drums and sing in line. Yes, the walkways get packed from 11am - 4pm, which is why I tell people to leave, go back to their room, take a nap, visit the pool, then come back later when the tired are leaving. Most of the time, the kid will fall asleep in the afternoon. There is a massive "heard" of people who arrive at 11am, and then they leave at 4pm. Over at Disney, the parents stay even if the kid is sleeping because again, they've been brainwashed to stay the entire day no matter what.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I never noticed that until your post. And robvia makes sense too. No wonder we love UO so much.

 

[keishashadow]

There's something to be said for Stroller Commando Moms...

I always position my family behind them @ rope drops; nice to have a blocker mow people outta the way

of course, i would never have to do that @ U

 

[Motherfletcher]

When my kids were strollerbound MK had tanks! They used the frame from a 1958 Buick. A good ankle clip could put someone down for the count. I love it when a 5 year old is pushing a 2 year old.

MK has 16.6 million visitors a year compared to 6 at the Studios and 5.3 at IOA. So an average day at MK is over 45,000. At least a third have stroller aged offspring.

 

[Lisa P.]

Over at Disney, the parents stay even if the kid is sleeping because again, they've been brainwashed to stay the entire day no matter what.

After paying a fortune for Disney's magic multi-day passes, they stay and "have fun" if it kills them, because they have to get their money's worth.

 

[Melissa2480]

I'm guilty though ...well only about the suv type stroller . Actually my son's is a Jeep Liberty.....Limited HA!! We figured he needed to be comfy to nap in case we were still in the parks and the xtra space is great.

I'll try to be good though and not run anyone over!! But please move when I say "EXCUSE US".

 

[mommiepoppins]

I am guiltey of running over someones foot at wdw. and my dh yelled at me for being a stroller commando .. sorrry

here is one bad memory at wdw. When I was 6 mnts preg with my last dd and had 3 other children we took the fairy. And I really wanted to sit I sat a half of my butt cheek on the bench when this man yelled at me to get off his seat .(mind you I was also holding dd 12mnths in my arms too) I was hardly on the seat just a peace of my butt. This dingle hopper totally flipped out at me . My dh was not happy and he said YOU wanted to be in DISNEY . All my friends (a group of 10) were suprised at how much of a gentelman he was. So I sat on the floor

 

[inkkognito]

I would have asked the "gentleman" to produce a receipt for HIS seat. What a nut job!

 

[lorax123]

A grown man wouldn't give up his seat for a pregnant woman, holding a child? Now, that's wrong.

It's not just the people pushing strollers at MK, or any WDW park. So many people just feel entitled to stand and mill about in the middle of traffic routes, huddled up, chatting and eating away in the meantime, forcing everybody else to try and find away around them. Would you stop your car in the middle of the road to fix a flat, talk on the cellphone or eat your Churro? NO.

Then the people that rush to get past you, then stop to gawk at something, forcing you to excuse yourself to get by them. Then they give you a dirty look and start walking again, only to pass you again and repeat the cycle.

There's also the gate blockers that rush to an attraction entrance to beat everybody else, stop as soon as they get in the Q and start asking the attendant a million questions.... COMMON! Letting a group of people in front of you while you ask your silly questions, will not cause you to wait in-line another 20 minutes.

Needless to say, by the end of a Disney day, I've usually had enough of my dopey people quotient.

I still remember my first trip to WDW... standing in-line to purchase tickets at the gate for MK the group in front of me moves to the side, so I move forward to buy my tickets. The dude pushes me back and yells at me that he's still not finished. That first Disney moment, pretty much sums up WDW for me. Crap... I wasn't even being pushy or naggy, just not paying attention, and when I saw the space open, just moved up. I still wish bad things to that man. I hold a gruge too long, don't I?

 

[ChrisFL]

I decided to bring this post back due to my previous observation in this thread that strollers are like baby SUV's....

....well I guess i was closer to the truth than even I imagined. I was at MK the other day, when I saw a stroller, braded with a JEEP logo on the side.

So apparently Im not the only one who thinks like this. Im guessing there's an H4-Stroller edition HUMMER out there as well (but I dont have kids so I wont be searching the net for one either)

 

[micksterlee]

I am waiting for the new Transformer stroller that will probably be unveiled if the movie is a hit.It will not only be as big as a tank but when you least expect it, not only will it attack your ankles but will transform in to a metal beast that will gouge you in the ribs and knock off your hat.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I am waiting for the new Transformer stroller that will probably be unveiled if the movie is a hit.It will not only be as big as a tank but when you least expect it, not only will it attack your ankles but will transform in to a metal beast that will gouge you in the ribs and knock off your hat.

 

[scammermom]

I am waiting for the new Transformer stroller that will probably be unveiled if the movie is a hit.It will not only be as big as a tank but when you least expect it, not only will it attack your ankles but will transform in to a metal beast that will gouge you in the ribs and knock off your hat.

Great!! Hopefully it can transport 2 - 3 15 year olds who are too lazy to walk too!