Stroller 'security'?

[PocahontasLookALike]

I just had a though occur to me...

When we go at the end of the month we are brining our very nice Mac stroller because it's lightweight to fly with/easy to push and very compact (otherwise we'd bring a cheapo one).

I know the basics of NOT leaving anything of remote value in the stroller while we leave it in the stroller parking area, but do I need to be concerned with someone 'mistakenly' mixing up our stroller for theirs?

I've seen those stroller locks that you can lock to a fence or something but I thought I read you can't do at in DL because the CM's may need to move the strollers.

thoughts???

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

We do stuff to our stroller so it stands out... hook a balloon to a handle, tie streamers of varying colors on to the handle... things that make it so that other people don't mistake it for theirs. We have a britax blink... it was only $70 for us to buy, because I was fine getting an "old" color, but nice enough that I guess if someone wanted to steal it they would. You aren't allowed to secure it to anything with a lock or whatever, because cms do move strollers around (happened to us often)... so the balloon and streamers also help us spot it when it gets moved.

 

[kirstie101]

Our very average, not "expensive" Graco stroller was once mistaken for someone elses. It took about an hour for the person to figure it out and bring it back. A stressful hour for me but the family enjoyed watching JTA while I searched for the stroller. After that experience we bought a stroller lock. We dont lock it to fences or anything like that. We simply run the wire through the wheel which just makes it harder to move. CM's could still move it if they needed to but I figure this helps people from mistaking it as their own. And less convient to steal. And now that we travel with two strollers we just lock them together so they dont get seperated when parked. I dont think a stroller lock is a must have item. In fact I forgot it our last trip. But if you have a more expensive stroller it might be something to consider.

 

[OldBrownShoe]

My family used to lock them to a fence with a bike lock, but that was many years ago. No one ever said anything, but the rules may be different, now. Also, my little sister (the one in the stroller) was clearly disabled and we usually had oxygen tanks attached, so CMs might have let us bend the rules because they felt bad.

Maybe you can lock the stroller to itself with a bike lock, so some of the wheels (preferably one whole side or the back wheels) won't turn? That way, a CM could move it, if they had to, but it's not as valuable to someone trying to take it, as they'd have to carry it all the way out of the park.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I would suggest buying a cheapo stroller that you don't care about for the trip. Locks are a huge issue as the CMs do need to be able to move the strollers and, yes, expensive strollers are targets at Disneyland as many people have reported here repeatedly over the years.

Why risk it?

- Dreams

 

[skiingfast]

CM's could still move it if they needed to but I figure this helps people from mistaking it as their own. And less convient to steal. And now that we travel with two strollers we just lock them together so they dont get seperated when parked.

Maybe you can lock the stroller to itself with a bike lock, so some of the wheels (preferably one whole side or the back wheels) won't turn?

Just a warning. I've heard from some CMs who have been annoyed by parents that do this, how they return the favor of the parents making thier job difficult. I wouldn't do this.

 

[helenb]

There have been cases of people stealing expensive strollers at DL and WDW. Not frequent, but it does happen. Imagine your expensive stroller just sitting there for the taking in a sea of cheapy strollers and Disney rentals.

Personally, I would never take an expensive stroller to any theme park unless I planned to be with it at ALL times. Disney is not conducive to such a thing. Buy a cheapy umbrella stroller. When your'e done you can donate it to the Salvation Army or Goodwill and get a nice tax writeoff to help defray the cost.

 

[ccgirl]

I just had a though occur to me...

When we go at the end of the month we are brining our very nice Mac stroller because it's lightweight to fly with/easy to push and very compact (otherwise we'd bring a cheapo one).

I know the basics of NOT leaving anything of remote value in the stroller while we leave it in the stroller parking area, but do I need to be concerned with someone 'mistakenly' mixing up our stroller for theirs?

I've seen those stroller locks that you can lock to a fence or something but I thought I read you can't do at in DL because the CM's may need to move the strollers.

thoughts???

Which Maclaren stroller? I brought my Mac and had difficulty picking it out until I tied a balloon to the handle....there were so many there for the same reason (light, easy to push/fly with).

 

[kirstie101]

Just a warning. I've heard from some CMs who have been annoyed by parents that do this, how they return the favor of the parents making thier job difficult. I wouldn't do this.

Thats why when I do do it (and I dont always!), I only run it through one wheel, not two, leaving it easy for any CM's to move it a short distance if need be. And also we're pretty careful where we leave it. I actually dont think our stroller has been moved at all the last couple of years.

 

[Honeybee1983]

Easy way to keep your stroller safe: Just own a ghetto looking stroller like we do, nobody will want to steal it! HA!

 

[LucasandMickey]

We take our double BOB stroller and have never had a problem ($700 stroller). Disneyland and other theme parks were in the back of our minds when we made that purchase! Holds two kids, easy to maneuver! And dang it, I'm going to use it! We did bring a bike lock to lock the front wheel to itself, but I honestly think we used it once. We had tons of stuff loaded in our stroller and a fairly large "sash" tied to it to identify. I don't think anybody would have stolen it. They'd have to steal our lame crap too!

 

[robinjh7]

Do a search for "stolen stroller" or "theft", and you'll find lots of reasons to lock up your stroller.

We took my grandkids (twins, turned two at the park) in December and took their double stroller (Citi Mini or some such thing). My son bought a stroller lock, and we strung it in a figure-8 between the back wheels so CMs could still tip it up and roll it. It was moved several times. We never left anything in it we couldn't afford to lose. We used an old bag to hold diapers/wipes/snacks, but took everything else with us. My only problem was I couldn't go into the shops with it. Not only was it insanely crowded (December 17-21), the stroller was too big. So we did a lot of sitting and watching people instead of shopping. It was probably much cheaper that way!

 

[elphie101]

At WDW, you cannot lock your stroller to a planter/fence, basically anything that is not you own stroller. When I was working there, we did have instances of people locking their stroller a nearby planter to prevent theft and/or movement, and we were instructed that if we CMs came across a stroller like this, to call security. As security explained it to us, you could not lock your stroller to any Disney property because it is private property, etc.

Of course, this was all at WDW, and I'm sure things could be different at DL, but just figured I'd give my input

 

[SGDisneyFam]

We use a Phil & Teds Dash with Double kit and never lock it up or anything.

Locks etc only keep honest people at bay.

If someone wants it bad enough they are going to take it regardless.

 

[larina]

...We dont lock it to fences or anything like that. We simply run the wire through the wheel which just makes it harder to move. CM's could still move it if they needed to ...

They can also just have them cut off if they really wanted to. You aren't supposed to use them at all. Just imagine if one CM had to deal with everyone's "It's not impossible just more difficult" strollers.

I would suggest buying a cheapo stroller that you don't care about for the trip. Locks are a huge issue as the CMs do need to be able to move the strollers and, yes, expensive strollers are targets at Disneyland as many people have reported here repeatedly over the years.

Why risk it?

- Dreams

I agree, buy a used stroller or use an old one for the parks. Or take your chances, you have that right.

Thats why when I do do it (and I dont always!), I only run it through one wheel, not two, leaving it easy for any CM's to move it a short distance if need be. And also we're pretty careful where we leave it. I actually dont think our stroller has been moved at all the last couple of years.

Our stroller got moved several times our last two trips. If you put them in the stroller area for a ride with a line, it will almost always be moved when you come back. It has to be. Think about the rotation factor. And while you say you leave it "easy for any CM's to move..." from their point I don't think it is easy. It would be a pain in the butt.

...They'd have to steal our lame crap too!

Just a reminder, most strollers are stollen for the "lame crap" in them but the stealer doesn't realize it is lame crap. We don't leave anything in our stroller we don't expect to have stollen.

At WDW, you cannot lock your stroller to a planter/fence, basically anything that is not you own stroller. When I was working there, we did have instances of people locking their stroller a nearby planter to prevent theft and/or movement, and we were instructed that if we CMs came across a stroller like this, to call security. As security explained it to us, you could not lock your stroller to any Disney property because it is private property, etc.

Of course, this was all at WDW, and I'm sure things could be different at DL, but just figured I'd give my input

No, things are the same at DL.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

There is a section of the board called DISigns they make stroller License Plates that you can then laminate or put in to a clear protective sleeve. I'm going to run a piece of scotch tape along the side of it so that my paper can't fall out and zip tie the three rings to my handle bar. I actually chose the stick figure family as my image. My thought being that if you walked up to the stroller you hands would touch the zip tie and you would wonder if it wasn't yours what it was. This is of course for mistaken stroller identity!
As far as stolen. I don't know what will really stop somebody who really wants to steal it. But keep your strollers with the other strollers by the CM's that are in the stroller area. Just my thoughts. I've heard stories of people hanging what looks like a dirty diaper from their stroller. I put my breaks on just because it will take an extra step I also put my stroller in backwards. Sometimes it gets turned around sometimes it doesn't. I think that if it isn't as easy then they wont wan to risk getting caught. But that's just what I tell myself to make me feel better!

 

[kirstie101]

They can also just have them cut off if they really wanted to. You aren't supposed to use them at all. Just imagine if one CM had to deal with everyone's "It's not impossible just more difficult" strollers.





Our stroller got moved several times our last two trips. If you put them in the stroller area for a ride with a line, it will almost always be moved when you come back. It has to be. Think about the rotation factor. And while you say you leave it "easy for any CM's to move..." from their point I don't think it is easy. It would be a pain in the butt.


QUOTE]

I've never seen a policy posted that stated that I was not allowed to use a stroller lock on my stroller wheel in DL. If this policy exists please post a link and I will stop bringing my stroller lock. I'm not saying the policy doesn't exist, I'm just saying if it does, I have not seen it. And if a CM truly wants to cut the wire on my $12 lock thats fine. I'm not attached to the lock. I'm actually not even attached to the stroller, its just that I dont want it to turn up missing during our trip when it is much needed. (again, cheap Graco stroller here, nothing fancy)



As far as it being a "pain in the butt" for CMs to move the stroller, my response is that all they have to do is drag it or simply lift the back end up and push it on its front wheels. It is not heavy. My 5 year old can do it. They have to "unlock" the lock on the wheels of most parked strollers anyway. And do you know what IS a pain in the butt? Taking an hour out of your first morning in the parks to search for your stroller that someone accidentally walked off with because they thought it was theres. And yes our stroller had a personalized stroller tag on it to identify it as well as my daughters sippy cup sitting in the cup holder. And the stroller they left behind actually had their diaper bag hanging on the back of it. So that tells you how much attention some people pay to special identifiers placed on strollers.

I realize strollers can be moved often but I can assure you that our stroller has not been moved the last two trips by CM's. This is mainly due to the fact that we travel with a large group of family memebers and thus our stroller is only "parked" once, sometimes twice a day.

 

[94bruin]

After reading about stroller thefts, we decided to lock our stroller. It's an older Peg Perego - about 6 years old. We run a cable lock through the rear wheels. The stroller is light, so it's not really difficult to move it. All one has to do to move it is lift the rear a bit and just move it on the front wheels. You could even just drag it to move it.

We also had our Maclaren with us (that we left in the car), but the rear wheels are solid, so we were unable to lock that stroller.

I don't think someone would really want to take our stroller - it's old. However, I think there are two scenarios where someone would try to take a stroller:

1. Someone has an identically stroller and doesn't notice til it's too late that it's not their own stroller.

We have a name tag on our and probably snacks and sweaters underneath. Even though you'd think people would notice a difference, I think some people are pretty clueless / or just in the moment and don't notice til it's too late.

2. They didn't bring their own stroller and their child is melting down. They just grab the nearest available stroller and put their child in it. I figure that this would be a more rare occurrence, but I did read of such an occurrence on an earlier post.

I think stroller theft is rare (at least I hope). We locked our stroller during our December trip, but forgot to bring the lock for our Jan trip. We don't stress about it, but if we have a lock handy, we'll use it. If we didn't have our lock, we'd lock our rear wheel.

One thing about locking your stroller, you have to plan where you are going to park the stroller a little better. Without locking it, we'd just move it after ever ride. However, with the lock, it's a pain to unlock, so we'd just leave it in a particular land/area, then come back to it when we were done with the area.