Stroller Theft??

[karenTX]

I do like the cable lock idea, though. You can't thread it through the wheels on a Volo, but if I can work out another way I might bring one just in case.

We took a cable lock for our Mac Quest last September. DH had drilled holes in the inner 2 front tire "hubcaps" and we locked it whenever we were going to be away from sight for a while (like at Epcot's Land and Sea pavillions). HTH!

 

[nisi]

We took a cable lock for our Mac Quest last September. DH had drilled holes in the inner 2 front tire "hubcaps" and we locked it whenever we were going to be away from sight for a while (like at Epcot's Land and Sea pavillions). HTH!

Ooohhh... an excuse to use my little battery drill! I love that thing! Thanks for the idea!

 

[webshark3]

We have a nice Eurotrend umbrella stroller. I wrote our family name on it in heavy black marker across the canopy, and on each side. Never has an issue other than CMs moving it.

My theory (yet to be proven), is that if our stroller went missing, we just contact Disney Security and say that a blue umbrella stroller covered in the name "JOHNSON" is missing. With the way Disney securtiy is, it should show up pretty quick. There's a CM at every exit, and stroller theft is rare.

It also stopped mistaken identity, as you can't look at the stroller without seeing the name.

 

[laui]

we locked our own personal stroller to a gate (where the stroller parking was) outside the aladdin show only to find two CM's standing there on either side of the stroller waiting for us looking like men in black or something. they were very polite though, and told us we couldn't lock the stroller anywhere.

i really like the idea to lock the front two wheels together, and i'll be doing that next time we go great tip!

 

[webshark3]

We used 2 Ohio State rain ponchos to cover our stroller while we went in to see Philarmagic.

When we came out the ponchos were gone and the stroller was soaked!

Hmmm, a couple Ohio State ponchos taken... in Florida.....your contents completely soaked.... you being Ohio State folk, and your location being Florida....

...nope, can't see ANY reason whatsoever for that happening.

 

[Skye00]

We have travelled extensively and never had problems with stroller theft, both at Disneyland CA and other amusement parks. Granted it will be our first trip to WDW in the fall and maybe I am not being cautious enough, but I am not worried. It seems like most stroller "theft" is the result of mistaking a similar looking stoller. I like the idea of putting a license plate or even a balloon on the stroller.

Thanks for the reminder though. I would hate to be stranded at WDW without our double Maclaren. I'd die!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We've taken our Peg Pliko (P3) and Maclaren Quests and parked them outside things and never had an issue even the one's had pthers parked next to them that looked identical. We've taken our Chameleon too and walked away from it in Norway's store and never had anyone look at it. I think over all the general public visiting WDW is pretty honest as far as the stroller thing. I hope! But we see tons of Pliko's and Peg/Maclaren doubles parked all over so it's not like it should really stick out and thieves will have lots to choose from.

 

[kileybeth]

we took a brand spankin' new graco duo glide last time we went. It was obviously very very new (probably a mistake in retrospect) we not only came out of attractions (more than once!!) to find other folks loading their kids into it, we also had it moved repeatedly (by CM's which is okay but actually saw one guy (looked like young Dad) moving it away from where we had parked it (centrally in Fantasyland) as kids were walking a bit to stretch and I was off feeding the baby.

Each time (3 total) the other people apoligized but I have to tell you as they slunked off to their own similar Graco duo glides that were years older (my pattern had been reintroduced that very year under a new name) they did not look like they had "misplaced" their own stroller!!

This was in Sept. 2005. I'm taking 2 maclarens this trip and am currently working on a way to identify them as mine from afar off and make sure no one can walk away "pretending" it is theirs!

I really do not want to sharpie the rain hood up tho . . .good grief!

 

[webshark3]

I really do not want to sharpie the rain hood up tho . . .good grief!

I learned to accept that if I take a stroller to Disney repeatedly, I'm going to beat the out of it anyway, so why not Sharpie it up.

When I'm done with it, it'll go in the trash, Goodwill (sharpie out our name), or to another family member who has the same name anyway. I don't see much of a "secondary" market to resell strollers, no matter how nice they "were".

FYI, Sharpie run off the metal frames after a little time (at least on the Eurotrend), and I may try to use washable Markers this year on the canopy.

Our Eurotrend is staying home, as we need our Eddie Bauer Tandem umbrella stroller this year.

 

[Iri920]

I learned to accept that if I take a stroller to Disney repeatedly, I'm going to beat the out of it anyway, so why not Sharpie it up.

When I'm done with it, it'll go in the trash, Goodwill (sharpie out our name), or to another family member who has the same name anyway. I don't see much of a "secondary" market to resell strollers, no matter how nice they "were".

FYI, Sharpie run off the metal frames after a little time (at least on the Eurotrend), and I may try to use washable Markers this year on the canopy.

Our Eurotrend is staying home, as we need our Eddie Bauer Tandem umbrella stroller this year.

Yeah I could never do that to my beloved Valco. I did want to say that there is a good market for higher end strollers. I know that if I take good care of my stroller once I'm done with it I will get at least half of my money back.

 

[TravelinGal]

Yeah I could never do that to my beloved Valco. I did want to say that there is a good market for higher end strollers. I know that if I take good care of my stroller once I'm done with it I will get at least half of my money back.

I agree. I see Peg Perego's selling for half or more value. That's one of the reasons I got a bag for gate checking my stroller. I don't want the airlines to beat the h*** out of it.

I even got $60 for my almost 3 yr old Travel System (Evenflo) without the car seat. That's not nothing. We got some really heavy use (Las Vegas, Cancun, Chichen Itza, WDW and more) out of that stroller, so I was very happy with $60 back in my pocket. (got $30 for the car seat part about a year before so I got $90 of the $290 back) I fully expect to get around or over $100 for my Peg Perego in a year or so if we keep it in good shape and <gasp> don't write on the hood with a marker. I might consider that for a cheapie $60 stroller, but no way would I do that to my $200+ stroller.

 

[webshark3]

so if we keep it in good shape and <gasp> don't write on the hood with a marker. I might consider that for a cheapie $60 stroller, but no way would I do that to my $200+ stroller.

cough,cough. the original comments were about theft. Surely I'd get more for a sharpied stroller than for no stroller at all.

Our Eurotrend was about $60. Our Eddie Bauer tandem was about $130. Both "just" cheap enough that I won't worry about them being damaged or stolen, or sharpied.

I stayed away from the Peg Perigos and the high end ones for just that reason. The Eurotrend was a fraction of the cost of the Maclaren, but was still comfortable and cheap(er).

 

[kileybeth]

I have owned more than 20 plus strollers over the years

(Hello, my name is K. and I am a stroller addict) to be fair I do have 6 kids spread over 20+ years!

Anywho, I've only ever "trashed" or thrown out about 3 of them. Every other one has been re-sold for very good returns on my initial investment or past along to friends/family.

so, no sharpie here but I was thinking about this idea, taking some embroidery floss and stiching our names onto the hood in bright colors? I'm not the least bit crafty tho so it may be a harder project then I think? also will have cup holders attached, etc.

also everyone knows that you can remove permanent marker off hard surfaces with a dry erase marker right? I do this all the time to many possesions. So no permanent damage there yet durable enough to maybe be a deterant?

what do you think? any better ideas??

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We've never ever had a problem with stroller theft at WDW, but we did have a brand new stroller stolen at the outlets. Dh had "parked" the stroller right outside the restrooms inside the Bass Pro Shop. He and our younger son weren't in the restroom 2 minutes max. The stroller was gone when they exited! He immediately reported it to store employees, but they really seemed to care less. At least it was the end of our trip, but it was still rather depressing.

 

[Skye00]

also everyone knows that you can remove permanent marker off hard surfaces with a dry erase marker right?

I have never heard of this. Can you explain? Will it take permanent marker off wood too or just glass, plastic, metal, etc. Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

Embroidering the hood will cause it to leak when it rains (and let sunlight in through the needle holes, too.)

I had a special roll of foil return address tags made and shellacked some to the underside of the frame for recovery purposes; they will come off with a razor blade if you want to sell the stroller later. For identification, I used a LARGE laminated tag attached with wire ties, and also a serious froth of metallic curling ribbon tied onto the handles. You should also make a note of the serial number; that will allow you to identify it, too.

 

[kileybeth]

not ursula, great ideas. I did think up the leaking thing after I posted but I was thinking just on the trim area but I still don't want to do that.

My son travels overseas a good bit and he swears by those cabel ties for everything. thats what the current plan is as they are hard to remove without a serious knife/scissors.

I've only tried the Sharpie on metal, glass, dishes, smooth plastic (no grainy surface types) works great on dry erase boards themselves.

I have also used address labels and will do so again.

now if I can find such good ways to identify my children in case anyone wonders off with them.

 

[karenTX]

Something else I did to my Mac Quest was I had my dad engrave my initals and cell phone # onto the metal frame. You can't see it unless you are looking for it but it's there is I ever need to prove that it's mine (or if someone nice "finds" it ) If I ever get to selling it, I'll have him go back over it to "erase" the info out. Just another thought!

 

[jamesmommy]

Embroidering the hood will cause it to leak when it rains (and let sunlight in through the needle holes, too.)

I had a special roll of foil return address tags made and shellacked some to the underside of the frame for recovery purposes; they will come off with a razor blade if you want to sell the stroller later. For identification, I used a LARGE laminated tag attached with wire ties, and also a serious froth of metallic curling ribbon tied onto the handles. You should also make a note of the serial number; that will allow you to identify it, too.

I wrote my information on a piece of "invisible" scotch tape with a ball point pen, and stuck it on the frame UNDERNEATH the fabric seats of my Valco. I figured that no one would take the time to remove the seat to check to see if something was written there, but I would know it was there if I needed to prove ownership.

Amie

 

[LisaNJ25]

I learned to accept that if I take a stroller to Disney repeatedly, I'm going to beat the out of it anyway, so why not Sharpie it up.

When I'm done with it, it'll go in the trash, Goodwill (sharpie out our name), or to another family member who has the same name anyway. I don't see much of a "secondary" market to resell strollers, no matter how nice they "were".

FYI, Sharpie run off the metal frames after a little time (at least on the Eurotrend), and I may try to use washable Markers this year on the canopy.

Our Eurotrend is staying home, as we need our Eddie Bauer Tandem umbrella stroller this year.

I was thinking about ironing one of those t-shirt transfers onto the raincover. I am just not sure how it will hold up with the heat on the iron. I have 2 of the $90 chicco umbrella strollers that we are bringing. I plan on using them for the next 2-3 years so I am sure they will be **** anyway by than.