Stroller THEFT

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

We're just bringing 2 $15 umbrella strollers. They are cute though and have Pooh bear on them, so I hope no one tries to nab one. I would still be mad even though they are cheap. Plus it would be a major inconvenience.

I have a question. If we buy something, we will send it back to our hotel through that nice service they provide. We will carry a backback so we can take valuables with us. However, I have a 2 yo who is afraid of big public toilets. I will be bringing a travel potty with us. It is a rather large bag, so I really don't want to carry it onto rides. I'm afraid though that leaving a bag will be a target for theft. Do you think if I put a sign on it that says "Please don't steal my potty seat! I'm only 2!" that it would be less likely to be stolen?

 

[*Belle*]

Ok, this is what we did. At any ski shop or bike store, sports authority etc. (you get the picture) purchase a recoiler. It's a retractable thin cable coil with a combination lock, measures abot 2"x3". Once you know you have that, drill a small hole in the plastic cap in the wheel (it has never cracked, just makes a perfect sm hole). Now you can thread your cable lock thru the hole and your in business. Our Mac has had many theft free trips and I have had PEACE OF MIND! (so important)

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know about that dirty diaper trick...I read about that about 10yrs ago in the Unoffical Guide to WDW book and have seen it mentioned many times on the Dis, so I think it's a pretty well-known trick. Not sure how well that would work! (plus, who wants something that looks like a dirty diaper hanging off of their nice stroller, lol). jmho.

I would not bother with it.
I first heard it when we took our kids to WDW in 1987, so it's been around a while and lots of people have heard about it. Anyone who really wants the stroller is likely to just pull it off and throw it away.
Besides, it's not very believable in a place where there are garbage cans about every 20 yards. I'd consider it just a waste of a good diaper.

 

[TENIA66]

we've been going since 1998, never got a stroller taken, rental or ours......ours is usually FULL of crap.....

 

[karenTX]

Ok, this is what we did. At any ski shop or bike store, sports authority etc. (you get the picture) purchase a recoiler. It's a retractable thin cable coil with a combination lock, measures abot 2"x3". Once you know you have that, drill a small hole in the plastic cap in the wheel (it has never cracked, just makes a perfect sm hole). Now you can thread your cable lock thru the hole and your in business. Our Mac has had many theft free trips and I have had PEACE OF MIND! (so important)

Great idea!!! I'll be telling DH about this tonight so he can take care of it!!
Thanks so much!!

 

[martyshoney]

If you really want to make sure it does not get stolen, get some small bells that you can tie to it when you leave it, it will be obnoxious and someone won't want that to be noticed if they just stole it!

 

[debbi801]

We've gone twice with a stroller--Spring break and June. Both times with our Peg Perego P3 and have had no problems. Have a great time!

 

[DisneyBride94]

I have NEVER had a problem with a stroller theft and I've been bringing a stroller, if not a single AND a double for the past 6 years...

I get that yours is a more expensive brand... but I really don't think it will be an issue...

I always tie a bright colored bandana on my strollers so we can identify them quickly and easily among the masses of strollers...

Maybe, if it made you feel better, you could disguise your stroller by covering up any brand name logos with electrical tape or somethign so the brand is less obvious? I doubt anyone would steal it anyway... but it might make you feel less stressed...

I've seen nice strolelrs (MacLaren, Peg Perego) in the parks with no one bothering them...

I think looking your stroller up would be highly inconvenient to you...

Leave a dirty diaper on the seat when you leave it...no one will go near it!

BUt keep in mind that Cast Members often MOVE strollers to accommodate more stroller parking...or to move them from the entrance of an attraction to the exit area... And at attractions like Kilamanjaro Safaris they actually valet your stroller...

In many areas there is stroller parking that has CMs tending the strollers...if not keeping an eye on them...

I think most people at the World are nice people who wouldn't steal your stroller... others that might not be so nice are probably too afraid of getting caught to attempt it... so that means that the number of people that would resort to such a thing is probably statistically very low...

I've never heard of someone who had a stroller stolen... taken by mistake (especially the Disney rentals that all look alike) yes... returned/found yes... but not stolen...

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I was also a little worried about our Mac too...but I have another question. Has anyone heard of things being stolen out of the stoller? I want to be able to keep our "diaper bag"- (which will really just have changes of clothes since DD is potty training)- in the stroller and not have to drag it on all the rides. But I also don't want it taken. I'd like to believe that people wouldn't steal a two years olds clothes but you never know I guess!

 

[Hoosier Mom]

I bought some 69 cent letters and some fabric glue and glued our son's first name to the back of the stroller. Got them at Michaels. Hopefully that will deter theft. Also got a bright green bandana and a little plastic license plate with his name on it. I think I found the license plate at Toys R Us.

Hopefully it will be unique enough that someone won't get confused and take ours by mistake.

 

[sconnell]

We have acutally had our's mixed up with another one. Not sure who took who's first. Though we did find it right next to our other one. Yeah, we did have bandana's on it and everything, (the one we picked up, didn't) but sometimes things get chaotic. lol. The only thing that made me mad was that (in the 10 minutes it took us to realize and get back) the people threw away a sippy cup (a nice one), the two bright orange bandanas, and some other stuff! Argh! A CM had our stroller. Maybe, the people thought that someone put all that stuff on their stroller and were mad and threw it away and then realized later that it wasn't theirs at all?
No big deal though, didn't ruin our trip.
This time we are taking two $20 umbrellas that we got at Baby Depot. They are TALL which is the best thing ever! A shade and a small basket underneath. We'll brand them with our names and even put the bandanas on them again. Our friends always take a bigger stroller and they fight with it the whole time. But then again, we're kind of um, "more easy going" than them.

 

[TENIA66]

I was also a little worried about our Mac too...but I have another question. Has anyone heard of things being stolen out of the stoller? I want to be able to keep our "diaper bag"- (which will really just have changes of clothes since DD is potty training)- in the stroller and not have to drag it on all the rides. But I also don't want it taken. I'd like to believe that people wouldn't steal a two years olds clothes but you never know I guess!

just secure it to the stroller, like tying it in or whatever, if the theif can nab it and move on they will be less likely to mess with in

 

[mom_of_5]

We just got back and I was worried about the same thing. I brought my pink Peg Perego stroller that cost me $400 and always had garbage of some sort including a dirty diaper somethimes, in the basket and locked the wheels. It was always there when we got back, of course I did not spot too many other pink strollers so I did stand out somewhat.
I have heard of stroller theft but I do not think it is a common thing.

 

[eeyoregon]

Has anyone heard of things being stolen out of the stoller?

I have heard MANY stories of things "disappearing" out of strollers. Simple rule of thumb: if you can't live without it don't leave it in an unattended stroller. I would only leave a plain, simple diaper bag with nothing more than clothes, diapers and wipes.

Each and every visit to WDW I am simply amazed at the amount of Disney bags filled with souveniers that are just left in strollers. If you are staying on property have all of your purchases sent to your room. I always take a small shoulder bag that goes with me on ALL rides that has camera, wallet, and other important personal belongings in it. The only thing we had stolen was one of the refillable plastic popcorn buckets

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We used a bike lock. We each had a lanyard that we kept the key on with our KTTWC AND we had an extra key made and kept it in the safe in the room Just in Case! (we never needed that one!!). We would take the lock and tread it through the two back wheels. So that the CMs could still drag it from place to place if they wanted to move it. BUT if we saw someone dragging a stroller we would know it was ours!

 

[missdramaqueen]

When we went to Disney when my brother was 2 we took a zip lock bag and put a diaper in. I know that sounds gross but, it worked no CMs even moved it so we always knew where it was.

 

[robinb]

I wouldn't bother locking it. I have a Maclaren Techno which has been to WDW at least 2-3 times per year, 8-10 days per trip, for 4 years and it has never been taken. Of course, it's a really ugly lime green plaid that was only available in the UK. It is very easy to find.