Stroller Theft

[fla4fun]

6)So that means there is the option of bringing the stroller into the resturant with you!?! Sorry, but I truly believe that if a resturant (especially one catering to families) won't allow you to bring in a stroller then they should provide a secure area in which to leave the stroller!!! That is just how I feel.

I totally agree. What if it were something other than strollers? What if it were cameras? What if you couldn't bring a camera in to the restaurant, and the only alternative was tossing it in a pile on the ground outside? You know that families are going to be there with small children - you KNOW that. So you should either be set up to accept the strollers in the dining room, or have a secure place to leave them.

But as far as the liability goes, that could be a tough one. Say the property outside of the physical building belongs to Disney and Landry just rents the building itself. I would think that Disney would have very little control over what stroller policies Landry's sets for inside their building. So Landry's says you can't bring it in - but Disney doesn't say that. So when you leave it outside, on Disney's property, Disney can say they never told you to leave your property unsupervised, so they aren't responsible. Landry's could say they have no responsibility for a theft that didn't occur on their property. It's one of those catch-22 things, in my opinion. It's not fair, but that's how it is. I would have definitely made a police report. I noticed a lot more Orange County sheriffs wandering around on my trip last week, so it shouldn't have been difficult to do.

You pretty much have to take care of yourself in this world (and in Disney World), so I can understand why some people are taking the parents to task. If I have something expensive with me, whether it's a camera, or a laptop, or just my cash and credit cards, I feel it's my responsibility to make sure they are secure at all times. If I can't take it with me (for example, some antique stores won't let you carry a handbag while you shop), and I don't have someplace to lock it up securely, I don't go there. It's that simple. I would not have left a stroller or any other item that cost that much sitting anywhere unattended and unlocked, whether in the parks, the resorts, or DTD. I would have either bought a cheapie for the trip or rented, or found a way to secure the stroller.

I have a feeling the parents are out of luck on this one.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I can't believe they made them leave it outside. Why not fold it up and have a place to store them? Did they think a restaurant at DTD wouldn't have small children in strollers?

The PP is correct, any double stroller, even a cheap one, is not cheap.

 

[maxiesmom]

No offense to OP, BUT finally someone is making sense!!! Even if is was just a fenced in area with a cm standing there. It could deter a theft...granted if someone wants to steal something bad enough it will happen no matter who is watching. Thank you for you suggestion

Except that with all the cuts Disney is making, it is highly unlikely they would want to hire someone to babysit strollers. How about bringing a stroller lock along with your $400 stroller? Or how about choosing to not eat at that restaurant, if you couldn't bring your stroller with you. That was an option too. Why should Disney be responsible for something left outside unattended?

It is a common thing for restaurants to not allow strollers inside. And none that I can think of offer a stroller check. Why would Disney be any different?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Except that with all the cuts Disney is making, it is highly unlikely they would want to hire someone to babysit strollers. How about bringing a stroller lock along with your $400 stroller?

It is a common thing for restaurants to not allow stroller inside. And none that I can think of offer a stroller check. Why would Disney be any different?

Most restaurants will let you leave the strollers folded in entryway and several will allow them into the restaurant with an infant.

Why would Disney be different? Because families are thier target audience.

 

[kaytieeldr]

BUT I bring a bicycle chain/lock to lock it up when it's going to be unsupervised. If there's nothing to lock it to

As stated above, please do not lock your stroller TO anything. Lock it to itself - opposite wheels, a wheel to the frame whatever. Just because you haven't had a lock cut off yet because the CMs needed to move your stroller does not mean it won't happen in the future - and then you'll have no lock.

 

[kaytieeldr]

1) WDW employees are not supposed to show sympathy.
2) It can be taken as an apology or sign of guilt, and make WDW liable.

1-2)Oh, Please!!! No sympathy because it COULD be taken for a sign of guilt...I doubt it would have been a cm to take it.

Excuse him. Guilt was apparently the wrong word. He meant liability.

I agree. I think its outrageous that its being implied that its the parents' fault that it was stolen. <snip> WDW should have at least offered to call a police officer there so they could file a police report.

It is not being implied that this was the parents' fault (now, if that's being inferred, said impression would be on the part of the readers and not the responsibility of any prior post). As for calling a police officer - a reasonable person, faced with the loss of expensive personal property, would be reasonably expected to contact the police on her/his own.

While I agree that it would be impossible for a CM to keep track of what stroller belongs to what guest, it would be very simple for them to set up a stroller parking area, fenced in, with a CM or two at the entrance, and have tags for the strollers, with matching tags for the owners.

How much would the average Disney visitor be willing to pay for this added service/control? I'm certainly not willing to pay more for my food because the restaurant has to pay additional CMs for stroller control - when I don't have a stroller.

 

[maxiesmom]

Most restaurants will let you leave the strollers folded in entryway and several will allow them into the restaurant with an infant.

Why would Disney be different? Because families are thier target audience.

I don't agree. I can only think of 1 restaurant in this area that keeps your stroller for you in the entryway while you eat. Most simply don't have the room.

And I don't think stroller families are the target audiance. Disney wants all sorts of families, and they would even probably prefer it if less strollers were around, given the rates they charge to rent them.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

As stated above, please do not lock your stroller TO anything. Lock it to itself - opposite wheels, a wheel to the frame whatever. Just because you haven't had a lock cut off yet because the CMs needed to move your stroller does not mean it won't happen in the future - and then you'll have no lock.

Why would a cm have to cut the lock? If they are there to cut a lock then they could keep an eye on the stroller area!

Totally understand about not allowing strollers in the resturant due to fire hazards...hey safety for everyone!!! But then make accommodations for the strollers either in an area inside the resturant or outside...even if it means folding it up to make more room for more strollers.

No one is going to accept the responsibility of ANYTHING missing these days. I get that! It is your belongings and your resopnsibility, But I don't get why a family oriented service/park industry wouldn't providea sense of security (even a false sense). AND no sympathy!!! People are very strange...something like this could deter a family from every visiting again and cause them to talk down the park/resturant to others.

Personally, I'm going for the lock on this trip...even if it is for DTD. I agree with OP that DTD kind of lends itself to be theft friendly as it is open.

 

[maxiesmom]

Why would a cm have to cut the lock? If they are there to cut a lock then they could keep an eye on the stroller area!

Totally understand about not allowing strollers in the resturant due to fire hazards...hey safety for everyone!!! But then make accommodations for the strollers either in an area inside the resturant or outside...even if it means folding it up to make more room for more strollers.

No one is going to accept the responsibility of ANYTHING missing these days. I get that! It is your belongings and your resopnsibility, But I don't get why a family oriented service/park industry wouldn't providea sense of security (even a false sense). AND no sympathy!!! People are very strange...something like this could deter a family from every visiting again and cause them to talk down the park/resturant to others.

Personally, I'm going for the lock on this trip...even if it is for DTD. I agree with OP that DTD kind of lends itself to be theft friendly as it is open.

CM's do move strollers around to tidy up an area. That doesn't mean they are able to stand there and watch them at all times.

Why should a restaurant HAVE to accomodate strollers? They are not included in any ADA act. Would it be nice if they did? Sure. But then they would have to have spare room (which means fewer tables, less revenue) to keep those strollers.

Yep, if I left an item worth $400 unattended anywhere, I would be the one responsible when it was stolen. And I would be angry if someone pretended to watch that item for me, and then didn't. What good is a false sense of security?

Our country IS sue-happy. And you can bet that any kind of statement showing sypmathy can be turned around to be an admission of guilt. I work with the public, and even if someone trips and falls we cannot say "Oh, I'm sorry." That could be used against the company as an admission of wrong-doing.

DTD is an shopping district. Just because it is on Disney property doesn't mean that thieves don't go there.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Why would a cm have to cut the lock? If they are there to cut a lock then they could keep an eye on the stroller area!

It has been posted at least once in this thread, and in pretty much every stroller thread of any length, that Guests are not allowed to lock their strollers TO anything. Period.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's a substantial number of WDW rides and attractions, an entire Epcot pavilion (The Land), and several restaurants on WDW property that do not allow strollers inside. At all these locations, strollers must be left outside. At all these locations, it seems it would be relatively easy for someone to walk away with a stroller that isn't theirs. Best I can suggest is 1) do not leave anything of value in a parked stroller and 2) don't bring expensive strollers.

 

[DanMedix]

1) do not leave anything of value in a parked stroller and 2) don't bring expensive strollers.

Well put.

 

[Bell30012]

Since we are going in 69 days, I considered attaching an extra Brickhouse child locator tag to my stroller so when someone rips it off, I can quickly locate it. But I think I'll avoid that one because it would probably ruin two families vacations, mine and theirs. I think we'll probably just rent one, leave nothing valuable in it and if it gets stroller napped we'll get us another one.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

Since we are going in 69 days, I considered attaching an extra Brickhouse child locator tag to my stroller so when someone rips it off, I can quickly locate it. But I think I'll avoid that one because it would probably ruin two families vacations, mine and theirs. I think we'll probably just rent one, leave nothing valuable in it and if it gets stroller napped we'll get us another one.

sorry but the brickhouse locator is not that great and the signal is not that strong.

 

[fla4fun]

Why should a restaurant HAVE to accomodate strollers?

I don't think that anyone here believes that every restaurant should accommodate strollers. But we are talking about restaurants on Disney property, in particular, a restaurant that is geared toward families, promoted toward families, who should be expecting that at least a certain percentage of these families will have young children with them. They should have considered, during their developmental stage, that a percentage of guests would have strollers and thought about how those strollers would be accommodated. I've been in many restaurants where strollers were allowed, and they simply removed chairs from one side of the table and parked the stroller there. It didn't take up any more room than an adult sitting in a chair would (granted, some of the strollers these days are the size of a mini-van, but I'm talking your normal one child, non-umbrella stroller here).

It just seems like Landry's could be losing some of the core audience it was trying to attract by not thinking ahead and being pro-active. And no, I don't have any stroller age kids, so I don't have anything to gain or lose in this battle. I still think that it would be better to either buy a cheapie stroller or rent a stroller than to bring an expensive one from home.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

While I agree that it would be impossible for a CM to keep track of what stroller belongs to what guest, it would be very simple for them to set up a stroller parking area, fenced in, with a CM or two at the entrance, and have tags for the strollers, with matching tags for the owners. Someone drops off a stroller, they tag it, and give the matching tag to the owner. Owner returns with tag, they find the stroller with the matching tag, and return the stroller, the tags are available to use for the next guest. No tag, no stroller, no theft.

Seriously? You expect Disney to offer this service for free at every single stroller parking area on property? I think that would make it extremely time consuming to park and claim your stroller and cost much more for Disney in the extra CMs it would need.

They already offer a stroller rental service so that parents don't have to worry about stroller theft. It's a perfectly viable solution to the problem. But if people are going to choose to take use their own stroller instead of renting one for a reasonable price, then they assume the risk of having it taken. Plain and simple.

Why does it matter if they had a $400 stroller? It was a double stroller for one, and in case no one knows- those are not cheap.

Right. So one would assume if someone could afford an expensive stroller that they could afford to: A. Leave it at home and rent one for a week; or B. By a cheap lock to secure it. If the price didn't matter, the OP wouldn't have mentioned it in her OP. It seems like this couple expected more sympathy because they had an expensive piece of merchandise they were hauling around an open shopping area.

About 11 years ago my sister took her one year old to HS with my father and they came out of the Muppet Show and her stroller was gone. THey alerted lost and found but it was never turned in and WDW did nothing to reimburse her for it

Of course not. Why would Disney reimburse her for this? Could you imagine the number of items lost/stolen at Disney every single day? If they start reimbursing people for the items that don't turn up, they'll go bankrupt.

I can't believe they made them leave it outside. Why not fold it up and have a place to store them? Did they think a restaurant at DTD wouldn't have small children in strollers?

Why should this restaurant be any different than the hundreds of other locations that do not allow strollers at WDW? I think that any reasonable person who plans a trip to WDW is well aware that they will have to leave their stroller unattended frequently.

 

[SarahDISer]

I don't really think that you can declare that parents should just rent strollers or use a cheap one unless you have kids and have had the experience of pushing a cheap pram around all day.

I would never dream of using a rented pram. Firstly, there is the hygeine issue. Secondly, a more expensive pram is so much more comfortable to use.

If you have an older child (toddler), they can get very heavy to push around all day in the heat, especially if you are a small woman. If you have a pram with large, air filled tyres (like a bicycle) it can make all the difference in the world to the weight load. Expensive tyres also make a smoother, less jerky ride for the child which is something most parents consider when they have a small baby. Expensive prams have comfortable padding and cushioning in the seat which keeps the child comfortable and makes it easier for the little one to nap. Padded head and neck suppport is vital for young babies and you don't get any in a cheap or rented stroller.

Those rental strollers at Disney are really bulky as well which is a complete pain in the a*** to manouvre in the crowds. Are those people who declare that parents should just get rentals the same ones who complain about getting their ankles bashed by those monstrous things

On a recent trip to DLR we took our own pram because we needed it for the walk to and from our hotel. We bought a new pram for the trip which folded up to fit into a large shoulder bag so that we could take it on the plane as carry-on. We were meeting some other people at Jungle Cafe at DTD and were not comfortable with leaving our pram outside because of the fact that we were outside the parks and didn't really like the feel of the place. This is a very small and compact pram and we asked nicely if we could please bring it in with us and they refused, even if it was folded. Yet outside there were signs saying something along the lines of "leave your pram at your own risk". Talk about being caught between a rock....

The thing is, if you have a baby who cannot yet sit up by themselves or who is sleeping, you need to be able to seat them in their pram so that you can eat your meal. I think that they should at least allow strollers for babies under six months but that is just my opinion.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It just seems like Landry's could be losing some of the core audience it was trying to attract by not thinking ahead and being pro-active.

And again I ask - how much would Guests be willing to pay for such a service? I know I'm not willing to pay a single cent, since I don't have a stroller. This includes that I am not willing to pay more for my food inside the/a restaurant so that facility can pay employees to work outside the building guarding strollers.

Plus, offering such a service implies liability.

The thing is, if you have a baby who cannot yet sit up by themselves or who is sleeping, you need to be able to seat them in their pram so that you can eat your meal. I think that they should at least allow strollers for babies under six months but that is just my opinion.

Well, where do you cut it off? What if you have a nine month old who is slow to sit? What if your child is gifted and is sitting up at four months? What if your five month old is the size of that person's ten month old? Why should you get to bring your stroller inside but they can't? Are you carrying her/his birth certificate?

No, it's the parents' responsibility to plan ahead. Plan to bring an inexpensive stroller. Plan to rent, bringing wipes if you feel the nightly cleaning the rental strollers get is not sufficient. Plan to take turns holding a child who can't yet sit unassisted while the other member/s of your party eat.

we asked nicely if we could please bring it in with us and they refused, even if it was folded. Yet outside there were signs saying something along the lines of "leave your pram at your own risk". Talk about being caught between a rock....

Caught how? What about "Don't dine in a facility with whose policies you disagree"?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I don't think that anyone here believes that every restaurant should accommodate strollers. But we are talking about restaurants on Disney property, in particular, a restaurant that is geared toward families, promoted toward families, who should be expecting that at least a certain percentage of these families will have young children with them. They should have considered, during their developmental stage, that a percentage of guests would have strollers and thought about how those strollers would be accommodated. I've been in many restaurants where strollers were allowed, and they simply removed chairs from one side of the table and parked the stroller there. It didn't take up any more room than an adult sitting in a chair would (granted, some of the strollers these days are the size of a mini-van, but I'm talking your normal one child, non-umbrella stroller here).

It just seems like Landry's could be losing some of the core audience it was trying to attract by not thinking ahead and being pro-active. And no, I don't have any stroller age kids, so I don't have anything to gain or lose in this battle. I still think that it would be better to either buy a cheapie stroller or rent a stroller than to bring an expensive one from home.

I agree. This is Disney property and no one thought about strollers?

This isn't V&A.

 

[PrinceCharmingsMom]

I know that having your stroller stolen is a serious concern. However, I am an annual passholder and Florida resident and former cast member at Disney seriously 2 to 3 times a week during the holiday season and most of the year.

I have been taking my son since he was 7 months old. And before that I was disabled and in an electric wheelchair. I don't leave anything of value in the stroller when I go off and park it unattended, however. There have been times I have forgotten to grab my wallet, my video camera, or my regular camera. I usually leave my purchases if I haven't sent them to package pick up and I leave other things ALL THE TIME! When I come back it is NEVER touched.

Other familes are just as concerned about leaving their things as you are leaving yours. I don't see that there is a ton of issue with people stealing strollers and items from strollers. I have been to WDW 3 times this week alone and left my camera, cell phone and others in my stroller. However I do also go out of my way to distinguish my stroller with a license tag and decorations.

I just think that you can get worried and carried away about alot of things. But for the most part. This happens to very few people.