Strollers-If you do not have one your in the minority

[soreadytogo]

We visited WDW Nov 20-28. The first day 11/20/03 at Epcot was great but from then on everything was so busy you could not walk. The Stollers made it even worse. EVERYONE had one. Not just for small children ( I would consider 4 and under- stroller age) but I saw children a old as mine (7 & 10) in them. This may not be such a bad thing if people did not use them as a free pass to just cut in front of you. I am a very tolerant person but the strollers really bothered me. Did anyone else notice this? ( the motorized carts were almost as bad, a women ran over my foot in MK one day, then I thought I was going to have to have one) By the way, the crowds were extremly high. According to CM in all the parks.

 

[Horizons16]

i usually dont mind the strollers and what not.. its when they hit you thats annoying. I realize that you may be looking around and stuff, but just say sorry. Its better than saying get outa the way!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You'd be amazed at the number of people that step in front and cut off strollers. My arms hurt not from pushing but from jerking the stroller to protect someone's ankle because they put it right in my path. There's 80lbs of toddlers in my stoller plus my stuff. Ugh. They aren't equipped with airbrakes you know.

Someone ran me off the curb in Main St. Stepped in front and stopped. Looked at ME funny because to avoid the crash I tried to stop and my wheel caught the curb. Lucky I didn't dump my DD's. But that was that. Every time someone did that and I bumped them I said "Gotta be careful." or "Please don't step in front"

 

[skiwee1]

I am a stroller user and have encountered some rude stroller users but I usually tell them to knock it off and quit driving like an idiot. I have also encountered a number of ECV users that are much worse then any stroller user. DD had her foot run over by one when the ECV user backed up without looking. The wheel bent her foot at such an angle we thought it broken. She didn't even get an apology. Just a dirty look! I was tempted to push said ECV and user right into the lake! I was run over by one last year too. The lady was driving along and veered to the side and ran right over my foot. Again, no apologies and it really hurt!

 

[jeankeri]

My DS8 was ankled by a stroller from the rope wait all through the walk to Test Track in Epcot. For the rest of the trip he would say "Mom, there's another stroller chasing me!"- scared, not thinking it was funny at all. Even he noticed the drivers were not looking down- just up at signs/markers to figure out where they were going. (Again- not ALL, but definately some ). As for the ECV users- it was pretty easy to tell who was adept / driving their own, and who borrowed one for the day with NO IDEA what they were doing! But the best was the lady who could not get off the monorail in her wheelchair, so she stood up, lifted it off the ground, and jumped back in . There was a CM right there waiting, so it wasn't for lack of help! At the end of Fantasmic they were practically begging anyone to take a stroller back to the entrance- my DH took my DS6 & DS8 for a ride out. Otherwise we hoofed it through the parks.

 

[sha_lyn]

But the best was the lady who could not get off the monorail in her wheelchair, so she stood up, lifted it off the ground, and jumped back in .

Your point of this is what? Do you think that anyone in a wheel chair is unable to stand at all? Do you think she was pulling some type of scam? Sorry, but just because someone is unable to walk long distances does not mean that they are unable to stand up, walk around etc.

IE a friends father gets a lot of nasty comments when he unloads he ECV from the back of his truck. Just because he can not walk long distances does not mean he is confined to it 24/7.

You'd be amazed at the number of people that step in front and cut off strollers. My arms hurt not from pushing but from jerking the stroller to protect someone's ankle because they put it right in my path.

Or to me the worse ones are the ones who back into my DD in a stroller and then yell at me to watch out.

 

[FatCow]

But the best was the lady who could not get off the monorail in her wheelchair, so she stood up, lifted it off the ground, and jumped back in .

I'm one of "those guys". I can walk, but not for long. I can even run, but for several steps. I can stand, but no longer than 10 minutes.

The problem is not with my legs, per se, I have tendonitis on both ankles and subluxation of my lower spine.

Quite unfortunately, even airport personnell always (without fail) say "I thought you're disabled?"

My condition is getting a tad better, but now I'm actually afraid people will think more that I'm just scammming them everytime I get out of my chair.

 

[BluOrchid2]

I don't mind regular strollers, but those *&%$ double-wides are freakin' obnoxious! Whoever invented those things oughta be condemned to a lifetime of riding Its a Small World repeatedly throughout the end of time! I can kinda understand when you have two very small children - would prefer others use a front/back double stroller style, but what is completely unforgivable is when you have a double-wide with one older child - I'm talkin 7-10 yo - because they're too big to fit in a regular, single-width stroller being carted around the World like Cleopatra, and they're all sprawled out in there, legs flailing around like a centipede on the Rock n Roller Coaster.

 

[jeankeri]

sha_lyn & FatCow- my point is this- as a person with MS who is disabled and chooses to walk when able instead of sit when not necessary- I do take issue with some who I saw in wheelchairs during my visit. Having not seen the woman on the monorail, please do not jump to her defense and my attack. Prior to being disabled, I was a rehab nurse for 10 years. I do not lack sympathy for the disabled or judgement in levels of fitness or health.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

On my last trip to WDW I was taken out by a stroller, I fell on my knee hard and twisted it...Made my trip very enjoyable having a knee the size of a grapefruit. Missed the next day totally then I rented an ECV the last day at MK. So I now am very wary of strollers.

I would like to say this for everyone that relies on a wheelchair or ECV, After just one day being dependent of a ECV I wanted to start running over people (not children) but adults that look right at you and still step out or walk in front of a motorized vehicle then either just ignore you or
say, "Sorry" after a thousand "Sorry" the word just doesn't mean the same.

Please be courteous to everyone, be careful if you are pushing a stroller and don't try and get in front of or step across the path of a wheelchair or ECV. (You might be the thousand & one person to try it that day)

My knee is still sore, one moment in time has caused me quite a bit of pain.

 

[markºoº]

I have done WDW with and without strollers. Most people using strollers are as courteous as can be. Yes, some can care less and use the stroller to push their way through the park. I have been bumped into my fair share of times.

Also having used a stroller, let me add there are just as many people without strollers who are discourteous. Numerous times I've had someone jump in front of the stroller. This usually happens at rope drop or after Illuminations or Fantasmic. If you do the courteous thing and NOT push your stroller into a space it will not fit in, often someone will jump in front of you to take that space. Sometimes you have to be a little aggressive or else you will never get to where you want to go!

As for ECV, I chalk a lot of those problems up to inexperienced users. My guess is most users either have never or rarely used one and they do take some getting used to.

Remember, EVERYONE could be a little more courteous, whether you are walking, pushing a stroller, or using an ECV. If you bump into someone or cut someone off whether walking, pushing, or riding, you should apologize.

Also remember that many people are not familiar with WDW and do not know where they are going like those of us on these boards. It is very easy to get distracted. People get confused and do not walk into a straight line. Heck, I've had people walk right into me because they were distracted by something or trying to figure out where they were going. Just remember we were all newbies at one time!

 

[hammertime]

This reminds me of the shocked thread. You realize the same people that are cutting inline and pushing in front for parades are probably the same people that hit you with stollers and ECV's.

There's also the people that are nice and curtious that just aren't paying attention to where they're walking and it might look like they cut you off but really they had no idea they did it.

I'll be in WDW soon. If I accidently cut someone off"I'm sorry". Just had to say that now. I'll sure I'll say it a couple of times in WDW.

 

[DisneyKidds]

You'd be amazed at the number of people that step in front and cut off strollers.

Amen! Remember folks, those travelling sans strollers move a bit quicker than those with strollers. My experience last week tells me it is the discourteous "non-stroller people" who cut off the "stroller-users" who are a bigger problem. It really is difficult for someone pushing a heavy front/back double stroller loaded with 68 lbs of child and a diaper bag and purchases to cut anyone off. We're the slow moving traffic. You don't know how many times I was walking along in a nice straight line only to have someone walk in front of me. If I had the right of way and someone thinks they can just step in front it serves 'em right if I nip their ankle!!!! The kicker is it would likely be that person complaining on this board that they got run over!!!!

As for strollers and older children, I imagine we might use one for our DD for another year (until she is 6). We had a stroller seat for her last week and I'm very glad we did. While she could walk quite well most of the time, when navigating a huge crowd it is just much safer and quicker to have her in the stroller. Plus, there were many times that she was able to catch a few winks in the stroller, helping to keep her fresh later in the day. Having the stroller is also good because she fell asleep a few times on the way back to the hotel after an Epcot or a late MK closing.

 

[Danauk]

I have nothing against strollers or ECV's and think that it is only common courtsy to look where you are going when you are moving (either walking alone, with a stroller or moving on an ECV.) However when I was in MGM this summer one family really took the biscuit. The two parents were both in ECV's and both children (who looked about 10/11 years old) were in strollers. The parents were riding next to one another with a stroller being pulled alongside them so there was two strollers and two MCV's next to oneanother. They all moved down the middle of the street and expected everyone to go around them (even other families with strollers.) I thought this was just plain rude.
I guess my point is that everyone should be more aware of other people no matter what you are doing or how you are moving.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

I can understand all the navigation issues...

[soapbox]

Here is my complaint. I had my 6 year old and her 5 year old friend in a double stroller. It was at the end of the day in Studios and they had run out of gas. All they wanted to do was watch the cars and stars parade. We got there early and had the stroller right on the rope line. I chose to stay back to let other kids get close to see.

Then an obnoxious moronic couple PUSHED THE ROPE out, and stood RIGHT IN FRONT of the girls! Just so they could get an unobstructed video tape of the parade. (what is up with that? I'd ban the video cams if I could. I'd rather enjoy the thing while it is happening) I was able to adjust the stroller a little so that the girls could see more than two fat butts, but the area was crowded by that time so I couldn't move much. We did our best, but I'll tell you what, next time I am standing in front of the stroller and only moving once the parade starts. Who are these jerks that would step in front of KIDS!?!

[/soapbox]

 

[sha_lyn]

that reminds me of the rude woman we had an encounter with during TON. DD was 2 1/2 and in her stroller right at the line (no rope in that area for the parade). She told the 2 girls with her to get in front of DD. They refuse, and said they could see. They must have been around 10 yrs old. They finally did get in front of DD just to have a CM tell them to move. The woman kept telling them to go back in front, and then took DD's stroller and moved her back about a foot and told the girls that DD was too young to watch the parade. she then started looking through our stroller yelling "hey what have you got that stinks in there". She was clearly very drunk so DH jsut pick DD up and held her I I turned my back on her. I kept repeating to my self she wasn't worth going to jail over, but oh boy did I want to punch her right in the face.

 

[tink98]

Originally posted by DisneyKidds
As for strollers and older children, I imagine we might use one for our DD for another year (until she is 6). We had a stroller seat for her last week and I'm very glad we did. While she could walk quite well most of the time, when navigating a huge crowd it is just much safer and quicker to have her in the stroller. Plus, there were many times that she was able to catch a few winks in the stroller, helping to keep her fresh later in the day. Having the stroller is also good because she fell asleep a few times on the way back to the hotel after an Epcot or a late MK closing.

We thought we wouldn't need one for DD4 and DS7 in July 03, but by second day (and we took breaks) DD4 was begging for a stroller and she hasn't been in one since she was 2. Then by day 4 DS7 asked if we would get a double so he didn't have to walk (extremely hot days). The strollers at WDW are designed for older children, they don't seem to be designed for under 2 yr olds.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I have sympathy for people using strollers, ECVs, and wheelchairs. It must be nearly impossible and certainly draining to navigate the crowds at WDW. I do, however, have had one instance where I was completely shocked by a Mom with a Stroller.

We were heading back from Cindarella Castle towards main Street towards the Ice Cream Shop. The place was PACKED. It was getting close to when Wishes started and it was the first week it ran. It was wall to wall people. We were in a line of people with a stroller behind us. Holly got fed up with getting hit several times in the ankle by the stroller, so she jumped ahead of me. I did not get hit right away. But when the crowd stopped for "traffic", the mother pushed the stroller into my ankles and applied pressure. I guess she was trying to get us moving. I stood my ground, mainly because I had nowhere to go. More pressure until I heard the child in the stroller scream. Well, not a shriek, but a sign of discomfort. It was then that I realized that the stroller was not grining into me, it was the child's FEET!

This "mother" was grinding her kid's feet into me. Since I did not bundge, the pressure was felt in HER OWN CHILD'S LEGS!

She backed off with a huff and made snide comment about ME!

I resisted the urge to say anything.

There is NO excuse for using your child as a battering ram.

Ted

 

[pjlla]

some of these stories are just NASTY!!