Strollers in Restaurants

[all4fun]

In the past when ds was sleeping they did allow us to bring in the stroller. One restuarant I can remember they allowed this was the Sci Fi dine in. When ds was awake, though, we had to park it outside. I can understand the rule though. There are so many people with babies in strollers if they let all of them in then there wouldn't be enough room to walk.

We've taken our single stroller into numerous CS restaurants w/no problems at all.

To the OP, when you're going to a TS restuarant, my suggestion would be to try for "off times" when it's not as likely to be very busy and hopefully you'll have better luck and they'll allow it.

hth.

 

[tjmw2727]

Libby & Lisapooh -
In a way I agree with both of you but...

Where do you suggest that someone with a family with a 5 year old, autistic son (that uses a large stroller) eat? My son is too small for a wheelchair & too uncooperative to not have his stroller.

I think Disney should have certain closer tables reserved for those that need assistance to get food, at a buffet. (such as someone in a wheelchair who can't reach everything)

Everyone needs to eat & it's not easy with a cranky baby on your lap. I suppose we should leave the baby home? Maybe some tables, with some extra space for necessary strollers or highchairs, could be reserved for families with small children or special needs children in a back room somewhere, so we don't offend anyone. We were a party of 7 stuffed into a table for 4 with a sleeping handicapped child. We had to move twice as the tables around us finished their meals. I noitified them when I made the PS of our party's size & that my son was autistic.

I find it rude of Disney to split up a family of 6 or 7 with a PS, into 2 tables across the room, but they do.

I agree that it is hard to manuver in most of the restaurants. There are many obsticles stairs, cramped tables, & upstair or downstair bathrooms. For the most part I agree with the strollers being a fire hazzard, but my son needs to eat too. I suppose I should leave him home too?

Just want to suggest getting a GAC card for your son's stroller - this will instruct the CM's to treat your stroller as they would a wheelchair. In your case this could be very helpful in restaurants as discussed but also in lines and other areas where strollers are not allowed. If your GAC says to treat your stroller as a wheelchair you will be allowed to use it as such.

For more info try here ~
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

TJ

 

[SueM in MN]

Just want to suggest getting a GAC card for your son's stroller - this will instruct the CM's to treat your stroller as they would a wheelchair. In your case this could be very helpful in restaurants as discussed but also in lines and other areas where strollers are not allowed. If your GAC says to treat your stroller as a wheelchair you will be allowed to use it as such.

For more info try here ~
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

TJ

There is information about GACs (Guest Assistance Card) in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board.

One GAC 'message' allows a stroller to be treated as a wheelchair. While this is mostly for lines and attraction buildings, it might be helpful in restaurants. The counter service restaurants won't be a problem - people bring strollers in those all the time and just park them out of the path of traffic. I think for the full service restaurants, you probably would not need a GAC (the CMs there probably never see them and would not recognise one) since most will allow in a sleeping child and your situation is as understandable as that. What I would suggest is to mention your situation when you check in at the full service restaurant and ask to be seated where the stroller would not be a problem. If the CM has a probelm with that, get out the GAC. If there's still a problem, ask to speak to a supervisor.

 

[dsneygirl]

We took our son at 3 months in Oct and never once had an issue with bringing the stroller into the restaurant. I usually ask if there is a more out of the way table where we can park the stroller. And I would certainly move out of the way for anyone who needed to get passed.

As for the snugli I have never heard anything about pelvic development being stunted...Many people wear their babies for hours everyday. When my son was a newborn we wore him in a sling many a night in order to eat our dinner.

 

[katerkat]

As for the snugli I have never heard anything about pelvic development being stunted...Many people wear their babies for hours everyday. When my son was a newborn we wore him in a sling many a night in order to eat our dinner.

Slings are different from Snuglis. The Snugli makes the baby sit right on the base of their spine, or if forward-facing, dangles from their crotch. Also, there's some reports that opening their legs wide enough to place them in the Snugli can damage their hips - not an issue with the sling, again. I don't think a couple of meals, though, can do any major damage, and I've carried a certain young man in a pouch sling, Snugli, Moby and Mei Tai.

 

[Kayakmom]

Wow, this just makes me say . I think all people should be fair and considerate of other people, no matter what. Personally I can't carry my daughter in a Snugli because someone was not paying attention while driving and crashed into me. It hurts me to carry her for any length of time at all because of a permanent shoulder injury. I'm wondering if I should post a note on my stroller that says such so that I can avoid any conflict up front.

All people are entitled to be able to go up to the buffet, to the bathroom, etc. It would seem that a little common sense used by the host/hostess when seating would go a long way to avoid this issue. If it is a constant issue of being blocked in by strollers, I would be sure to explain nicely upon arrival and I'm sure the CMs would go out of their way to make sure your needs are met. An attitude toward parents who are allowed to bring in their strollers really doesn't solve the problem.

A little bit of nice goes a long way. I am a vegetarian and I know that I never have a problem when I ask nicely in cs type restaurants for people to change their gloves, wash the knife, wipe down the prep area, etc. before preparing my food. People in general are usually very willing to accomodate if they know what your needs are.

Please don't take it out on all families with small children because there are a few inconsiderate people out there. For that matter, it probably should not be assumed that they're inconsiderate. They may not have even realized it was an issue and likely would have been more than helpful if they were aware of the situation. I've got to believe that people in general don't mean to make other's lives miserable.