Strollers without kids?

[dopeyluvsgrumpy]

How do your kids feel about having a stroller at disney? Some kids wouldn't mind but I have an 8 year old and know he would feel a little embarassed if I wanted to take a stroller knowing people would wonder why my 8 year old needs a stroller. I have two toddlers as well and I can't wait until I can visit without a stroller. Its so hard to get through crowds, not to mention finding a place to leave it and then hoping no one steals your stuff!

 

[amym2]

I have to agree that it is so nice not having to push a stroller around the parks. On our last trip the kids were 7 and 9, and we were able to get by with just a small backpack. We don't tend to carry water with us, we just stop by counter service places and ask for ice water throughout the day.

 

[summermac]

I was never comfortable leaving my bag in the stroller anyway so I don't know what purpose it would serve to bring a stroller to basically cart from stroller storage to stroller storage to hold what my bag holds (and I'd be toting a lot of the time after parking anyway).

I suppose in the end it's your choice but I wouldn't do it. I'm considering not bring our stroller for my 5 year old as it is.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So you're essentially bringing a rolling suitcase into the parks for a bunch of stuff? It just happens to be in the disguise of a stroller? How are you handling the buses with that...

I am guessing she would fold it up and carry it on the bus like all the other stroller toting people out there

So while the stroller is folded and being held during the bus ride, the OP and party would be carrying all the stuff they're planning to use the stroller to haul around inside the parks? I agree with Que Sarah Sarah. This appears to be an attempt, however innocent, to skirt the 'no rolling [luggage] in the park's rule.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So you're essentially bringing a rolling suitcase into the parks for a bunch of stuff? It just happens to be in the disguise of a stroller? How are you handling the buses with that...

I am guessing she would fold it up and carry it on the bus like all the other stroller toting people out there

I appear to have hit a nerve (or three) with some people. I'm certainly not attempting to make anyone else's life more difficult. I'm simply trying to make ours easier.

We're talking about a relatively small umbrella stroller with a basket under it, and not some gargantuan rolling nursery. I know strollers have made our lives easier, even when the kids could walk and didn't need diapers anymore. I realize backpacks are an option, but I generally haven't liked them in other amusement parks and I doubt I'd want one at Disney.

The real bonus is that we wouldn't have to push it everywhere because the kids won't need it. (the parents on the other hand, after a long day...) I certainly don't expect to be pushing it constantly and apparently ruining other peoples enjoyment of the parks, but it sure SEEMED like a good idea when I thought of it.

Jim

Have you considered the wisdom of leaving all those belongings in the stroller in a stroller corral somewhere? The CMs aren't going to watch your stuff; and if you're going to empty out the stroller every time you leave it, why bother with the stroller?

 

[Love Tink]

So while the stroller is folded and being held during the bus ride, the OP and party would be carrying all the stuff they're planning to use the stroller to haul around inside the parks? I agree with Que Sarah Sarah. This appears to be an attempt, however innocent, to skirt the 'no rolling [luggage] in the park's rule.

Is this a joke? Seriously? You do know that things can be placed in a bag and then in a stroller compartment, right?

Are you picturing the OP walking around with a stroller full of rolling tin cans and stacks of old newspapers and a bunch of loose kitchen utensils?

Have you never used a stroller? Sometimes stuff gets thrown loose in the bottom during the day. Wow. You pick it up and stuff it back in your bag while you wait in the bus line. You people are ridiculous.

 

[six6ofus]

We have two grandchildren and we usually have a stroller. Some umbrella strollers have neat little compartments to store things in. If the weather is iffy, it's good to have rain jackets (the ones that fold up to wallet size) thrown in to a basket and light sweaters. If you buy small things, these can be stored as well, or you can have your purchases sent to your room. I say if you have two or more children and want to bring snacks and water with you, bring the stroller. You're not that tied down and it can come in really handy. Plus, even if your eight or nine year old crashes, there's a place to sit them down for a rest while waiting in line for their next adventure.

 

[gator girl]

So no, I'm not being a troll, I'm just being someone with an opinion. Sorry if that bothers you.

Call me crazy, but I assumed that the "troll much?" comment was referring to a newbie's very first post on the website which coincidentally hit a well-known hot button topic. Not sure why you assumed that the trolling comment referred to you specifically, especially since there were several other posters already in the discussion as well.

OP, assuming that you are NOT a troll, why why why WHYYYYYY would you deliberately make your life more difficult by hauling so much stuff into the parks that you need a wheeled contraption to transport it. Your kid is old enough to need basically nothing in the parks (no bottles, no diapers, no clothing changes, etc), and Disney is giving away free ice water pretty much within sight of wherever you are in the park at any given moment. I cannot even IMAGINE wheeling around armfuls of frozen water bottles in case I get thirsty. Just.... why? That's an honest question. WHY? If you don't like the taste of the free ice-cold water that Disney is offering, then put a couple of packets of Crystal Light mix in your pocket.

If each member of your party requires several wardrobe changes throughout the day, then rent a locker. Or, heck, I'd rather buy clothing in the park and then discard it as I go than deliberately try to wrangle an unnecessary stroller onto buses & through crowds just so I don't have to tie my hoodie around my waist during the warm afternoons.

..... says the chick who goes to the parks with her ticket, credit card, lip balm, and phone in her pockets. And that's it.

ETA: OK, so I don't want my sarcasm to seem mean. OP, you can put 5 or 6 ponchos, a small bottle of sanitizer, and 2 boxes of granola bars in a backpack that weighs about 3 pounds and can go with you onto all of the rides. It sounds like you have several people in your party to take turns carrying it. I'm not trying to be mean but I'm sincerely not understanding why a person would choose to packmule themselves around a park all day when you simply don't need to have a bunch of stuff with you. You really don't. Try it and see. I honestly think that after people are so used to carting the kitchen sink while park-touring with babies that they think it can't be done any other way. You're FREE!! Why would you want to go back?!?

 

[dzaharchuk]

Or a camel?

 

[World Showcaser]

I was never comfortable leaving my bag in the stroller anyway so I don't know what purpose it would serve to bring a stroller to basically cart from stroller storage to stroller storage to hold what my bag holds (and I'd be toting a lot of the time after parking anyway).

I suppose in the end it's your choice but I wouldn't do it. I'm considering not bring our stroller for my 5 year old as it is.

This is how I feel too. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you having a stroller in the parks but I'm not sure it would save you any trouble at all.

Get a messenger bag. You don't even have to take it off when you get on the rides, just swing it around so the pack part is in the front.

We will have a 3 year old, 5 year old and 7 year old in the parks and I doubt we'll bother with a stroller. I couldn't imagine dragging it along if there were no kids who needed it.

Is this a joke? Seriously? You do know that things can be placed in a bag and then in a stroller compartment, right?

Are you picturing the OP walking around with a stroller full of rolling tin cans and stacks of old newspapers and a bunch of loose kitchen utensils?

Have you never used a stroller? Sometimes stuff gets thrown loose in the bottom during the day. Wow. You pick it up and stuff it back in your bag while you wait in the bus line. You people are ridiculous.

That all being said, I can't imagine that people would actually care if you chose to do this. (It's just that some DIS people are generally bothered about everything but they are a tiny fraction of people in the real world.) As the above poster indicates, you aren't going to infringe on anyone else's enjoyment.

 

[k3chantal]

We are so the opposite! We are counting down the days, hours until we are completely finished with strollers. It is so much better to travel lighter! You wouldn't leave anything valuable in the stroller so why cart it around just to use as a storage facility? Any purchases can be sent to your hotel room if you are staying on site.

But, I am a person who likes to have my ID, my ticket, my credit card and a tube of sunscreen in my camera bag and that's it.

 

[disnut8]

Is this a joke? Seriously? You do know that things can be placed in a bag and then in a stroller compartment, right?

Are you picturing the OP walking around with a stroller full of rolling tin cans and stacks of old newspapers and a bunch of loose kitchen utensils?

Have you never used a stroller? Sometimes stuff gets thrown loose in the bottom during the day. Wow. You pick it up and stuff it back in your bag while you wait in the bus line. You people are ridiculous.

I think you are missing a point here. The OP wanted to take the stroller ONLY to carry things around. No kids. So, he would come up to the bus line with, oh, let's say three bags of stuff which he would then take out of the stroller, fold up the stroller, and then have to hold the bags on the bus anyway. So that would not save any effort in the bus line. I think that was the point of the bus line comment.

Now, at the parks, if the OP wants to take a stroller to carry things around, fine. If the OP wants to leave the stroller parked all day somewhere, fine. In fact, there are many people here who advise "if you are unsure about your child needing a stroller, just rent one and leave it parked if they decide to walk". The OP has stated he doesn't want to use a backpack and he wouldn't have to except for when he's on an attraction. There are many people who wouldn't mind doing that - not having the pack on the back all day long (and trust me, after a long day, I'm one of them).

OP - what you want to do is fine. Just remember to get everything out of the stroller well before the bus rolls up and after you debus, take all your stuff off to the side since you have no children and then get situated.

Now, is everyone happy?

 

[minnie mum]

For the life of me, I honestly could not believe that the OP had posted a serious thread. I thought for sure that he was a troll, until I realized that most everyone was treating his question seriously. Well OK then.

So while the stroller is folded and being held during the bus ride, the OP and party would be carrying all the stuff they're planning to use the stroller to haul around inside the parks? I agree with Que Sarah Sarah. This appears to be an attempt, however innocent, to skirt the 'no rolling [luggage] in the park's rule.

Loose stuff or in a bag-don't know and don't care. The point is that you're spending more time putting stuff in the stroller and taking it out of the stroller and folding the stroller and unfolding the stroller and then putting stuff back into the stroller... For cryin' out loud just carry the stuff already.

Have you considered the wisdom of leaving all those belongings in the stroller in a stroller corral somewhere? The CMs aren't going to watch your stuff; and if you're going to empty out the stroller every time you leave it, why bother with the stroller?

A good point- leave all your stuff and you're risking it disappearing. If you park the stroller in the corral then first you have to find the corral and then you have to take your stuff out and then you have to go back to the corral and find where the CMs have moved your stroller, and then you have to stuff your stuff back in the stroller, and then you have to go to the next stroller corral. Repeat ad nauseum. For cryin' out loud just carry your stuff already.

Is this a joke? Seriously? You do know that things can be placed in a bag and then in a stroller compartment, right?
Have you never used a stroller? Sometimes stuff gets thrown loose in the bottom during the day. Wow. You pick it up and stuff it back in your bag while you wait in the bus line. You people are ridiculous.

So you're carrying all your stuff in a bag or sometimes its loose and then you have to stuff it in a bag. That you repeatedly are stuffing under a stroller and taking out of a stroller. For cryin' out loud. just carry your stuff already.

Why not just save yourself a lot of work and just carry the darn thing. A stroller is intended for the transport of children, not stuff. The stuff is supposed to be incidental to not instead of the child. Or am I wrong here? Unless of course you have a medical condition that you haven't yet mentioned that makes you too weak or frail to carry a bag. In that case, my sympathies. Perhaps in that case you should consider using an ECV. It has a basket you could put your stuff in....

But hey, that's only my opinion. There's no Disney rule that I am aware of the prevents a person from pushing around a childless stroller all day just so he doesn't have to carry a bag. If that's the only way you can get through your day, then I guess you have to do what you have to do.

 

[vinotinto]

I've got two words for you: CARGO SHORTS

 

[CincyMouse]

Here's my .02

I think it's a real question, one I have been thinking about myself. I don't ride the bus, I am in my own car - so not a worry there.

We pack at least one meal in a soft cooer for 5 people plus snacks and drinks.

We bring a change of shoes and clothes for everyone - not gonna let blisters or wet clothes ruin my day.

We go during the time of year where you need a jacket in the morning and evening and I hate tying it around my waist.

It is a pain to go the other direction and find your stroller but so nice not to carry the load on your back LOL

My youngest will be 6.5 on upcoming trip, and let's face it 12 hours in the park can be exhausting. Stroller means no one has to carry her out asleep through the crowd.

I still haven't made up my mind if I will borrow a stroller (since we no longer own one) to bring on the trip.

Good Luck Jim

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is this a joke? Seriously? You do know that things can be placed in a bag and then in a stroller compartment, right?

Are you picturing the OP walking around with a stroller full of rolling tin cans and stacks of old newspapers and a bunch of loose kitchen utensils?

Have you never used a stroller? Sometimes stuff gets thrown loose in the bottom during the day. Wow. You pick it up and stuff it back in your bag while you wait in the bus line. You people are ridiculous.

Please accept my apologies for being so skeptical and not trusting the ethics of every single person in the parks who might be tempted by items - or even a bag - in a stroller left unattended, even in a stroller 'corral', for a period of time.

And if they're going to have a bag, why not just the bag? Why bother with a stroller, when they don't have a child for it?

 

[Bullseye]

I hated when I had to give up the stroller because like you we used to keep a cooler underneath with ice cold drinks and all our other stuff too. But the tradeoff of not having to push the stroller around and retrieve the stroller after every ride is worth it. You wont have to deal with the stroller re-arrangers any more.

I still carry an small insulated backpack cooler because I like having icy drinks close at hand, but we cut down on all the other stuff we carry.

 

[julirina]

So...the OP has not been back.

Either y'all scared him off, he went to buy a backpack against his better judgment, or he's indeed a stroller-toting troll.

 

[dragonfly57005]

I don't know why you couldn't get by with a backpack.

 

[Marlton Mom]

So...the OP has not been back.

Either y'all scared him off, he went to buy a backpack against his better judgment, or he's indeed a stroller-toting troll.

Nah.... He's either trolling for strollers at Toys-r-us or looking into how much stuff you can fit on an ECV.

~MM