The thing I hate most. . .

[MikeM132]

oops--double posted, sorry.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

Did it every occur to you that a child may not want to stay in their stroller the entire time they are at a park? We tried strapping our two year old in all day but for some reason he wanted to spend some of the time walking, running and being able to look at stuff up close. At the same time, when the stroller is not in use it's handy to use it as a "storage bin" since it's nice to have your hands free so you can chase the little one who's racing around and not have to carry the diaper bag, snack bag, your purse and all the other things you have when going to the park with little ones. And just to let you know, the parents are pushing the empty stroller around so that it would be near where they are. So - if they are going from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, they want to stroller to go with them so that when their child is tired the stroller is actually there and not half way across the park. I understand that people can be rude and not look where they are going but don't forget that Disney is a place where there are alot of kids and therefore alot of strollers.
__________________

That's right!!

interesting......but I do not agree. I think younger children can remember and enjoy Disney as much as anyone else.

That's right!!

1994 we brought our TWO children to WDW ages three and five THEY LOVED IT!!!
2000 we brought our FOUR children to WDW ages three, five, 11 and 9 THEY LOVED IT!!!

I personnally think children under three wouldn't enjoy it, but sometimes older siblings NEED to go!! So, it's a personal choice everyone is entitled to make!!

There are several "typical" stroller/wheelchairs accidents. Most of which can be relatively easily avoided.

1) Adult or child looks down as they are walking, sees the stroller or w/c, steps in front, and comes to a dead stop. Hello, these moving "vehicles" have inertia, they don't stop on a dime. Solution: Never knowingly step into the path of a stroller or wheelchair.

2) Groups of people walking that suddenly and unexpectedly come to a full stop in front of a stroller or w/c. If you MUST stop your party to look at a map or discuss your next attraction, please move off to the side of the walkway.

3) Inexperienced w/c or stroller driver. Many people try to look around, seeing all there is to see, but not paying attention to what is directly in there path. DO NOT allow yourself to be distracted while pushing. Keep your eyes on the clearances between you and the party in front of you, especially in slow moving darkened areas, like EPCOT at closing.

4) W/cs & strollers parked for parade viewing. Do NOT allow your children or anyone in your party to "squeeze" in front to get a better view, unless unvited to do so by the occupant of the wheelchair. Chances are, you will misjudge your clearance, clip a foot pedal and either bruise yourself or stumble.

5) Do not try to rush by a wheelchair or stroller in a queue line, especially where the queue turns. These vehicles need that turning radius clearance.

6) On heavy park attendance days, be mindful of your surrounding, whether walking or pushing a stroller or w/c. I've had folks walk broadside into a perfectly stationary w/c.

7) It is true that many folks may never have used such a large stroller for their child, or used an ECV. Accident will happen.

8) As stated in another post. NEVER let a child push a stroller or w/c in a park, that is an accident waiting to happen.

Remember, it is rare that the w/c, ECV or stroller driver is ever 100% at fault, just as the "walker" is usually 100% at fault. Drivers need to leave stopping distance, walkers should NOT step into that space. Type 1 is probably the most common accident.

I LIKE THIS!!! Maybe this should be added to the park maps for EVERYONE TO READ!!! What do ya think???

 

[jbthi]

TinkerDeb,

I have never seen anyone have more fun than my 2 1/2 year old GD in DW.

I think it's sad to wait until a child is older, depending on the child, of course.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I totally agree!

 

[TSirgey]

Believe me. If I didn't have to drag a stroller around everywhere I go I certainly wouldn't. I can guarantee you that people do not take them just to lug their stuff because it is a bear to keep track of all day. However, when you have a child under the age of 7, it is impossible to expect them to walk all day. They need breaks. We took our DD who is 3 and she had the time of her life. We had to use a stroller and it was worth the trouble.

I do agree that there are people who simply do not pay attention to where they are walking (this is whether or not they have a stroller). The stroller just makes it more painful on the ankles!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yes, strollers are hard on the ankles, but wheelchairs are even worse. We ended up needing to rent a wheelchair for my mom last month. I was busy pushing my son's stroller and my sister had the honor of pushing the wheelchair. Well, she was a novice, to say the least. Our first evening with the wheelchair was at MGM and we went to Osborne lights and it was very crowded. I walked in front of the wheelchair since if anyone was going to get bumped I figured it should be me. Ouch! My sister did learn to control the wheelchair, thankfully.

T&B

 

[disneygoof]

Did it every occur to you that a child may not want to stay in their stroller the entire time they are at a park? We tried strapping our two year old in all day but for some reason he wanted to spend some of the time walking, running and being able to look at stuff up close.
__________________

I know what you mean. My children actually like to ride rides at the parks.

I ran over someone's toes once. I was trying to maneuver around a corner on Main Street before the parade and she was leaning on the fence behind Walt and Mickey's bench. There were people on the sidewalk and I said excuse me to all parties and no one moved. I asked her if I could get by again, she moved her toes about a millimeter, and then told her it was going to be tight for me to try to squeeze through. Finally I just did my best. I got the feeling that she was sick of moving aside for strollers and wasn't going to budge. I try very hard to be polite and considerate, but sometimes I guess strollertude can get in the way, literally.

 

[disneygirl04]

Just got back from Disney a few weeks ago with ds 2. I agree that strollers can be very annoying, but they are definitely necessary. I just try to be considerate. And whos to say that it is only the people with strollers that are rude? There are people without them who step on your feet and cut you off and take up an entire sidewalk. Then there are the people who refuse to move for the stroller, even when they see you have nowhere else to go! As far as waiting until your children are older, that is a matter of opinion. You have to know your child, some will love it othjers not so much. My little guy LOVED it and has not stopped taling about it! We took my nephew a few years back when he was 10 and he was miserable most of the time, so I guess you never know.

 

[mhingher]

I have to say that it can get crazy in a crowd with stollers. I was in the MK last year for July 4th. A few days before I fell and tore ligaments in my foot, and my DH was pushing me in a wheelchair. I had my foot clearly wrapped up, yet people pushing strollers would still bang them right into me. Some came very close to my foot and I was getting really aggitated! At the same time, I saw how hard it was for people pushing strollers, since I was being pushed in a wheelchair...it goes both ways.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Just like any guest, there are some who give others a bad rep.
I have noticed, and mentioned to DH, that rare do you see anyone pushing a stroller off to the side. Almost always they are dead center. What makes them bad is they stop and bend over a lot -- with no notice. And when it is crowded that is not a good thing.
I have found to walk off to the side. You are less apt to encounter a stroller.

Not long ago there was a gal in WS (busy and crowded of course) with a Disney stroller, walking dead center. She decided for whatever reason she needed to the right. She went to the side and I swear she could not have hit a senior citizen woman harder or aimed better if she had tried. It was like she saw this woman and WHAM. It really looked intentional and like she was aiming to knock this lady down.
Not one word of apology as this lady was hopping around on one foot, holding her injured leg.
The rude stroller gal kept on charging through. I made loud enough to hear comments to her about her rude behavior. (Like hey -- there's an older lady -- don't you want to knock into her?) She heard me.

Just like Disney, we all make mistakes. But geez, at least apologize.

We were among many at one time standing on Main St last NYE Day waiting for whatever parade or fireworks. It was bad enough that we must have looked like an open door, even though guests were sitting on the curb in front of us, and at least three deep standing in back of us.
On empty stroller guy decided that was a good place to go from the street to the sidewalk. (Even though we were near the roped off crosswalk.) He asked the sitting people to get up, and they did. Then pointed his stroller at a standing guest a few people from me.
The standing guest asked, Do you plan to go somewhere with that?
He gave him a hard time, but moved.

Why does anyone think that pointing a stroller directly at a person means THEY have to move?

Sure I will wear my flame suit. But I know I am not alone!

Too bad Disney does not just rent out foldable strollers, rather than ones that are slightly smaller than a Volkswagon. That's the problem. The ones they rent are too big and cumbersome for crowded areas.
Can you imagine if all WDW stores had shopping carts? That's what it reminds me of.

I call multiple stroller families the Stroller Brigade.

 

[skiwee1]

Well I hate ECVs. We have had more damage down to us by incompetent ECV drivers then from any stroller. My DD got a broken foot bfrom some fool that backed over it. Those are what should be eliminated from the park or at least make the person show they can drive the darn things before using them. I have never been hit in the foot by a stroller either.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I waited until my son was 8 years old to take him to Disney. He loved every minute of it and will always remember it. Far more than one can say for the occupants of the strollers!

Hmm. My four year old told me she was too old for Pooh anymore. If we had waited too long we would have missed some of the magic. Disney has something for everyone.

My kids now 5 and 7 still point out things in the park that happend years ago. They remember playing hop scotch by the R&C with a non-english speaking little girl that happend in 2 years ago. Little memories like that, so yea, they remember.

 

[sters]

What I hate more than strollers are the people who dart in front of them, step on the front wheels, and jolt the stoller to a complete stop. This is dangerous to the kids in the stroller and uncomfortable to the parent pushing it. The Food and Wine festival was the worst! Never have I seen so many inconsiderate pedestians!

When my daughter said "this is where She lives" pointing wide eyed to the castle, well... that wouldn't have happened if she'd been 8, that's for sure! She's still making Mickey ears with her cheerios and it's been over a year, so I'd say she remembers. If it's possible, every kid should go before they realize it's just a person in a costume and again when they're older, and again as a teenager, and again as a young adult, and again as parents, and again as grandparents. If you apply the logic that "they won't remember," well, we may as well lock our kids up. Afterall, they won't remember anything we've exposed them to, right?

 

[bytheblood]

I am sorry, but I have to agree.

I get so irritated by the mindless people with strollers who just stop in the middle of a walkway to point at a bird in a tree, to stop and argue with their spouse or child or to tie their shoe. MOVE OUT OF THE WAY so that the people with a clue who are walking can go on and they do not run into you because you stopped abrubtly.

These same people that stop in the middle of a walkway are the same people that get mad if you bump them because of their sudden stop. I will never understand that one.

 

[mamatojon]

I waited until my son was 8 years old to take him to Disney. He loved every minute of it and will always remember it. Far more than one can say for the occupants of the strollers!

I've gotten so many comments from people as to why on earth I'd take my little kids to or WDW when they obviously won't remember a bit of it.

First of all, *I* don't want to have to wait eight years to go to WDW.

Secondly, if we only did things for our children that they would remember then we could just as well never do anything with them, just feed them and change them, keep them clean - hey they won't remember any of this so why celebrate their birthday? Why give them Christmas presents? Why do anything for them that is *fun*? Plus, my son is four years older than my daughter, does that mean we have to wait until he is twelve? Right. My son had a blast at DL at 1.5, my daughter enjoyed Small World at 6 months. I don't care that they won't remember it, I will.

 

[vsimeone]

Oh!!!! I have NO PROBLEM with the strollers that are being USED! Even if I get bumped in the ankles! I brought my two now teenagers to the MK when they were in strollers and I'm sure I had "accidents." I too was at the MK on Friday night (NYE) and MY problem is the people who left EMPTY strollers all over the circle in front of the castle!!! I don't mind waiting in a pack of people for a stroller to move but having to climb over an empty one is a bit much for me!!! But, the fireworks were spectacular and I'd do it again in a minute even if I have to climb over empty strollers.

 

[F1Julie]

The whole stroller/ECV/WC problem could be avoided if people would refrain from coming to a dead stop in the middle of the street. There is nothing more annoying than that. I'm a stroller pushing mom and anytime I've run into someone's heels, they had it coming. I didn't do it on purpose, but if they come to an abrupt stop, I can't help it. I don't understand why people can't move off to the side.

While on the topic, is it just me or should people walk on the right? If everyone did that, everyone would get around better. It would be great if WDW park "streets" had lanes. I am always amazed at how many people I see walking on the wrong side. If they were Europeans who are used to driving on the left, I would understand. But they are almost always you're average Americans. The rules you use when driving should apply to navigating WDW on foot (stroller, WC, ECV etc.) Just my vent...

 

[Lesley]

I think ChuckS has the right idea.

Accidents happen and I certainly have been guilty of clipping or bumping people....once or twice it was actually my fault and not a "dead stopper" in front of me. I always apologize because even if you did step in front of the stroller I didn't mean to hit you.

Also, I think people who stop in the middle of a walkway are just as likely to be groups of adults without strollers.

And I tell ya, we were using a new (to us) stroller this past trip...a sit n stand. Pushing that thing was akin to driving a bus from the back seat....horrible. The WDW double strollers are much better to maneuver. Then again, this stroller was much better for handling my 4yo's constant ins and outs and better suited for our 9mo than a rental. But I hope by the next time we return we are back to using a single!

Anyway, rude people are rude regardless of where they go....but I try to assume that most offenders are really just off in their own world and don't even realize they're causing problems. If its crowded there will be some bumping and such. Smile and get on with your day.

 

[Jennasis]

Actually the problem isn't strollers, ECV's, wheelchairs, or foot traffic. The problem is rudeness. Just plain old inconsiderate people.

I've been to WDW more times than I can remember and not once have I been mauled by a wheelchair or stroller or trampled by an angry crowd. I HAVE seen it happen though, and I have heard war stories from relatives and friends.

The problem comes from either rude or clueless people who bump into someone and either don't care or don't notice (probably because they are caught up in the magic or excitment). The only way to bring about change is to urge EVERYONE whether they are walking alone, in a crowd, pushing a stroller or driving an ECV to please be aware of what you are doing and where you are going. Please be considerate of your fellow park-goers and be mindful of your surroundings.

Don't stop suddenly in the middle of the street. If you need to stop to check a map or regroup with your party, check around to see if you might be blocking traffic or directly in front of another moving object. Sometimes moving off to the side may mean that you are moving out of the path of one person and into the path of another so LOOK before you leap!

If you are pushing a stroller or the like, keep a safe following distance and PRACTICE manuevering it a bit before you set out into the park. Don't let youngsters push it, and don't expect the world to part like the red sea to allow you through.

If you do bump into a person or stroller or wheelchair, even if it wasn't your fault, please acknowledge the existence of the other party with a quick "Goodness! I'm sorry. I didn't see you...are you all right?" etc..

No need to ruffle feathers and ruin your vacation or someone else's over a bumped ankle or bruised toe (or worse, a bruised ego). Just let it go and get on with your own vacation.

 

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

Please dawn your flame retardant suit.

lol....