Thieves at WDW

[dish rag]

when we had a toddler, we would buy one of those $29 strollers for Disney, who would bring a $1800 stroller

I did that once and just left it in the Mk at the end of the day.

 

[mummabear]

It's too easy to buy a cheapo stroller for vacations and save the expensive "look what I have" one at home. For some people it's as much a status symbol as their car and house. Our first trip our boys were 3.5 and 5.5 and we didn't take a stroller because 1, they could walk and 2, I didn't want the hassle.

Man there is a lot of stroller snobbery and interestingly it seems to be coming from the people who choose to buy a cheap stroller.

The "expensive" strollers are not all look at what I have, for us they have been way more practical then the cheaper options.
We had a removable baby capsule that could click into the stroller or the car seat base, we had a cocoon that they could sleep in a could come out as well, we have front and back seats plus a scooter that could attach so our oldest could be pushed as well when she was tired.
We had sun covers and storm covers, food trays and snap on nappy bags. And a built in sleeping bag.
It could pack into a flight bag.

I personally don't see the point in buying a second "not as good" stroller to use at a time the kids may be in it a lot, to me that's what seems like a waste of money.

I bought my stroller to use, not to be somewhere looking nice.
Mickey bars are melted on it, mud is splashed in the bottom of the storage area because I am too lazy to pull it apart to wash, many many hinges have been spilled, stained or thrown up all over it.

As I said before we use a bike lock through the back wheel when we leave it unattended, we dont leave anything else in it, but if it did end up being stolen we would claim travel insurance and get a new one.

Well, that's definitely a very personal decision. We had 3 kids under the age of 4, including a set of twins. I think our stroller(s) cost about $150 total. Sunshade? Check. Recline? Check. Storage? Check? Easy to push? Check. I'm a cheapskate, I fully admit, but I simply can't see where a stroller costing that much brings anything to the table that one 1/10th the price doesn't. Plus, with 3 very young kids, our strollers got beaten to death...puked on, food spilled, drinks spilled, dragged all over, in and out of cars, etc...I could never do that to a $1500 stroller. When we were done with ours we sold it on Craigslist for $50 and were quite happy. We had the same feeling about a family vehicle. No way were we going to spend $40k+ on something we were going to beat the snot out of. Bought a base model minivan for $17k and had no regrets when it got dirty...and it did.

And your choice is also a personal choice.
We bough a $150 for our first child, we swapped it by the time she was 6 months old to the better one.
The cheaper model was not able to go off road, which is something we do quite a lot, frankly there is just a large quality and comfort difference between the two.
It two has been puked on, spilled all over, lasted through more than 50 flights and is still going strong more than 6 years later, it will be still worth $200-$400 depending on condition when we sell it. It has been good value for us.

As far as cars go we spend $60K + every 2-4 years, my husband is a car guy, it's what he likes to spend some of our money on-he wouldn't be seen dead in a minivan.
We would rather have nice things-we work hard to afford it.
Neither option is right or wrong it's just what suits each family.

 

[bdcp]

Man there is a lot of stroller snobbery and interestingly it seems to be coming from the people who choose to buy a cheap stroller.

The "expensive" strollers are not all look at what I have, for us they have been way more practical then the cheaper options.
We had a removable baby capsule that could click into the stroller or the car seat base, we had a cocoon that they could sleep in a could come out as well, we have front and back seats plus a scooter that could attach so our oldest could be pushed as well when she was tired.
We had sun covers and storm covers, food trays and snap on nappy bags. And a built in sleeping bag.
It could pack into a flight bag.

I personally don't see the point in buying a second "not as good" stroller to use at a time the kids may be in it a lot, to me that's what seems like a waste of money.

I bought my stroller to use, not to be somewhere looking nice.
Mickey bars are melted on it, mud is splashed in the bottom of the storage area because I am too lazy to pull it apart to wash, many many hinges have been spilled, stained or thrown up all over it.

As I said before we use a bike lock through the back wheel when we leave it unattended, we dont leave anything else in it, but if it did end up being stolen we would claim travel insurance and get a new one.



And your choice is also a personal choice.
We bough a $150 for our first child, we swapped it by the time she was 6 months old to the better one.
The cheaper model was not able to go off road, which is something we do quite a lot, frankly there is just a large quality and comfort difference between the two.
It two has been puked on, spilled all over, lasted through more than 50 flights and is still going strong more than 6 years later, it will be still worth $200-$400 depending on condition when we sell it. It has been good value for us.

As far as cars go we spend $60K + every 2-4 years, my husband is a car guy, it's what he likes to spend some of our money on-he wouldn't be seen dead in a minivan.
We would rather have nice things-we work hard to afford it.
Neither option is right or wrong it's just what suits each family.

LOL. My "kids" are 31 and 33. An expensive stroller when they were young was around $200 at most. It is a status thing for a lot of people. There are strollers that have most of the bells and whistles for far less than $1800. I honestly don't care what you spend on your stroller or car, but you obviously need to let us know.

And, we all work hard for what we have. I really don't think you want to get into where we are financially because I think you'd probably be surprised. My point wasn't about that, but it obviously triggered something in you.

 

[mummabear]

LOL. My "kids" are 31 and 33. An expensive stroller when they were young was around $200 at most. It is a status thing for a lot of people. There are strollers that have most of the bells and whistles for far less than $1800. I honestly don't care what you spend on your stroller or car, but you obviously need to let us know.

And, we all work hard for what we have. I really don't think you want to get into where we are financially because I think you'd probably be surprised. My point wasn't about that, but it obviously triggered something in you.

I it is this thread in general with lots of posters agast at people spending that kind of money-it's really not uncommon.

I inky brought up our amount in response to Klayfish stating what they spend.

Yes there are strollers that have most of the bells and whistles for less than $1800 but a) most not all and b) it's a quality issue.

Almost have anything you buy has cheaper and more expensive options,( I personally cannot believe the amount some people would spend on handbags for instance) on paper they will seem similar but people will have different feelings of value and/or different understandings of the difference in brand quality/supports etc.

A cellphone can be as cheap as what $50 and on paper that has most of the bells and whistles as a more expensive model-yet how many on here have a $50 phone and how many have an iPhone.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I'm sorry but your $1800 stroller really isn't any better than my Graco was. It is nothing but a ridiculous status symbol.

 

[fly girl]

@mummabear, you're correct. You use your money how you see fit. Why it matters to anyone else what you do with your money is irrelevant. I'm glad you got your monies worth.

I think the snobbery (including myself) comes from those who buy the stroller as a "look at me" status symbol, rather than for the upgraded capabilities like you use it for (off roads). Many of us don't like the attitude that sometimes comes with the owner of the luxury item.

Sure, it's a snap judgement and it really is not fair. But it's human nature. We do it all the time with other things too. (Case in point, when you see an older balding gentleman cruising around in a ridiculously expensive convertible sports car, you create a snap judgement as to why he owns it.) May not be fair, but it happens.

I'm glad you locked it up at the parks. It's too expensive to have it ripe for the taking. It would be like leaving a Mercedes in the parking lot with the doors open and key in the ignition. (Yeah I know they don't use traditional keys anymore, but you get my drift.)

 

[Allison]

As to why someone would spend $1800 on a stroller, who cares? To me it is no different than spending $60,000 on a car when a $2000 one will get you from point a to b.

I have to agree. Why do people care about what someone else spent on a stroller? I find it rather hypocritical on a website dedicated to Disney vacations. I mean, people could say the same thing about how much people spend on their Disney World vacations compared to another destination or the cost of staying at a Disney deluxe resort compared to staying offsite. The point is we all get to decide what is important to us and where we decide to spend our money.

I am sure we all spend money on something other people would consider to be extravagant or a waste of money.

 

[Hikergirl]

I have to agree. Why do people care about what someone else spent on a stroller? I find it rather hypocritical on a website dedicated to Disney vacations. I mean, people could say the same thing about how much people spend on their Disney World vacations compared to another destination or the cost of staying at a Disney deluxe resort compared to staying offsite. The point is we all get to decide what is important to us and where we decide to spend our money.

I am sure we all spend money on something other people would consider to be extravagant or a waste of money.

(to the bolded) Yes and that is what we are discussing, how we think its ridiculous to spend that much on a stroller and how we'd never do it. There are suckers born every minute, and yes I think that there are people who are very eager to part with their money because someone convinced them the product was worth the ridiculous cost, and that does include some Disney vacations. If someone wants to spend 1800 on a stroller or 15K on a WDW vacation it has no impact on me, but it isn't going to stop me from thinking that it is crazy to do.

 

[bcla]

(to the bolded) Yes and that is what we are discussing, how we think its ridiculous to spend that much on a stroller and how we'd never do it. There are suckers born every minute, and yes I think that there are people who are very eager to part with their money because someone convinced them the product was worth the ridiculous cost, and that does include some Disney vacations. If someone wants to spend 1800 on a stroller or 15K on a WDW vacation it has no impact on me, but it isn't going to stop me from thinking that it is crazy to do.

I think it was a combination of the cost of the stroller along with the totally clueless belief that she could leave her valuables in that stroller in a public place.

If someone had stolen a $100 stroller with someone's valuables, I don't think we would have heard about it though. It wouldn't have triggered quite the same level of scrutiny if resold, and it might not have even been worth trying to resell. The thief probably would have just taken the cash and be done with it.

 

[Allison]

As long as you are okay with someone thinking you are the sucker born every minute when the roles are reversed.

I've never come close to spending that much on a stroller. But, I also know people might think I am crazy to pay money to run 13.1 miles or question the amount I spend on a pair of running shoes.

People are acting like this woman did something wrong by spending that much on a stroller or that she is stupid for doing so. Why is that the case?

Now, leaving the valuables in the stroller is a different situation. That is a matter of common sense not a question of how someone spends their own funds.

 

[Hikergirl]

I think it was a combination of the cost of the stroller along with the totally clueless belief that she could leave her valuables in that stroller in a public place.

If someone had stolen a $100 stroller with someone's valuables, I don't think we would have heard about it though. It wouldn't have triggered quite the same level of scrutiny if resold, and it might not have even been worth trying to resell. The thief probably would have just taken the cash and be done with it.

No doubt

 

[Hikergirl]

As long as you are okay with someone thinking you are the sucker born every minute when the roles are reversed.

I've never come close to spending that much on a stroller. But, I also know people might think I am crazy to pay money to run 13.1 miles or question the amount I spend on a pair of running shoes.

People are acting like this woman did something wrong by spending that much on a stroller or that she is stupid for doing so. Why is that the case?

Now, leaving the valuables in the stroller is a different situation. That is a matter of common sense not a question of how someone spends their own funds.

Sure am, we are all suckers for something, and we all have opinions. What strangers say on a message board about what I spend my money on isn't going to bother me.
Personally I think its stupid to spend that much on a stroller. Do I think that woman IS stupid for doing so? Well no, but I do question her intelligence level because of her decision to leave her valuables on it, and also her interview about having to be "rescued". So, maybe she's not the sharpest tool in the shed to begin with, and would probably be so even if she bought a $180 stroller.

 

[Allison]

The decision to leave those things in the stroller was definitely a bad one. I completely agree with that.

It's interesting how over the years on this board, there have been posts from people surprised that there is crime at Disney. I have never understood that line of thinking. The population at Disney on any given day is probably larger than the communities many of us live in. Those communities aren't immune from crime or illness or anything else. So, the thought it would be something different at Disney is something I have never understood.

 

[wenrob]

As long as you are okay with someone thinking you are the sucker born every minute when the roles are reversed.

I've never come close to spending that much on a stroller. But, I also know people might think I am crazy to pay money to run 13.1 miles or question the amount I spend on a pair of running shoes.

People are acting like this woman did something wrong by spending that much on a stroller or that she is stupid for doing so. Why is that the case?

Now, leaving the valuables in the stroller is a different situation. That is a matter of common sense not a question of how someone spends their own funds.

I personally don't have a problem with what she spent on her stroller but I do think it's extremely naive to think it wouldn't be a huge target for thieves in a place where you're regularly required to leave it unattended. To me that's just asking for trouble.

 

[Allison]

I personally don't have a problem with what she spent on her stroller but I do think it's extremely naive to think it wouldn't be a huge target for thieves in a place where you're regularly required to leave it unattended.

True. I wouldn't be able to relax knowing something that expensive was unattended. People do seem to be more lax in Disney than they would somewhere else and they shouldn't be.

 

[bcla]

I personally don't have a problem with what she spent on her stroller but I do think it's extremely naive to think it wouldn't be a huge target for thieves in a place where you're regularly required to leave it unattended. To me that's just asking for trouble.

I have the same thought about someone who might have something like $2600 Louis Vuitton luggage that would only be checked in during travel. I can certainly understand the idea of having an expensive handbag that's always on one's person. However, the average airport where anyone can enter the baggage claim area would have nothing to prevent someone from just taking such luggage and running off with it.

 

[bookgirl]

I go with the who cares what she spent on the stroller. Would I, maybe not, but I don't have room to talk as I sit here with my iphone, my iwatch, looking at my ipad, which I sometimes carry in my $200 plus bag, wearing $100+ sneakers, planning a Christmas WDW trip at a $350+ dollar a night resort. HAHAHAHA. You spend your money where it matters to you and I won't throw a rock out of my glass house.

HOWEVER, she needs to own her part of the ruined vacation because:

1. She took the high priced item that she cared about to a public place and left it unattended
2. She left her car keys and valuables in the high priced item she left in a public place unattended
3. She somehow convinced the parent of a child who requires an EPI PEN to leave the meds in the high priced item she left in a public place unattended.

She did not deserve to be robbed, but she's the victim of her own lack of common sense as much as she is a victim of a scumbag mom who stole her stroller.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

The decision to leave those things in the stroller was definitely a bad one. I completely agree with that.

It's interesting how over the years on this board, there have been posts from people surprised that there is crime at Disney. I have never understood that line of thinking. The population at Disney on any given day is probably larger than the communities many of us live in. Those communities aren't immune from crime or illness or anything else. So, the thought it would be something different at Disney is something I have never understood.

Disney pushes the idea that it's a magical place where all your dreams come true, and I suppose more than a few people are "suckers" for believing it's a utopia where nothing bad could ever happen.

Plus it's costly to get in, so the reasoning may be that only "good people" can afford to attend.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

b) it's a quality issue.
.

Just for kicks I looked on line at some of those expensive strollers. I found a $1700 Bergdorf Goodman that was actually inferior to my $300 set up. No clips for the universal baby seat. No nothing. Just a stroller with a cover. I found some others that you got more for your $1500. But They had the same caster wheels my $300 had. The same clips for the baby seat. The same type of cover for the stroller. They had plastic parts where mine had em. They had metal parts where mine had em. There weren't truly any better than the one I had. Now if someone wants to spend $1800 on a stroller, they can go to it. And if someone wants to spend $70 or more for a $15 polo shirt because it has Ralph Lauren's name on it well go for it. But it isn't a difference in quality. It's a difference in perceived prestige.

 

[bcla]

Just for kicks I looked on line at some of those expensive strollers. I found a $1700 Bergdorf Goodman that was actually inferior to my $300 set up. No clips for the universal baby seat. No nothing. Just a stroller with a cover. I found some others that you got more for your $1500. But They had the same caster wheels my $300 had. The same clips for the baby seat. The same type of cover for the stroller. They had plastic parts where mine had em. They had metal parts where mine had em. There weren't truly any better than the one I had. Now if someone wants to spend $1800 on a stroller, they can go to it. And if someone wants to spend $70 or more for a $15 polo shirt because it has Ralph Lauren's name on it well go for it. But it isn't a difference in quality. It's a difference in perceived prestige.

Peg Perego makes a really nice stroller. And they actually make them in their own factory in Italy compared to others that contract out their manufacturing to some factory in China. And they slightly change the colors every year so there are often older ones that are functionally the same but available for less than $200.

I'm notoriously cheap; just ask my wife. In addition to the Pe Perego stroller we got on closeout, I found a Chicco Cortina stroller that perfectly matched our infant seat. The seat clicked in perfectly since it was designed specifically for their Keyfit seats. And the best part was that we found it as a returned item at Toys R Us for $80. It was basically new other than a bit of wear on the tires, but after a weekend of use it was impossible to tell.