Too big for stroller--the website

[jayandstacey]

She had convinced her mother she was fine enough to still go to Six Flags. Who knows what would have happened if they went to the doctor right away, but the doc did tell them that she made it much worse by going anyway. I was just saying that kids will suffer through the pain and convince their parents they are fine if there's a chance they might not get to go to an amusement park.

And she was 12. Putting a non-handicapped 12 year old in a STROLLER would be wrong. Putting any 12 year old in a stroller is wrong. If they are handicapped at that age, they should be in a wheelchair.

The 12 year old in this case was injured, not handicapped. And if a kid has a walking injury and the family has a stroller and a long way to go...how is it possibly wrong for the 12 year old to climb in?

I don't doubt that a kid lying about their injury is bound to make it worse. That happens. In that case, maybe the kid learns not to lie. If I determine an injury isn't bad enough to leave and the kid concurs - we don't leave. If the kid was lying and it gets worse - well, lesson learned, they shouldn't lie.

But if I had a stroller, it probably wouldn't get worse.

 

[jayandstacey]

I agree with those that say that it's no one's business whether older kids ride in strollers. Except that I've noticed way more crowded walkways right after parades and fireworks and so on and I do blame this partially on strollers. I would never tell anyone that they don't have the right to use a stroller for whatever age nor would I go to this website but it's true that the walkways seem more jammed and that is kind of a pain.

Despite being Mr. Pro Stroller....I will agree with this. The parks, especially the older ones, aren't designed for the Stroller 500 that happens after fireworks.

But note that it isn't the lack of design in the park in a vacuum, rather, is that (for instance) MK wasn't designed for families that will visit 4 theme parks and 2 water parks over 7 days. As Disney has turned what was a one day sprint into more of a seven day marathon, families will find ways to pace themselves. A stroller is one way to pace the marathon.

I think of strollers as just one more of the MANY transportation options - to be studied and integrated into any plan. Trust me, if we could efficiently do segways, rickshaws, moving sidewalks, buggy rides -we would.

 

[designermv]

I actually looked forward to my daughter's naps in her stroller (at age 3) at Epcot. She'd conk out peacefully, and my husband and I could stroll around sampling beverages and perusing the shops. I felt like it was a win-win.

 

[jayandstacey]

I wonder about the trend. It's one thing for 6 year olds to be in strollers but as they get older and older, I wonder if there's a stopping point. It's not my business though.

The stopping point is the child's size and self-consciousness. Both of which matter less and less as they tire.

 

[jayandstacey]

Now, that could be perfect for WS. They could get some actual rickshaw drivers from China and India. Or better yet, they could just require everyone to ride a scooter around the parks, at extra charge of course.

As non-gas vehicles progress, I think it would be neat to see some new transportation options in the parks. As the parks progressed over time, they had less and less transportation elements:
MK: busses, boats, trains, monorail
Epcot: busses, boats, monorail
DHS: busses, boats
AK: busses.

Am I missing any?

Rickshaws, electric options - I feel like Disney Co. has ignored the enjoyment aspect of rides - and the newer parks' charm have suffered.

 

[midnightlouise]

I found the picture of the bigger kid in the stroller with the smaller kid walking along beside it funny because of the irony, but the rest of it was just meh.

And if you see my pushing my perfectly healthy, albeit lazy, 11 year old, 85lb kid around the park in a stroller, please feel free to point and laugh at me or make comments about my parenting. I won't blame you. Go ahead & post me on the internet. Just make sure to block out the faces...the pic of me on the Wal-mart site coulda used some photoshopping.

 

[bwilcox]

As a cast member, it's really disappointing to know that I work so hard to give Disney guests such a great, memorable experience just to have all the moms go home and create a 13 page thread in 2 days about what strangers are doing WRONG when they don't know the first thing about each other. If you didn't like the website, move on to a new post and give someone some FRIENDLY Disney advice. If you did, then laugh with the poster. I don't understand why DISlovers can't just get along!

Yet it doesn't bother you that some of the children you work so hard to give a magical experience to are being photographed and posted on a website without their consent for the sole purpose of making fun of them? Is this making fun of WDW guests the FRIENDLY Disney way?

 

[dntd]

I just think it should be put this way: If you need a stroller for your kid get one that fits, don't shove a 8 year old in a tiny baby stroller! I do wish disney would allow wagons in bigger parks like epoct .

 

[disneymegs]

Yet it doesn't bother you that some of the children you work so hard to give a magical experience to are being photographed and posted on a website without their consent for the sole purpose of making fun of them? Is this making fun of WDW guests the FRIENDLY Disney way?

Actually, my post isn't making fun of ANYONE. I love making magic for every guest I encounter, all ages! It has absolutely nothing to do with poking fun. All I did was suggest that everyone be nice to each other so everyone can give and receive advice to make the most of the Happiest Place on Earth. I didn't make the website, nor condone it, so jumping down my throat accomplishes nothing. Everyone needs to relax.

 

[debdebdebby13]

I dunno, I'm not going to get my panties in a wad, but I do think the site is in poor taste.

We are going in about three weeks and we are definitely taking a stroller for our DD. She will be turning 5 shortly after we get back, this is her 5th birthday trip. She is also tall, and most people mistake her for a 6 year old already. We've already dealt with people judging her or us on our parenting because of how old she appears to be, but they don't know how old she really is.

No, I don't expect my four, almost five year old to walk 10 miles a day, that is unreasonable, and if we can have a better trip by bringing along a stroller for her, then we will. Whether people think she is 6 or 7 years old, or not. People gave us dirty looks when she was 2 but looked 4 and was throwing a 2 year old tantrum, and I'm sure we'll get looks this time. Oh well.

 

[disneymegs]

I dunno, I'm not going to get my panties in a wad, but I do think the site is in poor taste.

We are going in about three weeks and we are definitely taking a stroller for our DD. She will be turning 5 shortly after we get back, this is her 5th birthday trip. She is also tall, and most people mistake her for a 6 year old already. We've already dealt with people judging her or us on our parenting because of how old she appears to be, but they don't know how old she really is.

No, I don't expect my four, almost five year old to walk 10 miles a day, that is unreasonable, and if we can have a better trip by bringing along a stroller for her, then we will. Whether people think she is 6 or 7 years old, or not. People gave us dirty looks when she was 2 but looked 4 and was throwing a 2 year old tantrum, and I'm sure we'll get looks this time. Oh well.

Have a great WDW vacation and happy birthday to your DD!

 

[progroupie]

I don't really care if people put their 27 year old husbands in strollers or their golden retriever for that matter. I also don't care if someone else wants to laugh at them for it.
However I am not okay with pictures of children being taken and posted online without parental consent. I don't have children and I don't know if I'll strap them to my chest or put them in a stroller or put them on leashes or tie them to a lamp post while I ride Space Mountain. But I do know that if some creepy stranger with a digital camera and internet access took their picture, I would not pleased.

 

[tony609]

Not for us - Getting a stroller is probably our second most important strategy, to getting there early.

We tend to show up early and do the "big" stuff as you might at rope drop. Then as the lines begin to get long a few hours later, we go get a big stroller as an antidote to leaving the park for a hotel siesta. During midday we're slowing down anyway, and it allows one (of our two) kids to nap at bit while the rest of us meander.

We ride out the midday heat, don't carry (in our arms) any purses or purchases and are refreshed and ready for PM EMH without having left.

It is very much a stratgey, though obviously a hotly debated one.

There is no strategy offered here. The whole point of posting the link was to create laughter (for some) and cause a great debate. NO Strategy about getting one, or even asking a question about getting one was posted in the ORIGINAL post. So, no it's not a theme park strategy. So now someone will post something about stroller strategy and validate it. But in the grand scheme of things who really cares what others do on this topic. It's not my famly/not my business. I am just pointing out this thread belongs on a different board.

 

[disneymegs]

I forgot to add earlier that if we see someone taking pictures of a child that isn't their's without the parents' consent, a manager can have that guest delete the photos.

 

[Planogirl]

Actually, my post isn't making fun of ANYONE. I love making magic for every guest I encounter, all ages! It has absolutely nothing to do with poking fun. All I did was suggest that everyone be nice to each other so everyone can give and receive advice to make the most of the Happiest Place on Earth. I didn't make the website, nor condone it, so jumping down my throat accomplishes nothing. Everyone needs to relax.

ITA. I didn't read your post as approving of anything. Thanks.

All of this bickering and anger is amazing. No one here posted the website, at least not that I'm aware of. If the guy is blurring the faces there is likely nothing that can be done about it either.

 

[kylieh]

Some of the kids had what looks like orthopaedic shoes on (my DD has them.) Perhaps they're not ready for a wheelchair or don't need one all the time, or the parent would rather use a stroller.

Regardless of the child's physical capability if they should or shouldn't be walking, can or can't walk, I'm more bothered by taking the photos of the kids and placing them online.

 

[Belle83]

Haven't read the whole thread yet, but I don't think it's super funny. I'm not offended by it, it's just sort of like ... 'huh?'.

I love people of walmart, and have shamelessly taken pictures of people i found, uh, 'interesting' while at wdw, but kids in strollers? At disney, people walk something like 15 miles a day, not including all that standing around in line. Sure, they are older..but it's disney world. If it's not disney world it's a little strange, I'll admit, but I'm still not going to find it entertaining or funny. Someone posted here not too long ago about their disabled son who didn't 'look disabled' and used a stroller instead of a wheelchair. Even absent a reason like that, I just don't find it that odd at disney. Lots of things are not weird at disney....character t-shirts, weird hats, etc.

Meh. I'm sure that point has probably already been made, but that's my $0.02.

 

[Bonnie151]

We working here to get bike riding to school banned. Even the lazy snowflakes across the street tend to ride their bikes to school.

Sorry, you've completely lost me. Minniemarie had stated that most children in the UK are out of strollers by the time they are 4. I was wondering whether the age you start school is (in some part) the trigger because over here, many children start the equivalent of first grade when they are 4. I started first grade when I was 6 and imagine that's still roughly the age in the US? I can't imagine any child being pushed along to school in a stroller and so am wondering whether there's an earlier trigger in the UK for giving up the stroller because we start school at an earlier age - i.e. more people use strollers for their 4 year olds in the US because they are not yet at school.

I'm afraid I don't understand what that has to do with trying to get riding your bike to school banned.

So if you were physically incapable of carrying your DD would you have stayed home?

No, we would have just adapted our schedules so that she didn't need carried. She fell and scraped her knee quite badly at Universal so DH carried her from the park to the car. If he hadn't been able to carry her, I imagine we would have stopped to have dinner at Universal to give her knee a rest and then walked more slowly to the car. Another time was when we were trying to exit MK after the fireworks. It was a madhouse and so instead of trying to keep hold of her hand. DH thought it would be easier/safer to carry her. If he hadn't been able to, I imagine we would have waited until the crowds cleared and then exited the park. I don't understand why we'd need to stay home if one of us couldn't carry her?

 

[YodaGirl]

In my county, a large amount of kids are in preschool by 4, if not before. I teach at a preachool that starts at 2. For safety reasons (cars, child predators, etc), preschoolers do not walk to school. Kindergarten usually starts at 5. Only within the past year have they begun to require those living within a mile of school to walk. I don't think the age at which they start school has anything to do with it. Like many others have said, the mileage that you walk at WDW is significantly more than you would walk at home.

Other than that, I took it that the poster was being sarcastic.

Sorry, you've completely lost me. Minniemarie had stated that most children in the UK are out of strollers by the time they are 4. I was wondering whether the age you start school is (in some part) the trigger because over here, many children start the equivalent of first grade when they are 4. I started first grade when I was 6 and imagine that's still roughly the age in the US? I can't imagine any child being pushed along to school in a stroller and so am wondering whether there's an earlier trigger in the UK for giving up the stroller because we start school at an earlier age - i.e. more people use strollers for their 4 year olds in the US because they are not yet at school.

I'm afraid I don't understand what that has to do with trying to get riding your bike to school banned.





No, we would have just adapted our schedules so that she didn't need carried. She fell and scraped her knee quite badly at Universal so DH carried her from the park to the car. If he hadn't been able to carry her, I imagine we would have stopped to have dinner at Universal to give her knee a rest and then walked more slowly to the car. Another time was when we were trying to exit MK after the fireworks. It was a madhouse and so instead of trying to keep hold of her hand. DH thought it would be easier/safer to carry her. If he hadn't been able to, I imagine we would have waited until the crowds cleared and then exited the park. I don't understand why we'd need to stay home if one of us couldn't carry her?

 

[Schmeck]

I forgot to add earlier that if we see someone taking pictures of a child that isn't their's without the parents' consent, a manager can have that guest delete the photos.

So I can request that people get out of the way of my photo of the castle, etc, since I'm not allowed to take pics of their kids? I'm finding it very hard to believe that anyone can make me delete photos from my personal camera, as that would be an invasion of my privacy. I could be removed from the park, that is Disney's right, but then they would have the burden of proof that I did something wrong when they were taken to court. They would not have the right to have access to my camera while I was in the park. I don't think a security guard would even have that right, as that would involve search and seizure, which is not in their jurisdiction. A police officer could, but a Disney security guard could not.