Universal often follows Disney's Lead...

[wendlle]

And the giant strollers that seem to carry enough stuff for a months visit to go camping in the Himalayas!!!! Usually no kids in them either...…

This is the one thing I find very weird. I've been to WDW a few times Solo and just with my Husband and it was so awesome to go with nothing, I mean NOTHING, we took nothing with us but our camera/phone.
Why on earth would anyone take so much stuff with them when they don't have kids.
We have kids and take the stroller, all we take in it is diapers, sippy cup, wipes and a few ziplocs of snacks.
What are childless people doing with huge strollers full of stuff?

 

[amberpi]

Bingo! Which all goes back to one of my original statements: If they were selling cigarettes, on top of the alcohol they now serve this wouldn't have happened.

They will lose smoking guests. Quote from DH today: "if they me want out of their parks, I'll be way out of their parks."

 

[TheBuckman22]

We were at Epcot today and brought in frozen ice water so as of now it's a go....we always take a cooler in with drinks and sandwiches and snacks....with ticket prices out of this world I dont need to give Disney share holders anymore $$ by buying food

 

[EmJ]

Holy mackerel, I had no idea these "wagon strollers" were such a big deal. Did you see there is already a change.org petition to "unban" them from Disney? We have a small sports wagon that we got for $40 from Target, and it would have never entered my brain to drag that thing with me to any theme park. I'd never heard of or seen a "Keenz" before. WOW! I can see why too many of those would get to be a problem. Do people cart them around Uni? I bought a slightly larger umbrella stroller for my son, and I thought long and hard about how much of a pain in the rear it will be first (I still think at least a medium pain).

 

[bumbershoot]

Like ice cubes? That’s weird. I’ll have to search the stroller limitations. We JUST bought a stroller for our son so that’s going to be a bummer if Universal follows suit and we can’t use it. I think it’s technically an umbrella stroller, but not a little one.

A single kid stroller is going to come nowhere near the max dimensions.

If I have never even noticed a smoking area in the parks, it can't be a problem.

And yet many others have noticed problems at both Disney and universal.

Re: stroller limits, it looks like the limits are 31” wide and 52” long, and the article I read noted that many double jogging strollers fit these requirements. I’m having trouble picturing a stroller bigger than a double jogger. I can see how something like that would gum things up or injure pedestrians.

Strollers for more than 2. BIG joggers for doubles.

But the biggest part of it is reminding us that pulled wagons aren’t allowed, and banning stroller wagons.

$$$$

Someone who bought a $400 keenz stroller wagon, or one of the massive ones that is bigger than the allowed dinensions likely won’t see rental strollers as being that much. IMO.

I say this because it said you can use those refreezable ice thingys.

We all use icepacks that you freeze and reuse.

Where, at Disney? In a one bedroom or bigger at Dvc. Or maybe possibly a fancy schmancy suite.

Normal rooms don’t have freezer compartments. Nor do Dvc studios.

For universal, I can’t remember if the mini fridges have freezer compartments.

Holy mackerel, I had no idea these "wagon strollers" were such a big deal. Did you see there is already a change.org petition to "unban" them from Disney? We have a small sports wagon that we got for $40 from Target, and it would have never entered my brain to drag that thing with me to any theme park. I'd never heard of or seen a "Keenz" before. WOW! I can see why too many of those would get to be a problem. Do people cart them around Uni? I bought a slightly larger umbrella stroller for my son, and I thought long and hard about how much of a pain in the rear it will be first (I still think at least a medium pain).

Those actually are *smaller* than the banned dimensions.

It’s why they also had to include stroller wagons specifically.

 

[luvsJack]

A single kid stroller is going to come nowhere near the max dimensions.



And yet many others have noticed problems at both Disney and universal.




Strollers for more than 2. BIG joggers for doubles.

But the biggest part of it is reminding us that pulled wagons aren’t allowed, and banning stroller wagons.



Someone who bought a $400 keenz stroller wagon, or one of the massive ones that is bigger than the allowed dinensions likely won’t see rental strollers as being that much. IMO.






Where, at Disney? In a one bedroom or bigger at Dvc. Or maybe possibly a fancy schmancy suite.

Normal rooms don’t have freezer compartments. Nor do Dvc studios.

For universal, I can’t remember if the mini fridges have freezer compartments.



Those actually are *smaller* than the banned dimensions.

It’s why they also had to include stroller wagons specifically.

To the first bolded: And just as many people report that they haven't seen a problem. I can't help but wonder how many people that say they have are getting cigarettes and the smallest vapes or electronic cigarettes confused. I have never seen a problem at either park and I know for a fact the employees at Universal (if they see it) will tell direct a guest to the smoking area because I witnessed it twice (both times, the guests did in unintentionally as they were both close just not quite there); can't say the same about Disney because I haven't seen it nor have I seen anyone remotely out of the DSA's.

To the second bolded: I would bet dollars to donuts that they will be selling frozen ice packs at the CS places in the resorts. May even go to a whole thing where you pay for it for the week, just return it at the end of the day and they give you a new one the next morning! All for the low cost of 89.99!! LOL

 

[keishashadow]

Contraband, such as illegal drugs, can be easily concealed in ice cubes, prison system is onto that one.

Dry ice needs to be handled properly, it can easily become a serious hazard in a small space that isn’t well ventilated as it causes carbon dioxide gas to form. Unless it’s in a styrofoam cooler it can be an accident waiting to happen. Disposal of it is another issue, you can’t just put it in a garbage can or down a toilet, drain or sewer; as pressure can build.

The cynic in me agrees it will benefit WDW’s bottom line, large coolers equate to guests spending less money in the park

Do think that the inevitable increased SW crowds, plus being named in litigation where guests have been injured by such large strollers/wagons, is probably coming into play here. Additionally, in RL they are often used by shoplifters in an attempt to stow loot.

A simple google search of “smoking areas at walt disney world” produces a link to this site’s page below. The information is readily accessible.

In any event that doesn’t give an employee a green length to treat a guest brusquely. The time to address that is immediately, after getting the name off the badge and reporting it to management so that the person can be re-schooled on proper policy.


https://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/smokingareas.htm

I fully respect personal freedoms but “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few”. Coming from an ex-smoker, no matter how you attempt to justify it, a no smoking edict in a privately or government owned facility means exactly that. Not a stretch to consider the outright ban is in response to the previously designated areas not being fully utilized.

Again, insert preemtive measure to avoid employee class action suit against their employer as to being ‘forced’ to breath second-hand smoke.

People need to be educated that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief moments around it can harm a person’s health. The risk of health problems is greater with more exposure; especially for: pregnant women, children, older adults & people with both respiratory issues (asthma, COPD etc.) & heart disease.

 

[Disxuni]

We were at Epcot today and brought in frozen ice water so as of now it's a go....we always take a cooler in with drinks and sandwiches and snacks....with ticket prices out of this world I dont need to give Disney share holders anymore $$ by buying food

Normally, what I do is I freeze bottles of water and use them in my insulated back pack during the hotter season. So, I should be good to go.

As for the smoking, whether for it, or against it, I do not believe at Universal, but at Disney, they're going to need to hire a team specifically to have someone stand in all the original locations just to tell people they can no longer smoke there. I say specifically Disney, not Universal (even if it happens) due to the fact that due to my experience with my mother I know these locations and almost all of the locations in Disney are very secluded and isolated compared to Universal, as well as due to Disney generally having bigger parks.

 

[bumbershoot]

For them to actually include dry ice on the list means they have had issues with dry ice. What guests needed to keep things THAT cold as to necessitate dry ice? The mind boggles.

I know for a fact the employees at Universal (if they see it) will tell direct a guest to the smoking area because I witnessed it twice

You seeing it twice means...you saw it twice. It can’t be extrapolated.

But when others see TMs or CMs *not* doing anything about it, that means that they don’t *always* do something. It doesn’t mean they will *never* do something, but it negates the statement that they will *always* do something.

 

[EmJ]

Yeah, after reading more about this last night (I found the whole thing fascinating), I think it makes a lot more sense. I can see why security can't/shouldn't be rifling through coolers full of loose ice in case someone has stored alcohol, drugs, glass containers, or weapons in there. Does anyone know whether the refrigerators at Universal have freezer shelves? Some folks were also commenting that ice in baggies would be allowed, but I didn't see that specifically in any of Disney's materials.

As to the strollers, I had never seen a Keenz before and was surprised by them (@bumbershoot - yes, I know my single kid stroller would qualify; when I saw what they were banning vs. what we have, I chuckled. I did not know such large strollers even existed!) Even if the wagons aren't any bigger than a double stroller by dimensions, I can completely see the wagon being used more to transport bags/snacks/coolers/jackets/umbrellas/souvenirs than actual children, whereas I don't think most people would purchase a double stroller if they only have one child needing to ride. Maybe they would rent a double to hold their extra stuff, I don't know. But anyway, it's just more stuff for security to have to go through, plus the wagons might not be as easy to maneuver around crowds or see over the canopy in case you're about to run over someone's foot or toddler.

So I rescind my comment about it being a money-maker for Disney. Maybe they considered a profit boost, maybe they didn't, but all of the restrictions do seem to have legitimate (non-monetary) business reasons behind them.

 

[TommyJK]

Strollers I've never found an issue with at Universal. Perhaps it's the fact that Universal skews older than Disney, so less families with infants/toddlers that bring strollers to the parks. The most I can think of seeing strollers at Universal is maybe seeing 5 or so sitting near an attraction where they've been dropped off while the family goes to ride.

Nowhere near this craziness continually seen at Disney in any main open space in the parks and it's over-run with strollers clogging open spaces, where reducing size restrictions makes sense/is hugely needed.

 

[EmJ]

Strollers I've never found an issue with at Universal. Perhaps it's the fact that Universal skews older than Disney, so less families with infants/toddlers that bring strollers to the parks. The most I can think of seeing strollers at Universal is maybe seeing 5 or so sitting near an attraction where they've been dropped off while the family goes to ride.

Nowhere near this craziness continually seen at Disney in any main open space in the parks and it's over-run with strollers clogging open spaces, where reducing size restrictions makes sense/is hugely needed.

Oh my god. Well, this just solidified my resolve not to visit Disney until I am confident my son can walk the whole time.

I haven't been to Disney in a LOT of years (like decades), but if there were fast passes and 60 day reservations to ride rides and acres of strollers then, I don't remember it. I've been softly planning a trip in a few years so my son and husband can see Galaxy's Edge, but it seems like a lot of trouble and stress. Is Disneyland as bad?

 

[schumigirl]

Strollers I've never found an issue with at Universal. Perhaps it's the fact that Universal skews older than Disney, so less families with infants/toddlers that bring strollers to the parks. The most I can think of seeing strollers at Universal is maybe seeing 5 or so sitting near an attraction where they've been dropped off while the family goes to ride.

Nowhere near this craziness continually seen at Disney in any main open space in the parks and it's over-run with strollers clogging open spaces, where reducing size restrictions makes sense/is hugely needed.

OMG!!!! That is horrendous...…

We saw a few more strollers than usual this past trip, nothing like that though....….and for the first time saw one of those massive Keenz wagon things......carrying…...yep......stuff!!!

We did chat to one family and they said themselves they don't need a stroller, but do bring it for all their stuff.....for one day in a theme park!!! Kids were around 10...….

Yes, a ban is needed. Don't like it.....don't go!!!

 

[Disxuni]

Over the past couple of years Disney has been good on creating actual designated area in order to have these strollers, which is a plus, but the downside is that they still exist within the crowds when you're generally walking and can injure individuals if they are not paying attention, or sometimes seeming as if not to care.

I hope / feeling this will also deter parents from having strollers for children that clearly do not need them anymore. I think more often I see children that can clearly walk and take care of themselves using these strollers. I understand children get tired (we all do) and it's essentially more cheaper and convenient (to them I suppose) to bring something they always used to carry their child. I mean, a lot of people even use these things just to carry their merchandise.

It's ridiculous some of the size of these strollers are, as well children I've seen using them.

 

[Kit Jackson]

I haven't been to Disney in a LOT of years (like decades), but if there were fast passes and 60 day reservations to ride rides and acres of strollers then, I don't remember it. I've been softly planning a trip in a few years so my son and husband can see Galaxy's Edge, but it seems like a lot of trouble and stress. Is Disneyland as bad?

I cannot speak to what planning a Disney World trip is like because the last time I went there it was the late 1990s. I was still a kid, and my parents did most of the planning.

I did go to Disneyland 5 years ago with a friend. It was two adults, no kids. Keep in mind, in 5 years things may have changed. Also, we did this trip the second week of January when most kids were in school. We did not see acres of strollers. Fast passes were paper passes you picked up at kiosks near the ride. We did not make reservations months in advance for rides. We did make advance reservations for a character meal, but I think that was the only meal we made a reservation for. If you are at all familiar with what a typical Universal Orlando trip is like, that was pretty close to my Disneyland experience.

 

[keishashadow]

I cannot speak to what planning a Disney World trip is like because the last time I went there it was the late 1990s. I was still a kid, and my parents did most of the planning.

I did go to Disneyland 5 years ago with a friend. It was two adults, no kids. Keep in mind, in 5 years things may have changed. Also, we did this trip the second week of January when most kids were in school. We did not see acres of strollers. Fast passes were paper passes you picked up at kiosks near the ride. We did not make reservations months in advance for rides. We did make advance reservations for a character meal, but I think that was the only meal we made a reservation for. If you are at all familiar with what a typical Universal Orlando trip is like, that was pretty close to my Disneyland experience.

It’s a brand new world, pun intended

They now offer max pass, FP for a fee.

First time we went to
DL, early 00’s, were thrilled to discover you could grab FP early in the day and use anytime during park operating hours

Their SW area opens soon. Initially, only onsite guests will be able to make reservations to enter the land/only attraction. They are wisely implementing a solid form of crowd control the first few months. I hope it normalizes before I visit pre Labor Day

 

[skylock]

Disney land is a lot calmer than disney world, but it relies mostly on locals or near locals instead of the thousands of out of state or out of country visitors.

I have not been to disney world in five years and even then the strollers could be a problem. They were everywhere.

 

[ICan'tWait]

But, did hear talk when we were there of a smoking ban......I`m all for it!!!! And yes, I`d be that person to point out someone flaunting the rules to TM when people don't think rules apply to them......there`s always some.

Hi Schumigirl, Don't suppose you've heard talk about when the ban might in be place? Sadly, my husband smokes and I'm nervous now about buying airfare for an August trip... (side note - I love your trip reports )

 

[skylock]

I don't remember the date, but it is before aug.

 

[Solfe]

To prevent congestion in the future, Disney has banned bigger strollers in the parks and give specific measurements of limitations.

As well as banned "loose" and "dry" ice. As for the ice, there has not been official word, or reasoning for the ban, so that's up for debate on what the reason is.

It's hard, cold and wet. I can only imagine that security feels like they been shoveling snow with their hands after a few coolers. It probably does nothing for the sensitivity in their fingers. Chilled to the bone from one cooler, then ramming their fingers in to 2 ball point pens and half a dozen Disney pins has got to be the worst.