What 2 do with Stroller

[Evan&Kimberly]

I will be in WDW for the first time Sept 4- 10th with my 2 yr old son for the first 2 days, and of course I will have his stroller, What will I be able to do with it when we are on a ride together or a show? I know this is WDW, but it is a high dollar stroller,I would not leave anything valuable in it, I was thinking of getting a bike chain, I am so lost, just any help or advice needed, maybe I am looking to deep into things!

 

[gourmetgirl]

They have stroller parking outside of the ride lines.

I'm not sure what to tell you about it being an expensive stroller. I don't really remember there being anywhere to chain it up in the stroller parking.

We left our expensive stroller at home and just rented a disney stroller at the parks.

 

[princesskayla]

There are millions (okay maybe not millions, but quite a few) of stollers parked places at WDW. I don't believe that you will need a bike chain. People tend to not mess with other people's stuff. If you are that worried about it - then by an umbella stroller for the park. It will work just fine and cost about the same as a bike chain.
FYI: if you walk off a ride or a show and don't see your stoller where you left it- look around the area. There are cast members whose job it is to organize stollers.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Maybe I am putting 2 much thought in this trip, I thought about his umbrella stroller, but it is not comfy his a big boy!, I Guess when you dont know, you just dont know, After all I dont know what to expect, like "Stroller Parking"

 

[mrstomrice]

There will be stroller parking available near each ride. There may be a CM to help you with it in many of the areas. Just know that they may move it within the same area as the strollers get moved so that they can rearrange as needed. In Fantasyland, there are a few areas that I can think of to park it so you can leave it there as you can do all of the rides. 1 is past its a small world. I keep a luggage tag on ours and we put our cell number as well as our hotel where we are staying in case it is confused for someone elses. We've never had a problem with our stroller in the parks!
One more piece of advice. When we ride the buses, we try to wait to be among the first to board. There are a section of seats that face the side of the bus that are meant for wheelchairs. When they are not being used for that purpose, the strollers fit really nicely under them. Good luck!

 

[hansel1]

I worried about our high dollar stroller this past january. It was fine, no one touched it. Besides sometimes the strollers have to be moved by cast members and putting a lock on it would only make things worse.

My advice is take the good stroller, you will be glad you did.

 

[Hoodie]

Like a PP said, it may be worthwhile to bring a cheaper stroller. While usually it's fine, I did encounter one person this trip who apparently had their stroller stolen. The little boy was NOT happy to know that he had to walk.

Again, it's the first time I've seen it, but it does happen.

 

[disneybliss2]

When we went on our first trip, I was just as worried about the stroller situation as you because I didn't know what to expect. I too didn't want to take an umbrella stroller because I didn't feel it would be comfortable enough for my then three year old and my husband and I are tall and we don't like stooping so low to reach the handles when it's for that much walking. We took our own (moderate to expensive) stroller and it wasn't hurt. I wouldn't advice taking a lock, because there's really no place for you to chain it to. Plus, the CMs move the strollers around some. It will still be in the initial spot you parked it, but there are some places (such as an area in Fantasyland near It's a Small World and Peter Pan and another near Mickey's Philharmagic) that is a large area designated for strollers. There are CMs that monitor the strollers and move them occassionally to fit others in. At other places there isn't a designated area, but you just park it nearby the area. We have gone twice now and after our first trip I didn't have a care in the world about it being stollen (I felt completely comfortable that it wouldn't be). I would put your name on it or use a luggage tag you've affixed w/ a tie wrap so it can't be removed if that makes you feel more comfortable. I just would advise not to leaving anything valuable in the stroller or anything eye catching.

 

[stacy6552]

I would worry less about locking it up and more about marking it so you can find it. Strollers get shifted while in the lots and you want to be able to sport yours. I have found that neon masking tape worked best for me, because it caught my eye as I was scanning. As you can see in the photo below I left the gate check tag on it, once for additional color.

 

[perkinsrose]

CHECK OUT official stroller thread:
www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815809

 

[Schmeck]

You are not allowed to lock the stroller to anything at WDW. The CMs will arrive with bolt cutters and cut the lock. You can lock the front wheels together so that the stroller is not easily rolled - then a CM can just roll it to its proper place using the back wheels, poppawheelie style...

 

[Vjale]

Unfortunately, strollers do get stolen even in the happiest place on earth. It is sad. Friends of ours had their stroller stolen when we were in disney world one year. We later saw the people with the stroller and they tried to deny stealing it. You will unfortunately always have a couple of bad apples in every bunch. We have gone many times and have never had our personal stroller stolen, but the park strollers have disappeared,but then Disney just replaces it for you. I would consider the Disney strollers, or just buy yourself a cheaper one. Believe it or not the people who stole the stroller, even were eating an open pack of Chips Ahoy we had in the basket of the stroller.

 

[Wendybird55]

There's no guarantee anywhere - even Disney and yes, your stroller can get stolen. I am bring my Maclaren with yous to Disney because it's my son's stroller and he's comfortable in it and we're comfortable pushing it and using it.

As others have suggested there are things you can do to help safguard your stroller -

Do not leave any valuables in it..you can leave diaper bag and such - but not cameras, souvenier bags, etc.

Put some sort of identifying tag/mark on it so you can easily spot it in a sea of other strollers - plus it helps to spot it if a CM has to move it while you're on an attraction.

Some people tie a "fake" dirty diaper to their stroller - not only can you identify your stroller it can ack as an easy deterrant for people to take it.

For the person who had her stroller stolen and then the culprit denied it...you can place your name on an unobvious spot of the stroller. Find an area (underneath or hidden from plain site) and tape your name and other identifying mark there. So if it does get stolen or taken by mistake you can prove it's your stroller by just going to the "hidden" name tag.

You can't lock your stroller to a post or anything like that. But some people reccommend putting a small padlock on one of the front wheels. This way a CM can still move the stroller, but it will be useless for someone to take and use in the park.

You have to do what's comfortable for you. But I would say that with all the strollers at Disney the % that get stolen is probably small in comparison to those that don't.

 

[disneygirl29]

I have never taken a cheap-o stroller, but also never a really expensive either-- usually around $250 for my double stroller (although prices have come way down over the years). I have also never had a stroller stolen, although it has been moved and I have had to look for... and you start to think it is stolen and then you find it.

My thoughts we be to buy a less expensive (but not a cheap umbrella either, somethign still comfy) and sell it used when you get back. I have done this too! It usually ended up costing me about $40-50 out of pocket for a double jogger style!

The rentals are not comfy and those can easily get taken, b/c they all look alike.

As for the bike lock, great thought but not only not allowed, the time it would take locking and unlocking would be so much... not worth it!

I saw a post about a stroller swap, so now I am looking into it, doesn't look like one is going on now, but I am looking to start one for Dec 2008- and just have everyone pay $30 for a weeks use!

 

[mom2zandjsquared]

I have taken a lot of strollers to Disney over the years (say the past 10) that was the cheap-o kind all the way up to a Peg and Mac. I have yet to have a stroller stolen or hear of one being taken. PP story might be a rare case of a stroller thief. It is good to make it stand out and then say on our MAC we also put a tag underneath the seat that you couldn't really see for the JIC since this was around the stroller increase time and I got a little paranoid about it. My cousin has the Pooh Graco stroller and I swear whenever she parked it there must have been 50 others; I went to get it once and realized I was getting the wrong one but it looked the same since it had the same baby blanket on it (which was odd) but quickly realized and stopped and grabbed hers.

A lot of people will put the lock over the wheel but just remember you have to take time to do that.

 

[Narnia]

I'm bringing a peg p3 and either taking it in lines with her( disability) or locking it.

 

[delmar411]

You also have to be a bit aware when it comes to 'protecting' your stroller. There are specific places to leave your stroller and those places will have CM's organizing them pretty much non-stop. There is less chance of theft when someone is watching, yk?

 

[jalaine]

We're going for the first time in Dec. and I'm also trying to figure this one out. Our kids will be 9, 6, and 3. The youngest hasn't used a stroller for at least a year, but I've realized from everything I've read that he, at least, will need one. After seeing the rate increase for a double stroller now, I'd be more inclined to bring one ourselves, but I'm wondering if it's a huge pain to get on the busses and monorail????? We have a Maclaren umbrella stroller for him, but don't know if my 6 yr. old will need a ride now and then as well. I guess they could take turns? (Although the 9 yr. old is really the lazy one )Any help on the ease of bringing your own stroller??? Do airlines charge a fee to gate check? Anything else?

 

[chrismartinique]

just saying half the time you will find your stroller NOT where you left it. The CMs are constantly straightening and organizing strollers - you wouldn't believe how/where some people park them

 

[chrismartinique]

We're going for the first time in Dec. and I'm also trying to figure this one out. Our kids will be 9, 6, and 3. The youngest hasn't used a stroller for at least a year, but I've realized from everything I've read that he, at least, will need one. After seeing the rate increase for a double stroller now, I'd be more inclined to bring one ourselves, but I'm wondering if it's a huge pain to get on the busses and monorail????? We have a Maclaren umbrella stroller for him, but don't know if my 6 yr. old will need a ride now and then as well. I guess they could take turns? (Although the 9 yr. old is really the lazy one )Any help on the ease of bringing your own stroller??? Do airlines charge a fee to gate check? Anything else?

we brought our own in Nov 07 - there was no extra airline charge at that point. It was just o.k. on and off the buses - we made sure there was nothing on the bottom of it, so we could fold quickly and go. It is a bit of a pain, but I liked having my own stroller and my daughter slept in it every day.