when using stroller how do you protect your cooler & items when on rides??

[tami82]

We will be bringing an umbrella stroller with us for our 5 year old. I dont plan on using it the whole time but figured it would come in handy if my daughter has a low blood sugar and starts to feel weak (she has Type 1 diabetes). Should we just park it in the middle of the park with the rest of the strollers or do we just stroll it along with us. Also how do we bring a small cooler and keep these items together while on rides so no one steals them (it wouldnt be the end of the world but how do you protect your items? Should i park and put some kind of small covering over the stroller? What does the average person do?

 

[riley2008]

Considering myself a somewhat "average" person, we pushed the strollers with us to whatever section of the park we were and just parked it until we needed it. Sometimes for 10 minutes, sometimes parked for several hours.

I didn't put a cover over it or anything special. The only thing I did was put snacks and "supplies" in the basket underneath. The boys left their sprayers and thermoses in their seats. No problems.

I did drape a rain poncho over it a couple of times when there was a rain threat. The ponchos were bright blue and orange - that made the stroller easy to spot when we came out.

 

[LovesTimone]

When my DD was little we just took the stroller all over the parks. I preferred a
heavier stroller so that if she fell asleep we could lay it back so she would be more comfortable. In all the years going I never once had anything taken. the poncho over the stroller work well, kept everything nice and dry.

 

[liznboys]

You can just stroll it along with you, there are stroller parking areas all over the parks.

Make sure you mark your stroller somehow so it looks different than the rest. I have lime green bandanas tied onto each of my stroller handles. I have a lime green luggage tag (the kind that slide in and out) on it with our last name and cell phone number. I have our last name written on the bottom of the stroller itself (on a flat, silver bar) in black permanent marker. And the first letter of our last name is written on the canopy. I think there are some stickers stuck on it in different places too... It's been on several WDW trips and things keep getting added to it. lol

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

Yes, it's pretty save. We found most of the "stroller parking" areas had someone from Disney there. Not that that will prevent anyone from taking something if they wanted, but it's nice to know someone is watching a bit. Just be prepared for it to not be exactly where you left it, the Disney people move them around. They'll still be in the area you parked it, but not always the exact same spot, that's given some minor terrors more than once to us! :> But never any trouble...

 

[Aliceacc]

Don't leave anything of value in the stroller. Water bottles are fine; insulin is not.

Many of the rides have "stroller parking lots" nearby. I tied a bright bandanna onto the handle of ours and it was alwasy easy to spot. I also covered it with a bright orange poncho every time; in August it's not uncommon for a sudden rain shower to pop up.

 

[3_disprincesses]

It the cooler is for meds/insulin you will need at timed parts of the day, what about renting a locker. Of course that's a bad idea if it's for meds/insulin you could need for an emergency.

 

[disney*mom*82]

Every trip we have take to DIsney we have had a stroller. That said, we dont usually do anything too special. We keep it parked within designated parking areas with the breaks on and as many have said, put stroller cover over it in case of rain. I always take my camera bag and anything else that is of value. If you need to have insulin with you, maybe look into getting one of those little insulated bags, maybe even a small lunch tote to take along with you on rides, Ide hate for it to disappear and what if you need it in one of the long wait lines. Just something I might do. GL and have fun!

 

[tami82]

thanks so much for the helpful info! I will definitely have to buy a bandana of some type and a small cover to go over the stroller (which will be great to hide the few things i keep in there and for the possible rain).
As far as any diabetes supplies we may keep a few things with first aid station but my daughter is on the pump so we wont have to carry too many things with us but the emergency items.

 

[Aliceacc]

When is your trip?

 

[tami82]

We are leaving in 18 days

 

[tami82]

I see you are leaving in 4 days, have a great time!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Thanks, you too.

Hit either Walmart or the dollar store and stock up on cheapo ponchos. This time of year, it tends to rain almost every afternoon for a few minutes. The good thing is that lots of people take cover, but unless there's lightening nothing stops. So it can greatly decrease the lines!!! And get a brightly colored one for the stroller-- last year our orange one really stood out!!!

 

[tami82]

thanks for the tip! I did go last week to Walmart and stocked up on a bunch of the 88cent ponchos. I also bought a better one that came with a carrying case & i have a few better quality colored ones i bought for the kids last year which i will use one for the stroller. Thats a great idea!

 

[jennc27]

We leave in 6 days for our trip and today I went to Wal-Mart and bought a kit that has a rain cover, net cover, links (it attaches to the handle so you can hang stuff from it), and a mesh bag and it the kit was $16. We also bought a bike lock for $4. We are going to run it through the wheels so it can not be stollen. After reading this thread I am also going to use it to lock our small cooler and any bags we have to the stroller.

Thanks for the great advice everyone!

 

[tami82]

good idea about the lock for the cooler!

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

I agree...I'd use a lock for the cooler or a bag maybe, but since CM's move stroller quite often, locking hte wheels or stroller ot something wouldn't be a good idea.

 

[Olivia'sMom]

I agree...I'd use a lock for the cooler or a bag maybe, but since CM's move stroller quite often, locking hte wheels or stroller ot something wouldn't be a good idea.

Not only that but I think that is such a waste of time. We would spend most of our day locking and unlocking. We have been going for 3 years now with a stroller and have even left things of value (not on purpose of course) and nothing has ever come up missing. Also you have to think of the poor CM that have to move the strollers they will have to pick them up instead of push them place.

 

[jennc27]

I agree...I'd use a lock for the cooler or a bag maybe, but since CM's move stroller quite often, locking hte wheels or stroller ot something wouldn't be a good idea.

Thanks for that tip. I had not thought about the CM's needing to move the stroller. That's why I love coming here I learn so much! On another thread I had read that I could not lock the stroller to something and they had suggested the bike lock on the wheels. I guess I will need to do some brain storming! Anyone have any good ideals?