Wow...Outrage over Stroller Rental Price Increase...What's that About?

[LilGMom]

Am I too late to get some cookies, pie or cake?!?!?!

Heck, I'll even take right now.

 

[Woodcourt]

I am going to bite my tongue on the comments about young children at Disneyworld.

In all honesty, I am not happy about the stroller increase...we expect increases to come, and its a big one, but as most people are, contact Disney and share your opinion. Its the best we can do. I applaud all of you who are contacting the people that make decisions.

HOWEVER....I dont care and think people need to get over worrying about who is able or not able to walk or ride or who needs a stroller. If someone wants to buy a stroller to push their stuff around, or their two year old or their 8 year old...WHO CARES! Disney has weight limits not age limits. You dont know what the story is. Sure people abuse things, but they have to live with that.

If someone is struggling to walk the parks, whats wrong with them getting a scooter. Please tell me that there are more things to do at Disney than sit there and point out who should or shouldnt be in a stroller or on a scooter.

Seriously....walk around or just slow down and enjoy your vacation. We travel disney at least once a year with our VERY YOUNG children and sometimes without our young children. You can have fun regardless and its a vacation, so just relax and be patient!!!! Its a wonderful place to be and seeing other little ones smile makes me as happy as watching mine!

Disneyworld is the best vacation for small children and I dont complain when I see groups of teenagers or adults and wonder if they are too big for the carousel.

Just enjoy why you are there and have fun!

ALL OF THAT TO SAY:
Our most recent trip was in Sept. WE took our family and my parents and youngest brother (25). By day 3, both of my parents who have had a knee replacement and major back surgery decided to rent ecv and had a much better experience. We were there with our small children...Yes, 5,3 and almost 2. My mom cried at so many points because she said "Look at what Disney does, look at all of these families brought together. You dont see this anywhere else. Babies to grandparents."

I gotta agree with her. Our country and world has lost the importance of family and if you take a moment and look around, sure there are kids crying, heck I have seen grown ups crying and fighting...but its about families and people of all ages coming together!

ok...so maybe I couldnt keep my mouth shut...but not a DAY goes by that my kids 5,3 and 2 talk about going to Disneyworld.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Hey Gang

I am all for spirited debate but this thread is starting to break down into name calling and personal attacks - and that is only allowed if they are directed at Bawb (just kidding - I love Bob - go out to eat with him once a week - spend Christmas eve with him - whew, did I get those disclaimers in fast enough to stop the hate mail?).

Anyway, let's try to get this back on track and keep it to a thoughtful discussion and respect each others opinions.

I would hate to see this thread closed because of personal attacks.

Thanks
John

Sorry John

I agree, back to the thoughtful intelligent debate!

 

[CanadianGuy]

**And for the record, the French is touche with and accent agu over the final vowel.

Amy

Like so..

Touché !

Le Voila.

>> Finally gets use out of 7 years of French education <<

Knox

 

[amyhughes]

Like so..

Touché !

Le Voila.

>> Finally gets use out of 7 years of French education <<

Knox

Thanks Knox!!

 

[checkwriter]

I posted this on a related thread.

---------------

This whole thing is not about strollers. It's about hubris. To impose such a substantial price increase on a relatively low-cost item that directly affects Disney's smallest guests is nothing less than an insult. It is Disney holding up its four-fingered, white-gloved hand and extending the equivalent of a middle finger at its guests because it believes that those guests will just keep coming back for more. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

That is why people are so upset. We've been insulted, even if our kids are well past stroller age.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I posted this on a related thread.

---------------

This whole thing is not about strollers. It's about hubris. To impose such a substantial price increase on a relatively low-cost item that directly affects Disney's smallest guests is nothing less than an insult. It is Disney holding up its four-fingered, white-gloved hand and extending the equivalent of a middle finger at its guests because it believes that those guests will just keep coming back for more. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

That is why people are so upset. We've been insulted, even if our kids are well past stroller age.

Very well said!

Sadly, this is just how I feel about it.

 

[dolcezena]

I have to say, I really didn't get the "outrage" over the stroller debate until I read this thread! I do now - I didn't think anything could be worse than ChickenGate. (Which I also learned about after listening to the Podcast!)

I had to laugh out loud when I read the reference to the person who made the decision about increasing the price as "obviously child-free." I laughed because I'm (cheerfully) child-free & I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what a reasonable price would be for renting a stroller!!!! Heck, I have no clue what a stroller costs to buy, let alone rent! Seriously, if I took my niece to the parks, I would simply shrug & pay the $18. This is what child-free aunties do - we spend ridiculous amounts of money on our siblings' children because we have no concept of child care prices.

*Note to Self: See if over-indulged 2 y/o niece will fit in backpack, to avoid further stroller congestion*

**Second Note to Self: Investigate usage of term "ad hominem." Is it not odd that on two separate threads, (both in this forum) - from two "separate" people - both used the term, especially since most people would use the term "personal," instead? Is Latin (or should I say Latirn?) returning from the dead???? Curious**

 

[rotlex]

I posted this on a related thread.

---------------

This whole thing is not about strollers. It's about hubris. To impose such a substantial price increase on a relatively low-cost item that directly affects Disney's smallest guests is nothing less than an insult. It is Disney holding up its four-fingered, white-gloved hand and extending the equivalent of a middle finger at its guests because it believes that those guests will just keep coming back for more. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

That is why people are so upset. We've been insulted, even if our kids are well past stroller age.

This is EXACTLY how I feel regarding this. Well said!

 

[fav's=mets&mickey]

You know what this thread needs...not cookies...but pie...
who like pie...i know i do

let me get some

 

[fav's=mets&mickey]

To one and all,

Eventually, Disney is going to raise the price on something that is important to you. At that point, you will have a right to state what you wish in regards to that increase and the DIS is a wonderful forum to do just that, as long as you do so in accordance with the rules of this forum.

Using words such as stupid, lazy, fat, ingnorant, poor parenting etc moves the discussion no further ahead. As a matter of fact, it derails the discussion and makes it about something else entirely.

Just because the DIS Unplugged or the Unofficial Guide says something, it doesnt make it right or wrong. It makes it an opinion. You are welcome to agree or disagree. That is your perogative and you are welcome to state your agreement or disagreement, as long as you do it in accordance with the rules of the forum.

As for who needs a stroller, or a wheelchair, or an ECV....it's my belief that it's none of your business. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) backs me up on that. Whether you believe the person(s) have the need to use said conveyance.....you have no right to ask or penalize said person for using it. If the use of said conveyances bothers you or you feel that it infringes on your rights, then please write to your Congressman and don't bother Disney, as they are following the law.

Now...before you tell me that a stroller is not covered by the ADA...keep in mind that any conveyance used to transport someone with a disability is indeed covered. Disney has the right to decide which conveyances fit within their framework as far as safety is concerned. They have deemed strollers, wheelchairs and ECVs fit within that framework.

If this conversation is to continue, the rules of this forum must be followed or the thread will be closed.

Kevin

To both you and John.....my apology...........so let me just do this real quick .........now I'm back to good feelings.......once again bring on the PIE

 

[beachwarmer]

I have an idea....

There are used Disney stroller for sale on ebay for $29.00. ( I think they are AK ones) There are advertised as...

an actual used 100% working stroller that was rented to guests at the parks

How about everyone buy these used strollers at less than the price of a one day rental....and take these back to your resorts on the bus as a bit of a protest. These do fold flat so the imact would not be as great as the hard, blue Mk ones. This is still going to be a big impact on the buses. These are big strollers and why rent the exact same one for hundreds of dollars when you can get the same one for $29...and take it home too. Your children can ride like at Disney at home....keeping the magic alive. Or better yet, on the last day of your stay sell it like a ticket scalper at the main ticket plaza.....you could even make money on it.

Imagine when they start selling the MK ones as suplus....buy these, take them on the bus and they will need to load them just like the ECV's. Just imagine the double ones.....

This is the capitalist economy at work.

 

[wdwowner]

Saying this as nicely as possible, the last time i was there, my dh was in a wheel chair, and that alone was a nightmare on the bus system, add 20 strollers, and you are done for. Also, i dont think that i could carry my kids through the parks when they get tired, sure my youngest is only 44 lbs, but i dont know that i would be ok after all that. When we were there in October, we rented 2 doubles everyday, and i thought 18 was a bit much. i for one will be spending less time in the parks.

My wife and I just returned from WDW yesterday, it was almost impossible to get down Main Street with all of the strollers!! It was worse than going to Wrigley Field and trying to find a spot to stand during a rain delay!!!

I fully understand the wheel chairs and small strollers, but when you see fully loaded Hummer size strollers with tons of stuff hanging off of them you have to start thinking to yourself, "Do I really need to bring the entire dresser with me on vacation AND roll it around the parks for a week?" It makes me wonder if they left anything at home!

My parents brought us 5 kids to WDW many times, 3 year old and all and never needed a stroller, and never lost one of us. I think people need to be a little smarter in what they really need to bring with them to the parks.

 

[lugnut33]

I posted this on a related thread.

---------------

This whole thing is not about strollers. It's about hubris. To impose such a substantial price increase on a relatively low-cost item that directly affects Disney's smallest guests is nothing less than an insult. It is Disney holding up its four-fingered, white-gloved hand and extending the equivalent of a middle finger at its guests because it believes that those guests will just keep coming back for more. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

That is why people are so upset. We've been insulted, even if our kids are well past stroller age.

That's one reason why I'm seriously considering not buying into the DVC, because what happens if they decide to price me out of visiting WDW? I make good money, but at some point I will be priced out and I don't feel that is far away for me. I can't afford the Grand Floridian, and yet our household income is greater than 100K. Just look at the food prices, they are skyrocketing. Like you've pointed out, the huge stroller fee increase is just another way for the man to stick it to us.

 

[moepanz]

That's one reason why I'm seriously considering not buying into the DVC, because what happens if they decide to price me out of visiting WDW? I make good money, but at some point I will be priced out and I don't feel that is far away for me. I can't afford the Grand Floridian, and yet our household income is greater than 100K. Just look at the food prices, they are skyrocketing. Like you've pointed out, the huge stroller fee increase is just another way for the man to stick it to us.

We are in the same boat. We are now a family of 5 even as a family of 3 we could never pull of the GF. Heck the ASMu family suites were out of our price range. Even at 100K I still have to work part time to surive on Long Island. It is sad. Being a mother of twins plus one I find the stroller increase unfair to families of multiples. If I was to rent a stroller I would have no choice but to rent a double becuase I have twins and that is just not right that we would get hit so hard. Having twins was expensive enough.

 

[fakereadhed]

Regarding the increased use of strollers in the park, I have my own ideas on this. Our society has changed quite rapidly in the area of medicine since the park opened. People are living longer, getting artificial hips, preemies are being born earlier and living with more complications, there is an increase in autism, etc. Home medical care and devices to let people with medical issues lead a more active lifestyle are available. Maybe in the past, less people would be touring the parks due to their health. Heck, 12 years ago people who are now being seen in the doctors office would be in the hospital for a few days. Now if you are in the hospital for something not routine, you are on death's door. And as soon as someone is slightly able to have someone else care for them(or they need the bed in the hospital)that person is out the door. It is a different world now than in the 70's.

I have kids with disabilities. You would not know it to look at them, but they both require(ed)a stroller far past when people thought they needed them. If it wasn't for strollers, we wouldn't bother coming to WDW. I feel the same way about ECVs. There are a lot of them in the park, but I think in the past those folks would have stayed home and thought they couldn't make the trip. As people live longer and medicine improves saving people(a good thing!)but leaving them living with more issues, I think we will continue to see a rise in use of strollers, ECVs, and wheelchairs. That's just life.

 

[lugnut33]

That's a great point Fakeredhead.

 

[mikkiwikki]

Good response and no flames from me.

My issue with this is it is kind of the straw that breaks the camels back. Disney keeps tacking and increasing prices on this to the point where is has just gotten ridiculous.

I am as big as Disney fan as the next person, and there still is magic, but current management is doing everything they can to make the magic go away.

Don't get me wrong, Disney is a business and the goal is to make money ( in fact I am a stockholder with a decent amount of shares), but there is just a point where they are doing one thing and saying another.

Thanks drakethib - I'm a stockholder as well.
On the point of it getting ridiculous - I agree. I encourage all that feel that strongly - not to get the Disney strollers. I disagree on the point that a poster made (not you) that writing e-mails might be *more* effective than an actual decrease in stroller sales.

My husband and I were discussing this last evening, and we both agreed.

When Disney raised the prices of tickets...I'm sure many many people wrote to state their dissatisfaction. However, did Disney decrease its prices as a result? No. Has this tactic *ever* been effective as to the setting of prices at Disney? I truly don't know. Not being sarcastic here - I honestly would like to know?

My thought is that Disney floats a price out there, and after the complaining dies down (a month, maybe two), ultimately they look at sales. Did sales go up? Stay the same or reduce as a result of the price increase. I would like to believe they 'hear their customers' but I guess I more firmly believe they will use the "what the market will bear" rule when setting prices.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my OP.

As to some of the namecalling i have seen.... in one of my college debate classes, the first rule we learned was that namecalling was absolutely not allowed in a debate. It simply proves you don't have any facts to support your point.

I think the majority of Dis'ers are very lovely caring people who love Disney tremendously. Let's keep the magic alive and not be mean and nasty to one another.

 

[mikkiwikki]

My wife and I just returned from WDW yesterday, it was almost impossible to get down Main Street with all of the strollers!! It was worse than going to Wrigley Field and trying to find a spot to stand during a rain delay!!!

I fully understand the wheel chairs and small strollers, but when you see fully loaded Hummer size strollers with tons of stuff hanging off of them you have to start thinking to yourself, "Do I really need to bring the entire dresser with me on vacation AND roll it around the parks for a week?" It makes me wonder if they left anything at home!

My parents brought us 5 kids to WDW many times, 3 year old and all and never needed a stroller, and never lost one of us. I think people need to be a little smarter in what they really need to bring with them to the parks.

True - I went to the park without a stroller as a child.
I also walked to school Uphill BOTH WAYS everyday in the snow. Sorry couldnt resist.

Do strollers make babies more comfortable? yes.
Secondly - I think many parents feel like they paid a lot of money to get into the parks, and therefore, might be hoofing it for the day there, which as you may or may not remember, requires a lot of gear.

Seriously - This issue sounds more like an arguement against crowd levels. Maybe Disney should reduce the number of guests that can come into the park.

Again - if you think the park is too crowded. Don't take it out on the guests.
Disney sets the policy as too how many people can be safely let into the parks.

 

[mikkiwikki]

I posted this on a related thread.

---------------

This whole thing is not about strollers. It's about hubris. To impose such a substantial price increase on a relatively low-cost item that directly affects Disney's smallest guests is nothing less than an insult. It is Disney holding up its four-fingered, white-gloved hand and extending the equivalent of a middle finger at its guests because it believes that those guests will just keep coming back for more. "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

That is why people are so upset. We've been insulted, even if our kids are well past stroller age.

I totally get your point checkwriter. I do.

The important thing is how we respond to a slap in the face. You nailed it - will you say ...May I have another? Or will you say - enough. I'll be in the later group.

I do however, know transporting of the stollers on the bus - is a separate complication. I think the hundreds of umbrella/big stollers on the bus could be a real problem/safety issue. Actually I think the buses are pretty darn unsafe now! But maybe that is another topic.