Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I think strollers are $8-$10 a day now, depending on whether you get a single or a double. The price went up a buck or two in the last couple of years, so I'm not sure if the $8-$10 is correct; it might be $10-$12 instead. Last I heard, you don't get a dollar refund anymore, either.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think the stroller prices at DLR went up about a month ago to either $11 or $12. Either way, if you're there for more than a day or two, it would probably be cheaper to get an umbrella stroller from Walmart and just leave it at the end of your trip. Sure, it's not the most environmentally friendly thing ever, but did you ever wonder what kind of chemicals they use to clean the strolelrs that get reused?
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^Seems to me, the time you need the stroller the most, is going from the park to your hotel. The umbrella is perfect for that. And just to show that I can be nasty,... Oh they clean the strollers when they're returned?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I would assume they at least hose them down at the end of the day for the big blue ones at WDW. Sicne the DLR ones are a mesh-ey fabric, I don't think they could be hosed as easily, and they probably use some sort of disinfectant wipes on them. But it also wouldn't surprise me too much if they got rid of cleaning them as part of the budget cuts.
Originally Posted By barboy /// if there was whining, the parents probably would've said get over it or we're going back to the hotel./// or smacked them silly right there on main St.
Originally Posted By barboy ///I am so tired of strollers, lazy people on scooters and screaming children/// welcome to the USA, Pal May I suggest a real vacation, free from those dregs..... how about Tokyo Dl and Disney Sea?
Originally Posted By barboy I have a theory as to why so many parents opt for strollers these days in the US: These parents collectively are so out of shape and/or older that towards the end of the Disney day they can't even carry the little one out. Years ago many dads and moms would carry their children out on their shoulders or hold them against their chests and let the little one sleep with arms around parental necks. Now these parents practically need a lift out of the parks themselves--- sheer collective laziness and/or being more elder at work here.
Originally Posted By dshyates I'm gonna go with fat and lazy people raising fat and lazy kids. Soon they will have stroller trailers for the ECVs. Then the giant parents can drive their clan around the park like a little train.
Originally Posted By fkurucz Strollers do come in very handy when the little ones need a nap. I am of course talking about those under the age of three. Back in the day we would take only a small "umbrella" stroller. Small, easy to maneuver, easy to carry onto some rides and no big loss if it was misplaced or stolen (which never happened). The rise of the scooter has taken me aback however. They seem to be everywhere these days. I also recall when the local grocery store maybe had one available for patrons. Now it seems like they have a small fleet of them at the store entrance. Now I can understand if someone has advanced emphysema or a bad hip. But otherwise wouldn't it be better to get some exercise? I'm a desk jockey and overweight, but I always look forward to a long day of walking at DL. The fun always helps me to forget the "chore" of walking.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<We just got online to find out what the park hours are for all the Disney Parks and learned that MNSSHP monday night is sold out. Looks like us and the other 8 million people will all be trying to get on the same rides tomorrow night. Its gotten to the point that unless you can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours or a special event MNSSHP your chances of touring the Magic Kingdom are nill. We plan on avoiding the MK the rest of our 8 day trip.>> It's a long holiday weekend for many folks, Tom. I'm pretty sure that's why MK is so jam-packed because I've heard from CMs (and friends who live in the area but don't work at Disney) that it hasn't been that busy of late. <<We did make our way over to Epcot last night ( since the MK is closing at 6pm each day now ).>> I didn't realize that. I thought they were closing at 7 and co-mingling party guests with day guests. <<Epcot is great, still my favorite park and with the stollers taking over the MK, probably the only park I visit now at WDW. Maybe I will take pictures of the fields of strollers for ya'll so you can see what I'm talking about. Its pretty bad when Fantacyland is covered with No Stroller Parking signs. Unfortunately, where ever you see a No Stroller Parking sign, that typically where the scooters are parked.>> I just posted about the stroller proliferation on another thread, but it really speaks to the whole fat, lazy American phenomenon. You simply don't find them at HKDL or DLP for the most part. (I'd assume TDL is like that as well too!) Kids walk. If they get tired they take breaks or parents will hold them for a bit. Not in the good, old, fat, lazy USA. You just can't imagine the difference until you see it. Same with ECVs and wheelchairs. Only the truly needy use them outside the states. I stay away from WDW at the busiest periods nowadays and I still see walkways literally clogged with a sea of strollers parked. I can't imagine what it's like at the MK at Easter, Christmas and July 4th. Nightmarish is a word that comes to mind. But Disney is making loads of $$$ renting the double-wides and the wheelchairs and the ECVs, so they have a vested interest in fat lazy Americans continuing their unhealthy ways.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun The one and only time we got a single stroller was when DS13 was 7 and DS9 was 3. We hated pushing it, finding it, and turning it!!! It was a great cup and package holder (They didn't do resort pick up then). 6 months later we went again and. everyone walked. Guess what -no one complained because there was no option. The down side was I had to carry my drink and we shopped on the way out of the park along with the rest of the guests. I think kids will do what is expected of them. If you have a stroller for them of course they will want to use it.There are always valid reasons to get one but too be lazy shouldn't be one.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I have a theory as to why so many parents opt for strollers these days in the US: These parents collectively are so out of shape and/or older that towards the end of the Disney day they can't even carry the little one out. Years ago many dads and moms would carry their children out on their shoulders or hold them against their chests and let the little one sleep with arms around parental necks. Now these parents practically need a lift out of the parks themselves--- sheer collective laziness and/or being more elder at work here.>> It isn't a theory ... it's a fact!
Originally Posted By barboy ///It isn't a theory ... it's a fact!/// Yep, people are seriously supersized and sloth-like here compared to 1975--- that is a fact. People in the US have uniformly grown big along with their obnoxiously large SUV's and double wide strollers. But what about my 'older parents' angle? Generally, people are having children later in life compared to the 50's, 60's and 70's. And the older we get the less energy we have, right. What I'm saying is that 'all things being eqal' statistically a 24 year old dad from 1968 should have more energy than the ubiquitous 38 year old dad here in 2008 thus he could/should be able to carry the little one, if needed.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<What I'm saying is that 'all things being eqal' statistically a 24 year old dad from 1968 should have more energy than the ubiquitous 38 year old dad here in 2008 thus he could/should be able to carry the little one, if needed.>> Chances are that the 1968 dad probably smoked. Still, youth and thinness always help. Also worth considering: back then fewer people had desk jobs. My dad was a tool and die maker, and he spent a lot of time on his feet.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<These parents collectively are so out of shape and/or older that towards the end of the Disney day they can't even carry the little one out. >> This just jogged a memory of mine from the early 90's. It was about 10:30 PM at DL and I was carrying my 4 year old daughter while in line for Mr. Toad (I should also mention that we also had a 1 year old in an umbrella stroller). She was dozing off so I mentioned that perhaps it was time to go home. Boy, did she perk up when she heard that! She wasn't going to have any of that! (she did conk out about 20 minutes later) But I have to admit that nearly 15 years later I wouldn't be so keen on carrying a 4 year old around in my arms (and I was way past 24 back then). Also, I recall that after we got back to the car, after changing the kids into their sleepers, they would be sound asleep before we got out of the parking lot. Ah, those were the days!
Originally Posted By barboy ///Chances are that the 1968 dad probably smoked/// LOL, good counter! Not that smoking is funny; it's just that I pretty much forgot all about the numerous smokers back then.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Right now WDW is packed. My party stood in line today for 110 minutes to ride Toy Story. And the strollers are everywhere even at Disney Hollywood Studios. I don't have a problem with people using strollers when they have small children. But its gotten way out of hand. And in my opinion, if I child can walk then they should be walking. What also annoys the heck out of me is that long ago Disney management took away the Skyway which would have been a great mode of transportation and just leave the walkways to the stoller and scooter crowd. My party spent last night with my sister and her husband ( we drove from Orlando to Ft Lauderdale (( a three hour drive )) to eat at Mai Kai a Tiki inspired lounge/ restaurant, easily the best part of this trip so far. Anyway, my sister and her husband said it took them and their children an hour dodging strollers just to make their way up Main Street this past saturday. They also shared the same complaints that the strollers have gotten way out of hand. I will take pictures and post them here. And the crowds are huge! I will take pics of the crowds and post them here as well. You folks that are use to DL ain't seen nothing like the crowds at WDW. And what is with running rides at half capacity? We went on the Great Movie Ride, the wait was 25 minutes and found that it was running at half capacity.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom And for the record, I was mistaken in a post earlier in this thread. The MK is open till 11 pm and 7 pm on night when they are having the MNSSHP. Well let me get ready for MNSSHP. Its raining, so I have to wear a raincoat. I was going to go as Bruce Vilanch. But since its raining off and on and I'm going to wear a rain coat, now I think I'm going to go as Paddington Bear.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris Tom - it's "FantaSyland", not "FantaCyland". Oh and character autographs should not be allowed PERIOD. It clogs up lines and what person wants a bored Anaheim/Orlando teenager's clumsy scrawl in their book anyway? It's just another was Disney makes money off sentimental/gullible rubes.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo TOm, I think you are experiening one of my chief issues with WDW. If they ran the attractions at capacity, had all the shops and restaurants open all the time (is the Mexican place El Pirate open?), had more streetmousphere and ran the parks for longer hours (inc DAK and no upcharge parties), maybe get rid of fastpass, then it would be much more pleasurable. Sadly that costs more. So they would rather get bodies in with free food for restaurants you cannot get reservations for. I would rather pay 100 more and get a quality product again.
