Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Miceage has posted some rather scary pictures of the new area that makes it appear like a nicely themed stroller parking lot.<< This is one of the things I don't like about certain sites/photographers who cover Disney and regularly try to drum up complaints. These photos are so manipulated-- you had to have gotten down in the midst of he strollers to do this. There had been much speculation that the area would be overwhelmed with strollers, but on opening day it didn't happen. They park them on the sidewalk outside on the hub, accessible by a dedicated bridge. Here is the LP photo of the exact same area, without the tricky angles to make it seem like there are nothing but strollers: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Showpic.asp?filename=http://s231432788.onlinehome.us/lotion/pics/SS20130313-DLFF/big/P04-1.JPG&caption=Stroller+parking%2C+as+seen+from+the+central+plaza%2E" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/S...plaza%2E</a> A few years ago, when someone else was posting photos and trying to make the case that the Big Thunder BBQ show was always deserted, I pointed out that they were clearly cropping out the guests in their photos. I then went in one day and took two photos less than two minutes apart. In one I made it look like the place was crowded, and in another that it was empty. I then took a wide shot that showed a modest crowd. It's all in choosing the angle...
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "This is one of the things I don't like about certain sites/photographers who cover Disney and regularly try to drum up complaints. These photos are so manipulated-- you had to have gotten down in the midst of he strollers to do this." I don't doubt that they do this Doug, however manipulated camera angles or not, I've noticed a dramatic difference in the number of strollers parked around the park on my last few visits compared to what I remember from years ago. There are defiantly more strollers than back then, and it's not just because there are more people. "Here is the LP photo of the exact same area, without the tricky angles to make it seem like there are nothing but strollers:" Honestly that doesn't really look much better.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think that the number of strollers in the parks is because of two factors. First of all, people are bringing their children at a younger age. If you look at photos of the park from the early years, it's tough to find anybody younger than about 10-12 years old. They just didn't go to the park. And when there are almost no babies/toddlers in the park, there are hardly any strollers. Obviously this trend has changed a lot since the 50's, but it seems like there really weren't a TON of really young kids in the park until the last couple decades. The other factor is that people tend to let much older children ride in a stoller at DL/WDW than they used to. Not-so-long-ago, children who were able to walk did just that. These days, it's quite common to see a 6 or 7 year old with a stroller. I understand that it's nice to have when the kid gets tired of walking, or to use as a storage bin for all of your family's stuff, but it's entirely unnessecary. So if you combine a big increase in the number of kids who are normally stroller-age, along with the a wider range of what is an acceptable age to ride around DL in a stroller, then you get many more strollers in the parks.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt I think you're right Ferret, and if my family had tried to put me in a stroller when I was 6 or 7 they would have had hell to pay. No way, no how was I going to be pushed around in a stroller at Disneyland "like a baby".
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Yeah, but it's starting to look like that may not actually be the case. I think the general consensus around here is that most of us are OK with that." Seems to be it's only Bellella who sees it as some great evil. She must've really really really loved those swing dancers.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I've noticed a dramatic difference in the number of strollers parked around the park on my last few visits...<< Oh, definitely! The incredible number that get parked around iasw is unbelievable. And I think that Ferret hit the nail on the head. Too many families would rather plop their able-bodied kids in a stroller than make them walk-- and take breaks as necessary. Mommy and daddy want to get in all their touring time these days. The point behind the Fantasy Faire pictures is that they did manage to accommodate the strollers without jamming the area. Look at the LP photos (in the article) and you can see that they are NOT filling up the area itself. I made a point of showing how this works and letting people draw their own conclusions.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance My daughter is a girly, girly too. I remember being so excited when we went to Disneyland, and I bought her her choice of princess dress, (Cinderella), she just was SO excited to wear it at the park, and I was excited that she was excited, it was just a merry time. I forked over the cash for the dress (probably like 50-60 bucks worth), we put it on in the changing room, started walking around, and what does she say 5 minutes later? "It's itchy, take it off." It's still hanging in her closet, I'm going to make her keep that thing hanging in her closet for all eternity!!!
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance And as for the stroller thing, I agree that wayyyy more parents are bringing younger kids/babies to the park than ever before. And you just can't bring a baby or a young child to the park without a stroller. It just won't work. They get SOOOO exhausted with so much walking. Temper tantrums would be as abundant as the strollers if there wasn't a way for them to relax and sit down. The next time we go, it'll be the first time both of my kids are old enough that I won't need to bring a stroller. It's too bad that it has to crowd the park up so bad though.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Lol, Constance! I made my stepdaughter wear a t-shirt under her dress, because I new from past Halloween experiences that there was no way she could go all day with one of those against her skin. She was fine with that, but I still don't think she has forgiven me for making her wear her tennis shoes with it, instead of the dress-up high heels that matched the costume. She will hold that against me for all time
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "The other factor is that people tend to let much older children ride in a stoller at DL/WDW than they used to. Not-so-long-ago, children who were able to walk did just that. These days, it's quite common to see a 6 or 7 year old with a stroller. I understand that it's nice to have when the kid gets tired of walking, or to use as a storage bin for all of your family's stuff, but it's entirely unnessecary." "And I think that Ferret hit the nail on the head. Too many families would rather plop their able-bodied kids in a stroller than make them walk-- and take breaks as necessary. Mommy and daddy want to get in all their touring time these days." I think it's easy to have these kinds of attitudes when you've never had to deal with younger children on a multi-thousand dollar vacation which you've had to save all year to afford, and had very limited time to see and do everything everyone wants to do. And you have to try and keep everyone comfortable and not exhausted so everyone can actually have a fun time. First time my daughter was 2.5. She was our only child at the time so we went without a stroller, it was easier because she was our only focus. Next time she was 4 and my son was 8 months. Only my son rode in it (mostly) and I don't care how slow we took it, there was no way to carry an 8 month chubby baby all day in the heat! Plus a stroller provides some sun protection. Then my son was 1.5 and my daughter was 5. Again, not happening carrying a 1.5 year old around, and you can't let him walk around much, it's too easy for him to run off at that age, and too many people for him to run into or cut off. Last time my son was 3, and daughter was 7. Only my son rode in it, and it just made things so much easier when he was getting tired and wanted to lay down to let him ride in the stroller. It's actually probably just as relaxing for me, because I know he's safe, able to relax, and I don't have to go out of my mind chasing or looking every second for him to make sure he's not drifting away. Next time I won't need one. But just because I needed it in the past, doesn't mean I'm evil, or allow my kids to be lazy, or that I like to crowd up the park. It was just a tool that enabled my family to enjoy that parks all together. Vacations to DL are a huge deal for us, we can't go every other week, or month, or sometimes even every year, we have to save a long time to be able to afford to go, and I honestly feel like it would have been nearly impossible without a stroller.
Originally Posted By Manfried I think the magic age is 3 to 4 years old. When my nieces and nephews were getting to be that age, I would make a judgement call on their size and if I felt they could walk it, no stroller. Sadly, many parents do not make their kids walk as they get older like they should. Too many parents baby their kids when they are well past needing to baby them. To me that means the parents are the babies. What also doesn't help is people feeling they need to carry so much stuff into the parks, so they use the strollers for hauling an entire supply of everything they might possibly need for a two-week vacation in that stroller.
Originally Posted By DlandDug CC, I have no issue with kids in strollers. I do have issue with big kids (5-6 and over) in strollers. And I have major issues with parents who will take those kids through the park in a stroller rather than be sensible and take a break for a snack and a nap back at the hotel or under a tree somewhere. You've seen them-- the sullen, tired child who has clearly been pushed past endurance because mommy and daddy want to get in maximum touring time. So rather than accommodate the child, they push them around in a stroller.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I have accompanied friends with youngsters, and am willing to take breaks with the youngest members of the party as needed. Not everyone has that luxury, I realize.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance There is no way we could ever go a full day at the parks without taking a multi-hour break back at the hotel, to swim, and relax. Not only do my kids need it, but my husband demands it!
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance "Lol, Constance! I made my stepdaughter wear a t-shirt under her dress, because I new from past Halloween experiences that there was no way she could go all day with one of those against her skin. She was fine with that, but I still don't think she has forgiven me for making her wear her tennis shoes with it, instead of the dress-up high heels that matched the costume. She will hold that against me for all time " I totally did the t-shirt trick from that day on! She's tried getting me to let her wear the whole dress up heels too, but I was having none of that. She'd make it 20 feet and I'd have to carry her the rest of the day
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Constance, it sounds like you guys were using the stroller in a very sensible way, and I have no problem with that. I'm really impressed that you were able to do a trip with a 2.5 year old, and not need a stroller, but I guess it probably is easier when there's only one kid for two parents. >>...I still don't think she has forgiven me for making her wear her tennis shoes with it, instead of the dress-up high heels that matched the costume.<< Reminds me of the epidsode of Modern Family where they're in DL, and they give Lily some high heels to keep her from running away all the time. : ) >>And I have major issues with parents who will take those kids through the park in a stroller rather than be sensible and take a break for a snack and a nap back at the hotel or under a tree somewhere.<< One of my family's favorite DL stories is when my older brother was about 3-4, it became that *magical* time in the afternoon where everybody is hot and tired and cranky. Instead of the usual meltdowns that you see kids having, as their parents drag them out of the park to go take a nap at the hotel, he was the one in the middle of the park crying hysterically, yelling between deep breaths "I...need...a nap!" Quite the opposite of every other kid his age. That line manages to come up at nearly every family function whenever someone starts looking tired. : )
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Another part of it, I think, is that back in the day, strollers used to be fairly simple, fairly small things. Now, half of them are these extrawide turbo 3000 models that seem to be as much about storage space as they are about wheeling around the kid.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance The worse part about having a stroller is having to collapse it to ride the train, which means anything you are carrying in the stroller has to come out before it'll collapse, so not only do you have do hang on to the kid, but all the stuff you had in the stroller which can be a lot when you have an infant in the parks with diapers, formula, etc. What a nightmare.
