Disney Parks Ban Smoking

As of May 1, 2019 smoking areas will no longer be present inside Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex or Downtown Disney District in California.

Designated smoking areas will be available outside the entrances of the areas listed above and at Disney Springs in Florida. For guests who have room or dining reservations, smoking areas are also available at Disney Resort hotels.

This rule includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and e-cigs. Thankfully we will no longer have to walk through clouds of second hand smoke as we walk by smoking areas. I love that e-cigs and vaping are also included. Walking through random vapor clouds has become a hassle in the parks.

This smoking ban will make it very difficult for smokers. They will have to exit the park to smoke. If you have smokers in your family or travel party, make sure they are aware of this new rule before you plan your trip.

Large Strollers and Wagons

Disney has reduced the size of stroller that is allowed in its theme parks. Large strollers are difficult to maneuver and can clog walkways throughout the parks. Beginning May 1, Disney is adjusting their guidelines on stroller sizes, which will require them to be no larger than 31″ (79cm) wide and 52″ (132cm) long. The good news – many strollers on the market, including many double jogging strollers, fit within these size guidelines. Wagons are not permitted in Disney parks. Beginning May 1, stroller wagons will also no longer be permitted.

If you’ve been a reader here for a while you know of my disdain for the sheer number of strollers at Walt Disney World, I wrote about it 4 years ago! I am glad they are lessening the size of the strollers and prohibiting the stroller wagons. While I know wagons have never been allowed in the parks, I have seen them there. I hope the new, stricter rules will be enforced not only at bag check and park entry but throughout the parks if someone slips through.

Loose and Dry Ice

Beginning immediately, loose ice and dry ice are no longer allowed in your coolers and cooler bags. Funny enough, this is the new rule that I have seen the most complaints over! Also, just a reminder that coolers, and other bags brought into the parks have a maximum size of 24″ x 15″ x 18″, though I have no idea why anyone would want to lug anything that big around the parks!

You can use reusable ice packs or regular ice in zippy bags. The problem with the ice is this-at bag check, security has to dig to the bottom of the ice to check for contraband. This takes time and freezes fingers. Also, dry ice is just dangerous.

I think all of these rules are great. I do feel that the fact that people were lugging that much ice into the parks is rather silly. Ice gets heavy! I agree food and drinks at Disney are overpriced and families need to find ways to save money. We also learned early on that lugging huge bags around the parks with us to save a few bucks just wasn’t worth it.

What are your thoughts? Are these new rules going to impact your next Disney vacation positively or negatively? Leave me a comment and thel me know your thoughts.

The post Disney Parks Ban Smoking, Large Strollers, and Loose Ice appeared first on The Mom Maven.

1. If your child is under the age of 3-bring a stroller from home.
2. If your child of any age has a documented medical issue, seen or unseen, this post is not about you or them.
3. I encourage friendly dialog but not nasty comments. I reserve the right to delete hurtful comments or close comments on this post if necessary.

This post is a log time coming. Yes, I am a mom and yes I have toured the parks with children in strollers. The opinions and information I am sharing here is how we handled strollers when our boys were young-and how I wish more parents would consider their stroller use at Walt Disney World.

Reasons why strollers are impractical at Walt Disney World

1. You spend more time parking strollers than the children do riding in them. Stroller parking isn’t outside each ride or attraction like it was in the old days. Now it is often in a large area by land or section of the park. You still have to walk from attraction to attraction without the stroller.
2. Parents pushing strollers are often too distracted by their surroundings to talk with their child or pay attention to the guest in front of them whose ankle they just rolled up on. Ouch!
3. Kids in strollers are too close to the ground to enjoy all of the beautiful sights and sounds around them. All they can see are legs.
4. Strollers end up full of stuff and not kids! Often 2/3 of the strollers at Disney World are filled with stuff people are lugging around the park and not the kids they were intended for.

My blanket rule for strollers at Disney is-once I have to pay for your admission you are old enough to walk. Yup, there, I said it. A 3 year old can walk through Disney. I know my rule seems strict to some of you so, let’s raise the age to 5. All healthy children over the age of 5 can walk their Disney vacation. I hear your gasps of indignation and your questions. Let me share my unscientific observations over the last 20 years of Disney vacations:

• Kids who walk expend energy and are less fidgety while standing in line.
• Kids who walk sleep better when they return to the hotel because they have exercised during the day.
• Kids who walk eat better at meal times because they are burning calories throughout the day.

How to go Stroller-less at Walt Disney World

Train Your Child:

Prolonged Walking-No child or adult is ready for all of the walking required of a Disney vacation. Before your Disney vacation planning begins, start training your child and yourself for extended walks. You can walk in your neighborhood or mall. Start small, work up to a half-day outing and finally a full day at a zoo or aquarium.

Hold Hands-From the first time your child walks with you in public teach them to hold hands with an adult. If they learn this from the beginning it isn’t difficult to do in the parks. The 8yo we often travel with still holds hands with one of the adults as we walk through the parks. Safety is important. Using a child leash is ok-but not if the parks are very crowded. I have seen more than one guest get tripped because they weren’t paying attention and walked between a child on a leash and the parent on the other end.

Breaks are Good not Punishment-Take breaks when needed. Sit on a bench, have a snack, people watch or enjoy the scenery.

Train Yourself:

What to Carry-Only pack essentials in your backpack diaper bag. You don’t need to lug every toy the child owns.

Stay on Schedule-Don’t skip nap schedules on vacation. Go back to the resort and enjoy nap time. The atttractions will all be there when you return and everyone will be happier because they got some rest.

Carry Your Child-Occasionally carry your child between attractions. The bond shared between a parent and child when they are being carried is an amazing thing.

When Aaron was 2 years old we visited the National Aquarium in Baltimore. We had his umbrella stroller with us. When we entered the aquarium they checked our stroller and loaned us a back child carrier, it was genius! They still do this today, almost 20 years later. They do it for a few reasons-the higher vantage point allows the child to see more of the exhibits, it is safer than allowing strollers on escalators and moving sidewalks. For years I have wished that Disney would encourage this same practice. I dream of a visit to Walt Disney World that isn’t cluttered by parked strollers and where I don’t get rammed by multiple strollers during my trip. Yes, it may sound selfish, but it is my vacation too and just once I’d like to return home without cuts on the backs of my ankles.

What is your opinion? Strollers at #Disney yay or nay?
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There is a lot more I could say on this subject but this post is already rather long. Let’s continue this discussion in the comments! Be nice

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