Strollers: I know they won't go away, but I wish they would.

Strollers are a big issue for my wife and I while at Walt Disney World.  In fact strollers are the reason behind the creation of wdwetiquetteguy.  I don't think there is any other device meant to provide convenience and comfort that can also cause so many headaches.   Maybe these next few paragraphs can put an end to some of those headaches.

Strollers are as common at Walt Disney World as Mickey Ears, and rightfully so.  Walt Disney World is a place that the whole family, young and old, can enjoy.  That's the way Walt intended it.   It was Walt, while watching his daughters on a carousel in Griffith Park, that thought up the idea of a place that the entire family could have fun together.  That vision created Disneyland and then Walt Disney World.

 Many times those families includes toddlers that require the use of strollers.  Those strollers can be lifesavers for both the tired legs of the kids and the backs and arms of the parents.  Unfortunately those strollers can also cause problems for everyone around them.

Transportation around WDW property is usually the first place my stroller aggravation starts to show.   Every bus, boat, or monorail stop on property is positioned in a way that you can see the transport coming for some time.  It never fails that we get stuck behind the family that pushes there buggy all the way through the line and to the door of the transport BEFORE they take their child out and fold up the cart.  Then when it is time to unload they feel the need to unfold the stroller and load their child directly in front of the door, blocking the rest of the people who want to exit.   This laziness holds up everyone behind them.  It's especially fun at night when everyone just wants to get back to their rooms.

Once we are in the parks, strollers become a whole new frustration.  It's when those things get into crowds of people that they become cruise missiles homing in on unsuspecting ankles, toes, shins and the like.   I've been bumped into and rolled over so many times that I'm considering suiting up in shin guards and steel toe boots next time I head into the parks.

When did strollers grow to the size of sedans?  I'm amazed at this expansion.  These things have everything now.  Convertible tops, cup holders, foot rests, hand breaks etc.!  I've seen compact cars smaller than most of these things.  Not the ideal  thing to try to maneuver through large crowds.

These massive things come with another problem.  This goes back to  WDW transportation.  First, those things take more actions to fold up than those robots that change to cars in the movies.  Second, once you do get them folded up they're STILL huge.  Usually taking up a couple of seats or completely blocking the aisle on the transport.  Of course this is if you can even get it folded up.  It seems I see a lot of people who push the weight limits of there carts.  Not with children, but with souvenirs, backpacks, coolers, etc.  Strollers are becoming the pack mules of the parks.

All these problems can be easily solved.  Parents of young kids, listen up.  

First, when you're waiting for Disney transportation have your children ready to get out of the stroller.  When you see the bus, boat, etc. pulling up, get your children out and fold up your strollers.  This way you can load the transport quickly.  Don't wait until you get to the door to unload and fold.  When it's time to get off of the transport, step off and to the side to unfold your stroller and load your child.

Second, when you're pushing your stroller around property and through the crowds, be aware of your surroundings.  Try not to suddenly stop and swing it around into the passers by.  This will also keep strangers from falling over your children.  Always a plus!

Finally, you can make it through your vacation without your massive stroller.  Think small and light.  There are a lot of small strollers on the market that still provide the child plenty of comfort.  Trust me, there is enough going on at WDW that your kids won't notice that they aren't riding in the style they are used to.  Try to avoid overloading your cart too.   Small and light single seat strollers will make it easier to get through the crowds, and easier to fold up and carry on to WDW transportation.  These will keep your kids happy and you from busting your butt trying to lug those giants around.

Just a couple of tips from the wdwetiquetteguy.

And if you're heading to the parks soon, remember,  play nice.

Who is wdwetiquetteguy

I have to admit up until 2007 I wasn't a Disney nut like I am today.  I mean I knew the characters and I liked to moves ok, but I wasn't consumed with it like I am now.

It all started with a trip my wife and I took in early May of 2007.  At the time we had been married for roughly 7 months.  At the time we were building a house and we knew that when our first anniversary came around we would probably be either working on it or moving in.  We decided to go to Walt Disney World and an early anniversary trip.

At the time I had only been there for a few days when I was 11 years old.  My wife had spent even less time there than I had.  But we heard from friends and family that is was a fun place to visit and the people there would take good care of us.  So we booked a week at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Now I'm the type of person who wants to consume as much information as I can about the place I'm visiting before I go.   I began to scour the internet and reading books researching the vacation kingdom.  I was amazed at the amount of detail they put into building that little resort in some central Florida swamp land.  Disney was setting it's hook.

That first trip did it for me.   I was hooked.  We returned a few months later for Christmas and several trips since them.  I've bought into DVC. I've made good friends who share my obsession. I know entirely to much trivia about every park.  I even got mentioned in a book about Walt Disney World.  It's safe to say that WDW has become more than just a place to take a vacation for me.

Several trips back my wife and I caught ourselves pointing out the "rookies" on property.  The families to didn't plan properly.  Or the ones who think they can do it all in there week at the parks.  Or the ones who are simply overwhelmed by everything Walt Disney World has to offer.   We saw so much of this that I started a twitter feed called @wdwetiquetteguy.  I would post little, or big mistakes we saw people making.  Part poking fun, part venting my frustration, all in good fun though.

I figured I would start this little blog to expand on some of those tweets.   If you are a WDW fan I think you will understand most of what I'm talking about.  If you happened to stumble upon this while planning a trip to WDW maybe one of my future posts will save you some head aches on your vacation.

All in all I hope you enjoy any future posts here and remember if you are heading to the parks soon, play nice.

wdwetiquetteguy

Awesome Potato Soup

Here's my potato soup recipe.  I've gotten several requests for it, so here ya go.

You're gonna need

10 pounds of potatoes
1 large onion
3 to 4 cloves of garlic
2 pounds of bacon
8 cups of shredded cheddar cheese I use sharp cheddar
1 large can of chicken broth
milk
butter
salt and pepper to taste

Start out like you are making mashed potatoes  Peel and cut approximately 7 pounds of the potatoes.  Add the potatoes to your pot.  Add salt and water and boil them until they are fork tender.

While you are boiling the potatoes cut the bacon into 1 inch pieces and fry in a large skillet.

When your bacon is done to your liking, spoon it out with a slotted spoon and let it drain on a paper towel. Leave the bacon grease in the pan.

Mince the garlic and chop the onions into small pieces.  Add the onion and garlic to the  hot bacon grease and cook until they are slightly browned.

Spoon the onion and garlic mixture out of the grease and let drain on a paper towel.

Drain you potatoes and add them pack into the pot.  Add salt pepper butter and milk, mash.  Your goal is to add enough milk to make runny mashed potatoes.

Add the chicken broth and the onion mixture, stir to completely combine and bring the pot to boil stirring often.

When the soup is boiling, reduce the heat and add the cheese.  Stir to completely melt the cheese.

This is optional put at this point I take a stick blender and completely smooth out the soup.  This will ensure  there is not clumps of cheese and the onions will be dissolved in the soup.

Once the soup is blended smooth add the bacon back in.  Stir, cover and let cook over medium heat.

Peel the remaining potatoes and cut them into bite size pieces.  Dump the uncooked pieces into the soup.  Stir and let cook on medium heat until the potatoes are cooked. Salt and pepper to taste.

Occasionally stir the soup as you are cooking it.  Letting it simmer for a few hours will give you the best results.

Warning:  This makes a large pot of soup.  If you don't have a big family, or plan on eating this for a week you may want to cut this recipe down.

Enjoy

wdwetiquetteguy