Sadly Stolen Strollers Do Happen at Disney—Here’s How to Avoid It Happening to You

Though Disney vacations are known to be full of magic and fun, there are sometimes still some not-so-magical things that will occasionally happen during your park day like stolen items. Many will opt to bring their own stroller to the parks for the most comfortable option for their child, but there is always a chance that these will be targeted and stolen when left in the stroller parking areas. Although this scenario is rare, it does still sometimes happen.

It can be especially devastating to lose a more expensive stroller, especially if you've stored essential items in it while you are away going on a ride. Thankfully, if you are bringing your own stroller to the parks, there are a few proactive measures you can take to prevent yours from getting taken.

We will cover some of our top tips below for preventing your stroller from getting stolen at Disney! These tips are based on our own personal experience and tips from our Mickey Visit readers.

Stolen Strollers at Disney

We debated whether to write this article because we never want to focus on any of the negative of the Disney Parks but felt compelled to share the below tips because though this is VERY UNCOMMON it does happen. The Disney Parks are like major cities with thousands of people walking down every pathway every single day. They are incredibly safe, but every once in a while something like a stroller filled with merchandise tempts someone.

Though we were motivated to write this post for those guests who come from outside cities, these tips are beneficial for all guests using strollers.

I always want to believe in the best of people, but it's also important to plan for the worst. Recently we spotted a stroller filled with brand new merchandise sitting outside an attraction. While it can be tempting to load up your stoller with all of your stuff, it's important to stay vigilant. You wouldn't abandon your full stroller at the airport and you really shouldn't do that at Disneyland or Disney World either.

Dress Up Your Stroller As Much as Possible

One of the best ways to prevent your stroller from getting stolen is to dress it up to be really “loud” so that it is extremely visible and identifiable. You can add ribbons or stickers, bedazzle it, add a personalized label with your last name, tie a balloon tightly to it, use brightly colored tape, or add lights so that it's illuminated at night—anything that will make it stand out as extremely personalized will deter a potential thief. Make sure that none of these decorations can be easily removed.

The louder and more over-the-top your decorations are, the less likely someone will try to take your stroller because it's so easily identifiable and spottable. In the Disneyland Facebook discussion group Disneyland Tips and Tricks–Your Questions Answered, user Kimberly Herman commented, “I got a free stroller off Facebook marketplace and blinged it out in a way that couldn't be quickly undone and it would stand out like a sore thumb if someone stole it but also totally fit in with the park. No one ever touched it or anything on it. I even accidently left my fanny pack hanging from the handle while on a ride.”

In addition to being one of the best ways to prevent your stroller from getting stolen, it can also be a fun activity to personalize your stroller to further lean into the Disney magic!

After you have dressed up your stroller, take a picture of your stroller so you can identify or show that photo to a Cast Member.

See If Your Stroller Was Really Stolen or Just Moved

READ MORE – The Disney Hug Rule Will Melt Your Heart—See What It Is!

If you return to where you left your stroller and realize it's not there, don't immediately panic!

It's important to know that sometimes your stroller may not be precisely in the spot where you left it because Cast Members may move it around to make more space. The most important thing is to make sure it is parked in a designated stroller parking zone so that it is not moved. If it isn't exactly where you parked it when you return to the parking area, look around and see if it may have been shifted around a bit. Cast Members will sometimes move strollers to make space and open up more spots for other strollers.

In the Facebook discussion group, user Brielle Paonessa commented, “We once had ours moved and panicked it was stolen. It was just moved, they must have tried to better make a path. It was a bit hard to find. Just something to be aware of.”

Lauren Blum shared her experience when she thought her stroller was stolen: “We never had an issue but I did have an AirTag hidden in it just incase. I thought it was stolen at one point because it was moved super far from where we left it but turns out a cast member just moved it. Without that AirTag I would have been looking for it for hours.”

While finding your stroller can be a challenge if it was moved, if you have it decorated uniquely as we mentioned above, it will be easier to spot in a group. You can also utilize our next tip below to see if your stroller is still nearby your location and has just been moved or if it's really been taken.

Use an AirTag in Your Stroller

Just in case your stroller is stolen at the parks, it's a good idea to be proactive and hide an AirTag (or Eufy alternative) in your stroller so that you can locate it. If you have an AirTag on your stroller, you can use the Find My app to see its location on the map if you get separated from it. Having an AirTag in your stroller can also help you determine whether or not it was just moved from where you left it by a Cast Member or stolen by someone. See best prices on AirTags here and best prices on Eufy trackers here.

Facebook users like Sarah Torres spoke to the usefulness of having an AirTag on their stroller: “We lost ours several times from it being moved. We had a bright yellow hat tied to the handle. We stuck an AirTag in it so we could find it easily in the sea of strollers and it saved us a lot of time.”

Facebook user Sheri Bond had a similar story: “We put an air tag on ours and it came in handy a few times. They didn’t move ours but they offered to park it and we didn’t know where it went. Few times coming off rides I used it too bc you exit on a different side. We found it quickly with the AirTag.”

If your stroller is stolen or accidentally taken, an AirTag can help you track down its location. Facebook user Bridget Sorensen shared her experience: “We were in Disneyland and DCA over the Easter holiday and the week following. We had an issue with our stroller that was tracked down by AirTag across the park (not moved by a CM) my sons bag with some medical stuff and his daily stuff, was stolen. We did get the stroller back though.”

While having an AirTag in your stroller will not prevent it from getting stolen, it's a good idea to put one in your stroller as a precautionary measure. It will help to give you more peace of mind and more easily locate your stroller if it gets separated from you for any reason.

Buy a Secondhand Stroller Before Your Trip

Thieves will often target nicer strollers that are in good condition to resell. If you want a stroller that is more comfortable than Disney's rental options but are worried about bringing an expensive stroller that could get stolen at the parks, another option is to buy a cheaper secondhand stroller before your trip. Just make sure the stroller is within Disney's size restrictions—nothing that is greater than 31″ (79 cm) in width and 52″ (132 cm) in length.

That way, you can still enjoy the advantages that come with having your own stroller (as you can use it to take your child between the parks and your hotel) without quite as much worry as you'd have about potentially losing lots of money with an expensive new stroller getting stolen.

Facebook user Tammy Haynes Nusz shared her wisdom for preventing stroller theft in the discussion: “Recommendation would be to get an inexpensive stroller and not keep valuables in it. We have never had an issue but we also don’t bring our very nice expensive stroller and leave a lot of things in it. Basic stuff that if it comes up missing, yes it is a hassle and frustrating, but also not going to ruin your trip. Get a tracker, that also helps. We also don’t ever park ours on the end. Less easy access.”

Facebook user Susan Garrett also shared her experience with a stolen stroller years ago and why she opts for a secondhand stroller: “20 years ago my stroller was stolen. Now I take my grand baby, in a secondhand stroller, knowing that there are people out there who can rob you blind and still sleep at night. Thats just facing reality, sad as it is. Locking is not recommended bc cast members have to move them sometimes.”

Don't Leave Valuables in Your Stroller

Even if you have protective measures in place like bright decorations and AirTags in your stroller, you won't want to leave any valuables or crucial items in your stroller. Your stroller could get stolen or the items could get stolen out of it, and this is not a risk to take.

Facebook user Jennifer Beans Meador shared, “I don’t lock the stroller wheels, but every time we park it – I look it over knowing anything we leave could be gone when we get back. Just don’t leave anything valuable. We left my sons mouse ears in the upper pouch once and someone stole those… must have had the same name (they were embroidered).”

Instead, for anything that you do not want to get lost or taken, like new souvenirs, favorite toys, essential medical supplies, etc. you'll want to consider storing them in a rental locker instead. You also never want to leave important items like your wallet or purse in your stroller when it's parked in case the whole thing gets taken.

While stolen strollers do happen at Disney, it is worth keeping in mind that it is a relatively uncommon occurrence. However, to be extra cautious and for peace of mind, it will pay off to consider these tips for preventing your stroller from getting stolen or more easily locating your stroller in a crowd.

If you are considering renting a stroller during your Disney trip, see our guides to stroller rentals at Disneyland and stroller rentals at Disney World for everything you need to know.

 READ MORE – Are You a Disney Snob? 9 Red Flags to Spot

There are several little luxuries and conveniences you can opt to spend money on that can elevate your Disney vacation, but if you find that you'll settle for nothing less than these things, you may be a “Disney snob.” See the 9 red flags to spot that may indicate you're a Disney snob! 

READ MORE – 10 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Hotels for Disneyland

We've seen first-time visitors make some completely avoidable mistakes when booking hotels for Disneyland that can end up costing them. See the 10 rookie mistakes to avoid when booking hotels for Disneyland so that you don't end up making any of these!