No strollers allowed

We went to an aquarium in Cincinatti last Friday (9:30 am on a weekday) with our 14 month old twins and not quite 3 year old. Naturally, we took a stoller. When we got there, they told us we couldn't take a stroller in. Thank goodness I had my husband with me because there is no way I could have handled 3 toddlers by myself without a stroller. Even with my husband, it was very difficult. We had to each carry a baby and at the same time, chase our two year old. It made for an unpleasant trip. I felt they should have made an exception for us. Am i being ridiculous? They told us we could come back after 4:30 and bring our stroller. Well, we live over an hour a way, and with naps 4:30 isn't going to work. Have you experienced the no stroller rule with twins and how did you deal with it? Our girls weigh 28 pounds, so those Baby Bjorns aren't an option. I think our family has different needs with 3 toddlers and a stroller is necessary, am I wrong?

 

What I don't get is why would they allow a stroller after 4:30 and not before. I would have really made a fuss about that! That is totally rediculous!

 

The Baltimore Aquarium has the same rule (at least it did last year). We found this out after we arrived. We ended up checking the stroller and they gave us the carriers that go on the backs (the name escapes me right now). My husband carried my son who is quite heavy while I carried my daughter. We went through the aquarium then and then decided we would not be back until everyone can walk by themselves and listen. It will be a while for us.

 

I've never heard of that before. Did they say why?
I personally think it's a pretty dumb rule...what did they think you'd do, steal a shark and hide it in your stroller? I might have asked to speak to someone about making an exception. I can't imagine having to carry two babies and chase a toddler. How can that be enjoyable for anyone?

I'm trying to think of the thing a friend of mine bought...I think it's called a BabyHawk? She says she can carry her 4 year old daughter in it no problem and it doesn't strain her back. Maybe you could try something like that?

 

I have 3 toddlers (38 months and twins who are 29 months). Whenever I take them to amusement parks (we live near Sea World and the zoo) I get a disabled pass with special permission to take my stroller in to attractions. Granted, I am legally disabled, but nobody would guess it by looking at me. I am fully qualified for the handicap parking permit but I have NEVER in my life used my disabilities to get special privileges. The fact is, I would never be able to take them anywhere if I couldn't push them in a stroller. I would check with the visitor relations center, explain the situation (tell them that you are physically incapable of carrying two babies and keeping a two-year old under check) and see if you can get a handicapped pass. Frankly, as we all know, anytime you have 2 or more toddlers, you are definitely handicapped, at least to a certain degree!

 

I would have been very irritated. We went to Las Vegas to visit my in-laws when the kids were 6 months old. The Wynn hotel had just opened and my MIL and I decided we wanted to go see it and loaded the kids up, drove there and went to walk through the door when they said the don't allow strollers. The kids were alseep in their carriers and I didn't want to wake them so we left and went to the mall. I was really perturbed and annoyed, still am actually!!

 

There is a children's museum near us that has the same rule. The museum is designed for kids 2-8 years old, but we won't be able to go for quite awhile since I am not going to attempt it with two toddlers and an infant and no stroller (even if DH was there). A friend of mine that has been there said that she asked once and it had to do with the amount of space between exhibits. Visitors were getting increasingly frustrated by how crowded the place was because of the number of strollers. I can completely understand that, but then it might as well be geared towards older children. Since finding out about that rule, I've been careful to check all venues to make sure strollers are allowed. If they aren't, we just don't go.

Not long ago (before having my own kids), I remember being completely frustrated by strollers in public places. I had been run off sidewalks, clipped by tires and almost knocked over in a department store. I try to have good stroller ettiquette, but I can understand why some places (especially those not geared towards infants and toddlers) might have a ban on strollers.

-Catherine

edited to fix a silly spelling error!

 

Our local children's museum does not allow strollers either. DH and I were surprised by this rule the first time we went, but I can see why they have it (and why an aquarium might too). When it gets very crowded, it could become impossible for anyone to get around if all the families had strollers. It might even be a fire hazard.

It does seem a little unnecessary to have that rule on a weekday, unless it typically gets crowded at that time. I certainly would be upset if I got someplace with 3 toddlers and found I couldn't take the stroller in! It can't hurt to check with visitor relations or ask to see the clerk's manager, but they may not be able to make an exception.

 

QUOTE(amyamyv @ May 29 2007, 05:51 PM) [snapback]271795[/snapback]
I felt they should have made an exception for us. Am i being ridiculous? I think our family has different needs with 3 toddlers and a stroller is necessary, am I wrong?

They told us we could come back after 4:30 and bring our stroller.


If they are going to hold water with that rule, they can't go making exceptions all the time (and if someone saw you, they'd go make a stink). I don't get their reasoning, especially the after 4:30 part of it (school groups?), but I would imagine they had a valid one based on the amount of flak they'd get for instituting a rule like this. I do think a stroller is best in your situation, but to play devils advocate, the aquarium didn't decide to have 3 kids in however many years. Not knowing the situation or the aquarium, I think they should allow them period. It shouldn't be a case of making exceptions.

 

I find that ridiculous! Ours lets us in with it.....I would have left on principle! I can't stand that type of thing! :angry:

 

QUOTE(Carmen&Whit @ May 29 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]271805[/snapback]
The Baltimore Aquarium has the same rule (at least it did last year). We found this out after we arrived. We ended up checking the stroller and they gave us the carriers that go on the backs (the name escapes me right now). My husband carried my son who is quite heavy while I carried my daughter. We went through the aquarium then and then decided we would not be back until everyone can walk by themselves and listen. It will be a while for us.



Yikes, you are kidding me? I guess we won't be going to that aquarium anytime soon. I never would have thought that you couldn't bring a stroller in an aquarium. I was thinking it would be fun to go to the Baltimore Aquarium this summer, I guess not though.

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ May 29 2007, 02:37 PM) [snapback]271873[/snapback]
Yikes, you are kidding me? I guess we won't be going to that aquarium anytime soon. I never would have thought that you couldn't bring a stroller in an aquarium. I was thinking it would be fun to go to the Baltimore Aquarium this summer, I guess not though.


Nope, you have to check the strollers at "Stroller Check". This was last year but I cannot imagine it has changed. Of course, based on the configuration of the aquarium, it makes perfect sense. Of course, we went BK (before kids) and didn't think about it. It's amazing how much these little people change your lives (and thoughts).

 

I am guessing the after 4:30 thing is similar to amusement park type events where late entrance is much cheaper because the crowds have dwindled and the majority of the people have left for the day thus making more room and easier to manuever with strollers.

I don't think the number of children someone has is a reason for an exception to a rule that is obviously there for a reason.

 

We went to the aquarium when the twins were about 9 months old but we knew they would want to be able to see everything so we used our baby carriers. We are going on vacation in 2 weeks to San Antonio (were we are going to go to Seaworld and the riverwalk among a few things). Luckily for me I have 4 people to chase 2 toddlers but we will still take it with us but I can see why they wouldn't allow it. We have also used leashes to keep track of the girls. Maybe this would be a good option? I do know at our zoo that the reptile building doesn't allow stroller but it is too twisty to fit them thru.

 

QUOTE(Carmen&Whit @ May 29 2007, 01:55 PM) [snapback]271805[/snapback]
The Baltimore Aquarium has the same rule (at least it did last year). We found this out after we arrived. We ended up checking the stroller and they gave us the carriers that go on the backs (the name escapes me right now). My husband carried my son who is quite heavy while I carried my daughter. We went through the aquarium then and then decided we would not be back until everyone can walk by themselves and listen. It will be a while for us.


We were going to go to the Baltimore Aquarium yesterday, but my mom had looked at the website the night before and told me about the stroller issue. With my girls being 28 lbs each and Ainsley a relatively new walker, we thought this just ain't gonna work. We went to the zoo instead. I am so glad my mom checked the website, I would have just assumed strollers would be allowed. It's supposed to be for kids, right?

 

As much as the concept irritates me, I can understand the rule. Our local aquarium can get so crowded, that it is impossible to see the exhibits when someone is parking their stroller right in the front. And then if it is during the weekday and children are there for field trips, it can be quite crowded. When we go to crowded places like that, we don't even bother bringing the stroller anymore...but I can certainly understand how that would not be an option for larger families.

 

Wow, what a bummer to find that out! We have a small aquarium out here and thank goodness they do not have a similar rule.

 

Some of the indoor buildings at the National Zoo have a "no stroller" rule -- the most crowded ones. I can understand the rule, as I'm sure it can become a safety issue/fire hazard, but obviously that makes it more difficult to do some things for a few more years.

Of course the one time we went to an aquarium with the girls, after we took them out to look at an exhibit, they pitched a fit about going back in the strollers, so my husband and I ended up chasing them around while my parents pushed the empty strollers around.