PSA: Disney Is Banning Large Strollers From Its Parks

Dreaming of a Disney getaway with your family? Before you embark on the magical trip, make sure you check out its new rules regulating stroller sizes, which will be enforced beginning May 1.

This week, Disney announced large strollers will no longer be permitted inside all of its Florida and California theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Disneyland theme parks, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Downtown Disney. The ban was made in an effort to regulate crowd control leading up to the summer vacation season. The theme parks are also expected to see even more visitors this summer thanks to the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, which opens in California at the end of May and at Hollywood Studios in Florida at the end of August.

Don’t panic yet. Most strollers will still fit within the size restrictions. Only strollers greater than 31 inches (79 cm) in width and 52 inches (132 cm) in length will be prohibited, according to the new park rules. In addition to the stroller restrictions, Disney is also cracking down on smoking in the parks. Smoking will not be permitted inside the theme parks as of May 1, but guests can still smoke in designated areas outside park entry points and in smoking areas at Disney Resort hotels and Disney Springs. Also keep in mind Disneyland recently raised its ticket prices by 8 percent in anticipation of the opening of Star Wars.

If you’re gearing up for a Disney trip, hopefully the new restrictions won’t complicate things too much. The best advice? Plan ahead. Once you’ve checked your stroller’s measurements and are in the clear, map out your family’s trip in advance. Check out The Bump’s insider tips for visiting Disney with a toddler, including the best rides for kids who scare easily.