Disney Gets Tough on Strollers and Smokers to Prep for Star Wars Crowds
Photo Credit: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is shown in this photo from April of 2016. Disney announced Thursday that it is restricting stroller sizes and banning smoking in parks starting May 1. Flickr / spablab
Skift Take
Disney is clearly awaiting a flood of visitors in the coming months, and high prices alone won't keep crowds in check. Now in-park smoking areas and extra-large strollers have to go.
Disney is fond of describing its soon-to-open Star Wars expansion as a place for "smugglers, traders, and adventurers" — not to mention an expected horde of visitors.
Some things that soon won't be welcome at its California and Florida parks: smokers and oversized strollers.
In a Disney Parks blog post Thursday, the entertainment giant announced a slew of changes that took aim at strollers, smoking areas, and — unexpectedly — ice. The new rules are meant to "provide a more enjoyable experience for everyone who visits by, among other things, easing guest flow and reducing congestion," according to a list of frequently asked questions. The new stroller and smoking rules go into effect May 1, while restrictions on ice went into effect immediately.
Robert Niles, founder and editor of Theme Park Insider, said in an email that Disneyland in California has framed the changes as part of what it's calling "Project Stardust" to increase capacity leading up to the opening of its
