Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies banned wagon strollers, but recently decided to walk back that rule after a lot of pushback.

What is a Wagon Stroller?

A wagon stroller is exactly what it sounds like, a stroller that looks like a wagon.  Usually, they can seat 2 or more kids and have safety features that you'd find in a stroller, like five-point harnesses.  They also have a handle like a stroller, so you push it rather than pull it.

What's the Deal With Wagon Strollers?

If you aren't a parent of a little one right now, you may not totally get the hype of a wagon stroller.  When I had my son, I thought wagon strollers just looked ridiculous.  I felt like they were overpriced cloth wagons that would take up too much room in my garage.  However, when I had my daughter, that all changed.

My son never really cared much for a stroller, so once he got a little bit more independent, he would flat out refuse to ride in a stroller.  But a wagon stroller?  Count him in, he loves it! I think it's because he feels like he's riding in well, a wagon.

In the photo below, you can see Riley pushing a lawn mower down the sidewalk, and Layla's little foot as she's harnessed into the stroller.  It's nice because inevitably, when Riley gets tired of running with the lawnmower, I can fit both him and the lawnmower into the wagon. As you can tell, this is something that happens often.

My only issue with the wagon stroller is that it's a bit cumbersome to pack around.  But besides that, both of my kids love it. I can buckle Layla in, and she loves to look around as we go for walks.  Riley likes that he can have the freedom to hop in and out whenever he wants, and I love that I can easily fit everything from the diaper bag to extra toys, blankets, and of course, the kids, so it's super convenient.

People take these strollers VERY seriously, too, and recently Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies had to roll back their wagon stroller rule for this very reason.

Can You Bring Wagon Strollers Into Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies?

Yes! You can now bring these big strollers into the aquarium with you when you visit Gatlinburg. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies shared the rollback of the wagon stroller ban on Facebook with a rather humorous post: 

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We tried to ban wagon strollers. We really thought it made sense. We were wrong.

We underestimated just how much a wagon stroller can be the saving grace for a parent carrying a tired toddler, juice boxes, and enough snacks to survive a midday meltdown. And honestly? That’s on us.