A bad situation occurred at MGM...

[kinntj]

Giving your child a misting fan in a crowd like that to begin with is a bad idea. You never know who is around you and what they can tolerate.

I'm not defending the guys reaction, that was totally wrong to yell at a child. That would have scared the bajesers out of me as a little kid. I'm so sorry your son had to witness that.

Hopefully, you won't have to encounter another person like that again while on vacation.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

I am siding with the nuts too.

Because I can remember ONE TOO MANY TIMES sitting in a very crowded area at different parks and being misted by a kid playing with a fan (and it was evening time once and FREEZING) as well as being kicked in the back of my chair over and over and over... And I sat and gritted my teeth and just beared it because the PARENTS should have been the one speaking to their child- not me. PARENTS shouldn't allow their kids to kick the chair in front of them NOR should they allow them to play with misters during shows. As a parent of THREE, I keep an eye on each of them- even when sitting down to watch a show- and I will correct them if they are doing anything that may disturb the people around them.

KIDS are not the only ones who should be able to enjoy WDW or DL or SeaWorld or any other of these places. ADULTS paid to go in- they should be allowed to enjoy the shows/rides/etc, too- without being bothered incessantly by someone else's child.

So yes, he was wrong with shouting- he could have politely requested you remove the mister from said child. However, I cannot fathom a parent allowing a child to play with a mister amongst a whole crowd of individuals where the same people will get hit repeatedly as they sit to watch a show.

 

[kelscross]

I don't think I've read one person say that the man was justified in screaming at the child. Instead, people have said that they believe he was justified in being upset about being misted. Two completely different sentiments.

Could both parties have handled the situation better? I absolutely think so.

"Shoulds" that I see here for a happier ending and no DIS thread...(I'm probably missing some)
--the child SHOULD NOT have misted the man (probably SHOULD NOT have been playing with the mister in a crowded show at all)
--the man SHOULD NOT have yelled at the child. A simple, "please stop squirting me" SHOULD have sufficed.
--the parents or child SHOULD have apologized. The mister SHOULD have been removed from the child. (I believe it was.)

Unfortunately, bad behavior begets bad behavior. Let's all try to remember this thread next time somebody annoys us out in public.

Not jumping on the OP...but I agree.

I had a problem at EPCOT with a small child hitting me repeatedly in the back with the masks on sticks they make. It wasn't just "little accidents" the child was wailing on me and enjoying it. The mother was completely oblivious to the situation so I did turn around and tell the child firmly but nicely "You're hurting me so stop that." The mother didn't even apologize she actually gave me a dirty look for telling her child that. I understand kids are kids, mine are far from perfect, but if they even unintentionally hit someone or sprayed or bumped I make sure they apologize.

 

[Vickie46]

I got sprayed by kids playing with it too.. but I just ignored it.. who cares.. I am in Disney.. I think the spray bottle was a gift.. man those were so nice this past trip!

 

[mama4]

Wow- I can't believe this thread. Usually, I will read through a thread like this and see little points on each side and occasionally I'll be persuaded to change my original opinion. This time, I'm not budging in my belief that this man was WRONG to yell at the child. Period. No time, no way, no excuses. IMO, there are a few acts that may be worth yelling at your own child or a child in your care for (life or health threatening acts maybe) but a water mister!!!??? Clearly the man was aggravated and took it out on the child. Should the parents have apologized- I'd be closer to calling security than I would to apologizing. He yelled at the child and lost the right to an apology in my eyes. I DID NOT get the impression the OP was carelessly letting the child play with the mister anyway. Whether they have 1 child or 10 children, you CAN NOT keep everything from happening at every second of everyday. There are going to be times that your child picks up the mister and sprays it before you get it out of their hands or even realize they have it. It happens. WE AREN"T PERFECT! Should the child have apologized?? Are you kidding me? Maybe this child isn't used to having a 6 foot tall man yell at him. He probably couldn't have spoken if he'd wanted to. Ideally , the man should've said something like "excuse me- your child has sprayed me with that mister fan a couple of times. Could you please make sure it doesn't happen again." Mom and dad could then have responded something like "Oh, I'm so sorry- apologize to the man Jimmy!" Child- "Sorry mister". Then of course they could take the mister and hide it away to keep it from happening again. Sound too civilized??? How about- Man turns to parents and loudly exclaims " Could ya make your kid stop squirting me!!!!???" Parents probably would've still been put off but I imagine they would've at least apologized. Yelling at a kid at WDW for misting water on you Makes me not want to go back at all with my 3 little ones and we don't even use the goshdarn mister fans!!! oh...and no... I DO NOT allow my kids to kick seats, push strollers, play with annoying things in close quarters, etc. We are very considerate of the people around us but it would not even cross my mind to yell at a child for doing any of these things to me. I'm through with this thread....I'm getting a little peeved. Good day everyone

 

[Finny]

Was the man wrong to yell at the child, or husband? I think he was most likely spritzed quite a few times, and lost his temper. He could probably have handled himself better. Regardless, a simple, "sorry, it won't happen again", would have been the appropiate response.

I think a lot of us parents, and this includes me, forget that not everyone loves children. Especially small children who are playing with mister fans, kicking someone's chair, poking people with their masks, etc... Believe it or not, it doesn't make one the devil incarnate to not love all children.

I love my kids, but I am not a child lover by nature, there are a lot of misbehaved children out there, with parents who have no respect for others. I don't like to have mac and cheese smeared on me by a toddler standing in the booth behind me at a restaurant, or run down by a child wearing heelies, or listen to them whine incessently in line, I, for one, would hate to be misted while packed in like a sardine. I might, if I was hot and tired, even raise my voice if someone was doing it to me.

I think that while the OP is most likely a very good parent whose son may have been having a singular incident of bad behavior, no one knows if this was the 1st run in with what the man thought was bad parenting, or perhaps the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th run-in this man had that day. It sounds like this unfortunate family was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[BarbWB]

Wow- I can't believe this thread. Usually, I will read through a thread like this and see little points on each side and occasionally I'll be persuaded to change my original opinion. This time, I'm not budging in my belief that this man was WRONG to yell at the child. Period. No time, no way, no excuses. IMO, there are a few acts that may be worth yelling at your own child or a child in your care for (life or health threatening acts maybe) but a water mister!!!??? Clearly the man was aggravated and took it out on the child. Should the parents have apologized- I'd be closer to calling security than I would to apologizing. He yelled at the child and lost the right to an apology in my eyes. I DID NOT get the impression the OP was carelessly letting the child play with the mister anyway. Whether they have 1 child or 10 children, you CAN NOT keep everything from happening at every second of everyday. There are going to be times that your child picks up the mister and sprays it before you get it out of their hands or even realize they have it. It happens. WE AREN"T PERFECT! Should the child have apologized?? Are you kidding me? Maybe this child isn't used to having a 6 foot tall man yell at him. He probably couldn't have spoken if he'd wanted to. Ideally , the man should've said something like "excuse me- your child has sprayed me with that mister fan a couple of times. Could you please make sure it doesn't happen again." Mom and dad could then have responded something like "Oh, I'm so sorry- apologize to the man Jimmy!" Child- "Sorry mister". Then of course they could take the mister and hide it away to keep it from happening again. Sound too civilized??? How about- Man turns to parents and loudly exclaims " Could ya make your kid stop squirting me!!!!???" Parents probably would've still been put off but I imagine they would've at least apologized. Yelling at a kid at WDW for misting water on you

100%, totally agree with you. If he was getting misted, then could turn around and nicely (or even not so nicely) ask the kid or parents to stop it. I do it allllll the time on planes, in movies, etc. I don't sit and stew and then explode at a kid.
Sometimes parents just don't notice when a kid is doing something wrong. I have NO problem with a stranger nicely asking my kids (or even rudely asking me) to stop it. In fact, I would love it if a stranger asks my kid to stop b/c they are going to get the msg that they are annoying people other than mom and they are more likely to listen. Yelling at my kid??? Mama bear will come out and he'd regret the day. In fact, I think I would have taken the mister away from my kid, but somehow it would have "accidentally" sprayed him a few more times during the show ...

 

[disneyjunkie]

In fact, I think I would have taken the mister away from my kid, but somehow it would have "accidentally" sprayed him a few more times during the show ...

Now that's asking for trouble. You would just be provoking a nut case to go off verbally or physically. Why would you even risk that?

What would you do if the nut case "accidentally" poured a bottle of water on you? How about if he (or his wife) "accidentally" hit you?

 

[Finny]

The original post states that she wasn't sure if he was yelling at the son or her husband. So he may not have been yelling at the child.

Well, it must've accidentally squirted a few drops of water on the jerk in front of us because all of a sudden, in the middle of the show, he stands up (was about 6' tall) and SCREAMS at my son or husband (not sure who his anger was directed towards) and says "WOULD YOU JUST STOP IT!".

 

[Hannathy]

In fact, I think I would have taken the mister away from my kid, but somehow it would have "accidentally" sprayed him a few more times during the show ...

Wow I can't believe these responses! It was terrible that he was rude and not polite yada, yada ,yada BUT it was OK that the child and the family was rude in the first place and that is fine!!! No need for an apology. Then for some to say and I'd have shown him for complaining my kid was rude by (and as an adult which everyone keeps saying he is and should know better) being even ruder and squirt him. That's very adult like.

Deliberately annoying and invading someones space is commendable but yelling at the offending party isn't, nice reasoning.

 

[BarbWB]

Geeez, you people can twist anything. I'd be perfectly happy for him to nicely (to my child) or rudely (to me), ask to stop being sprayed. But, to stand up and yell w/o warning is more than a little nutso.

 

[tony609]

No one has said the guy was right for yelling, and the OP said they weren't sure if he was yelling at them or their child. i agree kids will be kids BUT bottom line is a child shouldn't have been playing with a mister in a crowded enviroment like that.

I would have been told to apologize regardless if the man scared me or not. If I wouldn't apologize. I would have been escorted out of the park and taken back to the hotel and put to bed. My parents would have apologized for me in that case and I would have been in trouble. My parents tolerated no disrespect form their children. We always respected our elders in any situatuation.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Wow! I would've been the exact opposite - when we were at Disney last summer I loved it when kids would accidentally (or intentionally!) mist us with their fans. It made the lines a lot more bearable in that heat!

 

[Figment*Fan]

Wow, I will admit when I saw the title of the thread, I thought someone was really injured or something. Yes, the man over-reacted (based on what I read) I agree, but we don't know what else may have happened. I am NOT saying the OP or her child did anything wrong, but spray fans in a tight spot -- I can see several people getting wet.

I also agree that "calm down it was an accident" may have been better worded as Sorry, it was an accident.

Just last month, we were at DTD, leaving the Lego Store. As we were walking by the area where kids play, some kid THREW a Lego creation at DS, hitting him in the back of the head! The kid's mom just laughed!!! No "Sorry", NOTHING other than her finding it amusing. DS was in shock as was I! I stopped, made sure ds was okay (those things can HURT!), and told the mom, "That could have really hurt my son! " Her reply. Brace yourself: "My son didn't do anything wrong, it was an accident!" Ummmm, really, you accidentally climb on things and toss lego creations at other people passing by? I don't think so. The kicker --- the mom continues VIDEOTAPING the child in his Lego tossing frenzy. Some people have no respect for others, and let their kids do whatever they please.

I am not saying the OP and her DH were letting their ds spray the guy intentionally, BUT, accident or not, I think the parents should have apologized. I know that both my son and I would have felt better if the mother of the child who beaned ds in the head apologized -- I can say from personal experience, when someone is hurt, "calm down, it was an accident" doesn't cut it. YES, I feel the man over-reacted, but I think he did deserve an apology regardless of how he reacted.

 

[Diz-Mommy]

As if this thread needs one more post...here I go!!

The yelling man was clearly out of line. Yes, being squirted by a mister bottle might be annoying, but give me a break! IT'S JUST WATER!! Surely, he ain't sugar and isn't going to melt.

People that get annoyed with little children so easily should find somewhere else to vacation, because WDW is crawling with them!! And yes, people should "control" their children better sometimes, but who wants to constantly disipline their child on vacation?? My little guy got away with lots on our last trip...that's just the nature of a Disney vacation so everyone has fun. You know what? I put up with a few rude teenagers on this past trip too, and I just shrugged it off "kids will be kids!".

I'm glad the several people my son misted while waiting in numerous lines for rides and shows didn't react so irrate. Most people said "ooooo, do it again!" I don't recall a single dirty look, actually.

 

[mama4]

-- I can say from personal experience, when someone is hurt, "calm down, it was an accident" doesn't cut it. YES, I feel the man over-reacted, but I think he did deserve an apology regardless of how he reacted.

I'm sorry this happened to your son and it sounds like you handled it calmly-like most people would- even though you were completely shocked, I'm sure. However, the OPs situation was a lot different. Being sprayed with a mister fan doesn't cause pain like being pegged in the head with a lego creation and the man TOTALLY overreacted by yelling at the child. Sorry, there are just too many whackos out there and having a grown man stand up and yell at me or my child- well, I would have been so completely shocked by the mans reaction I would not have had the presence of mind to apologize or have my child apologize (although I am very adamant about having them apologize when needed and about respecting others) I can understand OPs reaction- the original post seems loud and clear to me. No reading between the lines or trying to twist words around- read her post again. I don't care how you read into it- from my understanding by reading her post- the parents were aware playing with the mister fan was a bad idea- they tried to rectify the situation by taking it- the man was sprayed in the process (by water ) and then he freaked out by yelling at a stranger and their child in the middle of WDW. I just don't see how his behavior could be defended.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Wow, I've read a lot of good things on both sides of this discussion, but this one just stumped me, "People that get annoyed with little children so easily should find somewhere else to vacation, because WDW is crawling with them!! And yes, people should "control" their children better sometimes, but who wants to constantly disipline their child on vacation?? My little guy got away with lots on our last trip...that's just the nature of a Disney vacation so everyone has fun."

Just because WE have children does not make us special nor does it make our children special. And it does not entitle US to the whole World- either, whether we are talking about Disney or the big round one we all reside on. Childless individuals have JUST as much right to be at WDW and they have every right to expect parents to control their children. To suggest otherwise is simply appalling. No wonder there can be such a divide between the childless crowd and those with children.

Children should not be allowed to misbehave just because 'we are on vacation'. That's a cop-out- children should behave in public. When they are not behaving, their parents should correct them and remind them of the appropriate way to act in public.

We've removed our daughter from DisneyLand after a particularly heinous tantrum and she ended up staying in the hotel room the rest of the evening. Just because WE have children does not mean everyone else on the Disney property should have to 'put up' with atrocious behavior.

 

[The Disney Bunch]

I think you were both wrong. I am sure the man got sprayed- you may think it was only 3 minutes that your son had the water bottle, but it probably was more than that. Yes he should not have yelled but you don't know what kind of a day he was having. And just because it it hot out is no excuse for 'spraying' people, for those of you who said you would welcome it. It is rude to spray someone without their permission. And to be honest, your husband wasn't much better. He would have punched the guys if the kids were not here? - so he held his temper, this time. Maybe next time, he will be the guy who yells.

 

[Finny]

Sorry, Diz-Mommy, but a Disney vacation is for everybody. Kids shouldn't be allowed to bother other people, nor should teens or adult be allowed to.

Everyone is trying to enjoy their experience, and badly behaved anybodies, kids, teens, adults, should stay home.

 

[mama4]

Yeah- sorry Diz-Mommy but I agree. My kids are expected to behave at WDW just like anywhere else. We've left stores, restaurants and other places because of their behavior and I wouldn't hesitate to leave wdw either. My kids usually seem too overwhelmed to misbehave at Disney for some reason. They really don't even have meltdowns when they get tired- they just fall asleep in their stroller. I HAVE seen misbehaving children there many times though- and I've seen parents look the other way. I've even been with a friend whose child was throwing a tantrum -but she was not stopped and other people had to endure it. I haven't been back with them since. I expect my children to respect others but in return, I expect other people to respect my kids - they are also human beings with feelings and they deserve respect too. My kids say please, thank you, yes mam/sir, no mam/sir, excuse me, my ds 16 opens doors for people and offers seats to anyone who may need it more than he does. I honestly feel they are polite, respectful children- but I can still see an incident such as the OPs happening in our family as well. Not the misting fan maybe since we don't use them but maybe something similar- annoying to others but the kid doesn't understand that it's annoying and the parents just didn't catch it in time. It happens whether you like it or not so grown people should be prepared for things like this and have the wherewithal to deal with it in a civilized manner.