A sad day at WDW....

[disneyfreakjackie]

LOVE when people pretend not to understand english. A spanish women and her dd or ??gdd?? were siting in front of us, mom/grandma was "flashing away" when the CM made the announcement AGAIN, she proceeding to continue to take pictures!!? I couldn't resist . . . I leaned forward and said NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY!!! Her DD/GDD told her blahsfkjoiwenljoaisjoknoaisj flash. She stopped taking pictures!!!

*****************************************************

Maybe she truly didn't understand English???? Give people the benefit of the doubt or else you'll ruin your own vacation by being annoyed.

Now the situation with the little boy with braces...that is TOTALLY uncalled for...TOTALLY! And I wish a CM had helped that family. Makes me sad just to think about it.

However, one shouldn't let "little" (not discussing the child's situation here) things like flash photography get to them or it will spoil their day. I say just ignore it and let the CM's handle it and go on about your Magical day.

Oh, believe me, these little things didn't ruin MY WDW vacation!!! NEVER!!! Obviously the person with her understood English because she relayed the message to the offender. She should have relayed the message from the beginning, that's all!! As for the line cutting, my dd's were a little upset about it, but I just told them it's OK, Chip and Dale will still be here after they're through. They had to tell their Dad later what the "nasty woman did"!! That was the end of it!

Don't worry . . . I did go about my magical 9 nine days and we had the time of our lives AGAIN!!

 

[Ishy]

In 1989 in the magic kingdom, all the characters would show up here and there - there was no toon town - or organized meet and greets. My young daughter (who is on her way to do the college program this fall) wanted to meet mickey and minnie - and I watched in horror as a dad knocked her over so he could get his kids in for a video.

K - I have to say my mouth went off like a veteran truck driver because I was so horrified at the crowds of discourteous richards.

After that I had noticed more and more people that were disgusting and rude to other people. I think it happens, been happening, will continue to happen.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I totally understand that-we leave our worries behind us as well, and we dont let things get us down so the magic is with us from our first day to our last. And though it may be an interruption in magic to see things that normally occur in everyday life, I guess I think people would be less disappointed if they went with more realistic expectations of WDW.

While I understand the point about having realistic expectations, I wanted to piont out that I definitely do not walk into WDW thinking it will be "different" than the rest of the world. What truly shocked me was that I have never, and perhaps I can be considered lucky if that is what the world is like constantly, seen so many horrible incidents in such a short time span. That incident I mentioned was only one of the atrocious things we saw while vacationing while at the MK. Just one!!!! I would be here for hours if I listed everything I saw and heard that was equally as bad. So to me, it wasn't that I had a happy bubbly view of the world popped, but that I thought that WDW would be the last place to see so much horrible behavior so often! One or two incidents wouldn't have shocked me too much b/c I know people in general can be horrible at times, but it was those incidents I saw, a CM running over a kid's foot with a garbage thing that they push, a person yelling at me in line b/c I asked the counter service CM if they had a list of the ingredients for a food I was interested in because I have a rare food allergy (got to love those little books they have under the counter), and keep in mind there was only them behind us, it was not like I went to eat at a very busy time at that counter service place and it took a whooping 10 seconds for them to whip that thing out for me, etc.

In short I don't think it's that people expect WDW to be a "happier" place than normal. That would be silly b/c it's still in the same realm of existence as everywhere else, but what bothered me is that it seemed 10 times worse at the MK last week than it has ever been at any park that I have ever been to in my life. Hopefully that makes a bit more sense about what I meant.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Since you saw it yhy didn't you insist that a nearby cast member help call security and point out the miscreants?

This is a case of assault.

On second thought, not as easy as it seems, for best results the show must be allowed to proceed with as little suspicion as possible until a good sized cadre of security arrives to station itself outside the exit doors and catch the miscreants off guard. If you have a cell phone, exiting yourself and calling 911 is a good idea.

Easier: Accompany the handicapped child and his parents to Guest Relations and arrange to have extra pixie dust sprinkled upon them. This is for dealing with a situation, not for dealing with a handicap. This is intended to be far more than a custom tailored guest assistance card, and therefore interviewing the family on the nature of the child's disability is totally irrelevant.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I agree, but I didn't have a cell phone on me, nor was able to find the miscreants after the show. At the time that it happened DH and I were more concerned about shielding the child and his family then catching the miscreants if that makes sense. As far as the CM's go, they were non-existant! We saw one at the beginning of the show right before it began, not before at all. Perhaps this is why the child and his family were not offered assistance earlier? Because the CMs were absent at the time? We did report it to the CM we saw at the end of the show and they said they'd take care of it, but didn't seem too concerned. (Another shocker I thought.) And about the Guest Relations idea... I only wish I could have thought of it.

 

[imatoad]

For anyone who thinks this behavior is unique, or limited, to WDW, you are sadly mistaken. I live in a resort beach town, and work at two very tourist driven businesses, and this behavior, and worse, is common. It's the human race, and not exclusive to any one particular ethnic group. No, WDW hasn't change, people in general have simply become self serving, and incredibly egocentric. The damage is done, it will only get worse.

 

[Tigger1]

Last year we ran into that no camera situation. This one person ignored the cm and acted like she did not understand him. My DH spoke her language and understood everything she was telling her friends. She becamea bit embarrased when DH spoke in German to her.

hehe

Tigger

 

[beccasmom]

Rudeness is so rampant today that it is overwhelming. We live next to a school and when I see what some of the kids do on a daily basis, I cringe....manners and respect for others begins at home and is shown by examples of kindness for others, no matter who they are. The situations you wrote about are very sad. It is disheartening and sickening to see humans act like that.

 

[lovethattink]

DS(baby) and I were at the front of the line for the Little Mermaid show. He became too heavy, so I sat down on the ground holding him. Once the doors opened, I stood up and gathered the diaper bag quickly, but apparently not quickly enough as hords of people pushed by me, knocking the diaper bag. Once inside, I saw that "stage" at the front. I held him while leaning against that. Once the doors opened and people pushed and shoved to get it, I just hung back and was the last one to enter the show. People just don't realize that if they get into the preshow area, they are garaunteed a seat. There's no reason for the rude pushing and shoving.

 

[goofyernmost]

DS(baby) and I were at the front of the line for the Little Mermaid show. He became too heavy, so I sat down on the ground holding him. Once the doors opened, I stood up and gathered the diaper bag quickly, but apparently not quickly enough as hords of people pushed by me, knocking the diaper bag. Once inside, I saw that "stage" at the front. I held him while leaning against that. Once the doors opened and people pushed and shoved to get it, I just hung back and was the last one to enter the show. People just don't realize that if they get into the preshow area, they are garaunteed a seat. There's no reason for the rude pushing and shoving.

True enough, but as we all know the goal is to get in the middle of the row, stop and block everyone else and then act like you are annoying them when you have to step over thier feet and bags and junk.

I usually always hang back, if it's not too crowded and wait for everyone to get in and then I find the best seat that is left over. Never had a bad seat yet!

 

[disneyfan3]

I also am shocked and saddened by this. That poor child just pushed aside and how his poor parents must have felt! This is just my opinion but I feel that as society gets more and more afluent with riches and wanting to have their needs and wants satisfied that manners go out the window. I know that is not true in all cases but children are given so much today that they turn into brats and then into adult brats. Disney is only magical for me now if I make it magical in my own mind. Sometimes I am suprised and I don't have to work to hard to find the magic but it is what you put into your trip. You can't depend on disney to hand it over to you like it used to be. May we all treat people the way we would like to be treated. I know Disney is important to people but when your disney desires come before the feelings of esp! children then you should be ashamed!

 

[nowellsl]

 

[Tissa]

I should know better than to read things that may upset me. DS8 & I are leaving on Sat for our second trip and we are so excited then I read this. DS has cp and wears leg braces and he gets almost knocked over by rude people all the time. I must go now and think happy thoughts

 

[m&m's mom]

I have another take on this.
We have gone to WDW twice a year for the past 8 years. We normally got in the Nov/Dec or Oct timeframe. This was our first trip in the warmer months.
We were also just there for a week last Dec (less than 6 months ago).
This trip was very different. I witnessed behavior I have NEVER encountered before. Especially rude/tacky/inappropriate behavior.
I have never seen so many threads on bad behavior in May and if I had not been there I might not have believed it either.
I think our Oct. Nov/Dec trips are the only ones in our future.

 

[disneyokw]

Last year my mother and I waited at the train station at MK to view Wishes. Next to us was a young man in a wheelchair and his party around him. When the fireworks started two young girls literally jumped onto the mans legs, one first onto his lap before reaching the floor and both stood in front of him while pushing him back. I wanted to do something but the guy then just backed up and he and his party left. I had spotted these two early because their mother kept nugging them to go between people. Also a few years ago while waiting for Illuminations at Epcot a teenage boy plopped himself down in front of an elderly lady in a wheelchair my mother and I were talking too. His but was on one of her feet. I leaned into his face and asked are you with her. He said no. So I yelled into his face. MOVE! He took off. The lady thanked me and said she was shocked and could not act quickly. When her family came she told them what happened and they thanked me.

I will be at Disney June 29 - July 3rd and now will remember that more rude people will be there. Uually it is sporadic but since it is so crowded I think all the nuts will be out.

 

[joshsmom]

We just got back yesterday and I have to say that I didn't see any of the awful things listed here. The worst thing I saw (and it doesn't even come CLOSE to the OP's story) was a poor man in a VERY crowded outdoor counter service area trying to get around people with a double wide stroller. The poor guy was having an awful time because he was being VERY courteous and trying NOT to ram people. I was standing to the side to let him through (because there was FINALLY a hole in the THRONG of people wide enough for him to get through) and this lady from behind me pushed me out of the way and started to try to get over his stroller!!!! I put my arm out in front of her like a railroad crossing arm and said very loudly "you have to stop here, he's trying to get that stroller through!!!" Well, she was NOT happy and had some choice words for me--but I didn't care!!! I watched this poor guy trying desperately to get through WITHOUT being offensive to others, and she was just going to plow over the top of him!!!

I just don't get it!

 

[PratersloveDW]

That is absolutely terrible what happened to the little boy - being knocked down. That is inexcusable behavior!!!

When I am at WDW, I do my best to keep to myself and be oblivious to many of the negative things that happen all around me (i.e.: foul language or rude people). Of course, the story the OP told of the young boy is something I wouldn't have been able to be insensible too – and it was very kind of the OP to stop and help them! It’s just too bad others around him couldn’t have been more responsive!

Watching a terrified and screaming mother at Animal Kingdom last week is something that caught my family’s attention. As we were walking, we saw a mother nearly collapse to the ground in shear panic. She had obviously been looking for her daughter for sometime - she was in tears, beat red, and screaming. A CM had her by the arm and was leading her to the front of the park. I felt terrible not only for the mother but for the child who, if not already, would soon realize she had lost her mother and would most likely become frantic. Although I am sure that they were reunited, I can't imagine that type of scare when you are on vacation at Disney World - the happiest place on Earth!

 

[Taratink]

We had a few run ins with a couple of bad families. This one family kept cutting us. My husband and I could not stop laughing. They were so rude. We noticed them bumping and cutting other people too. Normally I get really upset over rude behavior but we were having such a great vacation that we just laughed. What kind of people would knock over a child? The poor kid. A mother knocked over my 2 yr. old nephew at Chuckie Cheese yesterday and didn't even say sorry. I wanted to whack her! Accidents happen but slow down and say sorry. We have also met many great and friendly families at WDW. Somehow the crazy people stand out more.
Tara

 

[WL Fan]

I was just sitting here thinking that maybe, to the family with the handicapped son, YOU were the pixie dust! Maybe they're home right now telling everyone about how there are some really great people at WDW...

 

[momof2inPA]

There was another thread last week about Six Flags -- those types of parks attract just about anyone, and you get some of the same types of people who visit the MK seeing it as just another amusement park rather than the whole Disney experience like we do; they bring their bad manners with them. I notice it even in the way guests throw trash on the ground etc. It just seems more rampant at MK! Do I make any sense?

There's only one way to discourage the Six Flags type crowds, Disney should double their gate admission price. Then only the people truly interested in Disney and committed enough to raise the money and foot the bill would go, and everyone there would be doubly intested in enjoying the experience.

 

[disney junky]

There's only one way to discourage the Six Flags type crowds, Disney should double their gate admission price. Then only the people truly interested in Disney and committed enough to raise the money and foot the bill would go, and everyone there would be doubly intested in enjoying the experience.

I disagree. This is not a money thing. I have witnessed some of the worst behaved kids at Grand Floridian. Spoiled rotten and used to getting whatever they wanted and no one was going to tell them any different. So, classlessness cuts across all socioeconomic boundaries.