Am I being rude or antisocial?

[julieannbabe]

i am worried as i get really chatty and excited when i get to WDW.

how do you find a right balance?

 

[TnTsParty]

I am kinda in the middle on this ~ my mom and grandmother will talk to about anyone and sometimes will keep talking to them even though you can tell they don't want to talk back. I get embarrassed sometimes!! But on the other hand when I am at Disney and we are in line I may like a previous poster said ask a little kid if they are excited or scared etc not that I do it all the time. Most of the time we try to avoid lines but on occasion you can't avoid them. We haven't had anyone "approach" us like the OP had and I would have felt a little uncomfortable as would my DH. But if someone strikes up a conversation I can do a little chatting myself but I am never one to tell my personal business!!

 

[Marseeya]

i am worried as i get really chatty and excited when i get to WDW.

how do you find a right balance?

I think the balance is in being able to recognize the cues from the person you're talking to. The OP said they were being reserved and just nodding at times, so at that point it's time to back off. If the family is talking back and giving tit for tat, then all is well.

I'm not one to initiate conversations in public with strangers, but I don't mind talking as long as it doesn't turn into something long and drawn out -- light, short, and sweet is great. On our WDW trip, I talked to some really nice people -- just things like where we're all from, how long we're staying, how do we like it, etc.

 

[Dznefreek]

Next time just say, "No Habla Engles(?)".

 

[MermaidsMom]

Being a Brit, a Londoner no less, I was a bit reserved in my speech. My first trip to the US was an extreme culture shock for me. People saying hello when I went into a shop, asking me how my day was going, good-buy. Good grief! What's with these people?

A few times in lines, people would talk to me. I recall one of my first ones when I was 24 with my brother and a few guys my age started talking and I didn't really reply and may have appeared to be uninterested, but I wasn't. Once in McDonalds a very hot (good looking) woman struck up a conversation with me as my wife was getting napkins. She talked for ages about England and her children. Another time I was in a Universal store and this cute girl started telling me Jason from Friday 13th freaked her out. Just started talking to me! Wife was outside, phew!

I came back to London greeted by airport staff who wouldn't look at you, taxi drivers mumbling and grumbling. Silence from those who served me at the till in a shop. How different.

Every trip to the US changes me a little. I was once quite shy and wouldn't start a conversation with a stranger, but as said, these holidays change me. Now I am happy to strike up conversations with people, or engage at length with those who start with me. I still think I have quite a way to go before I become like the woman in the OPs post, but who knows what I'll be like at 65!

I personally cannot resist talking to people with beautiful British accents! They always seem fun and have something interesting to say about their trip.

And I love listening to all people talk to each other at WDW (except for the people being mean to their kids) and sometimes will offer directions or help to someone who I can tell is lost or confused.

 

[Brianne]

We're "chatter magnets" too--I suspect it's largely in part to my DS4. He's a very happy-go-lucky guy almost all the time, but especially at Disney. All well & good, but it does bother his introverted parents when people start striking up conversations with him because he doesn't always speak up, which drags us into it.

 

[crazy4dizney]

I love to talk to people in line but, it can get you into trouble being friendly. On our last trip, my family was in line for star tours at MGM and started a friendly conversation with a young man aprox.age 19-21.After the ride was over the young man asked "what ride are we going on next?" Well to make a long story short, we had this new addition to our tour of MGM. We just could'nt be rude but it kinda creeped us out. Well at lunch time we finally told him we had PS for Lunch and good -bye It was very sad , because I think he wanted us to invite him to lunch!! We still talk about it and have a good laugh

 

[JRawkSteady]

I agree - you were not either. I'm the type of person who may have started talking to you, because when I'm in a good mood, I get very friendly. And there's definitely no better place to be friendly than WDW. However, if I notice the person I am talking to is kind of weirded out by my "forwardness," I'll say something like "Anyway, I'll let you get back to what you were doing. Enjoy your trip!" I worked retail most of my life (and a lot of it was for Disney) so you could imagine how talkative I may be.

It all depends on the person. This was a great topic. You should never feel forced to talk to a stranger.

 

[Servants of Evan]

i am worried as i get really chatty and excited when i get to WDW.

Ask yourself, "Am I getting short of breath?" Are you spending more time exhaling (talking) than inhaling (listening)? Are you getting dizzy from oxygen deprivation? You may take these as signs you need to take it a bit more easy... Otherwise, if you're female and you've got an english accent you'll definately get my attention.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

it was a huge shock to us moving to Florida. the only conversations we used to hear in a check-out line in a grocery store was between the cashiers talking about how much they hated their jobs. you meet a lot of people from all over the world here on vacation. I think a lot of it is excitement and happy people. we were at the EE preview sunday, and people were stopping us when they saw our 'sneak peak' lanyards. 'OMG, how was the ride!?' it was even more crazy at MGM later that day. living here has actually made me more outgoing.

and as far as you UK'ers, you're the nicest group of people I meet here. we've shared many a pint at the resorts.

cheers.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Just to add, I seem to be a magnet for the TMI (too much information) people. It's like they can sense that I'm too nice to tell them to go away, but shy enough that I won't interrupt. So, I know what you mean about your encounter.

Oh! Me too! I am a TMI magnet. People are always coming up to me and talking to me about everything. It happens to me everywhere, Disney, stores, restaurants, ect... My mom and sister laugh at me all the time. I can't tell you some of the things total strangers have told me!

So, no, I don't think it's rude to not really respond, especially if someone can't take a hint. Sure, you can meet some nice people this way, but sometimes if you give someone like this lady an inch, they take a mile. Once at a bookstore a lady started talking to me in the children's section and then all of a sudden she asked me to watch her little girl while she went to the
bathroom!

 

[Feralpeg]

No you are not anti-social, but you need to understand that there are many people at WDW who are just so excited about being there. They want to interact with others and share their excitement. Then, there are people like me. I could strike up a conversation with a rock. I often start conversations with people while standing in lines. I do try to be aware of the reception I'm getting. If the person acts as if they are really not interested in talking, I'll back off. I really enjoy hearing where people are from and how they like visiting Orlando.

 

[experiment626mom]

My dh and I will talk to just about anyone. Dh is in sales and is very used to talking to everyone and anyone. We have met some of the coolest people while standing in line at DW. We do know though when people don't want to chat.

To the OP you really seem to be worried about being antisocial, you use the word and awful lot in your post. Subconciously do you want to change that?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I am very talkative to people in lines at WDW, etc. But, I pay attention to the body language of the other people and don't talk to people who seem uncomfortable. Most of the people that I come across are also very excited and talkative and this last trip my DD and I met many people.

It's not difficult to tell if someone likes to engage in conversation. When my DD and I were eating at Boma there was a couple seated next to us. Before our first trip to the buffet my DD was going to carry the backpack (I had our valuables on me) and the couple was returning from the buffet and told us that they would keep an eye on the backpack. It was an immediate trust situation and we left the backpack there. Later during the meal they said something to me about the desserts, I then asked them how many times they'd been to Boma, and what followed was a nice conversation with what turned out to be a lovely retired couple. We both had sized up the others and figured out that we were all the type that enjoyed talking with strangers. If one of us had of gotten a different vibe the conversation would not have taken place.

 

[NMAmy]

I think it's a regional thing. I grew up in Michigan where you really don't chat to others and you certainly NEVER ask personal questions.

Then I moved to New Mexico where people just have no shame about asking you the most personal questions the first time you meet. It freaked me out at first but then when every single person I had contact with did the same thing, I realized they weren't just being nosey--they were trying to involve me and be friendly. I had one friend that I call "Question Girl" because she will just interrogate new people. And, after 15 years of living there, I'm now the same way.

I'm a chatter, I like to meet new people, I say "hello" to folks I don't know in the elevator or on the street, and I'll make friends wherever I go. The good part is that service people give me special deals and I find out about good restaurants and stores that are having deals. It particularly drives my younger sister crazy--but we were visiting her in LA and the cashier in the grocery gave me a store card for a discount even though I didn't live there and a custodian at a museum told us all about a special exhibit and gave us free tickets. Being nice CAN pay off. It doesn't mean people like me are weird--we're just interested in other people. I'm happier this way--I learn so much more about co-workers now.

And, to the OP, I'm not offended if someone doesn't reply. I can tell if someone is uncomfortable and I don't push it. Most people aren't uncomfortable with it, though.

 

[toothboy2k1]

I have to admit at being a little surprised. Based on my experience on these boards, everyone is helpful, friendly and communicative. Personal questions are asked and answered. Advice is happily handed out. Yet when this type of social intercourse occurs face-to-face, it seems that many of you (given the replies to the question) would rather remain in your own world.

I understand there are different comfort levels, but one of the joys I have found in traveling is talking to other people who share (not always) interesting experiences and insights. Many of those encounters have occurred in the lines of various theme parks. My positive experiences (talking to people from Australia, France, Japan, Korea, and even Des Moines and Salinas) far outweigh the (perceived) minor inconvenience of sharing a few thoughts and personal experiences (and as an aside, while making up stories about ourselves seems like a kick at the time, it seems rather immature, neither party benefiting from the opportunity). We are by nature a social animal, and talking to people, sharing a bit of ourselves, is as important to me as the destination I am visiting.

There are times I shun such conversations (on an airplane when I just want to read or nap, in a grocery store checkout line), but when I am among so many people representing a number of cultures and backgrounds (WDW is a fertile environment for this), I am on the side of encouraging such conversations. Don't want to share? Ask questions. More often than not, you will find something in those 10 minutes or so that will make you richer for the experience.

 

[KimR]

I personally cannot resist talking to people with beautiful British accents! They always seem fun and have something interesting to say about their trip.

And I love listening to all people talk to each other at WDW (except for the people being mean to their kids) and sometimes will offer directions or help to someone who I can tell is lost or confused.

I'm the same way with British accents, and New York accents as well. I am normally fairly reserverd, but we have met some nice people while waiting in line at WDW. Last year we met a very nice family from England while waiting for RNRC. It turned out that the ride broke down and they gave us some fastpasses they had as they were leaving the next day!

DH is the type who will talk to anyone and whenever it was his turn to sit out a ride with our youngest DD, we'd get back and he'd be chatting to someone. They never seem put out, though, so I think he is able to tell who is open to conversation and who is not.

 

[liamsaunt]

I'm not really big on talking with people I don't know while in line. I don't mind a little chit chat as long as it is Disney related and doesn't go on forever, but I really don't feel comfortable talking about much more than that. I'm fairly reserved in the "real world" anyway, so I guess it just carries over while at Disney.

 

[Amapola]

My mother is a psychologist and has the type of face that begs "Tell me your life story" and she loves it. Me, I didn't inherit that gene. I never talk to strangers, not in queues, or in waiting rooms, or planes, or anywhere else. I'm not a complete savage . I do say hello and good bye, and I can go as far as exchanging pleasantries with someone, but I really don't want to have a conversation with anyone I don't know. It's not that I'm shy -- I do a lot of training and public speaking, and I have normal relationships at work and church, but I just don't care to speak to people I don't know. As to the OP, I'm not sure what could have been done to cut short the questionings, since the usual cues were not effective. I feel for you!!

 

[TSTEWARTFAN]

I am not totally comfortable with conversing with people in lines either. I am ok for a very short period of time, but after a mnute or so, I start to get nervous and uncomfortable. But, like a previous poster said, I could talk to the kids all day. I have always been more comfortable talking to kids than to adults.