Argument about smartphone at Carousel of Progress

[xiphoid76]

I typically am very avoidant, but was bothered my a family having their infant play with a smartphone during the Carousel of Progress. It was a very bright screen right in front of us. I told them to please turn it off. The father refused and instead turned the phone towards me and my husband during the entire show and said - "this is what you get". I moved seats and tried to ignore him but he then turned his flashlight on me.
I noticed other people on their phones as well. Maybe I am just getting old, but was I rude to ask him to turn off his phone? I noticed many other phones in use during the Tiki room as well.
Shouldn't people turn off their phones at a performance? Not just to enjoy the show, but to not be rude to other guests.

 

[Robo]

Shameful behavior!

Yes, phones should be off during theatrical performances.

 

[larryz]

You have to wonder why he was there, if he's not watching the show... but I don't think it's rude to ask him to turn off his device as long as you do it nicely.

When that didn't happen, you moved, which is appropriate.

But if someone were to shine a flashlight on me after I moved, I'm afraid I might have become a bit unpleasant.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

People using their phones in dark theaters are terribly rude, but not terribly uncommon, unfortunately.

However, people who use their phone's flashlight as a 'weapon' deserve to have said phone thrown into the Seven Seas Lagoon.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Unbelievable. "This is what you get"? What is wrong with people! Yes, incredibly rude to have a phone on during a performance. If he needed it to keep his child entertained, then do it in a way that doesn't affect others OR if your child can't sit through the show, don't go! So instead of watching the show, he harassed you? Awful, awful, awful.

 

[drinkme]

It's too bad people have to be so rude when it comes to cell phones. I really hate when people pull out cell phones at movies and theaters too. It has become such a "it's all about me" society. Yes, there have been people like that before, but it seems worse now.

 

[LadyLaLa]

Wow, that man was really rude...

 

[xiphoid76]

I typically am very avoidant, but was bothered my a family having their infant play with a smartphone during the Carousel of Progress. It was a very bright screen right in front of us. I told them to please turn it off. The father refused and instead turned the phone towards me and my husband during the entire show and said - "this is what you get". I moved seats and tried to ignore him but he then turned his flashlight on me.
I noticed other people on their phones as well. Maybe I am just getting old, but was I rude to ask him to turn off his phone? I noticed many other phones in use during the Tiki room as well.
Shouldn't people turn off their phones at a performance? Not just to enjoy the show, but to not be rude to other guests.

After the show we just ran off because I didn't want to confront this man again, I felt threatened by him.

 

[CinderElsa]

After the show we just ran off because I didn't want to confront this man again, I felt threatened by him.

Why would you even think about confronting him after the show?

If you have a problem with a fellow guest, notify a CM.

For what it's worth, I don't consider a ride with animatronics to be a theatrical production, but that's a matter of personal opinion. Assuming these events happened exactly as explained here, maybe the guy was a jerk. Maybe he didn't like the way you spoke to him. Who knows? I would have just let it go.

 

[3Gsandme]

Why would you even think about confronting him after the show?

If you have a problem with a fellow guest, notify a CM.

For what it's worth, I don't consider a ride with animatronics to be a theatrical production, but that's a matter of personal opinion. Assuming these events happened exactly as explained here, maybe the guy was a jerk. Maybe he didn't like the way you spoke to him. Who knows? I would have just let it go.

This is me.

I'm sure they gave the baby the phone to keep him/her quiet during the show so the baby didn't disturb other guests and didn't think about the light from the screen bothering anyone. They acted like absolute jerks, however, if they directed the light from the phone at you and then turned the flashlight on. That's just terrible behavior.

 

[anniemae]

Yeah, my first thought was that they gave it to the child to entertain him and keep him quiet during the show. They were rude though, and there was no need for him to taunt you after you moved.

I will say that Disney has made it so you are attached to your phone. I was constantly checking wait times, ADR reservations, FP times etc. We had to change one FP around after we got on spaceship earth once, and I was using my phone the entire ride trying to switch things around, then the app crashed and I had to start over and I was in a panic. I seriously spent the whole ride on my phone.

 

[piccolopat]

If they had no other way to entertain their child, they should have sat in the back row so the screen wouldn't disturb others or not gotten on the ride. It doesn't matter that this wasn't a live performance. People should be considerate of others at all times.

 

[AlixaLock]

I'm sorry that you had to deal with this today! It would have absolutely unsettled me and spoiled my day a little!

In all honestly, I would have probably let it go since it was a case of a kid being entertained, which is obnoxious but somewhat understandable. However, their subsequent rudeness and bizzare behavior makes it clear they didn't deserve any slack! No excuse for threatening or absusive actions! Sorry again about this!

 

[smallworldnh]

Isn't there some sort of rule about this anyway? In most places, like movie theaters, they ask you to turn off your phones, etc.

 

[Robo]

Yes, this kind of performance is a theatrical presentation.

(As opposed to a ride-through attraction.)

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I would have been kicked out of Disney for what would have happened next

Especially "that's what you get"

Yup

 

[cygnusx1jg]

(As opposed to a ride-through attraction.)

Let's ask that question too. What about bright cell phones during dark rides like POTC or HM?

 

[ArwenMarie]

It is rude and I don't know why people don't turn the brightness down at least.

I think this is life now unfortunately.

 

[DebbieB]

Even worse are I-Pads.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

After the show we just ran off because I didn't want to confront this man again, I felt threatened by him.

DH is always telling me to keep quiet, "you never know who you're talking to." However, you did nothing wrong, asking him to turn it down--but I would have been nervous afterward too. I'm sorry this happened to you!