Boneheads getting on rides

[Magpie]

Plus if were to sit next to an attractive lady, my wife would give me the evil eye

Actually, I was commenting to my husband that when I was touring Disney solo, and ended up standing in line with or seated in a car with or on a bus or monorail or boat with a family, 9 times out of 10 I'd end up chatting with the dad. Not that the wives were unfriendly or anything, just that it was generally it was the men who'd want to talk to me. I thought it was odd, as I expected I'd have more in common with the wives. I didn't see any "evil eyes", fortunately!

My husband said he didn't find it odd at all, but I figure he has to say that because he's married to me.

 

[Muslickz]

there are always creepy people at the attractions in FL. It's like they are called there lol

-M

 

[SAT]

As an introvert, I understand the discomfort of sharing rides with strangers. I'm just not good at small talk.

But I am also the parent old a 15 y.o. son. I'm really disheartened that we have reached a place where half of the human race is viewed with suspicion, and characterized as pervy, creepy or weird.

That all said, I would have just chalked it up to being part of the Disney experience. Unexpected things can and do happen when there are that many folks in one place and not all of them for whatever reason know 'the drill'.

 

[goofyernmost]

Try being a 63 year old man traveling solo and imagine the looks that I get sometimes. I am the Father of two wonderful girls and the grandfather of two boys and a girl and one to named in a few weeks. I am not now nor have I ever been a pervert but you can bet I get lumped in with them.

 

[larryz]

The most dangerous words on the Internet "I think.."

I think the kid was confused and thought you should all load at once.
I think that if it bothered you or your kids, you had every right to speak up and ask to be on the next train or that the boy be asked to ride the next train, particularly if there wasn't much of a line.
I think that on rides with individual seats, this wouldn't have bothered me, but with a bench seat, it would have.
I think 3 people on BTMRR is a lot for 1 bench.
I think the CM should have realized what was going on or if they had sent this boy into your line and told him to load with you, they should have said something to you first.
I think that there's a way to bring this kind of thing to a CM or employee's attention without making a huge scene or being mean about it. You could have easily raised your hand and waved the CM over or loudly said Excuse Me and then quietly explained the problem. Sure some people would have overheard, and if the boy did understand English he might have been a little offended but so what?
I think it someone's truly ill at ease with a situation, they have the right to change it...but not if they're just being picky.
I think some people may argue that you are being over protective and/or prude.
I think as a parent, it's natural to be concerned.
I think while, yes, Americans are less comfortable with other people being that close, that you should suddenly have to "deal with it" because you're around someone who may not uncomfortable with that.
I think it's not something worth dwelling over, it happened, and lesson learned.

I think it's a popular thrill ride and you have to expect that you WILL be seated with others, possibly strangers, possibly strange strangers, strange strangers that don't even speak ENGLISH for crying out loud.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it's a popular thrill ride and you have to expect that you WILL be seated with others, possibly strangers, possibly strange strangers, strange strangers that don't even speak ENGLISH for crying out loud.

I think this would be a completely different discussion if ONE person were seated there and another person "filled the spot". But once two people were already in that seat, there was no spot left to fill. That is quite reasonable to expect. But in fact, he was the THIRD person into a spot designed for TWO.

I really get tired of people criticizing Americans for not being willing to give up all semblence of reasonable personal space.

 

[larryz]

Yeah, OK, perhaps OP can come back in and explain why, if his TWO girls were sitting in the seat, that there was room for a third person to sit down without sitting on one of them. And then perhaps OP can fill us in on whatever unseemly conduct the "bonehead" committed towards his daughters.

I really get tired of people criticizing Americans for not being willing to give up all semblence of reasonable personal space.

Well, if it was just Americans at WDW, I don't think it would be an issue. But WDW is an international destination, and people from some other cultures don't have the same rigidity about personal space that Americans do. to the global economy.

If you don't like going to amusement parks with "foreigners," there's always your nearest Six Flags...

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah, OK, perhaps OP can come back in and explain why, if his TWO girls were sitting in the seat, that there was room for a third person to sit down without sitting on one of them. And then perhaps OP can fill us in on whatever unseemly conduct the "bonehead" committed towards his daughters.



Well, if it was just Americans at WDW, I don't think it would be an issue. But WDW is an international destination, and people from some other cultures don't have the same rigidity about personal space that Americans do. to the global economy.

If you don't like going to amusement parks with "foreigners," there's always your nearest Six Flags...

Sorry, but I can't think of a single reason a stranger would need to sit with 2 others in the same seat of BTMRR. The safari? Sure. Pirates? Sure. Small World? Sure. I've watched this thread and read tons of comments about other rides. But the OP's sstory was about THIS ride. This ride, where his 2 daughters were already occupying the seat meant for two. THAT is what makes it uncomfortable and a little "odd" for the other person to sit there, particularly since HE (the OP) was alone in his seat right in front of them.

Being a selfish space-hogging American has nothing to do with it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Sorry, but I can't think of a single reason a stranger would need to sit with 2 others in the same seat of BTMRR. The safari? Sure. Pirates? Sure. Small World? Sure. I've watched this thread and read tons of comments about other rides. But the OP's sstory was about THIS ride. This ride, where his 2 daughters were already occupying the seat meant for two. THAT is what makes it uncomfortable and a little "odd" for the other person to sit there, particularly since HE (the OP) was alone in his seat right in front of them.

Being a selfish space-hogging American has nothing to do with it.

And the ride is described as virtually walk-on by the OP. Should be no need to fill every seat.

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks mom2 and mesaboy

Hope that helps larryz, I'm sorry you are so confused... or should I say boneheaded

 

[always]

Sorry, but I can't think of a single reason a stranger would need to sit with 2 others in the same seat of BTMRR. The safari? Sure. Pirates? Sure. Small World? Sure. I've watched this thread and read tons of comments about other rides. But the OP's sstory was about THIS ride. This ride, where his 2 daughters were already occupying the seat meant for two. THAT is what makes it uncomfortable and a little "odd" for the other person to sit there, particularly since HE (the OP) was alone in his seat right in front of them.

Being a selfish space-hogging American has nothing to do with it.

I am with you 100% on this. We travel during the summer and it's always pretty crowded. We expect to share a bench on the rides you listed but never on BTMRR.

 

[Magpie]

Sorry, but I can't think of a single reason a stranger would need to sit with 2 others in the same seat of BTMRR. The safari? Sure. Pirates? Sure. Small World? Sure. I've watched this thread and read tons of comments about other rides. But the OP's sstory was about THIS ride. This ride, where his 2 daughters were already occupying the seat meant for two. THAT is what makes it uncomfortable and a little "odd" for the other person to sit there, particularly since HE (the OP) was alone in his seat right in front of them.

Being a selfish space-hogging American has nothing to do with it.

As far as I can tell, everyone has agreed that the kid didn't belong there. I don't think anyone has suggested he belonged in the car with the two girls.

However, people do disagree on his likely motivation. Some folks are willing to give the kid the benefit of the doubt and say he likely got confused or made a mistake. Other folks think he's a pervert and feel the OP should have taken stronger measures to stop the ride and remove him from the car (and the girls' presence) immediately.

Also, people are disagreeing on whether single riders should ever expect to share space in a ride car designed for MORE than one. Some single riders have stated that they want the whole car to themselves, because sitting next to another person makes them uncomfortable. Some families have also said they don't want singles filling empty seats in a car with them, because they're there with their families and don't want strangers in their space. Other people see it as an opportunity to meet new people.

Threads evolve and go on tangents. I think all of these topics are relevant and worthy of debate.

 

[Sagginit]

I've had really uncomfortable rides on the Great Movie Ride too. I understand the rows are supposed to hold more than one family (generally) but I really don't think there's room for, like, ten adults! Honestly, if I'm physically touching the person next to me, that's just too close for comfort.

we had a really bad ride on this once. as two people my mother and i often ended up in rows with other people on rides like this. the gentleman at the end of the party already seated in the row did not want us coming in. so after the CM walked away as we climbed in he opened his legs up, knees out. his stance was so wide i didn't fit! it was really uncomfortable when the CM came over and basically pushed me in the car to close the door. my mother squished into him in the process and he actually pushed back! talk about bonehead.

 

[Magpie]

we had a really bad ride on this once. as two people my mother and i often ended up in rows with other people on rides like this. the gentleman at the end of the party already seated in the row did not want us coming in. so after the CM walked away as we climbed in he opened his legs up, knees out. his stance was so wide i didn't fit! it was really uncomfortable when the CM came over and basically pushed me in the car to close the door. my mother squished into him in the process and he actually pushed back! talk about bonehead.

Ellen's Energy ride is another one that sometimes brings out the worst in people. I once let a little old lady push her way into the row ahead of me (I mean, she's old, right?), and immediately FIVE of her entourage elbowed in and filled up the row leaving me stranded.

I turned around to look for another place to sit and this woman in the car on the other side said, "I can't believe she just did that!"

So I said, "Can I sit with you guys?"

The family scootched over, and there was plenty of room. I'm glad. I'd rather have ridden with them than rude people anyway.

The ride wasn't even crowded! They just wanted to sit front row center. I figured the joke was on them... The center car is last in line!

 

[TDC Nala]

I would not want to ride in a TTA vehicle alone with someone I don't know. If they made me do that I just wouldn't ride it.

Don't care if anyone is sitting in the other cars though.

 

[Florida Dreamin']

Heaven forbid someone wants someone to sit with on a rollercoaster. It's in total like a 90 second rollercoaster, whats the kid going to do? Give him a break.

 

[si-am]

I would not want to ride in a TTA vehicle alone with someone I don't know. If they made me do that I just wouldn't ride it.

Don't care if anyone is sitting in the other cars though.

I totally agree.

I've ridden with strangers on RnRC and ToT. No problem.

TTA is something altogether more "intimate," though. Talk about awkward.

 

[mesaboy2]

Heaven forbid someone wants someone to sit with on a rollercoaster. It's in total like a 90 second rollercoaster, whats the kid going to do? Give him a break.

As long as both someones are okay with it, then sure. But if you read the OP's situation, I think you might see their discomfort.

I agree with Magpie that this is a good healthy discussion on the topic.

And Big Thunder is closer to 200 seconds then 90.

 

[sarmat1]

In my case, the wait time for BTMRR said 10 minutes but it was almost walk on (it was almost closing time at 3AM EMH's... yes we are hardcore.)

Well with those facts, we could take the thread in a whole new direction and ask WTH you were thinking having your 8 and 9 yo girls still out at 3AM?

 

[ppony]

I think this would be a completely different discussion if ONE person were seated there and another person "filled the spot". But once two people were already in that seat, there was no spot left to fill. That is quite reasonable to expect. But in fact, he was the THIRD person into a spot designed for TWO.

Agreed 100%!
Would it have been me or my DH in the same situation as the OP, we would have been equally as unhappy.
While most people are agreeing on this, some seem to be bent on arguing.

Well with those facts, we could take the thread in a whole new direction and ask WTH you were thinking having your 8 and 9 yo girls still out at 3AM?

I'm hoping your smilies at the end means you are using sarcasm because none of us know the OP and his family. They may easily be night owls and they may not start at 5 or 6 am like some of us do. Maybe they nappedmid-day? Who knows, who cares. WDW has most of us doing hours and days far longer than normal. If the kids were up to it, then more power to them. My kids have far more energy than I do while drinking the Disney Kool-aid.