Camping Etiquette

[Bdawgsc]

OK, so I'm going to ask this question.

I am 100% curious.

Not upset.

Not grumpy.

Not a kid-hater.

I just don't know if it's all ok or not.

So while I was at the Fort last week, the Thursday - Sunday families rolled in. As best I could tell, they weren't going to the parks and were just hanging out around their campsites relaxing.

Well, they brought with them young kids. I like kids. I was a teacher for a while. I love to see them get excited. But.

These kids were running and SCREAMING 18 hours/day. I wasn't around all that much, so I could tolerate it, except a few things.

They were running from the comfort station back to their sites. Instead of using the cut through path thing, they were running right across my camp site. Many times right up behind me under the canopy, by my car (on their bikes, eek!) and then across the street. At night, same thing. With flashlights. Which they would shine in my tent. And talking loud. Until 1 or 2am. Their parents were even with them! I thought maybe it was because of my holiday lights that they were going that way since it was well lit, so I unplugged them Friday night when I got back and still they cut right through.

And then, THEN they were up playing "cops and robbers" at 7am right behind my tent, screaming, yelling, singing, etc.

So, am I being a total grouch? I may be older than them, but I prefer more than 6 hours of sleep. I just can't imagine my parents letting me act that way all hours of the night when I was their age. Should I have said something? I didn't want to be "that guy" in the 2000 loop, but I nearly lost it when the parents decided it was ok to use my site as their cut through, too. Is there an unwritten rule that it's ok to do that? If so, I'll plan accordingly with my setup next time.

 

[stefa70]

No, you're not being grumpy or old! We had the same problem the first two nights we were there, I kept hearing 2 or 3 girls that I assumed to be about 5years old, screaming, screeching, giggling....... Turns out they were probably around 12 or 13!! I was shocked that the parents never told them to quiet down, but they didn't! The first time they cut through our site, I let my ferocious golden retriever bark his fool head off, and they never tried it again!! Mason DOES NOT like people on his site!!

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

I can say with certainty that this doesnt make you a grouch. I had issues with kids running through our site when I had put my kids "down" for a mandatory rest period. Yea, I know I just received the biggest "B" award but kids need to stay somewhat on schedule even when on vacation or they turn into monsters. I consider myself somewhat a expert on this matter.. I have 5 house critters after all I didnt get as angry at the kids as I did the parents, when we were there, a couple of families apparently knew each other, they sat around and drank cocktails all day while the children ran around like savages.. These kids had NO supervision what so ever. In fact I had to bandage a little girls knee, she was sititng in the road crying, no idea where her family was, a older sibling came by after it was all done and took her.. My kids arent perfect but they know better to invade someone's personal space, and in my opinion when your camping, that little plot of land is your personal space and should be treated as such.. but that's just me.. I think I have a little troll in my after all

 

[SCtigercock]

Agree.

I have only had one instance of something similar at a NASCAR race, and once the parents overheard me asking them to please be careful, because I was worried they could get beer spilt on them. The parents quickly got the kids under control. We were not the only ones raising eyebrows about the kids’ behavior. I received several thanks from other campers, a nice cold beer from one and by the end of the week-end everyone (including the kids and parents) were getting along great.

 

[SCtigercock]

My kids arent perfect but they know better to invade someone's personal space, and in my opinion when your camping, that little plot of land is your personal space and should be treated as such.. but that's just me.. I think I have a little troll in my after all

 

[Bdawgsc]

! The first time they cut through our site, I let my ferocious golden retriever bark his fool head off, and they never tried it again!! Mason DOES NOT like people on his site!!

The first time I gave the parents and their kids the disapproving look, giant frown, etc. It didn't seem to make a difference.

I can say with certainty that this doesnt make you a grouch. I had issues with kids running through our site when I had put my kids "down" for a mandatory rest period. Yea, I know I just received the biggest "B" award but kids need to stay somewhat on schedule even when on vacation or they turn into monsters. I consider myself somewhat a expert on this matter.. I have 5 house critters after all I didnt get as angry at the kids as I did the parents, when we were there, a couple of families apparently knew each other, they sat around and drank cocktails all day while the children ran around like savages.. These kids had NO supervision what so ever. In fact I had to bandage a little girls knee, she was sititng in the road crying, no idea where her family was, a older sibling came by after it was all done and took her.. My kids arent perfect but they know better to invade someone's personal space, and in my opinion when your camping, that little plot of land is your personal space and should be treated as such.. but that's just me.. I think I have a little troll in my after all

I guess I was shocked that these parents would do this. I mean, there was the path RIGHT BY MY SITE. Not sure what benefit it was to walk across the site. Maybe about 10 steps? I kinda felt like it was an invasion of my "space" as well. And about the kid in the road. Yep. There were young (5-8ish) kids just running down the road all alone, unattended. Cars and carts everywhere. I'd be a nervous wreck if it were my kids doing that!

Agree.

I have only had one instance of something similar at a NASCAR race, and once the parents overheard me asking them to please be careful, because I was worried they could get beer spilt on them. The parents quickly got the kids under control. We were not the only ones raising eyebrows about the kids’ behavior. I received several thanks from other campers, a nice cold beer from one and by the end of the week-end everyone (including the kids and parents) were getting along great.

I tried something similar. I had a bottle of liquor out on Friday night and poured a giant glass full and took a drink as the parents were walking by. I was hoping they'd think I was a heathen, terrible person, drunk, whatever and keep the kids away. It didn't work. I suppose if I'd still have had the tarp over my tent and one of the moms had tripped over the guy line, it would have been my fault...

 

[stefa70]

I can say with certainty that this doesnt make you a grouch. I had issues with kids running through our site when I had put my kids "down" for a mandatory rest period. Yea, I know I just received the biggest "B" award but kids need to stay somewhat on schedule even when on vacation or they turn into monsters. I consider myself somewhat a expert on this matter.. I have 5 house critters after all I didnt get as angry at the kids as I did the parents, when we were there, a couple of families apparently knew each other, they sat around and drank cocktails all day while the children ran around like savages.. These kids had NO supervision what so ever. In fact I had to bandage a little girls knee, she was sititng in the road crying, no idea where her family was, a older sibling came by after it was all done and took her.. My kids arent perfect but they know better to invade someone's personal space, and in my opinion when your camping, that little plot of land is your personal space and should be treated as such.. but that's just me.. I think I have a little troll in my after all

NO WAY do you get the biggest "B" award! It's called still being a parent even when you're on vacation. Some campers leave their common sense behind, and feel like since they're at WDW, the kids can act like little spider monkeys!

 

[Tigger1966]

I have always tried to be tolerant but when they start cutting through my site or keeping us awake I draw the line.
As much as I hate to have to enforce it when I pay for a site it is mine for my stuff

 

[Lil' Lisa]

A properly positioned clothesline about 3 feet off of the ground should do the trick.

 

[Just Beachy]

Brent, I agree with you 100%!!! You are not a grouch or a grump. It seems as though a lot of parents these days don't care what their little monsters do, or how they affect other people. I know I would have been in a lot of trouble if I'd acted that way!! The Fiends can tell you what Grandma would do... MrsGus? Can you please tell Brent what Grandma would do?

 

[Judy in Texas]

I agree with the clothes line. Properly positioned it could do the trick.

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

NO WAY do you get the biggest "B" award! It's called still being a parent even when you're on vacation. Some campers leave their common sense behind, and feel like since they're at WDW, the kids can act like little spider monkeys!

You said spider monkeys.. LOL and so true, I cant say that I don't like a nice cocktail from time to time, but I plan those vacations without the kids, or limit my intake for after they are sleeping! You just dont know what kind of freaks are out there these days. A family vacation should be just that, time for the family, not a time to dump your responsibilites off on others.. that just get's my blood a boiling! ok... I'm over it

 

[MICKEYLOVINMOMOF5]

Brent, I agree with you 100%!!! You are not a grouch or a grump. It seems as though a lot of parents these days don't care what their little monsters do, or how they affect other people. I know I would have been in a lot of trouble if I'd acted that way!! The Fiends can tell you what Grandma would do... MrsGus? Can you please tell Brent what Grandma would do?

I would have gotten a shoe to the head.. my grandma had a thing for shoes, when they came off, us kids went running!!

 

[martymarty]

A properly positioned clothesline about 3 feet off of the ground should do the trick.

thtas what I was goiong to say, but Id use some razor wire

jus kidding but ya Id have put up some "clothes line" wiht those premade skid mark underware

 

[storyteller]

Kids are always pushing the envelope seeing what they can get away with, my kids are no different. That's when you hope you raised them well enough to be respectful of others and there space, etc when your not around. But the parents should no better. Imagine if you put one foot on there site, you would have been shot. My father would have already had the barbed wire, land mines and machine gun nest set up. "Secure the perimeter." "Shoot first ask questions later".
I still have nightmares... "WHO GOES THERE? WHAT'S THE PASSWORD"... who could remember.

 

[stefa70]

Kids are always pushing the envelope seeing what they can get away with, my kids are no different. That's when you hope you raised them well enough to be respectful of others and there space, etc when your not around. But the parents should no better. Imagine if you put one foot on there site, you would have been shot. My father would have already had the barbed wire, land mines and machine gun nest set up. "Secure the perimeter." "Shoot first ask questions later".
I still have nightmares... "WHO GOES THERE? WHAT'S THE PASSWORD"... who could remember.

WOW!!!!

 

[SC DAD of 2]

You’re not grumpy at all, you showed a lot of restraint. As a Federal Officer

I would have used the maximum unnecessary amount of unlawful force to

Control the….. “parents.” !!!

 

[Magicbus]

A properly positioned clothesline about 3 feet off of the ground should do the trick.

Lisa, you're just too funny.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Lisa, you're just too funny.

You know that I would be too chicken to do it though. Just thinking about it would be enough...

 

[Bdawgsc]

You’re not grumpy at all, you showed a lot of restraint. As a Federal Officer

I would have used the maximum unnecessary amount of unlawful force to

Control the….. “parents.” !!!

I did realize it was the parents I was angry with - not the children. They'd look at me, or me and a couple of friends who were around, and walk right through the middle of us grilling or whatnot. I was just worried I was tired and that was making me cranky and so I was being very careful with my words.