Can't believe what I saw on BTM

[dizprincess27]

I would have been horrified and scared to death that at any moment one of those boys would be beheaded right in front of us! I happen to be a worry wart and safety on rides is one of those things I don't take lightly at all. I believe you did the right thing and it's a shame that others can't see that you were trying to protect those boys as they are just kids after all and do things like that sometimes. It's because of this attitude that people will walk by someone needing help or getting murdered for gods sake seriously let's all just mind our own business and walk on by while someone is in jeopardy!!!

 

[Turn the Page]

I really don't get your gripe with me, or why I was so bothered by the actions of those kids.

I really don't understand why you were so bothered by the actions of those kids. Yes, they did something stupid. Kids do stupid things all the time. Adults do stupid things all the time. How often do we hear about the dangers of drunk driving? There are tv commercials, internet campaigns, billboards, literature at the DMV. No one can claim they weren't told it's a bad idea but people, adults and kids, get busted for it every day. The kids were told about the safety precautions when they got on the ride and chose to ignore them.

My point with you is that you have complained to everyone you could think to complain to and yet months later you and your daughter still appear to be traumatized by the incident so perhaps another method of coping rather than finding yet another venue to complain to would be more effective.

 

[maj42169]

~This is interesting. I think the school should have written the letter and I totally blame the school. Teens need to be chaperoned at all times, it's been like this from the beginning of time. This is Juvenile Delinquency 101.

~I hope your daughter feels better and can put the incident behind her.

Thanks, my daughter is doing fine. She started having dreams again because I told her we may be going to Disney around Easter.

As for the school, I tried to find the chaperones of that group. These boys did much more than just stand on BTMR. They were not with an adult that I could find, thus the reason I contacted the school. Had they not been wearing their a lets, I wouldn't have ever known where they were from, I would have only known that they were with a school group that was performing at Disney .

I give credit to the headmaster of that school. He took the time and effort to find me so that he could apologize on behalf of his students, as well as had them write me letters. All he had was my name and that I was a teacher in My state. He could have just let it go, but he didn't. Part of their school motto is to build strong character, so He searched me out, and I appreciate that he cared enough about the total growth of his students to have them personally apologize to myself and to my daughter.

 

[Turn the Page]

I would have been horrified and scared to death that at any moment one of those boys would be beheaded right in front of us! I happen to be a worry wart and safety on rides is one of those things I don't take lightly at all. I believe you did the right thing and it's a shame that others can't see that you were trying to protect those boys as they are just kids after all and do things like that sometimes. It's because of this attitude that people will walk by someone needing help or getting murdered for gods sake seriously let's all just mind our own business and walk on by while someone is in jeopardy!!!

The bolded part is a bit of a stretch. I'm not suggesting she shouldn't have said anything. She reported the incident to the ride attendants and security. The point is she has no way of knowing if anything was done to the boys by Disney. As far as I know they don't normally advertise that stuff.

My point is that four months later she is still complaining about it. What does she hope to accomplish by complaining to an internet message board? The incident clearly didn't bother her enough to not go back to Disney World but it did bother her enough to continue to report the incident to people that are not in any kind of position to do anything about it.

 

[BudgieMama]

What I find interesting in this is that there is no system lock light on the cars (I thought that was pretty standard- ride attendants get a green light on each car to indicate that restraints are properly locked) and that the ride wasn't stopped. I've been evacuated from a much smaller coaster at a park over here because some teens managed to get out from under the bar and stand up. It sent the ride into automatic shutdown.

We were given the equivalent of a fast pass to ride again with no queue once the ride was back up, and the security team were waiting by the exit to escort the offenders from the park when they had been evacuated. The team at Thorpe Park were pretty great at dealing with it.

 

[writermommy6]

I am surprised that Disney did nothing. Even our local Six Flags goes down the line and physically checks the safety bars. They will even make you hold your hands up to check the bar. Sounds like the CMs are getting lazy. I would have said something to the CM about checking the bars and then complained about the groups overall behavior. Sounds like the boys actually harassed you about telling on them. Unfortunately I would just use this as a training lesson for your own DD. I have four kids and I find other teen behavior to be a perfect time to point out they aren't invincible. Sorry it happened.

 

[maj42169]

I really don't understand why you were so bothered by the actions of those kids. Yes, they did something stupid. Kids do stupid things all the time. Adults do stupid things all the time. How often do we hear about the dangers of drunk driving? There are tv commercials, internet campaigns, billboards, literature at the DMV. No one can claim they weren't told it's a bad idea but people, adults and kids, get busted for it every day. The kids were told about the safety precautions when they got on the ride and chose to ignore them.

My point with you is that you have complained to everyone you could think to complain to and yet months later you and your daughter still appear to be traumatized by the incident so perhaps another method of coping rather than finding yet another venue to complain to would be more effective.

Sadly, you see it as"complaining" or "tattling" as someone else put it. I see it as caring for the well being of others. I am a teacher, and it is part of who I am to see that children are safe. Whether it be my own child, my students, or strangers that I me. In contact with, I have compassion for them. I would only hope that if my own child were to act so recklessly that there would be a caring adult that would be willing to get involved and try to guide her into making good choices!

I'm thankful that those boys didn't have to learn a much harsher lesson, one of injury, or even death. As for my "coping" abilities, you do not know me or my child. Does this situation consume her every thought, of course not. Does the idea of going back to Disney or any park and riding another coaster scare her, yes. Am I going to seek "therapy" for that...absolutely not.

It amazes me that some people can't take a post for what it is. Too many times people jump on the threads and make comments that are condescending and unnecessary.

 

[EMode]

During our Thanksgiving trip, we witnessed a group of boys sporting a respectable private school letter jackets on the BTMR ride. These boys pretended to have their lap bars clasped, even acted like they were trying to lift up the bars as the workers went past to check. But, then once we started out onto the track these three rows of boys all started to stand up on the. Ride. They pretended the lap bars were closed but really were planning to try and stand the entire ride. One of them even climbed up and was standing on the seat. I was scared to death that these kids were going to get severely injured or worse. One boy was standing up trying to pull the bats off as we. Went through the cave. He nearly go this head knocked on the bones as we went by. I kept yelling at them to sit down, they didn't seem to care or listen. When the ride was over the happened to be a security man waiting where we exited the seats. I approached both the worker and security am. And told them what had happened. Their response to me was, and I quote, "that is not what he is here for!"

I went to the main hall to file an official complaint. They didn't seem the least bit interested I. What I had to report. Now, I know they have cameras on all of the rides. It would have been easy for the to check out what I was saying. It was pretty much brushed off, and I was never contacted in any way from the company.

Why would you be contacted after you gave them a report? If there was a camera they could have looked at it and saw what happened, there would be no need to contact you for anything

Sorry your dd was traumatized, I'm sure it was very scary for her to watch.

 

[maj42169]

I am surprised that Disney did nothing. Even our local Six Flags goes down the line and physically checks the safety bars. They will even make you hold your hands up to check the bar. Sounds like the CMs are getting lazy. I would have said something to the CM about checking the bars and then complained about the groups overall behavior. Sounds like the boys actually harassed you about telling on them. Unfortunately I would just use this as a training lesson for your own DD. I have four kids and I find other teen behavior to be a perfect time to point out they aren't invincible. Sorry it happened.

The boys DID harass my family about mentioning it to the CM and security. They followed us around the park, yelling profanities,etc. until I finally said something to them. It was ridiculous behavior, and totally uncalled for. Like I said, this post. Isn't about the boys' behaviors after the fact, it was about the safety issue of that ride.

 

[mousehockey37]

Why would you be contacted after you gave them a report? If there was a camera they could have looked at it and saw what happened, there would be no need to contact you for anything

Sorry your dd was traumatized, I'm sure it was very scary for her to watch.

It has been the case that with things that get reported that Disney will do follow-up and actually call you once your stay is over.

 

[Angel Ariel]

What am I getting at? Probably not one of them was 18 years old, the technical age of being able to make decisions for ones self, so is a chaperone needed to assume that "personal responsibility" for those 6 boys? Apparently in this specific example... yes.

Considering Disney allows 14 year old to enter the park alone, I'm pretty sure the high schoolers qualify (by that policy) to take responsibility for their own actions.

IMO, it's ridiculous to say that high schoolers should have an adult present at all times. my HS performing groups took overseas trips - like London - and we definitely did not have an adult present with us at all times. We were old enough to understand the rules the school set out for us, and if we didn't abide by them, there were consequences.

 

[EMode]

It has been the case that with things that get reported that Disney will do follow-up and actually call you once your stay is over.

Things like seeing kids stand up on a ride? I could see if something was done directly to you but it seems a extreme for you to know what happened to the boys after the fact and IMO its none of your business.
I guess I fall into the category that reporting it would be good enough for me. I don't need to know what or if Disney did anything and I wouldn't even want to be contacted over something like that. Obviously YMMV.

 

[momtobrynncess]

Ok, I have to chime in here, and it's not going to be pretty.

First, I don't blame OP for posting, contacting who she felt she needed to, and for being concerned that her child would have lingering anxieties regarding what she saw. Some of the things I see at WDW are downright disturbing, and the lack of manners, respect and common sense are astounding. I once saw a mother (I use the term loosely) allowing her small child to urinate on the walk up/queue area on BTM.

Disney monitors EVERYTHING on those rides. Clearly, the responses OP received from those at Disney she contacted were less than she expected. Hopefully Disney did something we simply aren't aware of to rectify the situation. By that I mean doing something to ensure this type of activity does not occur again without being immediately addressed at the time it is occurring. As another poster said, they saw a situation corrected immediately.

Ok, here's the not pretty part. As for the posts from turn the page, I think you're way out of line in your attack on OP. And by the way, what if someone were to say, "Don't you know how those inner city school kids act sometimes? Have you never heard they are holy terrors and think they can get away with anything?" I think a whole lot of folks would get their panties in a wad with a comment like that. Your comment about private school kids was inappropriate. I realize that the comment did not say EVERY kid behaves that way, but to say what you said was inappropriate.

The fact of the matter is, if they were donning attire advertising their school, they should be representing their school in a respectable way, be it private or public. Contacting the headmaster was completely appropriate. Good for you OP!

Ok, I'm ready for the flames.

 

[tsme]

It would've upset me too if I were to see kids standing in a ride like that. OP did the right thing by bringing it to Disney's attention. I wouldn't have gone so far as going to the town hall, but that's me. I might have mentioned it on disboards when I got home because it's just so crazy. I don't think other posters should be attacking the OP for posting months later or how she handled it. Honestly, she's sharing her experience, if someone doesn't like what she did or doesn't understand why she's posting now, then they don't have to continue to read the post. It's really that simple. This a friendly (mostly) board where people come to share their experiences. Let's all be nice.

 

[shepd]

Having been to a private school myself (that my parents put me in because they believed it would provide a better education--they worked hard to pay for it, unlike most parents there) I learned something firsthand:

Private schools are extended daycare for adult babies (or young adults as schools prefer to call them). Parents with cash love them because that type of place rarely, if ever, bugs them about problems, preferring do deal with issues "internally".

My personal opinion is that the law should provide an exemption where, if you purposely disable the safeties on a ride for yourself, you are responsible for any and all injuries you cause to yourself AND any and all damage caused to the ride from your stupidity.

 

[Kate and Family]

If I were the mother of one of those boys, I would have sent a note along with their apologies, with my heart felt thanks.

 

[mousehockey37]

Considering Disney allows 14 year old to enter the park alone, I'm pretty sure the high schoolers qualify (by that policy) to take responsibility for their own actions.

IMO, it's ridiculous to say that high schoolers should have an adult present at all times. my HS performing groups took overseas trips - like London - and we definitely did not have an adult present with us at all times. We were old enough to understand the rules the school set out for us, and if we didn't abide by them, there were consequences.

Well, to each his own on this one. No 2 people are going to see eye to eye with this. My high school band went and performed in Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade, that was THE most awesome band experience EVER, anyway, we all had our chaperones. When I took my middle schoolers, yes MIDDLE SCHOOLERS to NYC to see Broadway shows, they all had chaperones, as one would expect.

Even on the high school trips, we were told that if you break the rules, you're out and paying to get home. Just because Disney allows 14 year old patrons to enter without an adult, doesn't mean that the 14 year old is capable of making adult decisions. That's up to PARENTING to decide that.

As I said, the norm for high school trips to Disney is that the kids have to be in a group and they can do as they please in the park for the day. Normally it takes an incident like this to ruin it for the next few trips, then they'll allow it again.

There is no chaperoning debate here because I've seen many adults that could use chaperones, and not kids.

 

[flutterby3744]

Teenage boys do dumb things. Really dumb. It's not uncommon for school groups to let high schoolers go off on their own, and then meet up at designated time/places. They are old enough to be on their own, but maybe not wise enough I remember taking a school trip to WDW in high school..and man, the thought of my kids doing some of the things we did scares the bejezus out of me!

The only things that surprise me about your post is that Disney doesn't check lap bars, or that your DD was traumatized. Honestly, if my kids saw it it would be scary while on the ride, but after the fact they would shake their heads at the stupidity of the boys and use as a good example of how NOT to behave.

 

[2Monkeys]

OP - I would have felt and acted the same way. My children attend private school, and I can assure you, that behavior would not be tolerated. But, our school would not send the kids off on their own without a chaperone either.

I am sorry that your daughter is scared to go back to WDW. Hopefully this trip will be without drama and she will be able to put the incident behind her. I hope you have a wonderful trip with new and fun memories.


PS - I am continually amazed at people who take the time to criticize others for their thoughts and feelings. I would think that all of us have better things to do than to put others down.

 

[mousehockey37]

Things like seeing kids stand up on a ride? I could see if something was done directly to you but it seems a extreme for you to know what happened to the boys after the fact and IMO its none of your business.
I guess I fall into the category that reporting it would be good enough for me. I don't need to know what or if Disney did anything and I wouldn't even want to be contacted over something like that. Obviously YMMV.

When you're an educator, you're more than a chaperone or a parent. Educators are conditioned through years and years of countless hours of seminars of being able to notice anything and everything.

What is second nature for us to take interest in, can and will be seen by others to be us being nosy or taking interest where others wouldn't.