children with fake knives/swords in parks

[Metallicat]

I have a new pet peeve. its people who allow their children to carry around those fake knives/ sword things that they buy at the POC at the MK.
I wish that parents would not allow their children to walk around with those things in huge crowds. why? because they can jab people!
one day last week we were at EPCOT walking near the China pavillion and two little boys caught my eye. they were running around (looked to be UN-supervised) play fighting with their plastic knives. I made sure that I stayed out of their way and let them get ahead of me. anyways, one of the little boys walks up to this Asian man and stabs him in the back of the leg. the man grabs his leg in pain and looks at ME like it was my kid who stabbed him. I try and tell him it wasn't my kid, but he doesn't act like he understands. so I get a mean look while he walks away holding the back of his leg and the parents never knew what happend and I feel like I got the blame for what these two little brats did.
I'm sure the parents were having a grand ole time while their kids were out stabbing people ON PURPOSE. sorry, I just had to rant a little bit, but if I had kids, they wouldnt be allowed to walk around with those things.

 

[EthansMom]

Yeah, a relative bought my son, then 2, one of the light up swords. When we got home, I kept having to take it away because he would hit stuff/people with it. Finally just donated it to Goodwill. Swords/knives and kids don't mix.

 

[dizagain]

Just got back yesterday, and I know what you mean! To me, the light sabers are much worse! These kids would break out in battle anywhere and anytime and pretty soon others would join them! I'm a mom of girls, so I guess we're not so into that stuff. Once at the bus stop a little boy was waving his saber around and running up to people charging them. He "stabbed" my husband and the boy's dad just laughed and asked his son if he killed the whatever-the character's-name-was. Interesting behavior!

 

[dudspizza]

Just got back yesterday, and I know what you mean! To me, the light sabers are much worse! These kids would break out in battle anywhere and anytime and pretty soon others would join them! I'm a mom of girls, so I guess we're not so into that stuff. Once at the bus stop a little boy was waving his saber around and running up to people charging them. He "stabbed" my husband and the boy's dad just laughed and asked his son if he killed the whatever-the character's-name-was. Interesting behavior!

Oh how I am so glad I am a dad of two girls! That stuff drives me nuts. My dad used to say that boys should start school a year later because they are not as mature as girls are at the younger ages. My DW would argue that boys (and men) never catch up!

Duds

 

[buddy&wooz]

I've got three boys, and you can add me to the camp that can't stand swords and light sabers in the parks! I won't buy them.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

Oh how I am so glad I am a dad of two girls! That stuff drives me nuts. My dad used to say that boys should start school a year later because they are not as mature as girls are at the younger ages. My DW would argue that boys (and men) never catch up!

Duds

Lighten up!!! you're in Disney World -- where kids (and even adults) can and should act like kids.
Those light up swords fold faster than a bad hand in a poker game.
Everyone should slow down and stop commando touring and join the magic and fun!!!!!!

I'm sure everyone's little girls are as sweet as sugar and spice and everything nice --- someone pinch me, I must be dreaming .

Proud mom to 2 pirate lovin' boys !!!!!!

 

[mom2riceboys]

Amen! I have two little boys who were sword fighting with their new light sabres at MGM last week. They didn't stab anyone except each other and of course, me! Personally, I find little boys sword fighting much more tolerable than little girls shrieking and crying in the parks each time they don't get their way.

 

[momto2inKC]

My son is a responsible sword user lol He bought a light up one for Spectromagic. He was very careful to not jab anyone. He sat nicely and watched the parade, then handed it over to me afterwards.
Now, I will complain about the little boy standing in front of me that smacked me a billion times with his! Half my pics I took of the parade had his sword usually right in the middle. I finally had to say something to his mom after he continued to smack me with it. She moved him and the lucky person on the other side started getting smacked by him.

 

[Bunch24]

While we're at it, let's make sure we take away all the little princess wands, because I'm pretty sure somebody has had their eye poked out by a "princess-to-be."

Lighten up.

It's Disney World. Let the kids have fun.

Don't make the bad kids suffer for the ones that are responsible enough to not swing it at other people.

Once, I had a kid drop her ice cream cone on my foot. Should we ban all ice cream cones also?

Some people act like Disney is JUST for them. Reality check, it's not just for you. It's for everybody, even people that do things you may not like.

 

[slk537]

I suspect many people have gotten jabbed by swords - as well as bonked by princess wands. As the mother of a son and a being a former sugar and spice little girl myself, I don't think we can square this on either sex. Kids like to wave things around and it's hard for them to resist the temptation. I'm not a big fan of the huge pirate store either (except the jewelry...I do like that ), but DS loves it and DH loves to indulge him there. However - as stated on so many threads here - while children do need to have the restraint not to hit anyone (accidentally or on purpose) parents absolutely have the responsibility to watch their children and make sure they don't hurt anyone. Absolutely.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Maybe we should just ban kids from the parks...

 

[WillCAD]

All of this is just a sympton of, "I'm having fun, everyone else can get out of my way!" syndrome, which seems to be pervasive in our culture.

"Lighten up" is a fine sentiment, until that kid whose right to wave his lightsaber around in public you're defending happens to hit you... or, god forbid, YOUR kid, then you'll sing a different tune. "Hey, tell your kid to stop waving his lightsaber around, he just whacked my 3 year old and made him cry!"

Waving lightsabers, smoking, throwing trash, talking on cell phones... all of these are perfectly acceptable behaviors, but they all have reasonable limits placed on when, where, and how they can be enjoyed. My opinion has always been that your right to do whatever you want stops when it begins to affect me against my will. And whacking me with a lightsaber, blowing smoke on me, throwing trash in a place where I intend to eat lunch, or talking on a cell phone over the sounds of a show or attraction that I am enjoying all affect me against my will.

So I'll lighten up as long as others show basic consideration for my rights. I love to see kids playing with lightsabers, as long as they DON'T HIT ME. I defend peoples' rights to smoke, as long as they DON'T FORCE ME TO BREATHE IT. I am perfectly content to let folks throw trash, as long as it is IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLE. And talking on cell phones is a favorite activity of mine, just NOT ON RIDES OR IN SHOWS.

 

[DISUNC]

Kids PLAYING is Disney World!
What is this world coming too?

 

[Brendita]

That bugs the H out of me to.
My youngest now DS 11.
Has grown up with 3 rules when it comes to toys.
NO GUNS NO KNIVES NO SWORDS.
We have been place where other boys want him to play.
He always tells them I'm not allowed.
We were @ the pool one day some boys had water guns.
I remember him telling them he couldn't play with them.
One boy told that's Ok you can use my gun.
I over heard my DS tel them you don't understand.
My Mom will only allow me to play with you without the guns.
They call him a baby.
His answer back was I would rather be alive & be a baby than be stupid.
He went back to his swimming.
I didn't even ask him about it he seen kind of mad @ the boys.
I don't expect boys to play with dolls but why do they have to play with weapons?

 

[dizagain]

Um...just checked back with this thread because I KNEW what I would find and I was right. I have girls who are not perfect angels, they are kids. I love WDW and the magical, whimsical feelings it produces in everyone as well as the actions that come about because of that. Swords, wands, whatever waving around are fine. Full-throttle battles that are bothersome to others and parents who allow them aren't. Happy thoughts!

 

[gigi1313]

add my son to the list of sword/saber-toters in the parks... but he does so responsibly... i have nothing against kids that play w/weapons as long as they know they're playing... i recall two families that kept their kids weapon free... one used to nibble his chicken nuggets into the shape of a tiny gun and shoot his sister across the table whenever mom turned her back... the other (my nephew) was sheltered from any and all violence (tv, toys, cartoons, water squirters, etc) and he joined the marine corps and became a sharpshooter... go figure!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Just my opinion, but a kid that runs up to an adult stranger in a theme park and jabs them in the back of the leg isn't being raised right.

 

[scarboroughmom]

I don't mind the swords, lightsabers, etc, as long as the kids are just carrying them around. Once they start sword fighting and bashing innocent bystanders, the kids should be disarmed.

We have a standing rule for all vacations, we don't buy any toys. On our first WDW trip, we wasted more time while they looked at toys; worried about what toys they could buy; wanted something different after the chosen toy did not work out the way they wanted it to; broke the toys and wanted it fixed/replaced; hit people waving the toys around. We wasted any hour in EPCOT one day looking for a lost pair of Buzz Lightyear sunglasses.

After some initial whining, they now accept the no-toy rule. Our subsequent trips have been more peaceful and more fun without it. Also, having every single ride dump you out into a gift shop is irritating. If there is a particular toy that is not available at ToysRUs, and that they seem genuinely interested in, I will sometimes secretly have it shipped home so that it can show up under the Christmas tree. And we have more money for the Hoop De Doo Review, or another Character meal, or to come back a little sooner. And I have fewer forgotten toys to deal with at home.

 

[Meezers]

All of this is just a sympton of, "I'm having fun, everyone else can get out of my way!" syndrome, which seems to be pervasive in our culture.

"Lighten up" is a fine sentiment, until that kid whose right to wave his lightsaber around in public you're defending happens to hit you... or, god forbid, YOUR kid, then you'll sing a different tune. "Hey, tell your kid to stop waving his lightsaber around, he just whacked my 3 year old and made him cry!"

Waving lightsabers, smoking, throwing trash, talking on cell phones... all of these are perfectly acceptable behaviors, but they all have reasonable limits placed on when, where, and how they can be enjoyed. My opinion has always been that your right to do whatever you want stops when it begins to affect me against my will. And whacking me with a lightsaber, blowing smoke on me, throwing trash in a place where I intend to eat lunch, or talking on a cell phone over the sounds of a show or attraction that I am enjoying all affect me against my will.

So I'll lighten up as long as others show basic consideration for my rights. I love to see kids playing with lightsabers, as long as they DON'T HIT ME. I defend peoples' rights to smoke, as long as they DON'T FORCE ME TO BREATHE IT. I am perfectly content to let folks throw trash, as long as it is IN THE PROPER RECEPTACLE. And talking on cell phones is a favorite activity of mine, just NOT ON RIDES OR IN SHOWS.

Very well said.

Donning flame retardent suit.

Whether boy or girl...wand or sword....any child who attacks me is going to find their weapon of choice taken from them and broken into two pieces. This is not behavior I would tolerate at any place or time. As a matter of fact....in my world....it is called assault. Just because you are at WDW does not allow children to act like animals or parents to discontinue being responsible for their behavior.

Waiting for flames now!

 

[cowtownmom]

Well, I'm the mom of a 6-year-old DD who will sword fight with the best of the boys!! She's just living to get a sword at POC on our trip this time. She wanted one 2 years ago, but we wouldn't let her get one then. As long as she's handleing it responsibly, I don't mind her having one now. She's got a wooden one we bought her at a Renaissance festival. One she gets swinging too much, we make her put it away or take it away. She's got her Star Wars light saber too and knows that hitting anyone with it is COMPLETELY off limits.

So, for the kids who are running around with the swords and wands that are out of control, I say it's the fault of the parents to allow them to run wild. Sure, we all think the kids should know better, but they are sometimes in their own little worlds and aren't thinking (or haven't been taught) about what is acceptable behavior with their "weapons". Believe me, I know. It took me quite a while to get used to the idea that I have a daughter who just loves this kind of stuff. BUT she's been taught that she can't go wacking whoever or whatever she wants.