Crazy experience at It's a Small World

[they!]

honestly, im disgusted by their behavior. i don't even know what i would do in a situation like that.

it shames me that as a teenager, i have to be categorized with people who behave like that.

my god!

 

[agravette]

Well, they say it takes all sorts of folks to make up the world, but that was pretty weird!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

I am completely dumbfounded watching this. I can't believe someone would ACTUALLY do that! And the mom looks so happy, like it's such a fun, memorable family moment!

I'm not implying that the OP was in the wrong for not saying anything to a CM. That said, if it were me, I would've been calling one over to our boat before we even got to the dock. I have a hard enough time keeping quiet when people are using flash during a ride (and I'm not always successful at that), I really don't think I could've sat quiet through this ride.

 

[kmk1180]

Now I agree with everyone they were acting rudely and shouldn't have done that...
But maybe they just didn't know better.

OP said mother clearly brought out a roll of money to resupply the kids.
So this was planned ahead of time.
Is it possible this was their first trip to Disney and someone said to them..."So you're going to Disney, ya we love It's a Small World, when you go there, you'll see tons of people throw money in there."
So the parents thought, ok, we'll do that to and have coins ready.

Not realizing the person meant people toss money in the water not throw it at the ride.

Just saying.

 

[Eljay]

Now I agree with everyone they were acting rudely and shouldn't have done that...
But maybe they just didn't know better.

OP said mother clearly brought out a roll of money to resupply the kids.
So this was planned ahead of time.
Is it possible this was their first trip to Disney and someone said to them..."So you're going to Disney, ya we love It's a Small World, when you go there, you'll see tons of people throw money in there."
So the parents thought, ok, we'll do that to and have coins ready.

Not realizing the person meant people toss money in the water not throw it at the ride.

Just saying.

I see your point and I understand how that might have been the case, but, after the first coin went astray and hit a person or chipped paint on the ride, the parents should have stopped the kids and should have taken the coins away if they continued to wildly fling them.

How would they like it if the kids threw coins in the house? Aiming at lamps, windows, furniture, etc?

 

[jrc-elpaso]

I guess we can be thankful they didn't pick up a pocketful of rocks before going on the ride. It looks like my first trip to WDW is going to be interesting - I may get some good pics (still photos since I don't have a video camera).

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

How would they like it if the kids threw coins in the house? Aiming at lamps, windows, furniture, etc?

Good point!

Does someone monitor the boats as they're moving through the attraction? Someone upthread mentioned if you stand up, an announcement will be made, which makes me think they are monitored.

So, had the OP said something to a CM as soon as the ride finished, would they have any proof to back them up? Wouldn't the family just walk away as the discussion was taking place?

I guess I'm just wondering -- we're all in agreement that the family's behavior was mind-bogglingly stupid, but what *really* could have been done after the fact? (Honestly curious here.)

 

[mickaholic4077]

 

[Anglefan]

You should have said loudly that you are videotaping their behavior and it will be shown to security. There has to be some sort of confrontation here or else they have no way of knowing their behavior will not be accepted.

 

[ShannonMB]

As others have said, the thing that gets me is the mom. Can't really blame the kids for doing something that is totally being endorsed by a mom who is obviously egging them on and laughing like it's the most charming thing in the world. What an idiot. Grrr.

 

[Planogirl]

Once again, Disney seems to turn a blind eye to such things. Their attitude really puzzles me because from what I understand these rides are monitored and it appears that no CM ever tried to put a stop to it.

 

[cap'njack.]

Love it!

What wonderfully raised children

Although I was at Legoland, Windsor yesterday and watched a small child climbing over a fence to take a car from the London model...while the parent was stood there laughing at him

 

[laceemouse]

Call me crazy, but I have a feeling that parents who let their kids do something like this on a ride in WDW would probably think it is really cool that their delinquent kids were on the internet...they'd probably even show it off to their friends.

Agreed. I would have told a CM about this. So sad.

 

[Epcot4Me]

That is just bizarre. I can't even imagine what would make parents think it is ok to chuck coins like that.

Also, I'm curious what kind of coins these were...quarters would make it quite the expensive ride!

 

[Traveliz]

Good point!

Does someone monitor the boats as they're moving through the attraction? Someone upthread mentioned if you stand up, an announcement will be made, which makes me think they are monitored.

So, had the OP said something to a CM as soon as the ride finished, would they have any proof to back them up? Wouldn't the family just walk away as the discussion was taking place?

I guess I'm just wondering -- we're all in agreement that the family's behavior was mind-bogglingly stupid, but what *really* could have been done after the fact? (Honestly curious here.)

I don't know for sure at IASW but my daughter is a cast member and has friends who work other boat attractions (The Land) and they have CMs who are monitoring the boats via monitors. I am thinking they do at Pirates also but not sure on that. At any rate I would assume they would at IASW also.

I know the ride she works at (not a boat attraction) monitors people while in line and on the attraction.

Liz

 

[rainydayplay]

Also, I'm sorry, but I find it strange that you are so concerned about a grainy video where you can't see the kids faces (and they aren't even your kids), but you have a picture of a child (I assume that is your child) on your signature?

There is a difference in putting something up for the world to see because you want it there, and some one else putting up the same thing without getting your permission first. (Personally, I understand that privacy is essentially out the window in public. I'd be more outraged if I had given some one a picture and they posted it than over film some one else took in the dark where you can't really see anything.)

That said, back to topic -- which is the fact that children were doing something damaging and potentially harmful on a ride. My shock is not that the OP didn't say anything to a CM. I would think the person who was hit with the coins would have said something. And the way those boats come in, you'd have known if he did or not. I think I would have had a lot to say if some one was hitting me with anything.

 

[kissthemouse]

Maybe I've just been oblivious, but seriously...you're not supposed to take flash photography on IASW?? I do...I took a whole bunch last trip and noone said anything...

 

[Mississippianna]

I have never heard of tossing coins in the water before. I know I would have been horrified to the point of not knowing what to say if it had been me behind this family. Wow. And I thought being behind the family taking pictures with a flash on Pirates that one time was bad. This upsets me on a different level.

The thing is, I should think you wouldn't have to say something. It's supposed to be the cast's responsibility to monitor the ride, and ask people to sit down and not throw things. Right?

 

[bradk]

minor points, but disney is not a public space. aside from the very basic element that you pay admission to get inside the park, disney can easily have you removed for trespassing for any reason they see fit. in theory, they could ban all use on cameras and video cameras, but it's not a practical nor enforceable rule and it wouldn't really make for good business sense when your bread and butter is helping to create memories.

this is a total aside, but it's a small world is generally littered with coins. which is extremely unfortunate as there are wishing wells/fountains on property whose coins are regularly collected and donated to charity. by the time small world gets cleaned out, the extreme majority of coins aren't fit for being passed on.

as for flash, it's generally not acceptable in dark rides because the bright light has a really negative impact on the enlarged pupils of other guests. but in all fairness, iasw isn't really that dark to begin with so the flash is just a minor annoyance. it's a big difference from someone taking flash photos in pirates for example. or especially peter pan.

 

[kissthemouse]

as for flash, it's generally not acceptable in dark rides because the bright light has a really negative impact on the enlarged pupils of other guests. but in all fairness, iasw isn't really that dark to begin with so the flash is just a minor annoyance. it's a big difference from someone taking flash photos in pirates for example. or especially peter pan.

Makes sense I guess...I just never thought about it...I will in December tho...lol!

PS - guilty of taking pics on Peter Pan too...probably would have on Pirates too if we had ridden that...lol!