Crying and Mildew and Dust, Oh MY!!

[mattsdragon]

I'd like to add one comment about the crying kids in 3D shows. Many people don't read the DIS or go to Disney often. Many parents likely haven't seen Philharmagic or Tough to be a Bug or Muppets before, and innocently bring their kids into the show, not realizing that there will be scary parts. I mean, this is WDW, right? Attractions are geared towards families, right? Who would know that so many attractions (without height requirements) would be so scary for little kids?

Have you seen Bambi?
The Fox and the Hound?
Old Yeller?

The movies have some horrific things, it stands to reason that many of the attractions would as well. That's one of the things about these attractions is that they provide thrills through suspense and sometimes surprise.

But more to my point. I don't think she was really attacking parents for bringing their children into these shows. She was merely stating an observation that since she is a New Yorker, these things always just kind of rolled off her back until she actually was on the look out for them. She never claims that they detracted from the overall experience, just that these were things she never noticed before. They may or may not have been there all along.

Parents get so sensitive as soon as anyone mentions getting annoyed by screaming children.

 

[melomouse]

But more to my point. I don't think she was really attacking parents for bringing their children into these shows. She was merely stating an observation that since she is a New Yorker, these things always just kind of rolled off her back until she actually was on the look out for them. She never claims that they detracted from the overall experience, just that these were things she never noticed before. They may or may not have been there all along.

Parents get so sensitive as soon as anyone mentions getting annoyed by screaming children.

Yes, Matt's Dragon. You understand perfectly!

Any comments about the dust & mildew, or the food that is consistent - and good - but essentially " the same" at all CS??

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Parents get so sensitive as soon as anyone mentions getting annoyed by screaming children.

No, only when the implication is that it's the parents' selfish actions that caused the children's cries.
Although, as I mentioned before, I'd hardly call it "sensitivity" when someone trys to explain why an assumption might be inaccurate. It goes both ways, you know... why do some people get so sensitive when strangers on an internet board disagree with them?

And who said anything about Old Yeller? I thought we were talking about the Muppets and Philharmagic. : I also personally had Winnie the Pooh and HISTA in mind in my post you quoted, but since I didn't mention it, I wouldn't expect anyone to realize that.

 

[tink22]

Fo those parents who do not know what a ride is about there are signs posted at each attraction that explains what happens in the ride and there are cast members that can answer any questions for you if you are not sure of what goes on. Just because a ride does not have a height requirement doesn't mean it is okay for all children. And only a parent can know their child well enough to be sure of what they would like or dislike. Phillharmagic is not supposed to be scary but if a child has a problem with loud noises or darkness then it's probably not for them. Most of us without children would just like to be shown the same courtesy that we would give to Guests with kids in return. I don't think I have 'outgrown' the Magic Kingdom, I just think it is not too much to ask to be able to enjoy a show without enduring the constant crying of a child. If they are crying that much, I would hope the parent would please try to take them out of the show to see what is wrong.
Not attacking any one parent. Just an observation from someone without kids who still loves Disney.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

For those parents who do not know what a ride is about there are signs posted at each attraction that explains what happens in the ride and there are cast members that can answer any questions for you if you are not sure of what goes on.

Really? There are signs at Winnie the Pooh that tell about Pooh's scary dream? There are signs at HISTA that tell about the big scary snake that jumps out at you, hissing? I've never seen them, I've only seen signs regarding the physically challenging aspects of certain rides. The notion of asking a CM what to expect would never even cross my mind, when my kids have grown up reading and enjoying Pooh, and have seen and enjoyed HISTK, and I don't think it should have to.

Just because a ride does not have a height requirement doesn't mean it is okay for all children.

Completely agree with you here. It ought to be pretty clear that Haunted Mansion, PotC and Snow White's Scary Adventures might scare a young child. I wasn't talking about those rides.

And only a parent can know their child well enough to be sure of what they would like or dislike. Phillharmagic is not supposed to be scary but if a child has a problem with loud noises or darkness then it's probably not for them.

Actually, no parent can ever be sure (but I used to think that before I had kids too ). Kids can make some pretty abrupt changes. What bothers them one day will be no big deal the next day and vice versa. I truly believe the majority of parents do not purposefully expose their kids to something they think will scare them, and I do think that in a place like DisneyWorld or Disneyland, most parents aren't expecting attractions to be scary unless there is some obvious indication.

Most of us without children would just like to be shown the same courtesy that we would give to Guests with kids in return. I don't think I have 'outgrown' the Magic Kingdom, I just think it is not too much to ask to be able to enjoy a show without enduring the constant crying of a child. If they are crying that much, I would hope the parent would please try to take them out of the show to see what is wrong.

I completely agree. As I've said again and again, all I'm trying to do here is point out the inaccuracy of the assumption that when you hear a crying child, it's because his parents are selfishly putting their needs above his.

 

[kilee]

Really? There are signs at Winnie the Pooh that tell about Pooh's scary dream? There are signs at HISTA that tell about the big scary snake that jumps out at you, hissing? I've never seen them, I've only seen signs regarding the physically challenging aspects of certain rides. The notion of asking a CM what to expect would never even cross my mind, when my kids have grown up reading and enjoying Pooh, and have seen and enjoyed HISTK, and I don't think it should have to.

Actually, many rides do have signs warning of intense scenes, loud noises, prolonged darkness, fears of bugs, snakes, ect...... Some are at the ride entrance and some are printed in the park guides. These do include HISTK, ITTBAB, Snow White, to name a few that I am positive about.

Let's remember this is a trip planning board, not a debate board. Let's please keep the debates out of it. Thank you.

 

[mattsdragon]

No, only when the implication is that it's the parents' selfish actions that caused the children's cries.
Although, as I mentioned before, I'd hardly call it "sensitivity" when someone trys to explain why an assumption might be inaccurate. It goes both ways, you know... why do some people get so sensitive when strangers on an internet board disagree with them?

And who said anything about Old Yeller? I thought we were talking about the Muppets and Philharmagic. : I also personally had Winnie the Pooh and HISTA in mind in my post you quoted, but since I didn't mention it, I wouldn't expect anyone to realize that.

As for the first half of your rebuttal, I'll just let the irony of it sink in a little bit more. . .

Here's one of those little truths in life. . .some kids are brats. Frequently, these brats are caused and enhanced by their parents apathy and self-centered feelings. Nobody called your kids brats or said you were a crappy parent, but they do exist, and there are several of them at WDW.

As to what confused you, well, I'll post the second half of my OP. . .

The movies have some horrific things, it stands to reason that many of the attractions would as well. That's one of the things about these attractions is that they provide thrills through suspense and sometimes surprise.

I was merely pointing out that many of Disney's movies had scary moments, I was just citing some of the more scarring. But Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, even Winnie the Pooh (the Heffalump and Woozle dream in Blustery Day) have some frightening moments for kids. In fact, the Pooh ride is from the movie I mentioned. Heck, Snow White's ride is called Scary.

Again, the original point of this thread was someone making an observation that they hadn't made on previous trips. But because crying children were mentioned, a ton of people got their panties in a wad because they assumed that their children/parenting skills were being called out on the floor.

Read melomouse's OP one more time please

 

[AnaheimGirl]

Here's one of those little truths in life. . .some kids are brats. Frequently, these brats are caused and enhanced by their parents apathy and self-centered feelings. Nobody called your kids brats or said you were a crappy parent, but they do exist, and there are several of them at WDW.

I never said they did. Again, I like to discuss things, and I don't see why so many are getting so bent out of shape over a few people pointing out reasons why an assumption may not be valid.

I was merely pointing out that many of Disney's movies had scary moments, I was just citing some of the more scarring. But Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, even Winnie the Pooh (the Heffalump and Woozle dream in Blustery Day) have some frightening moments for kids. In fact, the Pooh ride is from the movie I mentioned. Heck, Snow White's ride is called Scary.

Um, yea, I said that about Snow White's ride, too. Obviously you know a lot about Disney movies and stories. My only point in this tangent is that not every knows as much about Disney as you do. Winnie the Pooh is not normally thought of as frightening, and you can't expect the average, non-Disney-obsessed, non-DIS-Board reading parents to assume that it will be.

But because crying children were mentioned, a ton of people got their panties in a wad because they assumed that their children/parenting skills were being called out on the floor.

Again, it wasn't just that crying children were mentioned. It was that the OP "chalked it up to...mom and dad's need to see the show" Obviously you don't read that sentence the way I (and others) do. To me, it makes an assumption that mom and dad are forcing a child to watch a show just because they want to, and I don't like seeing such assumptions, so I point them out. It's funny, I think a bunch of people are getting their panties in a wad about this, too. On most other boards I post on, my comments would have received a polite "oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize my comment would be taken that way, that's not what I meant", and that would be the end of it. :

 

[melomouse]

This is what I wrote.....

"I chalked it up to tired kids and fears of darkness and Mom & Dad's need to see the show.No problem - it IS WDW - a theme park for families. Easy come, easy go."

What I heard and the rationale as to what was happening ...

"OP "chalked it up to...mom and dad's need to see the show" Obviously you don't read that sentence the way I (and others) do. To me, it makes an assumption that mom and dad are forcing a child to watch a show just because they want to, and I don't like seeing such assumptions, so I point them out. "

AG, I will fess up completely as to what I meant. As I heard these poor very young kids crying in those 3D shows, I thought it was a combination of one, two or all three of those factors. I could tell by where they occurred in the show, the time of day and the pitch and volume of the cries.

And yes, I have witnessed, particularly in WDW, many parents meeting their own needs instead of their kids' under the guise of magic and family fun. I think I observed it even more this past trip.

No "assumption". It happens. And I think that the over-reaction to my observations/assumptions is about parents who recognize themselves. We have ALL been guilty of "pushing" our kids in one way or another at some time - but what I realized during my last trip was that WDW is a place where this kind of parenting is not so uncommon.

melomouse

 

[disneynutt1225]

the crying kids, not the dirty restroom.

I have to say that initially I read this as "dirty kids, crying restroom", and now someone owes me a new keyboard as I have spittled water all over mine. j/k, but I really did read it that way!

Anyway, when we were in WDW two weeks ago (Oct. 7th - 15th) we noticed a larger than normal amount of crying children. Could it have been the hot temperatures? Maybe. Could it have been being pushed too hard? Possibly. We also noticed some RATHER cranky adults. Could it have been the temperatures? Maybe. Could it have been being pushed too hard? Possibly. Frankly, I was a little cranky myself because of the heat and almost had a temper tantrum in DTD one morning because I wasn't ready to leave yet. (You may have noticed me, I was the one by World of Disney getting yelled at by my fiance because I had actually stomped my foot!!! )Moral of the story being, hey, we were in WDW and we weren't going to let anything (except a visit from my obnoxious soon-to-be mother-in-law) ruin our trip.

 

[spot28]

I read your post ... brings me back to a little reality. My opinion is that over the past few years things can be more hectic and a little less magical. Thought it was just because now I'm trying to do it with kids...but perhaps the growth of all the resorts, parks, etc.. it is just getting crazier. Years ago there were slow times; now, any weekend or week that is 'down' Disney throws in some draw (free food!, or some event) especially to the Florida residents (I've been one) to "pack 'em in". I know this is good business sense, but sometimes it does feel a grind. There were always waits for E-ticket rides, but when you have to wait in line at the fast pass machine...something's wrong.

And like Dumbo.... how simple is that ride...always a long wait with the smallest kids! How much would it cost to make another one of those?? They spent like a million dollars on that Stitch ride! Ugh. But, I still get tears in my eyes when I see the castle... and as long as I have a 4-yr old asking me daily "Can we go to the Buzz Lightyear Ride?" I still keep coming back ...

 

[jann1033]

maybe it's a local thing but some movies around here request parents do not bring young toddlers to them..personally i always wondered who in the world would think a 2-3 yr old would sit quietly through a movie and take them but it does make me wonder,,,it seems logic would tell you even thought the attractions are shorter, they are still dark and might be long for a little kid to sit still for so if the parents throw caution to the wind and take them, if the kid cries take him out...isn't that the courteous thing to do? i expect to see kids at wdw, expect to see bratty or crying or overtired kids at wdw but it would be nice to see parents of said kids at least realize they are hampering the other 200 people in the audience from enjoying the show and remove the kid no matter why they are throwing that fit. if siblings and another parent are there they can stay, if not do what my mother did when my i was a little kid & my younger brother stuck am m&m peanut up his nose during my beloved tarzan movie...we left and remarkably I have lived many more yrs even without watching that tarzan movie.

i think someone had a good point.. more people have less money to use for vacations ect so want to make every moment count to the point of maybe going overboard in some cases and ending up making everyone miserable.

 

[SoCalKDG]

First, had no problem with the OP's post.

Now, real life experience that just happened today at Disneyland. I'm there with my DW, DD1(almost 4, major disney vet), and DD2(6 weeks old, disney vet in training) along with her best friend and two daughters just about exact same ages.

First we try and get friends daughter onto Buzz, she is a big fan of Buzz, wants to go, then chickens out at last minute, crying towards ride entry, so they both get out of line.

Then we go on jungle boat. Friends daughter has been on this before, we are to the hippos, guide shoots gun(they're back), scares friends daughter, she starts crying.

Lastly, we decide to try Buzz again. I've promised the girls ice cream for lunch(bad me) and my daughter will ride with them. This time they make it to the conveyer. Wife's friend gets in(note she has baby in sling), but friend's daughter starts crying and won't get in. I pick her up, put her in the car, put my daughter in the car, then get in with my wife in the next car. Friends daughter ends up liking ride.

Now imagine you are an observer of this. Depending on what point of the situation you come in on, you may see things in many different lights. Maybe somebody thinks the kid is tired on Jungle Boat, when instead she was frightened by a loud noise. Maybe someone thinks friends daugther is being dragged onto a ride. Instead her mom knows that she will like it if she can get over the fear of the unknown.

Last situation. My DD1 has been on Matterhorn, Pirates, Splash, Thunder Mountain, TOT, etc. and likes them all. She is very tall for 3(almost 44") and has been to DLR at least 50 times and WDW for two major vacations. She loves it, like her dad(me). So she really wants to go on Space Mountain. I say ok. We go. She squeezed my arm for dear life, and at the end almost breaks into tears. She says its too fast(it seems that way) and too dark(yep - great ride, by the way). She says she will try it again when she is bigger like her cousins.

Now lets say we come out of that tunnel and she's crying and screaming. I'd imagine everyone around would think, what a terrible dad, dragging his daughter on that ride. The truth was all previous experience led both of us to believe she would like the ride. Just remember to try and not judge parents too harshly because sometimes we don't have all the info.

Thankfully we are DVC members, have AP's to both DLR and WDW and can spend 4-5 hours at the park so the kids don't get tired. We can bring our PIL to help with our newest one in January during our WDW vacation. Unfortunately for many parents, they don't have this luxury. This may be their once in five years vacation with their two kids. Sometimes they may push their kids, they will make mistakes. Hopefully most of us here can sympathize with them and not judge too harshly.

P.S. I also understand that there are the occasional terrible parent, and my sympathies go out to those kids.

 

[tink22]

AnaheimGirl -
I think you need to take it easy a minute. You have seemed very quick to 'dicuss' your opinion to what others have written. I think we can all see that the OP was just doing the same and not attacking anyone in particular. Everyone knows that not all parents are greedy and selfish and I don't think that is what was being implied. I am not trying to be nasty. I just think you are taking this a bit too personally.

 

[Ava83]

I'm one of those mothers with the little princesses. She's almost 3 and very determined to "dress up" every chance she gets. We brought her dresses for MNSSHP because she couldn't settle on one, and one morning she was adamant about wearing her Snow White dress to Epcot. Fortunately, it's more of a Halloween costume than a Disney store dress, so it's lightweight. She got her pictures with some characters in the morning, and lo and behond, we saw Snow White at the Germany pavillion and got some beautiful pictures. Then I asked her if she wanted Kaki-Gori (snow cone) in Japan knowing she would say yes, and told her she could only have it if she took off her beautiful dress.

Our daughters are the same child I am convinced.

My DD3 is very spririted and independent and loved flushing her own "potty" and if I did it...loud child. Ava never cried on any ride or in any show and we went on all the ones like HM.Potc, soarin, test track, Btm etc (people would laugh and say this little one handled it better then we did)

Although when we were going to go into the FotLK at AK and she threw a fit over her stroller, I want it I need it (what???) anyway after the most obnoxious fit ever I sent my DH and MIL in and Ava and I went off on our merry way to get her some food. The rest did her well and we got to see the next show-which she loved.

Our fits happened when we would not buy her something, or if she felt a princess dress was needed (the ice lemonade was the trick we used to get her out of her dress for a bit) the crying can be the result of any number of variables and no one knows the whole story when they see a crying kid out anywhere.

It is hard taking a kid to a place like Disney, so much is going on and interesting to them, they get overwhelmed.

 

[AnaheimGirl]

AnaheimGirl -
I think you need to take it easy a minute. You have seemed very quick to 'dicuss' your opinion to what others have written. I think we can all see that the OP was just doing the same and not attacking anyone in particular. Everyone knows that not all parents are greedy and selfish and I don't think that is what was being implied. I am not trying to be nasty. I just think you are taking this a bit too personally.

LOL! Thanks for the advice, but really, you don't know me, you can't read the tone in my posts, and you have no idea how I'm taking this. (and isn't that my point in much of this thread?)

You know what's funny? People keep saying the same things over and over in this thread. Nothing you said here hasn't been said before and I've responded to every bit of it over and over, too. It's obvious that this "discussion", if you can call it that, has run it's course. Funny thing is, I think we all pretty much agree that parents know their kids best, shouldn't force them to do things they're scared of, and that sometimes it may look that way to others when it's not.

SoCalKDG: Excellent post. With the tiny exception of the difference in interpretation of the OP's post, I agree with every single word. You have given great examples as to why things may not always been as they seem, and excellent advice in your comment "Just remember to try and not judge parents too harshly because sometimes we don't have all the info. Thanks for saying it much more eloquently than I have.

 

[SoCalKDG]

This is what I wrote.....

"I chalked it up to tired kids and fears of darkness and Mom & Dad's need to see the show.No problem - it IS WDW - a theme park for families. Easy come, easy go."

What I heard and the rationale as to what was happening ...

"OP "chalked it up to...mom and dad's need to see the show" Obviously you don't read that sentence the way I (and others) do. To me, it makes an assumption that mom and dad are forcing a child to watch a show just because they want to, and I don't like seeing such assumptions, so I point them out. "

AG, I will fess up completely as to what I meant. As I heard these poor very young kids crying in those 3D shows, I thought it was a combination of one, two or all three of those factors. I could tell by where they occurred in the show, the time of day and the pitch and volume of the cries.

And yes, I have witnessed, particularly in WDW, many parents meeting their own needs instead of their kids' under the guise of magic and family fun. I think I observed it even more this past trip.

No "assumption". It happens. And I think that the over-reaction to my observations/assumptions is about parents who recognize themselves. We have ALL been guilty of "pushing" our kids in one way or another at some time - but what I realized during my last trip was that WDW is a place where this kind of parenting is not so uncommon.

melomouse

First, I agree that at one time or another parents will "push" their kids, parents will "think about meeting their own needs".

Second, IMHO, this should happen. At one time or another your children do need to be encouraged to try things. You can't coddle them all the time. How does your child try anything for the first time if you don't make them try a bite of something, listen or watch something new, go on a new ride, etc. Additionally, if parents aren't meeting the needs of their spouse and themselves, then the family structure is going to be problematic. If you can't meet your own needs, how can you meet your kids needs?

Obviously when you have kids you need to adjust what your needs are. Knowing your limits, knowing when your kids have to come first, knowing what they can't and can do is very important. Obviously mistakes happen, obviously each family is different. Each family, each culture, etc. is different. An asian co-worker of mine has never let his kids watch any tv. My oldest daughter watchs the disney channel. Is one of us right or wrong? Maybe, maybe not.

Eating lunch or dinner and watching another family for 30-45 minutes will obviously let you make educated assumptions on what kind of parenting is going on. Even at that it still wouldn't tell the whole picture. Additionally we could be catching them on a good or bad day and our assumptions would just be thrown out the door. Now if you can't be accurate with 30 minutes, then 3 minutes in a dark show is going to greatly reduce the chance of accuracy in our educated assumptions.

Lastly, considering WDW is a tourist attraction, you can't expect every family to know where to read, what to read, or even how to read the warning signs in front of the rides(or the disboards).

On a size note, ever try and leave when you are in the middle of the row at Philharmagic? Talk about stepping on lots of toes, blocking views, etc., major pain. Then there is a good chance you will get a post about you leaving in the middle of a show put here on the disboards.....

 

[ECurto]

We just got back also, OMG the mold, mildew, and dust were INSANE. Im also from NY and dont really have alergys, but i was in hell that whole trip from alergies!