Disney Entitlement is transferring onto the roads now too!

[A Mickeyfan]

Wasn't sure where to post this so I figured it was dealing with driving on the roads around Disney so "Transportation" seemed to fit. I am seeing more and more of the Entitlement that is seen in the parks on the roads around Disney now too. I was driving home today, after checking out of an off property hotel this morning. I entered from the ramp near Sea World on I-4 heading West toward Tampa. I was trying to get over into the far left lane as the other two lanes are usually for those trying to get off at the parks this hour of the morning (10am). I was in the right lane and saw an opening for the middle lane but I couldn't see both of the car's headlights so I didn't move over yet, but did have my blinker on. Once I saw both headlights in my rear mirror I moved. The left lane was clear so I moved again. The Blue Toyota Rav 4 must have been upset with me because I went in front of him, so he moved over and tailgated me. When I say tailgated, I mean he was on my freaking bumper! There were no other cars in front of him that he had to move over to pass them. We were all doing about the same speed, approx 70 mph (yes, I know the speed limit is 65 there and the traffic flow was approx 70). He just was doing that to me to show me I could "not" get in front of him. He followed me doing this at approx 70 miles an hour passed the first Disney Down Town exit, and then to the next Disney exit which was for Epcot. When we got near that exit, he had to hurry over the 3 lanes so he could exit and get to the parks! Does he think his "fast pass" or his high priced ticket allows him to ride on someone's bumper thinking they were "cutting him in line" I wasn't even getting off anywhere near there, I was getting off in Lake Alfred which was a good distance away from there That was the reason for getting over to the left, to get away from the local exiting and entering traffic. This must be the bully we see in line who blocks the one parent from trying to catch up to the other parent because they feel they are "cutting the line"

People, your Disney ticket doesn't give you any entitlement on the roads in Florida. While Disney looks as if they own most of Florida, they don't. So please adhere to the rules of our roads, don't speed, don't tailgate or ride on someone's bumper and do not cut others off because your exit is coming up!

 

[dishguy1977]

People who are jerks will be jerks wherever they are...I'm not sure being at Disney had anything to do with this person's driving style. I'd be willing to bet they would have done the same thing when driving in their hometown.

 

[LWQuestie]

Hate to break it to you, but this kind of behavior is not only seen around WDW. Happens everywhere.

 

[bumbershoot]

How is this "entitlement"? How is this related to Disney?

You were in the left lane, and NOT going faster than the person behind you. This happens all the time, when someone is in the left lane but going slower than the person behind them.

Since one isn't supposed to pass on the right, it's generally up to the slower person to move out of the left lane, let the speed demon pass, and then move back into the left lane.

By not moving out of that lane, YOU were putting yourself into far more danger than you could have been in. Both of you guys, IMO, were responsible. There's no chance in heck I'd let someone tailgate me at 70. I would move OUT of his way.

 

[luvndizny]

When we drive down there, I drive just as safely, if not MORE safely than usual, leave a bit more room than normal, etc... I know people in those areas most likely don't know the area well, etc. (like myself- from out-of-town, etc.). That guy/gal will be a jerk regardless...I just hope he doesn't learn his lesson the hard way. And I HATE tail-gaters! Probably not safe in that situation but I am a big fan of the brake tap- get off my butt dude move!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

People drive like this everywhere. You were in the wrong to engage with this person. When someone tailgates you, change lanes. Then forget about it. No need to vent on an online message board.

 

[DebbieB]

I think it's a real stretch to say they feel entitled to drive this way because of their Disney ticket. I would have just moved to another lane and let them pass. I drive home from work on a 2 lane road. I generally get in the left lane, it's 35 mph but most people drive 50. Many times people think I'm driving too slow at 50 and jump over into the right lane and then back in front of me. There was an SUV the other night that kept jumping between the lanes trying to get ahead of everyone. When we got to the light where I turn left, he was in front of me. So all that jumping around didn't do him much good.

 

[ToddyLu]

I just listen to Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher" at about 30 decibles and merge as safely as possible. He was a jerk and after about 30 seconds you should have gotten in a different lane especially going at that rate of speed. Just my 0.2$ since it is a message board.

 

[pr surfer]

This is neither entitlement or related to Disney. This was a jerk on the road, nothing more.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wasn't sure where to post this so I figured it was dealing with driving on the roads around Disney so "Transportation" seemed to fit. I am seeing more and more of the Entitlement that is seen in the parks on the roads around Disney now too. I was driving home today, after checking out of an off property hotel this morning. I entered from the ramp near Sea World on I-4 heading West toward Tampa. I was trying to get over into the far left lane as the other two lanes are usually for those trying to get off at the parks this hour of the morning (10am). I was in the right lane and saw an opening for the middle lane but I couldn't see both of the car's headlights so I didn't move over yet, but did have my blinker on. Once I saw both headlights in my rear mirror I moved. The left lane was clear so I moved again. The Blue Toyota Rav 4 must have been upset with me because I went in front of him, so he moved over and tailgated me. When I say tailgated, I mean he was on my freaking bumper! There were no other cars in front of him that he had to move over to pass them. We were all doing about the same speed, approx 70 mph (yes, I know the speed limit is 65 there and the traffic flow was approx 70). He just was doing that to me to show me I could "not" get in front of him. He followed me doing this at approx 70 miles an hour passed the first Disney Down Town exit, and then to the next Disney exit which was for Epcot. When we got near that exit, he had to hurry over the 3 lanes so he could exit and get to the parks! Does he think his "fast pass" or his high priced ticket allows him to ride on someone's bumper thinking they were "cutting him in line" I wasn't even getting off anywhere near there, I was getting off in Lake Alfred which was a good distance away from there That was the reason for getting over to the left, to get away from the local exiting and entering traffic. This must be the bully we see in line who blocks the one parent from trying to catch up to the other parent because they feel they are "cutting the line"

People, your Disney ticket doesn't give you any entitlement on the roads in Florida. While Disney looks as if they own most of Florida, they don't. So please adhere to the rules of our roads, don't speed, don't tailgate or ride on someone's bumper and do not cut others off because your exit is coming up!

While I can understand being upset with a tailgater, how do you interpret this to mean he is 'Disney bound' and hence entitled??? That's a pretty big leap there.
So....if you're moving at 70, and there are no cars in the middle lane (since you said the guy tailgating you didn't need to move over in order to pass anyone), why not just move over so he could pass you??? My dh remains in that left lane when there is no one in the middle lane and it drives me nuts. The left lane is for passing, not just traveling.

In all reality, some of the worst driving I have experienced has been in Florida. And I drive in Boston!!!! And 128!!!! But, according to my step-sister, a cop for Broward County, due to the roads being so straight and flat, there is a lot of fast and unsafe driving down there. Add to that the number of seniors who have moved down there, and the huge number of tourists who have no idea where the heck they are going??? Man, a recipe for disaster. There's a reason I try not to drive myself around Disney or Orlando. Too many nuts on the roads down there. And sadly, it's not just the tourists.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I was in the right lane and saw an opening for the middle lane but I couldn't see both of the car's headlights so I didn't move over yet, but did have my blinker on. Once I saw both headlights in my rear mirror I moved. The left lane was clear so I moved again. The Blue Toyota Rav 4 must have been upset with me because I went in front of him, so he moved over and tailgated me.

Is everyone missing the underlined? From what I understand, OP moved into the middle lane (in front of the soon-to-be tailgater) and then immediately moved over into the left-most lane. Out of STB tailgater's lane. The TAILGATER moved over just so that he/she could tailgate!

This has happened to me and it's soooooooo unnerving. Believe me, even if OP would have moved back into the middle lane, tailgater would have moved too and would have continued to tailgate. And at 70 mph! The idiots, morons, imbeciles, who do this put EVERYONE on the road at risk. This happened to me well over 20 years ago and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I changed lanes, sped up, slowed down - nothing I did made any difference. He was so close I couldn't even see his headlights in my rearview. I was shaking by the time I took an exit - any exit - just to get this idiot off my bumper.

OP - so sorry this happened to you. But you don't know if the moron was a vacationer or a local peeved at the vacationers. KWIM?

 

[goofy4tink]

Is everyone missing the underlined? From what I understand, OP moved into the middle lane (in front of the soon-to-be tailgater) and then immediately moved over into the left-most lane. Out of STB tailgater's lane. The TAILGATER moved over just so that he/she could tailgate!

This has happened to me and it's soooooooo unnerving. Believe me, even if OP would have moved back into the middle lane, tailgater would have moved too and would have continued to tailgate. And at 70 mph! The idiots, morons, imbeciles, who do this put EVERYONE on the road at risk. This happened to me well over 20 years ago and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I changed lanes, sped up, slowed down - nothing I did made any difference. He was so close I couldn't even see his headlights in my rearview. I was shaking by the time I took an exit - any exit - just to get this idiot off my bumper.

OP - so sorry this happened to you. But you don't know if the moron was a vacationer or a local peeved at the vacationers. KWIM?

Oh, we got it. We read it correctly. And not one person took issue with the fact that someone moved over just to be a jerk. BUT....that doesn't mean you can assume that the person was headed to a WDW park. There are jerky drivers everywhere.
The OP could have moved over to allow the tailgater to pass him, but he chose not to. And you're right, sometimes the tailgater will be a jerk and just follow you whichever lane you choose. But you know what??? There is usually a reason that someone tailgates like that. They may have felt they were cut off while the other driver never realized they did it...or some other aggravation. Who knows. It happens. You just can't make an assumption that it was someone with a pricey WDW park pass that was feeling entitled.

I will say that I was impressed with the fact that the OP waited until he could see the other car's headlights. Not many people adhere to that policy...and it's a good one. Who knows...maybe the Rav4 driver felt that the OP cut in front of him...maybe he didn't see the directional given. Don't know...but it can happen anywhere.

Oh, WDW4me? I have edited your post to delete the filter avoidance violation. I will assume that you didn't understand the board guidelines about this.

 

[seashoreCM]

Are you sure that Disney entitlement is transferring over to the roads?

Or is is road entitlement over the past 20 years gradually transferring over to inside Disney parks?

Now where is that 2000+ reply long wheelchair/scooter thread?

 

[PSUGuy]

Little did I realize that on all my 20 trips to Myrtle Beach on I-95 that I was surrounded by DISers with feelings of entitlement.

Bill From PA

 

[LadyBeBop]

The left lane is for passing, not just traveling.

In Kentucky and a number of states, it's illegal to use the left lane for other than passing. I don't know if that's the case in Florida or not.

 

[chainkid]

My guess is that their are two sides to this story. If I was in the left lane and some one was tailgating me for several miles and I could easily pull into the middle lane maybe they were trying to tell me that I should not be in the passing lane and going slower than traffic. This seems to be happening alot lately. either other countries have different driving rules or people here are not being trained properly as alot of people just get in that left lane and are not going to move over even if an ambulance approached. It's a real per peeve of mine.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sorry to say it, but you were both equally rude. It is not ok to drive in the left lane, unless you are passing someone. He should not have been tailgating you, but you should not have been just cruising in the left lane either.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Welcome to Atlanta, GA.

The city where the speed limit is only a suggestion and everyone drives like maniacs and think they are more important than the other folks on the road.

Oh wait - you were talking about Orlando. Sounds like it's the same way there.

 

[darrengs]

Sounds like possibly 2 cases of aggressive driving, one driver for speeding & tailgating, and one for speeding and improper lane change.

From Statute 316.085:
"No vehicle shall be driven from a direct course in any lane on any highway until the driver has determined that the vehicle is not being approached or passed by any other vehicle in the lane or on the side to which the driver desires to move..."

 

[goofy4tink]

Sounds like possibly 2 cases of aggressive driving, one driver for speeding & tailgating, and one for speeding and improper lane change.

From Statute 316.085:
"No vehicle shall be driven from a direct course in any lane on any highway until the driver has determined that the vehicle is not being approached or passed by any other vehicle in the lane or on the side to which the driver desires to move..."

Well, the OP did say that he checked to see if the lane was clear before moving. The first time he tried to change, he couldn't see the rear car's headlights....same thing I was taught. If you can see the headlights, you should have plenty of room to make the move. The OP left his directional on until he felt he could safely change lanes.
Now......the other driver may have been starting to speed up, may not have noticed the OP moving over...who knows???
I've driven that area before....it can be very busy and congested. It's hard to find a completely empty space to change lanes. But, with so many tourists in the area, it may behoove those who are familiar with the area to take a bit more caution when making lane changes.
Now...perhaps the Rav 4 driver just wanted to drive faster, but the OP felt he was going fast enough...so didn't speed up. Perhaps the Rav 4 driver didn't realize he was quite so close to his exit....again, who knows??

No one in this situation is 100% in the wrong, nor are they 100% in the right.