Disney is first and foremost about kids...

[mousermerf]

There is much irony in the fact that Las Vegas for years marketed itself as a family vacation destination and was considered Disney's largest competition for a period..,

 

[Jacquie668]

I would add the smockers. There is not a lot of things I hate more than people who smoke out of designated areas. They are adults, they know the laws, and yet, to puff their cancer sticks into my or my kids's face.

True true!

There are places I avoid because of bad adult behavior.. I mean it is easy to blame the kids, yeah some kids (SORRY) are bratty, but so are some adults! Heck my cat is a brat at times lol.

Brat is just descriptive of some individuals and I don't feel it is really mean to say that. You know the kids who post online how they hate their parents because they didn't get the newest iPhone or iPad or they didn't get the right car. I mean sorry, but that is a spoil brat if i ever saw one!

I will say though that people who do say that kids are "brats" in general and in a mean way, I think sometimes they misunderstand things like fussy moments or tantrums. I hate seeing adults say "oh if that was my kid I would give them a smack" or "shut that brat up!" (I've heard that at TOYS'R'US!!!) and that really pisses me off. Kids are kids and are going to have kid moments! lol.

It is the kids who are just badly behaved and believe me...my family has some really really really badly behaved kids with parents who just go "oh, that is just how kids are!" At a place like Disney well, you're going to encounter those entitled people...like the smokers who feel they can strike up anywhere. Icks!

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

I would add the smockers. There is not a lot of things I hate more than people who smoke out of designated areas. They are adults, they know the laws, and yet, to puff their cancer sticks into my or my kids's face.

I love "smockers" my kids when they were little wore the most adorable smocked dresses!

 

[lynypixie]

Why on earth would someone put a pointer at a lovely little girl enjoying a ride and label her "brat"? I would never post a picture of a 50 year old labelled "geezer" or something insulting like that.

As for kids and bad behaviour, maybe we're just lucky, but I've found truly bad behaviour from kids and parents to be quite minimal at Disney when we've been there. Lots of energy and a bit of crazyness here and there, but not a lot of truly horrible behaviour. (maybe we're just lucky). But I kind of go in expecting that.

What would you think of someone who went to Las Vegas or the bars in New Orleans and complained that the behaviour there was offensive and not suitable for families. I'd say, "no duh". I don't approve of the kind of behaviour that goes on there and I think many people take things way to far, but I know what to expect going in. Same with Disney. I don't think its okay for people to let their kids run wild or use the excuse of being on family vacation to be rude and inconsiderate, but with millions of families visiting every year, I expect that most will behave fine and a few will not.

If my husband and I go on a date night, we always go to a local Irish pub for dinner because its the only place in our town where minors aren't allowed in the dining room. I'm sure not paying for a babysitter to risk sitting next to someone else's kids. Same with holidays; if we ever get a chance to go somewhere without our kids, I'll be picking an 18+ resort.

So I still don't get the adults who come to Disney and complain about the kids. It's not like there's no child free options out there. A little tolerance goes a long way towards everyone's enjoyment.

THERE! I think you said it better than I do (it's hard to make a point sometimes, as english is not my native language).

It's a family theme park. Tantrums will happen. If a child's tantrum will ruin your vacation, you need to rethink your destination.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't go without a kid. I did! I took pictures with the caracters and it was the time of my life. And I let the kids sit in front for the parades, even if I had a good spot. Honestly, I've seen more adults standing front row, blocking the view from everyone else, then parents trying to push their kids up.

 

[ThreeBeans]

I would add the smockers. There is not a lot of things I hate more than people who smoke out of designated areas. They are adults, they know the laws, and yet, to puff their cancer sticks into my or my kids's face.

Good heavens yes. Smocking is a gateway drug After smocking comes taffetta and then selling things on Etsy, and then it is time to panic!











Anyhoo. Went to Disney on my honeymoon. Went again with my (gorgeous, polite and very well behaved, not permitted to run about in restaurants like they were raised in barns) children. Have had a wonderful time, all times.

Disney is what you make of it. And each time, we've made it wonderful.

 

[Sparkly]

You know when you're too old to hug Mickey, greet the princesses or ride Dumbo? When you're dead!

 

[cheshirecatattack]

I go to Disney without children, but having children there helps make Disney what it is, a destination that truly has something for everyone. Seeing a child meet their favorite character is a wonderful thing, and I love that I can stand in line right next to them and do the same thing. Tantrums are going to happen, parents are going to have stressful melt down moments where they may cry too! I don't condone parents who know their child/family is at their breaking point but insist on pushing forward instead of taking a breather. BUT going I also expect to see it and I just have to stop and remember where I am and continue on my way. I'd only be hurting myself by letting someone else to 'ruin' my vacation.

 

[lugnut33]

Why do some of you care so much about what other parents are or aren't doing? Maybe if you didn't take the time to judge them you would have a better time.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

Why do some of you care so much about what other parents are or aren't doing? Maybe if you didn't take the time to judge them you would have a better time.

Have you read this entire thread? There is no way around a child throwing a huge tantrum or running around uncontrollably it is very distributing to other guest and the lack of parenting skills to either discipline your out of control child or removing them from the situation becomes everyone else's problem. I don't think anyone is talking about your normal little annoying behaviors but seriously ill behaved out of control children !

 

[Jacquie668]

Why do some of you care so much about what other parents are or aren't doing? Maybe if you didn't take the time to judge them you would have a better time.

Shouldn't you read the thread instead of judging people who posted???

Just sayin'! I mean in one story posted, in this thread, a poster talked about a parent ramming their stroller into them proclaiming that a table should be hers because they were a parent with kids and the poster was not. Call me crazy, but I feel that poster had ever right to care so much about that adult's behavior! heh

Though that doesn't happen ALL the time, badly behaved people as in adults with or without children happens anywhere. Doesn't make it right or okay though.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Hopefully (and I expect) that this is the minority. That seems just as much of a parenting problem as a perception issue.

Dan

It was not the majority of parents with children at DL, however it did happen quite a few times on different trips...to the point where (face) characters stepped in to point out where the line began (on their own..no character handlers present). We went to GR a few times to thank those cast members.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

There is much irony in the fact that Las Vegas for years marketed itself as a family vacation destination and was considered Disney's largest competition for a period..,

That is very true.......was there not a mid sized amusment park built at one of the hotels?..........MGM maybe?...I believe it never did well.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Why do some of you care so much about what other parents are or aren't doing? Maybe if you didn't take the time to judge them you would have a better time.

I am sure most here don't care about the other parents,
until...................the actions of the parents and thier children interfears with thier families and their enjoyment of WDW.

AKK

 

[tsme]

My DH & I both love Disney, maybe even more than our DD does. When she's grown up, we will still go on our own. And truth be told, I'm not fond of children (other than my own), but I'm aware that my happy place will be full children. I just focus on my own & my families happiness & try not to let other people's actions effect us.

 

[ThreeBeans]

By the way...the rudest, most horrific behavior I have ever encountered was from a grown man about 50. He was sitting behind me on the PoTC and I asked to please stop blasting his flash camera off every two seconds. He ignored me and I thought he simply hadn't heard me, so I said it a little louder.

The guy had the nerve to turn to his wife and say, "Can you believe her?" and deliberately flashed it in my face


Apparently he didn't realize the giant man sitting next to me was my husband, and my husband turned around and chewed this guy into a tiny pulp. The guy's wife was looking like she wished she could dive off the boat, and the jerk put his camera away.

Never saw a child behave that badly!

 

[stargazertechie]

By the way...the rudest, most horrific behavior I have ever encountered was from a grown man about 50. The guy had the nerve to turn to his wife and say, "Can you believe her?" and deliberately flashed it in my face


my husband turned around and chewed this guy into a tiny pulp.

And which one, precisely was the rude one?

 

[ThreeBeans]

And which one, precisely was the rude one?

...you?

 

[minnie mum]

...you?

Uh, no. Two wrongs don't make a right. Both participants in that little contretemps were acting way below their actual age.

 

[larryz]

This is the awful advertisement that actually appeared on this thread when I was reading the comment.. I had to pull it out to show you all just how absurd it is:

I don't think that's a photoshop mistake - that's the person the guy's sitting on!

 

[larryz]

I love "smockers" my kids when they were little wore the most adorable smocked dresses!

And they make great strawberry preserves, too!