Disneyland Karma?

[LisaT91403]

On our recent visit, we were waiting in line to ride Casey Jr. This is DS(3)'s favorite ride in the park, and the caboose facing backwards is his absolute favorite place to sit. He totally understands that he won't always get to sit in the caboose, let alone facing backwards. It's the most coveted spot, after all

Anyhoo, it just so happened that we were first in the queue for the next train. I thought we had the caboose "in the bag", so to speak. When the gate opened, DS made a mad dash for the caboose, only to find other people already there (they came in the handicapped entrance). So it was a mom and her son, who looked to be about 8 or 9 years old. He wanted to sit facing backwards, mom wanted to face sitting forwards...and neither would budge. Seriously. So my son and I are standing there, waiting for mom and son to figure out which seat they are going to take. But they won't move. Meanwhile, all of the other seats/cars filled up to capacity. So here I am with a 3 year old, who is about to be told he can't ride the train at all because a mom (yes, a full-grown woman) won't sit with her son. The CM comes over to see what the problem is, and says something like "Are you really going to take up 2 seats?" I was kinda surprised that she said anything, as I know they don't want to spoil anyone's day. Then the woman moved to the back with her son, saying "I cannot believe this is happening". I couldn't believe it either. She made a 3 year old cry. Hope she enjoyed that.

Later, we waited for Casey once again, hoping for the caboose facing backwards. When faced with the prospect of sitting in the monkey cage, DS asked if he could wait for the next train to get the caboose. So we did, but there was someone else already waiting...a man and his son, who looked to be about 10 years old, and who had special needs. He, too, was waiting for the caboose facing backwards. The father asked his son if maybe he could let the little boy (my son) take the next turn because he had waited in a very long line and they had come through the entrance. The older boy said he thought that was a good idea. I thanked the dad, and he said he was trying to teach his son that it can feel good to make someone else happy...especially a little child.

So...one ride, two different stories. Maybe some Disneyland karma?

 

[MrsPinup]

I didn't realize that was the hot spot. I actually like the cages the best. I have been in the position where we were second in line and wanted the cage, but the people in front of us nabbed it and took up the whole thing. When we turned to choose another spot, the people in line behind us had nabbed the other spots, leaving DS7 and I to return to the line - and wait again. I wish they would figure out a new way to get people onto the ride.

 

[cmwade77]

Kudos to the Dad for teaching values to his son.

There really are lot of good people in the world, unfortunately it's the ones that set a bad example that seem to get the most attention.

 

[carnival kid]

The second part of the story is so lovely. Well done to the Dad for trying to teach his child that is good to make others happy

As for the woman well....

 

[Dizzy4DL]

I loved hearing about the second encounter, just wonderful.

The first woman reminded me of my daughter's first trip to DL. She wanted to ride the carousel and we entered the queue a few people from the "front". Right before we were let inside, a woman shouldered her way through the small crowd with her grandchild and made sure she got in first. The funny thing was, there was more than enough room for everyone. I just don't get it?

 

[LisaT91403]

Yeah, I'm not sure I get it either. People are funny, aren't they? I mean...I can understand why the boy didn't want to switch seats. But why wouldn't the mom switch seats to sit with her son...thereby making room for my almost-in-tears 3 year old? I don't get it.

The second experience was so great because we didn't ask to go ahead of anyone. The father just told his son he thought it would be nice to let the little boy sit in the caboose...and he encouraged him to do it because we had waited in line while they were coming in through the exit. Not everyone coming in the special services line (or whatever it's called) feels entitled, as evidenced by this man and his son. I was so impressed. It really made up for the first experience of the day!

 

[bumbershoot]

But why wouldn't the mom switch seats to sit with her son...thereby making room for my almost-in-tears 3 year old? I don't get it.

Maybe she gets extremely motion sick when sitting facing backwards? I have a friend who gets DREADFULLY ill when she sits anyway but forwards. She would have gotten out of that ride if someone was making her move from a spot she was already in. She wouldn't have been able to do it.

 

[jemimabean]

I wouldn't judge the first woman too harshly. I know how exhausting it is to take healthy kids to Disneyland. She may have been absolutely worn out from taking care of a child with special needs in a really crowded place, and may have not been at her personal best.
Or maybe she's just a nasty person.

That's really sweet that the guy was teaching his son such a great lesson. I hope that you were able to pay it forward (one of my favorite things to do at DL, though I don't seem to get the chance very often).

I've never ridden Casey's train, and now I really, really want to! I had fun watching the families crammed in the cages last weekend.

 

[LisaT91403]

I wouldn't judge the first woman too harshly. I know how exhausting it is to take healthy kids to Disneyland. She may have been absolutely worn out from taking care of a child with special needs in a really crowded place, and may have not been at her personal best.
Or maybe she's just a nasty person.

That's really sweet that the guy was teaching his son such a great lesson. I hope that you were able to pay it forward (one of my favorite things to do at DL, though I don't seem to get the chance very often).

I've never ridden Casey's train, and now I really, really want to! I had fun watching the families crammed in the cages last weekend.

I know it's tiring. But she wasn't nice about the whole thing. I promise.

You must ride Casey's train! It has such a great song (available on iTunes...yes, we downloaded it), and the landscaping & architecture are so great. Ride Casey!

 

[jemimabean]

Last weekend's trip was my third time at Disneyland this year, and it was the first time that I had ever ridden the StoryBook Land Canal Boats! I absolutely LOVED all of the little houses. I had no idea that they were tucked back in there, so now I really, really want to go on Casey's train. I'll definitely do it on my next trip.

I try to remember and live by the quote, "be kind to all you meet, for everyone is fighting a hard battle", but I know that it's easier said than done. I am embarrassed to admit that I was so frazzled in the crowds last weekend that I was way less polite than I normally would me (though never mean). At one point I was on such a determined path to get through the crowd that I cut off a woman in a wheelchair, and I've felt ashamed of it ever since. She probably thought that I was a complete troll. Which at the time, I kinda was.

Off to Google Casey's train song!