Disturbing incident with my daughter at Typhoon Lagoon

[Jeafl]

I posted this on the Theme Parks board too, but it is pretty disturbing in the light of recent events there and I think more people need to be aware of what is happening there. I have been to WDW at least 10 times and have never run into this problem.

At Typhoon Lagoon we (meaning me, my husband, son and 2 teenage daughters) were in the wave pool. My husband noticed this 16-17 yr. old kid standing near us looking from one daughter to another. DH stood there and watched him for a few minutes, and when the big wave started coming this kid once again looked from one daughter to another and then reached out toward my younger daughter's bikini top like he was going to untie it!!!!! My DH grabbed the guy's wrist just as he was touching the tie and said "What do you think you are doing?" and the kid said "Nothing!" My husband let him go and he literally ran out of the wave pool scared ****less.

There was a guard in the pool nearby (which I have never seen before, usually they are all on the edges). My husband told her what happened and she said she couldn't do anything about it because she didn't see it! She did not care one single bit! It was really a sad moment for me. We did tell someone else on the way out, but they pretty much said the same thing. It is hard to believe that in spite of all the recent problems at the water parks they wouldn't have taken it more seriously, or at least questioned us on it a little more. My husband probably could have identified the kid, or maybe they could have had more guards actually in the water to possibly deter people from doing this.

I guess we were the type to always feel safe at Disney, but like everywhere else, they have their problems. I just wanted to warn people to not let their guard down because you think it can't happen at Disney. It can and it does.


In another unrelated incident, security WAS a little more on top of things.

While at TL, we found some lounge chairs in a somewhat isolated area not too far from the wave pool. A family with a toddler girl was on the chairs next to us. We came back after the wave pool incident to find that the ENTIRE family was gone except for the toddler girl who was left sleeping alone on the lounge chair!!!! She was wearing nothing but a swim diaper, laying in the full sun sound asleep. I looked around for someone who could have been watching her and there was no one!

I sat there for awhile waiting for someone to come back but after about 15 minutes I went over to Leaning Palms and asked to see security immediately. I brought the guy back to where we were sitting and showed him the little girl. He called for a female security guard for some reason who came and picked up the sleeping girl and took her somewhere. About 20 minutes later the parents came back with the other kids and went ballistic when the girl wasn't there. They asked me if I had seen her and I told them that security took her. They asked me why and I told them because she was left unattended and I was concerned that she would wake up and wander into the wave pool or somewhere equally dangerous. Well they totally went off on me and told me it was none of my business, etc. Needless to say it wasn't pleasant, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.


The day at TL kind of put a damper on the vacation, but on the whole it was a wonderful trip.

 

[DawnCt1]

Whether security thought that they could 'do' anything about the first incident, they should have at least listened to you. I would be tempted to call the Security Dept and have a discussion with a supervisor; not in the tone of complaining, although you certainly have a right to complain, but in an exploratory manner and ask what the legal rationale is for NOT following up on that type of complaint. I am sure there is one, I just can't think of a reasonable one.

On the second issue? Good for you. Too many people do not want to get involved and that was one vacation that could have had a really bad ending. There have been drownings at River Country, when it was opened. There was a drowning that I know of in Stormalong Bay. Grandparents were standing right beside their GC and didn't see her slip under water until it was too late. Unattended children are accidents waiting to happen, let alone the sunburn issue.

 

[logan115]

Without a doubt you did the right thing at TL, WDW or not, you can't just leave a toddler unattended - let alone in the hot sun. It stinks that you got the short end of the stick in terms of getting yelled at, but you should take consolation know that the crap you took is much better than the other possible outcomes : little girl gets severe sunburn, little girl wanders in to the pool while not being watched, or worse the little girl wanders off or is abducted.

Kudos to your husband to showing the restraint he did in the first instance, luckily he had the smarts to know that hitting that kid (no matter how much he deserved it) would've led to a lot more trouble.

Again, sorry it happened, but having an adult get berated (incorrectly) is much better than the alternatives outlined above.

And greetings from another NW Illinoisian,

Chris

 

[Jeafl]

Whether security thought that they could 'do' anything about the first incident, they should have at least listened to you. I would be tempted to call the Security Dept and have a discussion with a supervisor; not in the tone of complaining, although you certainly have a right to complain, but in an exploratory manner and ask what the legal rationale is for NOT following up on that type of complaint. I am sure there is one, I just can't think of a reasonable one.

I guess that is what really bothered me. I felt like they should have at least taken our name and written down the complaint in case it happens again to someone else. I felt there should have been a record of some kind.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Don't know what to tell you about the bikini incident except that it sounds like a typical teenage boy trying to get lucky. Sorry they didn't do anything about it.

As for the sleeping toddler, the reason the guy you brought back called a woman was simply because the toddler was a girl. No contact between grown men and girls policy I bet. I am glad they took her somewhere while the parents were gone. And I do wonder how long it took the parents to get the girl back. If I were security I'd have had the cops waiting to talk to the parents. I cringe when i see parents at Target stand 5-10ft away from a young child. You just don't know what can happen.

 

[Jeafl]

Without a doubt you did the right thing at TL, WDW or not, you can't just leave a toddler unattended - let alone in the hot sun. It stinks that you got the short end of the stick in terms of getting yelled at, but you should take consolation know that the crap you took is much better than the other possible outcomes : little girl gets severe sunburn, little girl wanders in to the pool while not being watched, or worse the little girl wanders off or is abducted.

Kudos to your husband to showing the restraint he did in the first instance, luckily he had the smarts to know that hitting that kid (no matter how much he deserved it) would've led to a lot more trouble.

Again, sorry it happened, but having an adult get berated (incorrectly) is much better than the alternatives outlined above.

And greetings from another NW Illinoisian,

Chris

Thanks, and greetings neighbor! I went to Wheeling High School.

 

[MM27]

Don't know what to tell you about the bikini incident except that it sounds like a typical teenage boy trying to get lucky. Sorry they didn't do anything about it.

Seriously? I don't think typical teenage boys try to untie the bathing suit tops of girls they don't know.

Thank god your husband was close by and noticed what was going on and that he wasn't tempted to knock the kid out. I would think in light of the current situations at the water parks that they would take this type of report more seriously and at least take a statement.

 

[taylor1293]

Your husband showed amazing restraint. I think security should have done more. They have a responsibility to their guests. Searching for the boy and, if nothing else, getting his information was the minimum they should have done.

You definitely did the right thing with the little toddler. What are people thinking? The child could have wondered off into the water or been taken by any stranger.

 

[logan115]

Thanks, and greetings neighbor! I went to Wheeling High School.

Too funny - we live right across the street from the high school.

Just goes to show you, It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all, it's a small world after all, it's a small, small, world...........

And I make no apologies for getting that stuck in anyone's head as it's now already stuck in mine..............

Chris

 

[kaytieeldr]

I can understand why security couldn't do anything about the first incident - not support it, but understand it. You are apparently a sensible, reasonable, mature person - but it's not impossible that someone (else - i.e. not a DISer ) might make a false accusation against someone, simply because that person bumped into them due to a wave, or just because they didn't like the person's look, or, well, just because. Had the teenager succeeded, maybe they'd have been able to take some action - but an attempt not witnessed by a Cast Member, I can see this likely being a policy.

You did the right thing regarding the toddler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't let some idiotic parent make you feel any other way. You need a license to catch a fish, but anyone can be a parent :.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Seriously? I don't think typical teenage boys try to untie the bathing suit tops of girls they don't know.

Thank god your husband was close by and noticed what was going on and that he wasn't tempted to knock the kid out. I would think in light of the current situations at the water parks that they would take this type of report more seriously and at least take a statement.

Oh, you should have met the boys I went to high school with. This was right up their alley. They'd just consider it funny. Of course I don't agree with it. And security should have listened to the OP's complaint. I wouldn't have brushed it off if I were them. But because I knew boys like that growing up, I can say that if I ever do have a teenage daughter I will have a 1 pc swimsuit policy.

 

[NotUrsula]

I can tell you why the swimsuit incident got no response beyond telling you that there was nothing they coudl do without proof: no repetition, and no proof means that they cannot hold the person without inviting a lawsuit. They cannot have someone arrested on just someone's say-so, they need to see it or see proof such as a photo. It's been said before in light of the arrest last week, but in a wave pool there is essentially a one-free-bite rule -- because the conditions make it very possible that someone might be inadvertently washed up against someone else by accident. If it happens once that is a reasonable excuse, but if it happens more than once with the same person then it no longer is.

To give you an example of a one-time accident situation, a few years ago my family was at HRH at Universal, and we were playing Marco Polo. DH was *it*, and the family was alone in that area of the pool and standing in a circle of maybe 8 feet. DH heard my voice and made a grab for me, just as a girl of about 12 jumped into the pool in front of me to try to catch a ball. Guess who DH connected with? The kid screamed bloody murder, and DH was absolutely mortified, but it wasn't his fault; he was just playing a silly game with his wife and kids, in an area of the pool where no one else had been just a second or two previously.

Also, with the particular behaviour described by the OP (grabbing for a bikini bow) done by a teen boy, there is a very good chance that you are dealing with a dare situation. It's a very common dare that boys like to call in swimming pools. Rude and stupid, of course, and very unpleasant to be the target of, but not usually done with criminal intent. I'm sure that lifeguards hear that one a hundred times a day, and as long as it isn't a pattern of the same person doing it multiple times, they are probably advised by their supervisors to let it go unless they witness it personally.

 

[boltfans]

I can see their point on the bathing suit issue, only cause nothing actually happened, so I guess the kid could say he wasn't even trying anything, etc. Annoying that they wouldn't really hear you out though, cause I would definitely have been angered by that if it were my daughter, but that's my guess on their response.

And regarding the toddler, they should be glad it was you who noticed her. Had it been me that would have gotten quite the sarcastic reply if they asked me where their kid was. Terrible as that may sound, they shouldn't have left a little kid alone. Heck, my 5yo can swim better than many adults but no way would I ever leave her alone to nap on a chair near any kind of pool. Or anywhere for that matter, I just can't believe some people.

 

[MM27]

the boys I went to school with would just pants each other but they would never mess with us girls.

 

[All American]

Bravo to both you and your husband.

 

[Teacher510]

I wonder if the parents would have left their purse or wallet on the chair.

 

[Geoff_M]

There was a guard in the pool nearby (which I have never seen before, usually they are all on the edges). My husband told her what happened and she said she couldn't do anything about it because she didn't see it! She did not care one single bit! It was really a sad moment for me. We did tell someone else on the way out, but they pretty much said the same thing. It is hard to believe that in spite of all the recent problems at the water parks they wouldn't have taken it more seriously, or at least questioned us on it a little more. My husband probably could have identified the kid, or maybe they could have had more guards actually in the water to possibly deter people from doing this.

While I think they could have received your husbands concerns better, I think I understand why they couldn't act on them. For starters, the kid didn't actually do anything to your daughter... from the way you described it. While I think your suspicions regarding the kid's intent was likely correct, he easily could have claimed that he was merely going to tap her on the back and ask your daughter her name. He could have said he fled the scene because he was scared by your husband's grabbing his arm and then yelling at him.

However, I think that the lifeguard at the very minimum should have thanked your husband for passing in the concern, explained why they couldn't act on it based on what he thought the kid's intention might have been, and then said they'd try and keep an eye out for the behavior.

You were also 100% correct on reporting the unattended toddler.

 

[WDWKOOK]

OP: Here is a link to a news article I posted a few days ago on the News and Rumors thread regarding some recent arrests at Typhoon Lagoon:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2231727

 

[Jeafl]

If it happens once that is a reasonable excuse, but if it happens more than once with the same person then it no longer is.

.

I can see all your points, but we have no way of knowing if this was the kid's first offense or not. If they don't write down the complaint, or at least try to identify the kid then he can keep doing it over and over, and each time it would be like the first time since there is no record of it. Do you know what I mean?

I guess I just feel that for $46 a person my daughter should be able to feel safe. Trust me, when those waves throw you around, I've had stray hands and feet (and other body parts) from strangers all over me, but they were not deliberate, and therein lies the difference.

By the way, your poor husband! I can just imagine how horrible he felt when he inadvertantly touched that girl!

 

[Pin Wizard]

I read something online the other day about weird things going on at the water parks there. And they weren't teens that were doing it. I came across it at work and must have forgotten to send a link home. I wouldn't be leaving any girls unattended.