DL Etiquette

[I'm mikey]

I have no problem with people who need to leave a line for a kid who needs to potty. I have no problem when they rejoin their group. It is really nice to hear people say "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me"when any of those things are appropriate to say to someone. If a person neglects to use these appropriate terms, I figure they did not get the memo that manners are free.

I do get hacked off when I see a group leave their grandma, in a wheelchair, out in the sun, to wait for them as they use the exit line and the "wheelchair" as an excuse-of-a-fast pass, when they don't even take grandma on the ride.

Lame.

We saw this happen on our last two trips:
1. Push Grandma to the front of the exit.
2. Argue over "how many people can go through the exit" with said person in a wheelchair.
3. Argue with the CM when the CM insists that it's only six.
Argue some more.
4. Whine, make excuses, whine some more. Snivel about how much it costs, how hard it is to drag grandma around.
5. Push, shove and run/walk to the next CM, to get on the ride.
-Grandma is left by herself, alone at the exit.-

And BTW- if you are reading this, and you did this to your grandma, I was the one that brought her a bottle of water, asked her how her day was going and offered her my sun hat.
I also came back 45 minutes later to ask her if she wanted a snack.

It was 101 degrees that day.

OH.MY.GOSH!! seriously? Thats just flat out horrible!!!

Good for you helping that poor lady

 

[HappyHaunt]

As long as we are being honest, YES that is exactly what you paid 200+ for, to wait in lines and see attractions. There is no ticket you can buy to get into DL that is a NO WAIT ticket.

Exactly! I have to wonder why some people feel they are above having to wait? Having a kid doesn't make anyone special, believe it or not. We waited in line when our son was little. We did potty breaks, ate/drank before we got in to line. Took him back to the hotel for naps so that he wasn't fussy and over tired. Taught him that everyone has to wait their turn (which is a big lesson kids need to learn). Really isn't that hard. If we did have to get out of line, we all got out of line. We always stayed together.

Special needs aside of course. I think those are what GAP's are for too. By all means get one if your child can't handle the lines and crowds. You can get one so that you go through the exit of the rides. That can help a lot.

 

[HappyHaunt]

Seriously-for all those anti-newly potty trained kids and getting out of line, would you rather they have an accident while on the ride? The reality is, yes, that can happen. I'm dealing with potty training a boy who doesn't want to stop the fun to go to the potty. Yes, we can take frequent breaks but I've been around plenty of little kids who all of a sudden says 'yes, I need to go now" I can really imagine what the situation would be if we said okay, we'll go potty, then start over in line. DS would deny deny deny that he needs to go and boom, on the ride he'd let loose. Of course, we'll run to the bathroom before we get in line but things change with the potty training set.

For us, we spend much less time at the park then the norm and will get there first thing. The longest line we stood in last year was Nemo for 45 minutes. I think everything will be very manageable, but I really hope in the rare circumstance everyone is not thinking "oh could have should have"

I'm one who always in the past has let a clearly newly potty trained kid, pregnant woman, or anyone else who clearly is having a potty emergency (and asks to go ahead) to go ahead. I know when I was pregnant, I really appreciated when others did that (and normally declined).

The best way to avoid this is having frequent potty breaks. If it's been a while and you KNOW your child is going to have to GO soon, it's best to take them right then and there. Before you get in to line. Not wait until they are ready to have an accident.

But oh yes these things happen. We would all get out of line and go get back in later. That's just the way it is when you have young kids. Or when your pregnant or have any other emergency. We all get out of line, or the rest of the party goes on ahead and I'll catch the ride the next time. I'm not going to push and shove my way through the line. To me that is just rude and making my problems everyone elses.

 

[xXtowerOFterrorXx]

I think this topic can be defined as a "coffee house" discussion. We could sit here all day and sress our views but on a subject like this its probably just better to agree to disagree.

 

[pixiemomof3]

For me , I don't have a problem with taking the kid or kids to the bathroom while one parent holds their spot. Why have to get out of line and then wait all over again just becuase the kid has to pee! I do have a problem when I am in line and a group of teenagers are hopping over the ropes or climbing over the dividers because they have one or two friends in line so they think this is ok. This has happened a few times to us in line. All of a sudden we have an extra 6 people in front of us that were not even in line in the first place.

 

[pixiemomof3]

I have no problem with people who need to leave a line for a kid who needs to potty. I have no problem when they rejoin their group. It is really nice to hear people say "please" and "thank you" and "excuse me"when any of those things are appropriate to say to someone. If a person neglects to use these appropriate terms, I figure they did not get the memo that manners are free.

I do get hacked off when I see a group leave their grandma, in a wheelchair, out in the sun, to wait for them as they use the exit line and the "wheelchair" as an excuse-of-a-fast pass, when they don't even take grandma on the ride.

Lame.

We saw this happen on our last two trips:
1. Push Grandma to the front of the exit.
2. Argue over "how many people can go through the exit" with said person in a wheelchair.
3. Argue with the CM when the CM insists that it's only six.
Argue some more.
4. Whine, make excuses, whine some more. Snivel about how much it costs, how hard it is to drag grandma around.
5. Push, shove and run/walk to the next CM, to get on the ride.
-Grandma is left by herself, alone at the exit.-

And BTW- if you are reading this, and you did this to your grandma, I was the one that brought her a bottle of water, asked her how her day was going and offered her my sun hat.
I also came back 45 minutes later to ask her if she wanted a snack.

It was 101 degrees that day.

WOW! That is just plain sad and ridiculous that someone would leave grandma in the wheelchair waiting in the hot sun. 45 min?? Unbelievable!!

 

[Mabel67]

For me , I don't have a problem with taking the kid or kids to the bathroom while one parent holds their spot. Why have to get out of line and then wait all over again just becuase the kid has to pee! I do have a problem when I am in line and a group of teenagers are hopping over the ropes or climbing over the dividers because they have one or two friends in line so they think this is ok. This has happened a few times to us in line. All of a sudden we have an extra 6 people in front of us that were not even in line in the first place.

I am not addressing this to you specifically, but just to the general concept presented.

Where do we think these 'awful teens' get their feelings of entitlement from? It is from how we parent them when they are younger. The three year-old brain cannot process the justifications we have for leaving part of the family in line while another part of the family leaves to go do something else (potty or whatever) and then subsequently rejoins the original line where the first family member was place holding... All the child can process is that one person stays in line while the rest do other things and go back to the line while the wait is shorter. The concepts of patience, waiting your turn, manners, respect, planning to control you toilet habits ahead of time, and equal opportunities are not displayed, so how do we expect them to be learned? The 'line cutting teen' is only displaying the behavior he was taught as a child by his parents...

The 'excuse' of the toddler having to go to the washroom is just lazy parenting...plan these events ahead of time. If the child doesn't co-operate or needs to leave the line later on, teach him the repercussions of this choice...rejoining the line at the end. It may be inconvenient for the parent, but the lessons can be learned by the child. Everybody has to learn sometime, and nobody's experience is more important than anyone else's.

And while there may be 'emergencies', these too, have their consequences.

Children become teens and then adults...and will behave as they have been taught by their parents from the get-go.

 

[nana50]

I am not addressing this to you specifically, but just to the general concept presented.

Where do we think these 'awful teens' get their feelings of entitlement from? It is from how we parent them when they are younger. The three year-old brain cannot process the justifications we have for leaving part of the family in line while another part of the family leaves to go do something else (potty or whatever) and then subsequently rejoins the original line where the first family member was place holding... All the child can process is that one person stays in line while the rest do other things and go back to the line while the wait is shorter. The concepts of patience, waiting your turn, manners, respect, planning to control you toilet habits ahead of time, and equal opportunities are not displayed, so how do we expect them to be learned? The 'line cutting teen' is only displaying the behavior he was taught as a child by his parents...

The 'excuse' of the toddler having to go to the washroom is just lazy parenting...plan these events ahead of time. If the child doesn't co-operate or needs to leave the line later on, teach him the repercussions of this choice...rejoining the line at the end. It may be inconvenient for the parent, but the lessons can be learned by the child. Everybody has to learn sometime, and nobody's experience is more important than anyone else's.

And while there may be 'emergencies', these too, have their consequences.

Children become teens and then adults...and will behave as they have been taught by their parents from the get-go.

WOW! How long has it been since you had 3 year olds. I've worked in education, a librarian to be exact, I have seen plenty of rude kids and parents, however if there are 3 people in line, 2 leave to take a toddler potty, and then 2 come back, it is no skin off my nose. I hate those bigger teens pushing to catch up to their "friends", they are making me wait longer. Sometimes you end up with 10 or 15 people ahead of you. That makes your wait longer. Whereas someone who leaves and comes back (without making everyone move too much) doesn't hurt me at all. remember Disneyland isn't just for adults

 

[Mabel67]

WOW! How long has it been since you had 3 year olds. I've worked in education, a librarian to be exact, I have seen plenty of rude kids and parents, however if there are 3 people in line, 2 leave to take a toddler potty, and then 2 come back, it is no skin off my nose. I hate those bigger teens pushing to catch up to their "friends", they are making me wait longer. Sometimes you end up with 10 or 15 people ahead of you. That makes your wait longer. Whereas someone who leaves and comes back (without making everyone move too much) doesn't hurt me at all. remember Disneyland isn't just for adults

The teens are simply emulating the behavior they were taught as children - my needs supercede everyone elses. As I said, small children are incapable of learning context. To the child, it has nothing to do with how many or what the reason is...it just is what it is..
And, as an 'educator' you will know that teens are often just big children. Their thought processes are immature. They will, under times of stress (such as new-found freedom) revert to what they know. And in this instance, what they have been taught is that it is that this type of behavior is ok. It is a very simple concept, really.

 

[Mabel67]

WOW! How long has it been since you had 3 year olds. I've worked in education, a librarian to be exact, I have seen plenty of rude kids and parents, however if there are 3 people in line, 2 leave to take a toddler potty, and then 2 come back, it is no skin off my nose. I hate those bigger teens pushing to catch up to their "friends", they are making me wait longer. Sometimes you end up with 10 or 15 people ahead of you. That makes your wait longer. Whereas someone who leaves and comes back (without making everyone move too much) doesn't hurt me at all. remember Disneyland isn't just for adults

As well, in numerous trips to DL, I have only had the situation above where a large group joined up ahead in line happen to me TWICE. Both times it was adults. The most recent time, a couple was ahead of us in line for TSMM. CS broke down, so their friends left the CS line and joined them in the TSMM line. Wrong, yes. But did I care? Not really. They were polite about it.

 

[pixiemomof3]

I am not addressing this to you specifically, but just to the general concept presented.

Where do we think these 'awful teens' get their feelings of entitlement from? It is from how we parent them when they are younger. The three year-old brain cannot process the justifications we have for leaving part of the family in line while another part of the family leaves to go do something else (potty or whatever) and then subsequently rejoins the original line where the first family member was place holding... All the child can process is that one person stays in line while the rest do other things and go back to the line while the wait is shorter. The concepts of patience, waiting your turn, manners, respect, planning to control you toilet habits ahead of time, and equal opportunities are not displayed, so how do we expect them to be learned? The 'line cutting teen' is only displaying the behavior he was taught as a child by his parents...

The 'excuse' of the toddler having to go to the washroom is just lazy parenting...plan these events ahead of time. If the child doesn't co-operate or needs to leave the line later on, teach him the repercussions of this choice...rejoining the line at the end. It may be inconvenient for the parent, but the lessons can be learned by the child. Everybody has to learn sometime, and nobody's experience is more important than anyone else's.

And while there may be 'emergencies', these too, have their consequences.

Children become teens and then adults...and will behave as they have been taught by their parents from the get-go.

Hmmm, I have a 5, 8 and 14 year old. No matter how many times I ask them they never have to use the restroom until they really gotta go. Have you ever went somewhere in the car or the store perhaps someone always has to go the min. you leave. It has nothing to do with laziness. I think most parents usually ask their kids alot about going to the bathroom becuase they do not want to get somewhere and then have to go back to the restroom again. I have taken my kids and they still have to go again 10 minutes later. This happens alot to me, not sure about anybody else.

I don't think cutting in line has anything to do with the way they were taught by their parents. They simply do not think about it , because they are teens and that is how the teenage brain works, and they think it is ok to cut up in front of the lines with their friends. I teach my kids not to cut in front of people but does that mean that when they are with their friends who cut the line that they will not follow?
I am just saying that this annoys me because they are bigger kids. It is not fair for other people waiting in the line. If it was one or two people that were polite about it then maybe it would be ok but if it is a group of 4,5 or 6 people, teens or adults, then i think it is just rude.

 

[dnamertz]

I am not addressing this to you specifically, but just to the general concept presented.

Where do we think these 'awful teens' get their feelings of entitlement from? It is from how we parent them when they are younger. The three year-old brain cannot process the justifications we have for leaving part of the family in line while another part of the family leaves to go do something else (potty or whatever) and then subsequently rejoins the original line where the first family member was place holding... All the child can process is that one person stays in line while the rest do other things and go back to the line while the wait is shorter. The concepts of patience, waiting your turn, manners, respect, planning to control you toilet habits ahead of time, and equal opportunities are not displayed, so how do we expect them to be learned? The 'line cutting teen' is only displaying the behavior he was taught as a child by his parents...

The 'excuse' of the toddler having to go to the washroom is just lazy parenting...plan these events ahead of time. If the child doesn't co-operate or needs to leave the line later on, teach him the repercussions of this choice...rejoining the line at the end. It may be inconvenient for the parent, but the lessons can be learned by the child. Everybody has to learn sometime, and nobody's experience is more important than anyone else's.

And while there may be 'emergencies', these too, have their consequences.

Children become teens and then adults...and will behave as they have been taught by their parents from the get-go.

Politeness and consideration of others is also learned early on in childhood. Being considerate and understanding of other's situation (such as a child suddenly having to use the restroom) is learned early on. Without this, children grow into adults who don't care about other's situation, and feel that everyone else must live exactly like them or else they are "bothered".

I know in your perfect world, the potty breaks families take thorught the day result in the 3 year old always saying "yes I need to go potty now". But in the real world, 3 year old potty trained kids don't always realize unitl they REALLY have to go. I guess you would like these families to take about 15 potty breaks during their day at DL and make the child attempt to go each time before they get into each line...just so it doesn't create an "inconvenience" for you (even though 2 people leaving the line and then returning creates no inconvenience for you...there is the same amount of people in line ahead of you after they return than before they left. And don't bring up pushing and shoving because that is a different issue and rejoining a line can be done politely).

Yes, you can teach waiting in line under any circumstance. But, you can also teach acceptance other's situation...and maybe there is an acceptable middle-ground. Especially at the Happiest Place On Earth.

I suppose you also think it's unfair when you see 4 year-olds being pushed around in strollers at Disneyland. I know you must be thinking "how dare these kids get to be pushed around while I have to walk everywhere...they should suffer like the rest of us".

 

[Mugglemama]

I'ts been a few years since we've had any newly-potty-trained kids in the parks, but our practice was always to just leave the line entirely if somebody had a potty emergency (because, yes...no matter HOW many times you ask a small child, particularly a small child who is insanely stimulated by all that is happening around them at a place like Disneyland...sometimes have potty emergencies even when they JUST pee'd right before getting in line. I mean, it just happens - it's not necessarily someone's "fault". And in my case, "lazy parenting" certainly didn't have anything to do with it ). We didn't try to re-enter the line. To be honest...I felt rude just trying to get *out* of the line in the first place ("excuse me, pardon me, sorry, excuse me, pardon me, can I get past you sir?", etc.) I'd actually never try to get all the way back to my original place in that line, but that's just me.

We only had to do it a few times, but when we did, we just stayed out of that line and went on to something else. During those years we were constantly having to use the parent-swap system with one parent waiting at an exit with a kid or two, anyway.

In fact, we've been in the parks with our kids more than 100 times in the past 11 years, and JUST THIS PAST JANUARY was the very FIRST time hubby and I had EVER been able to ride Screamin' or Indy together. EVER, (because all of our children are finally now tall enough to go on them).

Sometimes, when you visit the parks with very tiny kids, you just have to be willing to miss out on some things....that has been our experience.

 

[Mabel67]

Hmmm, I have a 5, 8 and 14 year old. No matter how many times I ask them they never have to use the restroom until they really gotta go. Have you ever went somewhere in the car or the store perhaps someone always has to go the min. you leave. It has nothing to do with laziness. I think most parents usually ask their kids alot about going to the bathroom becuase they do not want to get somewhere and then have to go back to the restroom again. I have taken my kids and they still have to go again 10 minutes later. This happens alot to me, not sure about anybody else.

I don't think cutting in line has anything to do with the way they were taught by their parents. They simply do not think about it , because they are teens and that is how the teenage brain works, and they think it is ok to cut up in front of the lines with their friends. I teach my kids not to cut in front of people but does that mean that when they are with their friends who cut the line that they will not follow?
I am just saying that this annoys me because they are bigger kids. It is not fair for other people waiting in the line. If it was one or two people that were polite about it then maybe it would be ok but if it is a group of 4,5 or 6 people, teens or adults, then i think it is just rude.

I understand what you are saying and see your points. I respect your opinion. Thank you

 

[pixiemomof3]

I have a 15 year old, I just asked her about line cutting and nope, she wouldn't do it. Maybe my kids are just more considerate than others but my girls (and the majority of their friends) are not line cutters, it's not all teens that act that way.



I didn't see name calling, I did see assumptions but not name calling.

Not all teens act that way no. But my point to the original poster was that not all teens act the way they were taught to by their parents.

 

[Rainasunshine]

This is my personal opinion so I don't mean to step on any toes or upset anyone but I think people are more willing to find things to be upset with then to find joy in. People are more willing to find examples of families that were rude then families that are trying to be polite and have a good time just like you. Or to pick out the teens that a rowdy and inconsiderate than those who are mature and respectful (I don't know how many times people will look down on me or think I cannot do the job well because I am only 19).

Yes there will be those times when parents are not paying attention to their children, are rude, loud, and mean. Times when teens are shoving, vulgar, and acting like they are entitled to whatever they see. But most people are good people and I think we should try to be a bit more understanding of everyone.

Just think back to one of the most trying times in your life, or horrible day and how you felt and imagine that someone else is going through the same feeling. Just treat them like its there worst day, and you will make it their best day I'd imagine parenting is not the easiest thing in the world, and life itself isn't so easy.

I know this is kind of off topic so I apologize again for that but I think we just all need to step back at times. Think before we judge, act, speak. Put our self in the shoes of the toddler trying to make it to the bathroom on time, the anxious parents trying to prevent an accident while trying not to upset to many people. Everyone is at Disneyland to have a good time, there needs do not supersede ours and in the same token our needs should not come before theirs. Let us try to make Disneyland everyone's happy place, it was built on dreams

Again sorry now if this is off topic or hurts anyone's feelings, it really wasn't my intention.

 

[Brancaneve]

This is my personal opinion so I don't mean to step on any toes or upset anyone but I think people are more willing to find things to be upset with then to find joy in. People are more willing to find examples of families that were rude then families that are trying to be polite and have a good time just like you. Or to pick out the teens that a rowdy and inconsiderate than those who are mature and respectful (I don't know how many times people will look down on me or think I cannot do the job well because I am only 19).

Yes there will be those times when parents are not paying attention to their children, are rude, loud, and mean. Times when teens are shoving, vulgar, and acting like they are entitled to whatever they see. But most people are good people and I think we should try to be a bit more understanding of everyone.

Just think back to one of the most trying times in your life, or horrible day and how you felt and imagine that someone else is going through the same feeling. Just treat them like its there worst day, and you will make it their best day I'd imagine parenting is not the easiest thing in the world, and life itself isn't so easy.

I know this is kind of off topic so I apologize again for that but I think we just all need to step back at times. Think before we judge, act, speak. Put our self in the shoes of the toddler trying to make it to the bathroom on time, the anxious parents trying to prevent an accident while trying not to upset to many people. Everyone is at Disneyland to have a good time, there needs do not supersede ours and in the same token our needs should not come before theirs. Let us try to make Disneyland everyone's happy place, it was built on dreams

Again sorry now if this is off topic or hurts anyone's feelings, it really wasn't my intention.

I like YOU!

 

[seagodess]

I can see where Mabel67 is coming from and understand what she's saying. I'm not saying its always the case, but yes some kids may grow up thinking its ok to do things like this if their parents are always doing it and not explaining why it is ok in some situations. I dont think kids should be made to continue to stand there and have a possible accedent. However I do think that if a parent ask's the kid before hand if they have to go and they say no, then 5 minutes later they decide they do, the parent should talk to the kid and explain that they should have went before they got in line. I personally dont have a problem with a parent taking a kid out of line to go potty, I've been there. Its the people (not only teens) that want to go and do other things so they dont have to wait. Before you know it, the line that only had 20 people in front of you, now has 40. I often judge what things I want to do based on how long the line is, so this would upset me.
I also have to mention something that caught my attention. A lot of you mentioned that you ask your kids if they have to go potty and they tell you no, then a little bit later they do. I grew up with a mom that didn't ASK if I had to go, she TOLD me to at least try before we ever went anywhere. Sure enough, I almost always ended up going. I do the same thing with DS. We do not leave the house or do anything where there wont be a bathroom for a little bit before he at least tries to go potty. So far we have not had a situation where we had to stop what we are doing right now to take him to find a bathroom. I also somewhat keep track of when he goes at home. He has had times where he is so into playing or doing whatever it is that he is doing that he forgets and has a accedent. So I sometimes remind him that its been a while and he should try.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

This is my personal opinion so I don't mean to step on any toes or upset anyone but I think people are more willing to find things to be upset with then to find joy in. People are more willing to find examples of families that were rude then families that are trying to be polite and have a good time just like you. Or to pick out the teens that a rowdy and inconsiderate than those who are mature and respectful (I don't know how many times people will look down on me or think I cannot do the job well because I am only 19).

Yes there will be those times when parents are not paying attention to their children, are rude, loud, and mean. Times when teens are shoving, vulgar, and acting like they are entitled to whatever they see. But most people are good people and I think we should try to be a bit more understanding of everyone.

Just think back to one of the most trying times in your life, or horrible day and how you felt and imagine that someone else is going through the same feeling. Just treat them like its there worst day, and you will make it their best day I'd imagine parenting is not the easiest thing in the world, and life itself isn't so easy.

I know this is kind of off topic so I apologize again for that but I think we just all need to step back at times. Think before we judge, act, speak. Put our self in the shoes of the toddler trying to make it to the bathroom on time, the anxious parents trying to prevent an accident while trying not to upset to many people. Everyone is at Disneyland to have a good time, there needs do not supersede ours and in the same token our needs should not come before theirs. Let us try to make Disneyland everyone's happy place, it was built on dreams

Again sorry now if this is off topic or hurts anyone's feelings, it really wasn't my intention.

As a 35 year old mother of 5 I commend you for you out look. We can all take a page from your 19 year old book! Beautifully said!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i have also personally held a parents spot when they had to rush a kid to the bathroom. its life sorry to all this upsets.
also my kids polite i have taught him early on so he wouldn't be like some the teens ive ran in too