Do you think it’s rude?

[LSUmiss]

Taller people have the same rights as everyone sure but my husband is 6'7" and he always tries to make sure he's towards the back of a crowd or not standing in front of a shorter person, especially at events where lots of kids are trying to see.

In terms of hoisting kids on shoulders I do feel like it's rude but also it's a bit of a situation where if you can't beat 'em, you have to join in - so many people get up towards the front and block the shows this way that if you have a little one and you're towards the back this ends up being the only way they have a chance of seeing the show, perpetuating the problem, unfortunately.

And then if somebody like my husband is 6’2” & most ppl can’t see behind him anyway is it really a big deal if he puts DS on his shoulders? What’s a few more inches. We don’t do that, just asking hypothetically.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I always put my 2 year old on my shoulders for parades and standing stage shows. But I always check behind me to make sure I'm not blocking someone and I adjust if we do. What irritates me are the people who push through crowds into space that doesn't even exist. At the last MVMCP this 8-10 year old basically crawled over my kids stroller, which we had very close and tight to ourselves, and IN FRONT of my older kid. We were front row and had been waiting 45 mins or more. Her parent just ignored the behavior.

 

[HopperFan]

Do you think it’s rude?

Yes. Very. And many act like this one child is only blocking the one person behind them ......... no they are likely blocking the view of a dozen people, maybe more depending on crowds.

If you are afraid your child won't see or you can't physically hold them even with average head levels, then arrive early so you are along a fence or line that no one will block their view or find a wall and stand in front of it so you don't block.

And it is dangerous. In those crowds it is common to get bumped or jostled. I saw a grandmother aged woman with a 2 year old on her shoulders trying to walk. She was staggering left and right while the kid wobbled. That kid was one wrong step away from a dive to the concrete.

And yes also agree all cameras, phones etc should be held no higher than in front of the operator's face.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And then if somebody like my husband is 6’2” & most ppl can’t see behind him anyway is it really a big deal if he puts DS on his shoulders? What’s a few more inches. We don’t do that, just asking hypothetically.

Well yeah..because now you're adding in extra height and people who were behind your husband enough to see over him now would have to move further and further back to compensate. And if your husband was in the back like my husband tries to be generally speaking then you've blocked his view because he's several inches taller than your husband but with your kid on his shoulders now he's not.

Don't use his height as a reason to say "well what's a few more inches".

 

[LSUmiss]

Well yeah..because now you're adding in extra height and people who were behind your husband enough to see over him now would have to move further and further back to compensate. And if your husband was in the back like my husband tries to be generally speaking then you've blocked his view because he's several inches taller than your husband but with your kid on his shoulders now he's not.

Don't use his height as a reason to say "well what's a few more inches".

I know you didn’t start the thread, but what views are ppl even talking about? A parade? Fireworks? Like I’ve said before, I am short & have never experienced a kid on shoulders blocking my view to the point that I noticed it. I’ve seen plenty of rude behavior but can’t say I’ve ever noticed this to be a problem.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I know you didn’t start the thread, but what views are ppl even talking about? A parade? Fireworks? Like I’ve said before, I am short & have never experienced a kid on shoulders blocking my view to the point that I noticed it. I’ve seen plenty of rude behavior but can’t say I’ve ever noticed this to be a problem.

I'm sure it's a variety.

I suppose if you haven't noticed it before your other statement makes more sense. People who have had their views blocked have noticed it, whether it bothered them a whole lot is up to each person.

When I was watching HEA I was in a good spot up by the fencing in the Hub. But a dad put his kid up against him, not quite on his shoulders but close enough, and I was constantly having to move around the kid's head to get a view. I had already moved into a spot due to the dad. The kid wasn't put up until the show started. Def. would have been blocking people's view not just mine had the kid been actually on the shoulders itself.

When we saw Star Wars fireworks it wasn't as bad in terms of kids on shoulders but I'm positive that was because Fanstamic! got cancelled extremely late due to rain.

Being 5 3 I do expect issues with finding a good enough spot to see things and I mean this in general not just WDW. Sometimes I just can't get a good enough spot. But it still irks me when all of a sudden I'm blocked. If it hasn't happen to you all power to you and maybe it wouldn't irk you even if it did happen to you. Some things that I get blocked on aren't a big enough deal. Others are. That's a personal opinion.

 

[Minnie1222]

I've never put a kid on my shoulder but I don't mind if others do. I think it's cute and the kid always seems so happy.

 

[Snowtrail]

I have to agree with HopperFan. I saw a lady with a kid on her shoulders lose her step and have the kid fall 5 feet and landed on concrete and hit her head. It was one of those wailing screams that can give a parent a heartattack.

 

[wendlle]

Yes I do think it is rude, yes I do think it is unsafe. I also hate people who hold up their huge iPads or phones to record everything.
on a side note, before we had kids we were waiting for the parade over in a spot in Frontierland when two people with a kid actually PUSHED me over. When I said, "excuse me, I'm standing here" she said "you don't even have children, why do you need to see the parade?" I was so shocked, not only did she not realise (nor care) that I had been trying to have children for over 2 years thru IVF, but adults also enjoy WDW and parades.
Just because you have a kid who wants to see a parade or anything else in WDW doesn't give you the right to take that away from anyone else.
I have two children now and could NEVER push in or put my kids up on our shoulders to stop others from viewing anything at WDW - it's just RUDE!

 

[jtopp]

Rude if you are in the front blocking others. I am tall, and I know children (and some adults) have a hard time seeing events if I am in front. I would have a child on my shoulders, but only so they can see, as I will be in the back row. I can still see, I'm not rude to others, and my kids have a view head and shoulders (literally!) above everyone else.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I'm all for whatever you want to do to give kids a better experience. One person with his kids on his shoulders isn't that big of a deal. What I hate is the "Play Parade" shows where the parade stops, then the CM's encourage everyone to crowd around in the street. That completely ruins the experience for anyone who has politely, and patiently staked out a spot and waited for the parade, only to have a bunch of people who just got there crowd them out - at the urging of the CM's no less!

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm all for whatever you want to do to give kids a better experience. One person with his kids on his shoulders isn't that big of a deal. What I hate is the "Play Parade" shows where the parade stops, then the CM's encourage everyone to crowd around in the street. That completely ruins the experience for anyone who has politely, and patiently staked out a spot and waited for the parade, only to have a bunch of people who just got there crowd them out - at the urging of the CM's no less!

Apparently you and your family have never waited on Main Street for the evening show to start, only to have a bunch of children go up on shoulders in front of you. Blocks the view of everyone behind them.

 

[nlbergsten]

We did Universal and MVMCP this past December. At both parks, on multiple occasions, we had adults run in last second and stand directly in front of our kids (between ages 2-10). Their entire view of the castle show was blocked by a guy shoving through and putting his kid on his shoulders right in front of them. I'm not even talking about my husband and I being blocked from seeing. Why is the kid on the shoulders' view and enjoyment more important than my 5 kids who have been patiently waiting in our staked out spot for 45 min? My husband finally got sick of it and started confronting people at the Universal parades. I think some of it may have been cultural differences, but I think alot of it was due to not thinking (or not caring) about anyone else. My husband and I took these "opportunities" to teach our kids how to be considerate of others and hopefully they won't grow up to be <insert your favorite descriptor> like those people. For the record we also invited other children struggling to see to squeeze in up front with our kids because we do care about all children having a good time.

 

[MomOTwins]

We always try to find a spot up along a fence or behind some landscaping (e.g. over by crystal palace) where no-one can stand directly ahead of us. The view is not perfect, but it avoids all the jostling and uncertainty about who will show up last-minute or reshuffle to block the view. Like a mosh pit at a concert, there is no such thing as reserving a clear view by getting there early. I've heard the train station at main street is another good option for this.

 

[Summer2018]

Yes I do think it is rude, yes I do think it is unsafe. I also hate people who hold up their huge iPads or phones to record everything.
on a side note, before we had kids we were waiting for the parade over in a spot in Frontierland when two people with a kid actually PUSHED me over. When I said, "excuse me, I'm standing here" she said "you don't even have children, why do you need to see the parade?" I was so shocked, not only did she not realise (nor care) that I had been trying to have children for over 2 years thru IVF, but adults also enjoy WDW and parades.
Just because you have a kid who wants to see a parade or anything else in WDW doesn't give you the right to take that away from anyone else.
I have two children now and could NEVER push in or put my kids up on our shoulders to stop others from viewing anything at WDW - it's just RUDE!

So sorry you experienced that.

I’m not thrilled with kids on shoulders blocking others. That’s rude.

But if someone put their hands on me and pushed me, I would see RED. I’m not sure how I would react, but I know it wouldn’t be pretty.

Getting physical is pushing the line.

 

[Summer2018]

We did Universal and MVMCP this past December. At both parks, on multiple occasions, we had adults run in last second and stand directly in front of our kids (between ages 2-10). Their entire view of the castle show was blocked by a guy shoving through and putting his kid on his shoulders right in front of them. I'm not even talking about my husband and I being blocked from seeing. Why is the kid on the shoulders' view and enjoyment more important than my 5 kids who have been patiently waiting in our staked out spot for 45 min? My husband finally got sick of it and started confronting people at the Universal parades. I think some of it may have been cultural differences, but I think alot of it was due to not thinking (or not caring) about anyone else. My husband and I took these "opportunities" to teach our kids how to be considerate of others and hopefully they won't grow up to be <insert your favorite descriptor> like those people. For the record we also invited other children struggling to see to squeeze in up front with our kids because we do care about all children having a good time.

Back when Spectromagic was still a thing, we staked out a viewing spot and sat on the curb for what felt like forever. Of course, a family came last minute and one of the kids sat right in my lap. Now, I’m a teacher, and kids tend to be friendly with me, but thst was ridiculous. That was our last nighttime parade.

We much prefer evenings at our resort watching fireworks or dining at California Grill.