Nancyg56
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2005
- Messages
- 29,495
I think that the idea of Disney World being more special to kids than adults is an interesting one. On the surface it seems harmless, but in the long term maybe not such a great idea. Treating one group of people as more special than another group of people is wrong.
Also, some children seem to absorb the idea that they are special, everyone treats them as special and thus grow into adults that believe that they are special, deserving of special treatment. This can lead to a generation of entitled children who grow into entitled adults. Rules, what rules?, I am special.
Over the years, I have observed some shocking behavior from children at Disney that would not have been socially acceptable a couple of generations ago, but now barely registers a glance from others. Or the parents just shrug as if they have no control over the situation. The children seem to be driving the bus and children are very bad bus drivers. Children need to learn to wait their turn, be polite, be respectful and have empathy for others. All the basic rules of a civilized society that most of us learned in kindergarten.
Why should children get pushed to the front of people who have waited hours to see the parade? Why should children receive more pixie dust than grown ups? Why shouldn't adults feel free to stand in line with children to meet characters? Why should more attention be paid to one group of guests ("children under 10") over another group of guests? Why shouldn't children be treated like other guests in the park?
How about the adults bring the children to wait for a good spot before the parade - learn how to wait for things that you want. It's good for children to learn how to wait their turn in line with other guests to meet characters. Waiting in line for a ride can help build anticipation and excitement for the ride. Plus they are going to spend a lot of their adult lives waiting - waiting at the Dr. Office, waiting at the DMV, waiting to check out at the store. Learning how to wait your turn is an important life skill.
If you so choose to, you can spend your vacation at WDW allowing children in front of you at parades and offering them extra pixie dust if that's your desire. You find your Happy Place at Disney and do what makes your vacation special to you. But I think it's wrong to expect everyone else to share your vision.
And yes, before anyone asks I have children, grown children and grandchildren. I have taken kids of all different ages to the House of Mouse. Maybe it's just me, I don't know. I am just tired of special snowflakes who grow into entitled adults. Like the story of those college interns that objected to the dress code at the place they were working, so they got together to write a formal letter of complaint demanding the dress code be more relaxed, then we're so surprised when they were all FIRED. In real life, not everyone gets a trophy, you have to wait your turn, you don't always get what you want and yes, sometimes life isn't fair.
AMEN! I am a Nana too, and I agree with you. My DD has prepared her child to adapt to the path rather than expect teh path to be replaced just for her.