Don't Hate Me for Knowing More

[elemusing]

Barb,

I totally know what you mean. This happens to us every time we go to EPCOT. For some reason, we always get there early and go to the first empty turnstile. People look at us like we are crazy. There is one that is in the shade to the far right. I love it cause nobody goes there.

 

[dqpowell]

Which would be why I said it was "stylized to the point of not representing an actual species"...

To be more precise, it is the heraldic representation of a dolphin, which has always been presented more as a fish than the mammal. That is what Bernini used, and then used by Graves for the design of the hotel. So true, it really isn't a fish, but it is a fish-like representation of a mammal used in heraldry, referred to as the "chief of fish", most likely originating with the Dauphins of France.

All true, and I'm not disputing that. What I am disputing are the ideas that:

1. It's a Mahi Mahi, aka 'Dolphinfish.' (It doesn't look much like a Mahi Mahi.)

2. There's any connection between the Mahi Mahi and the sculpture, via Bernini. Yes, Bernini called his sculptures "Dolphins," but I can't find any evidence that this was an overt reference to the Mahi Mahi, or that the common name of the Mahi Mahi was "Dolphinfish" back in 17th century Italy.

David

 

[qtwns]

There's been a lot of discussion on dealing with rude people, but what about the flipside? Have you ever had people hating on you because they thought you were being rude, but you simply knew more about the ins and outs of Disney? I'm talking about the comments you might hear while traipsing through the FP line while others sweat in standby or asking for the front of the monorail and being glared at by others who didn't know such a thing was possible until they overheard you.

I ran into one of these situations at Epcot one morning. I got there early, but the turnstyle lines were already building. They have one turnstyle open early for the princess breakfast people, which they open up for everyone at the same time as they open the others. People often don't realize that, so my usual procedure is to get in line for that turnstyle because it tends to be the shortest.

On that particular morning there was no one waiting at the princess turnstyle but there was a line waiting to get in the one on the other side. I walked up to "my" turnstyle to wait. A big family was first in line for the other side, and one of the guys said to me, "We're waiting in line." I said, "Uh, okay," not knowing what he meant. He repeated, "We're waiting in line." I said, "Yes, okay, that's nice" or somesuch thing. Then he said, "You have to get in line behind us." I realized he thought I was cutting and explained, "You're waiting in line for that turnstyle, and I'm waiting in line for this one." He said, "No, you can't go in there," and I said, "Yes, they will open it when they open the park." He was getting pretty agitated at this point and kept repeating, "You have to get behind us! You have to get behind us!" Finally I said, "I'm done discussing this with you. You are waiting in one line and I am waiting in another. You can talk all you want, but at this point I am going to ignore you."

In the meantime, more people had lined up behind me, and when Epcot opened our turnstyle opened at the same time his did and we all filed in. I have no idea why he was so bothered and why the concept of two lines was so hard for him to understand. All I can figure is that he dragged his family out of bed at dawn to be first and resented people who came later getting in at the same time. If it was all that important to him, he should have had half his family get in line at one turnstyle and half at the other. Just because he's not as well informed as I am doesn't make his problem into mine. I'll bet he spent the rest of the day cursing people in the FP lines.

Well, I never knew/realized this little turnstile tip! And I thought I knew it all This is almost as good as the Rain Forest Cafe/AK tip.

 

[inkkognito]

Well, I never knew/realized this little turnstile tip! And I thought I knew it all This is almost as good as the Rain Forest Cafe/AK tip.

Yes, it's great. You just have to stand to the side a bit so you don't get in the way of the breakfast people. Epcot is the only park where I'll do rope drop, and that's only because it's the only way to ride Soarin' without too much of a wait and get decent FPs in the busy season. My other tip, which I'm sure is more common knowledge, is: when you're there at rope drop, go directly on Soarin' rather than stopping to get a FP. Most people will stop for FPs so you'll pretty much walk directly onto the ride. By the time you're done, the FP-getting crowd will have thinned and the return time won't have risen too dramaticaly. It's a wonderful two-fer.

 

[rayasmom]

I don't understand the fast pass haters. I had a woman yell at me when we used fast pass on Space Mountain. Well actually she was really mad because we used the parent switch as well so she had just seen my husband and two kids go through then here come the kids again. She was livid when she saw my kids for a second time.

A lot of parents don't know about the rider switch pass. However, I noticed on this last trip, that CMs are really tough when it comes to giving them out. The CM at TOT actually measured my 2 yo to see if he could enter the building and then switch inside. The CM at RNR had to see my whole family first, not just the toddler in the stroller. weird? Seemed a little more lax at the MK.

 

[rayasmom]

I do enjoy the "fill in all the available space" rides.....like the carousel, teacups, rides with preshows, the 3D shows, etc....that you actually HELP the CM who is loading it by not forming a line in the HUGE space they give you......you get to get on the ride with more ease, waste less time, and skip a whole buncha people!

I agree! Who cares about dirty looks, they figure it out in a few seconds anyhow.

 

[catho72]

My favorite reference to the "Fish and Duck" was here on the Dis where someone called it the "Swolphin" - I've been calling it that ever since (although "fish and duck" will now be permanently branded in my brain)!

My son referred to it (them?) as the "Swolphin" as well. We got a kick out of it and called it that for the rest of the trip.

 

[disnut8]

We were at the Magic Kingdom on Thanksgiving Day in the early afternoon. After getting through security (using the two lines and not stacking up all in one), we approached the turnstiles and there was a totally empty open one. The Cast Member was even telling people to use that turnstiles but NO ONE WAS DOING IT! Except us. The Cast Member said it would be the shortest line we had all day.

On another trip, I was in charge of giving the order for our food at the Electric Umbrella in prime lunchtime (long story on why I was there at that time but I had a very hungry aunt who needed to be pleased). The line all the way at the far left cashier (the one right next to the wall), had two people in it. Two people. I used that one and had the aunt ask me why I was using it! Um, because I can?

At Disney World, if you can't use a line, there will be someone or something telling you you can't. If there is an empty space in a queue, use it.

Of course, our favorite is waiting for the Magic Kingdom Railroad and having everyone crowd into the first available car when if they would just walk to the front or the back, there are plenty of empty spaces. On crowded days, we usually have an entire row just for the two of us while other cars are packed.

 

[Markstudy]

It was just me and my wife....walking towards the shower at the Poly to get the beach sand off our feet.

Out of the corner of my eye I see this guy come flying up the beach dragging two small kids (and a trail of 5 other family members lagging behind, stretched over a distance of 75 yards, behind him).

Well... for the last 50 yards to the shower the guy tried to catch and pass my wife and I, so he could hold us both-up while he waited for his 7 faimly members to catch up and wash the sand off their feet, toys, bags..and camping gear.

Boy! was this guy mad when I reached out my leg and beat him by one step to the shower. I washed my feet and took my time, then held the shower for my wife, and she washed her feet, the guy was fuming mad, that he got beat in his imaginary foot race LOL

Even though it only took me and my wife 2 minutes ( and the rest of his party had still not caught up ) he was not worried that he dragged his two youngest children by the arms through the sand... but just "macho mad" that he didn't win the foot race.

I call this "panic thinking" its like when someone pulls-out in front of you on the highway, because they just barely have enough room to not cause an accident....yet you look in your rear view mirror and realize that there are no more cars behind you for a mile

In another way... it also reminds me of the guys in mini-vans and big SUV's with the entire family on board... and they constantly try to race my dad and I when we're stopped at a stop light (my dad drives a corvette, and spends most of his time trying NOT to go fast, just touch the pedal and your going to fast)

 

[savvy?71]

I call this "panic thinking" its like when someone pulls out in front of you on the hiway, because they just barely have enough room to not cause an accident....yet you look in your rear view mirror and realize that there are no more cars behind you for a mile

That's a good term for it. It's totally illogical, yet people panic, thinking they must be 'missing out' on something. And maybe in some cases they are. Even then, the behavioral reaction is still illogical. Surely if I give you a nasty look and comment, I will become more knowledgeable and good things will come my way.

OMGZ?! That car passed me! I'll show him! OMGZ! That family is chatting with a CM! WHY!??! WHY!? I must find out! They know something! I will sneer at them and even cause a ruckus. I will be hero to my family and others will me!

 

[DizneeMommy]

The funny thing about FP is that even when you explain it to some people, they STILL won't use it! On our last trip, I was getting FP's for something (can't remember which ride. . .one where the standby line is right beside the FP machines). Anyway, this young couple asked how much FP "costs". I patiently explained that it's included for free with your park ticket and how to use it. . .even showed them the ones I had just gotten. They thanked me, then turned around and got in the standby line with the 120 minute wait time!! Oh well, more FP's for me!

 

[RMulieri]

The funny thing about FP is that even when you explain it to some people, they STILL won't use it! On our last trip, I was getting FP's for something (can't remember which ride. . .one where the standby line is right beside the FP machines). Anyway, this young couple asked how much FP "costs". I patiently explained that it's included for free with your park ticket and how to use it. . .even showed them the ones I had just gotten. They thanked me, then turned around and got in the standby line with the 120 minute wait time!! Oh well, more FP's for me!

Have you ever tried to give fp away?omg! people looked at me like I had 10 heads when I tried to give a family fp for splash we were not goin to use, then got a 120 min standby line.It happened so many times until a fellow diser took them from me.

 

[Silver Queen]

Inkkognito's Soarin' Tip
We were recently at Epcot and this is exactly what we did (we just kind of used logic to figure it out). It worked beautifully and we were able to ride Soarin' twice early in the morning! I've used a lot of Barb's tips on the cruise threads and this is another great one. Thanks, Barb!

 

[centurythree]

OMGZ?! That car passed me! I'll show him! OMGZ! That family is chatting with a CM! WHY!??! WHY!? I must find out! They know something! I will sneer at them and even cause a ruckus. I will be hero to my family and others will me!

 

[amberandolly]

Have you ever tried to give fp away?omg! people looked at me like I had 10 heads when I tried to give a family fp for splash we were not goin to use, then got a 120 min standby line.It happened so many times until a fellow diser took them from me.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me at Tower of Terror!
I know I talk funny ( being English and from "up north" ) but come on.

I just smiled as we sailed down the fp line for K. safari, oblivious to the tuts and murmurs.

 

[katieandemismom]

You should come with us some day! We get special accomodation for our youngest dd's stroller due to some medical needs. People go NUTS when they see us pushing a stroller through a fast-pass lane! Even though we have a special stroller as a wheelchair sticker, they assume we are breaking the rules. I guess my biggest advice is to just not worry about things unless they directly affect you or your family. Then ask nicely and politely about what is happening. If you get a nasty answer, then the boxing gloves can come off!

On the flip side, we waited in line to see Snow White for 25 minutes last trip. There were only about 4 families waiting b/c it was in Epcot and there wasn't a posted sign about her appearance (we knew she'd be around there somewhere and asked a cast member). Just as she was coming out, a woman and her four kids came and stood beside the line (sort of turning it into a pack of people instead of a line). When the character attendant asked that the line be moved around, she looked at her oldest daughter and told her that she was supposed to be standing in front of my girls instead of the end of the line. Dh was not happy and politely told the little girl that our girls had been waiting their turn so she needed to as well. The mom got crazy on dh for trying to spoil her child's day. I told dh just to back down. It wasn't the child's fault and wasn't worth a scene over. Unfortunately the others behind us weren't so flexible and demanded the character attendant move her kids to the back of the line where they belonged. It could have been a very ugly situation over something so very stupid.

 

[savvy?71]

On the flip side, we waited in line to see Snow White for 25 minutes last trip. There were only about 4 families waiting b/c it was in Epcot and there wasn't a posted sign about her appearance (we knew she'd be around there somewhere and asked a cast member)....

I have seen similar, unattractive situations at Epcot character meetings. We were just there the first week of Dec and I knew as well, that SW and Dopey were due out (I asked a CM and she pointed to where and when they'd be out). Obviously a few other families knew to ask as there was a small line ahead of me.

Many families passed by and caught on without comment. One mom asked the first family in line what was going on, was told, rolled her eyes, and said to her husband "Must be nice to have the inside scoop"

unbelievable!

 

[inkkognito]

Have you ever tried to give fp away?omg! people looked at me like I had 10 heads when I tried to give a family fp for splash we were not goin to use, then got a 120 min standby line.It happened so many times until a fellow diser took them from me.

I've had the same thing, and I had an even better one happen at Universal one time. DH and I have Premier passes, which get you free valet parking (a $20 value). Each pass is good for parking, and obviously we only bring one car, so I use my pass for whoever happens to be behind us in line. Usually they are more than happy to accept, but once there was a couple who looked at me like I was telling them I was going to chop their heads off. I tried to explain, but they were like, "No, no, that's okay." I swear they thought it was a scam to steal their car or something. They just couldn't get the clue that I was offering to save them $20 with no catch! Oh well, the people behind them were more than happy to accept.

 

[Bill From PA]

After ten years of receiving good advice on these boards and trying, with mixed results, to pass some along to those not in the know, I've taken the advice of W.C. Fields who said, 'Never give a sucker an even break nor smarten up a chump'.

Bill From PA

 

[Golfing Goofy]

It was just me and my wife....walking towards the shower at the Poly to get the beach sand off our feet.

Out of the corner of my eye I see this guy come flying up the beach dragging two small kids (and a trail of 5 other family members lagging behind, stretched over a distance of 75 yards, behind him).

Well... for the last 50 yards to the shower the guy tried to catch and pass my wife and I, so he could hold us both-up while he waited for his 7 faimly members to catch up and wash the sand off their feet, toys, bags..and camping gear.

Boy! was this guy mad when I reached out my leg and beat him by one step to the shower. I washed my feet and took my time, then held the shower for my wife, and she washed her feet, the guy was fuming mad, that he got beat in his imaginary foot race LOL

I could just see that in my mind's eye!! Thanks for a good chuckle this morning! Reminds me of my kids...