Driven crazy - and not the usual stuff

[1girln3boys]

Again if you are so close to a stranger (barring the hub during wishes) on either side for them to hit you with a backpack that is your own fault. You are right that if you are in front on them and they do a 180 and hit you it is their fault.
As I have pointed out upthread in regards to the strollers any accidents that I have had with ours have been caused by someone deciding to shoot the gap between my stroller and the people in front of us apparently expecting us to stop on a dime not to clip them....as always everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings and show respect for others in the park

I've stood behind someone with a huge backpack and left plenty of room between us. The person decided to back up, I had nowhere to go with people behind me, and I got knocked into. Some people just don't pay attention.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I am all about personal bubbles but there are obviously times at WDW where backpack swing radius exceeds what would reasonably be considered a personal bubble.

I am over 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds so I can take a pretty good hit and it doesn't really phase me. There were two incidents I witnessed on our trip last June where someone took a pretty nasty hit from a backpack.

The first was at Haunted Mansion in that area where everyone funnels in and merges to the left before boarding. There was a petite young lady making her way along the left side. Right before the choke point a woman who was probably at least 6" taller than her merged towards the young lady while also reaching behind her to frantically grab the hand of the child following close behind. When she did this her book bag (which stuck out at least 24" and was strapped pretty high on her back) swung over and smashed the young ladies head right into the wall. Everyone was pretty shocked except for the woman with the large pack who grabbed her kid and pushed her way through.

The second was inside the Sunshine Seasons food court at the Land Pavilion. In the walk way between seating areas there was just enough room for two way traffic to nearly brush by each other and there were people standing and even sitting against the half walls lining the walk way. There was a man crouching down speaking to his children who were sitting on the floor. As the traffic passed behind him he stoop up suddenly just as someone with an entire tray of food was walking behind him. His bag completely up-ended the tray and caused the food to all dump including a cup of soda that went flying and spilled all over a kid in a stroller being pushed in the opposite direction. Luckily, I believe the staff replaced the food and drinks at no cost but it was complete cluster-fuss for sure.

WDW is just a very busy and crowded place. If you look at old pictures and compare them to newer ones it is obvious that there are more strollers, scooters and (larger) bags than ever before. Combine that fact with more and more people that have a "me first" attitude in a crowded area and problems are going to happen.

Mine is we are standing paying for ponchos outside Winnie the Pooh as the sky turned black. It starts down poring and everyone dives under where we are standing in line. This guy has a backpack so large that we were starting to wonder if one of his kids is inside. He backs in right into my 8 year old- backpack hits her right in the face. He turns and looks at what he hit and.....nothing- just turns back around. His family joins him so he steps back and bam, AGAIN. I say excuse me- nothing. So I move my daughter where I was standing and I proceed to lean against his monster backpack with all my body weight. He moved.
I just don't get why everyone thinks the line will move faster if they stand closer together. I have an autistic child that can't handle being close to people so as a family of 5 we have learned to put him in between us so we can control his personal space in lines. We have to explain at those attractions with holding rooms, so we can stand on the outside until right before. but I have to admit those make me nervous too- voyage of little mermaid has to be the worst!!

 

[Boopuff]

(I also wish kids weren't allowed in the hot tubs,

Right on!

 

[LMHB]

I was told by a cast member that the a "quiet" pool is really just a way of saying that there is no lifeguard there. I agree, it is a misnomer. We particularly enjoy one of those pools at OKW, and my husband and sons do enjoy tossing a ball. They are not obnoxious....but it is a pool in Disney World, not a Sandals resort just for adults, it would unreasonable to expect it to be tranquil with no children playing.

This is an interesting thread! I will sometimes carry the smaller version of the Vera Bradley backpack but it is very small and I pay attention. I am firmly in the camp that you should watch where you are going...be it wearing a backpack, stopping mid-sidewalk, stopping at the base of an escalator, bathroom, or elevator, or generally not allowing your giant party to walk side-by-side and monopolize a walkway. There are six of us and we never walk completely abreast of each other. That was a good point about the fact that the parks are much busier and full of backpacks, scooters, and strollers than they used to be. People are also a lot larger than they used to be. I cringed when I read about the petite girl having her head smashed into a wall by a backpack. As a small woman with slight children, I'm always wary of large people with or without big backpacks backing up on us. People are so oblivious. The description of the tall man at the show bobbing his head made me laugh...that is so true!

And yes, the best way would absolutely be to politely and positively speak up and address the behavior rather than perpetuating the rudeness or worse, pushing back. Unfortunately if I ever dare to speak up about anything my children are mortified, so we try to let things roll off our backs.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

If you are getting hit in a queue you are standing too close

Not if you are in line! A gap as large as someone can swing = you are not in line.

The second problem with your logic is that backpack swingers often step backwards as they swing to avoid hitting their own family, but aren't aware of what is behind them.

I've been to WDW with extended family many times, so we have many stroller trips under our belt.
We have to get the stroller RIGHT up close to the party ahead of us otherwise someone cuts in line in front of us, and we have to confront them, which doesn't often go very well.

Sorry, but it you plan to swing anything heavy, the proper behavior is to look before you swing.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

, they will be playing catch in the pool.

I've been hit in the head by many an (very) errant ball. In short, If I am anywhere on the pool deck, I am in the danger zone!

Not a big deal if the ball is soft foam, but hard balls are another matter.

I tend to think if the pool is empty, ball is fine.

If the pool is crowded and the ball is hard and jr is catching under 50%, it is considerate to do something else.

Except- of course- the WDW sponsored pool games. Those are scheduled. If I am standing beside the volleyball net and get hit, that is on me.

 

[Day-Day]

Not if you are in line! A gap as large as someone can swing = you are not in line.

The second problem with your logic is that backpack swingers often step backwards as they swing to avoid hitting their own family, but aren't aware of what is behind them.

I've been to WDW with extended family many times, so we have many stroller trips under our belt.
We have to get the stroller RIGHT up close to the party ahead of us otherwise someone cuts in line in front of us, and we have to confront them, which doesn't often go very well.

Sorry, but it you plan to swing anything heavy, the proper behavior is to look before you swing.

I hate it when I trip over strollers.

 

[smidgy]

yes I should have said I meant squishy pool balls or nerf balls.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I hate it when I trip over strollers.

Point taken!

I think you were joking, but it is scary just how often oblivious adults crash right into (stationary) strollers at WDW. Keeping in mind that many stroller occupants are under 40pounds, while adults are usually 100+ pounds.