Elevator Rage - My Story

[TartanFan]

Having been around the Board for a while now I know "elevator kids" are a MAJOR cause of irritation! So I thought I'd share my experience of my own elevator rage on the 08/31 Western Magic! It probably doesn't reflect well on my powers of self-control but it made me feel better!

I lived on Deck 6 and wanted one early evening to go up to Deck 9 to retrieve my DD from QuarterMasters to get ready for show and dinner. Since I had been relaxing on our verandah, I didn't really feel like taking the stairs as I usually did (OK - small white lie but stay with me!) so I strolled to the midship elevator bank. For those of you in the know, these are the very scenic elevators with the glass backs where you can see the great murals from Deck 6 upwards - a magnet for sightseers!

After a (relatively) short wait I heard the welcome ping of an arriving elevator and, after scanning right and left, I sprinted towards the up sign (still with me? I'm almost at the point of this story!) and when I lunged in there were 3 young men there, around 10-12 years old. I was about to punch the button for Deck 9 when I noticed that it was already selected - as were Decks 7 and 8. "No worries" I thought "I'm on the scenic elevator and I'll enjoy the ride". A split second later we had arrived at level 7, the doors opened and none of my companions seemed to want to leave. Being the considerate person that I am, I blocked the door and inquired who wanted to get off. Since no-one made a move, I remarked that since the button had been pressed someone must want to get off and I would hold the door until someone did. After a hasty conference (when I could hear one say "She could just press the close button"!) one of the "young men" was elected to get off! Funilly enough, when we got to Deck 8 my other two companions almost knocked each down to get out of the elevator! I then continued my short but entertaining journey to Deck 9!

Sorry this is so long and probably very boring but it did make me chuckle for the rest of the evening!

 

[ennazus]

I think you handled that in a very diplomatic way!! And still got your point across to them (hopefully) that what they were doing was wrong.

 

[mom2grace]

EXCELLENT!!!! You did exactly the right thing and I wish I could've been there to watch! If more adults would do this, the problem would go away! I wonder if they told their parents and if their parents were outraged at the boys or YOU?!

 

[dis4me]

LOL Tartanfan. That was an entertaining story. I wish I would have thought of that. The boys must have died when you held the elevator.They wanted to play so they were played with.I like your way of thinking.You would think though that they all would have just gotten out together. LOL

 

[imgoingtodisney]

on the other hand - maybe you should have made them alllll get off - the parents might have sent them all together in case something happened - how would you have felt if the 1 10yr kid you made get off got hurt?

 

[TartanFan]

I did think of that and they were all given the opportunity to leave together but chose not to. I didn't MAKE anyone get off - we're talking 10 year olds here and logic is not their strong point! I know, coz the DD I was retrieving is 10 and not capable of rational thought when in the company of her peers but I trust in her innate survival instinct. If she hurt herself rushing upstairs to join her friends when they were "joyriding" the elevators, she knows she'd have to explain to me too!

 

[KAMLEM]

TartanFan-

That's great. By the end of our 7 day cruise in August I was very frustrated with unsupervised children. There were kids as young as 6 and 7 running around by themselves and playing in the elevators. I have a 6 and 8 year old and there is no way that they would be allowed to roam the ship alone. Twice I got onto an elevator with 2 children and every button pushed. If it happens again I'll use your tactic!

Shari

 

[nearlychildless]

I think you did the right thing! If told to stay together then they all should have all gotten off. Also if told to stay together I hope they were told other thing such as not playing on the elevators. I'll bet the parents were never told. I know mine would not have told me because she would have been trouble. Also I hate to tell you but my 15 year old still has trouble engaging her brain when in the company of peers, but we keep working on it. Then or now I would comend the person who did what you did if it had been my child.

 

[Doctor P]

LOL. Good job!

 

[jlawall]

I was on the 8/10 Eastern Caribbean Magic cruise and a few times I went on elevators with all the buttons pushed. The most aggravating part of this was THAT THE CHILD'S PARENTS WERE ON THE ELEVATOR!!!! I was so mad that they all thought this activity was funny!!!

One tip I learned on the cruise is that the aft and forward elevators were easier to get on than the midship elevators.

 

[Mike Bartenhagen]

I am 35 years old and I think that 25 years ago I may have pushed all of the buttons on an elevator once or twice (as I am sure a lot of you have; be honest). Kids probably did this on the first elevator that was made and will continue to do this for as long as elevators are around. There are kids shooting each other all over the country, a few extra stops on an elevator isn't a crisis.

You handled it well Tartan Fan. I am sure they were good kids just screwing around. Heck in some places they may have cussed you for doing what you did.

 

[TartanFan]

You got it! The point I was trying to make! Riding the elevator is the epitome of fun to kids and a minor irritant to us oldies but if the kids can play, why can't we?!

PS I'm even older than you so I've probably pushed even more elevator buttons - It doesn't make me a bad person - just getting my own back!!!!!!!!

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

I'm fighting a sore throat and really needed a good laugh! My family is wondering what in the heck I'm down here cackling about. That is just the think I would do if I'd thought of it! And for all of the reasons cited, why my son will NOT have check in and out privledges. Nine or ten is just too young to roam the ship. At least my nine year old is!

Tartan you would get along with my mom. Some girl called and asked if her refrigerator was running. My sweet mother said no. The girl just said Oh and hung up.

 

[my3kids]

I was at an Embassy suites a few weeks ago with my kids. They had 2 of the semi open glass elevators. I was in the elevator with ds 8 and when the doors to both of the elevators opened at the same time, on the wrong floor, he turned with a gleem in his eye and darted into the other elevator. Well, my doors shut and went one direction, he another. I got off and tried to watch through the semi open glass as he would dart from one to the other and change up and down direction everytime the elevators were on the same floor at the same time. He wasn't pushing buttons, and he wasn't seeming to bother the other passengers, he was just along for their ride. Anyway, he had a great time with his elevator games. Please don't hunt my children down on the ship if they have pushed a button or two. They are frequent jokers(not that that one is funny if in a hurry) I love what the origional poster did. It shows the kids how adults can be bothered by the button game without actually accusing them of being naughty.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

Hey, can we make the parent's of the darling little children who push every button with their parents standing right there get off too. I think every elevator we got in had parent's with children pushing every button. Oh, well If I get in a hurry I'll take the stairs.

 

[my3kids]

The instances of mine being in an elevator without either DH or I are likely negligable.....we just won't allow them to wander. The chance of them doing that when their father is in the elevator is even more remote. They know whose buttons NOT to push!

 

[poopie]

getting in the elevator with an ADULT who proceeds to push all the buttons? He is lucky I didn't back hand him upside his head.
My glare assured he NEVER does that in presence again.

 

[natsmom125]

There is one worse problem than a child and elevator..that is an
adult and an elevator.

I am never going to finish my trip report so those waiting for this...here it is as I promised.

I'm afraid I wasn't as cool headed as Tartan...I sort of lost my
cool in both instances I had on our recent Wonder cruise.

First...

I was TRYING to get off the aft elevators on Deck 5 to go to our cabin. PICTURE THIS: The doors open, I am in front and take one
step to get off. A LADY(and I'll use that term lightly) walked right in to the elevator, I had to step back to let her in. As she does this a GENTLEMAN(and I'll use that term lightly) starts to enter the elevator with a double stroller...not back to back..but side to side stroller. He bangs the stroller into my leg. Now, neither one
of these PEOPLE bothered to say "excuse me" or "pardon me"...
so I looked this man right in the eyes and said as loud as I could,
"DO YOU THINK THAT I COULD GET OFF BEFORE YOU BARGE YOUR
WAY IN"...I stepped off the elevator and just kept walking.

I have no idea what was said behind my back...and don't really care!!!!


Second...

DD was able to get a Teen Thing at the Spa. DH took her up while I went to flush money down the toilet (ie play Bingo) with
explicit instructions to stay at the Spa until I came to get her
after Bingo. Bingo was late getting started because of it being
the last game of the cruise. So,

PICTURE THIS

I rush out when Bingo is over to get to the midships elevators on Deck 3 going to Deck 9 to get DD. I press the call button(s). Elevators come and go....usually full, but some people walking up and as the doors open..get on. So, after a few elevators come and go...one finally comes and I start to walk on. Before I can get on...two LADIES(again that term)come out of nowhere and barge on in front of me. Well, that does it. I get on the
elevator too and one of these LADIES says, "There is no more
room" and I just lost it when she made that comment. I said
"I'm getting on this elevator..I have been waiting for 20 minutes...and I'M GETTING ON THIS ELEVATOR..why don't you
wait for the next one"....One of them murmured something about being late for a show. They were going up one floor to the
WD Theatre!!! As the elevator stopped on DECK 4, I, being the last one in...stood and blocked the door so they couldn't get off...
one of them said again...we're going to be late for the show and you(meaning me) should have thought about walking. Still blocking the door, said "No...I've been summoned(small white lie) to pick up my child on Deck 9.....you should have thought about walking up one deck..your show is more important than a child". I moved out of the way and they murmured something and ran to the theatre. I got back on the elevator and I don't think any of the other people moved or even breathed until it
was time for them to get off. I think they were scared of me..lol

I know I didn't handle it very well...but I'd had it with rude
elevator people. I'm usually pretty calm and collected...but
when I'm tryng to get to my child....you better stay out of my
way!!

OK...enough about this...it sure didn't ruin my trip and now it's
actually somewhat funny!!

Phyllis

 

[hazmat1212]

i admire your restraint, TARTAN (di)

and 8/31 was a 'lite' sailing ---- can't imagine the ELEVATOR pandemonium with a FULL LOAD.....

made us grateful we were so far AFT most times we took the stairs!

cin in NJ

 

[Jhondy(210)]

lighten up a tad on the kids pushing buttons. i honestly can say i did the same thing and rode the elevator to many different floors for fun. although i would say 99% of the time there was no one else in the elevators because we were in the front elevators. like one person mentioned before kids have fun just riding the elevator...especially on the last night. i say if you are on a ship with lots of kids and need to get somewhere fast don't take the elevators i did walk up and down 9 flights of stairs numerous times so it isn't that hard.
oh and even adults push buttons. i know we were talking to a cast member who was talking about pushing all the buttons cause it makes people mad so hey its not just us...then again she does it on the cast member only elevators.