Epcot Fountain Becomes a Hot Tub

[MamaMermaid]

Jerks.

 

[Genie+]

I'm fairly certain that's also standard for many organizations or groups. People forget about the "representing" part but that's what you're doing and why things often extend to more than just the individual competing.

This was true when our school went.

Every meeting one trip was mentioned where a student stole a $2 keychain and he and parent chaperone were sent home. No refund. Extra money for early flight home. They also made abundantly clear that as a group all are expected to be on best behavior because our performances could be revoked over any issue.

 

[ronandannette]

I absolutely feel for the team, they didn’t do anything wrong.

But as PP’s whom have gone to WDW for competitions, there’s a code of conduct given to them they must abide that includes parents. I think Disney has to follow through on the protocol they set.

Definitely stinks for the team, and particularly those members who family members are in the fountain. I cannot fathom their embarrassment.

We don't know that Disney actually made any response at all. No statements from them; our only information has come from various Twitter feeds. And the person that posted the pictures (an on-line TA) doesn't have any of them having their dumb asses hauled out of the fountain, or any other drama. We don't even know how it was discovered by the competition organizers/governing board.

 

[ronandannette]

This was true when our school went.

Every meeting one trip was mentioned where a student stole a $2 keychain and he and parent chaperone were sent home. No refund. Extra money for early flight home. They also made abundantly clear that as a group all are expected to be on best behavior because our performances could be revoked over any issue.

But the whole team wasn't disqualified? Seems like an under-reaction.

 

[anniemae]

I haven't read any articles about it but the entire team may not have been technically disqualified. Disney coudl have only disqualified the athletes of those particular parents but it's not like a basketball team where they have second string players and such they can replace them with. If the team was doing any kind of stunt in their routine you can't just pull a kid from the back and put them up front and tell them"just jump real high and smile, don't worry they'll catch you!"

Disqualifying a couple girls would have likely effectively disqualified the entire team.

I think it was the whole group. It said the group was disqualified and could no longer compete.

 

[fly girl]

Well, it is what it it, but there are endless numbers of threads on the WDW boards about annoying/disruptive/rule-breaking behaviour by cheer team members themselves that maybe haven't resulted in such a stern response. Impossible to know, I guess. This hasn't made any "Disney News" that I can find.

The article I quoted popped up on my Facebook feed this morning. I don't follow that website, but big brother knows I read Disney articles so there it was!

I did look to see if other sites had this article and if you put "Epcot fountain" in google news search it is all over. Yahoo, WDW News Today, Disney Dining, The Laughing Place, and a few local news outlets in the US.

I hope for the team this is not headline news in Alberta. They are already heartbroken enough.

 

[snikki]

This was true when our school went.

Every meeting one trip was mentioned where a student stole a $2 keychain and he and parent chaperone were sent home. No refund. Extra money for early flight home. They also made abundantly clear that as a group all are expected to be on best behavior because our performances could be revoked over any issue.

When my son went on his senior trip we all had to sign forms/contracts about behavior. During meetings we were also told of the one time someone did something wrong and the child and one chaperone was sent home with no refunds. I believe the parent would also have to pay the costs of changing the flights. But the the entire senior class wasn’t sent home.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Thanks Dad. Thanks Mom. You got us DQ'd.

And can you not wear a tank top and your hat backwards Dad? You're not 10 you know and you're now the laughingstock of the squad much to my chagrin.....

 

[amylevan]

This behaviour is ridiculous - no question, but is there more to the story? Did they resist immediately getting out once confronted? Did an altercation ensue? Did they damage the property somehow? Was violence or illegality at play? Three people violating a rule (and to me, honestly it looks like a booze-fueled photo op) would warrant ejection from the park and maybe those individuals being forced to vacate a Disney hotel. But for the entire team to be disqualified for something no actual member of it did, seems unfair and extreme.

Cheer coach here.
1) Surely you’ve seen some of the posts around here about how awful cheer teams are and avoid the weeks of competitions, etc. Actions like this compound the regular, everyday complaints. Can you imagine the backlash if nothing was done? I think part of this was probably to be set as an example. We need some line in the sand that says behave yourselves.

2) Cheer routines, especially at Worlds level, can’t easily/quickly be reworked. Disqualifing 3 or 4 from a routine last minute is disqualifing the whole team.

3) Drinking, in particular, has been an issue at cheerleading competitions. It’s mostly been an issue for coaching staff and older athletes, but if the USASF wants to ever start making strides, they need to start somewhere. And I’m assuming alcohol is the only thing that would make someone get in that water. Ewwww.

 

[MimitoAlex]

Yea, I mean I guess I am unfamiliar with the high standards of Canadian cheerleading and decorum required at all times. Parents on their own time acting like morons, who aren't even at the event, can disqualify the whole team? This seems harsh.

I'm not sure how you have any cheer competitions if parents can't ever act like idiots.

Being a past team mom, and chaperon for 13 years if you include kindergarten. Here in the US. I live in Florida, and have to been to Disney many time for events. They tell you loud and clear what is expected.

There are many many meetings and paper work that goes out to the parents and students alike. Codes of Conduct that must be signed, by everyone attending whatever the function is, cheer leading, Dance, Sports, band / Color Guard , chorus and whatever else.

They go over it, time and time again. What is expected from everyone, in emails, meetings, practices, and daily while at the venue, reminders to be on your best behavior, that you represent the school, your team, and yourself. It is all outlined and the consequence if the rules are broken. Most schools have a no alcohol policy when chaperoning school or team functions. They are aware of what the consequence where for this type of behavior. Where is the common sense factor...

When you are a chaperon, you are not own your own time. You are there to do a job. This is not a vacation. This is a privilege to attend functions like this.

Why is it harsh? They were made aware of what would happen and choose this behavior, they are adults for goodness sake. What would it say to the kids, well its okay if you break the rules, nothing will happen. Unfortunately it is a life lesson that they were taught, and it wasn't the team fault. Yet their actions as adults created consequence's for the team as a whole.

I do feel bad for the team, especially the kids who's parents acted like kids... just plain ole nonsense.

 

[snikki]

Can they do something about the cheerleaders that decide to cheer on the bus at park closing?

 

[MimitoAlex]

Can they do something about the cheerleaders that decide to cheer on the bus at park closing?

We have passed up getting on a bus many times that the cheer teams were on. Or Uber back to the hotel.

 

[VandVsmama]

Why would you think this was acceptable?

View attachment 755755

https://www.*************.com/cheer...-parents-seen-swimming-in-epcot-fountain-ks1/

The sad part is the cheer team. Disqualified because of their parents poor behavior. All the hard work and dedication their children put in was gone because the parents are idiots.

Disney had to put the hammer down, I just feel gutted for the team.

Absolutely not acceptable behavior.

 

[declansdad]

When my son went on his senior trip we all had to sign forms/contracts about behavior. During meetings we were also told of the one time someone did something wrong and the child and one chaperone was sent home with no refunds. I believe the parent would also have to pay the costs of changing the flights. But the the entire senior class wasn’t sent home.

Rules like that are pretty standard terms in codes of conduct that trip organizers require everyone to sign. Typically, that would have nothing to do with Disney.

 

[snikki]

We have passed up getting on a bus many times that the cheer teams were on. Or Uber back to the hotel.

During our first trip we saw this at the value bus stops as we waited at our CBR stop. It’s turned us off from staying value.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

People go to Epcot, have a few, and lose their minds.

I have seen a cheer team in a different park (DHS) doing stunts on the concrete, no spotters or padding. Several cast members showed up and they were stopped and escorted away. I don't know what happened to them after that. Nothing good, I imagine.

 

[BrianL]

Can they do something about the cheerleaders that decide to cheer on the bus at park closing?

I've never experienced this and am normally not one to get upset about the cheering outdoors or whatever - it's fine. On a crowded bus however, that would be inappropriate and quite disturbing, especially at the park close.

 

[Turn the Page]

We were at CBR once years ago and there was a cheer team on the bridge through the middle of the resort taking a photo. I was just hustling over to the QS for my morning jolt of caffeine and the girls were still setting up the shot, all of them posing along the railing on the bridge, so I just scooted right across the bridge since they weren't actually taking the photo yet.

One of them, looked to be around 12 I think, sneered at me and said something in a really snotty tone about me ruining their poto. Ummm.....you're still getting everybody lined up there girly, give it a rest.

Same trip, we were on a bus back from one of the parks after park close and there was a cheer team on the bus cheering and clapping at the top of their lungs. I'm glad they were having fun but gee whiz, they were loud.

I will admit, I have been leery of cheer groups ever since.

 

[TippyThomas]

Here's your sign.

 

[shh]

For the same reason people try to take a dip in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, or do nude modelling shoots at religious landmarks in Asia.

People stopped thinking. Caring.

There - I fixed that for ya'