Eyebrow Raisers

[reallybadeggs]

Have you ever done anything that raised some eyebrows from other guests or CMs BUT really felt like you were doing nothing wrong? Here is a list of things that I have done:

1) At STWB, we always send our kids up the ramp to the right and have them sit on the tiny stone wall in front of the stage. Usually, there is no one else sitting there. They have been chosen to be in the show every single time.
2) At rides like Dinosaur and RNR, when everyone else stops in the middle of the "holding room", we always move right up to the door heading into the ride.
3) At any theater show, like MP, CBJ, ITTBAB, etc. we wait until enough people have filled the row so the we can be in the middle
4) At Parades, if there is a spot on the curb in front of a group of adults standing up, I have my kids squeeze in there and sit down. However, if I see a kid standing in the crowd next to me, I will always ask his parents if he would like to move to the curb next to my kids so he can see.
5) During one trip we split our stay between POFQ and AK, I used my refillable PO mugs at the AK.
6) I have spent the better part of an hour trying to stuff everything my kids hand to me into the Mr. Potato Head box.

Have you done any of these things? Are they rude?

 

[bradk]

honestly, the only one i'd take issue with is #4. there's nothing wrong with an 'excuse me, do you mind if my child gets in front so they can see?' pushing your way to the front regardless of your age is just plain rude in my book. especially when you consider people have gotten there earlier to get where they are and to just show up a few moments before and feel some sort of entitlement is rude in my book.

#3 can also be an issue depending on how busy things are. unless you're completely out of the way and not disrupting the flow of people who are trying to get seats.

i also have to admit STWB took me a bit despite creating the acronym database (although i'm sure it's not in there).. Storytime With Belle for those who may also be wondering.

 

[lorli]

Ok what is STWB, I looked at your almost diffinitive list Brak and it said no match found?

 

[Aye Sea Turtles]

To the OP, regarding #4...I think in the future it would be a good idea to ask first. After all, not everyone is as enamored of your kids as you are and might not appreciate having them standing in front of them. Or, the adults may be planning on sitting down when all of a sudden, a group of kids squeezes in front of them and they lose that option.

 

[bradk]

Storytime With Belle for those who may also be wondering.

i think i'll go add it now for good luck

 

[reallybadeggs]

To the OP, regarding #4...I think in the future it would be a good idea to ask first. After all, not everyone is as enamored of your kids as you are and might not appreciate having them standing in front of them. Or, the adults may be planning on sitting down when all of a sudden, a group of kids squeezes in front of them and they lose that option.

Okay, I neglected to say that I would never and have never done this without asking first. However, I have my kids ask, which is a little underhanded I guess, because it's a lot tougher to say no to a kid.

But honestly, it's about the kids isn't it. If you were going to stand and watch the parade, would you mind if a couple of kids, who would otherwise have their views almost completely blocked, sat in front of you. I'd bet it would actually make you feel pretty good that those kids enjoyed the parade and got to interact with the characters.

Wait a second are you sure "not everyone is enamored of my kids".

 

[DVCLiz]

But honestly, it's about the kids isn't it. If you were going to stand and watch the parade, would you mind if a couple of kids, who would otherwise have their views almost completely blocked, sat in front of you. I'd bet it would actually make you feel pretty good that those kids enjoyed the parade and got to interact with the characters.

Hmm, maybe for your kids, but...

We sat down on the curb to watch SpectroMagic on our last night at MK, and if those were your kids who tried to sit behind, in front of, and then on us, I'd have to say that the only thing that would have made me feel good would have been to watch them get thrown out of the park entirely. We sat and staked out our curb seats and then had to defend them to the death during the whole event. Not the kind of experience I had wanted!!!!

If I knew that the people around me were like-minded and that we could easily get kids seats so they could see without anyone else being inconvenienced, I'd be all for that. But the general public at WDW watching a parade doesn't always have the same sentimental feelings, so it's every man for himself.

And there's also something to be said for the family that gets there in time, even if they are an all adult party. If you need curbside seating for your small children, you have every opportunity along the entire parade route to get those seats, just like everybody else.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I figure this is a good time to present another eyebrow raiser, in hopes this thread doesn't deteriorate into an arguement. Years ago we took our 4 yo DS onto BTMRR. On his second time on the ride (he LOVED it), a woman in front of us said very loudly to her DH, "I thought there was a height requirement for this ride" and looked pointedly at our DS. Of course, he'd made the height requirement, but she wasn't convinced. I'm sure her eyebrows were raised.

 

[julm26]

Have you ever done anything that raised some eyebrows from other guests or CMs BUT really felt like you were doing nothing wrong? Here is a list of things that I have done:

1) At STWB, we always send our kids up the ramp to the right and have them sit on the tiny stone wall in front of the stage. Usually, there is no one else sitting there. They have been chosen to be in the show every single time.
2) At rides like Dinosaur and RNR, when everyone else stops in the middle of the "holding room", we always move right up to the door heading into the ride.
3) At any theater show, like MP, CBJ, ITTBAB, etc. we wait until enough people have filled the row so the we can be in the middle
4) At Parades, if there is a spot on the curb in front of a group of adults standing up, I have my kids squeeze in there and sit down. However, if I see a kid standing in the crowd next to me, I will always ask his parents if he would like to move to the curb next to my kids so he can see.
5) During one trip we split our stay between POFQ and AK, I used my refillable PO mugs at the AK.
6) I have spent the better part of an hour trying to stuff everything my kids hand to me into the Mr. Potato Head box.

Have you done any of these things? Are they rude?

I have trouble with #4 - even if your adorable child asked me if they could sit in front of me - I would have said NO!! When it was just my DH and I we staked out seats almost an hour before. Now we have a DD2 and will again stake out our seats (making sure that she has something to occupy her).

 

[usewickhouse]

At first I was taken back by your post then as I read further I figured "this must be a joke". Then as I finished it and read everyone's comments I realized you are serious about this stuff. To be honest the only one that would truly offend me is #4. I have actually done #3 and #6 and possibly #2 but #4 NO WAY NEVER. Would not even have my kids ask!! Did it ever occur to you that some people choose to stand UNTIL the parade starts and then they WILL sit down? Personally what I have done in this same scenario is just stand there near them and a few times the people have asked if our 2 DD's would like to sit on the curb. Most of the other times the people ended up sitting down and then we just either held our girls or let them stand on the stroller, NO biggie. I would never for one moment expect someone to give up their prime viewing spot that they staked out up to 2 hours before a parade, NEVER. If the parade and what view my kids will have is that important then I myself will go and get a spot on the curb for them. Which I do most of the time and it never fails that right before or right after the parade starts there are people that send thier kids in to "squeeze" into a NON-EXISTANT spot!! There have also been times that we the adults would give up our spots for little ones but I would never "expect" or try to "guilt" someone into doing it for me. Sorry to be so blunt but this is a real sore spot with me. It seems there are lots of people out there that feel they have parade entitlements coming to them yet they never choose to get thier OWN spot before hand? Just saying...

 

[BamaFan121s]

I figure this is a good time to present another eyebrow raiser, in hopes this thread doesn't deteriorate into an arguement. Years ago we took our 4 yo DS onto BTMRR. On his second time on the ride (he LOVED it), a woman in front of us said very loudly to her DH, "I thought there was a height requirement for this ride" and looked pointedly at our DS. Of course, he'd made the height requirement, but she wasn't convinced. I'm sure her eyebrows were raised.

I would have said, "There are also requirements to prevent stuffy old prudes from riding--apparently they aren't enforcing those either."

 

[reallybadeggs]

I figure this is a good time to present another eyebrow raiser, in hopes this thread doesn't deteriorate into an arguement. Years ago we took our 4 yo DS onto BTMRR. On his second time on the ride (he LOVED it), a woman in front of us said very loudly to her DH, "I thought there was a height requirement for this ride" and looked pointedly at our DS. Of course, he'd made the height requirement, but she wasn't convinced. I'm sure her eyebrows were raised.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
A) Why would that woman care
B) Even if she had a good reason (which I couldn't imagine what that would be) why would she call out your DS in front of everyone
C) If the CM allows your DS or anyone on the ride, who is she to comment???

 

[Aquagirl]

#5 may be iffy.

#4 is just rude. If I saw a kid I would probably also ask if they wanted to sit in front, but to just have them squeeze in is a big no, no! What if those adults were holding the spot for their own kids? What if they were just trying to stretch their legs for a minute? What if they wanted to sit down when the parade starts? Some adults go to Disney World (gasp!) without kids, so the comment about it being all about the kids is not true in my book.

I really hope that this post is a joke!

 

[diskids2]

I see where you are coming from and I have done a few "eyebrow raising things" on my trips to WDW too. They are...........

1. As an adult sit on the tiny stone wall in front of the stage.

2. Walk right in front of the doors on Dinosaur and Rock n Rollercoaster even if there is only one inch of space in between the door and the family that is already standing there.

3. Move into the row on the theater shows and then stand on the chair and let people go ahead of me so that the family that made me move around them at the beginning of the row now has to sit at the end.

4. Move in front of the children standing near the curb at parades and sit down on the curb in front of them saying I hope you don't mind....it's easier for a child to say " it's ok...then an adult".

5. Say at the top of my voice..."I didn't know you could use refillable mugs from another resort here!"

6. Use my pockets if everything doesn't fit into the Mr. PotatoeHead box.

I'm sorry I just had to.........

 

[Aye Sea Turtles]

Okay, I neglected to say that I would never and have never done this without asking first. However, I have my kids ask, which is a little underhanded I guess, because it's a lot tougher to say no to a kid.

But honestly, it's about the kids isn't it. If you were going to stand and watch the parade, would you mind if a couple of kids, who would otherwise have their views almost completely blocked, sat in front of you. I'd bet it would actually make you feel pretty good that those kids enjoyed the parade and got to interact with the characters.

Wait a second are you sure "not everyone is enamored of my kids".

Yes, not everyone is enamored of your kids. As a mother myself I understand this and I would never impose on someone like that or guilt someone into giving up a parade spot. Now I have been known to allow kiddies to get in front of me out of the kindness of my heart, but I don't take kindly when other parents expect such treatment. KWIM?

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Guilty here of #2 and #6, have no problem with #1,#3,#5...It would do more than raise my eyebrows if #4 happened to me after staking out my spot for 1hour+... The parades usually take us by surprise..we don't plan around them. If one is coming, and we can hold our kids in our arms to see some of it, that is all I can expect. I wouldn't ask anyone if my kids could step in front of them, I know how long they've been sitting there.

 

[kcrew]

I will have to agree with the majority on #4. I have 3 kids now and of course the sun rises and sets over them, but I can still remember when it was just my husband and I. By nature I am not a "kid person", and no way would I have let some kid wrangle their way in front of me....I might have had a hard time saying no if directly asked but I would have been fuming, and I am sure that has been the situation you have put others in....it's really inappropriate and to set your kids up to ask really is giving them some false sense of entitlement.

 

[TomD]

#4 would not fly with my family. I would not do it to others and when tried on us it did not work

 

[pixiemel]

Wow-you see lots of things at WDW, and many of them are adults acting
"territorial". I would always allow a child in front of us to view the parade.

That being said, we really don't plan on parades anymore. Sure, we may pause to watch or happen upon a good viewing spot; but we much prefer to get on the rides with no wait!

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Wow-you see lots of things at WDW, and many of them are adults acting
"territorial". I would always allow a child in front of us to view the parade.

That being said, we really don't plan on parades anymore. Sure, we may pause to watch or happen upon a good viewing spot; but we much prefer to get on the rides with no wait!

We also have no problem with kids in front of us. And, I see nothing wrong with asking if my kiddos can stand or sit in front of adults - they are shorter than the adults. If they say no, then we don't push the issue. Now, if an adult tries to get in front of my kids at a parade (happens all the time to us) I become very territorial myself!!