Formal Apology to All

[properlywarnedyebe]

We were at WDW last week from 7/9-7/15, and the first few days our 2-year old suffered a straight 48-hour meltdown. I would like to formally apologize to those of you whom were stuck on Kilimanjaro Safari 7/10 around 10:00-11:00 hour when the Giraffes were blocking the path and our daughter's screams reach an all time high pitch. I would also like to apologize to those of you who were trying to enjoy a peaceful lunch at Columbia Harbor House at the MK 7/11 around 1:00ish. The little blonde girl screaming in the red stroller was not the spawn of the devil, but just overwhelmed with her first trip to the World. Believe it or not, she was perfectly fine the rest of week, (with an exception of a "scary" run with the Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Faire) and wishes she was back there. DH and I feel sorry for anyone whom crossed our path those days and hope they enjoyed their vacation none-the-less. We did, and miss the World already!
Alicia

 

[Sonno]

We were at WDW last week from 7/9-7/15, and the first few days our 2-year old suffered a straight 48-hour meltdown. I would like to formally apologize to those of you whom were stuck on Kilimanjaro Safari 7/10 around 10:00-11:00 hour when the Giraffes were blocking the path and our daughter's screams reach an all time high pitch. I would also like to apologize to those of you who were trying to enjoy a peaceful lunch at Columbia Harbor House at the MK 7/11 around 1:00ish. The little blonde girl screaming in the red stroller was not the spawn of the devil, but just overwhelmed with her first trip to the World. Believe it or not, she was perfectly fine the rest of week, (with an exception of a "scary" run with the Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Faire) and wishes she was back there. DH and I feel sorry for anyone whom crossed our path those days and hope they enjoyed their vacation none-the-less. We did, and miss the World already!
Alicia

I'm sorry to hear about that. But I think many of us here can relate with similar experiences. I know I can!

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I never judge parents with 2-year-olds. Instead, I offer my complete sympathies - or maybe "empathies" would be a better word!

 

[NJBILL]

Most people who have had children (I have 4) understand. There is a clear difference between what you described and a child who is constantly not listening to their parents while standing in line etc..which I think more people have less tolerance. Kids are kids...

 

[luvdiz2]

I used to frown at people whose children acted like that - bad parenting (obviously ). I would give them a dirty look, hoping they would "do" something - until it happened to me, more than once - a very humbing experience. Now of course I look at those parents and think - been there done that

 

[LoveMickey]

It is very nice of you to apoligize, but we do all understand those circumstances.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

sounds all too familiar, OP. I guess I should have posted a public apology a few years ago when I had a 4yo go into total temper tantrum mode somewhere between meeting Ariel and riding PP. I think all of us who are parents have been there, done that, and have the T-shirt

 

[loriandmatt]

i hear ya - what can you do. really, when they do that at such a young age. DD has just turned 2 and at home we can walk away from her (show no positive or negative reinforcement of the behavior) but when you are out like that, you can't walk away and ignore them. And goodness knows they just feed off of any attempts to calm them down...."oh, lookie - a nice birdy. HI Birdy. oh isn't he cute..." is only reciprocated by even more cries and body flailing.

no need to appologize, but the fact that you thought to shows that you are considerate of others experience, even if you can't make your daughter stop her melt down.

don't sweat it now that it is over with. i personally still feel bad about my DD (then 15 months old) screaming the entire flight back to Philly from WDW last october. i wanted to crawl under a seat and just pass out.

 

[cleo]

It happens to the best of us, my friend.

My son had a min melt-down leaving MK for the day when he was 2 1/2. The little bugger grabbed the post inside the ship on Peter Pan as we were getting out and hung on for dear life screaming, "We have to fly to Neverland! We have to fly to Neverland!" at the top of his lungs.

There is no doubt it was loud, but I'll bet it didn't sound as hideous to anyone else as it did to us.

Don't fret about it. You're in good company.

 

[annameg]

My child would NEVER do that......or aggravate a sibling.......or wander away from me.........or talk to a stranger.........or not obey me......etc, etc, etc. HAHA!!! No need to apologize to most parents. Been there, done that. I am glad that your little girl decided to calm down and enjoy the rest of the vacation. Can you say overstimulation????

 

[disneyfan19712006]

We were there the same time frame 7/3-7/12 and I would also like to apologize for our four year old travel companion. The stomping blonde boy who sat down in the middle of the walkway when he did not get what he wanted. I say travel companion as he is no relation, he blongs to a friend of my daughters we have just been in his life for the last three years and brought him with us. Melotdowns occurred routinely at nap time although he refused to sleep when we got him back to the hotel. Perfectly understandable too much stimulation.

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

Well I gave myself a dirty look and wondered if I was a bad parent! I spent Tuesday night crying and wondering how can a child be so miserable at the Happiest Place on Earth? She wouldn't eat or sleep for the first two nights! Thank goodness Disney had the wonderful cheese & fruit plates or she really would have been bad off. At least she drank water. By the way, she screamed and kicked the person if front of us the whole two hour flight from Dulles to MCO. She could care less about stickers, books or markers. She fell asleep as we landed. What luck! Thank you for all the supportive words. I know I should get over it but I still feel bad for her and the people around us. We are not going to go back for a few years, hopefully she will be better when she's older.
Sometimes I wish I could throw huge temper tantrums in public...

 

[properlywarnedyebe]

It happens to the best of us, my friend.

My son had a min melt-down leaving MK for the day when he was 2 1/2. The little bugger grabbed the post inside the ship on Peter Pan as we were getting out and hung on for dear life screaming, "We have to fly to Neverland! We have to fly to Neverland!" at the top of his lungs.

There is no doubt it was loud, but I'll bet it didn't sound as hideous to anyone else as it did to us.

Don't fret about it. You're in good company.

I'm sorry, It probably wasn't funny to you at the time, but that's hilarious! Very cute and smart on your son's part!

 

[JKMJ441724]

I'm sure my turn is coming. We are going in about seven weeks. I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. My sister's family is going too. They have a 3 year old. So, if it's not melt-downs, it's going to be the excited screams of three small children hyped up on too many mickey bars at dinner.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I'm sorry, It probably wasn't funny to you at the time, but that's hilarious! Very cute and smart on your son's part!

If I had seen the "fly to Neverland" boy I would have laughed hysterically! How cute!!!!!!!!!!!

To the OP: try not to be so hard on yourself. No one else (with kids) will be, except for that one chick in our playgroup I cannot stand who thinks her child is perfect and the rest of them are the devil's spawn.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

To be on the safe side, I think I should apologize ahead of time to those that are visiting Disneyland September 6-10. You will know us by the screaming/stomping/shrieking/crying/crossing-her-arms-whilst-pouting blond girl who is not getting her own way in any of one the various attractions and/or shops and/or restaurants located in and around Disneyland. I sincerely thank you ahead of time for your patience and understanding

 

[scraptoons]

Oh, Goody!

Now you have me really looking forward to our trip. I can't wait until DS has some meltdowns.

 

[Allensfan]

When my son was 3 I begged my dh to take us to Disney and he said that he did not feel our son was old enough. I read this book about planning a trip to Disney and a lot of the advice was to try and wait until they are older so they can fully enjoy the experience and handle the highs and lows of their emotions. Although my 6 year old still has meltdowns at times. But I have spoken to a lot of parents that took young kids and the kids loved it and had some memories of the trip.

Your post was sweet and funny and brought back many memories.

 

[MartDM]

Thanks for acknowleging that she might have disturbed some others' good times. While nobody likes to be around a child having a meltdown, I think we all do our best to understand when the it's a situation the parents can't do a thing about (on an airplane, when blocked by giraffes, etc.).

What I have a difficult time tolerating is parents who do have some recourse or ability to remove a melting down child from an area where they are disrupting others but choose not to (a restaurant, a bus stop, etc.). You seem pretty tuned into how your child's tantrum was affecting others so I'm sure you did your best to spare the public when you had the opportunity to do so.

Don't worry about it!

 

[Shubunk]

Thanks for apologizing I wondered if parents just didnt care that their kids were yelling their lungs off but i see now that it is out of your control. As you can tell i have no kids At a place like disney world that is to be expected and no one should have a problem with that; But the parents that let their infant or little kid scream in a rated R movie are just rude! ---->