Have you ever had a shock?

[Pineapple Princess]

I have a new shock that happened today.
My husband and I were in line for BTMRR, up where the sidewalk meets the building area when we hear people pushing their way up. They were loud and didn't seem happy that people dared to get into line while one member of their party "saved" them a space. No, excuse me please from this group, just move, get out of my way, I'm with this person up there. That someone would do this alone is shocking, but when it turned out that all of the people in the group that did this were among the AARP crowd made it even more so. I made a few comments about things, and how I might expect behavior like this out of teens people my grandparent's age should know better. The people around me nodded in agreement. Honestly, what is UP with people?!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Ok, I have two bus/wheelchair ramp related stories, and both were at Pop Century.

First, while waiting in line for a bus, we saw a woman with about three kids, one of which was in a wheelchair. After they parked the wheelchair in the disabled area of the bus line, the girl in the wheelchair got up and started running around and yelling with the other kids. When the bus pulled up, she got back in the wheelchair, and this family got on the bus first. There was nothing that I could see physically wrong with this girl. I am aware that she could have needed the wheelchair for other reasons, but it sure looked fishy... (And before anyone flames me for this, my father is a spinal paraplegic, so I have grown up with a tendancy to notice people who abuse handicapp priviledges.)

Second, we had the pleasure of witnessing a fight (yes, fist fight) between a bus driver and a very angry man from New Jersey. The bus driver would not lower the wheelchair ramp so the man could take his very large stroller on the bus. The bus driver explained that the man could fold the stroller and bring it on the bus, but the man would not fold it, started screaming and yelling obscenities, and shoved the driver. The driver was all "sir, I am not going to lay a hand on you" and the New Jersey guy shoved him again and again, until another bus driver came out...by this time a third bus showed up and we got on it. Needless to say, I did not get a very good first impression of people from New Jersey!

 

[Magic Carpet]

Ok this happened on thurs when my DF I had lunch at the Kona Cafe. There was this big family that was seated across from us (party of 10). After they order, the mom stands up to take a picture of the group. She goes around the table next to them & leans over to take the picture. The table she leans over is another couple in the middle of lunch. She doesn't even say excuse me or anything!

 

[AladdinJay]

I remember on my last trip to WDW, I went to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney for dinner. There was this family across from us who obviously was for whatever reason NOT having a good day. I have no idea why -- the entire family -- with children included -- were scowling and looked like they wanted to be anywhere else in the entire world but there! I was shocked because I was thinking, you're in WDW!! How can you be that upset?

I felt bad for them, but I quickly laughed hyserically when one of those electronic elephants was directly behind the mom, it swung its trunk and made a really loud noise, and the lady jumped a mile and then put her hands on her head like that was the last straw!

 

[dwheatl]

Well, I tried to look back for the post about the woman whose daughter was in a stroller and people cut in front of her for the parade, but I can't find the post now. Anyway, it reminded me of when my dd was about 3 or 4 and in the stroller, waiting for the parade at DL. She was at a corner with a curb cut, and as the parade made its way towards us, a tall man sat down RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER, so she couldn't see. Shortly before, there had been a downpour, and there were a few puddles on the ground. A CM came by with a giant squeegee thing, and pushed a whole bunch of water down the curb cut under my dd's stroller. I don't think the CM had seen the man sitting in front of her, but maybe he did. Anyway, the guy sitting there was TOTALLY soaked when the water ran down his back and backside. He jumped up and left, and my dd had an unobstructed view of the parade.
Oh, and for the poster who thinks its unfortunate that a police officer would be considered abusive if he used his nightstick to rough up a twelve year old girl for being mouthy, shame on you. I come from a cop family, and I find your response to be the most shocking thing I've seen on this post. Can't people solve a disagreement without resorting to violence?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Ok, I have two bus/wheelchair ramp related stories, and both were at Pop Century.

First, while waiting in line for a bus, we saw a woman with about three kids, one of which was in a wheelchair. After they parked the wheelchair in the disabled area of the bus line, the girl in the wheelchair got up and started running around and yelling with the other kids. When the bus pulled up, she got back in the wheelchair, and this family got on the bus first. There was nothing that I could see physically wrong with this girl. I am aware that she could have needed the wheelchair for other reasons, but it sure looked fishy... (And before anyone flames me for this, my father is a spinal paraplegic, so I have grown up with a tendancy to notice people who abuse handicapp priviledges.)

Second, we had the pleasure of witnessing a fight (yes, fist fight) between a bus driver and a very angry man from New Jersey. The bus driver would not lower the wheelchair ramp so the man could take his very large stroller on the bus. The bus driver explained that the man could fold the stroller and bring it on the bus, but the man would not fold it, started screaming and yelling obscenities, and shoved the driver. The driver was all "sir, I am not going to lay a hand on you" and the New Jersey guy shoved him again and again, until another bus driver came out...by this time a third bus showed up and we got on it. Needless to say, I did not get a very good first impression of people from New Jersey!

Just wondering how you would know he's from New Jersey? Did he announce this fact mid-fight?

 

[Yookeroo]

Well, in my opinion, and now that I have discussed it with the Captain of our local Kentucky State Police Post, in his opinion also, the office was out of line by flashing his badge in this situation. Being an officer and having a badge gives him the authority to enforce the laws of the state, county or city in which he is an office. I have not gone back and read the post, but it would depend on where his jurisdiction was as to whether or not he would even have the power to act if a law was even being violated. Regardless, these girls, while exercising poor judgement and acting disgracefully, were not violating any laws.

I believe cutting in line is against the law in California.

I have no love for law enforcement, but I'm not the least bit bothered by his badge flashing (whatever the law says).

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Well, I tried to look back for the post about the woman whose daughter was in a stroller and people cut in front of her for the parade, but I can't find the post now. Anyway, it reminded me of when my dd was about 3 or 4 and in the stroller, waiting for the parade at DL. She was at a corner with a curb cut, and as the parade made its way towards us, a tall man sat down RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER, so she couldn't see. Shortly before, there had been a downpour, and there were a few puddles on the ground. A CM came by with a giant squeegee thing, and pushed a whole bunch of water down the curb cut under my dd's stroller. I don't think the CM had seen the man sitting in front of her, but maybe he did. Anyway, the guy sitting there was TOTALLY soaked when the water ran down his back and backside. He jumped up and left, and my dd had an unobstructed view of the parade.

OMG OMG I LOVE IT!!! Karma baby! Karma!

 

[SueM in MN]

Ok, I have two bus/wheelchair ramp related stories, and both were at Pop Century.

First, while waiting in line for a bus, we saw a woman with about three kids, one of which was in a wheelchair. After they parked the wheelchair in the disabled area of the bus line, the girl in the wheelchair got up and started running around and yelling with the other kids. When the bus pulled up, she got back in the wheelchair, and this family got on the bus first. There was nothing that I could see physically wrong with this girl. I am aware that she could have needed the wheelchair for other reasons, but it sure looked fishy... (And before anyone flames me for this, my father is a spinal paraplegic, so I have grown up with a tendancy to notice people who abuse handicapp priviledges.)

This is not a flame, but there are many possible explantions for this.
One would be that the girl using the wheelchair had a condition that made her not able to walk around all day, but she could run around for short periods. One of my friends took her 2 sons to WDW when the older boy was around 9 and the younger was around 7. They rented a wheelchair. Both boys sometimes rode in it, but the older boy would only do it if he was totally exhausted. Sometimes both were out of the wheelchair, running around. Anyone looking at them would have probably seen nothing physically wrong with either boy. The older one was born with a partially-repairable heart condition and he died in his sleep right after his 18th birthday. He wasn't expected to live to be a teenager, so when the "apparently healthy" boy was at WDW, he was and apparently healthy terminally ill boy.

And, I just wanted to mention that most of the attractions at WDW have lines that are wheelchair accessible, so anyone thinking to rent a wheelchair to get any priviledges will soon find out that there are very few (and, when they do exist, they are not priviledges, they are the only way in).

 

[MareQ]

First, while waiting in line for a bus, we saw a woman with about three kids, one of which was in a wheelchair. After they parked the wheelchair in the disabled area of the bus line, the girl in the wheelchair got up and started running around and yelling with the other kids. When the bus pulled up, she got back in the wheelchair, and this family got on the bus first. There was nothing that I could see physically wrong with this girl. I am aware that she could have needed the wheelchair for other reasons, but it sure looked fishy...

You are not in a position to determine if that child needed that wheelchair or not. HIGHLY trained physicians cannot LOOK at a child and know if they have any issues or not. Being able to get up and run for a short period of time does NOT mean that child was not disabled in some way!!!!!!!!!

Second, we had the pleasure of witnessing a fight (yes, fist fight) between a bus driver and a very angry man from New Jersey. The bus driver would not lower the wheelchair ramp so the man could take his very large stroller on the bus. The bus driver explained that the man could fold the stroller and bring it on the bus, but the man would not fold it, started screaming and yelling obscenities, and shoved the driver. The driver was all "sir, I am not going to lay a hand on you" and the New Jersey guy shoved him again and again, until another bus driver came out...by this time a third bus showed up and we got on it. Needless to say, I did not get a very good first impression of people from New Jersey!

How did you know he was from NJ and if he was - why would ONE PERSON have left you with a bad impression of all people from one state? This just another example of how judgemental people are these days. I think it's silly that you even mentioned the state he was from to begin with. If he was from Ohio would that have been a part of your story?? @@

 

[jann1033]

If he was from Ohio would that have been a part of your story?? @@

people from Ohio NEVER act like that...wanna step outside and I'll show you????? you want a piece of me???






( totally kidding it just reminded me of an old Seinfeld episode where George's father and Elaine are fighting)

 

[Darian]

Oh, and for the poster who thinks its unfortunate that a police officer would be considered abusive if he used his nightstick to rough up a twelve year old girl for being mouthy, shame on you. I come from a cop family, and I find your response to be the most shocking thing I've seen on this post. Can't people solve a disagreement without resorting to violence?

That poster would be me. Come on dwheatl put a smile back on your face and cut me some slack! Surely you can recognize sarcasm when you see it? On the other hand, the world really has changed and not for the good. We now have twelve year olds beating children to death. Sometimes violence is the only solution. That loser Rodney King got what he deserved when he resisted arrest. He brought it all on himself. No one else in the car got a beating because they followed the officer's instructions. Its the lack of parental discipline that is causing this. Everyone has a different point of view. I'm not saying you're wrong and should therefore be ashamed of yourself. Lets have some tolerance here. Go have a beer and chill. And lets get back to shocks at Disney!

 

[Darian]

people from Ohio NEVER act like that...wanna step outside and i'll show you????? you want a piece of me???


( totally kidding )

Oh jann1033 you are killing me !!!!! ROFL

 

[Conservative Hippie]

You are not in a position to determine if that child needed that wheelchair or not. HIGHLY trained physicians cannot LOOK at a child and know if they have any issues or not. Being able to get up and run for a short period of time does NOT mean that child was not disabled in some way!!!!!!!!!



How did you know he was from NJ and if he was - why would ONE PERSON have left you with a bad impression of all people from one state? This just another example of how judgemental people are these days. I think it's silly that you even mentioned the state he was from to begin with. If he was from Ohio would that have been a part of your story?? @@

First, like I said, my father is a spinal paraplegic. I am a little sensitive to people abusing handicapp priveleges because I have seen my father struggle to walk through a parking lot (he uses crutches) because the handicapp spaces were taken up by cars without permits. I have helped my father navigate stairs because he wasn't allowed to use service elevators at sports stadiums. In the next 10 years he will mostly likely not even be able to stand with assistance. So when I saw this kid running around and jumping on benches and then getting back into a wheelchair, it made me feel angry. My dad can't get up and jump around.

Second, honey, I'm from the south. I've never been to New Jersey. I know he was from New Jersey because of the accent (have heard it on TV), and because we were told by someone else that we were there during a school break for New Jersey. It's silly to think that people don't get first impressions. People get first impressions! I said that I didn't get a good first impression!! I didn't say that it was my only or lasting impression!! If he was from Ohio, I wouldn't have noticed the accent!!! And it does make an impression to a southern girl to hear a thick New Jersey accent ranting about a stroller!!!! Big tough New Jersey guys are supposed to fight about sports or tell someone they'll be sleeping with the fishes, not ranting about a stroller!!!!!

 

[jann1033]

Ok this happened on thurs when my DF I had lunch at the Kona Cafe. There was this big family that was seated across from us (party of 10). After they order, the mom stands up to take a picture of the group. She goes around the table next to them & leans over to take the picture. The table she leans over is another couple in the middle of lunch. She doesn't even say excuse me or anything!

did she grab a fry or two off their plates while she was there ?

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Just back and I have one! More of a funny little shock; DH and I were at Plaza Restaurant for dinner. A man in a specialized wheelchair was seated 2 tables away and was soon joined by a woman who drove his wheelchair back out to park out of the way. When she returned and started speaking to him both DH and I locked glances- she sounded just like Minnie Mouse! It also was not her normal voice because we heard her order their meals. A man next to us muttered to his wife "she sounds just like our neighbor!". She sang a bit, chattered a bit and most of it in a high, squeaky voice (DH husband said it was Turbo Minnie). She leaned over to neighbors table, took the man's knife and after said, "I hope you didn't need that!" (in her Minnie voice- just picture it).

 

[MareQ]

I saw this kid running around and jumping on benches and then getting back into a wheelchair, it made me feel angry. My dad can't get up and jump around.

Second, honey, I'm from the south. I've never been to New Jersey. I know he was from New Jersey because of the accent (have heard it on TV), and because we were told by someone else that we were there during a school break for New Jersey. It's silly to think that people don't get first impressions. People get first impressions! I said that I didn't get a good first impression!! I didn't say that it was my only or lasting impression!! If he was from Ohio, I wouldn't have noticed the accent!!! And it does make an impression to a southern girl to hear a thick New Jersey accent ranting about a stroller!!!! Big tough New Jersey guys are supposed to fight about sports or tell someone they'll be sleeping with the fishes, not ranting about a stroller!!!!!

You're ANGRY that a child has the ability to run and jump?????

As for the New Jersey comments - TYPICAL steroptype - again - very judgemental.

 

[ladysoleil]

Second, honey, I'm from the south. I've never been to New Jersey. I know he was from New Jersey because of the accent (have heard it on TV), and because we were told by someone else that we were there during a school break for New Jersey. It's silly to think that people don't get first impressions. People get first impressions! I said that I didn't get a good first impression!! I didn't say that it was my only or lasting impression!! If he was from Ohio, I wouldn't have noticed the accent!!! And it does make an impression to a southern girl to hear a thick New Jersey accent ranting about a stroller!!!! Big tough New Jersey guys are supposed to fight about sports or tell someone they'll be sleeping with the fishes, not ranting about a stroller!!!!!

Because obviously everyone from NJ has a thick accent and nothing on television is ever portrayed as overly dramatic or stereotypical, or anything like that. You might find it interesting to know that because I took speech therapy classes and theatre classes I don't have much of any accent at all, but I happen to have been born and raised in New Jersey.

Somebody's been watching a little too much Sopranos, I think.

Talk about first impressions...

And hey, back to the shocks- anyone have any doozies?

I've got a funny one. I was going over the photos from our January trip to print out a few photos for our album and noticed that in the photo of my DH and Meeko, they're both doing the "rock and roll" devil horns hand sign! Hilarious! I didn't think characters were allowed to do stuff like that?!?

 

[SueM in MN]

So when I saw this kid running around and jumping on benches and then getting back into a wheelchair, it made me feel angry. My dad can't get up and jump around.

When my DDs were little, my youngest DD had a wheelchair that my oldest DD sometimes rode in while DH or I carried youngest DD to the bus stop. By the time we got to the bus, oldest DD would be wide awake, temporarily full of energy and run around. So, someone seeing her have would see a child get out of a wheelchair and run and jump around. Some might have felt angry at what looked like obvious abuse to them.
And, after older DD got out of the wheelchair, they would have seen us put younger DD into the wheelchair. Some might have taken that as another obvious sign of abuse - people often post that seeing 2 people in the same wheelchair at different times is a sure sign of abuse.

What they would not have seen was that our youngest DD was the owner of the wheelchair. Since she was "stroller age" most people who saw her out of her wheelchair didn't think it belonged to her, but she could only walk with a walker, and, now as a young adult, she can't walk at all any more. She can stand in a stander and can usually support her weight if someone holds her up (because she has no standing balance).

So, things are not always what they seem to be. When I see someone get out of a wheelchair and walk or run around, I assume that's all I saw; someone who was sitting in a wheelchair who got up to walk or run around. Just knowing that doesn't tell me anything else.

 

[Darian]

As for the New Jersey comments - TYPICAL steroptype - again - very judgemental.

Well, you DO know what they say about Jersey Girls... I mean some of those stereotypes have to be based on the majority of that groups behavior, right? Otherwise where do the stereotypes come from? (wink)

And Conservative Hippie shame on you for making fun of entire state with speech impediments... heheheh (juuuuusssst kidding!!!) Love your posts!

Kerry I grovel at your lovely feet and crave your forgiveness!