Have you ever had a shock?

[Jcuz]

During our last visit, my daughters (11 and 5 then) and I were close to finishing our lunch at Norway's Akershus when a very loud group of Brazilian young folks stormed in. They took over two tables in the main dining area, about 10 feet from us. Even though most tables near them were occupied, they continued to be extremely loud. They were speaking in Portuguese, of course. I speak Spanish and have had many contacts with Brazilians, many of whom also speak Spanish. I am accustomed to the Portuguese accent and pronunciation, so since Spanish and Portuguese are so similar, I could understand most of what they were saying. Although I am not easily ruffled, especially by "earthy" language, this group was exceedingly vulgar -- and even though my girls didn't understand a word, I was offended by the fact that the Brazilians were so vulgar in front of my children. I was getting very close to confronting them when our waitress, Hanna, came up and, in a somewhat loud voice herself, apologized to us for the "extreme rudeness" we were exposed to. She offered us free dessert. A manager or supervisor came from the area behind the buffet display and also apologized to us, then went to other tables to apologize. Another manager went to the Brazilians' tables and in a very calm voice asked them to either become very quiet and "civilized" or he would ask them to leave. One of them protested in English that they had "reservations." He quitely replied that they had reservations only as long as he permitted them to have reservations, and that if they wanted to maintain their reservations, they would "act in a mature fashion." When he said that, many of the other tables, including mine, applauded him. Point well made. The offenders noisily rose and left, hurling vulgar insults all around. The cast members and supervisors again made quiet rounds apologizing. I have heard/read elsewhere that the "Brazil problem" is one of long-standing duration at WDW. However, I saw other groups of Brazilians in other venues, but nothing like this mess.

 

[mitros]

Yes, we too, on several occassions have run into these groups of young people from brazil. For the most part, we have found them to be exeptionally rude and nasty. If you say something to them, they give you this "no speak english" line, and walk away laughing.

 

[jeannej]

You know I have never really understood the need to spank an already screaming child at t them park. Yes, it is embarassing to have a child have a melt down. But, gee sometimes it happens and as a parent you have to do what you can to calm the situation not make it worse. I have had to leave the park just once because my son was just plain old tired. Fortunately, we staying on property.

I know a WDW vacation cost busck, but, the money isn't worth creating a horrible situation and memories because an adult can't be patient with his/her children.

jeannej

 

[MELSMICE]

Just remembered this one. On our last trip, about a month ago we were waiting to eat at the San Angel Inn. We had PS's, but they were very busy so we had about a 20 minute wait.

A couple with their son came in. The DH saw the long line for the check in desk & told his DW that they should probably go somewhere else. She told him, "no, just follow me". She proceeded to the entrance, looked around and waved her husband & son in. She had seen an open table & thought it was just fine to sit at it. No one ever said a word, actually because I don't think anyone saw her. My mom was so annoyed. I reminded her that what goes around comes around, so who knows, maybe someone stepped in front of them as they were watching Illuminations or something!!!

 

[Scoobmuzic]

That last post reminded me of a similar incident we witnessed at Small World. The line was pretty long and we were waiting just like everyone else when a woman dragging a happless child by the arm pushes past us saying "my husband is up there" to everyone she pushed past. She got real close to the front of the line and when it was her turn to get on, she was alone, just her and her child. She did that just to bypass everyone.
Some people just don't get it! They think it's all about them!!

 

[Vermin]

Two weeks ago we were at MK, and got in line with my 2 DS to get pictures and autographs from Dopey, in front of the castle. The CM cut the line off (about 7 families deep) with the family behind us. As we approached the front (next to see Dopey), an elderly man, wife, and I'm guessing grandson, about 3 or 4), tried to cut in line in front of us. I said "no, I'm next, the line is over there." He then proceeds to try and get in line after us. The CM tells him that the other family is after us, but that they are the last family, and he won't be able to get in line. This guy starts ranting about how he is in the line. I turn around and tell the CM that the guy cut (although she knows this, she saw the whole thing), I tell the guy that the other family was after me, and he starts screaming at me to mind my own &%^% business while poking me. If we wouldn't have been with my 2 kids, DH (6'1" 210) would have given him a "poking" right back, but instead tells the guy if he touches any of us again, he "will" regret it.

So the guy leaves us alone, and says that fine, he'll get behind this other family. The CM again tells him that that family is the last one. The guy screams about how Dopey is his GS favorite character, and it won't hurt for him to get one more family, and that if he didn't get to go, he would rip Dopey's &%! head off and ruin it for everybody. I couldn't believe it.

By then it was our turn, Dopey had obviously seen and heard all of this, and instead of getting in a hurry to leave, took his sweet time, and played with my kids by stealing their hats and messing with their hair. It was too funny.

Not sure what happened after we left, the guy was still out of control, though.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

Let's see while working I had a couple of shocks:

One couple was fighting as they left the resturant and continued it outside. We called security and they came to take them and their crying kids(who were upset that parents were fighting) away.

I was told by a guest that there was a lady beating her child in the restroom. By the time I got a manager to go with me with and check it out they were already gone. We found out later that she had continued to beat the child outside and was taken away by security.

Working for disney I saw alot of things that's for sure.

 

[melindaandrob]

Our last trip I was shocked at all the pushing and shoving by "grown ups". During parades adults pushing in front of the kids. A great CM pulled all the kids to the front of the crowds during the parade at MGM. After a couple attempts at seeing parades during our trip we stopped even trying, you couldn't see anything, the kids end up in tears because they were being pushed, and it didn't matter where we tried to watch a parade or if we staked out a spot early.

My dd (10) was shocked at the number of parents yelling at their kids. I'm hoping this trip will be a little calmer.

 

[SuprGro78]

My dad was riiding his ecv around park closing time. Not to many folks around and he wanted to see how fast it went so he turned up the speed and did a spin around main street rotary. Unfortunatly the ECV would not stop, and he started yelling for us so my friend and I ran over while he was driving and tried to get it to stop. I need to mention that my dad was wearing sandals and trying to stop the thing like fred flinstone by putting his feet down. We were holding on for dear life. My dad does not move fast and has bad legs (hence the need for the ecv) We realized we had to pull out the key but we were trying to brace it so he didn't jerk forward. How ridiiculous. I called someone who came over and took it away and we took a wheelchair back to the bus. Also my dads seatbelt on the Star Tours got jammed so he had to crawl out. That was just about the most insane thing ever he can hardly walk nevermind get down on his knees. I was a little disappointed that the CM's didn't try to make it easier for him to get out, or really help him after he did get out, they just rushed him to get out before the next ride.

 

[SuprGro78]

I also got food poisoning from an outside restaurant and went to the "other" park. I started losing my lunch on a certain NY backlot and some people next to me just looked up and then consulted their park map as though I was an attraction. So moving through the park I left my mark in many bathrooms and one poor tree in front of the Jetsons ride (it definatley died) The part that still makes me laugh is that while we were leaving I made my parents stop and let me out of the car, So (pre parking garage) I was standing next to the sign that said WELCOME TO and I was barfing my brains out. What an advertisement for the park!

 

[jjarman]

I guess we were very lucky last year. Of course most people are nice. My DS did see a kid slap his father in the face when we were in line at RNR in MGM. That kid would have been taken out so fast...

 

[MouseClubMom]

I have to comment on the Brazilian tour groups - or as some of the CMs call them "taco tours". During my many years as a CM I encountered several rude groups but the Brazilians top the list. I have seen them spit on CMs and dump ice cream on one of my co-workers shirts when she kindly informed them that they could not take the ice cream into the ride. They stop in the middle of the row at the theaters even though the CMs are telling everyone to move ALL the way down. They pretend that they don't understand English to try to get away with everything.

On a lighter note, one day while working at Living Seas I met a young girl and her brother who had gotten separated from their Brazilian tour group. The girl spoke fluent English and was just incredibly sweet. She told me that most of the kids in the groups are from wealthy families and are all well educated and can usually speak English AND Spanish in addition to Portuguese. She also told me that one reason for their rudeness towards the CMs was that they consider the CMs of a lower class because they have to work for a living! Go figure....

Anyway, nothing the Brazilians do surprises me anymore! We try to avoid going to WDW when we know they are around.

MCMom

 

[wahoo776]

I have spent the majority of my day reading this thread and have loved it. At times, I have laughed so hard, my dd came over to see what I was laughing about.

The "Nigel story" killed us. My dd said she can see her brother doing that for years to come!

I have witnessed almost all of these. You know why I read it though, to make sure I wasn't one of the culprits. The only one I found, I'm probably guilty of is the stopping. But with a 3 yo ds, well it just happens sometimes and for that I apologize.

My most shocking and embarassing has probably been when we where at WDW last year and we had had our bad day at MGM and we received VIP seating to Fantasmic! and were right in front of the ECV seating and this young couple was standing up there with an elderly lady. I kept offering them my seat, we had like 2 rows to ourselves, but the castmember kept telling me I couldn't do that. I finally said, I will give up my seat totally if you will just let them sit down. He leaned over and said "Ma'am, I promise you they will get to sit down behind you all once the show starts."
I leaned up and told the young couple that and the elderly woman, said "Oh yes, honey they always do that kind of stuff." I could have died, causing this poor castmember all this trouble over nothing!

About the captions, I would love to learn about this, I saw them at Muppets 3D, but don't understand how they work and would hate to find out I was standing in one of the areas and not know it.

IF nothing else, if enough of us read this thread, we will hopefully know how to be better guest, not that people who need to would read this, but hey I can hope right!

 

[f-LORI-da]

On our last trip, as DH & I were leaving Epcot, we passed the que for SE, and noticed there was hardly a line. We decided to ride since there were only a few people waiting outside the entrance.

In front of us in line were a couple of teenagers speaking a foreign language.

Within minutes the rest of their group came up behind us. We knew they were with the few in front of us, because they started talking together as they entered the line. Well, DH & I just looked at each other, and you can guess what we were thinking.

To our surprise, the few in front of us stepped aside, motioned with their hands for us to pass, and said, "Passe".

I was sure to smile, nod my head, and say, "thank you". Definately wanted to encourage that behavior.

A bit of a twist to the theme of this thread, but shocking none the less.

 

[f-LORI-da]

OK... same trip as above; back at the hotel for some swim-n-tub time.

I saw it first, and pointed it out to DH. Before the words were out of my mouth, along came the security guard.

Why? Two brilliant parents were allowing their preschool children to swim completely naked in the bright Florida sun!

Modesty and sanitation issues aside, imagine the sun burn those children could have gotten in places the sun don't shine... oh, that's right the sun was shining there on this day! LOL

 

[LindaBabe]

My dh and I were on the boat dock at the Yacht club - there were several other people waiting as well, including an obviously upper middle class young man, a hyperactive 3 yo boy and a young mom with a very large baby on her hip. The mom asks the man if he has the little boy. He says no - that's your job.

Fortunately for him, the boat came just then - my spouses face said I'm going to pitch him into crescent lake! Happy mother's day, indeed!

 

[twinmomplus2]

Well now, I must say I believe a pregnant womans body is inherantly beautiful...I will say that The week of May the 4th through the 13th, The extremely, hugely about 9 months pregnant woman At MGM. IN A STRING BIKINI. Swear to god, scouts honor I found to be bizzare. Shorts yes, but, a Farrah Fawcett 1971 style string bikini. This is what my 9 year old son looked like It was like a train wreck you just had to look. Never in a millon years would you catch me walking around like this.

 

[twinmomplus2]

1999, Millenium trip. I was with My brothers and kids, and nephews, etc. We were on the bridge in Epcot at the stroke of midnight. The England /France Bridge. It was insanely crowded, beyond, crowded, No normal person should have been there. Stupidly I was. Well it was. and I am not embellishing this.........Shoulder to shoulder, and the CM's just kept moving everyone closer together.Well two college age boys are right next to me. With those giant beer flasks. They shut off the lights, Give the whole speech about staying put. Security was very tight by the way. This kid starts pukeing. All over his shoes, my shoes, and I can not move an inch. A woman in front of him gets puked on, And in her very proper English accent, Is yelling to her DH, My god, Joe I have been vomited on. I have Vomit all over me. The vomiter just stood still and let it all out. I say to my brother help.... he starts to move me back from the vomiter. and all hell breaks loose, the security comes over, sir... we ask that you do not move at this time, please stand still/ My brother starts yelling. Oh, I will not. This kid is pukeing all over my sister and 3 year old nephew. we were allowed to move back about a foot. It was so gross. Funny in retrospect but sure not funny then.

 

[twinmomplus2]

Almost forgot. At AKL last labor day.. In was in line with my son at the Zawadi marketplace. And there was about 2 people in line behind us. A lady walks up with alittle girl about 7 or 8. Who is crying hysterically, mom has her arm around the kids shoulder and proceeds to cut the line. The CM an older woman says I am sorry there are several people online ahead of you. And the mother says, Well I appreciate that, But, as you can see my child is very distressed< CM do you need medical assistance. No I need you to be quiet and ring up my purchase, So I can get her to the bathroom. So the CM says... I am sorry, I am not allowed to do that.Whats wrong with you? the mom says.can You not see her distress. Child is really crying hard now.... The CM says I would be happy to hold your purchase for you. There is a restroom located just outside the door. Perhaps you should take her first. At this point the mom says. Well if you had done what you were told we would already be in the restroom would't we? I had to use every ounce of willpower not to slap her face. She was the nastiest person I have ever seen. To the CM's credit she did not give in. The woman threw, Her purchase,a mickey fanny pack by the way at the CM. And walked out. God she was horrid.

 

[franw]

The worst experience I ever had was at a bus stop at CBR. There was a father there that kept softly smacking his little boy calling him a "dumb Polock." They had just missed the bus to the MK and the little boy kept begging his parents to take him to the bathroom. The father said no. The boy kept crying until he was almost hysterical. The father took him around the side of the bus station and told him to go there (not #1, mind you). The boy wouldn't - he had more sense than the father. The father got more irate all the time. Everyone at the bus station was giving him dirty looks that seemed to only make him madder. Finally the child went in his pants and guess what - they got to take him back to the room after all. I was beside myself as I wanted to say something but was afraid he would take it out on the child. Everyone at the bus stop was worried about how that child would be treated back at the room. I don't think there is a "happiest place on earth" for that little guy. By the way, the mother did nothing to help the child - not a word.