Have you ever had a shock?

[disneycuban]

Originally posted by WIcruizer
Someone summed it up perfectly earlier. "Nothing shocks me anymore because people are weird." So true. We've all experienced this one at Disney. Father, mother (or both) just enraged yelling at their kids for whatever the reason. Now I'm a guy, but that makes my heart sink every time even though it happens throughout the parks constantly.

I'm not talking about simple discipline. You know what I mean. These people who are way over the top and just ruining the memories those children will have of their Disney vacation. But then again, you can tell by the family dynamic that the same thing happens every day of their lives. Probably why my heart sinks. Here's a family who probably planned on Disney to have a great vacation and help improve relationships "quality time" if you will. Instead dad rants and swears and threatens violence because his son is tired and wants to go to the hotel and swim.

The rudeness is another example. Mostly numb to it by now, but after a couple days in DW it starts to annoy me. Even though it has no effect, I find myself making comments to the offenders. I don't expect them to change or even acknowledge me, it just makes me feel better that I say something. I took special pride last yr when a DF knocked over a young girl (probably 5 or 6) trying to ruch into the Indiana Jones show. (Then didn't bother to help her or even acknowledge he did it). You would have to have been there to see how he knew exaclty what he was doing. I felt good when I embarrassed him in front of his wife and anyone else within earshot (probably 100 people or so). In a rather loud voice I said "Congratulations...you knocked down a small child to get a good seat..WHAT A MAN" I couldn't help it. But I'll tell you this..it felt good and I'll keep doing it. Maybe if we all did things would change-even a little bit.

Now where exactly was that woman in panties?

BRAVO! Mickey would be proud!

 

[Disneyfreaknjw]

I have a shock that wasnt at dw.....I was at the lotr and these teens wouldnt shut up A guy got so mad he went over and said be quiet. Then he was walking back to his seat when a man yelled i can do whatever i want so you shut the F*** up you a** hole. Then a really large guy came over and through popcorn at them. Then the manager came and watched the rest of the movie to make sure they they were quiet. My deanding self requested free movie passes, and got them

 

[pyrxtc]

Originally posted by Amare06
Last year, my family and I were eating lunch at Cosmics Rays when I needed to use the restroom. I went into the ladies restroom and there was a line. As I am standing there, the door opens and in walks a middle aged man and his DD who was at least 8. I even said to him, " you do realise that this is the womens restroom" He stood there with his DD, even she was embarrassed. She kep telling him to leave, but he wouldn't. I just walked out.... I would have understood if his DD was tiny, but she was capable of being in the bathroom alone.

My DD looks older than she is. She is very tall and I would not let her go into a public restroom alone and neither would my husband. I would hope that he would be able to takle her into a family room or something but leaving her alone would not be an option. Ther are all kinds of sicko's out there and who knows? At least he cared enough to watch out for her. Maybe you could have spoken up and told him that you would watch out for her while she's in there so he didn't have to stay. I hope that someone would do that for my husband if the subject ever came up.

Also, some of these stories had me ROFL but some made my jaw drop and my husband got akick out of quite a few that I repeated to him. It took me days to be able to read all these post but it was worth it.

I am goint ot WDW with family for the first time ever in Sept 05 and I will be on the lookout for some "shocking moments". Maybe I'll get a pictures of one even. I also know now after reading some of these, that I will be reporting nay abused child that I come across and not wonder months and years later if the parents were ever caught.

 

[musicalSaranader]

Originally posted by pyrxtc
I also know now after reading some of these, that I will be reporting nay abused child that I come across and not wonder months and years later if the parents were ever caught.

Good for you!! Have fun on your trip and don't let any obnoxious people ruin it for you!

 

[innoculation]

While watching our kids play in one of the water fountain play areas in Epcot, we saw a 3 to 4 year old bare naked playing as well. I guess kids don't think about it, but it definately made me feel uncomfortable.

 

[Billmel]

Originally posted by Corl4
A shocking story but in a different way....

We were "shocked" at the number of people who stopped to see if we needed band-aids, wet wipes, kleenex, etc....there really are some nice normal people at WDW!!

While at MGM with our grandsons, and there parents, our oldest grandson fell and didn't catch himself and busted his head on the concrete. He was about 4 years old then. I will never forget the sound his little head made on the concrete curb. I was just running to get some ice because he already had a pop not on his forhead and was crying so very hard, when a very nice lady with children of her own came running over with stroller, DH, and children in tow, and proceeded to dump out her drink, leaving the ice, and pulled out a ziploc bag with snacks, and emptied that and gave us the ice bag, a bandaide and offered to run get help if we needed it. She was absolutely amazing. And I will never forget her kindness.

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by innoculation
While watching our kids play in one of the water fountain play areas in Epcot, we saw a 3 to 4 year old bare naked playing as well. I guess kids don't think about it, but it definately made me feel uncomfortable.

This is a pet peeve of mine. I find it offensive that people allow their children to run around naked in those fountains!

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally posted by Billmel
While at MGM with our grandsons, and there parents, our oldest grandson fell and didn't catch himself and busted his head on the concrete. He was about 4 years old then. I will never forget the sound his little head made on the concrete curb. I was just running to get some ice because he already had a pop not on his forhead and was crying so very hard, when a very nice lady with children of her own came running over with stroller, DH, and children in tow, and proceeded to dump out her drink, leaving the ice, and pulled out a ziploc bag with snacks, and emptied that and gave us the ice bag, a bandaide and offered to run get help if we needed it. She was absolutely amazing. And I will never forget her kindness.

Now that was a nice shock!!!

 

[MelessaG]

And I will never forget her kindness. [/B]

That's a wonderful story! It's good to know there are still nice people in the parks. (and not just here on the DIS boards)

 

[wilderness01]

Just a question as I don't remember......don't they have family restrooms at WDW? I thought I remembered one by Splash Mountain. Anyways, my son is just turning 10, and although he is "old enough" to be alone in the bathroom I would never send him in alone. There are some sick people out there who hurt children. Wasn't it a few years back when a child about that age went into the restroom alone and someone slashed his throat? I think it was in California. Maybe the dad should have handled it differently by walking her to the stall, then either standing facing the stall or standing by the entrance, all the while having his daughter call out to him every so often so he could be assured she was safe. That is always a tricky situation and one that makes me feel uncomfortable when my husband has our daughter.

We also had an uncomfortable situation happen a few years back. Our daughter (6) had gotten sick just as I was picking up our carmel corn from the place by the Hall of Presidents in MK. As soon as it happened (she was shocked and embarrased that she threw up so quickly that she couldn't make it to at least a garbage can) I went up to the window and told the elderly ladies what had happened and it needed to be cleaned up asap. I turned around and people were stepping right through it to get to the window. I tried to stop them and even yelled "stop" and tried to make them walk around "the puddle". The people just looked at me like I had 2 heads, walked through it and pushed past me. We told the appropriate people and quietly stepped away from the scene! Maybe some people were too "in the zone" to notice that they were stepping in puke! Yuck!

 

[sha_lyn]

Wasn't it a few years back when a child about that age went into the restroom alone and someone slashed his throat? I think it was in California. Maybe the dad should have handled it differently by walking her to the stall, then either standing facing the stall or standing by the entrance, all the while having his daughter call out to him every so often so he could be assured she was safe. That is always a tricky situation and one that makes me feel uncomfortable when my husband has our daughter.

If you are talking about the same case I am thinking of it was a boy who was killed. Turned out the mentally killer had been stalking him all day. They were at a beach/park and an aunt walked the boy to the bathroom. The killer was pretty clear on the fact that he would have killed that boy somehow, somewhere because the voices were telling him too.

 

[lisadam]

LOL! I had forgotten about this thread - its been months since I've seen it and I'm glad I've stumbled on it.

I do have to admit that each time I'm done reading - I'm really relieved that I haven't recognized myself in any of your stories.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

Here is one for you...

The setting
October 2000
MGM Studios
behind the rope about 8:45 am
early opening day

My wife and I are on our 15th anniversary trip. This is our first vacation (other than an overnighter) without children ever. We were staying off property so we couldn't take advantage of the early opening.

Right beside us behind the rope is a family with gradeschool kids (I'm guessing 4th and 6th). Grandma and Grandpa are along. The conversation went something like this...

Grandpa "Hey, why are those people able to go on the rides!?!?!"
Son "Dad, they are here for early opening..."
Grandpa loudly interrupting son "well, what makes them so special?"
Son in reasonable voice "Dad, all the disney hotel guests can come in an hour early it's called early opening.."
Grandpa interupting again "We're on property! Why don't we get to be over there?"
Son, getting a little annoyed "everybody else was ready to go for early opening, you were the one that wanted to take more time at breakfast!"
Grandpa "No one told me about it!!!"
Son, stronger but still reasonable "Yes I did! I told you last night we needed to get going early in the morning!"
Grandpa "You didn't tell me why!!!!"

at this point my wife said to me in a "loudish" whisper "He sure is making memories!" which caused most of us to break out in laughter all around. Grandpa then shut up and stood there in a huff. The rest of the family just let him stew. They looked like they were going to have a good time no matter what.

That has really stuck with me the last few years. I am a whole lot better at letting things roll off my back. I want my kids to remember the good things we have done together. I don't ever want to have a toddler meltdown when I get to be that guys age...



As my wife says "It's Disneyworld! Anyone that can't have fun here needs to seek professional help!"

 

[WDWMom]

Some of these are funny. Keep them coming.

 

[Carolina Minnie]

" As my wife says "It's Disneyworld! Anyone that can't have fun here needs to seek professional help!" "

We are planning our first trip to WDW in 10 years and my DH and I are very excited as are our two children. Our 13 year old says this is really her 1st trip as her brain wasn't formed the first time we took her. Anyway my shock came last week as I was driving carpool home from the Jr. High and the subject of our Disney trip came up and a "cool" [jaded] girl in the car says, "Ewww! Disney World ... I went last year and it was so boring, I hated it!" Instantly my 13 yr old says ," My mom says anyone who doesn't like WDW is mentally ill ...

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by Carolina Minnie
[Ba "cool" [jaded] girl in the car says, "Ewww! Disney World ... I went last year and it was so boring, I hated it!"... [/B]

well like what do you like expect like she was like only like 12 like then so like her brain like wasn't formed like yet like either

 

[jellydisney]

Originally posted by pyrxtc
My DD looks older than she is. She is very tall and I would not let her go into a public restroom alone and neither would my husband. I would hope that he would be able to takle her into a family room or something but leaving her alone would not be an option.

I agree that I wouldn't let a young child go into a public restroom alone... however, I think it is somewhat strange that that man decided to accompany the girl to the women's restroom. When I was a little girl and was with my dad, and we were in a similar situation, he would take me into the men's restroom and tell me to close my eyes until I got to the stall.

If I were in that dilemma today, and was responsible for a little boy, I would take him into the women's restroom, not follow him into the mens!!

I'd rather inconvenience myself and my son than an entire restroom full of people!

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by Amare06
Last year, my family and I were eating lunch at Cosmics Rays when I needed to use the restroom. I went into the ladies restroom and there was a line. As I am standing there, the door opens and in walks a middle aged man and his DD who was at least 8. I even said to him, " you do realise that this is the womens restroom" He stood there with his DD, even she was embarrassed. She kep telling him to leave, but he wouldn't. I just walked out.... I would have understood if his DD was tiny, but she was capable of being in the bathroom alone.

I experienced a similar situation at a restaurant here at home. I went to the ladies room and a man came in with his daughter. I was upset about it but I was REALLY upset about it when I got back to my table and saw him return to his table where his wife was still sitting. Why couldn't she take her daughter to the restroom instead of making everyone uncomfortable by sending her husband into the ladies room.

I don't have children but have thought about this. What do you do if you are out with your opposite sex child and they need to go to the restroom and there are no family restrooms? I sure wouldn't send my child (even older ones) to the restroom alone. There are some sickos out there that would see that as an opportunity. Do I take my 10 year old boy into the ladies room or do I go with him into the mens room? What if he won't go into the ladies room? I really don't know how I would handle it. Maybe it would be a judgement call based on where we are and my child's maturity level.

How do you parents do it?!?!?!?

 

[ChairborneRangr]

This topic about the bathrooms is a hotly debated topic. It belongs on the debate board. I know from experience that if this line of conversation continues the thread will be shut down and locked.

I am enjoying this thread, and I'd like to see it continue. The Pet Peeve thread was shut down a couple of months ago over this very topic of conversation because it spiraled down into an argument between DIS board members.

Just a word of caution.

 

[ekmdisney]

Just got back from my WDW trip. Got caught in the rain. It started raining on Tues, the day that I went to MK.

Anyway... while heading to POTC, I saw a mother with her young son, about 6. It had been raining for a good hour already, do there where some really good puddles of water on the walk ways.

Well, just as I spot them in passing. The son bends down, dips his hand in a puddle that they were just about to walk into and then licks his hand. And he just had a look on his face like he does this all the time...no bigggy. But what really got me, was mom, she either did not see it or just didn't care, because she didn't say a word to him.