How do you handle inappropriate behavior?

[LuluLovesDisney]

Ok, just wondering . . .

After reading the What Not to Do at Disney thread, I started to think about how I got stressed out in a few situations in the past. 99% of my vacations in WDW are great, but how do you handle the really bad guests? I have often ignored it because I don't want a fight, but . . .

the kid kicking me in line for Soarin' for over an hour. How far can I move up before I am in the next person's personal space?

the four obnoxiously loud girls pushing past an entire line of people to "get to their family". You don't want to let them cut you in line, but what can you do?

the woman who lets her toddler run wild in the store and you didn't see the little one climbing under the racks and you almost trip over him/her and then feel guilty about it?

the man in Kona Cafe cursing out the CM because he didn't "like" the steak he already ate.

the woman at the pool who ran out of her room to scream at us for sitting at "her" (empty) table because she was "saving it" with her towel.

Usually I let it all go unless (like the last situation) someone confronts me, but I was just wondering if you have ever had to do or say something to stop it.

 

[seashoreCM]

Not sure which wording is better:
1. Sometimes it is impossible.
2. Either you (personally and unassisted) can or you can't.

These are situations where traveling in or with a big group can help.

For children who appear as if they are too young to understand their bad behavior, I have found that a pat on the head usually gets their attention and quiets them down.

... scream at us ...

Surely you (plural) should have been able to stand up to her (singular).

 

[Chloesmom]

The thing about bad behavior in Disney is that others have noticed it too and are wondering what to do as well.. so sometimes you can get some supposrt if you stand up and say something. For example the girls pushing by in line.. I bet 99% of the people she pushed by are thinking bad thoughts about her..Simply block the line ( arm across the line works) and tell them they need to have thier party come BACK in line to meet them because 4 people is too many to cut in line. We have had this happen before and honestly its all about how they go about it.. a nice mom trying to get her kid back in line after an emergency potty run.. not a problem.. 4 girls screaming and pushing.. uh no. And most likely there is no family they just was up front. If you stand up to them chances are the others in lines around you will get a little braver and support you.. and the girls will most likely give up and leave.
Now the kid issues.. thats a special subject for me.. I have a severe issue with ill mannered children and the parents who never taught them better. If the parent if close I will tell the parent simply what the issue is ( Excuse me.. your child keeps kicking me) or walk over to them and say ( I almost tripped over your child.. could you please have them stop running in the store?) . Some parents may get offended and they should.. but not because you spoke up but because thier parenting is lacking to the point that a stranger had to request they do something about thier kids behavior.
I usually try to be extra forgiving on vacation and keep in mind that the kids are tired, etc. and its not really thier fault ( its the parents fault) but I can only forgive so much... kick my daughter.. your gonna get something said. Repeatedly kick or push me... you will hear about it. Key is being nice about it and to the point .
Now if the parent isnt around.. which seems to happen more than it should.. I will just kneel down to the childs level ( Dont ever touch someone elses kid.. ever) smile and say ( please stop doing that.. now go back to your mommy). Works everytime....

 

[lovetoscrap]

Ok, just wondering . . .

After reading the What Not to Do at Disney thread, I started to think about how I got stressed out in a few situations in the past. 99% of my vacations in WDW are great, but how do you handle the really bad guests? I have often ignored it because I don't want a fight, but . . .

the kid kicking me in line for Soarin' for over an hour. How far can I move up before I am in the next person's personal space?

First ask the child to stop. If that doesn't work then I tell the parents that he needs to stop. If the child is in a stroller then I ask the parents very politely to please move back a little

the four obnoxiously loud girls pushing past an entire line of people to "get to their family". You don't want to let them cut you in line, but what can you do?

I put out my arms on both sides of the rails so they can't get through and tell them sorry, the line starts at the back and their family is welcome to join them there. I use my teacher voice and face. Even easier with my ECV that I can quickly twist to the side blocking them!

the woman who lets her toddler run wild in the store and you didn't see the little one climbing under the racks and you almost trip over him/her and then feel guilty about it?

That one I ignore. Not my problem. Darwinism has it's uses sometimes. . .

the man in Kona Cafe cursing out the CM because he didn't "like" the steak he already ate.

Again, one to ignore or if I am in a position to talk to another CM I will mention that it is time to get a manager involved.

the woman at the pool who ran out of her room to scream at us for sitting at "her" (empty) table because she was "saving it" with her towel.

"So sorry, but if you are not sitting here then it is available to anyone. Next time you want to reserve it you will need to do so with actual people" and then ignore when she continues. If she gets too bad then I suggest that she discuss it with security (helps if you pull out your cell phone and actually call them or at least pretend to!)

Usually I let it all go unless (like the last situation) someone confronts me, but I was just wondering if you have ever had to do or say something to stop it.

I am a pretty assertive person, but I am also very sweet and diplomatic. I will stand up for myself and do get angry when I have to.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

the kid kicking me in line for Soarin' for over an hour. How far can I move up before I am in the next person's personal space?
I find the best thing to do is let the line ahead of you move up a little bit, and create the space there. That way you're not on top of the people ahead of you, but you still have a little cushion. I've also turned and asked people behind me to give me a little space and its been both accepted and not. I was in line for a sports event and when we were in the security line, a man behind me kept creeping up to the point of his beer gut being pushed into my back. I asked him twice to stop, and he didn't, so I finally turned and loudly said "Stop touching me", I think he got embarassed at that point but it worked. There wasn't a large group behind him and there was no need for it. As far as the kicking thing goes...I think its completely acceptable to tell, not even ask, a parent to make their child stop something like that. There's no need for people to be that close to each other anyway. If you're not allowed to kick the person ahead of you in line because you're an adult, a kid shouldn't be allowed to do it either. If its a child being loud or climbing the rails, honestly it'd only be if the child is screaming in my ear where I'd say something. If the parent is letting them do that at Disney, they probably let them do it elsewhere and whatever you say is not going to help.


the four obnoxiously loud girls pushing past an entire line of people to "get to their family". You don't want to let them cut you in line, but what can you do?

You just don't let them cut in line. I've just put my leg or arm up on the other side and told them "No, you can wait like everyone else" A parent and small child is pretty much the only exception I'll make. As far as I'm concerned, you got out of line, that's on you. I was smart enough to pee first, you should be able to as well. If it's "my family is up there" then I say "Oh they should have left with you" or "If they waited this long they can wait a little longer". CMs will usually back you up if it gets to that point too.

the woman who lets her toddler run wild in the store and you didn't see the little one climbing under the racks and you almost trip over him/her and then feel guilty about it?

I learned the hard way that people have the tendency to WIG OUT if you try to "correct" their children. I follow the rule we have at work, find the parent and say something to them, don't approach the child unless they're in immediate danger. If a little one was about to run out of a giftshop, I'd grab them, if they knock down a display or whatever, it's the parent's issue, not yours. If they knock into you or cause you to trip, I think a loud "Gee I wonder where your Mommy is!?" would probably help.
the man in Kona Cafe cursing out the CM because he didn't "like" the steak he already ate.

the woman at the pool who ran out of her room to scream at us for sitting at "her" (empty) table because she was "saving it" with her towel.

I agree with the poster before who said to tell someone like this that a towel doesn't mean anything and if it gets nasty, tell them they can call security, or you'll do it for them. Call their bluff. You're not allowed to claim tables and chairs with towels and all that anyway, at least not the way I think this was being done.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, the one at the pool was actually the only time I really had a "fight" in Disney. Just wondering what reactions would be. We did respond to her, she literally tried pulling the chairs out from under us. We just stayed seated. She took other chairs and put her feet up on them and kept up either a) yelling at us/mumbling under her breath b) trying to get her son out of the pool and make him sit with her so he could take up a seat, poor kid wanted to swim, didn't get out or c) acting like she didn't speak English when we answered her back. We basically told her it wasn't her table, she can't reserve it and if she wanted to sit there she could, but that we weren't moving. She kept repeating that her room was "right there" and she had a "big family". We told her that they weren't here NOW so she doesn't need them all now anyway, but she was vicious. I wanted to stay on principle, plus there were no other open tables. After about 40 minutes of this though, we just left and got a drink and sat at the pool bar lol. We just couldn't take her anymore.

Thanks for the advice, I have a tendency to be extra tolerant in WDW and sometimes I wonder if I should stand up to some of these people.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think its a matter of finding your line between "tolerant" and "walked on". Not everyones will be the same. Person A may be ok with letting someone in front of them for a parade where Person B may not be. One person may not always be more "in the right" than the other. You'll see a lot of people on here say "Oh its your vacation and you're at Disney so you should let it go" Honestly I'd be more angry if I didn't say something to someone who tried to cut me in line or whatever. Its not like everyone MUST PLAY BY MY RULES! but at the same time, I'm not going to be a doormat while someone gets away with something. Just my couple pennies.

 

[Safari Queen]

I think rude behavior needs to be addressed in a polite, non-emotional way. I wouldn't mix in with the man yelling at the CM (though I might look for a manager to intervene) but when people haven't been taught common curtesy, I'm willing to help them in a positive, passive aggressive way. :O) Like "I'm so sorry, your little boy just ran under my feet and I almost tripped over him. I hope he's okay."

 

[phred52]

This post just reminded me of an incident in the Toy Story line. It was a loooong line, we'd been creeping forward very slowly for 45 minutes or so when a 20 something year old man made his way forward, climbing over the barriers and scooting past people . We saw him coming. When he got to my family he said something like "coming through, cuse me" ... I said no, we all have to wait. He actually shoved me aside and continued forward. At that point my husband and 2 other near-by men protested LOUDLY, but the 'gentleman' kept moving forward.
I was shocked he actually touched me to move me aside!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I would have been calling for the nearest CM. It's never ok to do something like that! If he would have been heading out of the line..that's another story.

 

[robinb]

the kid kicking me in line for Soarin' for over an hour. How far can I move up before I am in the next person's personal space?

Tell the kid to "Cut it out!" in the first 5 minutes. Then again, I don't find myself in hour lines.

the four obnoxiously loud girls pushing past an entire line of people to "get to their family". You don't want to let them cut you in line, but what can you do?

Depending on my mood I will let them past ... or not. Sometimes I will stand taking up a lot of space and won't let the "Excuse me!" kids by. When they say "Excuse me?" I say "no" and stand my ground.

the woman who lets her toddler run wild in the store and you didn't see the little one climbing under the racks and you almost trip over him/her and then feel guilty about it?

the man in Kona Cafe cursing out the CM because he didn't "like" the steak he already ate.

Ignore both. They are not worth my time or energy.

the woman at the pool who ran out of her room to scream at us for sitting at "her" (empty) table because she was "saving it" with her towel.

I would say "sorry" I didn't see anyone sitting here and you can't "save" tables.

 

[PinkRhombus]

I guess we're just not shy about calling people out...

Ok, just wondering . . .


the kid kicking me in line for Soarin' for over an hour. "Quit kicking me, kid" while looking at the parents How far can I move up before I am in the next person's personal space? I don't like people too close behind me. I want at least arms length, but usually a little more.

the four obnoxiously loud girls pushing past an entire line of people to "get to their family". You don't want to let them cut you in line, but what can you do? "Where is your family?" We've waved cast members over before and more than NOT they have the been made to go back of the line. We don't care so much if it is a parent with a baby.

the woman who lets her toddler run wild in the store and you didn't see the little one climbing under the racks and you almost trip over him/her and then feel guilty about it? "Sweetie, you better find your mommy before you get yourself hurt."

the man in Kona Cafe cursing out the CM because he didn't "like" the steak he already ate. All you can do for that is roll your eyes and then offer a few words of encouragement to the CM when they get to you. If he is using actual curse words, then we have no problem in telling him to watch his language because there are oodles of kids around

the woman at the pool who ran out of her room to scream at us for sitting at "her" (empty) table because she was "saving it" with her towel. Tell her to go take it up with a CM. Saving is not allowed.

 

[stitchywoman]

I have actually said something to CMs about teenagers cutting in line and they flat out told me they don't stop them. The only thing they do is offer fast passes for you to come back later on the ride. I was shocked and appauled because I have seen people kicked out of Magic Mountain for the same thing. I am supposed to be at the happiest place on earth darn it! I have never understood why parents don't teach their children this is unacceptable behavior.

 

[Tigger1966]

I have actually said something to CMs about teenagers cutting in line and they flat out told me they don't stop them. The only thing they do is offer fast passes for you to come back later on the ride. I was shocked and appauled because I have seen people kicked out of Magic Mountain for the same thing. I am supposed to be at the happiest place on earth darn it! I have never understood why parents don't teach their children this is unacceptable behavior.

That's as bad as a local auto parts store that told us that coporate will not prosecute for shoplifting so they don't even bother calling the police when they see it happen

 

[MomRN]

Way back when I was a teenager there was a man giving a CM fits because he had to fold up his stroller on the (ergh...my mind is forgetting the name of the vehicle used to get you from your parking spot to the entrance). Anyway, the man finally relented with the comment "I'll have your job for this!" My grandfather gave the CM his business card and went to guest relations to tell them what happened and that the CM was polite but firm and the guest wanted to break the rules.

The instances you mentioned...not sure how I would handle it. It would depend on my mood. Sometimes I'm feisy, sometimes laid back.

 

[livndisney]

I have actually said something to CMs about teenagers cutting in line and they flat out told me they don't stop them. The only thing they do is offer fast passes for you to come back later on the ride. I was shocked and appauled because I have seen people kicked out of Magic Mountain for the same thing. I am supposed to be at the happiest place on earth darn it! I have never understood why parents don't teach their children this is unacceptable behavior.

Hmm I know CM's in WDW don't allow teens to cut. I have seen them escorted to the end of the line. One group was even escorted out of the park and banned.

 

[biotechie]

confront that person about his or her behaviour

 

[Gigi22]

When someone tries to cut in front of me, I say as nicely as possible, "That must be why I am waiting here in line, so that you can cut in front of me!" Then I stare them down.

 

[ratlenhum]

Some of you are more polite than me. I usually say in a very not so nice tone, "excuse me, do you think I've been standing her for my health?" They usually look at me and say "what?" then I point to the back of the line. Something about the "health" line gets people's attention

 

[cm8]

Way back when I was a teenager there was a man giving a CM fits because he had to fold up his stroller on the (ergh...my mind is forgetting the name of the vehicle used to get you from your parking spot to the entrance). Anyway, the man finally relented with the comment "I'll have your job for this!" My grandfather gave the CM his business card and went to guest relations to tell them what happened and that the CM was polite but firm and the guest wanted to break the rules.

The instances you mentioned...not sure how I would handle it. It would depend on my mood. Sometimes I'm feisty, sometimes laid back.

, yep that about sums me up!