I saw the World's worst parents at MGM!!!

[annie1995]

I am just curious as to why those parents didn't think of standing behind their kids and videotaping over them. Go figure, thats what most people would do.

 

[jann1033]

I find it very interesting that there are so many threads and posts on here about bad behavior by adults and kids at the parades in WDW. I marched in the Main Street parade three times, but I have only watched it once, in 18 separate trips. The main reason: people pushing and shoving, raising their voices, etc. To me, it was just not worth it.
Maybe Disney should consider a better system so these parades do not create so much animosity. Big parades like the Rose Parade and Macy's Thankgiving Day parade have reserved seating with tickets you can buy in advance. Maybe WDW can use something along these lines to remove all the inherent problems with the current system of "grab a curb". Anything would be an improvement over the current status.

ot but
it's funny cause till i came on these boards i never realized what a hot commodity a curb seat was at a parade . we have always been the bad bad people who are walking down the st. and say "hey look there's the parade", stop and watch then move on..if there was an open space i might move up ( we go off season) if not, usually i can see enough to get the gest of it. if i do have a space at the curb i would always let a shorter, younger, person in a wheel chair, what ever, go in front...how would that hurt me? it just cracks me up to see how livid some get..hello it's a parade..something meant to be fun

 

[paytonjsplace]

Well, as a parent who might lack in the patience department sometimes, I learned from watching the video of our kids running around the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area. I am definitely not to the level of the parents in the initial post -- however, I did find that I am a HARPER...and harped on my kids. I knew I was a little overprotective when all you heard was me saying "Payton get over here"..."Jordan, stop running away from me" -- rather than embracing that it was a CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA and capture what I should be capturing (and enjoying)...my children laughing and having fun.

Hopefully the mom & dad in the original post watch the video and realize just how awful it is to treat your children that way.

 

[ucfsweetie82]

Disney is getting to the point many people pay their money and realize they want to do what they want not what the kids want. I saw a kid MNSSHP that told his mother how cool he thought it was to trick or treat at MK, and that he couldn't wait to meet the characters. She told him she didn't spend all this _____ money for him to get candy and meet characters and they were doing rides whether he liked it or not, because she had gotten a ticket too and was entitled to do what she wants too. For a couple years now, I've been like since when did Disney become about the parents.
No Flames for this please
I've also been approached more than once in front of LTT saying me and DBF had no right to be there and I should give my reservation for two to someone and their kid. Not only do I love character interaction, but I love LTTs food. I had one person be so nasty to me that I nicely asked her would she yell at me for being in line for a character. She said yes adults without kids should not get involved with the characters.

 

[henrylovespooh]

Just got back from WDW last night. The most appalling thing we saw was two little kids sleeping in their stroller unattended while their parents were on a ride in MK. It had to be Pirates or the Magic Carpets - it was in that area. A lot of people were commenting on it because it was in the late afternoon and it was obvious there were no parents around.

 

[bytheblood]

How sad. Not to deter from what you witnessed, but when we were on the Disney cruise in 02 for Christmas, there was a family there who was riding the tram a few seats away from us while going to Castaway Cay.....the kid was saying he was hungry and tired and the mom told him to shut his @$$. The kid was quiet for a few minutes silently crying and then he began to really cry. This poor 4-5 year old boy's father (in his very heavy Brooklyn accent) said to him "shut your mother f&$@ing mouth. As soon as we get home to NY, I am going to beat your f&@!ing @$$ so hard that you will not sit for a month. Don't say another f@$%ing word the whole "gd" trip, you hear me." And then the mother and grandmother chimed in with some crap about how gracious they were to bring him along and he was being an ungrateful little $H!T. PATHETIC!!!!!

First of all, how to you use that many explicits in such a short amount of time and how do you speak to your children like that and not hate yourself? When I hollar at my daughter I feel like worm food.

It took every single fiber of my being not to say something to that man. I told my husband that I was going to say something and he told me not to so that the man did not shoot me or hurt his child worse for me sticking up for him.

 

[Lizzybee]

In my house the "s" word is forbidden. The "s" word is "shut up" or can sometimes be "stupid". I tell my kids those words aren't to be used towards people. It's a tall order not to call some people (who really ARE) stupid when driving, but it's important to me not to be part of the "new rude culture"

That being said, I have my less than stellar parental moments, but those are usually not in large public places. My DD7 is VERY dramatic and if she gets upset I have to speak calmly and sternly to her and I can't coddle her because she will work herself up into such a frenzy she will throw up. That could be mistunderstood as me being cold hearted.

On a lighter side note, my uncle video taped my wedding (I'm divorced now so I don't exactly watch that video now). He cussed the WHOLE time he had the video camera. You couldn't watch the reception tape with the sound on. Hopefully them listening to themselves on this video will open their eyes to their rude behavior.

 

[DVCajun]

It's heartbreaking to think of what some children endure in their own homes.

I think all parents should have to pass a home study before they're allowed to bring a baby into their homes.

truly.

 

[Amyg]

That is so annoying. Last time we were at MK we had been waiting for Spectro for about an hour (with a lot of other people) and about 10 minutes before the parade started a woman came up with her kids and tried to move people off of the curb to let her kids sit down. When no one would move she got all huffy and kept saying things like, "I can't imagine why you would want to see the parade - after all you are only six and eight" in a sarcastic voice. She then instructed her kids to squeeze in right behind the people sitting next to us and said in a really loud voice, "I really hope you don't kick the big grown-ups sitting in front of you - I mean, you are only six and eight - you aren't really old enough to know better."

And I would have said to her "Yes, well that's what parents are for...to teach their children manners."

 

[Amyg]

I think these threads are important because children rely on adults to protect them from abuse. And this was abusive. If we see these things happening to children and nobody ever says or does anything, then the parents think it is okay and the children keep right on suffering. If we say "well, I won't comment on this because I'm not a perfect parent either and perhaps those parents had a good reason for their behaviour" then it doesn't improve. Yes, we all make mistakes and have bad days - but we need to call each other on it when we are doing things that hurt children.

I know that this thread doesn't help the children in the original post. But notice how when one of the OP's family made a comment, the mother taking the video did move a bit so the son could see at least a little. Her comment didn't solve it, but it did have some effect.

And when I read these threads, my hope is that it gives us courage. Next time we see something like this, we'll feel supported by "our DISboard friends" in their agreement that these things are wrong. And maybe that will encourage us to speak up - not in a hostile way, but in a way that will help the parents and protect the children. Offer a suggestion, encourage the child, share your own experience (if you can mention being in a similar situation and how you dealt with it).

Research with abused children says that often it is those little supportive comments from other adults - often strangers - that kept them going and helped them to understand that what was being said and done to them was wrong and that it wasn't their fault.

That's my perspective, anyway.

Teresa

Very well said!

 

[Diznenut]

I, for one, would want someone to say something to me if I did that to my daughter. Sometimes we all have a moment where we say or do something that we dont realize is harsher than intended. I have gotten tired or ill at times and said things that I normally wouldnt. I weep for those times and the effect it had on my loved ones.