If you were there this past week, I am sorry.

[kmb584]

That's terrible. I'd be mortified if my daughter ever acted like that.

It's Disney, kids get excited, sometimes overly so, and sometimes they channel their excess energy into not so great behaviors. It's up to us, the parent(s), however, to correct bad behaviors, not cherish them. If my daughter did even 1/4 of what those kids did, we'd have spent our vacation time on one big "time out" in the room. Can't behave? We can't go to the park then.

You're better than me -- if I was the one traveling with people like that, I would have freaked and left them to their own devices halfway through the vacation.

 

[danielocha30]

Yes. I wasn't being snarky. They were with us for 8 days.

I wouldn't last that long, I been in a situation where I did take some time apart from the culprit and the enabling parents Aka my friends, I won't let anyone ruin my vacations, that's why I never go to Disney with another family, specially if I know their parenting style

 

[loves to dive]

You are a more patient person than I am, I would have said something to the kids at the first incident then to the parents at the second. I've been known to say something to kids in lines who were swinging on the ropes or stepping on people. Not ugly, just something like "sweety you really shouldn't swing on the rope, you might pull it out and hurt yourself and that would be bad" or "ouch, sweety I'm old and my toes are too". I'm from the south, we kill with kindness.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Sadly you could be discribing many more families than just the one you went with and parents are so delusional they will read your post and be aghast at the behaviors not realizing their own "adorable" "athletic" "leaders" behaved just as obnoxiously while we all watched and just shook our heads.

Although I must say there were times I did speak up when i believed harm would come to an animal or child.

Both DH and I were adamant about not chasing or hurting animals. Trickier with other kids - the dad thinks his son is an awesome wrestler, tackler etc...and boys will be boys

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I wouldn't last that long, I been in a situation where I did take some time apart from the culprit and the enabling parents Aka my friends, I won't let anyone ruin my vacations, that's why I never go to Disney with another family, specially if I know their parenting style

Thankfully we get to go many times (DVC). Planning was so much fun. The reality not so much. Started in the airport when the 6 year old screamed and cried DA DA over and over again so she could sit in the captain chair of the van. Her mother and father had to cram with the third car seat in the rear bench so princess could pick her seat. The tears stopped the second her father bullied her mother into letting her sit there.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

You are a more patient person than I am, I would have said something to the kids at the first incident then to the parents at the second. I've been known to say something to kids in lines who were swinging on the ropes or stepping on people. Not ugly, just something like "sweety you really shouldn't swing on the rope, you might pull it out and hurt yourself and that would be bad" or "ouch, sweety I'm old and my toes are too". I'm from the south, we kill with kindness.

The ropes/chains are a pet peeve of mine as well. Multiply the number or rides X each line segment x 2 = the number of times they were told not to do it. On the last MK day, I lost my kindness and used the evil voice of doom. After that it was grab the kid the second it started. EPCOT doesn't have as many. thankfully.

What they have is more aggravating. The princess would fold herself into the wooden railings and slide across each segment; then she would hold up the line while she extracted herself to go around the pole and begin the process again. She refused to 'miss' a segment so if the line moved 4 segments, they had to wait for princess to do her routine 4 times. TA DA! Mommy thinks princess is "such is a perfectionist."

 

[prprincess]

I appreciate your vent, and the fact that you are at least aware that the kids were behaving poorly and apologizing for them. More than often, people are just so clueless and let kids misbehave without even blinking an eye. Especially in vacation situations.

 

[robinb]

I usually just roll my eyes at posts about how horrible "other people's kids" are. But, in your case I have to say that you were indeed vacationing with the kids from hell. I'm sure that you felt judged just for being with them while their kids acted out. If it makes you feel any better, the strangers who witnessed most of their antics (like the slide and running and swinging on the ropes/chains and the climbing) probably didn't think twice about it.

I appreciate that you had to vent to someone. I do hope that your friends are not DISers or your friendship will definitely be over now (although I think it was probably over by day 5).

 

[Accident]

I personally would not have stayed around to see all this happening and this doesn't sound enjoyable. I'm not sure if you were looking for more sympathy or not but your traveling party was out of control and you were right there while it was happening. You're only as good as the company that you keep.

 

[joannamet]

I empathize. DH and I are in a very similar situation. We are losing a 15 year friendship because our friend's 12 year old has become an unsocial, undisciplined nightmare. Unfortunately, I am both a mom and a teacher and I simply can't stand by when this child screams at me and/or at DD who is also 12 or at other children. He is just as rude and disrespectful to his parents but they ignore it. During Spring Break last month his mom and I had a horrible and very painful argument. DD and I were both in tears and we ended up leaving early to come home from our visit with them. I am torn because I feel terrible for trying to intervene and making the situation worse but someone has to stand up to this soon-to-be teen aged tyrant. His parents, my dear friends, are blind to his issues which have always been a problem but are becoming worse as he gets older.

After coming home I sent an apology to my friend and explained that DH and I don't want to lose our friendship with them because of 'our children' but she did not answer my email and I haven't heard from them since. Its a painful situation and I don't have a solution for it. I hope your friendship can weather the storm.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I usually just roll my eyes at posts about how horrible "other people's kids" are. But, in your case I have to say that you were indeed vacationing with the kids from hell. I'm sure that you felt judged just for being with them while their kids acted out. If it makes you feel any better, the strangers who witnessed most of their antics (like the slide and running and swinging on the ropes/chains and the climbing) probably didn't think twice about it.

I appreciate that you had to vent to someone. I do hope that your friends are not DISers or your friendship will definitely be over now (although I think it was probably over by day 5).

They do not know the site even exists! Thank you for your kind words of support.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I empathize. DH and I are in a very similar situation. We are losing a 15 year friendship because our friend's 12 year old has become an unsocial, undisciplined nightmare. Unfortunately, I am both a mom and a teacher and I simply can't stand by when this child screams at me and/or at DD who is also 12 or at other children. He is just as rude and disrespectful to his parents but they ignore it. During Spring Break last month his mom and I had a horrible and very painful argument. DD and I were both in tears and we ended up leaving early to come home from our visit with them. I am torn because I feel terrible for trying to intervene and making the situation worse but someone has to stand up to this soon-to-be teen aged tyrant. His parents, my dear friends, are blind to his issues which have always been a problem but are becoming worse as he gets older.

After coming home I sent an apology to my friend and explained that DH and I don't want to lose our friendship with them because of 'our children' but she did not answer my email and I haven't heard from them since. Its a painful situation and I don't have a solution for it. I hope your friendship can weather the storm.

I so get this. My DH, who hates confrontation, took the mother to task on the last day. My DH had the original relationship with both parents but was always closer to the mother. I don't want to go any closer to the real details but after another unacceptable act, the mother said, 'he's going to be a great athlete"! My DH who specifically has a deep knowledge of this, said - no, if you don't get him under control NOW, he won't be ANYTHING!

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I personally would not have stayed around to see all this happening and this doesn't sound enjoyable. I'm not sure if you were looking for more sympathy or not but your traveling party was out of control and you were right there while it was happening. You're only as good as the company that you keep.

This is the typical response on the boards. Thanks for not letting me down!! I wanted empathy and the shared recognition that sometimes things are out of control. And the brutal honesty that not everything vacation is perfect. Short of abandoning them or committing a criminal act of assault, there wasn't anything else we could have done.

The weirdest thing just popped into my mind: Tokens and Billy Goat Gruff. I don't know why. Not sure what they mean. Probably confused with Disney princesses or villains. I was never a fan of the cartoons. Hated the mouse and Pluto and Goofy and especially, Donald. I fell in love with Be My Guest advertising and the DVC and The Lion King. Anyway, Billy Goat Gruff - it's the oddest thing. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

[Annadesu]

Yikes, that's rough. We had a bad experience traveling with family, as well. We just travel alone, now. I suggest doing the same.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Yikes, that's rough. We had a bad experience traveling with family, as well. We just travel alone, now. I suggest doing the same.

<sigh> yes as far as this family goes and a few others. On the other hand, we have had the absolute joy of traveling with others - some on their first trip to WDW. But for know, you make sense! I struggled for years as a single mom paying for the DVC. It was not the smartest financial decision but now that mortgage has been paid for over 10 years and I work hard for my time off and $$. We barely spent time in EPCOT which we love. We spent 15-20 minutes standing around over and over again for princess to color another page whenever she came upon coloring stations while the other children ran around and/or screamed to keep moving. UGH! Never again. Until I have grandchildren, of course - who will be practically perfect in every way.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I empathize. DH and I are in a very similar situation. We are losing a 15 year friendship because our friend's 12 year old has become an unsocial, undisciplined nightmare. Unfortunately, I am both a mom and a teacher and I simply can't stand by when this child screams at me and/or at DD who is also 12 or at other children. He is just as rude and disrespectful to his parents but they ignore it. During Spring Break last month his mom and I had a horrible and very painful argument. DD and I were both in tears and we ended up leaving early to come home from our visit with them. I am torn because I feel terrible for trying to intervene and making the situation worse but someone has to stand up to this soon-to-be teen aged tyrant. His parents, my dear friends, are blind to his issues which have always been a problem but are becoming worse as he gets older.

After coming home I sent an apology to my friend and explained that DH and I don't want to lose our friendship with them because of 'our children' but she did not answer my email and I haven't heard from them since. Its a painful situation and I don't have a solution for it. I hope your friendship can weather the storm.

I do understand your pain. I doubt our friendship can withstand it. Hoping the school system catches up with him and that your DD understands the scope of what happened and why. Still seething over the whole thing last night and under the influence of sleeping meds, I wrote a comment for which I am less than proud. I stand by it but it will indeed likely cost the friendship.

And, the truth is, once the dad acknowledged our attempt at civil restraint out of the concern for others, he revved up the ante with a say-something-if-you-dare flare openly and with a hostility that fueled more bad behavior, the friendship as we knew it dissolved. Now it was dad and the kids vs mom, the baby and the other adults. A recipe for disaster. We will go again - we have annual passes and DVC - our life continues on; we went to work the next day, ran our errands, had dinner - the victims will be those children because eventually they will run afoul of the fabric of civility in our society or worse, another more destructive force.

 

[robinb]

And, the truth is, once the dad acknowledged our attempt at civil restraint out of the concern for others, he revved up the ante with a say-something-if-you-dare flare openly and with a hostility that fueled more bad behavior, the friendship as we knew it dissolved. Now it was dad and the kids vs mom, the baby and the other adults. A recipe for disaster.

Is he an absent father? A man who travels a lot and spends little time with his kids?

 

[Accident]

removed.

 

[klmall]

How did I miss these kids? It must have been after May 1st when we left WDW for Universal. I did gently scold a child at Universal for chasing and yelling at the ducks though!

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

How did I miss these kids? It must have been after May 1st when we left WDW for Universal. I did gently scold a child at Universal for chasing and yelling at the ducks though!

LOL - We were in the parks until 5/1 except for one day off.