In the big scheme of things

[foxfire]

this isn't a blip on the radar but it did cause an uncomfortable experience for me & my DS, so please tell me how you would have handled it. If it ever happens again I'll have some advice to fall back on. This happened a couple of trips ago but it still crosses my mind from time to time.

We were getting ready to board The Great Movie Ride. The CM motioned for the two of us to get in a car that had 2 empty seats remaining in the row. The row behind was empty & there were only a few other people waiting to board. No big stack up at all. Well, as we started to step into the seats designated by the CM, the other car occupants began saying "No, No - don't sit here. Back there." They had a heavy accent & I think they might have been foreign visitors. They kept shaking their heads & making hand motions for us to not get in with them. We stepped back & tried to get in the row behind them but the CM stopped us & said to hurry up & get in THERE. I told him those people don't want us in there but he motioned for us to get in.

I didn't want to make a CM mad by not following instructions yet I knew we were definitely not welcome where we were being told to sit. Bottom line was we did get in THAT row but for the entire ride, the other occupants would turn & glare at us. I could tell they were really ticked off. I caught a few words of their conversation & they were very angry at me & my DS & saying some not very nice things about us. It was a miserable experience & I was so uncomfortable about them that when it was time to exit the ride, DS & I lingered as long as we could leaving the building so we wouldn't run into them outside.

You know how fast they load rides at WDW. I didn't have time to really think things through so I just reacted to being told to get in where I was directed. How would you have handled things?

 

[MHG26]

I encountered this sort of thing a lot last week. See I usually go to the parks by myself (by choice!) so I always get put with other people's families or parties. I feel intrusive at times about it but I know that the functionality of the ride/line is more important than people having to sit next to a stranger for a few minutes. I think a lot of foreigners don't really understand what's going on most the time, in fact I know this to be the case. When you're alone at the parks it gives you a lot of time to observe things and I can tell you, people who don't speak English very well at WDW are confused a lot of times at the parks (hell even people who do speak English but don't pay attention ;P) and I see the CM's very frustrated with them trying to guide them to the right spots. I actually had conversations with some CM's last week who vented to me about how frustrating it was to deal with it cus either they don't listen or don't understand and always go to the wrong spot/car or don't want to get on the car with other people (even when not in the same row) etc. On the other hand, I had a very positive xp this past week on Splash Mountain with some guys from Venezuala who actually made them open the doors back up to let me come ride with them in their car . On TGMR those rows are huge, there really shouldn't have been an issue to have to sit next to you and your son...

 

[luv2nascar]

honestly if it persisted I would have said in non hushed voice
turn around and mind your own business
thank you very much

 

[eeyore0062]

I tend to be pretty proactive. I probably would have told the CM that I would wait for the next car, thanked him and gone back to where the queue was. Then, if he asked me why, I would have told him the situation and if it esculated (and rarely will it esculate), asked for the manager as you weren't the problem, the other group was, That way management is aware of the problem and they could watch for similar instances. Were you there in July? That is when the tour groups come through, and they seem to like doing things like that. I know it is SO frustrating for the CM's and that one was only doing his job, but I guess his perception meter was running a little low that day. This should not have been made into an uncomfortable situation for either party and could have been circumvented by a CM who was a bit more aware of his surroundings. I hope you don't have reason to be put in this situation again.

 

[CamColt]

I would have gone where the CM told us too.
As long as you werent sitting on their laps (which I actually had a large pre teen somewhat do to me at B&TB once ),they had no right to tell you not to sit where you were instructed to. I think you did the right thing.

 

[Kallison]

Probably would have glared right back and said WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM? In my best used to work in Manhattan don't mess with me voice.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I think I would have just said that "this is where they told me to sit.... sorry."

 

[foxfire]

Thank you all for the replies on how you would have handled the situation. I was so surprised at the time it happened, I was totally caught off guard. I had never had an encounter quite like that & won't mind one bit if I never have another!

eeyore0062...no, the trip wasn't in July but was one we made in March a couple of years back. Those people definitely weren't spring breakers though!! LOL!

 

[Deesknee]

I am not a world traveler, but do you think it could be possible their culture/religion might have something to do with not being to close to others, or something. I know it's pretty far fetched and if that is the case perhaps disney is not where they should be, but I just find it so hard to believe people can be that nasty especially when you're at the happiest place on earth.
I also would have been a little erked with the CM. If it wasn't crowded, just let you sit else where. What happened to the customer is always right? We the paying "guest" are still the customers are we not?

I think you showed more class not to make a scene over it though. I'm sure it was uncomfortable though.

 

[kilee]

It's a tough one and it's not always easy to handle. You just don't know how big a scene the other people are going to make. Thus really ruining the day for you and your child. I think there was really no right or wrong way to handle this. Hopefully, you never get put in that situation again.

 

[gingermommy94]

I think I would have just said that "this is where they told me to sit.... sorry."

This is exactly what I would have said. Then after the ride, I would have gotten back in line and rode it again..this time relaxed and without those people.

I simply refuse to let anything ruin my time at my favorite place. So I would have just done the grin and bear it thing..then let it go.

 

[MarkLem]

Especially with no one in line, I would have told the CM that they are making a huge fit about us getting in there and proceeded to get in the empty row, or tell him you want to wait for the next car. CM could put someone else in that row with them. You don't need to put up with that,

 

[pixiedust23]

I have inredible issues with people who are selfish and want what they want when they want it. Even if there was no one behind me on the line I would have sat where I was told to sit. I just feel it is so rude for people to think that they are somehow better and have more privilidges than other people. What's the big deal if you have to share a row? Its not like youre going to pass some awful disease onto them. I would have told them to be quiet and enjoy the ride!

 

[WDSearcher]

I wonder if this group had maybe waited for a while until the line was gone in order to enjoy the opportunity to ride in the car all by themselves, and then their plan was ruined at the last minute, which is what caused the problem? We've all had those moments of wanting to walk up Main Street with no one else there, sit in our own car on Thunder Mountain or Splash, get a photo of the Castle with no people in it, etc. Look at it from their point of view. They could have been waiting a while to get in a car by themselves, only to have that situation dashed at the last moment by you! Not that it was your fault, of course, but they probably figured it would be easier to get YOU to understand than the CM.

At any rate, I'm sorry it spoiled your ride. Once the ride started, the other party should have just realized that "it is what it is" and enjoyed themselves instead of glaring at you. If it makes you feel any better, they probably didn't enjoy THEIR ride either!

 

[lagunaseca]

I hope that the other people didn't enjoy their ride! What they did was rude and I'm sorry but rude is rude in any language or for any nationality. I may get blasted for this but I don't always buy the "they must not understand" thing since they understood enough to book a trip and come to Disney World. I feel sorry for you and your son to be put in that position but you handled it much better than I would have. I probably would have given them an "international hand gesture" which would not have been right either but my Irish temper would probably prompt me to do it and then I'd feel badly about it the rest of the day. You handled it well!!!!!!

 

[pixiedust23]

I would NEVER go to another country and act this way! In my opinion if you are unfamiliar with the language and customs in the country you are vacationing in you should be extra careful to not insult anyone. I have gone to many foreign countries and many times have bitten my tongue b/c I am unaware of their customs. My opinion if youre going to come to this country: Be Polite or get out!

I'm not saying this to start an issue, as I do put the same be polite or get out policy on any person visiting any foreign country including myself.

 

[liznboys]

I probably would have reacted the same way that you did...having been caught off guard and not prepared to handle it any other way than just doing what the CM told me to. But, if it happened again, I'd be more assertive and tell the CM that I'd wait for the next car. Thanks for sharing this, now I'm prepared if it happens to us in a few weeks! I'm sorry you went through that though.