Incident with large ball at Epcot

[Bella the Ball 360]

Nothing annoys me more than when salespeople are pushy. I am sure the CM was doing as she was told but I feel you need to write a letter. What if the chid that the ball was thrown at had a physical problem or autistic. What if the startle caused someone prone to seizures to convulse?? Yes these are probably rare occurances BUT I resent anyone interferring in my personal space unless I invite it. My child might have wanted one of those balls in the worst way but when the salespeople do something like that there is NO way I would throw it. I have found in the past that the reaction you got from the supervisor is becoming more and more typical at WDW. I would write a letter and complain not so much from the view point of the injury but from the viewpoint of the rude supervisor. This is the mantra for all retaliers, "the customer is always right". The very least that could have been done was to ask if there was anything that they could do or even to put you to the head of the line on a ride just to show that they were trying to make amends.

 

[leahannpen]

Lighten up people. So your kid's eye was red and tearing for a while, if that's the worst thing that happens to them that's pretty good..

Sorry, but if someone hits my kid, I'm not going to "lighten up" when it could have been avoided by NOT doing IT! Eye injuries can be awful! Throwing the balls AT people is a stupid practice, and we can see by just reading the first page of this thread that it's not a one time occurance. Maybe they should just throw them at adults? Or, not throw them at all.

Kids get bumps and bruises all the time, that's part of growing up. Do you want compensation for all of them?

She never said she wanted compensation...? If it were me, I wouldn't want it either, unless it DID cause a SERIOUS injury, that again, could EASILY have been avoided...it's not a good selling tactic, as far as I'm concerned. People can get hurt...nice way to sell something.

This was an accident. The problem here isn't that the CM threw the ball at your DS, the problem was with the supervisor who talked to you. The CM that threw the ball was doing his/her job, while the supervisor was not.

Throwing the ball at a 3 year old IS part of the problem. (An "accident" that seems to happen an awful lot)..why throw the ball at all? How about just bouncing it? I'm sure the balls will still sell. And you're right, the Supervisor also had a problem, that's for sure!

 

[bicker]

Well, I think we need to be reasonable in apply some of these criteria. There are a vast array of opportunities to to have one's personal space interefered with at WDW, that if that is a major criterion for someone, they may want to think twice about visiting. Putting aside the attractions (and restaurants!) especially designed to interfere with guests' personal space, sharing the close quarters of a crowded bus could qualify. The distinction I believe people are able to make here is that they don't want their personal space infringed on for the purpose of fostering revenues. I don't think, though, that it is reasonable to expect a service like WDW to hamstring itself in that manner. I suppose they could replace (and therefore remove) a lot of their in-park revenue generating activities with a higher ticket price, but that's not what we guests tell them we want. I believe there simply isn't the willingness to convert into higher ticket prices all the revenue Disney would lose from stopping all activities like this that folks object to.

 

[cynsaun]

Luckily my catlike reflexes were intact.

OMG! This is the line of the day!

 

[Cass]

I keep the kids away from those blowing ball displays....

 

[DeirdreTours]

The idea that throwing a ball in a small child's face is an appropriate revenue tool is appalling. If enough people hit by balls complain, the practice will change. I think the problem here is a lack of clear training to the cast member selling the balls (don't blather to me about it being an outside contractor, if it is on Disney's property, I am holding Disney responsible). The cast member needs to be told:
1-Do not throw the ball at small children, they aren't able to catch it.
2-ALWAYS make eye contact prior to throwing the ball
3- NEVER aim the ball at the face
4-If someone is bothered, APOLIGIZE clearly and with sincererity.

 

[OceanAnnie]

^
| What she said.

 

[jgmklmhem]

4-If someone is bothered, APOLIGIZE clearly and with sincererity.

The issue is whereas we would like an apology we will not get one because an apology is an admission of guilt and for the most part in any case at Disney they are not going to admit guilt on the spot because even though our OP doesn't want compensation there are many others who do.

 

[Pete's Mom]

I am sorry, but you guys make it sound like a dangerous game of dodge ball! "BUY THIS BALL OR I WILL BEAN YOU WITH IT!"

We survived the heinious and deadly ball hawkers during our last 4 trips. Pete actually loved playing catch with the CM's and it helped to bring him out of his shell as did the pin trading. I don't think Disney is telling their CM's let the balls rip and take some kids out (adults are worth 5 points, kids are worth 3)

I hope they continue to interact with guests. I would like to think that the things DeirdreTours listed in her post are pretty much common since to anyone (not just CM's). Pete is 8 and knows not to hit someone in the face with a ball.

I was pushing DS (3yo) in the stroller at Epcot and as we passed a CM selling balls (in the kiosks), she threw one of those large balls in DS' face. We weren't looking at her, so we weren't expecting it, and DS started to cry and complained about his eye. I told her that she shouldn't be throwing balls in young children's faces. She looked sheepish but didn't say anything as we walked off.

Javaj, I am truly sorry that your son was hurt but I don't think that was it was the intention of the CM to cause physical harm to your son. I mean, if you weren't looking how do you know that she was aiming for your son's face?

 

[lulugirl]

...what Petes Mom said...

 

[Taylor]

This thread reminds me of the old SNL parody commercial "Happy Fun Ball"

Yes, it's Happy Fun Ball! The toy sensation that's sweeping the nation! Only $14.95 at participating stores! Get one today!

Warning: Pregnant women, the elderly, and children under 10 should avoid prolonged exposure to Happy Fun Ball.

Caution: Happy Fun Ball may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds.

Happy Fun Ball contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at.

Do not use Happy Fun Ball on concrete.

Discontinue use of Happy Fun Ball if any of the following occurs:
itching
vertigo
dizziness
tingling in extremities
loss of balance or coordination
slurred speech
temporary blindness
profuse sweating
or heart palpitations.
If Happy Fun Ball begins to smoke, get away immediately. Seek shelter and cover head.

Happy Fun Ball may stick to certain types of skin.

When not in use, Happy Fun Ball should be returned to its special container and kept under refrigeration. Failure to do so relieves the makers of Happy Fun Ball, Wacky Products Incorporated, and its parent company, Global Chemical Unlimited, of any and all liability.

Ingredients of Happy Fun Ball include an unknown glowing green substance which fell to Earth, presumably from outer space.

Happy Fun Ball has been shipped to our troops in Saudi Arabia and is being dropped by our warplanes on Iraq.

Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.

Happy Fun Ball comes with a lifetime warranty.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

This thread reminds me of the old SNL parody commercial "Happy Fun Ball"

Wow, that SNL ad parody has got to be over ten years old! Love it just the same!

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes, my kids have been subjected to that "ball throwing" as well. Fortunately, they weren't hurt. I'm sorry to hear that your son was hurt.

BTW, does anyone know if any of those balls really sell? I have never seen anyone buying them.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'll probably get flamed for this, but most of the time I see the CMs throw a ball toward a child, the reaction is very positive. The kids love it. Yes, maybe they should be a little more careful and make sure the child is aware before throwing it, but I don't think there was any malicious intent behind it. I'm sorry your child was hurt, but things can happen anytime and anywhere. I wish people would try to curb their immediate angry reactions and save their rath for the bigger events in life.

Sorry, JMHO!

 

[Hillbeans]

I'll probably get flamed for this, but most of the time I see the CMs throw a ball toward a child, the reaction is very positive. The kids love it. Yes, maybe they should be a little more careful and make sure the child is aware before throwing it, but I don't think there was any malicious intent behind it. I'm sorry your child was hurt, but things can happen anytime and anywhere. I wish people would try to curb their immediate angry reactions and save their rath for the bigger events in life.

Sorry, JMHO!

Peg, I definitely agree with your comment that the reaction for most children would be positive, but in the OP's case, the boy was 3 and in a stroller. I think there is a difference between throwing a ball to a 7 year old walking and paying attention and to a 3 yo in a stroller. My 4 yo can't catch a ball, and if one were thrown at his face, it would most likely hit him - especially if he's looking another way. Then, the OP was blown off by the CM's supervisor, and frankly i'd have been upset at that also - they didn't ask for a ball to be thrown at their child.

I think the practice of throwing balls, flying toy airplanes, etc., is alright as long as the product is not being "thrown" at people walking by. I think there are enough people here who commented on it that are annoyed by it, so why continue something that bothers so many people?

 

[Planogirl]

Our son has always loved the giant balls, even when he was small. He always feels a little overlooked when he doesn't get one thrown at him.

Maybe the vendors should just try to avoid the younger kids?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

 

[bicker]

The idea that throwing a ball in a small child's face is an appropriate revenue tool is appalling.

Let's keep this real, folks. We live in a society where it has been acceptable to sell cigarettes with cartoon characters, and to plaster entire minority neighborhoods with malt liquor billboards. It annoys some folks quite a bit, but pro-business legislators, from both parties, have been elected by the people to represent them and make decisions about what are the standards of our society. It reminds me of the line from that movie (I forget the name), "It's a little late to be complaining about that now!"

I'm sorry a young child was upset in this manner, but I do see a lot of mountain-out-of-molehill going on here, especially with all the focus on the salesperson who could have been doing the job in a reasonable and appropriate way, as far as we know, given that we've only heard one side of the story. I would want to know the salesperson's defense in his/her own words before I'd have enough confidence in our "due process" to accept some of the assertions made in this thread. We can sympathize with the parent without casting aspersions on the salesperson. Anti-sensationalism.

If there is any blame to be had, perhaps it could be laid on the supervisor who should have been a more soothing influence on the parent, instead of apparently causing more upset. The fact that the parent wasn't happy with the result of their interaction with the supervisor is enough evidence to say that the supervisor didn't succeed in what is, by definition, at least part of the supervisor's job.

I can also surely understand frustration directed at society, for the reasons mentioned above, before that directed at the salesperson -- and that's really my point: Keeping it real: Some people don't like some aspects of our society, and that's surely a perspective that is unquestionably respectable, whether we agree or not. However, let's recognize it what it is, and not mix that up with the people who are just operating within the tenets of the standards of that society.

I wish people would try to curb their immediate angry reactions and save their rath for the bigger events in life.

Exactly!

 

[MsLeFever]

Hmmm...made of plastic/poylester, full of air, no beneficial use, if inflated, a real pain for Mom and Dad to carry around, destined to be popped/thrown into the closet when finally taken home, never to be used again...what kid wouldn't love that?!!?

Ok I'm now hesitant to admit this but we bought several! If they are the same one's we bought they are a fabric sphere that goes over a large balloon. When you pick one out they give you the "pillowcaseish" cover and a bag a balloons. They pack really small which made them a great gift to bring home.

 

[lajones81]

I hate those ball things. I cringe every time I walk past that area in Epcot. Seriously, it freaks me out!