just back! -and one shocking experience

[Teresa Pitman]

Just back from two weeks in WDW to celebrate my 50th birthday. We had the most amazing time - I will try to do a trip report soon. It was SO MUCH FUN!

But - on Wednesday of last week we went to Epcot and to the Turtle Talk with Crush attraction. When we got in the room, a little girl (maybe 2) was crying and crying and asking to leave. Her father was holding her and ignoring her screams. When Crush appeared, her screaming got even louder. Crush politely said "Hey, dude, your little one doesn't really want to be here, maybe you should take her out." The father then started shouting very loudly at Crush and said that Disney wouldn't let him leave, he'd already had a big fight with the Disney people and they wouldn't give him his money back and he was just going to stay until they did give him his money back. Meanwhile this poor little girl is still crying and crying. Some of the audience members told the father that he was not being a good father and he just yelled back at them. Crush said "you need to chill out, dude" and then tried to go on talking to the children at the front. The little girl is crying and saying "please take me home" and the father is saying loudly "when someone gives Daddy his money back we can go home." It was awful.

Fortunately, soon after that two security people came in and removed this guy and the whole audience cheered. I hope that they had also called children's services, because the way he was using his daughter - deliberately making her stay when she was unhappy in order to cause a disruption so they'd give him his money back - was disgusting.

I thought about that little girl the whole rest of my holiday. Other than that, though, we had a wonderful time.

Teresa

 

[civileng68]

What I dont get is...............why would he want his money back just because his daughter doesn't like the Crush attraction?

Just go to another attraction or just enjoy the atmosphere.

Of course Disney isn't going to give him his money back for that. There's a whole park to enjoy, you dont get money back for just not liking an attraction.

If that were the case, then my brother in law would have gotten his back after ruining his entire day last week after riding Mission Space and vomiting the rest of the day.

 

[kbkids]

That's really sad. I feel so bad for kids that have to go through life with parents like that.


But, on another note, we haven't been able to experience Turtle Talk yet as it was closed when we were there, but that is so amazing to me that Crush was even telling the dad to calm down. I can't wait to see this show.

 

[civileng68]

That's really sad. I feel so bad for kids that have to go through life with parents like that.


But, on another note, we haven't been able to experience Turtle Talk yet as it was closed when we were there, but that is so amazing to me that Crush was even telling the dad to calm down. I can't wait to see this show.

It is good, but when I first saw it (when it first opened) there was no line, now the line is almost rediculous. It is very cute though.

 

[Stacerita]

Thats terrible. What kind of a person ruins things for a whole group of people and then uses his child as an excuse to try to get his way. Thats disgusting. Did he really think that Disney would give him his money back after he was in the park and at attractions just because his child was cranky or whatever. That guy should be ashamed of himself.

BTW - the show is so cute. We saw it on our last trip and loved it. Definately see it if you get a chance. We are sorta bummed that we haven't seen it yet here at DCA. Plan to later this week though.

 

[momsgoofy]

I think this is awful! That Dad needs to have reality check! But I suspect that the little girl, who the OP said looked to be about 2, was just freaked out with the entire WDW experience. It can be overwhelming for the wee ones as many of us know. I'm guessing at this since the dad kept saying he wouldn't leave until Disney gave his money back to him. It seems that perhaps the Crush experience wasn't the first one the little girl may have bawled at during the trip.

It's really sad that the dad continued to behave as he did, but I'm glad that someone, including Crush, was willing to take a stand for the little girl. I can't help but wonder, if the Dad acts that way in public, then how does he act at home...alone? I'm praying my thoughts are wrong.

 

[vicb]

I agree with what the other posters have said about it being a sad situation and very inappropriate parenting. I could have been that dad but I wasn't when I had a similar situation with my then 3 yr. old son on our very first WDW trip. Right out of the gate our first half day we went to MK. Nothing traumatic happened but at the wishing well by POC my DS threw his money in and loudly wished "I wish I was at home not here". I almost cried! Then the next day the trauma began, our first ride was Spacship Earth, it stopped/broke down (who knows) when we were on that first hill going up in pitch darkness. DS cried and screamed he was terrified. After that ride the next 5 days he wouldn't go on anything indoors, we got him in SW but he cried thru that. I missed out on so many attractions that trip because I wouldn't force him into anything he was scared of. I tried to make it as fun and happy as possible for him. At MGM that meant hours of playing in the HISTPlayground area! Hours of time at the Poly pool and riding the monorail over and over! We laugh about it now but it was a bit stressful at the time. But I am so glad we didn't force him and make an ugly scene like the dad in Crush! Shame on him!

 

[lucincia]

I love it that Crush stayed in character while scolding the father. That is so awesome, dude.

 

[In a hurry]

CPS? Why? They have enough to deal with that are true cases of abuse. Forcing your child to stay at Disney doesn't even go there. Sure he was a jerk, but that is not abuse.