Kids on shoulders

[livndisney]

In Walt Disney's time, no one could probably even imagine an adult pushing a kid out of the way to watch the Mickey Mouse float go by. It just didn't happen. Now, people without kids seem to have some sort of irrational aggressiveness towards people with kids, even in places primarily designed for children. It amazes me when people go to a theme park built for the enjoyment of families and then complain about all the annoying kids. It is not even rational.

In Walt Disney's time-parents PARENTED. Little Jimmy was not allowed to chase ducks, or swing the line chain into others. Susie stood in line for her turn. Parents did not make excuses or try and justify bad behavior. You misbehaved-you were asked to stop. If you choose not to listen-you left. You were not allowed to be a disruption to others. Now, parents encourage the bad behavior and rather than try and stop it- they record it by holding up giant screen ipads in front of others.

 

[20yBWDW]

Yes they do. Sadly. Including the ones who believe they should continue riding rides while I sit on a curb, then push me out of the way so they can have a good place to watch too.

Nobody is defending pushing people out of the way.

But being considerate of others would mean sitting so people behind you can see if you are in the front row, letting those who are shorter see, not putting obstacles (including children on shoulders) in front of the people behind you. In a situation where people have already set the tone that it is every man for himself, then a parent putting a child on his shoulders is no worse than the adults who are standing in the front row blocking the view of children standing behind them. They are on equally selfish footing. The fact that the person in the front row got there first is not any more relevant than the fact that the parent whose child is on their shoulders got there before the person whose view they are blocking.

 

[mom2rtk]

But being considerate of others would mean sitting so people behind you can see if you are in the front row, letting those who are shorter see, not putting obstacles (including children on shoulders) in front of the people behind you. In a situation where people have already set the tone that it is every man for himself, then a parent putting a child on his shoulders is no worse than the adults who are standing in the front row blocking the view of children standing behind them. They are on equally selfish footing. The fact that the person in the front row got there first is not any more relevant than the fact that the parent whose child is on their shoulders got there before the person whose view they are blocking.

Not true. If you walk up and stand behind me, that's on you for not getting there soon enough to get a better spot. You see me there when you choose a spot behind me.

If you hoist your kid up on your shoulders at the last minute, then I had no way of knowing my view was going to be obstructed. Same thing with ipads.

If you want to put an obstacle up, then by all means do so. Just do it the moment you arrive and leave it up so people behind you know what they're getting when they choose their spot.

 

[livndisney]

Nobody is defending pushing people out of the way.

But being considerate of others would mean sitting so people behind you can see if you are in the front row, letting those who are shorter see, not putting obstacles (including children on shoulders) in front of the people behind you. In a situation where people have already set the tone that it is every man for himself, then a parent putting a child on his shoulders is no worse than the adults who are standing in the front row blocking the view of children standing behind them. They are on equally selfish footing. The fact that the person in the front row got there first is not any more relevant than the fact that the parent whose child is on their shoulders got there before the person whose view they are blocking.

Have you been to a WDW parade? It IS every man for themselves LOL

I am not following your logic- are you saying that those who sat on the curb for a hour (or 2) are selfish for not allowing those who came later in front of them?

 

[20yBWDW]

Not true. If you walk up and stand behind me, that's on you for not getting there soon enough to get a better spot. You see me there when you choose a spot behind me.

If you hoist your kid up on your shoulders at the last minute, then I had no way of knowing my view was going to be obstructed. Same thing with ipads.

If you want to put an obstacle up, then by all means do so. Just do it the moment you arrive and leave it up so people behind you know what they're getting when they choose their spot.

If I walk up behind a parent, and see a child squeezed between them and an adult standing in front of them, I know there is a 99% chance that child is going to be on that parent's shoulders. It would be far more of a surprise to me that a parent would allow their child to stand there and not see.

 

[BugsDaddy]

In Walt Disney's time-parents PARENTED. Little Jimmy was not allowed to chase ducks, or swing the line chain into others. Susie stood in line for her turn. Parents did not make excuses or try and justify bad behavior. You misbehaved-you were asked to stop. If you choose not to listen-you left. You were not allowed to be a disruption to others. Now, parents encourage the bad behavior and rather than try and stop it- they record it by holding up giant screen ipads in front of others.

Yes, all parents are horrible. They all encourage bad behavior and make excuses for the bad behavior of their children. Those are some pretty broad, general statements you make. None of the are based in reality, of course.

Most parents I know are doing a very good job with teaching their kids right from wrong in a world with idiots who disregard them, belittle them, in some cases, try to hurt them and show them no consideration. A much different world for parents to try to teach their children in with increasingly more difficult challenges.

Are there just bad parents and bad kids out there? Yep. I am actually surprised there are not more based on the population of adult morons out there.

 

[20yBWDW]

Have you been to a WDW parade? It IS every man for themselves LOL

I am not following your logic- are you saying that those who sat on the curb for a hour (or 2) are selfish for not allowing those who came later in front of them?

I am saying they are no less "every man for himself" than the parent who puts his child on his shoulders so the child can see. Both parties are looking out for their own interests. That does not mean I think the person in the front has any obligation to give up their spot. It just means I do not think they can claim any moral high ground. If you're staking out your spot two hours in advance so you can see a parade, you are being hypocritical to judge a parent who puts a child on their shoulders. In both cases, you want to see or want your child to see, and your actions prevent someone else from getting a prime view. It's fine to do it, but don't get up on your moral high horse about it.

 

[glvsav37]

if you are in the front row, letting those who are shorter see, not putting obstacles (including children on shoulders) in front of the people behind you.

why would you put a kid on your shoulders if you are in the front row of anything???

that doesnt make sense. You get their early so you DON'T have to do that?????

 

[livndisney]

Yes, all parents are horrible. They all encourage bad behavior and make excuses for the bad behavior of their children. Those are some pretty broad, general statements you make. None of the are based in reality, of course.

Most parents I know are doing a very good job with teaching their kids right from wrong in a world with idiots who disregard them, belittle them, in some cases, try to hurt them and show them no consideration. A much different world for parents to try to teach their children in with increasingly more difficult challenges.

Are there just bad parents and bad kids out there? Yep. I am actually surprised there are not more based on the population of adult morons out there.

None are based in reality?

When were you last at WDW?

 

[20yBWDW]

why would you put a kid on your shoulders if you are in the front row of anything???

that doesnt make sense. You get their early so you DON'T have to do that?????

Part of that sentence is missing. I was giving examples of being considerate. The one related to being in the front row was sitting so those behind you can see.

 

[wunkmom]

The best parade viewing for me if from inside the Starbucks on Main Street. Standing at the counter that runs along the window, in the air conditioning, with a lovely caffeinated beverage in my hand, no one else in the place except for my family and the CMs giving out trivia bits about the parade, HEAVEN on earth!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would relocate.


If everyone got to the "spot" first, not everyone would fit. The park isn't built for everyone to line up neatly and have the perfect view.

IF I lined up behind them, I'm out of luck whether dad stands or has a kid on his shoulders. But he has no obligation to sit for me so that I can see.

We adjust our kids accordingly.

We do try to stake out early or line our kids up behind other children--but unless I was there first, not much I can do. But I have told a kid who was sitting on the curb--since I had selected a clear spot on the curb that he couldn't just lean out into the street blocking my kids view. I had a reasonable expectation to claim that open spot and park my child in her stroller. If he sat normal not he curb, he had a fine view. He didn't object to my speaking up and remedied the situation.

Otherwise, I don't think it is appropriate for anyone to demand line of site. Little kids need to see and if mom or dad are there before me and need to lift the child in whatever manner, then too bad for me for not getting there sooner to make sure that I could be positioned in front of them.

Though as a courtesy, if that parent has a means to have that child see without elevating them so high, it would be considerate to use those means and only using sitting on shoulders as a last resort. But I'm not going to sit there and analyze if they should have done so.

 

[livndisney]

I am saying they are no less "every man for himself" than the parent who puts his child on his shoulders so the child can see. Both parties are looking out for their own interests. That does not mean I think the person in the front has any obligation to give up their spot. It just means I do not think they can claim any moral high ground. If you're staking out your spot two hours in advance so you can see a parade, you are being hypocritical to judge a parent who puts a child on their shoulders. In both cases, you want to see or want your child to see, and your actions prevent someone else from getting a prime view. It's fine to do it, but don't get up on your moral high horse about it.

ummm what?

If I want my child to see, I arrive early to get a good seat. If in your opinion that makes me a hypocrite that is your issue.

My sitting on the curb does not in any way prevent someone else from a prime view-they could have parked their butt the same time I did. But instead they were off enjoying other areas of the park. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

Yes they do. Sadly. Including the ones who believe they should continue riding rides while I sit on a curb, then push me out of the way so they can have a good place to watch too.

If people are so concerned their kids get a good view they should not ride rides until the last second and then complain their kids can't see. Kids may not be able to wait patiently for an hour or more but there is no reason they can't show up 20-30 minutes early and talk to the people to try to make arrangements for their kids to see.

I have no problem letting kids stand in front of me, I actually think it makes the shows better because the kids get so excited, but there is a big difference between talking to the families around you while waiting and asking (or them offering) if the kids can stand in front and the rude families that show up 15 seconds before a show starts and who push their way through the crowd because their kids can't see.

Fireworks are a different story, I don't blame parents for putting their kids on their shoulders at fireworks (even though it's annoying) because there is no other option.

 

[SpringSprite]

I would relocate.


If everyone got to the "spot" first, not everyone would fit. The park isn't built for everyone to line up neatly and have the perfect view.

IF I lined up behind them, I'm out of luck whether dad stands or has a kid on his shoulders. But he has no obligation to sit for me so that I can see.

We adjust our kids accordingly.

We do try to stake out early or line our kids up behind other children--but unless I was there first, not much I can do. But I have told a kid who was sitting on the curb--since I had selected a clear spot on the curb that he couldn't just lean out into the street blocking my kids view. I had a reasonable expectation to claim that open spot and park my child in her stroller. If he sat normal not he curb, he had a fine view. He didn't object to my speaking up and remedied the situation.

Otherwise, I don't think it is appropriate for anyone to demand line of site. Little kids need to see and if mom or dad are there before me and need to lift the child in whatever manner, then too bad for me for not getting there sooner to make sure that I could be positioned in front of them.

Though as a courtesy, if that parent has a means to have that child see without elevating them so high, it would be considerate to use those means and only using sitting on shoulders as a last resort. But I'm not going to sit there and analyze if they should have done so.

I can't thumbs up this enough. So rational and well stated!

 

[20yBWDW]

ummm what?

If I want my child to see, I arrive early to get a good seat. If in your opinion that makes me a hypocrite that is your issue.

My sitting on the curb does not in any way prevent someone else from a prime view-they could have parked their butt the same time I did. But instead they were off enjoying other areas of the park. Can't have your cake and eat it too.

And the same could be said for the person standing behind the parent with a child on his shoulders. That parent and child got there before the person behind them. They do not have any more of an obligation to the person behind them than the person in front of them has to them.

If person in front row has no obligation to make sure person in second row can see without obstruction, then why does the person in the second row have that obligation to the person in the third row?

 

[BugsDaddy]

I would relocate.


If everyone got to the "spot" first, not everyone would fit. The park isn't built for everyone to line up neatly and have the perfect view.

IF I lined up behind them, I'm out of luck whether dad stands or has a kid on his shoulders. But he has no obligation to sit for me so that I can see.

We adjust our kids accordingly.

We do try to stake out early or line our kids up behind other children--but unless I was there first, not much I can do. But I have told a kid who was sitting on the curb--since I had selected a clear spot on the curb that he couldn't just lean out into the street blocking my kids view. I had a reasonable expectation to claim that open spot and park my child in her stroller. If he sat normal not he curb, he had a fine view. He didn't object to my speaking up and remedied the situation.

Otherwise, I don't think it is appropriate for anyone to demand line of site. Little kids need to see and if mom or dad are there before me and need to lift the child in whatever manner, then too bad for me for not getting there sooner to make sure that I could be positioned in front of them.

Though as a courtesy, if that parent has a means to have that child see without elevating them so high, it would be considerate to use those means and only using sitting on shoulders as a last resort. But I'm not going to sit there and analyze if they should have done so.

Exactly. It is about showing a little common courtesy on both sides. Unfortunately, as pointed out and actually expressed in this thread, there are a lot of adults who complain about kids having no sense of courtesy towards other people and the take the "every man for themselves" stance when they are the ones being asked to share. Those people are setting a great example.

 

[lauradis]

Yeah like don't cram your theme park with so many people

 

[livndisney]

And the same could be said for the person standing behind the parent with a child on his shoulders. That parent and child got there before the person behind them. They do not have any more of an obligation to the person behind them than the person in front of them has to them.

If person in front row has no obligation to make sure person in second row can see without obstruction, then why does the person in the second row have that obligation to the person in the third row?

If the person in the second row does put the child on their shoulders until after the action starts-how is the person in the 3rd row plan accordingly? If my butt is on the curb, you can reasonably expect it to stay there.

 

[20yBWDW]

If the person in the second row does put the child on their shoulders until after the action starts-how is the person in the 3rd row plan accordingly? If my butt is on the curb, you can reasonably expect it to stay there.

I do not think you are under an obligation to stay seated if you are unable to see the parade--whether due to people around you standing and leaning into the walkway or whatever. If you have to stand to get a better view, I would expect you to stand to get a better view. If someone in front of me has a child who cannot see after the parade starts, then I would not expect that person to say, sorry, kid, it's more important for the lady behind you to see than for you to see. I just wouldn't. And I seriously doubt your butt would stay on the curb if you realize after the parade starts that you cannot see.