Kids on shoulders

[smidgy]

handicap.. I mustadmit,those are lovely photos! esp the first one. I t would look beautiful on a wall in my living room...! my brother has a picture of the firewroks behind the eiffel tower on new years eve 2000!

sorry for the slight sarcasm (cecil b demille) but I still don't think I ahve to leave a big space in front of the tripod cause someone else wants a great shot. not if means us not having a good view. I'm glas you try to stay out of other's way.

and ITA about the hats! that's rude, in a movie theater, at a show, fireworks, whatever. I once asked someone in fromnt of me a few years back to remove their blinking mickey ears. it SO detractd from the illuminations show.

so now disney thought it would be a great idea to have the "glow with the show" ears... sigh

 

[Love Tink]

children kicking, punching, stomping, screaming, and clawing their way through the crowd so they can elbow me out of the spot

Come on! You have GOT to be kidding me, right?

 

[NotUrsula]

If you want to complain about this, complain where it matters: complain to Disney.
They largely create the problem, because they don't take sightline height into account when they design the parade. They know that the crowd will be dense, therefore, all elements should be at least 6 feet off the ground if they are designed to be visual in nature. (You can enjoy a marching band without really seeing it, but that doesn't so work well for a dancer dressed as a chipmunk.)

Second, safe parade crowd mgmt practice dictates that there should be no seated viewers at the barrier except in separate areas designated for seated viewing ONLY. This means no strollers near the barrier. Every spectator who can stand should be standing or carried in arms, and no people or objects of any kind should be on the ground any closer than 6 feet back from the barrier.. This includes holding a child on your shoulders any closer than that. Further back is fair game. (And before anyone asks, the reason for that is that when you are standing in a dense crowd, you cannot see at eye level past the persons standing next to you, so you cannot see the leading edge of the crowd. This means that if spectators surge to the front for some reason, there should be nothing at lower height in the way to trip over, lest someone fall and get crushed by the pressure of those coming behind him. Six feet is enough room to let the crowd flow around if someone falls flat.)

 

[SpringSprite]

To me this is where it starts. You have a good spot and someone steps in front of you, someone beside you decides to stand, whatever. Something happens that blocks your view, something that you cannot control or correct. Your reaction is to stand up so that you can see, which is perfectly within your rights and I have no problem. You adapted to an adverse situation. Unfortunately, the small child that was behind you can no longer see. So, should the parent of that child a.) tell you to sit down, b.) just live with you standing up and accept that their child will miss the parade, or c.) place the child in a position so they can see, thus blocking the view of the people behind them?

If I go with option A you will think I am rude and will most probably continue to stand because, after all, you got their first and if you sit you will not be able to see. If I go with option B nobody will think I am being rude but my child will not be able to see the parade, even though we may have waited for an hour thinking you were going to sit the entire time. If I go with option C the people behind me will think I am rude because I blocked their view.

But, in reality, what is the difference between what happened to you and what happened to me? You assumed the people around you would stay seated so you could sit and still see. I assumed the person in front of me would stay seated so my child would be able to see over that person. You have someone move in and block your view; I had someone stand up and block the view of my child. You adapted by changing positions, thus blocking my view. I adapted by changing positions, thus blocking the view of those behind me. You arrived before me so you assume your right to see the parade overshadows my own; I agree with you. I arrived before the people behind me so I also assume my right to see the parade overshadows theirs. I'm not seeing a difference.

There is no difference that I can see either.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I guess we're lucky, we don't problems with spot stealers or sudden view blockers. I can't imagine this happens so frequently for individuals to really be an issue. I was annoyed by someone's ipad suddenly up in front me once, so I shuffled a few inches over.

 

[Blessedwith3boys]

You're at Disney! Kids need to see and parents will lift them up...you gotta get over it! If you can't see...move!

 

[BugsDaddy]

Come on! You have GOT to be kidding me, right?

You would think it is The Hunger Games out there as some people describe (exaggerate) it.

 

[maxiesmom]

You're at Disney! Kids need to see and parents will lift them up...you gotta get over it! If you can't see...move!

Trust me, if it is all all possible I will move. However, there is such a thing as being courteous and respectful of those around you. Even if you are a parent with a small child. A child is not a built in excuse to be rude, though some seem to think it is. It is kind of ridiculous to tell people to get over expecting others to have good manners.

 

[Laura66]

Have to tell you - I have had this happen every time I get a close spot!

Oops - I meant to quote the PP who didn't believe that kids will kick and scream and claw their way in front of you!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Isn't it your lack of planning? You are the one who is behind....
Your right it is selfish to expect the world to revolve around you and yet you expect it to so you can roll up after someone and then dictate your view

Excuse me, where do you get off accusing my - autistic - daughter of doing the thing she's been complaining of along with everyone else? My daughter has never stood in front of anyone else, or pushed her way in front of anyone else despite having a major inability to wait for anything.

FYI the only parade we got a good view of this year was the 11pm run of the MSEP, the park having been absolutely rammed earlier on. We watched fireworks behind a pillar as the CMs wouldn't let me stop anywhere because of my scooter. But that was our choice because we wanted to do BTM while it was quiet and we're not complaining.

 

[ttintagel]

If you want to complain about this, complain where it matters: complain to Disney.

No reason we can't do both.

 

[20yBWDW]

Trust me, if it is all all possible I will move. However, there is such a thing as being courteous and respectful of those around you. Even if you are a parent with a small child. A child is not a built in excuse to be rude, though some seem to think it is. It is kind of ridiculous to tell people to get over expecting others to have good manners.

A child is not a built in excuse to be rude, but a child should be afforded the same understanding as an adult, and by extension, the parent who is doing for the child what the child cannot do for himself, in a situation where an adult would be justified in doing it. If it is acceptable for an adult to stand up to see, even if it means blocking the view of someone behind them, then it should be equally acceptable for a parent to lift a child to see, even if it means blocking the view of someone behind them. If the condition is that the person blocking another's view is justified as long as they arrived before the person whose view they are blocking, that should apply equally to the adult or the child on parent shoulders. If the condition is that there are no changes of positions once the parade starts, then that should apply equally to all parties, even a seated adult whose view is blocked by security or people beside them standing.

 

[momto3boysillbe]

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?

Exactly!

 

[Burnedout]

Very interesting and entertaining thread! I am shocked at how many people believe that Disney is primarily for kids and that its okay for you to block my enjoyment in order to improve the situation for your kid. I know people operate this way in the real world, but I was surprised that so many people admitted to it! I have been on all sides of this argument as my early trips were adults only, but in recent years I have taken assorted nieces and nephews, some as young as 3. A couple of observations. If you sit or stand behind someone who you believe has the potential to put a kid on his/her shoulder, or to stand for the performance, I suggest you ask the people if they intend to do so. I have done this several times. If they say Yes, then I just move on to a different spot. I have never had someone tell me No and then do it. If seeing a parade is important to me, I will be on the curb early. However, you need to position yourself and your kids appropriately and watch for people to crowd your spot, particularly about 20 minutes or so before the parade right up to the time of the parade. Be vigilant! And....don't let anyone from your family leave during this time as people will take any open spots. People who try to find up front seats at the last minute are stalkers and its quite easy to spot them. They are looking for a weak link, don't let it be you. Make eye contact with them. If you are with more than one adult, actually have one adult facing each way so that they don't come up from the back and surprise you. That being said....if we have extra room and I notice there are little kids behind me, I will invite them up. For other visits, seeing the parade is secondary. If we can find a good seat 10 minutes before, we will. Else, we just keep walking. A couple of times people have offered to let the little ones go up front, but I have never requested it. I say okay only when I can actually still see them. If my line of sight to them is blocked, I don't. What I find super annoying is when people put their strollers right up front in a prime position, but then don't have their kids sit in them. Kids are sitting on the curb, but stroller is also taking curb space. I don't understand why you can't put the kids on the curb, parents sit behind them, and then put the stroller behind the parents. NOTE: Its actually a great idea to make "friends" with your neighbors when waiting for a parade. I have met some interesting people that way and you can help each other block the pushers. You also find out early if they intend to have anyone join up with them at the last minute. If they tell you that they have 4 more adults joining them, and there doesn't appear to be any room, its better to know that early.

A totally common sense post.

 

[handicap18]

handicap.. I mustadmit,those are lovely photos! esp the first one. I t would look beautiful on a wall in my living room...! my brother has a picture of the firewroks behind the eiffel tower on new years eve 2000!

sorry for the slight sarcasm (cecil b demille) but I still don't think I ahve to leave a big space in front of the tripod cause someone else wants a great shot. not if means us not having a good view. I'm glas you try to stay out of other's way.

and ITA about the hats! that's rude, in a movie theater, at a show, fireworks, whatever. I once asked someone in fromnt of me a few years back to remove their blinking mickey ears. it SO detractd from the illuminations show.

so now disney thought it would be a great idea to have the "glow with the show" ears... sigh

9 out of 10 times I can put the tripod high enough to "see" over people. I don't need a big space, just enough to the tripod legs don't get kicked, though I prefer to set up my small tripod on top of a trashcan so I'm not taking any extra space around me. Also, I don't expect people to move or anything like that. In fact most people will ask me if they're in my way.

Speaking of movie theaters..... I took my kids and one of their friends to see The Lego Movie a few months back. The movie theater was just about empty. So we picked seats near the back right in the middle. a few minutes before the movie was to start a group of 5 20 somethings came in and sat in the row right in front of us. One of the guys was quite large. As he went to sit down he looked at us, then sat down and folded his arms with his larger than basketball sized head right in front of my 7YO. Only 1 of the other individuals made attempt to shrink down in their seat so my daughter could see. Even I, at 6', had trouble seeing over the kid who sat in front of me. The 4 rows in front of them and 3 rows behind us were all empty. I made several remarks about not being able to see, getting louder each time. I know they could hear me because the people 10 rows in front of them turned around to see what was happening.

Finally we had to move. I moved us 3 rows back and continued to make comments about them till the previews came on and saying that now there were no large bald heads in front of us. They never once turned around. Even on the way out after the move they wouldn't look at us.

Like I said in a previous post, I'm not one for being confrontational, but there was no reason for them to do what they did by getting in the direct view of my kids.

Some people are just a-holes.

 

[Burnedout]

9 out of 10 times I can put the tripod high enough to "see" over people. I don't need a big space, just enough to the tripod legs don't get kicked, though I prefer to set up my small tripod on top of a trashcan so I'm not taking any extra space around me. Also, I don't expect people to move or anything like that. In fact most people will ask me if they're in my way. Speaking of movie theaters..... I took my kids and one of their friends to see The Lego Movie a few months back. The movie theater was just about empty. So we picked seats near the back right in the middle. a few minutes before the movie was to start a group of 5 20 somethings came in and sat in the row right in front of us. One of the guys was quite large. As he went to sit down he looked at us, then sat down and folded his arms with his larger than basketball sized head right in front of my 7YO. Only 1 of the other individuals made attempt to shrink down in their seat so my daughter could see. Even I, at 6', had trouble seeing over the kid who sat in front of me. The 4 rows in front of them and 3 rows behind us were all empty. I made several remarks about not being able to see, getting louder each time. I know they could hear me because the people 10 rows in front of them turned around to see what was happening. Finally we had to move. I moved us 3 rows back and continued to make comments about them till the previews came on and saying that now there were no large bald heads in front of us. They never once turned around. Even on the way out after the move they wouldn't look at us. Like I said in a previous post, I'm not one for being confrontational, but there was no reason for them to do what they did by getting in the direct view of my kids. Some people are just a-holes.

What jerks!!

Your photos are beautiful.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I think the only true solution is to ban all children from the parks. The abused, non-child rearing adults of WDW have been through enough!

I mean, you hear the stories. Packs of wild children, clawing, biting their way to the front of parades. Where does the madness stop? Who will protect the adults?

Have you ever seen a 4 year old all hopped up on a candy apple and bound and determined to see that Mickey float? It's not a pretty sight, folks.

I, for one, have seen the error of my ways. No more Disneyworld for my "snowflake". She just cannot be trusted.

I hope that one day when I am without minor children, I can return to Disneyworld to repair some of the damage I have already created. In fact, I may bring my then-adult daughter to try to somehow make amends.

Thanks for understanding.

 

[Burnedout]

Such drama....good grief.

 

[SugarQuill]

I think the only true solution is to ban all children from the parks. The abused, non-child rearing adults of WDW have been through enough!

Wow.

 

[maxiesmom]

A child is not a built in excuse to be rude, but a child should be afforded the same understanding as an adult, and by extension, the parent who is doing for the child what the child cannot do for himself, in a situation where an adult would be justified in doing it. If it is acceptable for an adult to stand up to see, even if it means blocking the view of someone behind them, then it should be equally acceptable for a parent to lift a child to see, even if it means blocking the view of someone behind them. If the condition is that the person blocking another's view is justified as long as they arrived before the person whose view they are blocking, that should apply equally to the adult or the child on parent shoulders. If the condition is that there are no changes of positions once the parade starts, then that should apply equally to all parties, even a seated adult whose view is blocked by security or people beside them standing.

I don't think it is justifiable to add a child to your shoulders, making yourself 10 feet high. Of course it probably isn't the child's fault they can't see, it is probably the parents. That doesn't make it right to block the view of a mass of people behind you, because you as the parent (the generic you) either didn't plan properly or didn't care to plan. It is never justifiable to be rude like that! If you must put your child up onto your shoulders, then move to the back of the section you are in. That way your child can see, and so can everyone else.

I do agree that if someone is seated before a parade starts that they should remain seated or at least inform those standing behind them that they intended to stand up.