Last Solo trip had two bad guest encounters turn me off

[Ciandella915]

Sadly, it’s is a hazard of travel that you sometimes run into people who feel entitled even though they wouldn’t at home. It’s a lot more prevalent on cruises.

I have never met more entitled people than those on cruises or at all-inclusive resorts. They don't appreciate the million logistical miracles it takes to make their vacation happen. I'm always shocked.

 

[brad813]

I have never met more entitled people than those on cruises or at all-inclusive resorts. They don't appreciate the million logistical miracles it takes to make their vacation happen. I'm always shocked.

Believe me, I know first hand. My experiences when working as a travel agent, well, let's just say people tend to want everything for nothing. The irony is most of these people, if it wasn't for their vacation/holiday, they would be the most polite people in the world.

 

[ThistleMae]

I'm a glass half full kind of person, so I suppose I don't notice much rudeness. I've had amazing experiences both at Disney and on cruises. I find most people are very happy to be enjoying a vacation. But again, it's all about what you notice most.

 

[brad813]

I'm a glass half full kind of person, so I suppose I don't notice much rudeness. I've had amazing experiences both at Disney and on cruises. I find most people are very happy to be enjoying a vacation. But again, it's all about what you notice most.

Most people would consider me sickeningly optimistic(I find the silver lining at funerals), but if you travel enough you eventually run into one of those types. If you work in travel, you are even more likely. Optimism certainly does help you when it comes to dealing with it.

 

[MooseBucks]

I don't know why, but on our last trip I felt as though people were acting more aggressively and some were flat out rude. I don't know if it was the time of the year or if Disney is taking a turn for the worse. We experienced numerous folks cutting in line at rope drop, saving spots in queues and someone hit a person in out party with a stroller while walking one night, the victim fell over the person with the stroller kept walking.

 

[brad813]

I don't know why, but on our last trip I felt as though people were acting more aggressively and some were flat out rude. I don't know if it was the time of the year or if Disney is taking a turn for the worse. We experienced numerous folks cutting in line at rope drop, saving spots in queues and someone hit a person in out party with a stroller while walking one night, the victim fell over the person with the stroller kept walking.

At which park? Also, I have heard it is staying busier so maybe more people.

 

[MooseBucks]

At which park? Also, I have heard it is staying busier so maybe more people.

Our last trip was pre-Thanksgiving. We had 2 people who had paid outside people to wait in line at rope drop at Hollywood studios. They then jumped in line with the person that was creating their touring plan. At Animal Kingdom when we were at the touch points to get in someone cut in front of us and the CM at least asked where they came from but didn't do anything. At MK while waiting for Elena @ her meet and greet we had a family that left to ride another ride and then came back in to meet with their family. They were worried about losing their FP+.

 

[ThistleMae]

I don't know why, but on our last trip I felt as though people were acting more aggressively and some were flat out rude. I don't know if it was the time of the year or if Disney is taking a turn for the worse. We experienced numerous folks cutting in line at rope drop, saving spots in queues and someone hit a person in out party with a stroller while walking one night, the victim fell over the person with the stroller kept walking.

Wow...I hope this is the exception and not the norm. But I suppose anywhere there are as many people as Disney there are bound to be some very inpolite people. My son is going with us this trip and he hates crowds...LOL! I wonder how he will do?

 

[brad813]

Our last trip was pre-Thanksgiving. We had 2 people who had paid outside people to wait in line at rope drop at Hollywood studios. They then jumped in line with the person that was creating their touring plan. At Animal Kingdom when we were at the touch points to get in someone cut in front of us and the CM at least asked where they came from but didn't do anything. At MK while waiting for Elena @ her meet and greet we had a family that left to ride another ride and then came back in to meet with their family. They were worried about losing their FP+.

AK I can understand a bit of confusion still, but the other parks are a big issue. The HS issue is a major concern since that isn’t supposed to happen and will get worse in the next two years due to Toy Story and Star Wars opening.

 

[StageTek]

...or if Disney is taking a turn for the worse.

I don't think Disney has taken a turn. I think it's people who have taken a turn for the worse.

 

[kwdw]

So - I have question spurred by a comment in this thread about cutting in line at park entry.

If your party is all standing at the tap stile farther from the entrance - and despite repeated urging from the CM - nobody in your party moves to the front tap stile - am I as the next person in line allowed to go around your group and tap in?

 

[Arielfan98]

Sorry to hear about this (and glad you're safe!) Unfortunately, we live in a society where some people think the world only revolves around them. I don't like to make assumptions about other people and it clearly seems these people were making assumptions. Who's to say it wasn't your first boat-ride on pirates either? Who's to say this won't be your last Disney trip for awhile? Even if all these things weren't true it doesn't give them grounds to treat you like that.

 

[adamreisinger]

So - I have question spurred by a comment in this thread about cutting in line at park entry.

If your party is all standing at the tap stile farther from the entrance - and despite repeated urging from the CM - nobody in your party moves to the front tap stile - am I as the next person in line allowed to go around your group and tap in?

I say yes. The CMs want to make sure all tap points are being used, so you’re in a way helping them by doing so. Sometimes even just making a move toward the unused turnstile is enough to get the other party to start paying attention to the CM instructions.

 

[ThistleMae]

I try to be even more polite than normal if someone is angst. Disney is supposed to be a happy place, I try to share my joy and find most people are excited and grateful to be there. I feel bad for folks that are in a constant state of agitation on vacation. Who the heck wants a vacation like that?

 

[MinnieMouse2017]

Oh man, I'm really sorry to hear about these bad experiences! Some people are NUTS and get too wound up about the littlest things.

 

[ThistleMae]

Oh man, I'm really sorry to hear about these bad experiences! Some people are NUTS and get too wound up about the littlest things.

So true...it can and does happen...I try not to let it ruin my Magical Vacation!

 

[TinkSassy]

Sorry you had soo much bad luck - I've not had too many experiences like that. However, I tend to step out of situations - I did have one family that was irritated that I was assigned a specific seat and I didn't want to deal with their negativity so I flagged the CM and asked if I could just wait for the next ride vehicle. The CM was actually grateful and the family felt like they got pixie dust. I don't get the "I have to have that seat" mentality because I don't think I've ever had a bad seat for a ride.

But as a whole I've found people very nice to me as a solo traveler.

Is the food and wine festival a good time to go solo?

This year I went alone - and loved it! My friends and family dislike the festival so it was nice to do exactly what I wanted there. Also, I met the greatest people sharing tabletops around the world. Also, I saw more entertainment because I could just grab my drink and walk up without trying to move a group around.

 

[ThistleMae]

Sorry you had soo much bad luck - I've not had too many experiences like that. However, I tend to step out of situations - I did have one family that was irritated that I was assigned a specific seat and I didn't want to deal with their negativity so I flagged the CM and asked if I could just wait for the next ride vehicle. The CM was actually grateful and the family felt like they got pixie dust. I don't get the "I have to have that seat" mentality because I don't think I've ever had a bad seat for a ride.

But as a whole I've found people very nice to me as a solo traveler.



This year I went alone - and loved it! My friends and family dislike the festival so it was nice to do exactly what I wanted there. Also, I met the greatest people sharing tabletops around the world. Also, I saw more entertainment because I could just grab my drink and walk up without trying to move a group around.

There are some advantages you get when you go solo....I love just doing my own thing. This year I'm going with all my family. That will be great too...because all my kids and grandkids are going together. We are all so excited!

 

[Euby]

My previous solo trip was wonderful. I have to use an ECV (due to back and knee issues) in order to get the most enjoyment out of the parks. I have to say that most of the people that I encountered were very polite. Several times I had people hold the exit gate open for me when leaving rides. I made certain to thank them each time. I especially made sure to comment to one young boys mom that he was being very polite. There was one family make a comment about me being let on the bus first. Once we arrived at the park and the bus was unloading, I smiled at them and said "First one, but the last off." Traveling solo with an ECV has its extra challenges, but I find that a smile and a laugh can help ease things.

I saw a great sign outside a restaurant that has now become a new mantra for me: "If it's not going to matter in 5 years, don't spend more than 5 minutes being upset by it."

 

[Shanti]

A ride in the MK crashed so the employees asked us to get out of line and choose a fast pass from the machine nearby. An employee called me to come swipe my card and pick which I did. She moved to the guest two kiosks away. Two women in their late twenties came back to the kiosk and began screaming at me because I used the kiosk and they lost the fast pass they were holding while checking with someone in the bathroom two rides away. It was so loud the employee came over. She told them she told me to do it and they needed to calm down. I completed my change and left but realized they were following me so I returned to the employee who called security. They told the women they would kick them out of the park if they didn't stop acting in a menacing way. I literally hopped on the train and left MK for the day.

I returned the next day and was directed to the front row on Pirates of the Caribbean. A grandma behind me began berating the employee for putting a solo rider in the front row when she had grandkids who never rode it before. He told her I was first. She then flipped out, saying her daughter told me to go ahead because she took a kid to the bathroom but they were back now and would have had the front row. She then asked me if the kids could sit with me. The employee stopped her and said they were riding with her or not at all. Also, he would call the manager if she couldn't settle down. Throughout the ride she made loud comments about how I stole their seat. I hopped off the ride and walked out as fast as I could while the grandma kept telling the kids to hurry up.

It was my fifth solo trip and the first four were uneventful. Both happened during the day at MK. I felt more unsafe than in Times Square alone. I am going back in the Spring but w onder if anyone has any advice to not look like an easy target.

I'm sorry to hear this- it's awful. Since you're asking for advice, I'll say that I would have been more assertive. Here's what I would have done:

• Screaming/stalking women: I would not have left the park, as I paid to be there & intended to have fun. If I saw them again causing me a problem, I would go directly to the nearest CM (they're everywhere) and report that I was being stalked and harassed by these women. If the CM didn't deal with it assertively (getting security to come in & really deal with these women), I would say I had no choice but to call 911, then would actually call 911 right there in the park. I'm sure it wouldn't reach the 911 stage, though.
• Pirates: Since someone was harassing you during the ride, upon getting off the ride (before leaving Pirates), I would have gone to the nearest CM & explained the harassment, and asked for a repeat ride, so you could enjoy it in peace. Completely reasonable request that would probably be granted, especially since the CMs at the beginning of the ride witnessed this unreasonable family. (In fact, initially, I might have requested to wait and be in a boat that did not include the family that was harassing me.)