Live from Disney - People are really something!

[bluwater]

Ok, so we are here and having a good time. Parks are REALLY crowded - I mean more crowded than I remember for Easter 07. Fast passes for the most popular attractions are going, going, *gone* early in the afternoon. Lines are super-long. We walked into DHS at 10:30am yesterday and got FPs for Toy Story at 11:21....with a return time of 8:05 - 9:05pm!

All in all, we are still having lots of fun. I ran into a friend who I didn't know would be here with her daughter, who is friends with my DD...so we are hanging out.

I must say that we have had some very discouraging encounters with other visitors (non-Americans). One lady was taking a photo and my friend's daughter didn't see and walked in front of her - the lady got mad and actually HIT my friend's daughter - like a slap/push combo. My friend and I were watching from a distance...and watched the lady then start to go off - talking to her family about the girl who got into the photo. My friend's daughter is 14...she didn't say anything to the lady, but walked over to tell her mom. We had seen it all. We walked over to the lady and my friend asked the lady why she'd hit her daughter - and the lady said she didn't and that the daughter was "lying". At that point, I walked over and said that we'd seen it - and that she'd better not hit anybody's child here at Disney. Really - what was she thinking? So my friend showed her a fist and told her to do it again and see what happens (whoops!). And off we all went.

The day before, I had an encounter in Bugs Life with a lady (again, not from America) who decided to stop midway down the row and spread her arms out across the seats to hold them for her grown family members (no children in her party). She did this in the seat my daughter and I were about to sit in. I asked her to just move down a little so we could sit, but she wouldn't. Everyone else sat down...her party came and sat down...and my daughter squeezed into a spot....leaving me with no seat as I stood there is disbelief at this woman. I used my hips to inch in next to her (making it very uncomfortable for us both) - and I was sitting on top of the divider that separates the seats. I decided that I would ask for fastpasses to come back in and see it again since this show was not going to be enjoyed for my daughter or it being squished in. At the end, the lady got up and started dancing out of the theater - and I asked her if she was happy because she was going to go push more little kids out of the way...and she claimed not to understand English...but her grown daughter told me to shut up and go on. I told the CM, who said that was common, and gave us fastpasses to go right back in. It was then that I realized that this Disney vacation needs to be al little different - we need to be more aware of what is going on around us and watch people.

We have seem tons of people jumping lines, refusing to listen to CMs, just general bad, bad behavior. None of it from Americans. I don't know who Disney tolerates this. I do know that if this is typical of this time of year, we'll come another time. People are pushing ahead in lines, almost running each other down.

I wonder if anyone else finds that to be the case this time of year. Is this an annual problem?

And, no, it's not just Brazilians. My run-ins were with people from others countries - but not Brazil.

 

[JustMickey]

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We have seem tons of people jumping lines, refusing to listen to CMs, just general bad, bad behavior. None of it from Americans. I don't know who Disney tolerates this. I do know that if this is typical of this time of year, we'll come another time. People are pushing ahead in lines, almost running each other down.

I wonder if anyone else finds that to be the case this time of year. Is this an annual problem?

And, no, it's not just Brazilians. My run-ins were with people from others countries - but not Brazil.

I have a hard time believing that NOT ONE American family acts like this.

 

[wendyinaustin]

My wish for you is that you will find some magical moments with friendly people from all over during the rest of your vacation in the most magical place in the world!

 

[LisaInNc]

We walked over to the lady and my friend asked the lady why she'd hit her daughter - and the lady said she didn't and that the daughter was "lying". At that point, I walked over and said that we'd seen it - and that she'd better not hit anybody's child here at Disney. Really - what was she thinking? So my friend showed her a fist and told her to do it again and see what happens (whoops!).

You don't think that behavior is part of the problem?

Why confront her, just walk away and enjoy your day. It takes TWO people for a confrontation.

If her behavior was truely threatening then you should have asked a CM to contave Disney security because what you did is exactly how fights that end up on CNN get started.

 

[Rora]

Oh geez.. I'm sorry about these bad experiences! I can't believe that woman actually hit your friends daughter?!?!?! Absolutely insane. I do not understand the lack of respect some have for others. I will be honest and say that I have witness this more with international guests, although there are many rude Americans who visit the World.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in the World and don't let these rude people get you down!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I think July is a very tough time to be at WDW.

Too many people, squished in too small of a space and add the heat to it and you'll find alot of problems.

We try to go in June and it seems more sane then.

 

[Sawx04]

The day before, I had an encounter in Bugs Life with a lady (again, not from America) who decided to stop midway down the row and spread her arms out across the seats to hold them for her grown family members (no children in her party).

When this happens to my family of five, we politely explain that we would like to follow the direction of the CMs to move to the end of the row and graciously attempt to avoid “accidentally” stepping on their toes. Unfortunately, in most cases this is unavoidable.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

We just returned two days ago from a magical week at the world. Yes, it was crowded & yes, it was HOT & yes, there were many, many foreign tour groups - but we encountered no problems whatsoever!!

Your experience at WDW is what you make it!

 

[MonkeyPants]

sorry to hear about the bad experience. WDW in the summer is torture IMO. The crowds, the heat, its crazy. Wasn't there so of course I dont know how I would have handled the situations.

However I have to say it always shocks me that people get upset if someone walks in a pciture they are trying to take especially if its in a main traffic area. Seriously the parks are loaded, half the time people dont even see that someone is trying to get a picture. Do they just expect the entire park to stop so they can get their phot op? I take pictures like crazy each time to go down. Heck bought a 4gb mem card and extra rechargable batteries for the last trip to ensure I didnt run out of 'film' If someone happened to walk into my shot..I just deleted the pic and took another. what am I suppoesed to do go off on a person because their kid walked in front of Devine while I was clicking off a picture?

 

[WriteDisney]

I don't know about the non-American trouble makers, but it is simply unexcusable to hit anyone like that, especially such a young girl. That really is outrageous.

 

[MonkeyPants]

I don't know about the non-American trouble makers, but it is simply unexcusable to hit anyone like that, especially such a young girl. That really is outrageous.

agreed....and curse you for starting your vacation 2 days before I start mine!!!!

 

[luvsJack]

Oh my goodness! People so need to learn a few manners!

Maybe the OP is saying that she just didn't notice this behavior coming from any Americans? Too, sometimes the culture of other countries makes the people seem very rude to us. I can't imagine anywhere that hitting a child is ok, though.

And I am pretty sure if a grown woman was to hit my daughter I would confront her too. It may not be the "right" thing to do, but it would be much better for me to confront her than dh!

A CM should have made the lady in Bug's Life move. I thought on our last visit one CM was in the theatre making sure everyone got seated and such. I guess sometimes it is hard for them to speak up too or to get their message across when they do.

OP, I hope the remainder of your trip is magical!

 

[WriteDisney]

agreed....and curse you for starting your vacation 2 days before I start mine!!!!

How about that?

Have to let Mickey know you'll be there soon!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

2 years ago some friends and I made a "girls only" trip to WDW. We were first in line to be seated at a show. The doors opened up and as we were filing in, a boy that I'd say was around 8 or 9 ran into my elbow. He was trying to push his way thru to get to one of the many empty seats. He practically mowed us down.

I look at him and say, just to be polite, "oh, I'm sorry!" Usually this evokes a like response. We, the mother that was behind us with the rest of the family, started yelling at me for hitting her son because I was in such a hurry! Yeah lady, that's why your son is here with us and the rest of your family is behind us!

She was an American.

 

[carol-lamb]

I think July is a very tough time to be at WDW.

Too many people, squished in too small of a space and add the heat to it and you'll find alot of problems.

We try to go in June and it seems more sane then.

I just posted something very similar in another thread. We just got back Monday night from a weeks visit. This was our first time going in July - we usually go in June. We are use to summer crowds and heat, but this trip seemed a little different. It was VERY crowded everyday in every park and there were tons of foreign visitors everywhere and it did seem kind of different. Not in a bad way, but weird. I remember waiting in line for Toy Story Mania and I just kind of zoned out from my family and started to really listen to all the talking going on around me and I realized that no one was speaking English. Brazilian tour groups were everywhere, but they were always well behaved and didn't bother me at all. I just wondered why they always stay together in one big group. My son and daughter have went with their marching bands over the years and they get to break up in their own group of friends. I was talking to a server at Tuskar House and she mentioned that she had served a group of around 200 Brazilians the day before and she said they stay together because most of them to not speak any English and they need their leaders to translate for them.

 

[lustergirl]

on my last trip the first week of May I went solo. Going solo leaves you extra time to notice extra things. I noticed alot of strange behavior at its best. Next time I will go with family so I have less time- ha!!

 

[cmash95]

the big thing that is keeping WDW afloat right now is foreign tourists. if it weren't for those foreigners, the parks would be empty. that's why they are making big cutbacks in the fall because they expect the parks to be empty except for the partys. and foreign tourists tend to be the rudest people I have met. THey are pushy and expect to be catered to and that they don't have to follow the rules. I have even seen them yell at cms when they were asked to move. I try to avoid the parks during july and late june because of it.

 

[exwdwcm]

i think we often have a culture clash......folks handle things differently and behave differently. heck, even dress differently- i still remember a lady wearing this crazy thong panty with white see through pants speaking in french at the world. hey, it keeps life interesting.

i hope you have a better time and sorry about the kid getting hit, that was totally wrong. I know it is tempting to start a fight, make remarks etc. But sometimes, it is better to just walk away and enjoy your vacation. in this case, i might have found a CM and reported her.

but other cases (not involving hitting a child)----saying something to the person and holding up a fist usually won't help anyways.

i hate the line cutters, toe runner-overs with strollers (i have a stroller too!) and just rude folks, but hey, they are there. if you just ignore them to the best of your ability instead of trying to drag on an 'episode' then i think you will enjoy your vacation and have more fun.

don't sweat the small stuff. i used to try and always rush out of the test track preshow to be the first into line. now i just sit back. sure, i'll wait, what an extra minute? but it is better than be pushed and shoved. and my mom had words wiht pushing kids last time that pushed us. it just got her upset and in a bad mood for the rest of the day. now i sit back and just avoid what i can and try and not sweat it. let them be miserable and rude, i refuse to sink to that level on my vacation.

 

[Clotho]

When this happens to my family of five, we politely explain that we would like to follow the direction of the CMs to move to the end of the row and graciously attempt to avoid “accidentally” stepping on their toes. Unfortunately, in most cases this is unavoidable.

Us, too!! Hey, if you stop mid-row, expect people to have to push past you, and butts get in faces, toes get stepped on...you know...in the normal course of having to move past them. You want those center seats? PAY FOR EM! Heehee

I am sorry you experienced this OP. Fact is, people of ALL nationalities are equal opportunity rude! We Americans are NOT above being thoughtless, ignorant, and irritating. But regardless, I am sorry you're having a rough time of it. At DIsney, try to learn to laugh it off. As they say, "A Bad Day in Disney is Better Than Most Good Days in the Real World!" I know it's tempting to engage them and call them on their behavior, but really, people like that just feel egged on by your ire, and will continue to be jerks. It's not worth it to spoil your day.

RE: hitting your child (or friend's child), I would have found a CM right away!

 

[penjen]

I used to try to stay out of other people's photos till I realized that they are the ones inconveniening everyone else. I don't purposely get in other's photos but I don't make a real effort to stay out of them anymore either.