Massive litter in the hub following 4th fireworks

[DisneyQueen1320]

 

[AngiTN]

When I was a carney I'd see events after everyone left a lot. Many of the music festivals just looked like a landfill afterwards. When I was in college, you could get paid $15/hr to clean up the stadium or arena after a game. They actually used leaf blowers there was so much stuff left behind. They'd blow it into big piles and use shovels to put it into bins.

As far as people not caring any more, caring about litter is actually a pretty new concept over the last ~50ish years. Unfortunately the vast majority of people put themselves first, to the point that a minor inconvenience to them is far more important than a major inconvenience to others, part of being human.

True but I'd dare say that because it's been 50ish years now the vast majority in the parks today know nothing but caring about litter. They don't need to be retrained, they have come up (Southern for been raised) with an emphasis on throwing your crap away, not down.
So there is no excuse for the trend to treat outdoor venues like giant garbage bins. The funny part is typically these same folks don't do it elsewhere, like at a park or their own yard
But put them in a venue like a stadium or an outdoor concert and they loose all sense of politeness

 

[Disneylover99]

Truly disgusting. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Litter like this, makes me so mad.
I guess it just takes a few people throwing their garbage on the ground before herd mentality kicks in.

We were at Epcot New Year's Eve and we stayed til about 1:30am. We didn't see much litter on the ground as we were leaving. Maybe we were just too tired to notice.

 

[Hikergirl]

This isn't exclusive to WDW, this happens everywhere a crowd is. Ever go to a concert, sporting event, movie theater? Check the floor when its time to leave. Look at the side of the road when you are at a red light, watch the person in the car in front of you toss their cigarette out of their window. There are pigs everywhere and they visit WDW, its not like they are suddenly going to change because they are there.

 

[lchuck]

I don't think it's so much that people don't care about litter (although there is definitely some of that). For some, I think it's a sense of entitlement that comes along with the cost of a ticket into Disney. It's along the same vein as the people who cut into lines in rides and restaurants, those who plow their way through crowds, and those who demand that every moment of their visit be "magical".

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not excusing this in the slightest but is it possible that it was so crowded and jam-packed in like sardines that they couldn't stroll over to a garbage can? Maybe they were more worried about getting out of the crush of people without getting trampled.

 

[Disneylover99]

This isn't exclusive to WDW, this happens everywhere a crowd is. Ever go to a concert, sporting event, movie theater? Check the floor when its time to leave. Look at the side of the road when you are at a red light, watch the person in the car in front of you toss their cigarette out of their window. There are pigs everywhere and they visit WDW, its not like they are suddenly going to change because they are there.

Despite recent complaints about unclean washrooms, WDW still has an overall reputation as a clean place. I don't see litter on the ground when I walk around any of the parks. I think that pigs do change their littering behaviours (for the most part) when they are there.

 

[yulilin3]

Not excusing this in the slightest but is it possible that it was so crowded and jam-packed in like sardines that they couldn't stroll over to a garbage can? Maybe they were more worried about getting out of the crush of people without getting trampled.

I have been in shoulder to shoulder situations at Disney but if I have anything that is trash I hold on to it, or place it on the floor next to me, then pick it up and throw it away on my way out. Depending on how close to the entrance/exit you are, you will probably walk by at least 6 trash cans, there is no excuse for leaving anything on the ground

 

[bettybooplove]

Not excusing this in the slightest but is it possible that it was so crowded and jam-packed in like sardines that they couldn't stroll over to a garbage can? Maybe they were more worried about getting out of the crush of people without getting trampled.

This is why I was surprised it wasn't worse. When I saw the word "massive" I thought the entire street would be covered in ankle-deep trash.

People should still throw their garbage away, of course, but during a crowded holiday it isn't shocking that they were probably more focused on staying with their group and maneuvering the crowds.

You also have to remember that some people camp out for hours for special fireworks.

 

[FastPasser.]

if I have anything that is trash I hold on to it, or place it on the floor next to me, then pick it up and throw it away on my way out.

Exactly, and custodial doesn't really have an issue if it's a can or empty drink cup etc, it's easy to pick up, but when it's food smooshed on the ground or floor, spilled drinks or pop corn, that's a totally different story. And don't get me started on throwing chewing gum on the walkways or sticking it to something, disgusting.

 

[yulilin3]

Exactly, and custodial doesn't really have an issue if it's a can or empty drink cup etc, it's easy to pick up, but when it's food smooshed on the ground or floor, spilled drinks or pop corn, that's a totally different story. And don't get me started on throwing chewing gum on the walkways or sticking it to something, disgusting.

or stickers, I have seen so many stickers that people place on garbage cans, on poles, on walls, those are hard to take off.

 

[ShellieMimi]

They had a tour group sitting in the middle of Main Street and completely blocking it to traffic on 7/3. Not sure about 7/4. CMs did not move them, for whatever reason. I have to wonder if people just got frustrated and gave up trying to find a trash can.

https://twitter.com/WDWNT/status/882055050352357380

 

[ArwenMarie]

I have been in shoulder to shoulder situations at Disney but if I have anything that is trash I hold on to it, or place it on the floor next to me, then pick it up and throw it away on my way out. Depending on how close to the entrance/exit you are, you will probably walk by at least 6 trash cans, there is no excuse for leaving anything on the ground

Sure, one should do that. But I think when you are that closely packed like sardines and perhaps worried about safely exiting, caring about leaving a cup on the ground takes a low priority. Especially if you are worried about small children.

This is why I was surprised it wasn't worse. When I saw the word "massive" I thought the entire street would be covered in ankle-deep trash.

People should still throw their garbage away, of course, but during a crowded holiday it isn't shocking that they were probably more focused on staying with their group and maneuvering the crowds.

You also have to remember that some people camp out for hours for special fireworks.

Right survival through the crowds and safely maneuvering takes precedence. Especially if you have small children or other members of your party who need help. You only have two hands

 

[Hikergirl]

Despite recent complaints about unclean washrooms, WDW still has an overall reputation as a clean place. I don't see litter on the ground when I walk around any of the parks. I think that pigs do change their littering behaviours (for the most part) when they are there.

WDW is clean because CM's clean up after the pigs, its not clean because people there don't litter. You don't see it because they are doing their jobs so well.

While you personally haven't seen litter on the ground doesn't mean there aren't plenty of guests who have, including myself. Luckily though CM's are pretty quick to clean it up.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

True but I'd dare say that because it's been 50ish years now the vast majority in the parks today know nothing but caring about litter. They don't need to be retrained, they have come up with an emphasis on throwing your crap away, not down.
So there is no excuse for the trend to treat outdoor venues like giant garbage bins. The funny part is typically these same folks don't do it elsewhere, like at a park or their own yard
But put them in a venue like a stadium or an outdoor concert and they loose all sense of politeness

I agree with you. The worst mess I've seen in recent years was on the National Mall after a pro-environment rally... ...

 

[melanielll]

I don't believe that you can say that people throwing trash on the ground are doing it because they are concerned about getting their kids safely through the park. The trash makes walking around less safe. Especially at night.

And yes - the litterers could only have one arm, suffer from a learning disability, be from a culture that celebrates littering and be blind in one eye - but in general I am going with Occam on this one.

 

[SimonSez]

I don't know what's wrong with people anymore Seems society just keeps getting worse with each passing year. I didn't want to go the cynical route...okay I went there because I am cynical but still On a side note, if someone said I had a chance to go to Disney but it had to be on the 4th of July, I'd pass. No offense to those who choose that time for their trip, I can understand that. Just not my cuppa

 

[princesspiglet]

My DH and I had a party at our house yesterday for the holiday. I made an announcement at the beginning to everyone there: "If I see one piece of trash laying around that is not in the garbage can where it belongs, I will make every single one of you get out of the pool and pick it up to throw it away". That solved the problem for us! The kids threw everything away in the garbage can and I made sure to thank them at the end of the party for being courteous and considerate. It starts at home folks.

 

[b2k1121]

This is why I was surprised it wasn't worse. When I saw the word "massive" I thought the entire street would be covered in ankle-deep trash.

People should still throw their garbage away, of course, but during a crowded holiday it isn't shocking that they were probably more focused on staying with their group and maneuvering the crowds.

You also have to remember that some people camp out for hours for special fireworks.

It shouldn't take much focus to hold on to your trash until you see a garbage can. Even if it's crowded, holding a cup in your hand til you get to the front of the park shouldn't take any extra effort at all.

 

[bettybooplove]

Trash...is...dangerous?

You're more likely to be injured by an inexperienced person riding a scooter or a double wide stroller than an empty bag of Cheetos, but okay.