Mild Rant: I must be getting old and impatient

[msbiscuit]

I feel your pain! I also have to add that what makes encountering this behavior even worse is that if you have utter gall to stand up for yourself, they try to turn the tables and make you out to be the offender for doing so!

 

[jensen]

I'm right there with you OP! We can tell stories of similar experiences at every park during our last visit.

The worst was the lady who was saving a seat in the Finding Nemo theatre. She and her daughter were sitting in the second and third seats of the row. Then there were 5 more empty seats. The outside seat had their bag in it.

I walked up and said something about the empty seats. I cannot remember what I said, but it was really rude and I felt bad later.

She was so shocked... she mumbled something about saving a seat for her husband. So, my whole family climbed over her and her daughter to get to the seats inside the row. Then she kept texting someone (presumably her husband). He finally showed up just seconds before the show started.

 

[PlutoBaby]

I so have to weigh in on this "rant". I've been going to the Mouse for almost 20 years now and have watched as the prices have gone up and the manners have crashed down. In the past all you really needed to worry about was the "who's going to win the total amount of stroller bruises on the back of our legs" contest. Now it's, if I say something to some rude you know what, are they going to create a huge scene and we all end up getting asked to leave? I've found a few quality margaritas from the tequila bar in Mexico always helps deal with the rudeness, but would someone PLEASE explain to me why people find it necessary to stop dead in the middle of the walkways so people have to walk around you? Is it too much to move over to the side to point something out or look at a map, etc, especially when it's super crowded like it was this past weekend for the F&W Festival? I've never seen Epcot as crowded as it was last Saturday in all the times I've been there and I don't know how many times I almost ran up somebody's backside because they decided they had to suddenly stop RIGHT HERE. And that was even with purposely walking slow so that wouldn't happen. I avoid WDW like the plague during the summer and over Christmas break as I can't imagine how much worse it is during those times of the year.

 

[Magpie]

I'm right there with you OP! We can tell stories of similar experiences at every park during our last visit.

The worst was the lady who was saving a seat in the Finding Nemo theatre. She and her daughter were sitting in the second and third seats of the row. Then there were 5 more empty seats. The outside seat had their bag in it.

I walked up and said something about the empty seats. I cannot remember what I said, but it was really rude and I felt bad later.

She was so shocked... she mumbled something about saving a seat for her husband. So, my whole family climbed over her and her daughter to get to the seats inside the row. Then she kept texting someone (presumably her husband). He finally showed up just seconds before the show started.

She and her daughter should have stood up and moved into the aisle to let you in, and then reoccupied their three seats - that way her husband wouldn't have to climb over you if he was late. He can just slide into the last seat in the row without disturbing anyone (which I'm assuming was their plan).

That's the way it works in movie theatres and churches, in my town. Mind you, this requires some trust that you aren't going to suddenly decide to bring in several more people leaving the lady and her daughter stranded with no seats at all.

 

[Magpie]

I so have to weigh in on this "rant". I've been going to the Mouse for almost 20 years now and have watched as the prices have gone up and the manners have crashed down. In the past all you really needed to worry about was the "who's going to win the total amount of stroller bruises on the back of our legs" contest. Now it's, if I say something to some rude you know what, are they going to create a huge scene and we all end up getting asked to leave? I've found a few quality margaritas from the tequila bar in Mexico always helps deal with the rudeness, but would someone PLEASE explain to me why people find it necessary to stop dead in the middle of the walkways so people have to walk around you? Is it too much to move over to the side to point something out or look at a map, etc, especially when it's super crowded like it was this past weekend for the F&W Festival? I've never seen Epcot as crowded as it was last Saturday in all the times I've been there and I don't know how many times I almost ran up somebody's backside because they decided they had to suddenly stop RIGHT HERE. And that was even with purposely walking slow so that wouldn't happen. I avoid WDW like the plague during the summer and over Christmas break as I can't imagine how much worse it is during those times of the year.

Guilty as charged! I stop dead in my tracks sometimes when something catches my eye... Disney so full of the Shiny! My husband usually steers me away from collisions, thankfully. He's a lot more observant/less distracted. If you hear someone in Epcot shout, "Keep walking!" it's probably him.

I also sometimes come very close to tripping over short people, because I'm staring up at something above me.

I've been known to turn around suddenly or gesture and nearly whack the people behind me. I don't mean any harm, I'm just not good at judging my place in space (actually, my craptastic vision and the prisms in my lenses might have something to do with it).

I honestly try not to do this to people, but it seems to be inevitable, at least a couple times a day (especially when I go grocery shopping). I really don't know how people like you and my husband manage not to constantly bump into each other in a crowd. But I appreciate that you're watching out for the rest of us!

 

[angelbear425]

I don't believe this, actually.

I look around and I see much less bullying in my children's schools than was in mine, when I was a kid. I don't hear as many casual racial slurs. I see teenagers who are a lot less obsessed with clothes and music than we were in the 80's and a lot better informed about the real world. I pick up the newspaper and I see people bringing issues to court that would have been brushed off when I was growing up. We don't think spousal battery is hilarious any more. We don't think drinking and driving is an amusing joke. The fact that a woman works, doesn't make her fair game to be groped and harassed and kept from advancing in her job.

I think standards have gone up. We're less tolerant of behaviour that would have been laughed off 30 years ago. People are behaving better, and people who would have once upon a time been able to do whatever they pleased thanks to their status are now being called publicly to account.

Case in point, this year some rich kids teased an elderly bus monitor and made her cry. Once upon a time they would have got off scot free because they're "good boys" from "good families". But because their cruelty was exposed on YouTube, they were punished and the bus monitor ended up with enough money to retire! (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/48764...-using-donations-fight-bullying/#.UJAc4MXA-ik)

Sometimes I think we're living in a golden age.

But if there IS an increase of rudeness at Disney, I believe it simply has to do with the increased number of people in the park. Whenever large numbers of human beings are squished into a small space together, they get cranky and some of them misbehave.

I see your location is Canada.. Any time I have been in Canada people are generally more friendly and courteous. I don't know how often you visit the US (or maybe your location is wrong..), but if you come here often then you must be under a rock to not notice how much society has gone down.

 

[nanalisa]

My blood pressure has gone up just reading this thread. I have a hard time with rude people - they are everywhere. We don't even watch parades anymore, it's always a fight for real estate. We won't go back to the Wishes Dessert Party. The first time we went it was lovely and very civilized but the last time we went it was a stampede to the desserts. We stayed back and got our drinks and tooks some pictures. There was plenty of food but by the time we got to the buffet the place was destroyed. Maybe what fuels rudeness is trying to get the best bang for the buck. In my opinion, the place where people are the most rude is on the buses. I cannot stand it when a young healthy man sits while a mom stands, holding a baby and trying not to fall. Or if dad feels like he has to sit, then hold one of your kids to free up a seat. Oh poo, I'm getting old and impatient.

 

[Caseheidi]

I have to admit that I found reading this thread a little ironic. DH, DD3 and I just returned from a trip to DLR, and I remember saying to my husband that a trip to Disney always helps me remember that most people are basically good and kind and mean well. We had so many encounters with strangers that were fun and polite. And have found this to be true on all our trips over the years.
Having said this, there was one experience that irritated me by a parents sense of entitlement. We were at MHP and had waited in line to meet Eeyore and Pooh for 20+ minutes. We had just finished with Eeyore and turned to meet Pooh Bear when a mother pushed her DD (around 9) under the rope in front of us to meet with Pooh. No waiting in line, just shoved her through to be next and get the experience. We didn't say anything because it was not the child's fault her Mom was so inappropriate. It is really frustrating when people don't follow the same rules and procedures the rest of us try to follow.

 

[smidgy]

first: OP: thank you for your service, and Semper Fi!

the stopping in the miidle is esp. irritating when as other posters have stated, you purposely stayed back and bit and tried to plan "landing" somewhere towards the middle.
............................
someone mentioned the language barrier. it really is true that often they do speak english and pretend not to. a cook at the rest. where I work admitted it.. I asked how long he had to stake out a spot (in July) to get such great pictures of the parade, and he said about 10 minutes. they jsut went up by the rope, and a worker told them to move, and he pretended he didn't speak english. (he's lucky UI wasn't holding a carving knife when he told me!!!)
aarrgh!!!
.......................
about nemo.. that theater, just like beauty and the beast, is NOT a "move all the way down" type theater. the people who get there first generally do sit in the aisle seats. same with the bird show at AK. .. once we entered the bird show and the 1st row was for handicapped. the 2nd row was empty and a couple were on the aisle end of the 3rd row. so we sat on the aisle end of row 2. ....

they guy asked if we could move down so his wife could see. (I have no idea why they weren't in row 2). we replied that someone would sit there anyway. so they got up and went way up to the top of the bleachers.

some lady, during the show, was holding her toddler and plopped down on the 2 inches between hubby and the aisle, with her legs in the aisle. a CM told her to move, the aidle had to be clear. about 5 minutes, later, she was back again, giving us a dirty look for not moving...(at that point there was no where to move to)

but even at Indiana jones, they ask people to move in towards the center to make room for more people, not down towards one end. it depends on the show.

.............
I shouldn't even touch the bus issue. but I will. if you need a seat, don't get on a standing room only bus and expect someone to give up their seat for you. wait for the next bus (someof those seated may have done just that, and now want the seat they waited for.) or have a bad foot, or back or whatever.

............
we are 2 adults, usually no kids with us, but we like to enjoy the parades, illuminations, etc, too. and I agree with a PP, it was not just meant for little kids. .. we will, though, let kids in front of us, if they don't push their way, and are polite. just them, tho, not the parents.

 

[maxiesmom]

In my opinion, the place where people are the most rude is on the buses. I cannot stand it when a young healthy man sits while a mom stands, holding a baby and trying not to fall. Or if dad feels like he has to sit, then hold one of your kids to free up a seat. Oh poo, I'm getting old and impatient.

I have yet to meet the person who can accurately judge just by looking at someone else how healthy they are. I wonder how many people you see and assume should be standing are sitting with good reason.

I see this subject from the opposite end. I think it is beyond rude to get on a full bus with someone who can't stand, and expect someone else to give up their seat. If you care so little for your own family that you will put them onto a bus, why demand total strangers show more care and concern?

I know if my mom ever decides to visit WDW again we will have to have a car, or use taxis to get around. I think forcing her onto a bus, when I know there is no way she could stand, would be disrespectful and rude. And I would never put here into the position where she had to ask someone else for their seat.

 

[Magpie]

I see your location is Canada.. Any time I have been in Canada people are generally more friendly and courteous. I don't know how often you visit the US (or maybe your location is wrong..), but if you come here often then you must be under a rock to not notice how much society has gone down.

I'm a dual American/Canadian citizen with most of my family living in Mississippi. As well as many American friends.

Society has not "gone down" overall - especially if you remember the 70's when violent crime rates were considerably higher and political assassinations seemed to be happening every other month!

I will say, there are some very bad areas of the US... it's a much more populous country, and there's certainly more poverty and social stress than there is here. But overall, the Americans I've met (even the ones I'm not related to!) have been exceptionally friendly and helpful.

And you know what? On TV right this minute they're interviewing the head coach for the Toronto Raptors, an American, and he's talking about growing up in Kentucky and experiencing segregation while playing for them. They're showing archival photos of "Whites Only" signs! How can anyone say society's "gone down", when we can't ban someone from a bathroom anymore on the colour of their skin? That's a level of institutionalized rudeness that's inconceivable today.

 

[nanalisa]

I have yet to meet the person who can accurately judge just by looking at someone else how healthy they are. I wonder how many people you see and assume should be standing are sitting with good reason.

I see this subject from the opposite end. I think it is beyond rude to get on a full bus with someone who can't stand, and expect someone else to give up their seat. If you care so little for your own family that you will put them onto a bus, why demand total strangers show more care and concern?

I know if my mom ever decides to visit WDW again we will have to have a car, or use taxis to get around. I think forcing her onto a bus, when I know there is no way she could stand, would be disrespectful and rude. And I would never put here into the position where she had to ask someone else for their seat.

A person can walk around the park all day but not "well" enough to give up their seat. Come on. I just assume that if you aren't in a wheel chair or scooter, aren't using crutches or a cane and was able to climb up in the bus that you can stand for the elderly, women with children or pregnant. So if you and your family was seated on a bus and you saw an elderly woman get on the bus, you all would stay seated because she shouldn't have gotten on the bus? You can say what ever you want but that's just rude.

I am proud to say that even my 15yo granddaughter gives up her seat to anyone who might need it. I would be ashamed of my family if they didn't, but that just how we are.

 

[angelbear425]

I'm a dual American/Canadian citizen with most of my family living in Mississippi. As well as many American friends.

Society has not "gone down" overall - especially if you remember the 70's when violent crime rates were considerably higher and political assassinations seemed to be happening every other month!

I will say, there are some very bad areas of the US... it's a much more populous country, and there's certainly more poverty and social stress than there is here. But overall, the Americans I've met (even the ones I'm not related to!) have been exceptionally friendly and helpful.

And you know what? On TV right this minute they're interviewing the head coach for the Toronto Raptors, an American, and he's talking about growing up in Kentucky and experiencing segregation while playing for them. They're showing archival photos of "Whites Only" signs! How can anyone say society's "gone down", when we can't ban someone from a bathroom anymore on the colour of their skin? That's a level of institutionalized rudeness that's inconceivable today.

No, I don't remember the 70s because I am not that old. I do know that the south is a completely different story with friendly people. You need to come to the northeast if you think people are so friendly. I live in an area where people are all for themselves and if they don't like the rules they don't follow them.

Also to the PP who said the people pushed right in front of her for Winnie the Pooh, if that were me I totally would have said something. Nothing rude, but just that the line begins back there and pointed to the end.

 

[Magpie]

No, I don't remember the 70s because I am not that old. I do know that the south is a completely different story with friendly people. You need to come to the northeast if you think people are so friendly. I live in an area where people are all for themselves and if they don't like the rules they don't follow them.

Also to the PP who said the people pushed right in front of her for Winnie the Pooh, if that were me I totally would have said something. Nothing rude, but just that the line begins back there and pointed to the end.

Well, if you don't remember the 70's, then trust me when I say that things have gotten a LOT more civil since then. Actually, the 80's were pretty obnoxious, too... (Good gosh, we were a self centered and materialistic bunch!)

Mind you, I have relatives who tell me the 50's and 60's were worse... That whole cold war paranoia didn't lead to warm fuzzies for anyone. People in your community would pretend to be polite to your face, and then stab you in the back when you least expected it. Rumours and gossip abounded. The only people you could trust were family, and maybe not even them.

Anyway, I agree with your second part - if someone pushed in front of me, I'd say something, too. Politely, and assertively, and with the implication that they've just made an unfortunate mistake that anyone could have made. It's important to give people a graceful out, since they almost always get rude and defensive when backed into a corner (no matter how justified).

I used to work retail!

 

[angelbear425]

People in your community would pretend to be polite to your face, and then stab you in the back when you least expected it. Rumours and gossip abounded. The only people you could trust were family, and maybe not even them.

That's how my area still is..

 

[maxiesmom]

A person can walk around the park all day but not "well" enough to give up their seat. Come on. I just assume that if you aren't in a wheel chair or scooter, aren't using crutches or a cane and was able to climb up in the bus that you can stand for the elderly, women with children or pregnant. So if you and your family was seated on a bus and you saw an elderly woman get on the bus, you all would stay seated because she shouldn't have gotten on the bus? You can say what ever you want but that's just rude.

Actually I am a case in point on how it is possible to walk around the parks all day and still need a seat on a bus. If you have a physical problem that causes balance issues, the last thing you need to do is stand on a moving bus. I can walk around the parks all day long, and usually I can stand on a bus. But there are some days where if I tried to stand I would fall on you.

So come on! Realize you can't judge someone and their physical capabilities just by looking at them. Sometimes when you make assumptions about others, that old saying about assuming comes true.

Btw, I never said in my previous post what I would do if I saw someone who appeared to need a seat. If I could, I would get up. I've actually had family members block me from getting up when they thought I should keep my seat! However, I still think that each family needs to take care of themselves first! Care enough for your own family members that if they need a seat, YOU see to it they have one. Rent a car, use taxis to get around, or even wait for a bus that has open seating. Don't pawn off that responsibility on a bus full of people you don't know. And then say they are the rude ones.

 

[wishing4PA]

That's how my area still is..

LOL, and you're from the state I long to go back to - partly because the populace was so nice compared to other places I have lived!

OP, I'm truly sorry for the rude people you encountered on this trip.

Here's some pixie dust for your next trip!

 

[Magpie]

That's how my area still is..

Sorry to hear that...

 

[nanalisa]

Actually I am a case in point on how it is possible to walk around the parks all day and still need a seat on a bus. If you have a physical problem that causes balance issues, the last thing you need to do is stand on a moving bus. I can walk around the parks all day long, and usually I can stand on a bus. But there are some days where if I tried to stand I would fall on you.

So come on! Realize you can't judge someone and their physical capabilities just by looking at them. Sometimes when you make assumptions about others, that old saying about assuming comes true.

Btw, I never said in my previous post what I would do if I saw someone who appeared to need a seat. If I could, I would get up. I've actually had family members block me from getting up when they thought I should keep my seat! However, I still think that each family needs to take care of themselves first! Care enough for your own family members that if they need a seat, YOU see to it they have one. Rent a car, use taxis to get around, or even wait for a bus that has open seating. Don't pawn off that responsibility on a bus full of people you don't know. And then say they are the rude ones.

Before the mods shut this down I just want to say to you "whatever". I don't agree with you and I almost never do. You needn't quote the old assumption saying either. I didn't appreciate that. Where do you get off saying that I am pawning off responsibility? You can justify your actions all you want, I don't care!

Back to my original statement: If a person is able to stand and doesn't give up their seat to someone who needs it more, then I think they are discourteous. I was raised that way and I raised my children that way.

 

[maxiesmom]

Before the mods shut this down I just want to say to you "whatever". I don't agree with you and I almost never do. You needn't quote the old assumption saying either. I didn't appreciate that. Where do you get off saying that I am pawning off responsibility? You can justify your actions all you want, I don't care!

Back to my original statement: If a person is able to stand and doesn't give up their seat to someone who needs it more, then I think they are discourteous. I was raised that way and I raised my children that way.

I meant the "you" in my last paragraph to be a general "you". Not you in particular nanalisa.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. I think people should take care of their own family members and not expect strangers to do it for them. Personal responsibility is a great thing! If someone doesn't see to their own family's needs, and then expects strangers to do so for them, then they are in fact pawning off that responsibility. Which I find more offensive than someone keeping their seat on a bus. Ymmv.

None of the above should keep people from offering up their seat IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. However, EXPECTING they do so and being mad if they don't is very selfish and rude. Be grateful when someone extends you a courtesy. Not demanding of it.