new blog: A Theme Park Pet Peeve

[pdarrah]

~LOL. I totally agree with this. The OP's pet peeve is not what I expected at all -- he must get mad everyday because people do that everywhere!

~The OP is a fabulous writer but perhaps he should find a new pet peeve, because this one is just not worth the stress! Save your energy for the line cutters, flash photo offenders and people who take pictures and block everyone's view with giant ipads!

Sorry, but this is one of my DH's TOP peeves. Yes, it happens everywhere but it is practically endemic at WDW. We have actually timed this once or twice when it was particularly bad. Once was a family with 4 kids, mom, dad & grandparents. First - I'm not sure why you drag 8 people through the line, but then when they got to the podium, they looked at the menu for the very first time. One of them was reading it out-loud to the smallest kid. There were debates about who was having what. The whole mess took over 7 minutes AFTER I started timing it! It was unreal.

I think what is so annoying about this one, is that the people who do this are just standing there, in line, waiting and it would be so very easy for them to just decide what they want to eat during that time. Many of the other annoyances (stopping suddenly in the middle of the walkway, taking photos with the ipad, etc.) are instant decisions - BAD decisions, but probably made at the spur of the moment and not thought out. Standing in line for 10-15 minutes and not bothering to decide what you want to order is a totally different level of stupid & annoying.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I thought it was going to be about the lack of air-conditioned attractions at AK.

I was thinking along those same lines!!!

...but, OP, if that is ALL you have to worry about during your Magical day, you are pretty blessed!

Btw, you can usually predict the behavior of others around you by just watching and assessing the situation before you act.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Aside from the stuff mentioned, I would go with people using flash photography on rides and/or recording the entire ride.

I was on Pirates of the Caribbean one time and a guy in the front row recorded everything with his iPad. Guess they don't realize that it's a dark ride and their video is going to look terrible. Then you have the rides where people insist on using the flash on their camera over and over.

Pirates is the worst for that. I actually got to do Pirates with no flash photography or camera lighting on our last trip. It was the first time in...I can't remember how long, that's how long it's been since I've been able to experience that attraction without some...person spoiling it with their...inappropriate flash photography.

So yeah, flash photography or lighting when prohibited is my biggest pet peeve.

 

[SpringSprite]

OK, so as the dad of a little guy who loves to ride my shoulders, I'll bite.

What should we do with our kids who have stood with us for over an hour to watch the fireworks/castle show?

We've been stuck in areas where it is just rows of people and its imposable for the little guys to see anything—there really is no 'front row' during wishes. I imagine no one has ever gotten down to their level once to see how enjoyable it is looking at nothing but butts and handbags all around you.

If I put him on my shoulders, at least I'm only going straight up, and that late at night he is usually slouched over the back of my head like a 35 lb hat anyway...trust me I know. But if i hold him in my arms off to the side, wouldn't he be clogging the space at eye level between me and the next guy? At any concert, sports event or show I went to has the floor seating designed offset so that you can look between the people directly in front of you.

Not trying to start a fight, but in any of these shows where people are crammed in, the kids have the worse view out of all of us. Plus, with the stampedes right after, I prefer to have him on my shoulders b/c I know he cant get separated from me.

Would it be better for you if I had him on my shoulders before the show started, so that you could recognize that its not a good place for you to stand?

Trust me, after a long hot day of park trekking, do I want to add another heavy, moist, sticky ice cream fingers in my hair, heatmeizer to my shoulders? NO, but I do it b/c i'm there for my kids to enjoy the event as much as I am.

We (myself included) forget what the world is like for a 3 footer a lot of the time. A great example of this is how USA Hockey recently did an experiment at an adult tournament and "upsized" the rink and nets to give the players the feeling of being an 8-year old hockey player and the challenges they face on a full rink. Very fun video

You bring up a very good point about the little ones enjoying the parade / fireworks. I'm sure it would be better for some to have him on your shoulders in advance, so they could decide whether or not that would be a good place to stand....but doing that for an hour plus would be torture. Maybe you could tape a sign on your back, advertising your intent...

Your post illustrates to me what I find a little disturbing about these pet peeve threads (and I am not immune to it either, so please don't flame me too hard...) People are often complaining about something someone else does because it takes away from THEIR enjoyment / necessity in some way, but fail to notice that the offender might be doing something for their own enjoyment, and not deliberately to tick everyone off, or just cause they are a total inconsiderate a$$. I'm not saying that really clearly, but do you know what I mean?

Not talking about things like kids touching food or some other examples. But to play devils' advocate...maybe the person who doesn't decide what they want to eat until they get to the menu board can't see it from farther away. Maybe the person who stopped abruptly in front of you in a stroller had a kid who suddenly slammed their foot down on the wheel, stopping it themselves (my kids used to make me NUTS doing that). That kind of thing...

That being said, I hate when people have a mini meeting in the middle of walkways / doorways, but I guess I should take my own advice and realize there might be a really good reason

As far as the whole parade / fireworks viewing thing, crowd behavior tends to stress me out, so if we try for them at all, I will definitely utilize FP!!!

 

[glvsav37]

Maybe you could tape a sign on your back, advertising your intent...

Its funny you say that b/c years ago, after an altercation/disagreement so to say at a rock concert with a gentleman behind me who didn't like the fact that I was standing during a concert, I had a shirt printed up with this on the back:

WARNING
I reserve the right
to stand at this concert
if that is a problem, then
please have me moved
closer to the stage.

I'd wear it to every concert after that and go so many funny compliments on it from other concert goers.

Maybe I need ot make a new "WDW Shoulder Sitter" Tee

 

[MaryKatesMom]

What an odd thing to get upset about. The indecision of the people in front of you probably cost you, at most, 45 seconds to a minute. It only seems longer since you were hungry (or needed something to write about).

This is also my pet peeve! I'm cruising along at a pretty fast speed walk, pushing 50 lbs of stroller, and then have to stop on a dime when the group in front of me stops suddenly in the middle of the path....

That was going to be my response exactly! Those double stroller are heavy when full and do not have air brakes.

First week many years ago the first couple of days my arms ached from either someone stopping dead or cutting in front of me and having to yank it to a stop. After a couple of days if you want to put your ankle in front of a moving stroller, you do so at your own risk and all I have to say is "Careful" when you blame me for your mistake.

 

[elaw]

When people stop right in the middle of a crowded walkway to look at a map or whatever! Step to the side people! Are you not aware of the throngs of folks behind you???

One of my top 3

 

[hockey mom]

OP I totally agree with you. Nothing worse than standing in a long line only to have the people in front of me start asking their kids what they want to eat. I get in line then have my kids and hubby get closer, read the board and tell me what they want.

My pet peeve is one family member running ahead the "SCREAMING" for the others. This usually occurs right in my ear.

My new pet peeve. Posters on this forum who feel the need to put others down.
These are just "pet peeves". No one has said that they are having full blown melt downs and heading home because of them.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

OK, so as the dad of a little guy who loves to ride my shoulders, I'll bite.

What should we do with our kids who have stood with us for over an hour to watch the fireworks/castle show?

We've been stuck in areas where it is just rows of people and its imposable for the little guys to see anything—there really is no 'front row' during wishes. I imagine no one has ever gotten down to their level once to see how enjoyable it is looking at nothing but butts and handbags all around you.

If I put him on my shoulders, at least I'm only going straight up, and that late at night he is usually slouched over the back of my head like a 35 lb hat anyway...trust me I know. But if i hold him in my arms off to the side, wouldn't he be clogging the space at eye level between me and the next guy? At any concert, sports event or show I went to has the floor seating designed offset so that you can look between the people directly in front of you.

Not trying to start a fight, but in any of these shows where people are crammed in, the kids have the worse view out of all of us. Plus, with the stampedes right after, I prefer to have him on my shoulders b/c I know he cant get separated from me.

Would it be better for you if I had him on my shoulders before the show started, so that you could recognize that its not a good place for you to stand?

Trust me, after a long hot day of park trekking, do I want to add another heavy, moist, sticky ice cream fingers in my hair, heatmeizer to my shoulders? NO, but I do it b/c i'm there for my kids to enjoy the event as much as I am.

We (myself included) forget what the world is like for a 3 footer a lot of the time. A great example of this is how USA Hockey recently did an experiment at an adult tournament and "upsized" the rink and nets to give the players the feeling of being an 8-year old hockey player and the challenges they face on a full rink. Very fun video

What should you do????

Put your little one high up on your shoulders and you both enjoy!!!!

Now if only DH would lift his petite DW on his shoulders....

 

[SpringSprite]

Maybe I need ot make a new "WDW Shoulder Sitter" Tee

 

[jamelynn24]

My first response to this was FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY!! If anything can ruin an attraction, it's the paparazzi in the boat behind you.

But I have one that no one has mentioned yet....how about the groups of people that gather at the FP entrance at 3:58 when their FP's are at 4:00?? It happened to us several times on our April trip. One example was at Splash Mountain where a family of 6 were literally blocking the FP entrance, waiting to bolt through the turnstile when their time came available. There were about 10 of us lines up behind them, trying to make our way through to the FP entrance.

 

[Seeker615]

I think mine is the constant need for people to still be tied to their phone/Ipad...etc...

Why the need to update your Facebook or check your emails or talk on the phone? You are on vacation. i guess it really bothers me when there are kids clamoring for attention and parents are nose down on their gadgets. I know once in awhile you don't have a choice...but still pay attention to where you are and enjoy!

 

[hockey mom]

Oh ya people on their cell phones is DH's pet peeve. He can't believe they would sooner do that then witness their children in this magical setting.

 

[shepd]

Its funny you say that b/c years ago, after an altercation/disagreement so to say at a rock concert with a gentleman behind me who didn't like the fact that I was standing during a concert, I had a shirt printed up with this on the back:

Why wouldn't you just buy tickets for the standing area? Most concerts I've ever been to have such an area. Otherwise, you're very rude. My wife has spina bifida and her disability requires her to sit. You standing in front of her ruining the concert like that is just plain nasty and if I'm there, I will ruin the concert for you on her behalf.

 

[AlexLovesCats]

Why wouldn't you just buy tickets for the standing area? Most concerts I've ever been to have such an area. Otherwise, you're very rude. My wife has spina bifida and her disability requires her to sit. You standing in front of her ruining the concert like that is just plain nasty and if I'm there, I will ruin the concert for you on her behalf.

Wow. I'm sure if they were made aware that your wife could not stand they would be respectful and sit down or move. No need to assume they are "just plain nasty". I love to stand and dance at concerts, and I cannot afford pit seats which is the standing area. However if I knew the person behind me wasn't able to stand and I was blocking their view I would absolutely be respectful of that as I assume the other poster would.

 

[glvsav37]

Why wouldn't you just buy tickets for the standing area? Most concerts I've ever been to have such an area. Otherwise, you're very rude. My wife has spina bifida and her disability requires her to sit. You standing in front of her ruining the concert like that is just plain nasty and if I'm there, I will ruin the concert for you on her behalf.

Rude? really? I was at a heavy metal concert. I can't go though my day wondering if everyone around me had a disability or condition that would make me "not" do something.

For the record, I usually do get floor seats, but i'm not always the one buying the tickets. And they also have special needs sections as well where you could get tickets.

And if you spoke to me like a gentlemen before the show started and told me your situation, I would be respectful. However, in the case of my "disagreement" was because the guy behind us physically punched my friend in the back to get him to sit down. You really want to see rude? As that ###### what rude looked like.

 

[DisneyFive]

Not much bothers me while at WDW. I don't know, I guess we go with the flow and are too busy having fun.

I'm sure we've been those people that have p'd off a few folks during our WDW trips. It wasn't intentional though! I think most of the time, people don't realize they are doing something annoying.

I'm certain that:

We stopped in the middle of main street or other places in Disney to take a photo, get our bearings, etc... It's just natural and I expect it will always happen at WDW by visitors.
I hoisted my daughter on my shoulders for the afternoon show in front of the castle our first year.

Over the years, I have read the pet peeves and are now aware of what bothers others and try to keep it to a minimum.

But hey, it happens, and it's not going to stop. I prefer to be happy!

Dan

 

[Sparkly]

If your FP+ doesn't work after a couple of tries, move aside and let others who's ones DO go through! That's what causes the massive backups in the lines. It was very irritating.

Don't suddenly duck in front of ECVs! They can't stop suddenly. And don't complain about loading a ECV on the bus first. We may have got on first, but we also got off last at our stops. And it wouldn't be safe to load it at the same time as people are getting on.

 

[wendyt_ca]

I try not to let things bother me at Disney but there are def some things that annoy me. I do agree with OP, even though it's not my biggest pet peeve it is annoying. I have actually gotten annoyed at DH for being one of those and said to him you waited in line all of this time and couldn't decide then lol.

I understand why parents put their children on their shoulders at fireworks shows, but being someone who is 5'2" it annoys me because I already struggle to see anything and then adding children on shoulders and I can't see anything. So it is annoying when I wait an hour and think I have a great view and then up goes some children. I go to Disney frequently so I don't let it bother me, but it is annoying. If I knew that they were going to do that I would stand elsewhere. Like I said I do get why they do it, but also see why it is someone's pet peeve.

My pet peeve is definetely people stopping suddenly in walkways...Anywhere not just at Disney. Please go to the side. Or large groups of people standing in the middle of a high traffic area just talking. Again go to the side.

A few people mentioned threats of taking children back to the hotel room...I will never forget on our honeymoon back in 2008 at Big Thunder there was a kid who was kind of acting up. He was holding onto the rail and swinging. The parent told him that if he didn't behave he wouldn't get any more water for the rest of the day!!! And let me point out this was the middle of June! I don't think parents should be threatening to punish children by not allowing them to have water! It was early in the day and the poor child just looked at his parents and said "but it's hot".

 

[evilqueenmindy]

When people stop right in the middle of a crowded walkway to look at a map or whatever! Step to the side people! Are you not aware of the throngs of folks behind you???

ACK! This is mine too! I've seen people fall and get hurt because the throng has to move around some clueless person with their face buried in their map! move out of traffic!!!