Opinions on Problem at Little Ones EMH

[bstnsprts]

Just back from a great trip with only one issue. My wife asked me to not say anything to the CM so I didn't, but it is still leaving a sour taste in my mouth. We attended a Little One's EMH on Wednesday and my kids loved it. DW four wanted to ride Dumbo with Stitch. I explained to her that there was a lot of kids for him to pick from, but we would come back on Friday and head straight to Dumbo and try. On Friday we ended up second in line for the first Dumbo ride. Stich was waiting to ride and when they let the kids on the ride about four preschool age kids ran up to Dumbo looking to ride, my DD being one of them. My DD is holding Stitch by one hand and another little girl is holding his other hand when the CM comes up to Stitch and Say's " we already have somebody picked out still in line to ride with you." The somebody turns out to be a 60 year old woman. Well people start booing and hissing and The CM says "Disney is for kids of all ages." Normally I would agree with this, but this is an event billed as Little Ones EMH, specifically geared for pre-school kids. My wife agreed with me but asked me not to complain.

 

[ADP]

I could understand how that would be frustrating. Did Stitch only do one ride and then get off? A good move would have been to reride with the others that were holding his hands.

 

[ReggieB]

I can see how this would be frustrating also. However, it is entirely possible there was a reason this lady was picked. Perhaps she was the adult equivalent of a make a wish kid. Just a thought, so don't be too hard on the CM's. I think you would feel pretty awful if you thought you had just booed a terminally ill lady. I think your wife was right to tell you to let it go.

 

[pezpam]

I agree with Reggie. In this particular case - at a time specifically geared for little kids - there was probably a good reason the CM 'picked' an adult to ride with Stitch. Better to be charitable and just let it go.

 

[curiouser]

I agree with the above posters. What if that poor woman was dying from cancer? What if she was your terminally ill mother and people are booing and hissing at her because they think their kids who have their whole lives ahead of them are more deserving than she?

I say shame on those parents who booed and hissed. What a horrible example to be teaching for children. Little Ones EMH or no, elders should be respected and I'm sure the CM had a very good reason.

 

[twinspluscade]

Just back from a great trip with only one issue. My wife asked me to not say anything to the CM so I didn't, but it is still leaving a sour taste in my mouth. We attended a Little One's EMH on Wednesday and my kids loved it. DW four wanted to ride Dumbo with Stitch. I explained to her that there was a lot of kids for him to pick from, but we would come back on Friday and head straight to Dumbo and try. On Friday we ended up second in line for the first Dumbo ride. Stich was waiting to ride and when they let the kids on the ride about four preschool age kids ran up to Dumbo looking to ride, my DW being one of them. My DW is holding Stitch by one hand and another little girl is holding his other hand when the CM comes up to Stitch and Say's " we already have somebody picked out still in line to ride with you." The somebody turns out to be a 60 year old woman. Well people start booing and hissing and The CM says "Disney is for kids of all ages." Normally I would agree with this, but this is an event billed as Little Ones EMH, specifically geared for pre-school kids. My wife agreed with me but asked me not to complain.

Somebody else (maybe a week ago?) also posted about an older lady (in her 50s or so) riding with Stitch during the little ones magic hour. According to that poster, the lady was first in line and asked the CM, "Can I ride with Stitch?!"--and they let her. Not sure if this was the same lady or not??
Any other time I do think that WDW is for "kids of any ages"--and I LOVE to see adults interact with the characters--but considering it was billed as something for kids, I think it was a bit unfair.

Kelly

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Sounds like fun to get to ride with a character - if you are the one chosen. I think it just sets up eveyone else for disappointment when they don't get chosen. I agree, you don't know what the circumstances were that led to this woman being picked. If there weren't any special circumstances, then I think she should be ashamed to ride with stitch when there were lots of little ones around during Little Ones EMH looking to ride with stitch.

 

[Tiffer]

My intitial reaction ws to agree w/ OP, but then I read the post that what if she had cancer. Ithinkwe are all quick to judge. I would let it go.

Also, O/T, but isn't DW, Disney Wife? So OP who is your 4 yr old DW? Sorry..I'm dense...

 

[outlander]

Shame on people for boo-hissing! What a terrible example for parents to set for their 'little ones'! No, I do not think you should complain. That is just another bad example to set: ...don't get your way....complain.
I'm sure there was a good reason that this woman was chosen but you know what, even if there wasn't, it shouldn't matter. There were plenty of people, 'little ones' included, that did not get to ride rides with characters. Does that mean they should complain? Ridiculous.

 

[cleo]

My first thought was, there was probably a very good reason for the CM to do something like that, which seems a bit out of character. While I don't think it's fair to go after a CM in a 'complaining' way, I think it would have been fair to ask the question. Nicely, of course. I'm guessing they would have told you their reason and it may have been something that would have left you feeling much better about it. If not, you'd have good reason to take the issue a bit further, given the fact it was Little Ones EMH and there were little ones already holding Stitch's hands.

 

[bstnsprts]

Also, O/T, but isn't DW, Disney Wife? So OP who is your 4 yr old DW? Sorry..I'm dense...

Sorry, typo, edited

Cleo, other people did question the CM who replied, "Disney is for kids of all ages." That's when the booing started.

 

[bstnsprts]

I'm sure there was a good reason that this woman was chosen but you know what, even if there wasn't, it shouldn't matter. There were plenty of people, 'little ones' included, that did not get to ride rides with characters. Does that mean they should complain? Ridiculous.

The point was that a "little one" was not chosen, seeing that this happened during the little ones hour. Didn't matter which little one was chosen, just that it should have been a "little one." I want to make sure that this is perfectly clear. The issue is not that my DD was not picked, it's that an adult was chosen over kids during a Little Ones EMH.

 

[johnvree]

Agree this would be frustrating and the CM probably could have handled it better by allowing the children the next ride with Stitch.

Too bad people boo'ed and hissed. Not a good example and not very Disney-like.

 

[Wishes]

First let me say I agree it should be little children who get picked during these special times but . . . what if there was only room for one other child to ride with Stitch but as you stated two little ones hands were holding Stitch's hands. Which one should the CM choose? Maybe this CM has had to deal with disappointed little ones crying because they didn't get picked so often that they just decided to choose an adult so none of the children were competing with each other. It would be sad if this is what they were doing - my kids and my husband and I were chosen to ride with Brer Bear and Brer Fox on Splash Mountain one trip and it is a memory we will treasure forever. I'm so sorry to the poster who's little girl came so close and wasn't chosen.

 

[outlander]

The point was that a "little one" was not chosen, seeing that this happened during the little ones hour. Didn't matter which little one was chosen, just that it should have been a "little one." I want to make sure that this is perfectly clear. The issue is not that my DD was not picked, it's that an adult was chosen over kids during a Little Ones EMH.

I know it's frustrating and I understand your point but I just don't think it is worth getting worked up over to the point of complaining. You already said that your kids had a great time and that is what matters. My point is, we are all going to have disappointments and the kids don't understand why one person, of any age, gets picked over another. It's only when the parents get upset and start making a big deal that it becomes an issue.

 

[pezpam]

Cleo, other people did question the CM who replied, "Disney is for kids of all ages." That's when the booing started.

On the other side, I can't imagine the response being "This woman is dying of XYZ and we thought it would be nice to do this for her." That feels like such an invasion of privacy and wouldn't be any of my business even if I asked. No matter the reason for the choice, I doubt the CM woke up that day and spent breakfast figuring out how to upset kids during their extra hour. IMHO, no matter why she was chosen, it's better for my trip and blood pressure and example for my child to assume the best and let it go. Shame on those who booed or hissed. Maybe Disney could use a Time-Out Bench for adults.

 

[cleo]

I certainly wouldn't shout the question out! But I'd bet if you took a CM aside quietly and nicely explained your disappointment, you may have been given a brief explaination that would have set your mind at ease. There are ways to do things and ways to say things that address a concern and subsequently bring forth an answer that makes things clear without giving away private information.

The CM was right not to shout out personal information to everyone present. But they're also pretty good at saying just enough to make sure your concerns are addressed, especially if you ask in a respectful, tasteful manner. I think that would have been a better idea than booing someone who might just have more reason to need a magical moment than those around them might guess.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Folks, you were in WDW with your kids. In the grand scheme of things, is this really THAT big of a deal?

 

[madfordonald]

I don't like playing the "what if" game. What if she was dying of cancer, you ask? Well, what if she was just a cornflake who wanted to ruin a childs day by taking something they desired away from them by cooking up some cancer story? Sounds ridiculous, right? You don't know her situation we only know the OP situation and I agree that I'd be pee'd off by it. I believe (as much of a Disney Lover that I am) that if it came down to me and my supposed illness and a childs happiness I'd let Stitch ride with the child. I'm an adult and I'm supposed to take the high road and not snatch a character away that obviously already had children in hand.
I agree that booing and hissing was uncalled for, what was that going to solve? I also, think the fair thing to do would of been to have the children off to the side for a ride after the lady.
Sorry if this sounds harsh but why is it we always automatically assume someone is dying and that's why they got their way?

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I agree with the above posters. What if that poor woman was dying from cancer? What if she was your terminally ill mother and people are booing and hissing at her because they think their kids who have their whole lives ahead of them are more deserving than she?

I say shame on those parents who booed and hissed. What a horrible example to be teaching for children. Little Ones EMH or no, elders should be respected and I'm sure the CM had a very good reason.

I completely agree.

When there are tons of little kids, it just makes sense anyway...if they had chosen another child, we'd be reading about how unfair it was that they picked one kid over another.

I'd think the kids would be happy being able to be on the same ride as Stitch...how fun that must have been! Instead of focusing on what you didn't get, think of what you did.

NED