Park Pet Peeves

[maxiesmom]

I want to jump into the whole child on shoulder fray with a couple memories of my own.

My last trip to WDW I found myself standing on Main Street just as the fireworks were about to start. Perfect view, nothing in the way. Wouldn't you know a little ways up from me a man walked up and put his child up onto his shoulders. I said something like "Great" or "Perfect". Out loud, but I didn't yell it or anything. The person that man was with turned and looked at me, and then said something to his friend. Within 5 seconds that child was back off of his shoulders. I honestly believe many people just don't realize they are blocking the view. They just don't give it any thought. Kind of like how some people stop in the middle of the walkway to take a picture. They are not intending to be rude, they just don't realize.

And those who do realize and don't care are just straight out jerks and it does't matter what we say here. They will continue to be jerks. You just have to deal with it and not let their jerkiness upset you too much.

My second memory is actually about my first ever trip to WDW. I was there with my sis, her hubby, and their 4yr old son. My brother in law would not rent a stroller rolleyes becuase he could carry his son up on his shoulders if he was tired. I can't tell you how many times my sister got smacked in the face in the process of my nephew being swung onto or off of his dad's shoulders. She was always in the line of fire for some reason. She would be walking along and next thing you know SMACK!, foot in the face.

Same trip, leaving the Magic Kingdom one night. My nehpew was once again on his dad's shoulders, and wouldn't you know his dad walked him right into a low hanging sign. My nephew screamed the whole way back to the resort. Poor honey. You have to watch out for those low hanging signs!

 

[hookedonears]

Wow, I just had no idea that toilet flushing was such a hot button issue. Until reading this thread, I have never honestly given a thought to how others flush the toilet. Maybe all public restrooms should be required to install automatic flushers and that would solve the problem for everyone.

On a different note, my pet peeve is when parents try to force a scared child onto a ride. If the kid is having a full on melt down, please take them out of line and don't try to make them ride. It's not going to be fun for them, you, or anyone else. It's sad when a cast member has to tell the parents to take the child off a ride.

A funny storey that a friend of mine told me a few years back. He and his wife took their son (6or7) to WDW and he was afraid to ride everything. They came to the carousel. The carousel mind you, and he was bound and determined to make him ride it. His son got on a horse good and fine and my friend thought everything was going to be okay. His son began to scream that he wanted down, so my friend held him on the horse as tight as he could and screamed at him, YOUR GOING TO RIDE IT, AND YOUR GOING TO LIKE IT. He said a woman next to him was dying laughing. I would have to, if I'd seen it. I know his son very well, who's now 13 years old. He's a perfectly normal child and an excellent baseball player. My friend refuses to go back to WDW though.

 

[origin62]

I know, that 3 foot kid has a shot to see anything over 5' or 6' adults. Disney = kids. Get over it.

My pet peeve is people like you who don't understand kids.

With a little planning and early arrival, there are plenty of places in the parks where kids can have an unobstructed view without being on Mom or Dad's shoulders.

 

[bookgirl]

I am a foot flusher...

not because I don't want germs on my hands...yes I am going to wash them right away...

It's a narrow stall, the button or handle is always behind the toliet, you can't flush with your hand without having your FACE over the bowl.

The germs from a toliet bowl even your one at home are the most active when you flush and the water swirling makes them airborne.


When you put the darn button at the front of the stall I'll stop using my foot.

 

[origin62]

I despise being in the same boat as the dimwit who thinks flash photography is OK during PoC. Seriously a HUGE pet peeve.

Another HUGE pet peeve is the person/group of people who cuts in line because they didn't want to wait or just had to do something else and their family is up ahead. I don't know why this is acceptable at Disney, but there have been quite a few times when this happens in front of CM's and nothing is done. During the slow season I'm a little more forgiving about this, but when I've waited 50 minutes for something and you're just going to walk right on up, NOT FAIR. Family up ahead or not.

Agree completely. Go to the restroom, get something to drink, park your stroller. Then, once your entire party is gathered, enter the queue together. Unfortunatley, the practice of "catching up with your family" who is ahead in the line is so rampant, I think Disney has given up trying to stop it.

 

[origin62]

my biggest pet peeve from our last trip is people blocking the FP entrance because they are waiting on their time to come up. It was really bad at Soarin - a group of 20 or so was blocking everyone else from going through

Super-annoying! Leave! Come back when it's time. How do you not see that you are in everyone else's way?

 

[origin62]

I think you should read up a little on the law.

ECVS are mobility devices and as such disabled people using them are not required to be singled out by taking some "test".

He was clearly teasing, while making an accurate observation that some scooter users are a danger to themselves and others.

 

[origin62]

No flames from me! What really bugs me are a couple of things that the ferrell children do: wreck the displays and chase the animals. I've seen kids throwing balls into the flowerbeds by the Crystal Palace, and then climb in to get it. Repeat. Repeat. The parents didn't seem to care at all. Heck they are paying a lot of money for their family to enjoy WDW, if that means wrecking a few flowers, then that is what they will do!

I also hate it people harass the wildlife. When I see that, I do say something, and I don't care where there parents are. It is not cute and it is not funny.

We recently ate at Flame Tree BBQ. The CMs give you a Pumba & Timon safety card with your food. The cards have various messages, but ours explained how dangerous it is to feed the wildlife.

As we were finishing lunch, a large family sat at the table next to us. The children (about 6 of them) immediately proceeded to harass and feed the birds around us, even though the signage clearly prohibited this.

The parents did nothing, so as we left, my grandmother handed our card to the most offensive child. At his parents prompting, he read it aloud. The Mom and Dad were incensed, and told our grandmother to mind her own business. I have never heard Gran use profanity before, but she did that day, as she explained that since they were not parenting their own children, she decided to intervene. Go Gran!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I will when it costs me money. Toilet handles are made to be flushed with the hand, and that is how much force they are constructed to withstand. When you put the force of your leg on that handle, you (the foot-flusher collective) are stressing the fixture beyond the force tolerance it was designed for, and that leads to excessive breakage.

I don't care if it is at WDW or my home town's City Hall; if I pay for admission or pay taxes to support the place, people who deliberately do things known to break plumbing fixtures deserve a certain level of harassment for it.

Is it OK with you if I use the disabled stall and sit on the wall-mounted sink because I like that better than the toilet? I mean, I'm doing it in my own stall where no one can see me. So what if the sink falls off the wall after a few of us do this, right?

LMAO! Wow seriously?

Bravo Goofyernmost, Bravo!! I really like your attitude. It's one that I strive for, but never seem to achieve completely. While some things will momentarily annoy me, I can truly say I've never had a vacation ruined by one of these 'peeves', or even a day.

At the very least, threads like these are a good way for us to let off a little steam. Or let us know that we are not alone in finding something irksome. I don't think that any of us find our 'pet peeves' to be so monumental that they come between us and the 'magic.' At least I hope so.

And to all those 'flushers' out there- I don't care how you do it as long as you do it. I just assume that everything I touch is heavily germ laden and use the soap and water wherever I can find it...... And hand sanitizer is your friend. Just sayin'

Proud foot flusher here, wanna say something....I ALWAYS flush! So thats one thing we dont have to argue about. LMAO! Seriously thou, good point and i agree. Almost every trip I come across someone incredibly rude, but guess what? I dont let it get to me. It might irk me for a little bit, but I just let it roll off my back cause im there to have a good time, not worry about what other people are doing.

really why are people so concerned about others using their feet to flush

I've asked that question so many times, but the responses still dont make sense to me.

I am a foot flusher...

not because I don't want germs on my hands...yes I am going to wash them right away...

It's a narrow stall, the button or handle is always behind the toliet, you can't flush with your hand without having your FACE over the bowl.

The germs from a toliet bowl even your one at home are the most active when you flush and the water swirling makes them airborne.

When you put the darn button at the front of the stall I'll stop using my foot.

Very good point. The face over the bowl thing really grosses me out. I open the door, flush with my foot, and make a run for it so that the toilet water droplets dont come near me. LOL

 

[goofyintoronto]

tomorrow when i get to the park, i might have to use a stall just so i can flush the toilet with my foot.

I was just going to post the same thing! I'm a foot flusher...and it's a habit I won't break...sorry! I'm also raising 2 little foot flushers (it's kind of funny to see my 3 year old do it, but she does). If everyone just used their foot to flush, no one would get any germs on their hands from the flusher!

hahahahahaha omg you guys are hilarious. LMAO! Proud foot flushers unite!!!

 

[floridagirl87]

A few things:

My parents met working at Disney 30 years ago, my mom was a special events coordinator and my dad was a food and bev. manager so they had seen it all! One thing that they had taught me from their experience is that people do stupid stuff... especially when then are on vacation. They're excited, they're not thinking, they're away from home, they don't think the rules apply to them... whatever the situation... they just do stupid stuff. I've heard countless stories of accidents, people not watching their kids, fist fights, and stuff getting caught on fire (yes, fire!). So this stupidity is not new nor is it going away anytime soon. This concept is something I have always tried to keep in mind when visiting Disney. Obviously, it's not ok for a child to be so unsupervised that get their head stuck somewhere it doesn't belong and the fire dept. has to be called (actual story from my dad when he worked at the polynesian) but that stuff is always bound to happen. When you are at a theme park with countless numbers of people, someone is going to do something outrageous or that you don't agree with. So for me personally, I just try to take that into account prior to go to one of the parks and it helps me to be less annoyed with people.

Ok, so my second point that someone just mentioned is about the toilet thing. More specifically, the spray coming up from the toilet bowl when you flush. I don't want to take a stand pro foot or pro hand... I just wanted to pass on a bit of info that a nursing school prof. shared with us last week. She told our class that studies have shown all sorts of nastiness gets passes on through the toilet bowl spray including C. diff (Clostridium difficile) and she recommended we close the lid prior to flushing. In public restrooms (especially in our hospital clinical settings) that did not have lids, she suggested we flush while standing as far back as possible (use your foot, lasso the handle with a rope, whatever you have to do to flush it). This is just a bit of info I heard and wanted to pass on... I don't have the scientific research to prove it nor will I argue with anyone who wants to dispute it. I simply just wanted to put it out there

 

[brettcw23]

A few things:

My parents met working at Disney 30 years ago, my mom was a special events coordinator and my dad was a food and bev. manager so they had seen it all! One thing that they had taught me from their experience is that people do stupid stuff... especially when then are on vacation. They're excited, they're not thinking, they're away from home, they don't think the rules apply to them... whatever the situation... they just do stupid stuff. I've heard countless stories of accidents, people not watching their kids, fist fights, and stuff getting caught on fire (yes, fire!). So this stupidity is not new nor is it going away anytime soon. This concept is something I have always tried to keep in mind when visiting Disney. Obviously, it's not ok for a child to be so unsupervised that get their head stuck somewhere it doesn't belong and the fire dept. has to be called (actual story from my dad when he worked at the polynesian) but that stuff is always bound to happen. When you are at a theme park with countless numbers of people, someone is going to do something outrageous or that you don't agree with. So for me personally, I just try to take that into account prior to go to one of the parks and it helps me to be less annoyed with people.

Ok, so my second point that someone just mentioned is about the toilet thing. More specifically, the spray coming up from the toilet bowl when you flush. I don't want to take a stand pro foot or pro hand... I just wanted to pass on a bit of info that a nursing school prof. shared with us last week. She told our class that studies have shown all sorts of nastiness gets passes on through the toilet bowl spray including C. diff (Clostridium difficile) and she recommended we close the lid prior to flushing. In public restrooms (especially in our hospital clinical settings) that did not have lids, she suggested we flush while standing as far back as possible (use your foot, lasso the handle with a rope, whatever you have to do to flush it). This is just a bit of info I heard and wanted to pass on... I don't have the scientific research to prove it nor will I argue with anyone who wants to dispute it. I simply just wanted to put it out there

I have heard similar stories. We always make sure at home to close the lid before flushing.

 

[cbeeindisney]

I totally agree with the stroller posts, people with strollers plowing through the crowds as if that's their own personal "people plow."

 

[kadesha]

This turned into a strange (and somewhat disturbing) thread. I'm really speechless on the whole toliet flushing thing. I had no idea people concerned themselves with such nonsense.

 

[LaurieN]

On a different note, my pet peeve is when parents try to force a scared child onto a ride. If the kid is having a full on melt down, please take them out of line and don't try to make them ride. It's not going to be fun for them, you, or anyone else. It's sad when a cast member has to tell the parents to take the child off a ride.

Oh that's just wrong!! Why on earth would a parent want to force their child on a ride they are clearly afraid of? I know what my boys can and can't handle, do I like that there are some rides we have to avoid? No Do I force them to ride them anyway? NO!!!

 

[TheMythicalOne]

Oh that's just wrong!! Why on earth would a parent want to force their child on a ride they are clearly afraid of? I know what my boys can and can't handle, do I like that there are some rides we have to avoid? No Do I force them to ride them anyway? NO!!!

The trip is as much for the parents as it is the kids. What should a parent do? Leave their child all alone out front and tell them to wait right there? I have a feeling a lot of folks would have a problem with that and consider it child endangerment. So what is a parent who wants to ride Space Mountain suppose to do? And don't even mention that dumb child swap thing.

 

[Jennasis]

The trip is as much for the parents as it is the kids. What should a parent do? Leave their child all alone out front and tell them to wait right there? I have a feeling a lot of folks would have a problem with that and consider it child endangerment. So what is a parent who wants to ride Space Mountain suppose to do? And don't even mention that dumb child swap thing.

Then the parent DOESN'T GET TO RIDE. But you already knew that. You're just trying to stir the pot. I get it.

My mother missed out on fireworks shows for 12 years because my little sister was afraid of them. She had to go hide in a shop with her fingers in her ears. Mom never considered forcing terrified screaming sister to watch the fireworks so MOM could get to see them. That is the height of selfishness...forcing your child to do something that scares them because parents want to do it.


On a related note, on our honeymoon we were at EMH in Epcot. It was around 11:30pm and we were walking past JIYI. A family walked past us, all adults and one 4 year old little girl who was silently weeping. Tears rolled down her face and she was clearly distraught. The little girl turned to her mom as they approached the line for the ride and said in the saddest little voice "But Mommy...I'm SO TIRED." The mom laughed to the other adults and said to her DD "Now Susie...part of learning how to be an adult is learning how to stay up late." To. A. FOUR YEAR OLD.

REALLY HAPPENED. I wished I could've drop kicked some sense into that idiot. Dragging that poor exhausted little girl around so the parents could enjoy 3 more hours in the park. SELFISH.

 

[maxiesmom]

Then the parent DOESN'T GET TO RIDE. But you already knew that. You're just trying to stir the pot. I get it.

My mother missed out on fireworks shows for 12 years because my little sister was afraid of them. She had to go hide in a shop with her fingers in her ears. Mom never considered forcing terrified screaming sister to watch the fireworks so MOM could get to see them. That is the height of selfishness...forcing your child to do something that scares them because parents want to do it.

SELFISH.

Not always. Sometimes the parent does know that a child will like the ride once they are on it.

Once years ago we were at Dollywood. They have a water ride there that is similar to Kali, but you don't get as wet. My nephew did not want to go on. He pitched a fit, and had himself in quite the state. Until he saw the little grandmas in line. It didn't take him long to realize that if an older lady could ride it unafraid, so could he.

Parents need to walk a line between not forcing their kids to do stuff and letting them not do anything because they are always afraid. Letting a child do nothing but cave into their fear isn't good parenting either.

There was a poster a while back who had a family rule that each child try a ride once, the they could skip it. I like that idea.

 

[DVC-Don]

The past trip I had to use an ECV due to achilles tendon replacement surgery. I was amazed at the people who would just step, jump or run in front of me and then glare at me as if I should not be on it. My cast is gone, but I can not walk or stand long at this time.

A couple of years ago I got run down/knocked down by a stroller at HS. Right on that same foot. I had problems before that incident, but that lady did not help my achilles.

Now that said, one trip at Epcot I saw an elderly gent on a ECV plow into a crowd of people in France. His son was running trying to catch up yelling "Dad, Dad, let go of the lever!!!"

 

[Jennasis]

Not always. Sometimes the parent does know that a child will like the ride once they are on it.

Once years ago we were at Dollywood. My they have a water ride there that is similar to Kali, but you don't get as wet. My nephew did not want to go on. He pitched a fit, and had himself in quite the state. Until he saw the little grandmas in line. It didn't take him long to realize that if an older lady could ride it unafraid, so could he.

Parents need to walk a line between not forcing their kids to do stuff and letting them not do anything because they are always afraid. Letting a child do nothing but cave into their fear isn't good parenting either.

There was a poster a while back who had a family rule that each child try a ride once, the they could skip it. I like that idea.

Absolutely. Know your kid...but if your kid is in line having a total screaming freak out, it might be wisest to take him aside until they calm. My sister, as it turned out actually felt pain in her ears at loud noises (something to do with scar tissue in her ear from the tubes she had or some such thing). Still, I can't count how many times I've been on HM with a terrified screaming kid within a few cars or in the stretching room.

Of course...maybe it's ME their really afraid of!