pet peeves

[soluc]

Is it just me or am I just too damn happy to be at WDW that I don't let anything bother me. Well except my kids at times.

Hahaha, I agree!

 

[jennipooh]

I absolutely love Disney World. If I didn't then I wouldn't choose it as my favorite vacation destination. I am a single mom and I love to travel. DS is 9 and we travel several times a year to various destinations. We feel the most comfortable, safest, and happiest while at Disney World. It really is beginning to feel like another home to us. That does not mean that we will not witness something rude, uncomfortable, or just plain crazy while we are at Disney World. It does not mean that we will both be 100% happy 100% of the time nor will the people around us. That having been said...

Here is my favorite:

When you have been sitting waiting patiently for a parade spot for 1/2 hour or more in the heat with your 3 year old little guy, (so he can get a great view of the parade) and right before the parade starts a huge family piles in and pushes their kids in front of you and your child just so they can see the parade better. And then gets mad at you because you didn't move over to accommodate them or out of their way for them to get MORE people into your spot.

I have seen this addressed many times here. I must confess, ds has never been into waiting for a parade. When he was very small we showed up a few minutes before and looked for a spot. Here is where my guilty conscience comes into play... we always found one...ALWAYS due to the kindness of strangers who see just the two of us looking for a spot and they make room for us. They'll motion us over, it's so sweet. Not just one family, but families will work together, happily to make room for my little guy. DS makes friends, I make friends. It's very nice. Now we seem to play the parades by ear, if we happen upon one and there is room then we watch, if it is too crowded, then we move on. It is through the generosity of strangers that we have had so many wonderful viewings at parades and met some neat people. We would never push our way through or park ourselves in front of others. If the parades and shows are that important to you then you should show up very early. How could people who show up at the last minute (like we do) be so bold as to think they have the right to push their way up front. That's craziness!!! Anyway, I hope that no one ever perceives us as rude - parades just aren't as important to us. We do enjoy them on occassion - but not enough to wait for more than 20 minutes and certainly not enough to climb over other people just because we feel entitled!

I thought we were having fun and cutting up
No place on earth is perfect and its fun to take a fun look at ourselves and what bugs us

Also, there have been several studies that indicate that people who don't complain or vent are at a greater risk for depression. Complaining can actually be cathartic and it is a healthy way to let out your negative feelings, rather than keeping them bottled up inside where they can breed. Plus complaining just feels good!

Mine is saving tables at CS restaurants while a family member waits in a long line for the food. It always seems there's be enough tables for people who actually have their food in hand if so many others weren't snagging tables before they need them. I've had empty handed people rush to grab a table before I could get to it while I've been carrying an overflowing tray and trying to wrangle two small children. Most of the time we'd be done eating by the time they got their food anyway.

As I have mentioned, I am a single mom so most of the time at Disney it is just me and my son. Even at the happiest (and probably safest) place on earth I do not feel comfortable letting him out of my sight to save a table or for any other reason. How unfair I feel it is that we have to walk around with food and look at family after family just saving tables. It is really inconsiderate to those of us without the luxury of splitting our family up. Besides, the wait in line can sometimes take as long as the time it does to eat. Why then must you sit there taking up a table meant for eating while another family could be using it. So your family is somehow entitled to twice the table useage? Again, I feel that it is very inconsiderate. This past Dec. I encountered a family doing this and they are what really pushed my hard feelings on the topic to the limit. They were saving 3 tables at Cosmic Rays (well, turns out 4!). They were a large extended family, obviously, and I guess they really didn't want to split up. I could kind of understand them grabbing tables together -if they didn't turn out to be so obnoxious. It was back in the corner, right by the terrace. Well, just beside one of their tables was another empty table. This one just for 2..PERFECT! We had been walking all around the restaurant for atleast 5-10 minutes (it felt like forever - looked at tons of people sitting without food!!!!). Well, I spotted that little 2 seat table and headed for it, before I spotted the family, actually, and I must have had tunnel vision because all I could see was a place for us to finally have our dinner. As soon as we sat down I heard a large grunt. Then one of the moms said "who was supposed to be sitting there?" "who was saving that table?" then she starts saying some kids name then she starts cussing. Then their food arrives, "where is so and so going to sit, now" more cussing, more blaming. Well, they never said anything to us and I kept trying to distract ds with me talking about random nonsense topics so he wouldn't hear them (he probably thought I was losing it!). Their whole meal was filled with yelling and cussing at the kids over sharing, not sharing, eating, not eating, sitting still, shutting up, etc. I was so uncomfortable the whole time, but there was just no place else to go!!! We are slow eaters, but I tried to rush through the meal and did not finish my chicken When we went outside, ds said "what was up with that family that yelled the whole time?"

Parents screaming and yelling at their kids right in front of the whole park. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.. walk away from the crowd and then disapline your child in a proper mannor!

 

[BenA81]

I look at it like this ... the great spirit of Disney/Walt whatever you want to call it.... puts ECV's and slow peeps in the park for a reason!
Its the whole can't see the forest through the trees mentality!
I see so many peeps rushing through the park to get from point A to point B ... all that happens for those peeps is they tire themselves and their families out and frustrate themselves.

Disney is not set up like other theme parks. The rides are very old and outdated and still the lines are long for a reason. Disney is popular due to the details and workmanship that goes into it. The subtle themes and the fact you can go into the park a 100 times and still find something new.
I think those slower peeps are angels in disguise forcing us to stop and smell the roses, notice some new and cool detail and to give us a break so we don't tire ourselves out. It also gives a few seconds of second chances to those who might be missing the pixie dust

In actuality, I'm not bothered by ECVs at all. I was just causin' trouble.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We really try to leave our frustrations behind when we are at WDW. We lived in Los Angeles up until last May. We are used to crowds, traffic, rude people, etc. So it was so important for us to relax and enjoy things while at WDW. Now that we live in peaceful Kansas, maybe things will bother us more. I hope not! But I guess my biggest pet peeve is to see really rude behavior. Why people feel the need to push and shove to get on a ride, or knock down a child to get a character autograph is beyond me. Come on, people! You are in a theme park! Lighten up!

 

[LadyGracey]

I really try not to let stuff like this bother me when I'm there, I guess you become immune to it after a while, but I just gotta share:

This weekend my friend and I wanted to see SpectroMagic; neither of us had seen it in a long time, and my friend is from out-of-state and doesn't get to come very often. So we staked out a spot in Liberty Square a while before the parade, standing along one of the fences behind some bushes near the Liberty Bell, and no one else was really around us because it wasn't really a close spot. Of course when the parade starts EVERYONE wants to stop and see, which is fine. So there ends up being this *teeny* space between me and the people next to me (and when I mean teeny, I mean like 4 inches!) And this father comes up behind us and encourages his child not just to edge between us to the front, but to PUSH and SHOVE and PULL on our clothing to get us to move! It was not the child doing it of his own accord, the parent was going "Make them move over." Now, I would've tried to make room gladly had that father asked me to and not been so blatantly rude, but I am loathe to give up my space when people are acting like this. THEN once he'd wedged his way into the spot, he picks his child up and stands him on top of the fence (which is so unsafe, it makes me cringe!) so now the kid is blocking not just my view and the people next to me, but ALL the way down the fence due to the angle of where we were standing in relation to the parade. OHHHHH I wanted to say something, but I kept my mouth shut....

No flames please...I know I get to go often and I consider it a perk of living close by...and under normal circumstances I am very accommodating and nice to people who are visiting from far away and have given up parade space to little ones and families many times...but I have a very low tolerance for rudeness and entitlement, especially in my happy place! As my grandma says, "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."

It is good to vent--as long as we don't let the negativity ruin our trips I guess we are all nice people here and that's why it bugs us!

 

[ohana*stitchy*tink85]

I look at it like this ... the great spirit of Disney/Walt whatever you want to call it.... puts ECV's and slow peeps in the park for a reason!
Its the whole can't see the forest through the trees mentality!
I see so many peeps rushing through the park to get from point A to point B ... all that happens for those peeps is they tire themselves and their families out and frustrate themselves.

Disney is not set up like other theme parks. The rides are very old and outdated and still the lines are long for a reason. Disney is popular due to the details and workmanship that goes into it. The subtle themes and the fact you can go into the park a 100 times and still find something new.
I think those slower peeps are angels in disguise forcing us to stop and smell the roses, notice some new and cool detail and to give us a break so we don't tire ourselves out. It also gives a few seconds of second chances to those who might be missing the pixie dust

I can get all the pixie dust in the world round disney & take in all the things it has to offer, BUT i can do it at a NORMAL pace!!!!!! Slow movin people bug me, but then again so do peole who stop, fumble around thier giant bag, grab out an SLR camera nad start settin up for a series of shots! do what I do people walk and snap, hav ur camera ready & remember while yes its nice to make memories you are not the only one in the park!!!!!!!!

 

[inkkognito]

Well, they never said anything to us and I kept trying to distract ds with me talking about random nonsense topics so he wouldn't hear them (he probably thought I was losing it!). Their whole meal was filled with yelling and cussing at the kids over sharing, not sharing, eating, not eating, sitting still, shutting up, etc. I was so uncomfortable the whole time, but there was just no place else to go!!! We are slow eaters, but I tried to rush through the meal and did not finish my chicken When we went outside, ds said "what was up with that family that yelled the whole time?"

This is where a little reframing comes in handy (I'm wearing my cognitive therapist hat now). Instead of feeling uncomfortable, I would have turned it around and viewed them comically and maybe with pity. I would have said to DS, "Isn't it sad that some people can't enjoy themselves and have to have that kind of attitude? They're actually funny in a sad kind of way, aren't they? Let's use them as an example of how we're NOT going to act on our trip!" Others only have the power to make you feel bad or uncomfortable if you give it to them. Personally I prefer to choose my own feelings and retain my own power to enjoy my visit, regardless of the "downer people."

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Mine is saving tables at CS restaurants while a family member waits in a long line for the food. It always seems there's be enough tables for people who actually have their food in hand if so many others weren't snagging tables before they need them. I've had empty handed people rush to grab a table before I could get to it while I've been carrying an overflowing tray and trying to wrangle two small children. Most of the time we'd be done eating by the time they got their food anyway.

I always thought this was normal. We do it and will continue to do it. Where I'm from everyone does it. It's a PIA to stand in line with DH, the stroller, the kids, etc. DH or myself goes and gets a table, gets the kids settled in, hands cleaned and then I show up with the food.

Watch the next pet peeve be "I hate it when the whole family stands in line to order food. Can't they go and get a table and save us some room in those tiny lines."

I agree! Really my pet peeve is some people's attitudes that solos don't belong at WDW. I go to WDW several times a year, sometimes with family, but at least 2-3 times a year as a solo. It's my "me time".

A couple of years ago I ordered my CS meal, finally found me a table, and sat down to eat. You would not believe the number of times I got the stink eye from families, who were looking for a table. After one lady gave me a particularly dirty look, I told her I didn't stink and didn't have bad breath, and they were welcome to join me, but glaring and snorting at me wasn't going to get me to move. The very next trip, I had just sat down at a table at Tusker House (when it was still a CS), and started to spread my silverware and napkin, when a lady came rushing up, told me I had to move, because she needed that table for her family, who were in line, and since I was by myself, I could just go outside to eat my meal. I don't think so ! At that same time, I saw another couple looking for a table and very sweetly asked if they wanted to sit with me. They accepted and the other lady stalked off.

I hate it, when I arrive early specifically to find a perfect place to take parade photos, then at the last minute someone pushes their kid in front of me saying, "oh, I know you don't mind. Afterall WDW is for the kids". Fine, no problem, as long as I can see over the kid. In fact, I always look around just before a parade starts and see if any little kids need to be moved to the front so they can see and offer to let them stand in front of me (again as long as I can see over their heads). The problem I have, is when the parents must then scoot in front of me too, again saying "since you're by yourself, I'm sure you don't mind." I also hate it when I see an character that is not out very often, so decide to get a picture of it and someone behind me decides that because I'm by myself that they can just push their kid ahead me.

WRONG WRONG WRONG!

 

[JoanneGreco]

I don't think I would consider mine a pet peeve, but my kids & I don't like when we see parents force their kids to take pictures with the characters and the kids are crying or scared. We always feel bad for those kids.

 

[buffettgirl]

my pet peeve is people who post "subbing" in threads because you know folks, you don't have to post to sub to a thread you just use that nice little button called "thread tools". By making a post just to say "subbing" -it makes new post show up in my subscribed thread list and I have to wade through 5 sub posts to get to any real new content - mostly there is none, just a lot of people announcing that they're subscribing.

 

[dzalice]

I'm going to have to weigh in and say that this is also very common where I'm from. I dont think it's a imposition on others for me to save a seat for my sister while she's off getting the food. There's just the two of us and we can always make room for others at our table if they want to share. But to have to wander around an entire restaurant, especially a Disney one, which arent exactly laid out in a straight line, trying to find a place to sit and eat, that just seems like a big PIA. Also I agree with the pet peeve about people pushing their children in front of you to see the parade. I have no problem with people who ask politely if their child can stand in front of me, but I become very stubborn and immovable with rude people who think it is their right to be in front of me because they have children.

 

[ssawka]

My pet peeve is when people get defensive and assume you are trying to do something you are not suppose to. My DD(7) has Down Syndrome so we get her a GAC and also the sticker that allows us to use her stroller as a wheel chair. Every once and a while we will get dirty looks from people standing in line as we walk into the handicapped entrance or bring the stroller into an area where strollers are normally not allowed to go. Then, when they see my daughter they try to act nice. I understand that their are a lot of people that try to "cheat" the system and it is frustrating to wait in line and see somone that "Appears" to be getting on the ride quicker, but to some degree you need to let the CMs do their jobs. Disney does not need all guests to be the crowd police. If we are doing something that we should not be doing, a CM will let us know about it. What's even worse than this is when people still give us dirty looks even when they see DD.

 

[nenner1]

awww thanks! Yeah, I am excited!

You arrive the same day as us!!! See ya there!

 

[buffettgirl]

I don't think I would consider mine a pet peeve, but my kids & I don't like when we see parents force their kids to take pictures with the characters and the kids are crying or scared. We always feel bad for those kids.

OMG totally agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DizBelle]

That's my feeling. I can't deal with my 3 kids in line with me. Those lines are TIGHT, barely enough room to turn around to get out the exit area. Imagine me with trays of food and 3 small kids, juggling food, trying to keep 3 kids together and then trying to find a table. Even with dh with me, those cs places are so darn crowded, it makes no sense to have a full family of 5 up in line with you.

There is middle ground here. How about you stand to the side - not in line but not occupying a table while the food-getter is getting the food. When the food is obtained, you look for a table together.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

There is middle ground here. How about you stand to the side - not in line but not occupying a table while the food-getter is getting the food. When the food is obtained, you look for a table together.

This has to be the funniest pet peeve ever. Who knew! I never knew people DIDN'T do this!

DH or myself will continue to sit down with the kids while the other gets the food.

 

[paysensmom]

This may get a tad long, sorry.
Okay, I took my two and four year olds to Disney world for our first trip ever. Everything was paid for and a week before we found out that hubby couldnt go due to work related stuff. He is in the Navy.
Anyway, after a long day at Animal Kingdom (on my birthday!) We got into the little trolley line for the train that takes you to the parking lot. There were four roped off lines. Well, after waiting for 5 trains!! I finally got close enough to know I was getting on the next one! YAY right? Well, when the train stopped, people run from the sides completely bypassing all of us who have been waiting in this dang line for 30 minutes already. So, the next train I was ready. Sorry if some of you think this is rude..............but here is what I did. I had a double stroller folded up and ready of course. So as soon as the train pulls up a lady with a baby carrier in her hand with a baby inside tried to run and get on the train. I threw up the stroller and cut her off!! I looked at her and told her to go wait in line. So, I get on and the stroller and my two year old in there, guess what, my four year old child who was right by the entrance of the trolly are being pushed by ADULTS. So, I just stood there in the way and leaned down and picked him up as they tried to push past me to get onto the trolley. I was SHOCKED!! What an end to my birthday!! I didnt let it ruin our trip, but the gull of some people amazes me.

 

[mayesq]

Okay, we split up at cs places, too. It is a nice break for the kids to sit with dad and get set up while I get the food. I don't see this as rude whatsoever. Sorry.

 

[rosiep]

Here's mine:

People who aren't ready with their order when they reach the counter. If I've been in line for five minutes..I've know for at least four of those minutes what I'll be eating. Even when I have a family with me, everyone is ready by the time we've reached the front!

 

[KorieDWnut]

There is middle ground here. How about you stand to the side - not in line but not occupying a table while the food-getter is getting the food. When the food is obtained, you look for a table together.

Yeah,I'll still do it too.
Alot of things bother a lot of people. Some are understandable, some are irrational, but I can't please everyone all the time.