Please Have Theme Park Manners!

[BamaTigger]

I have several complaints about the crowds this trip. Some people just dont care who they are around, or infringing on other peoples space. Examples:

1. PLEASE DONT PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY AT A SHOW-- just because you have a kid, doesnt mean you rule the world. And there is no need to push and shove another person out of the way just to get your kid up front. You should of waited before hand like the rest of us.

2. If you have those big SUV strollers, or the big double Disney strollers, PLEASE dont park them in the doorway of a store at busy shopping time, I got so sick of WALKING over those things. And please dont park them in the isle of a store, it is already congested enough!! And please, PLEASE dont act like you own the park when you are pushing the things. They hurt on the back of your heel when they run into you!

3. If you have to talk on a cell phone about your work, please DONT HOLLER about the report that didnt get done, or the office politics while standing in line for a ride. Go somewhere away and do your hollering! I dont want to hear it!

4. PLEASE parents, if your child doesnt want to ride a ride, please get out of line, or do a parent swap, dont keep the kid in line KICKING AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LITTLE LUNGS. One set of parents did NOTHING but hold the child and the poor thing was SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER at the Backlot Tour post-show. Coulnt enjoy it at all. Everyone kept looking at them and they just stood there with that screaming kid.

5. Please talk quietly DURING a ride. I heard this several times, people werent talking, they were JUST ABOUT YELLING and talking about this, and that....nothing about the ride, things like snow back home, the hotel they were staying at in Kissimmee, just stupid things and they werent even paying attention to the ride. Just not very polite, especially when you are on the Great Movie Ride and trying to enjoy it, but have to hear about the snow from the big guy in the row ahead of you.

6. DONT SUDDENLY STOP without looking in front of you first! People are behind you! I pay good attention to the people ahead of me, but it is hard when the street is packed and all of a sudden someone STOPS FAST, TURNS AROUND AND SMACKS YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE WITH A BACKPACK

That's my pet peeves. Flame away at me if you want, but some people are just RUDE and act like they havent ever been in a public place!

 

[loopner67]

#6 is one of my biggest pet peeves no matter where we are. It happens in the mall, too! It happens everywhere. *** sigh ***

 

[irisbud]

some people are just RUDE and act like they havent ever been in a public place!

Unfortunatly, I don't think that this phenomenon is only related to Disney! At least it's better than when we have to deal with it in "the real world", I suppose.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

!

4. PLEASE parents, if your child doesnt want to ride a ride, please get out of line, or do a parent swap, dont keep the kid in line KICKING AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LITTLE LUNGS. One set of parents did NOTHING but hold the child and the poor thing was SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER at the Backlot Tour post-show. Coulnt enjoy it at all. Everyone kept looking at them and they just stood there with that screaming kid.

While I would nver sit there with my kids screaming bloody murder, my DD does cry if she doesn't remember a ride andthinks itmight be scary. No she doesn't scream like we are poking her with pins but it can look like we are tormenting her. She didn't want to go on Peter Pan and I was able to calm her down on line quickly and now it is one of her favorite rides. We try not to bother others but sometimes people have no idea what is going on and they make a comment or roll their eyes. That is annoying to me. Also- you mention not parking a stroller in an aisle of a store. Well- we don't put it there and walk away but if I am looking at merchandise then my kids will be next to me not pushed in some out of the way corner. I don't know if that's what you meant by that so if I am wrong please correct me.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I agree with you on most of your complaints. The only one I sort of disagree with is where you say that parents shouldn't force a child on. If the child is being hysterical and ruining everyone's time, then yes the parent should remove them, but when my DD3 was anxious about a ride or show, and she wasn't disturbing anyone, then I still made her try it. If I didn't, my Dh and I would have missed some great attractions and DD3 ended up loving most of them. Now she isn't afraid anymore. She even loves the haunted mansion.

 

[nhpooh]

I have several complaints about the crowds this trip. Some people just dont care who they are around, or infringing on other peoples space. Examples:

1. PLEASE DONT PUSH PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY AT A SHOW-- just because you have a kid, doesnt mean you rule the world. And there is no need to push and shove another person out of the way just to get your kid up front. You should of waited before hand like the rest of us.

2. If you have those big SUV strollers, or the big double Disney strollers, PLEASE dont park them in the doorway of a store at busy shopping time, I got so sick of WALKING over those things. And please dont park them in the isle of a store, it is already congested enough!! And please, PLEASE dont act like you own the park when you are pushing the things. They hurt on the back of your heel when they run into you!

3. If you have to talk on a cell phone about your work, please DONT HOLLER about the report that didnt get done, or the office politics while standing in line for a ride. Go somewhere away and do your hollering! I dont want to hear it!

4. PLEASE parents, if your child doesnt want to ride a ride, please get out of line, or do a parent swap, dont keep the kid in line KICKING AND SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LITTLE LUNGS. One set of parents did NOTHING but hold the child and the poor thing was SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER at the Backlot Tour post-show. Coulnt enjoy it at all. Everyone kept looking at them and they just stood there with that screaming kid.

5. Please talk quietly DURING a ride. I heard this several times, people werent talking, they were JUST ABOUT YELLING and talking about this, and that....nothing about the ride, things like snow back home, the hotel they were staying at in Kissimmee, just stupid things and they werent even paying attention to the ride. Just not very polite, especially when you are on the Great Movie Ride and trying to enjoy it, but have to hear about the snow from the big guy in the row ahead of you.

6. DONT SUDDENLY STOP without looking in front of you first! People are behind you! I pay good attention to the people ahead of me, but it is hard when the street is packed and all of a sudden someone STOPS FAST, TURNS AROUND AND SMACKS YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE WITH A BACKPACK

That's my pet peeves. Flame away at me if you want, but some people are just RUDE and act like they havent ever been in a public place!

I agree with you!

 

[nhpooh]

I agree with you on most of your complaints. The only one I sort of disagree with is where you say that parents shouldn't force a child on. If the child is being hysterical and ruining everyone's time, then yes the parent should remove them, but when my DD3 was anxious about a ride or show, and she wasn't disturbing anyone, then I still made her try it. If I didn't, my Dh and I would have missed some great attractions and DD3 ended up loving most of them. Now she isn't afraid anymore. She even loves the haunted mansion.

You did the right thing, it's the parents that force there kids and don't do anything when they are disturbing everyone!

 

[BamaTigger]

Also- you mention not parking a stroller in an aisle of a store. Well- we don't put it there and walk away but if I am looking at merchandise then my kids will be next to me not pushed in some out of the way corner. I don't know if that's what you meant by that so if I am wrong please correct me.

Let me explain...We were in the Emporium at the MK and this big double stroller was in the isle, and the mother was shopping, and the father was holding on to the stroller. So we just stood there, waiting to get by, and he didnt move it or anything, so we had to step over the thing. And he just looked at us and did nothing, and yes, there was plenty of room to move it, but he just stood there and WOULDNT move it! I dont expect anyone to push their kid and stroller in a corner or anything like that, but just move it out of the way!!

 

[singingpixie]

I think there's a big difference between encouraging and comforting a nervous child about a new ride, and dragging a terrified, screaming child onto a ride. Of course kids should be encouraged to try new things, but neither the child, the family, nor anyone else in earshot will enjoy the ride if the child is screaming bloody murder. The problem comes in that this is sort of a sliding scale, and only the parents really know whether their child is the sort of nervous that can be calmed and enjoy the ride, or the type that is so terrified that no matter what the ride is like, they will never calm down enough to enjoy it. The vast majority of parents know the difference and will push only to that point, not beyond. Every once in a while, there is a parent who keeps pushing... that's where it becomes a problem.

 

[MickeynMinnie]

i agree with the stroller one!! please please please be on the look out for people while pushing your stroller!!!! I came home last year wih bruised ankles!!!!! ouch!

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I have one to add. Please oh please parents do not subject the rest of us with our children behaving themselves trying to enjoy a meal to your screaming, tantrum throwing, running around the restaurant child. You may be able to ignore it but the rest of us can not. Even if Disney is a family place you still need to teach your child that there are other people around and we do not want to listen to them. I don't want to hear that you can not reason with a 2,3,4 yo etc. take them and LEAVE for the comfort of all around. I may sound harsh but I can not begin to tell the number of times that this scene has played out.

 

[emilyclaire]

Thanks for this post! My feelings exactly. My husband and I too are frequently amazed by the "I have a stroller, I rule the world" mentality. Not to say that all people with babies/kids are rude, but some do seem to think that their child is a free ticket to act however they wish. I understand that WDW is seen as primarily a children's place, and I wouldn't begrudge any child a good time there. But I think one of the best gift a parent can give their children is a lesson in manners, patience, respect for others, and how to act in public/social situations. It's never too early to start setting a good example! And this should start at home, realizing that WDW is a magical place where even the best kid may lose control, and that a child accustomed to practicing good manners will be a lot easier to manage.

 

[The Sweetness]

I am pretty careful/ aware w/ my stroller in the mall/zoo etc... (its been too long since I used one at WDW). But poeple DO stop short in front of me, as well as practically knock me/ the stroller over trying to get around us (and I am **not*** slow).
Its not always the drivers fault when a pedestrian gets nailed

 

[PenguinWaiters]

My friend and I were in line for Dinosaur and the woman in front of us had a boy of about 5 or 6 with her. During the ENTIRE queue, he cried and pleaded to leave - "Please Mommy don't make me go on this....AGAIN!" They had already been on the ride! She just kept saying "It's too late to leave now" and my favorite "You didn't die last time on this ride, now did you?" The poor kid was not loud, just sobbing and pleading continuously. After 10 minutes of this, my friend and I let 6 or so people cut in front of us because it was breaking my heart and I just couldn't listen to it anymore. Is any ride REALLY worth that? I saw their picture at the end and she did NOT look like she was having any fun, and he looked absolutely terrified.

 

[maxiesmom]

This ties in with the whole stroller thing. How about saying "Excuse me" if you need to get by me/my/stroller/the kids. Don't stand there mute, don't just sigh and roll your eyes. If I am unaware of where you are going, I can't move out of your way.

 

[maxiesmom]

My friend and I were in line for Dinosaur and the woman in front of us had a boy of about 5 or 6 with her. During the ENTIRE queue, he cried and pleaded to leave - "Please Mommy don't make me go on this....AGAIN!" They had already been on the ride! She just kept saying "It's too late to leave now" and my favorite "You didn't die last time on this ride, now did you?" The poor kid was not loud, just sobbing and pleading continuously. After 10 minutes of this, my friend and I let 6 or so people cut in front of us because it was breaking my heart and I just couldn't listen to it anymore. Is any ride REALLY worth that? I saw their picture at the end and she did NOT look like she was having any fun, and he looked absolutely terrified.

That is so wrong! How can any parent be so self-centered? If your child is brave enough to try a ride, and doesn't like it, is truly scared, why would you force them back on. Stupid people!!!

 

[ransom]

My friend and I were in line for Dinosaur and the woman in front of us had a boy of about 5 or 6 with her. During the ENTIRE queue, he cried and pleaded to leave - "Please Mommy don't make me go on this....AGAIN!" They had already been on the ride! She just kept saying "It's too late to leave now" and my favorite "You didn't die last time on this ride, now did you?" The poor kid was not loud, just sobbing and pleading continuously. After 10 minutes of this, my friend and I let 6 or so people cut in front of us because it was breaking my heart and I just couldn't listen to it anymore. Is any ride REALLY worth that? I saw their picture at the end and she did NOT look like she was having any fun, and he looked absolutely terrified.

Well, I for one don't fault that woman. She paid a lot of money to go to Disney World, and wasn't going to let anything ruin it.

The right thing to do in those situations where family members are expressing their preference for doing something other than what the parent thinks is best is to turn the vacation into a death march.

That way, she and her family will have "done" Disney, and will all be very happy to never return. And that'll give all of us a much better experience.

You just have to think long term about these things, and you'll see how we all benefit from the "WE'RE IN DISNEY WORLD AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN EVEN IF IT KILLS YOU" parenting style.

 

[CheshireVal]

I decided long ago that theme parks and manners are mutually exclusive.

 

[nyfinfan]

It's the self-centered, me-first, 'I'm entitled to more than you' crowd that is getting worse every year. I have no advice to give...just my sympathy.

 

[foxfire]

Nothing to add to the OP's post...I agree with you on all counts.