Put Down Your Phones!

[tjmj9801]

ETA: I noticed you have an adult daughter...I also think it's very easy to judge younger families because you have the passage of time glossing over the parenting decisions you made when your children were younger.

Exactly. Time has clouded your memory of doing whatever it takes to entertain them to prevent meltdowns. Who cares if it's an iPhone?

 

[LSUfan4444]

Why is it sad? Those little devices have made WDW more attainable for more people.

What about the dad that could never go because of professional responsibilities. That little device in mom's hand may be her list of ADRs or touring tips she is referencing. Maybe that iPad in that little girl's lap is the only thing that keeps a child calm enough during long waits. What if they are from a different country and it's a translation app or currency converter?

 

[LSUfan4444]

STOP LIVING BEHIND A SCREEN!

STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHO YOU AREN'T WITH!

STOP POSTING YOUR EVERY MOVE WHILE "LIVING"!

Say's the person behind a screen, chatting with people she has never met about people she doesn't know.

Exactly when should we turn off our electronic devices and start judging people, and when exactly can we return to out electronic devices to start bad mouthing the people we have judged?

 

[arielmomma]

In our household, it is DH who is the technology junkie. After a couple of vacations where he kept calling work and checking email and generally playing on his phone, the kids and I decided to have an intervention. Now, he may not have is phone on other than to call me if we get separated and while I suppose we may need use it for FP+ in the future, we haven't found the Disney App to be beneficial so far.

While I don't judge other families for their choices, I do find it sad to see everyone's faces buried in technology when there are so many amazing things to see and do at WDW. Isn't that why you're there?

The thing that drives me nuts are the people (adults and teens) who randomly stop in the middle of walkways to check their phones. It was almost constant on our last trip. And it is only going to get worse with all that Disney has planned.

To each is own, but for me and my family, we are at WDW to enjoy the world and each other. My email can wait until I get home!

 

[luvmy3]

Why is it sad? Those little devices have made WDW more attainable for more people.

What about the dad that could never go because of professional responsibilities. That little device in mom's hand may be her list of ADRs or touring tips she is referencing. Maybe that iPad in that little girl's lap is the only thing that keeps a child calm enough during long waits. What if they are from a different country and it's a translation app or currency converter?

I'm not talking about the one toddler with an iphone, or the surgeon/CEO parent answering a couple texts, or checking the wait lines at Peter Pan, or trying to convert currency, or find directions. I'm talking about an entire family not even looking up from their devices while sitting together at the dinner table, even after their food comes. I find that sad, and to me it is a symptom of something much bigger. We have become a society so connected to those little devices that now we cant survive an hour without them. I see how that effects my own kids and their generation. You dont have to find it sad, you can think its great, that's okay too.

 

[bizeemom4]

My adult daughter and I just returned from our annual WDW trip and we both were disturbed by what we observed....whether on the bus, at dinner or standing on line waiting to go on an attraction we saw parents more involved with their cell phones, ipads, whatever than their kids. We noticed parents telling kids to be quiet so they could read their emails or check something online. As a parent and educator I was so saddened to see this over and over again. While there were parents interacting with their children and having a great time, there was an overwhelming number completely "checked out." I always thought vacation was a chance to spend time with your kids without all the outside pressures of everyday life. The other disturbing thing was the kids that had a device put in front of them so they can play games or watch videos during dinner. Sadly, we noticed many tables where there were parents and children and absolutely no conversation.
This seems to be something that's getting worse every year. What's the point of a family vacation where the family doesn't interact with each other? Maybe it's time for the parents to put away their electronics and start reconnecting with their families and pay attention to their children, not their phones. Disney really is a magical place, but the magic needs to start by acutally paying attention.

Wow. Judge much?

You were on your once a year trip. Maybe they were on yet another day at the park because they are locals and being there isn't as big of a deal as it is for you.

Maybe mom or dad has an important deal going on at home and needs to check. Why do you care if other people work on vacation anyway?

 

[Love Tink]

Paying attention to emails, apps, touring plans or texts = bad

Paying attention to other guests and what they do = good

amirite?

Yes, and additionally:

I got a ton of comments saying "Mind your own business" "Don't worry about what other people are doing" "I use my phone for apps for wait times- there is nothing wrong with that" etc etc etc

Totally missed the point and just furthered my opinion on the topic.

STOP LIVING BEHIND A SCREEN!

STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHO YOU AREN'T WITH!

STOP POSTING YOUR EVERY MOVE WHILE "LIVING"!

Let the hateful comments begin

Judging people and making a post telling them to change their way of doing things to match your priorities (in all caps) = helpful

Disagreeing = hateful

Oh, but to be clear:

Giving your kids crayons and paper to keep them quiet and giving them a device to keep them quiet are TOTALLY not equal and not the same at all.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Not everyone is on vacation while at Disney. Personally, I'm too busy spending time with my family to notice/judge what everyone else is doing around me.

 

[luvmy3]

Not everyone is on vacation while at Disney. Personally, I'm too busy spending time with my family to notice/judge what everyone else is doing around me.

Well considering you are jammed up with these people while on vacation it is pretty hard not to notice certain things. You dont really need to try and find them, they are right behind you, next to you and in front of you. Not to mention sometimes walking into you because their face is buried in their phone

 

[tjmj9801]

I'm not talking about the one toddler with an iphone, or the surgeon/CEO parent answering a couple texts, or checking the wait lines at Peter Pan, or trying to convert currency, or find directions. I'm talking about an entire family not even looking up from their devices while sitting together at the dinner table, even after their food comes. I find that sad, and to me it is a symptom of something much bigger. We have become a society so connected to those little devices that now we cant survive an hour without them. I see how that effects my own kids and their generation. You dont have to find it sad, you can think its great, that's okay too.

But how do you KNOW what they're doing? And more importantly, why do you care? Why weren't you paying attention to YOUR family?

 

[nooneshome]

Sometimes I think I am the only adult (55 yo) that doesn't have a cell phone.

 

[d1gitman]

and i'm sure this is how many felt when the radio was invented, the tv, the computer, etc....it's technology and I choose to embrace it. it won't be going away. remember when the music industry sued napster? went after a few who did excessive downloading? did it go away? no, we now embrace it in a pay for music service called iTunes....what one group shunned, another found a way to make it work. when I hear of people being rude to others or their children, I blame the person, not the technology. people choose how to behave.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm not talking about the one toddler with an iphone, or the surgeon/CEO parent answering a couple texts, or checking the wait lines at Peter Pan, or trying to convert currency, or find directions. I'm talking about an entire family not even looking up from their devices while sitting together at the dinner table, even after their food comes. I find that sad, and to me it is a symptom of something much bigger. We have become a society so connected to those little devices that now we cant survive an hour without them. You dont have to find it sad, you can think its great, that's okay too.

The point is you don't know who they are, what they do or what the are doing with their devices and it shouldn't concern you.

You categorize people justifying actions from one group to another, but have no idea who they are?

What if that family doesn't pull our their phones except when they can sit down, so they don't bump into others. What if dinner time is homework time for Molly, picture upload time for mommy and email reply time for daddy?

You can choose to not use those devices, but to judge ANYONE who else who does is no better than any criticism you throw out there to those that do.

Electronic devices are shrinking our world, and our world is becoming more dependent on them. Even the magical world that is Disney. The ability to check wait times, create ot change reservations, reserve fastpasses, buy tickets, book transportation, check into airline flights etc. can all be done while sitting at dinner and NOT standing in a line. That can create more family time together at another time.

There are countless examples of how those devices you assume are pulling apart the Smith family is actually allowing for other opportunities down the road.

 

[maxiesmom]

Say's the person behind a screen, chatting with people she has never met about people she doesn't know.

Exactly when should we turn off our electronic devices and start judging people, and when exactly can we return to out electronic devices to start bad mouthing the people we have judged?

You are so right!!

One of my best friends is taking her family to WDW in a couple of weeks. In order to go her husband's work has to be able to contact him while he is away. So he will be one of those people looking at his I-Phone, doing business while he is in the parks. To me that is a much better option than him sitting behind in the room, or not going with his family on vacation.

As long as the kids are not watching some obnoxious show at full volume, they are not doing anything to bother you. Enjoy your own vacation and stop worrying about how others enjoy theirs.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Well considering you are jammed up with these people while on vacation it is pretty hard not to notice certain things. You dont really need to try and find them, they are right behind you, next to you and in front of you. Not to mention sometimes walking into you because their face is buried in their phone

I simply don't care what others are doing while I'm at Disney. I seriously don't care if people are using their phone, almost bump into me, move ahead of me in line, bump me with a stroller etc.... Guess I'm just a laid back person because I don't let other peoples actions upset me, it's so not worth it to me.

 

[luvmy3]

But how do you KNOW what they're doing? And more importantly, why do you care? Why weren't you paying attention to YOUR family?

Doesnt matter what they were doing, I still find it sad. As far as why I noticed, I was in a crowded restaurant, hard not to notice, and we as a family noticed together, and even joked about how we were the odd ones. I dont recall saying that I was only paying attention to others

 

[luvmy3]

I simply don't care what others are doing while I'm at Disney. I seriously don't care if people are using their phone, almost bump into me, move ahead of me in line, bump with a stroller etc.... Guess I'm just a laid back person because I seriously don't let other peoples actions upset me, it's so not worth it to me.

Who said anything about being upset? You do understand people can make observations, have opinions on them without really caring too much. Why would I be upset over some other family using their phones. I care that my family doesnt use them, and yes I think that makes a much better vacation for us. I also think it teaches my kids that you dont need to rely on your phone for entertainment. As far as others, do what you want.

You people need to chill out. People do things, other people notice and have their own feelings and opinions on them. They even discuss them on a message board when someone starts a thread.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Doesnt matter what they were doing, I still find it sad.

What else needs to be said?

 

[megan10310]

Did you seriously watch people for their entire dinner and you KNOW that they didn't interact the WHOLE time? They were probably posting on Facebook about some nut that has stared at them for their entire dinner and how sad that it is that she isn't interested in her daughter enough just to focus on her.

Maybe they tour like us? We take lots of pic with the phones during attractions. We send pictures to grandmas during lunch/dinner breaks and respond to work emails and personal texts that we may have missed while having fun. My dh is often on the phone, instead of being irritated with him, I count my many blessings and thank God he has a good job.

We definitely are "in the moment" for our vacay. We are a very chatty family and affectionate as well. But you could witness us using technology if you were overly concerned with people around you and looking for it. Don't waste time feeling sorry for us, we are happy and the kids are happy too!

 

[Allison]

Ah yes, the latest conduit to the mommy wars where people judge people they don't know because the other family isn't doing things the way they think it should be done.