re: Pet Peeves

[Pixie-Dust Patty]

Since posts can get lost in a long drawn out thread, I decided to share my 2 cents here:

1. For those who complain about strollers stopping in front of them....whining about the big crowd they're in behind the stroller....so what about the crowd in front of the stroller....oh, that's right we should ram right into that person, so long as it isn't YOU! Nice double standard there.

2. People in wheelchairs...just because they don't look handicapped doesn't mean they aren't. MS is an invisible illness. Get over yourselves!

Walt Disney World is for EVERYONE!

 

[pixiewytch]

Well I think this is typically just a lack of empathy. People who have never been in a certain position or lifestyle find it easy to judge and hard to relate to someone who is. For instance, before I had kids I couldn't stand to be around other children. I mean, how dare someone take their little darling out to a restaurant with other adults around? I thought the same thing about the strollers at Disney. Why are these people pushing through the crowds with their stroller like they are bent on destruction?

Well, now that I have children and the tables are turned on me I know why people do it....because it's crowded and difficult to get a stroller through a crowd of people. Sometimes nobody will let you pass or walk aside a bit to give you room and you have no choice if you are going to get anywhere. Plus I mentioned that those WDW strollers are long and hard to estimate if you are short like me what is in front of you.

Now I'm not talking about plowing through a crowd or parting the red sea with my stroller as some people had put it but honestly, there are many times where politeness with a stroller would leave you standing in the same spot for thirty minutes. The sad truth of the matter is that everyone there is there for themselves and rarely people think of anyone else.

Oh, and I agree with the wheelchair thing too. Again, you just don't know what someone's medical condition is. There are plenty of situations warranting a wheelchair at at disney park where people are mobile.

So yeah, I see your frustration. Just remember these are people who don't know how to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think most people are upset at the strollers/wheelchairs that HIT them. I'm sorry, but if you can't navigate your stroller or wheelchair through heavy crowds, then "take lessons" by practicing in the supermarket of your hometown. But I just do not need to be attacked by vehicles when I'm trying to enjoy myself.

In terms of strollers that stop...it happens. If there's a large crowd, strollers are going to get stuck..people should learn to deal with that. It annoys me more when people just halt themsleves without any warning in the middle of the road. (stroller or not)

 

[Fitswimmer]

The interesting thing about all this is that even though the "stroller rammers" and the healthy people using ECV's and wheelchairs are a distinct minority-they are the ones we remember! Probably because they are outside the norm and stand out.
Most of the time when I've been "rammed" it's an accident, but more than once I've been hit with enough force to nearly fall on the child! The parent didn't mean it, they just weren't looking where they were going. A simple "Oops, I'm sorry!" ends the whole affair.
I would think that those people who actually need EVC's and wheelchairs would be first in line to be concerned about healthy people using them. Obviously, we can't see every disability-but most of us also have enough intelligence to know the difference. When the teenager bounds out of the chair, looks around with either a little guilt or a LOT of glee-the odds that they really didn't need the chair are probably pretty high.

 

[frayedend]

Even if we know how to walk a mile in another's shoes, it is hard to think of when you are hot, sweaty, tired, and trying to get somewhere. It's easy to see somone in a wheelchair getting on a bus first when you've been waiting so long and feel resentment. People just don't think about the big picture at that point because of the way you are feeling at the time. It doesn't mean that they are a bad person.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I'm sorry, but if you can't navigate your stroller or wheelchair through heavy crowds, then "take lessons" by practicing in the supermarket of your hometown.

Crikey! I can't only imagine it Wal-Mart where I am was as crowded as WDW is sometime...oh wait, it usually is that crowded.

I understand. We have a stroller and I can honestly say I don't ever remember running anyone over with it. Here's a concept. When we are in a crowd, one of our own family members ALWAYS walks in front of the stroller. This does several things: 1) I can generally leave a few feet in between us w/out someone jumping in there. 2) If I do accidentally bump into someone, it's a member of my party

 

[phantom728]

One of my pet peeves, that I hear complains about over and over...

People that don't wear sensible shoes, then decide to complain about it for everyone to hear.
You're on your feet walking all day at a theme park...it's not a runway. Do they really expect shoes with heels to be comfortable ?

I'm not saying don't wear something nice, but do it for an hour or two in the evening. I generally wear my sneaks all day, then we usually go back to the hotel to relax and head over to EPCOT for the evening. Since we won't be doing a mad dash at EPCOT, then I wear something a little nicer (pending weather). It's not worth the pain and blisters to wear something that no one is really paying attention to anyway.

 

[pixiewytch]

I think most people are upset at the strollers/wheelchairs that HIT them. I'm sorry, but if you can't navigate your stroller or wheelchair through heavy crowds, then "take lessons" by practicing in the supermarket of your hometown. But I just do not need to be attacked by vehicles when I'm trying to enjoy myself.

In terms of strollers that stop...it happens. If there's a large crowd, strollers are going to get stuck..people should learn to deal with that. It annoys me more when people just halt themsleves without any warning in the middle of the road. (stroller or not)

I hear ya on navigating the stroller. I'm sure all of us are quite familiar with how to navigate our own strollers at home. However, imagine all of the people who have never managed a WDW rental stroller before. I know, I know, if you've never used a stroller they all look the same so why should steering one be any different than another, but believe me, strollers come in all shapes and sizes and maneuverability. I only bring this up from experience because once I did make the mistake of renting one of their strollers and I had a very hard time with it. I don't think it's because I'm stroller impaired or an idiot but I found it very big and awkward to steer around large crowds. So if this happened to me I just wonder how many other people have a hard time when they aren't used to their strollers. You don't have time to "practice" with them before you get there and rent one.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I hear ya on navigating the stroller. I'm sure all of us are quite familiar with how to navigate our own strollers at home. However, imagine all of the people who have never managed a WDW rental stroller before. I know, I know, if you've never used a stroller they all look the same so why should steering one be any different than another, but believe me, strollers come in all shapes and sizes and maneuverability. I only bring this up from experience because once I did make the mistake of renting one of their strollers and I had a very hard time with it. I don't think it's because I'm stroller impaired or an idiot but I found it very big and awkward to steer around large crowds. So if this happened to me I just wonder how many other people have a hard time when they aren't used to their strollers. You don't have time to "practice" with them before you get there and rent one.

You know, I never thought of that. It's the same thing with cars. I learned how to drive with an SUV, and am pretty darn good...but when I try to drive a sports car, I'm all over the place! That definitely makes sense and I think I'll be a little more understanding towards SOME of the stroller attackers... however there ARE some who are just rude and use their strollers for evil.

I will never forgive the ECVs though. I've gotten hit more than once, my foot was run over, and once i was on a bench and a a lady in an ECV came flying in my direction...if I didn't hop off the bench at the last second I could've been crushed!! Then she didn't apologize. My friend got really angry, but I just let it go...this is when I was a calmer person

 

[pixiewytch]

No, you are right. There are some ruthless self important stroller pushers at the park, no doubt about it. I just know that isn't always the case.

I can't really say much about the ECV's...don't know that I've had a run in with those yet.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Even if we know how to walk a mile in another's shoes, it is hard to think of when you are hot, sweaty, tired, and trying to get somewhere. It's easy to see somone in a wheelchair getting on a bus first when you've been waiting so long and feel resentment. People just don't think about the big picture at that point because of the way you are feeling at the time. It doesn't mean that they are a bad person.

I think this says a lot. Many people don't look at the big picture. WDW is an overwhelming place for many people. It can be hot, crowded and tiring. I think many people do things that are others pet peeves, but they really aren't trying to be inconsiderate. There are always the rude and obnoxious, but that's not who I'm referring to. I know many people get upset by the people who stop midstream to look at a map. Sometimes you can see the confusion on their faces. It would be nice if they would move to the side, but it's not that big of a deal. I usually say "excuse me" and go along my merry way. As far as strollers, we have never used one so I can't comment on how hard they are to navigate. If someone runs into me or my family and says "sorry" then there's no reason to get upset. If that person doesn't say anything, then they fall into the obnoxious catergory and they aren't worth spending my vacation thinking about them.

Of course, there is always another category of people--the clueless. This would be the person who puts their stroller on the seat on a bus. I don't think they are necessarily a bad person, just clueless to their surroundings. I would have no problem asking them to move the stroller so someone could sit down.

Well, this is just my .02.


Rachel

 

[jlatina32]

The interesting thing about all this is that even though the "stroller rammers" and the healthy people using ECV's and wheelchairs are a distinct minority-they are the ones we remember! Probably because they are outside the norm and stand out.
Most of the time when I've been "rammed" it's an accident, but more than once I've been hit with enough force to nearly fall on the child! The parent didn't mean it, they just weren't looking where they were going. A simple "Oops, I'm sorry!" ends the whole affair.
I would think that those people who actually need EVC's and wheelchairs would be first in line to be concerned about healthy people using them. Obviously, we can't see every disability-but most of us also have enough intelligence to know the difference. When the teenager bounds out of the chair, looks around with either a little guilt or a LOT of glee-the odds that they really didn't need the chair are probably pretty high.

In my opinion simple words like "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" or Are you okay?" in the event that I get hit by a stroller or wheelchair make a whole lot of a difference to me. Its really annoying when someone bumps into you and doesn't even say anything. So, I agree with you.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

Maybe I'm way out of line and just jumping to a crazy conclusion here, but if you get hit in the ankles by a stroller, isn't it an ACCIDENT?

 

[Fitswimmer]

Maybe I'm way out of line and just jumping to a crazy conclusion here, but if you get hit in the ankles by a stroller, isn't it an ACCIDENT?

Not if it's being used to "clear the path" on Main Street after Wishes!!

 

[Becky_Boop]

Maybe I'm way out of line and just jumping to a crazy conclusion here, but if you get hit in the ankles by a stroller, isn't it an ACCIDENT?

Yup. There aren't very many people that ram into people for fun.

Same goes with wheelchairs/ECVs. Based on watching my mother, using an ECV isn't incredibly easy, definitely not as easy as walking. If they don't say sorry, it might be something to be slightly ticked off about, but understand that it's hard.

 

[WEDway2002]

Since posts can get lost in a long drawn out thread, I decided to share my 2 cents here:

1. For those who complain about strollers stopping in front of them....whining about the big crowd they're in behind the stroller....so what about the crowd in front of the stroller....oh, that's right we should ram right into that person, so long as it isn't YOU! Nice double standard there.

2. People in wheelchairs...just because they don't look handicapped doesn't mean they aren't. MS is an invisible illness. Get over yourselves!

Walt Disney World is for EVERYONE!

Hear, Hear!!!
Quick stroller story: My DW,DD,DS (in a stroller - me pushing) once snaked our way through the crowd watching the parade in the WS at Epcot (Tapestry of Nations). Anyway ... it was SOOOOOO crowded and we were trying to make our way to Germany to make our ressies for dinner (part of the Candlelight Processional pkg.). I was being spectacularly careful BUT I was also being jostled by the crowd. I GENTLY bumped the heal of the shoe (in the hole in the bottom of the sea ) of the elderly woman in front of me for which I said, "I'm sorry!". Well, unfortunately, it happened once more ... she turned and I again said, "I'm soooo sorry". Mind you, it was very gentle tap on her shoe heal BUT she lit into me!!! She yelled like I knocked her over and said I'd have to pay for her "hundred dollar stockings"! I reiterated how sorry I was (with the crowds - it was chaos) and I left a good distance between us. We made it to Germany for dinner and the host starts to take us to our table ... RIGHT NEXT TO THE STOCKING LADY WHO NOW HATES ME!!!! Anyway ... I explained our predicament to the cast member and he sat us several tables away where she'd have to have a good arm to reach me!
For what it's worth, she met friends and as far as I noticed never smiled once throughout her stay.
Thanks for letting me share ... it's good therapy!


Dave

 

[Lisa_Belle]

My "pet peeve" is anyone who won't yield to me. Remember the Nissan commercial with the "Yield to Bob" signs? That's what I want. In other words, anyone who is in my way is a pet peeve. Is it realistic? No and I understand that. But they still get on my nerves somewhat.

 

[BamaFan121s]

She was probably mad that she paid $100 for stockings!

 

[dance2874]

I hear ya about the people trying to 'clear the way on main street'...but I am a stroller driver and I have inadvertently hit people. I always say sorry, but sometimes they are asking for it! They just rush and rush and HAVE to be in front of you in a crowd...you can feel them coming from behind you. They dart in front of you in the crowd and then STOP dead in their tracks to look at the map, or whatever else. Sorry, but you may get bumped. Happens all.the.time and I hate it. If you have to be in front of me, go for it...but make sure you keep moving because I cant always stop my stroller on a dime.

Ok, rant over

 

[Becky_Boop]

I didn't want to get into this. I'll put my flame retardant suit on just in case.

I've read through the thread. Everyone has very good points. I was trying to figure out what my side is on the stroller issue since I read the gripes thread. I've come to realize that everyone's a little bit guilty. So, as long as everyone does their best to not bump into people and to move along with the crowd, I'm happy. It's hard for everyone (especially with those new $100 stockings ). No one should get too mad if everyone's trying.

But if someone's trying to bump into you, be my guest, bring it on.