Repercussions for Fighting?

[Mambo Junkie]

If this is the wrong forum, feel free to point me in the right direction. We have a scheduled trip for March/April, after postponing from August 2020 I am becoming increasingly concerned about all the fights I am reading about. Does anyone know what the repercussions are? Is it an out or is it a slap on the wrist and you can come back in xxxx days? I really don't want to subject the kids to this. I saw a video of one and people were screaming and begging them to stop. It must be awful. I can't even watch boxing; I do find fighting so disturbing.
Sorry if this topic is a downer, but I am very concerned.

 

[npatellye]

Where are all of these fights? We spent 9 days at Disney beginning 12/30 and saw no fights at the resorts, at Disney Springs, or in the parks.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I've been reading about them online. One on the MK transport boat, today one was at Peter Pan, the one a week or so ago was in Toy Story Land. I know there's no "for sure" we're going to see a fight, it's just the frequency of them is giving me pause.

 

[shh]

I think your odds are very low re: seeing this. And worst case, just walk the other way or move to other side of transport, as you won't be the one involved. Everything gets blown up and exaggerated on social media these days. There are fights at sports stadiums, in grocery stores...pretty much everywhere. But WDW is always going to make the headlines. Not minimizing your concerns...just saying it's not worth canceling over such a small likelihood.

 

[gap2368]

I was there in October for 13 days and saw no fights at all.

 

[MarkS2112]

We have been there probably 15 times and never seen a fight. Now I would not say they don’t with how people are these days but those people get expelled from the park and usually banned.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We have been there probably 15 times and never seen a fight. Now I would not say they don’t with how people are these days but those people get expelled from the park and usually banned.

Thank you. That's what I was wondering. I would think that, unless the circumstances were defending oneself, that banning would be the repercussion.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

I've been reading about them online. One on the MK transport boat, today one was at Peter Pan, the one a week or so ago was in Toy Story Land. I know there's no "for sure" we're going to see a fight, it's just the frequency of them is giving me pause.

You're actually touching on the salient point, but I would encourage you to think about it differently. You have seen videos of three fights spread over what, five months? The most conservative estimate would assume WDW has had 35 million visitors during those months (and probably many, many more). So out of thirty five million people, you have seen only three fights. That's a pretty miniscule ratio (I've been going to WDW for four decades and I have never seen a physical fight). In other words, you're approximately 24 times more likely to be struck by lightening than to be next to a brawl at Disney. So don't worry about it and enjoy your trip

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I've been reading about them online. One on the MK transport boat, today one was at Peter Pan, the one a week or so ago was in Toy Story Land. I know there's no "for sure" we're going to see a fight, it's just the frequency of them is giving me pause.

Considering the number of people in the parks they are not frequent at all. It's something you simply do not need to worry about. The odds you'll see one are miniscule.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

You're actually touching on the salient point, but I would encourage you to think about it differently. You have seen videos of three fights spread over what, five months? The most conservative estimate would assume WDW has had 35 million visitors during those months (and probably many, many more). So out of thirty five million people, you have seen only three fights. That's a pretty miniscule ratio (I've been going to WDW for four decades and I have never seen a physical fight). In other words, you're approximately 24 times more likely to be struck by lightening than to be next to a brawl at Disney. So don't worry about it and enjoy your trip

Thank you. I've been going to Disney World since 1972, and I guess when you're there, you tend to be in the "bubble" or "zone". Other than witnessing verbal altercations, I haven't seen anything such as physical fighting. I just know how I am and even if I was having the Best Day Ever, it would be totally ruined if I witnessed anything like this. My concerns come from the fact that there seems to be more and more of these sorts of clashes, rudeness and overall stress? induced incidents. I am already trying to process my feelings on the "new" Disney, which seems to be here to stay, vs. the Disney I had grown to love and remember fondly. I feel as if I already have one foot out of the door, and something such as this would probably give me the push I need to exit, if not forever, then for a very long time. These vacations aren't cheap and require much planning (these days) to have them ruined by this type of behavior.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I have been going to WDW for 50 years and since 2016 we started going a lot and not once have I seen a fight besides the ones I have with my kids

 

[bsmcneil]

I've been aware of this, too (one more recent one was at Living With the Land, and a handful of others from Universal). Friday, I took the kids to the mall and we saw a person steal food and a purse (and the tray both were on) in the food court. It was surreal - on my first full day (alone) as the cashier of a small LGBT bookstore (back in college), I caught a guy shoplifting. Otherwise, I've really had few of these encounters - so, the mall thing has my attention (as did the recent videos). I recognize folks are saying they've never seen it - which is great. And, given what we've seen on videos, I completely understand being aware/on alert. I think talking through what you should do if you witness this makes sense (my kids wanted to try to stop the thief - and then track down security to help catch them and couldn't understand why no one was chasing them. We also had an experience a few weeks before at a football game when a guy, who was drunk, started verbally harassing some folks and I did step in although I also ended it and left when I felt it became unsafe for us.). At the mall, security sauntered by about 10-15 minutes after the event (and I pointed out to the kids that unfortunately, the person was long gone - and talked some about why a lot of stores have "no chase" policies). I think the videos wouldn't bother me as much if they were the sort of annoyed talking (maybe even shouting) but some significant punches have been thrown! It's troubling!

 

[Aimeedyan]

We go 3-4 times a month and I've seen one physical fight, ever, in hundreds and hundreds of visits.

It occurred pre-COVID in the mass of humanity that is the hot, sticky, long wait for the ferry boat where you're packed in like sardines. I saw it beginning to escalate and we moved as far away as possible. The 7 year old with us never saw a thing.

As for the people involved? I saw other guests trying to flag down CM's standing way down by the boat entrance but no one noticed/came. The two groups ending up dissipating into the crowd so nothing came of it. I knew what they looked like and kept them at a safe distance all the way to the car.

You're seeing it more now because everyone has a phone and a social media account (imo). Bad behavior may be on the rise (maybe?) but we've witnessed lots of bad behavior/verbal altercations/etc for years.

 

[bsmcneil]

You're seeing it more now because everyone has a phone and a social media account (imo). Bad behavior may be on the rise (maybe?) but we've witnessed lots of bad behavior/verbal altercations/etc for years.

This also made me think - while certainly people have the right to doubt that it's on the rise (as social media broadcasts things and confirmation bias has us pay attention to things that might otherwise fall back into our minds, like hearing news about a fight at a food court or mall or race track, etc), we do know that bad behavior and fighting is clearly on the rise with regards to air travel (and that's without alcohol, which is occasionally an element that leads to the conflict, though certainly not always). But, that's to say that I think it makes sense to extrapolate that there is likely some increase in the number of incidents happening at a variety of places (whether it's one person acting out at a cashier or flight attendant, or two or more folks fighting).

My guess is that it's a little of column A and B - we are noticing it more (and/or when/if it happened in the past, people were less likely to know) and that there are situations that are creating more externalized and vocal conflict (whereas maybe before people would talk loudly at one another, shoving or something gets involved now - people are perhaps less willing to back down). I think a good deal of folks (myself included, actually) need some mindfulness about how to act with other people after being largely disconnected for a while.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Thank you. I've been going to Disney World since 1972, and I guess when you're there, you tend to be in the "bubble" or "zone". Other than witnessing verbal altercations, I haven't seen anything such as physical fighting. I just know how I am and even if I was having the Best Day Ever, it would be totally ruined if I witnessed anything like this. My concerns come from the fact that there seems to be more and more of these sorts of clashes, rudeness and overall stress? induced incidents. I am already trying to process my feelings on the "new" Disney, which seems to be here to stay, vs. the Disney I had grown to love and remember fondly. I feel as if I already have one foot out of the door, and something such as this would probably give me the push I need to exit, if not forever, then for a very long time. These vacations aren't cheap and require much planning (these days) to have them ruined by this type of behavior.

I understand your concern, but I think what you're worried about is, presently, a larger societal/cultural issue. You're just as likely, if not moreso, to encounter these situations any time you step out of your house. I still think you're extremely unlikely to encounter a physical fight at Disney. But if even the remote possibility is enough to cause you this level of stress, maybe it is time to move on (especially if you already have one foot out the door). There are many less expensive alternative vacation spots where there are fewer people crowding about and less likely to get caught up in the stressful situations you are concerned about

 

[samsteele]

Agree with the PPs that it's rare to witness a fight in the parks. We 'see' them now around the world in the media because everyone and their granny has a smartphone. Before smartphones, when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, we didn't hear about them unless a reporter with a camera crew was there for some unrelated opening event and stumbled upon a fight. Doubtful fights are increasing on property. We just see everything now thanks to our phones. It gives the false impression that fights are on the rise when they really aren't.

 

[rdaky]

I am at one of the parks several times per week. I have witnessed ONE physical fight ever. And if was among extended family members who went all hillbilly and decided to bring their issues to Disney and scream and hit each other.

I've seen more drama at Walmart.

You can literally pick apart any issue that happens at Disney (which is the general public) and social media can make you think it's happening constantly or that it's extra dramatic.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Yes, I was curious about the repercussions because if I thought I'd be banned from Disney World forever, I think I'd calm myself down. As someone has pointed out, tempers seem to be high right now, regardless of where it is.

 

[rdaky]

I'm going to add, too, that some of these bloggers who post the videos along with their dramatic narrative like to stir things up for the follows. It serves them well to have ANY type of negativity because they can dwell on it and get people to read more of their articles. Negative articles make them more $. So much more than posting about the 90% positive things that people are experiencing at Disney.

I'm not saying that Disney is perfect. It's definitely not. But bloggers who dwell on negativity are not cool. (And to be honest, some of the more famous aren't nice to cast members, either, and that's a fairly well known local fact)

 

[k5xs]

According to the FBI, in 2019 (most recent data) there were an estimated 821,182 aggravated assaults in the nation.

There have been what, six in the past year at WDW?

I think the odds you will witness one are very low.