Replying to rudeness at the fireworks

[rluey29]

When I was at EPCOT watching Illuminations one year, my DS, DH and DM staked out our spot about 30 minutes ahead of time right at the iron fence by the boat dock. We were all standing. People were pretty sparse at that time. About 15 minutes prior, a woman who had been sitting about 20 feet behind me on a brick planter walked up and tapped me on the shoulder and said "You're blocking my view and you need to sit down or I'll go get a CM and make you sit down!"

I was floored! I do not talk that way to a perfect stranger and I don't take it well when they talk to me that way. I politely gave her a sentence of my choice and declined her offer. I stood the whole time but the rest of my family sat. Rudeness will get you nowhere with me.

Was I wrong or how should I approach it if that happens again?

 

[TJM1976]

I would have been speachless!!!! But I sure as heck would not have obeyed her orders. I would probably have said something un-disney and mentioned that I dont see any benches here so I will continue standing.

The nerve of people!!!!

 

[CLR4321]

LOL....I am a feisty one myself. If someone said that to me, I would have just said "Ok" and smiled at them. Clearly that woman doesn't understand that most people stand for Illuminations and also doesn't understand that that is no way to talk to someone. IMO, you did the right thing.

 

[rluey29]

Oh trust me...the sentence that I selected was very Un-Disney. I shouldn't have even had to talk like that. I just couldn't believe that she didn't just ASK me if I could sit. I am hot tempered when people are so rude!

I'm glad to see that I probably did the right thing though. I was pretty sure that there wasn't a rule that you had to sit for illuminations.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

...how should I approach it if that happens again?

"I'm sorry, but we were here first. Perhaps you should find another place to sit with a better view."

or

"Yes, please leave and let a CM know that people who arrived before you did got better spots."

Me, I would have just smiled at the woman and simply said, "Yeah, you go do that."

Sorry, but people who decide at the last minute that watching a parade or fireworks show is suddenly a priority and push their way in front of Guests who have been waiting for an hour or more is one of my pet peeves.

 

[kennezgirl]

I was amazed at the rudeness of so many people. Our first few days there, we all said excuse me and thank you and watched out for others. After getting cut off, stepped on, ran over, separated, wiggled out, and so on for a few days we finally just started watching out for ourselves.
At Illuminations, we had got our spot about 45 minutes prior. During the show, the people next to us took over our area. My 8 year old was in front of me and this guy had his entire arm/elbow in front of her face taking pictures and filming. This was day one for us and I said nothing. On day four it would have been a whole new ball game.
You were correct in your actions!

 

[wilde_oscar]

haveing had something happen like this to me twice... with two very different approaches. At MNSSHP forthe castle show a young man about 7 asked if I was going to stand during the show, and if he could stand in front of us if we weren't going to sit on the ground. perfectly acceptable.

At Illuminations near rose and crown, folks no where near the wall told me I could not stand there because it was blocking their view, they had obviously been drinking a while. If you are sitting at a bench yards from the wall to look over the lake, do you really get to tell people they can't stand there. The drunk wife started pushing me, no kidding really. Security showe d them the gate.

 

[BreezysMom]

I hate to say it but your story brings up the worst of our Disney memories.

We were at MVMCP last December and waited to see the late parade. We got a snack about 30 minutes before the start time and sat at a perfect spot to sit and relax before the parade. In very typical fashion, a large (7 bodies, 2 adults, 5 kiddos) family decides to stand right in front of us right as the parade was coming by. I was furious and politely told the CM standing right there to please inform the family that they just hijacked our space or I was going to do it. He shrugged his shoulders at me.

So, I took DD's hand and her and I went in front of them and sat down, beyond the yellow line. Was the CM going to tell me to move now? Yep, he sure did. I told him that due to the family behind me I was forced to reposition myself from a spot that I had been at for over 30 minutes. The people around me rallied and the CM finally told the family they had to find a new position. The Dad look mortified and the wife was po'd. They ended up leaving the area entirely. DH hates it when I take a stance like that but why should I sacrifice DD's experience for other people's rudeness?

Sadly, we really don't do many parade or in park firework viewing because it just brings out the worst in people.

I think you were totally justified in holding your ground. Maybe next time (hopefully there will be no next time) I would not be so colorful. You can take a stand without un-Disney like language.

 

[DebbieB]

One time at the parade during MVMCP my mom and I stood behind a family sitting on the curb at the hub. We left a good foot or two between us, we were not too close to them. The kids we playing on the sidewalk behind. The mom started making comments about people coming last minute and wanting to take their spots! Uh, I didn't know a curb spot extended all the way back on the sidewalk!

 

[kimberleeJohnston]

This is so sad....I do not like confontation at ALLL! My dh is the total oppisite, I would have sat down and he would have stood up taller...I know its bad but thats him! Why cant everyone just have a good time. I remember being at DW and my dad was always the one that stood up "taller" and I remmeber being embarassed as a child when parents were bickering between eachother......Goes to show that the kids are paying attention people!!!!!!!

 

[smjj]

This reminds me of the time at MVMCP several times ago that my wife and I staked out a spot to watch the parade. No one was next to us for about 5 feet either side. It was 30+ minutes to the parade. A lady then yells at us that she was reserving that spot for her family that was on the way. All this time others were filling in the gaps like we did. She was getting irate. She got on her phone and called her family and yelled into it to "get down here quick that people were stealing their spots". It was maybe 10 more minutes before her family arrived only to find out all their spots were now taken. She actually thought she could reserve a 10 to 15 foot spot...smjj

 

[OurMsBrooks]

Sometimes nice people can make up for these rotten situations. We had people cut in front of us at a parade one time, and this darling family next to us noticed and invited our kids to stand in front of them. That was so kind, and really made up for the jerks.

It reminds me of a time when I was a waitress, and a family was not happy with their food. I tried to make things right for them, but they were not satisfied. Each family member left a 1 cent tip under the plates. I was pretty demoralized, until the couple at the table across the aisle who had had only dessert and had witnessed the whole thing, left me a $20 bill for their tip. That was 25 years ago, and I'll never forget it.

Sometimes it can be hard to focus on the good when the jack@$*es come on strong, but I try.

 

[carmiedog]

The only thing you did wrong was not insisting that your family stand with you.

 

[Bullseye]

This is so sad....I do not like confontation at ALLL! My dh is the total oppisite, I would have sat down and he would have stood up taller...I know its bad but thats him!

From the looks of Josh, your husband, in your signature pics, you probably don't have to worry about too many people getting mouthy with you. That dude is huge!!! I think I would just move down a lil bit.

 

[maxiesmom]

I hate to say it but your story brings up the worst of our Disney memories.

We were at MVMCP last December and waited to see the late parade. We got a snack about 30 minutes before the start time and sat at a perfect spot to sit and relax before the parade. In very typical fashion, a large (7 bodies, 2 adults, 5 kiddos) family decides to stand right in front of us right as the parade was coming by. I was furious and politely told the CM standing right there to please inform the family that they just hijacked our space or I was going to do it. He shrugged his shoulders at me.

So, I took DD's hand and her and I went in front of them and sat down, beyond the yellow line. Was the CM going to tell me to move now? Yep, he sure did. I told him that due to the family behind me I was forced to reposition myself from a spot that I had been at for over 30 minutes. The people around me rallied and the CM finally told the family they had to find a new position. The Dad look mortified and the wife was po'd. They ended up leaving the area entirely. DH hates it when I take a stance like that but why should I sacrifice DD's experience for other people's rudeness?

Sadly, we really don't do many parade or in park firework viewing because it just brings out the worst in people.

I think you were totally justified in holding your ground. Maybe next time (hopefully there will be no next time) I would not be so colorful. You can take a stand without un-Disney like language.

I have to say I am a little confused by this post. Are you saying you were sitting a ways back from the parade route and didn't think anyone should stand in front of you? If so, then I think you were in the wrong. If they literally had to sqeeze in front of you, then that is different. But you can't expect to sit far back from the parade route and not have people fill in that space.

 

[cmassey]

if you don't want anyone in front of you, you cannot leave even one foot between you and the line, rail, etc.

if you don't want anyone between you and your loved ones, again, people will try to squeeze into the tiniest openings. or ask you to keep scooting over until you are crushed up next to your neighbors.

other than little kids whom i will accommodate when we have room to spare, i do not care one iota for the desires of other guests when it comes to parade time. i got her early enough to "stake my claim." you should have done the same. i have tried to be friendly too many times only to regret letting the camel under the tent.

 

[Glampire31]

I feel the same way that most of you do... If you have a space that you have designated for yourself and someone who arrives late or just wants a better view tells you to move I would not do it....

There have been times that I have had people step right in front of me wherever I am standing and the people I am with try telling them to move over, and some do, some don't.... Granted I am 32 years old and only 4"11"... So it is usually some tall person who gets in my way....

 

[catne]

"

"Yes, please leave and let a CM know that people who arrived before you did got better spots."

.

This has got to be one of the best answers I've ever seen to this kind of situation, and similar variations of this situation. This response is perfectly polite and a completely reasonable suggestion - yet makes the point most clearly. Bravo

 

[inkkognito]

I've encountered plenty of rude behavior at WDW, but surprisingly not with parade and Illuminations viewing spots. The only time I ever had anyone try to "crowd" me in a viewing spot was one day at Epcot when I felt someone bumping up against me repeatedly. I was in front of a solid wall at Morocco but there was a whole about halfway down the wall (I was tall enough to see over it). I looked down to see who was bumping and it was a little girl, so I put my hand on her head and guided her in front of me...the hole was just the right height for her to see through. Other than that, I've luckily never encountered any spot stealers. If I did, I'd tell 'em to go pound sand.

 

[scotas]

I also had good luck watching illuminations from Morocco. Last year DH and I managed to sneak away from the rest of our group to see illuminations. We found a nice quiet spot by Morocco. A gentleman came over with his two grown sons and asked if they could stand near us. We actually had a great time chatting with them. I just wish it could be like that for all the fireworks and parades.