Rude Parade watchers

[SharonS]

My Mom is in a wheelchair, and is very short. It is unbelievable how many people are truly rude and step in front of the wheelchair, or decide to stand in front of her like she isn't there. Over at AK, it is really bad when you go to see the gorillas. Very rarely will anyone move aside and allow you to get the wheelchair in so she can see. I have also seen many children walk right over her.

It really bothers me at parade time in MK. We always go to the handicapped section across from the Hall of Presidents. When we were down in May for Spectromagic, the CM's working the area were terrible. There was a couple that just decided to stand in that area and did not have any handicapped folks with them. There was another family who had 1 individual in a wheelchair. There were about 8 people with them and they had a stroller. They politely parked the stroller and others along the rope. The CM's never bothered to make them move. A couple, both in ECV's came along, and the CM actually parked them behind everyone instead of making these folks move! I told the CM about the folks that did not even have a wheelchair party with them, and he finally made them move and that allowed the folks in the ECV to get a spot to view the parade.

When we go to the handicapped area to view the parade, I always stand behind the wheelchair.

 

[leebee]

I tend to be a little loud-mouthed at parades, but IMO it's always to everyone's benefit. I've found that if I calm DD's concerns about being able to see by responding (in a slightly-louder-than-normal tone), "Don't worry, honey, all the kids are going to SIT in front while the grown-ups STAND behind them so EVERYONE will be able to see!" (or something along those lines), most folks get the hint and play nicely. Sometimes Disney first-timers don't realize HOW huge and close-up the floats are, and think they won't be able to see if they aren't right there in the front. HOWEVER, I don't understand how people can't use a little common sense and courtesy at these parades so everyone can enjoy the spectacle! I was annoyed when, watching Spectro last Jan., the group sitting to our left (direction the parade was coming from) chose to stand up just as the floats started arriving. It was almost impossible to see around them, and the kids had to peer thru peoples' legs to see what was coming. If everyone could be courteous, we wouldn't even HAVE this thread going!

 

[philaround]

As bad as these parade "pushers" are I have the most problems with the people, usually with 2 or more strollers, suddenly deciding that 20 minutes before parade time they simply must get form Adventureland or Frontierland to the park exit RIGHT NOW, and everyone better get out of their way.
I quess they don't know about the train.

Last May a family with 3 double strollers actually tried to lift the strollers over the fence into the flower beds between the paths to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. I was wearing a GOH badge so I gave them a dirty look and wagged my finger at them. They actually stopped lifting the strollers and went back up the path to Fantasyland.

I knew those badges would be worth the money.

As an aside we were there on the Silver Plan for the 1st 6 days we were there and as part of the package got to go to special viewing areas for the AK parade, MK fireworks, and EPCOT Illuminations. I'm guessing you might get even more on the gold plan but I've never checked. They have special roped off areas with CM's stationed at the entrance with a list of names of people with reservations. So if you can splurge once in a while it is worth it.

By the way this was the 1st time and [unless I get lots of money from someplace] probably the last time I'll get to do a plan.

 

[ncgolfer]

I used to just shrug it off when people tried to push in front of me for parades but have found that most of the people who will push in front of you will quickly push to get behind you if you give them a little "encouragement" aka a nose to nose conversation. You don't even have to speak english to understand it either. I'm not a violent person but rudness is one thing I no longer tolerate.

Just my $.02

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by carone0318
When we go to WDW we plan for the rudeness and expect to receive our fill of it. Sad, but true! I will add that we don't let it ruin our vacation either. I enjoy watching parades and will get there very early to secure ourselves a spot. We once got a spot for the 3pm MK parade about 1 hr early. I wanted a particular spot because I had seen earlier in our trip that the float stopped there, right in front of Casey's. So we got there about an 1 hour early. Grabbed some hot dogs, fries and drinks, then we went and sat on the curb and ate our late lunch. My trick to avoid having people come right up on top of me and "invade that personal space" is we sit on the curb and we park the stroller, sideways parallel with the street, right behind our backs. So people can stand behind the stroller and see clearly, but not be on top of me. Well, one older woman started pushing our stroller out of the way. I turned to her and said, what are you doing? She said that she wanted to get closer to see. My response to her was if you wanted to right up here, you should been here an hour ago when I got here. People with their entitlement! I put the time in for that spot I am not budging.... (and I do not have a problem relaying that message to anyone who cares to challenge me.) By the way, that non-magical moment was capped off with Cinderella picking my daughter out of the parade audience to dance with her and the Prince - let's just say magical. It was big thrill to her at time (when she was into the princess thing...)

I can understand you wanting space for you and your family, but I think the stroller thing is a bit much. Why not just put the stroller in front of you?

The parades are crowded. When I watch one I expected to be surrounded by a bunch of people.

When I read your post it reminded me of people taking a bus or train during rush hour then complaining that people are standing to close to them.

 

[YCFAN]

KimR: I love the Hades remark!! We were in MK last July waiting around 50 minutes in our spot for the afternoon parade. Very hot and with a two year old. Just at the last minute a family with about 5 kids (ages about 7- 16) comes pushing in front of us. My husband was holding our son so he wasn't even taking up a space. I glared at the mother and said, "excuse me we've been waiting here a very long time." Her response to me was, "well, it's all for the kids anyway." I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say. I guess I wasn't suppose to get to see the parade because I was over 18. Having said that, the next evening we were waiting for Spectromagic (very early) and a family from China sat next to us. They had a very young son also (maybe 2 or 3). Before you know it, both kids are playing together and playing with their light up toys. They were so cute together. Neither one of them knew what the other was saying and neither did we parents but it didn't seem to matter at the moment. I remember thinking, "This would make Walt very happy to see this." These are the memories I try to take with me from WDW.

 

[Guads6]

I'm just glad I'm not the only one who encounters rude people! I have stated before that someone needs to put a chapter in all the Disney planners on reminders of how to be courteous and kind to your fellow vacationers.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Originally posted by disneyjunkie
I can understand you wanting space for you and your family, but I think the stroller thing is a bit much. Why not just put the stroller in front of you?

Why should they put a stroller in front of them if they are seated on the curb? Then they have to get up to see over or peer around the stroller. They are not taking up valuable sitting space by putting it next to them on the curb - they're putting it behind them where it's out of the way plus the added benefit of giving them a little personal space. I don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[hockey mom]

We also staked out our spot an hour early for the parade and when another family came up my DH and I opted to take a step back with the parents and let their kids sit up front with ours. Slowly but surely the mother is creeping her way to the front and as soon as the parade started she stood up and videotaped the whole thing-totally blocking our view. Being nice was a HUGE mistake on our part.

 

[Toby]

What's with people and these parades? Every parade I have ever been to it's always been people trying to push and shove their way to the front - mostly adults who should know better. Like their day will be ruined if they don't seen Winnie the Pooh up close and personal. I don't even bother watching them anymore. Main Street is narrow enough trying to walk down it. It's not built wide enough to hold large crowds for parade watching - so people are always jostling for a good spot.

And everyone wonders why different countries don't get along??
People can't even be civil to children watching a parade!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I think people need to remember that WDW is full of a lot of people (some with strollers, some without; some with wheelchairs or ecvs and some without) who are on their first trip to the "world" and really are so overwhelmed with everything that they are not paying as much attention as they should. Some are basically nice people, some are rude. But the rude ones would probably be rude whether they were at WDW or not.
Some of those people bump into or run into others (whether from rudeness or being just overwhelmed). If they are walking, the people they bump into probably don't pay that much attention, or they (or the people they run into) can move out of the way quickly enough that no collision occurs. If they are using a double stroller, wheelchair or ecv, people do notice because those are out of the ordinary things.
Some things to think about:

• Most of the lines at WDW are wheelchair accessible, so wheelchair users for the most part are waiting in the same lines with everyone else. Sometimes we disappear from the line, but don't get right on - we are routed somewhere else to wait. My family's record wait is a 40 minute wait for the wheelchair accessible Kilimanjari Safari when people who could walk on were getting on as fast as they could walk down the path (and some of the cars were even leaving partially filled because people were not coming fast enough).
• People driving wheelchairs or ecvs might not see others.
  Someone in a wheelchair or ecv are sitting low to the ground and can't see as far ahead as someone who is walking (people often comment that they like to drive SUVs on the highway because they have a better view of the road - same deal here; ambulatory people have a much better view of what's coming because they can see farther ahead of them). ECV and wheelchair drivers also get blocked views - when you are moving along at "behind" level, you miss a lot of ability to see what's ahead of you.
  Someone pushing a stroller also has a somewhat blocked view ahead.
• People don't see wheelchairs or ecvs.
  Walking along, people expect to see adults at close to adult eye level and just don't notice wheelchairs or ecvs. People driving wheelchairs and ecvs often comment that they become "invisible" once they sit down (one frequent poster jokes that her DH says she'd be perfect at bank robbery because no one ever notices her once she's using her ecv). Because of this, people frequently walk or step out in front of wheelchair/ecv drivers without noticing that anyone is there. My DD (in a wheelchair) actually almost ended up with someone in her lap when the woman (who was taking a picture) backed into the sidewalk.
• Body image
  Each of us has a mental picture of how much space we take up that helps us decide whether a space is too narrow or short, etc for us to go thru. My DD's mental picture includes her wheelchair because she has used one since she was almost 3. She doesn't have to think about the extra space her wheels take up next to her or that her wheelchair "body" extends a few inches beyond her feet (or even that her body is moving along in a seated position - which takes up more space in front of her). She doesn't have to think about it because her body image has always included those things.
  Someone who uses a wheelchair or ecv occasionally (or even a stroller) doesn't carry that mental picture of the space they take up; their automatic picture of themselves is walking around, which takes a much smaller space. So, when they come close to someone else, they may come closer than they intend. And people may come closer to them, since people's mental image of another adult does not include their feet sticking out 2 feet farther than their head.
• Wheelchairs and ecvs don't have brakes.
  The only ability to stop they have is for the driver stop giving them power. They don't have any brakes, so they can't stop quickly.

You do see more wheelchairs and ecvs in WDW than out in the "regular" world. One of the reasons is, for someone in a wheelchair, it's a relatively friendly place. Almost all the transportation is wheelchair accessible (it isn't in the "real" world), where there are stairs, there are also ramps (not so in the "real" world) and, if they say something is accessible, it usually is (no "wheelchair accessible rooms" at WDW that include 2 steps to get in the door like we have found in the "real" world).
There are also a lot of people who don't NEED a wheelchair or ecv in their everyday life, but DO when they visit WDW. (Not too many people walk 3-10 miles a day).

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Disney Debbie
Why should they put a stroller in front of them if they are seated on the curb? Then they have to get up to see over or peer around the stroller. They are not taking up valuable sitting space by putting it next to them on the curb - they're putting it behind them where it's out of the way plus the added benefit of giving them a little personal space. I don't see anything wrong with that.

----------------------------------------

I'm confused...was the stroller "next" to them - or "behind" them? I would NOT have wanted a stroller "behind" me and my small children.. I've seen what can happen when crowds "surge" forward and I think having a stroller crushed on top of you - or at the very least, crammed into your back - would make for a very unpleasant viewing experience..

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Disney Debbie
Why should they put a stroller in front of them if they are seated on the curb? Then they have to get up to see over or peer around the stroller. They are not taking up valuable sitting space by putting it next to them on the curb - they're putting it behind them where it's out of the way plus the added benefit of giving them a little personal space. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I don't see anything wrong with that either. When I go with my mom, she can't sit on the curb waiting for a parade, benches are hard to find. I look for someone who has a stroller behind them, that way we can stand there without bothering them and have a great view since they are sitting on the curb. Some people do take it too far. We did this at MVMCP last year,the mother hollered over to her son playing on the other side of the sidewalk by the Tomorrowland walkway to get over to the curb, people are trying to push in. We were not pushing, we were well behind them, they seemed to think their space extended all the way back on the sidewalk.

 

[Madhatter266]

I honestly have never had a good experience while watching any of the parades. The entire situation is just too unsettling and I can't put myself thru it any more! Last year our DS was in the parade as part of Disney Magical Music Days. Even though DH and myself were able to see and hear them play, as soon as their unit passed, we left! I don't have enough Prevacid to "fight the fight" anymore!

 

[shatzjsl]

After reading all these posts I have decided that we will try to find a spot for the parades but if we can't find a good one we will just go on rides. I'm on vacation, I don't need the headaches that seem to be associated with watching a parade.

 

[picantel]

I am 6'3 240lbs so nobody really messes with me thank god. I always give my seat up to small children and most of the time in playhouse disney I go to the back. However, if anyone dares touch my little ones they are in for a world of hurt.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Originally posted by leebee
I tend to be a little loud-mouthed at parades, but IMO it's always to everyone's benefit. I've found that if I calm DD's concerns about being able to see by responding (in a slightly-louder-than-normal tone), "Don't worry, honey, all the kids are going to SIT in front while the grown-ups STAND behind them so EVERYONE will be able to see!" (or something along those lines), most folks get the hint and play nicely. ...

I have bad knees, so it is difficult for me to sit down on the curb. Therefore, I stand. And if I'm there early to stake out a spot, please don't expect me to sit down so your family can see. I'm gonna stand to watch the parade. However, I usually will let some kids sit in front of me with my son.

Originally posted by YCFAN
"well, it's all for the kids anyway." ...

And if I had a nickel for everytime I heard that one, I'd have a lot more DVC points. No, it's for everyone, kids, parents, grandparents, old geezers, young pups, etc.

 

[GreenEyes0205]

This is what my family (husband & 3 teen boys) does whenever someone standing behind us watching a parade gets too close for comfort. Ready for this? (It's gross, but it works) They fart, and usually more than 1 of them does this at the same time. Gross, but it works like a charm & the people quickly move back, far back! I am the one standing at the end of them with my fingers pinching my nose & laughing!

 

[DisneyMim]

After years of wasting time and dealing with rude people, my family has all agreed that the parades are just not worth it any longer. We sometimtes do catch part of them in the back or as we are moving along heading towards rides. It really is sad that there are soooo many rude people out there.

 

[eelderm1]

I have a couple of rude people stories but I will just tell this brief one. This was not at a parade but while waiting in line recently at Philharmagic. We were in line outside of the building and there was a lot of school kids there all with same shirts , we had seen groups of them throughout the day. Well these 4 boys about my sons age, 10 years old, were running around and roughhousing in line, obviously not being supervised very well, well my 67 year old mother was bending over for something ( not sure what or I would have gotten it for her), anyway these kids ran right into her, pushed her up against the wall and ended up hurting her leg pretty badly, she has bad legs and it hurt her for like a week. My mother yelled at them and tried to find out who was in charge to talk to them but we couldnt find anyone, the kids never stopped playing or laughing. Make your children behave people! I told my mother thats why I dont let my kids go on long school trips without me, I am always scared they will not be supervised very well. I mean something could have even happened to one of those kids with no supervision.