Saw lots of Unmagical Parents

[Teri1]

On our recent trip DH and I noticed allot of parents losing it with their children. Maybe we noticed this more because we didn't have children with us this time. You couldn't help but hear the loud threats and crying children. I kept telling my DH that they were not being very Magical or they were not having a Magical Day like they tell you when you enter the park. Children have one idea and parents have another I think. I don't know how many times we heard, " We just got here and you are already crying!!!)
I really felt bad for the parents as well as the children.

 

[ryansmom]

How sad.

 

[JAP]

I decided that for this trip with our 2 kids DD 6 1/2 DS 2 1/2 that we would just go with the flow. If they get tired or cranky we will stop and take a break. DD will be happy to go back to the hotel and swim while her brother sleeps. I want this trip to be relaxing and happy.

I have not planned too much except for Fantasmic dinner package and a PS at Chef Mickeys.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[HM]

I notices some of the same last week at Universal. Twice waiting in line to enter, there were crying children and chastising parents. The day hadn't even started yet. -HM

 

[tink2]

Please don't flame me- but please remember, what you often see is a very brief moment in a family's vacation. My family travels together and we have 4 children with us. Our last trip to WDW we had children the ages of 6 months, 2 1/2, 5, and 8. Yes, there were a few times the older three had to be disciplined and yes, they cried- briefly. If this had not occured, the behavior would have continued and everyone around would be wishing they had been disciplined. When its over, the rest of the day is magical. Now, I understand some parents may be too harsh or extreme. But I've experienced moments at WDW when a child of mine was disciplined and when I see a situation- I sympathize with the parent and child and hope the problem ends soon. Children are children. Unless they behave perfectly at home, they will not behave perfectly on vacation. And, just as they are disciplined at home, my children will be disciplined on vacation.
Hopefully, my family won't have too many behavior moments this visit- last time they were too excited and happy to misbehave most of the time!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Our first trip with kids was super smooth sailing...we only had one little girl, 18 months old and she was a piece of cake, loved the characters, slept inthe stroller, etc....

DH and I will never forget a parent shouting at a crying child, "We take you nice places! We buy you nice things! And THIS is how you act?!" It was very sad for the child, but we couldn't help but laugh. What a quote! We even say it to each other once in a while, when our 18 month old piece of cake is now having a 5 year old power struggle with us.

It can happen to the best of families, but I think the key thing is to go with the flow -- following your child's lead! Take breaks when they want, eat when they want, be prepared with drinks, snacks, and distractions (smiles, kisses, jokes, autograph bookes, pressed pennies, etc...). If they'd rather swim instead of go back to the parks for fireworks -- so be it. If they's rather play in a fountain for 20 minutes, so be it. These are magical moments evenif they aren't the magical moments we pent hours researching and planning

Even the best parents and children may experience a meltdown or two at WDW, but following your kids lead will keep them to a minimum...It is a magical place, but no place can be magical every moment of day 24/7 for days on end.

:

 

[adams66]

Very well said! We have been lucky enough to go to Disney many times and I learned a long time ago that what seems important and fun to me, does not necessarily sound fun to my kids. If you have the luxury of time, spend a few hours in the park, then go back to the hotel and relax or swim - or a least sit down for a break or a meal. Little legs have to take quite a few steps to every one of ours. Two trips ago, I was so excited that I booked the Pirate Cruise for my 2 DS's. That morning, I couldn't even convince them to go to the darn thing. Of course, I was disappointed, and I was out the money because it is a prepay. But we had a great day doing something else that we all agreed on and nobody cried or yelled at anyone else.

Keep in mind that most young kids don't do well with the "commando-style" of touring the parks. I have a sister that does that and I guess it works for them. But I just end up exhausted not to mention the kids do too.

I agree with the previous poster, take a cue from the kids once in a while, it their vacation too!

 

[Dznefreek]

I kept telling my DH that they were not being very Magical or they were not having a Magical Day like they tell you when you enter the park.

You are taking this whole "Magical" thing way too seriously. Besides' it is "Marketing" not "Magic" that keeps the Disney machine rolling.

 

[helenm29]

I am sorry to hear about that. I have three kids...10 year old twins and a 16 year old and there are times that they try my patience! I have learned over the years that when I get THAT frustrated to just sit down somewhere with everyone and talk it out. I try to remember that this is a VACATION and we are supposed to have fun! Hopefully some of these other parents will take the time to remember this.

 

[Teri1]

Dznefreak, you took my comment wrong. I said that to DH in jest. I know a vacation as demanding as WDW can not always be perfect. I just realized as parents we have to step back and look at what the children need and just go with the flow sometimes. Comando style doesn't always work with kids. When our kids got to be teens we could let them go their way and we went ours.

 

[TreeOfLife]

You are taking this whole "Magical" thing way too seriously. Besides' it is "Marketing" not "Magic" that keeps the Disney machine rolling.

Got to give you credit for that one!

True...

Comando style doesn't always work with kids.

That line opens a lot to misjudgement. We've gone to Disney several times, but the first couple of times we did commando style because we never knew when we'd come back.

Yes, I dragged the kids along. But heck I do not come from a farm! I give no shows, I visit them!

I will admit that the conditions get hard to bear when it is hot, the lines are long, the little ones need to use the bathroom or get ansy. But it is just a matter of being rude and uneducated to scream it all out in front of everyone, rather than training those kids beforehand to bear with it for a few days.

We have always been an outdoor - oriented, active family. I took them on long hikes and even walks around the mall for hours before walking in the parks. I did end up squeezing two kids in a single stroller in parks that did not rent doubles back then. But it is a matter of preparing yourself and the kids to deal with the exhausting trip...

... And have some decency not to scream at your kids in public. Leave the shows for the attractions instead...

 

[sters]

I have to agree with an earlier poster that you are witnessing a small moment in a whole day or vacation. I have three kids from 3-7, and each one of them had their moments, but fewer than they have at home, so I came out a winner! Heck, I even had a meltdown of my own at the POR bus stop! I think we are all entitled to one Disney Meltdown per trip, so I used mine up that day. WDW is a very stimulating and exhausting place, especially in the heat. It costs a lot of money to be at Disney, so it's understandable for parents to try and squeeze in as much as possible, especially if they won't ever be back again.

 

[CamColt]

I agree with tink. My kids are not angels and I am not the perfect parent. But when my kids are misbehaving I do what I have to do to stop that. If those of us who discipline our kids didnt, there would be a lot more posts here about wild unruly children whose parents dont care. Sometimes us parents have to be the bad guys, with some pixie dust, that only lasts a few minutes.

 

[DisFam95]

It's not always just "a moment" in someone's vacation!! We ran into a group of guests (dad, twin girls, son, dad's brother) staying at our hotel about 6 seperate times 1 day. At the bus stop (and of course in the bus), and all over AK. Dad kept berating and yelling horrible things at 1 of the twin girls (maybe 9yrs old). My DH and I never heard a peep from this child and all of the 6 times and the entire bus ride was absolutely horrible things. He kept yelling at her how she had ruined everyone's vaction. I wnated to smack this "father"!!

 

[lenshanem]

I ahve to agree here. As a mom to a 2 1/2 and 5 1/2 year odl i can toatlly understand. When I ever get out of the house without them and I see a kid and parenat ahving a "moment" I usually feel thier pain. I think peopel forget how difficult it is taking young children out! The time flies by so quickly and I think most peopel liek to remember the good times and not the trying times.
How many times have you been out with littel ones and that eldery couple at the tabel beside you look at you with a scorn on their face? That look of you shoudl atek them to the bathroom and spank them?!? LOL Well, I think they've forgotten how it really is! It is easy to say if it were my child.......
I think WDw can be overwhelming to anyoen, no matter what the age. Occassional meltdowns can happen especially in the summer with the heat and long lines. But, I guarantee the kids remember the fun stuff of the trip. I'm amazed at what my oldest remmebers from past trips! It is rare these days kids even get to spend time with their family. I think WDW si a great place to do it. Unfortunately, there are soem jerks out there and they so happen to be parenats, too!

 

[Lynn CC]

I feel bad for the kids, some parents are just miserable way too much of the time. I've never seen a miserable kid if they were having fun!

 

[HappyMommy2]

I, too, witnessed some very cranky and harsh parents at
WDW but I had to chuckle a bit just now when I read the posts that described seeing kids crying at the very beginning of the day, waiting to enter the park--that could have been our kids! The first morning we were at WDW, we arrived at MK before opening and waited at the turnstile, eagerly slathering both kids (3 and 1) with sunblock from head to toe. Within a couple of minutes DS 3 began screaming and crying miserably, and of course DS 1 joined in. It took a while for us to figure out what was wrong; in the meantime we probably looked like awful parents who were forcing their overtired kids to get up at the crack of dawn to go to a park! Turned out DS 3 had gotten sweaty and had rubbed sunblock into his eyes and they were burning; we were able to help him somewhat but after that he was still a bit upset and grumpy for a little while.

Needless to say we switched to a sweatproof sunblock stick for faces after that but that first morning was a doozy!

 

[Cindymere]

Last vacation, we saw a family we dubbed "the loud family"-- and we saw them several days in several parks.. lol.. we couldn't get away from them. They couldn't speak to each other.. only barked comments (mostly negative) to each other. They were 2 parents and 2 kids, looking about 8 and 10.

 

[KathyFP]

I believe when you combine overstimulation, fatigue, high expectation and expensive, it is not unusual to see behavioral issues.

WDW cost a lot of money and for many families it is a once in a lifetime experience. They want to get the most of the trip. That may create a situation where children are "pushed" (not literally) to limits they have never experienced before.

Children want to have a good time, but see so much and it is hard for them to take everthing in.

Characters can be frightening.

Parents who need to have more patience are on a limited supply.

In most cases, I believe parents are trying to do the best they can.

 

[faithinkarma]

I witnessed parental behavior that was quite upsetting. I was sitting on the balcony at Boardwalk Villas and saw a father become so angry with his son ( about 3-4 years old ) that he grabbed the child's teddy bear and threw it into the water. Then he stalked away. The mother was left to deal with the howling child. The bear was of course irretrievable.

the scene will stay with me for a very long time.