Seeking conversation/opinions on age restrictions, strollers, crowds, etc.

[KellyHonos]

Hello, guys. Heads up, this will be a lengthy post. Bear with me.

I am new to the boards. I have been posting for a couple weeks now, and so far I've been really enjoying myself. I have had a lot of great, meaningful and insightful conversations with people about Disney and disney-related topics. I think it's really interesting to see other people's train of thoughts and opinions on things. It helps me have a better understanding and allows me to create a more well-rounded opinion. Thank you to anyone who has engaged in a conversation with me that has helped open my eyes

With that being said, some of the threads I have been reading discuss on-going annoyances with crowds, strollers, wheelchairs, screaming and entitled children, large families hogging up space, etc. I wanted to see if we could get a healthy dialogue going here to share some stories and insight as to what we think of these topics and possibly shed some light on the way we feel regarding these concerns.

First, I will share where I am coming from in regards to these topics, and why I view these things the way I do. Please note that my opinions are not meant to offend. I am here to offer my opinion and why I have that opinion, and if people are willing, I'd be happy to have a conversation. Judging, bashing, shaming, etc., is not the type of response that I would deem appropriate.

In terms of crowds, I think they come with the territory of visiting Disney. I am hearing that off-season is now being obsolete. I am hearing extra magic hours are not helping with crowds. I am hearing fast passes are not working the way they're meant to. I'm hearing ADR's are not working the way they're meant to. I am an extremely irritable person when it comes to crowds in my everyday life, but when I'm in Disney, I prepare myself for waits and a lot of people. I would be lying if I said the crowds didn't bother me, but the last time I went, I got on everything I wanted, I didn't wait an excessive amount of time for food or fast passes, so I was a happy camper. I guess when you go into the situation being prepared for high crowds, you don't let the crowds get under your skin as much.

Strollers and wheelchairs tend to get me the most heated. It is not that I am ignorant to the fact that people who visit Disney come in all ages, shapes and sizes. I do not for one second think that elderly people nor small children should not be allowed in the parks, but I do however think more consideration could be had by families utilizing wheelchairs and strollers. I think we all have first hand accounts of someones wheel chair or stroller bumping into us, whether it was completely accidental or a product of neglect. Accidents happen, and with crowds being so high, sometimes are are going to run into each other. But when you see families with wheelchairs and strollers having zero consideration for others, it's hard to not get irritated by the entitlement. Now, this can also be flipped around. I will see groups of people walk directly in front of an elderly person in a wheel chair and cut the person completely off, and I've seen this done with strollers too. We all need to be looking out for each other and having the courtesy to look both ways, say excuse me, pass with care and have the decency to not hog up additional space.

Now here comes the touchiest subject of all; screaming children. I may have an unpopular opinion on this, but I'm not going to mute myself to avoid hurting people's feelings. I think bringing small children (infant-4/5 years old) should be considered tremendously before doing so, and let me tell you why. Infants cry anytime they are uncomfortable or in need of food, water, a changing as well being irritated. I promise you, an infant will not enjoy being in the Florida heat all day long as people are laughing, screaming, talking all day long. That can be very irritable to a baby. 2-4 year olds do not have the patience to stand in lines longer than 30 minutes. They do not enjoy being on their feet all day long in the heat. They more than likely will not even remember the trip. I think as a parent, you are not only making the trip unpleasant not only for them but also yourselves. This does not mean I am against children in the parks, please note that. I am just saying that you need to err on the side of caution and go into a Disney trip with back up plans if tantrums ensue. Perhaps only having 1-2 park days and then taking a day of rest or allowing them to play at the pool. Or only staying at the park as long as the child seems happy and comfortable. Do not force your child into staying because of money; that totally defeats the purpose. I really suggest waiting until at least 5. A screaming child is not fun to listen to, and not they're certainly not fun to appease. I AM NOT ANTI CHILD. I am just anti-screaming and anti-tantrum. You need to remember that your vacation is just as much as everyone else's vacation. Be aware and conscious of that.

Lastly, large groups/families taking up space that is open to everyone really grind my gears. I understand that families come in all shapes and sizes. Some families can consists of as little as 2 people, some can consist of 15. I understand this varies tremendously, and I am by NO MEANS saying big families cannot enjoy Disney. I am, however , urging people to be more aware of their surroundings. It is not fair for you and your family of 10 to walk hand in hand down Mainstreet. It is inconsiderate and rude for the other guests around you. There are plenty of ways to stay connected other than walking hand in hand. I could go on, but you get the point. Big groups and families have every right to come and enjoy the Disney parks, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be considerate.

These were the most common complaints I have come across on the boards, so I wanted to point them out and see if a healthy and constructive conversation could be conducted here. I am aware that not all of these circumstances are a "one size fits all" type of situations. Some people do not have the option to take the older child and leave the smaller one behind, for example, so bringing the infant to the park is the only way they can come. I get that. But just generally speaking, these are my thoughts. I'd like to hear some others. All opinions and thoughts are welcomed. Maybe we could help each other understand how to be better guests.

 

[Tksolomom]

I disagree with the infants and younger children. Sure my daughter cried a bit when I brought her at 10 months, all babies cry. On the other hand, she was rarely so happy as when we were at Disney World. Sure, she didn’t remember I, but she does second hand and loves seeing the pictures. She also loved all the music and crowds, and any ride I could bring her on like PPTC, WTP, Dumbo, etc. My son at 4 did remember some things, especially when we went back at 6. Those memories might all meld together, but he knew that he had been there and that he had fun. If vacations were only for when children remembered them, then there would be no point going anywhere, we wouldn’t have gone on vacation for 9 years. It is all about bing together as a family and enjoying yourselves. Being there and seeing the little ones believe in everything is pat of the magic. My children are all pat that age, but nothing brings a smile to my face more than seeing a 3 year old getting so excited to meet there favorite character. Disney to me means watching the magic through the eyes of the small children.

I do agree though that it is hard going from open to close with young children, they can have meltdowns. They have those at home too. You just need to realize that you may need to take breaks, let them nap in the stroller, or take some time off to go back to the hotel and maybe the pool. I don’t get upset when I see a family with a child getting upset, I tend to smile at the parent, we’ve all been there at some point.

I do see what you mean about strollers and wheelchairs, but as much as I have been hit or jostled by them, I have been as well by people pushing and shoving there way without them. When there are that many people, there are bound to be some rude ones, but I think you just have to go with the flow. Of course I do get upset some times, but I try not to let other peoples behavior impact my trip.

My least favorite thing is having 1 person in line and then having 5 or 6 try to join them. I never mind when q or 2 people come in, that seems to normally be the bathroom, but I do not like line holding.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm going to guess OP doesn't have kids.

 

[Colleen27]

I disagree with you on what kids do and don't enjoy. I think young children can enjoy the parks as long as their parents are responsive to their needs, and there is nothing inherently unpleasant about Florida from their view. My youngest was a toddler when we started visiting and she never had a hard time waiting in lines, playing in the heat (there are a lot of shady places and water play areas for young ones to enjoy!), and while she doesn't remember the trips she loves seeing the pictures and talking about them. She was happy to watch all the action; it was the tween that tended to get whiny about lines and crowds and heat! And there's a wonder in taking young kids that isn't there if you wait until they're 5+ and are already hearing from peers that Mickey and Santa are just people dressed up in costumes or getting to the start of the peer pressure to set aside "baby" things.

We recently took our first trip with a wheelchair, thanks to DS's boyfriend's mobility problems, and it was an eye opening experience. People treat wheelchairs like they're invisible then complain when the person in the chair can't stop on a dime or swerve to avoid someone who stopped abruptly or stepped in front of them. And everyone seems to be in such a hurry that courtesy on the part of the person in the chair often means a ridiculous exercise in frustration while waiting for an opening that never seems to come.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think adults having tantrums at Disney happens as often as you hear babies crying. You can't put that many people together and not have some unhappy campers, no matter the age.

It is fine to share your opinion, as long as you realize it is not an edict and other will do what they wish. I think it is fine to have children of every age at Disney World. I know when my youngest niece went for her first trip at just over 2 months of age she was super easy. It was the 6 year old who had the crying fit.

 

[KellyHonos]

As I stated, I'm not anti-child. I'm simply saying that young children do not necessarily have the patience or tempermant for long lines and heat. Yes, in a perfect world where all parents are tentative to their children's needs, we probably would have a lot less crying. And I do offer a smile to the parents handling a meltdown, because I understand the last thing a parent wants their child doing is Disney is being upset. But that is not always the case. I have overheard fathers and mothers tell their children they aren't taking a break because they won't be back for a long time and the trip was expensive, so on so forth. I do not think that that is the correct way to handle children at a theme park. The heat, the crowds and all the waiting and walking can be cause for a lot of irritation. Not just for children, but for anyone. It's okay to take breaks. Taking a break when your child needs it will more than likely avoid the melt downs and fits I was reading about on the trip reports. I feel bad when I see children breaking down and crying because it most likely means they're tired and they need a break. I know I will not take my children to Disney until they're old enough to walk, because I will not be carrying them all day. They need to be able to walk, and they need to be potty trained. If others have different criteria, great for them. It's all about what we are comfortable with as parents.

The point of this post was to point out common complaints and to discuss them, not to assess whether or not I have children. I didn't start this thread for us to complain and whine, I actually think it would be really interesting to offer up some etiquette and advice to these concerns so we could all be better guests and be more understanding I think offering a smile to a crying child and a disgruntled parent is a great place to start!

 

[KellyHonos]

I think adults having tantrums at Disney happens as often as you hear babies crying. You can't put that many people together and not have some unhappy campers, no matter the age.

It is fine to share your opinion, as long as you realize it is not an edict and other will do what they wish. I think it is fine to have children of every age at Disney World. I know when my youngest niece went for her first trip at just over 2 months of age she was super easy. It was the 6 year old who had the crying fit.

*sigh*...I realize nothing I say is edict. I was sharing my opinion and asking for others to share theirs. That's all

 

[SaintsManiac]

As I stated, I'm not anti-child. I'm simply saying that young children do not necessarily have the patience or tempermant for long lines and heat. Yes, in a perfect world where all parents are tentative to their children's needs, we probably would have a lot less crying. And I do offer a smile to the parents handling a meltdown, because I understand the last thing a parent wants their child doing is Disney is being upset. But that is not always the case. I have overheard fathers and mothers tell their children they aren't taking a break because they won't be back for a long time and the trip was expensive, so on so forth. I do not think that that is the correct way to handle children at a theme park. The heat, the crowds and all the waiting and walking can be cause for a lot of irritation. Not just for children, but for anyone. It's okay to take breaks. Taking a break when your child needs it will more than likely avoid the melt downs and fits I was reading about on the trip reports. I feel bad when I see children breaking down and crying because it most likely means they're tired and they need a break. I know I will not take my children to Disney until they're old enough to walk, because I will not be carrying them all day. They need to be able to walk, and they need to be potty trained. If others have different criteria, great for them. It's all about what we are comfortable with as parents.

The point of this post was to point out common complaints and to discuss them, not to assess whether or not I have children. I didn't start this thread for us to complain and whine, I actually think it would be really interesting to offer up some etiquette and advice to these concerns so we could all be better guests and be more understanding I think offering a smile to a crying child and a disgruntled parent is a great place to start!

This post really confuses me, because you contradict yourself a couple of times. Discussing complaints is the same thing as complaining, isn't it?

I just don't understand the motive here. People generally don't want etiquette advice given to them on the internet.

 

[maxiesmom]

*sigh*...I realize nothing I say is edict. I was sharing my opinion and asking for others to share theirs. That's all

Well then my opinion is that it is not the greatest idea to start a thread that is so obviously going to cause hurt feelings and stir things up. Whenever you start telling people they should leave their kids at home it is pretty obvious things are not going to go to well. No good can come of it.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Hello, guys. Heads up, this will be a lengthy post. Bear with me.

I am new to the boards. I have been posting for a couple weeks now, and so far I've been really enjoying myself. I have had a lot of great, meaningful and insightful conversations with people about Disney and disney-related topics. I think it's really interesting to see other people's train of thoughts and opinions on things. It helps me have a better understanding and allows me to create a more well-rounded opinion. Thank you to anyone who has engaged in a conversation with me that has helped open my eyes

With that being said, some of the threads I have been reading discuss on-going annoyances with crowds, strollers, wheelchairs, screaming and entitled children, large families hogging up space, etc. I wanted to see if we could get a healthy dialogue going here to share some stories and insight as to what we think of these topics and possibly shed some light on the way we feel regarding these concerns.

First, I will share where I am coming from in regards to these topics, and why I view these things the way I do. Please note that my opinions are not meant to offend. I am here to offer my opinion and why I have that opinion, and if people are willing, I'd be happy to have a conversation. Judging, bashing, shaming, etc., is not the type of response that I would deem appropriate.

In terms of crowds, I think they come with the territory of visiting Disney. I am hearing that off-season is now being obsolete. I am hearing extra magic hours are not helping with crowds. I am hearing fast passes are not working the way they're meant to. I'm hearing ADR's are not working the way they're meant to. I am an extremely irritable person when it comes to crowds in my everyday life, but when I'm in Disney, I prepare myself for waits and a lot of people. I would be lying if I said the crowds didn't bother me, but the last time I went, I got on everything I wanted, I didn't wait an excessive amount of time for food or fast passes, so I was a happy camper. I guess when you go into the situation being prepared for high crowds, you don't let the crowds get under your skin as much.

Strollers and wheelchairs tend to get me the most heated. It is not that I am ignorant to the fact that people who visit Disney come in all ages, shapes and sizes. I do not for one second think that elderly people nor small children should not be allowed in the parks, but I do however think more consideration could be had by families utilizing wheelchairs and strollers. I think we all have first hand accounts of someones wheel chair or stroller bumping into us, whether it was completely accidental or a product of neglect. Accidents happen, and with crowds being so high, sometimes are are going to run into each other. But when you see families with wheelchairs and strollers having zero consideration for others, it's hard to not get irritated by the entitlement. Now, this can also be flipped around. I will see groups of people walk directly in front of an elderly person in a wheel chair and cut the person completely off, and I've seen this done with strollers too. We all need to be looking out for each other and having the courtesy to look both ways, say excuse me, pass with care and have the decency to not hog up additional space.

Now here comes the touchiest subject of all; screaming children. I may have an unpopular opinion on this, but I'm not going to mute myself to avoid hurting people's feelings. I think bringing small children (infant-4/5 years old) should be considered tremendously before doing so, and let me tell you why. Infants cry anytime they are uncomfortable or in need of food, water, a changing as well being irritated. I promise you, an infant will not enjoy being in the Florida heat all day long as people are laughing, screaming, talking all day long. That can be very irritable to a baby. 2-4 year olds do not have the patience to stand in lines longer than 30 minutes. They do not enjoy being on their feet all day long in the heat. They more than likely will not even remember the trip. I think as a parent, you are not only making the trip unpleasant not only for them but also yourselves. This does not mean I am against children in the parks, please note that. I am just saying that you need to err on the side of caution and go into a Disney trip with back up plans if tantrums ensue. Perhaps only having 1-2 park days and then taking a day of rest or allowing them to play at the pool. Or only staying at the park as long as the child seems happy and comfortable. Do not force your child into staying because of money; that totally defeats the purpose. I really suggest waiting until at least 5. A screaming child is not fun to listen to, and not they're certainly not fun to appease. I AM NOT ANTI CHILD. I am just anti-screaming and anti-tantrum. You need to remember that your vacation is just as much as everyone else's vacation. Be aware and conscious of that.

Lastly, large groups/families taking up space that is open to everyone really grind my gears. I understand that families come in all shapes and sizes. Some families can consists of as little as 2 people, some can consist of 15. I understand this varies tremendously, and I am by NO MEANS saying big families cannot enjoy Disney. I am, however , urging people to be more aware of their surroundings. It is not fair for you and your family of 10 to walk hand in hand down Mainstreet. It is inconsiderate and rude for the other guests around you. There are plenty of ways to stay connected other than walking hand in hand. I could go on, but you get the point. Big groups and families have every right to come and enjoy the Disney parks, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be considerate.

These were the most common complaints I have come across on the boards, so I wanted to point them out and see if a healthy and constructive conversation could be conducted here. I am aware that not all of these circumstances are a "one size fits all" type of situations. Some people do not have the option to take the older child and leave the smaller one behind, for example, so bringing the infant to the park is the only way they can come. I get that. But just generally speaking, these are my thoughts. I'd like to hear some others. All opinions and thoughts are welcomed. Maybe we could help each other understand how to be better guests.

Is it, is it cold up there on that high horse?

There are so many comments I wanted to make but it would surely get me points. You aren't anti child, you are anti family.

Just so you know, so my large family doesn't inconvenience you, I will be there May 5-11 with my parents, sister, husband AND, here's the kicker, my 5 children aged 5 months through 9 years. I'm sure they and everyone around us will have a dreadful, horrible, miserable time just because my young kids are there.

Oh my, I need to end now before I say something that gets me banned.

 

[tamerbelles]

OP, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Best of luck to you when you have your own kids someday and truly understand what it's like. If you still feel the same, all the power to you.

A helpful smile sure is nice, but the rest of your post reads as very judgmental. I used to think the same things until I had kids of my own.

I'm taking both kids to Disney World at a young age. DD was 4 for the first trip. We needed a stroller still, and she did need breaks/naps. And there were some occasional meltdowns. But it was SO WORTH IT. It was absolutely amazing to see the magic through her eyes. To her, everything was still REAL. That was really Mickey. We were really in Cinderella's castle. Those were really the princesses we met. It was the BEST age for a trip, in my opinion because she still believed in every bit of magic, and she can still remember parts of it.

She'll be 7 for our next trip, and DS will be just under 2. Will he remember? No way. Will we? YES! And I have no doubt it will be worth the extra effort of navigating crowds, changing diapers, taking naps, etc. I can't imagine making DD wait until her brother is older to return.

Here's what I hope you remember: Taking your children out in public ANYWHERE is hard. You can never really control what's going to happen. You can prepare, you can discipline, you can bribe, but you can't make children behave 100% of the time. They will get frustrated. YOU will get frustrated. The only way to avoid those things is to stay home all the time. And that's no way to live.

 

[LMA712014]

Welllllll I’m just going to toss out there that my 2 and 4 year old are typically better behaved in public than at home. And I’m not saying they’re perfect, or bad, or anything else - but they’re kids. Crying kids, upset kids, disappointed kids - let’s be real, that’s life with kids. Our 4 year old got pretty disgruntled when she spent all her money and couldn’t afford anything else (even after DH and I had warned). Real life lesson in the flesh.

I’ll also say that, as a PP stated, I heard a lot more adults behaving horribly than I did kids. Excessive cussing (like really - go you if it’s your thing, but we don’t all want to hear it), the husband at the table next to us at Coral Reef yelling at his family because he lost his magic band, and so on were far more disrupting than anything I saw a child do.

I’ll also go on to say everyone has bad moments, kids included - and we won’t refrain from taking our kids due to a bad moment in the span of a trip. Disney is magical for kids, and adults alike. If someone wants to bring their child, good for them! Parents don’t get to censor out all the adults that we don’t think belong in the parks.

And ps. I’m assuming you don’t presently have children (let me tell you first, I had all kinds of notions about parenting - and then I gave birth to smart and opinionated little creatures). I don’t plan on keeping them home until they ‘get it all right’. I’ll also say as a parent it makes my skin crawl to have my child throw a fit in public - and I doubt there are any out there who relish the fact.

But life is for the living, and we’d probably all do a whole lot better if we leave the judging to the big guy upstairs and let everything else roll off our shoulders.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Stopping by for a friendly reminder to try to keep the conversation here civil. Thank you.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is it, is it cold up there on that high horse?

There are so many comments I wanted to make but it would surely get me points. You aren't anti child, you are anti family.

Just so you know, so my large family doesn't inconvenience you, I will be there May 5-11 with my parents, sister, husband AND, here's the kicker, my 5 children aged 5 months through 9 years. I'm sure they and everyone around us will have a dreadful, horrible, miserable time just because my young kids are there.

Oh my, I need to end now before I say something that gets me banned.

Or a nasty PM from the OP.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Or a nasty PM from the OP.

Ok so I am not alone. Wow.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Ok, time to close.