sharing the love not the hate

[ellenmiele]

DITTO to all the prior comments about giving up seats on a crowded bus and giving away unneeded Fast Passes (which has become one of my favorite things to do - although I don't get extra on purpose I only have extra if someone in the family changes their mind at the last minute - which happens at least once every trip - best was giving 2 for Soarin' to a pair of 20ish young men on a day when the standby wait was 2 hrs and the FPs were all gone!)

I guess I never thought about it before, but for me, it's another wonderful thing about Disney that it gives us moments on every trip to teach our children these simple courtesies. When we gave those FPs to those 2 young men, my DD (whose fear of heights had gotten the best of her that day) talked about the look on their faces for the rest of the trip and then some - I'm sure she still remembers that moment ! And at home we never take a bus anywhere so all those bus rides in WDW are a wonderful way to teach by example when they see mom and dad give their seat to an elderly guest or woman w/baby or just someone who looks like they need to sit down.

Leave it to Disney to enrich our lives in yet another way!

 

[KorieDWnut]

DITTO to all the prior comments about giving up seats on a crowded bus and giving away unneeded Fast Passes (which has become one of my favorite things to do - although I don't get extra on purpose I only have extra if someone in the family changes their mind at the last minute - which happens at least once every trip - best was giving 2 for Soarin' to a pair of 20ish young men on a day when the standby wait was 2 hrs and the FPs were all gone!)

I guess I never thought about it before, but for me, it's another wonderful thing about Disney that it gives us moments on every trip to teach our children these simple courtesies. When we gave those FPs to those 2 young men, my DD (whose fear of heights had gotten the best of her that day) talked about the look on their faces for the rest of the trip and then some - I'm sure she still remembers that moment ! And at home we never take a bus anywhere so all those bus rides in WDW are a wonderful way to teach by example when they see mom and dad give their seat to an elderly guest or woman w/baby or just someone who looks like they need to sit down.

Leave it to Disney to enrich our lives in yet another way!

On my last trip, I got a fast pass for myself for everythign I could, but my mom and DD9 wouldn't go on those rides with me so I used their ticket anyway to get extra FP and then gave them away. I suppose I could have used them for myself to go on over and over but it was actually more fun for me to give them away.

 

[LadyntheTramp]

My family and I were at Disney this past summer, (end of May). Prior to the trip my mom bought my 2 sisters, myself, herself and my grandma Princess shirts that looked like the covers of magazines with all these little puns about the individual priness...they were really cool.

~Well the first bit of magic was just the shirts in general...cause ppl would stop and read them in line...I like to think they brought a smile to people's face.

~Second, we were in Frontierland, (I believe) waiting for the parade to start. My sisters and brother were sitting on a wooden base beneath a tree. This other family with two small kids came up to wait as well. The little boy and I think little girl..(I can't quite remember)then walked behind us and started naming all the princesses on our shirts. He did this over and over. It was really cute. He even named the pattern that was on my dad's and brothers shirts (like blue and stripes). The best part was when the little kid started to hit my brother. Now my brother is 21 yrs and is a pretty big kid. The mother kept saying my brother was going to turn about and "bop" the kid. This just make us all laugh cause the kid kept going. My brother is really nice and sweet guy so he just laughed with the rest of us. I am sure the mother really appreciated that her son was being entertained and we didn't mind at all. (We also informed the mother that this was alright cuase she was concerned at first!) But my mom knows what is like to have kids at Disney, she took the four of us several times.

I love Disney and the rudeness that i encounter never sticks in my mind but fun events like this definately do.

BTW, this tread is great!

 

[love2driveinct]

What a great thread!

As I sit here all teary-eyed thanks to all your great posts, I can already feel the Magic...

Thank you.

 

[jpeka65844]

I love the idea of buying glow bracelets for someone, or allowing a kid to sit in front of you for a parade.

BUT, I think what keeps me from doing some of those nice things, sometimes, is how people will react to them! I've seen and been in situations (not necessarily at WDW) that has shown me that you can never predict how people are going to behave.

I think I'm so worried about being taken ADVANTAGE of or people thinking I'm creepy that I hesitate to do nice things. People can be so unappreciative and ungrateful about things that it does stop and make me think twice about things.

BUT, I've resolved that the next time I'm in line for a Mickey Bar, I'm striking up a conversation w/the kid behind me and buying them one too! I'll just wink at Mom and Dad and walk away and hope they pay it forward somewhere!

 

[lntsmom]

My boys and I have had nothing but magical moments on our past 2 Disney trips...even when it involved a nearly 2 hour wait to ride Dumbo!!! We enjoy getting to chat with the folks around us, take in the sights, etc.

Here's my thought: if you go expecting to have a bad time, you probably will. On our first Disney trip we shared several bus rides with a family who was nothing but miserable. They had gone to WDW every year for 15 or so years and NOTHING lived up to the past for them. After listening to their complaints over and over I came to the conclusion that their trip was living down to their expectations.

We went expecting to enjoy ourselves, so a 15 minute wait for a bus was a fun opportunity to get to know other folks who were staying at our resort. Not having sit-down dining was a chance to eat on our own timetable.

Same circumstances, different outlooks.

We are gonna have SOME fun this May...no matter what may come. Our family tradition is to say "THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT!" when we cross into Disney property that first time each trip...and we mean it, lol!

 

[Goofey Drool]

The majority of people on there vacations are respectful and keep to themeselves, focused on family and observing all their is to see. Nothing overly remarkable about that. But when a string of just bad behaved and ignorant people make contact with you in a close setting, on your vacation, you just take more notice. Its in your face kinda. Should you dwell on it or go looking for it? Of course not. You make your own good times. I always go on a vacation and have the "No worries attitude" I am on vacation and away from the daily tresses of job etc. so waiting a couple extra minutes in a line or someone gave me a fork instread of a spoon in a restaraunt...big deal. This has made my last three or four vacations really laid back. No rigid schedule for us. I have to say though we have seen alot of others running around with very stressed looks on there faces caught up in the "we have to get (blank) done today" I went on a few vacations like this and we were getting very snappy with each other by the third or forth day. No fun!
On the first day of our last vacation we just hit Blizzard Beach and basically laid around and got into the "no worries mode" (it takes 24 hours to shed the stress and realize that I am on vacation) The next day we hit the parks with smiles and looking back we had such a great time. Anyway thats my two cents worth. Sorry ,I will step down of my potium now

 

[dmccarty]

And I felt horrible! DH and I were crowded up to the rail for Illuminations one night. A woman nudges her way in next to us, pushing me over.

Back in the early 90's I was at EPCOT and leaving the Living Seas. Back then they had the fake elevators to take you "down" underwater. The elevator was just about to go and we managed to get in but it was a tight squeeze. With us on board the elevator was FULL.

Next thing I know, someone runs into the back of me and PUSHED real hard! I looked back Ready To Rumple and it was a small Japanese couple. I just smiled. They smiled.

Somehow I knew that in Japan if you are on the subway they push and cram people to get as many people on board as possible. And that is what that couple did. Elevator/Subway. Same thing!

Last trip down we got the kids into the Living Seas late at night and it was all but empty. They could just run around and watch the fish. AND NO ELEVATORS!

 

[dmccarty]

A boy about 12 years old was nearby, and he walked up and said "Here, take these! We have to leave now." Then handed me 2 FP's. The look on my daughter's face was priceless! We thanked him profusely, and I decided that on our next trip I'll pass along the magic!!

On our last trip and on our last day it was HOT and HUMID at AK. My oldest DD and I headed over to EE aka The Yeti Ride as we call. The youngest DD was too small to ride so DW and grandparents went off to do something else while we where away. Figured it would take an hour or so. On the walk over a father and son walked up to us and asked if we where going to EE. We said yes and they gave us a FP! The son had chickened out.

BOTH of us where smiling and even in the heat had an extra spring in our step. We walk right on the ride and off we went. Most Excellent!

Giving an unused FP is a great gift! Spread the magic!

Funny thing about EE is that my dad, and this trip was only his second time to WDW. He hates lines and the whole idea of it all but his granddaughters wanted him there so there he was. Youngest DD was too small to get on EE. At Christmas she asked PaPaw if he would ride the Yeti ride with her. He said of course I will. That is funny for a bunch of reasons. But it was funnier still with the look on his face when I told him that Yeti was the roller coaster, that went up REAL high. PaPaw does not like heights. PaPaw would not go near the windows at the California Grill much less the observation deck.

But his cute littlest granddaughter asked and he will ride the ride. He says WE spoil the kids!

 

[bizeemom4]

I was there last week and was standing in line in front of a family that had received someone's extra fastpasses. They were discussing it and said "She gave us bogus fastpasses. These aren't any good anymore." I turned around and explained that they are good all day that they really don't expire as long as you use them on the same day. I said that the times are just on there for crowd control. And then I added "But don't tell anyone. That's our little secret." They were happy and I hope that they tested my theory and went on the ride using their bogus FPs.

 

[dmccarty]

Sharing the love...

We where at MK waiting to get on the train. DW was wearing Khaki colored shorts that day. Out youngest DD was about 40 inches tall at the time. Which of course we know since she could not get on some rides because of her height. Youngest DD is very attached to DW and is constantly hugging and holding her. At the time DD would hug and rub your leg. Not a bad thing but due to her size DD's hand would also go up your shorts! Which could be kinda surprising!

Anyone see where this is going?

So we are standing in line at the station and its not really a line just a crowd. DD gets turned around a bit and goes to hug and rub DW so she grabbed a leg going into some Khaki shorts.

But it was not mom's shorts much less her leg! And then DD rubbed the strangers leg and her hand went up the ladies shorts.

That lady jumped and turned around expecting some pervert but instead saw this little surprised angel.

Once she got over her surprise and we all got over our embarrassment we all had a good laugh.

DD was just sharing the love....

 

[JodyLynC]

Once she got over her surprise and we all got over our embarrassment we all had a good laugh.

DD was just sharing the love....

 

[digskat]

I've warned people about "Beverly" (even though they still tried it anyway)

Where were you when I needed you?LOL
That stuff is horrible.

 

[JodyLynC]

I got to bring this back up.

 

[tinknsnow]

The story about the little girl grabbing not-her-mom's leg is adorable!

A couple trips ago, we had someone walk up and hand us unused Fast Passes and it was such a great surprise! Since then, we try to do the same. It always goes over great!

 

[BabyPiglet]

We met a very nice British family who was in the room next to us at POP. They were so friendly and after a couple days we all became friends. This was their first trip and they told us they got really confused at MK. Well on our last day, we went to MK with them and just toured around showing them all the great details. I just felt like I needed to mention that people can be friendly at Disney too!

I love this thread. I always get so fired up about all the negative remarks.

 

[estherhead]

I have one. We were on the tram waiting to go to the parking lot & our driver just randomly gets off & we are left there with no driver. This was odd & very un-Disney. After waiting a long time we heard (behind the fence) raised voices & then the driver came back with another driver & I'm asuming the manager she was fighting with. The original driver climbed on-board with us & the new driver started driving (this all took about 15 minutes & I was starting to get kind of annoyed at being stranded!)

Anyhow, we asked the old driver what was going on & she said her daughter was Mary in a Christmas play & she was supposed to get off at 3:00 & had kindly worked 15 min over waiting for another tram driver who never showed. THe manager wanted to make her STAY & potentially miss her daughter! So we had the new driver make an anouncement & everybody chanted her name & applauded for her daughter & told her we hoped everything went well.

Suddenly, no one cared about the 15 minutes & the strange fight and we still felt rosy feelings towards Disney. And especially rosy feelings towards our wonderful new tram driver who came from whereever (he wasn't the late one, whom I'm to assume probably doesn't work at Disney anymore) to rescue our old tram driver.

 

[MontanaZoo]

I've only been to WDW alone before and last time was my first time staying onsite. I thought it was wonderful how nice the other people riding the bus from AKL were and also chatting and standing in line with people. You never feel that alone at Disney!

I also tend to get really sick in Florida from allergies (must remember to take allergy meds) and last time I think I had a virus too and had laryngitis. I was at WDW for a conference but went a few days early to go to the parks before the conference started. It happened that I had the same CM in the gift store at AKL for several days who kept telling me to buy OJ and drink it and make sure I go to bed early! Each day when I'd buy a drink from the gift store before heading out she'd ask how I was doing and then lecture me some more about how to get over being sick It was great, it was like she was channeling my mom which is exactly what you want when you're alone and sick.

I left from our AKL conference event early one night and we had to wait on our bus for a while for more people to come before heading out. Our driver was hysterical and told the best stories about Disney. He made that wait seem like a special insiders event.

 

[ZeroMyHero]

I'm really glad the OP decided to start this thread. I'm new to the boards and was really surprised by the amount of negativity I've read here. I haven't had the opportunity to travel to WDW very often, but the times I have visited weren't overshadowed by any of the crazy rudeness I've read about so often. Maybe I'm just lucky?

Anyway, the last time we visited was 2003. We were waiting in a long line for IASW and there was a little girl about 3-ish waiting with her dad in front of us. She was very tired of waiting and was crying and whining. When she made eye contact with me, I smiled at her and said, "You can't cry at Disney World - this is the happiest place on earth - it's not allowed!" She was so surprised she stopped crying and her dad even laughed. I talked to her for a while, asking about her favorite character, etc., and before we knew it, we were next in line to board the boat. Her dad thanked me and I just shrugged. I didn't think I had done anything special. Maybe he was just happy I wasn't annoyed with his child, and why should I be? Long lines make for cranky children - it comes with the territory. Why let it ruin my vacation? I took a chance in talking to her, as some parents may have thought I was strange or taken offense, but I'd do it again if it meant making everyone's day a little easier. I hope the karma comes back around to me when we visit with my DD4 this May.

 

[BoomNLeon]

Rude is relative. When we are in the World, we are so relaxed and happy that very little effects us. I am always happy to take pictures for groups so everyone can get in. And I love going to see something and asking the child next to me what their favorite thing so far is. It reminds of why we go to this wonderful place. Funny - we were there in January and experienced some really negative people, but the key is to turn it around.

Why be sad or mad at The Happiest Place On Earth???