Since when did being a jerk become a theme park strategy?

[alicat8]

Holy crap, if I had a dollar for everytime I heard "life isnt fair" or "because I said so" growing up I could afford DVC. Hahahaha.

I'm 34 and me too! And I've been saying the same thing to my 3 year old, who as of right now, has zero sense of entitlement.

 

[Magpie]

Maybe it's a regional thing or something. I am 43 and I never got a trophy for participating...we kept score in t-ball...in little league there were winners and losers and not everyone made the all star team. Kids that couldn't afford field trips had study hall that day and if you flunked a grade you got to go to summer school or do it again. Those of us that went to college went to college and those that didn't got jobs but we all moved out of our parents houses and the vast majority of us never moved back.

Possibly it is regional. Based on what I've been reading in the New York Times Education issue, the US's high schools and universities seem much more competitive and cut throat than Canadian ones (which makes it all the stranger for me when people start in on the "kids these days" thing).

And, considering the reasons I had for moving out at 17, I'm quite happy my own university students are still living with me. Unlike me, who found living with my mother to be unendurable/borderline abusive, our kids' relationships with us are quite strong. And it makes good financial sense to have them live at home while in university. It means (with the help of her internships and scholarships) our daughter will likely be able to afford her masters and doctorate and our son will get his undergrad without accruing stupidly high amounts of debt.

I like my kids. They're independent (there are many days I won't see our 17 year old at all), but also helpful. They do the yard work, snow shoveling, and other chores around the house. They assist their grandma (yes, my mother-in-law lives with us - she has terminal cancer, which is fortunately responding well to chemo) and help with the dog. They're responsible, pleasant, and overall great room mates.

Having multiple generations in one home isn't a sign that kids these days are less independent. It's a reflection of stronger family connections and also a natural result of the economic squeeze.

 

[Baklava]

I remember on my Dream cruise earlier this year that we had gone up to the top deck early and staked out a good spot on the good side to watch the fireworks on Pirates Night. Some lady with a little boy tried to wedge in but there really was no space. She resorted to try to pressure me to give up my space by smushing me against the rail with her giant boobs. No personal space at all and it was super uncomfortable to feel her boobs on my back but I wasn't going to budge. She finally gave up after trying for about 5 minutes. I may be a tiny woman but you aren't going to push me around especially with your boobs! I do imagine a guy might've liked the experience lol.

I'd have been unable to resist the urge to say something inappropriate.

Yes!! As is the belief that "our" generation is the best one. So tired of hearing how rude / self centered / selfish/ you pick a certain generation is.

“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.” - Socrates

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Lucky for me I didn't have to pay for college so I had that part going for me. Me moving out was a function of wanting to be on my own and forge my own path and learn from my mistakes. I'm sure that had I asked my mother would have welcomed me home but that wasn't an option for me because of the way I thought things were suppposed to work.

 

[BobC]

We're getting off topic, but everyone has a 'holier than thou' philosophy and feel they are better than anyone else, in turn thinking they can have one person wait in line while their 12 friends cut in front of everyone else to be with said 1 friend.

When you get a herd of humans together in a small place, ie Disney World, we lose our sense of being a human and go back to being simple animals again.

 

[Jess_S]

I see an appalling example set by many parents today of the 35-45 age crowd. So many were raised by parents who told them they were so super special and no one should be telling them what to do that they bought into their own press. They need to learn that you don't always get to be, or have to be first. It's not a contest and there is no prize at the end, not even a trophy or a certificate.

I know that lots of other people have addressed this, but I'm personally really tired of hearing how rude, entitled, lazy, etc. my generation is, so this post struck a never that was already raw. (Admittedly, you did skew a bit older than many do. I'm usually lumped in with the 20-40 crowd).

I don't think any of the things the OP complained about are generational. The pushing, shoving, sense of entitlement and other general rudeness that OP experienced were all on display when I was a CP 15 years ago by folks of all different ages. I agree with the posters who say that if you sit back and look around, you will find that the non-rude folks do greatly outnumber the rude ones. You just notice the rude ones more because they are plowing your kids over without a backward glance.

 

[Dentam]

I hope your son is okay. I've found that people run, push and shove when things end each of the years I've been, we just stand to the side and let the rush go. I'd much rather take a few minutes sat down than be trampled.

This is what we do as well. Sometimes we chat with the CM's once the worst of the herd has cleared. It's a much more relaxing experience!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

We are here now too and have experienced lots of friendly people in the parks. Lots of "excuse me, sorry, pardon mes". Very refreshing. We did have one lady yesterday at MK who thought she was more important than everyone else in the FP+ line at SM and told my family they were in her way and pushed right past us. Unbelievable! I felt sorry for her husband. He seemed embarrassed when we let him pass us to catch up with her later in the line.

 

[ton80]

We're getting off topic, but everyone has a 'holier than thou' philosophy and feel they are better than anyone else, in turn thinking they can have one person wait in line while their 12 friends cut in front of everyone else to be with said 1 friend.

When you get a herd of humans together in a small place, ie Disney World, we lose our sense of being a human and go back to being simple animals again.

Mooooooooooooooooooooo... break out the branding iron!

 

[ttintagel]

No different from how people behave everywhere.

Man, I am SO glad I've never lived in a place where it's like Disney World crowds 24/7. I'd have had a nervous breakdown years ago.

 

[mikeyg1479]

Yes, there is the fun of dealing with the general public- and in a Disney Park, being part of the "general public" is totally part of the experience.

Unfortunately, when in Disney World we all have heightened expectations of the experience, yet the reality is the crowd you are in is no different than the one you put up with in your daily life when you go out in the world, out driving, shopping in the grocery store, etc.. Most people are decent enough, but there are also the ignorant, the rude, and worst of all, the complete and utter total knobs out there.

Alas, Just because you are in Disney and "on vacation" doesn't mean it really gets any better. I love Disney, but reasons like this are why I also like quiet hikes in the woods.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

No different from how people behave everywhere. I never get the point in starting complaining threads like this. You aren't going to change these people's behavior.

Um no...People do not behave like that everywhere. Where do you live that people act that way? I live in the suburbs and work in an inner city school. I never see that on a city street, in my school, at the mall, or in my neighborhood. Even walking in NYC isn't as insane.

People have become more self-centered and have less good manners now. I kept saying, "Excuse me" to get the point across that we don't need to be in each others' personal space. We don't need to push each other or knock over someone to get where we want to get.

I was there during the last week of July, and I had the same problem. People were indeed running/fast walking/racing to get from place to place. In order to not get knocked over (which also happened to us), you had to move quickly like you were trying to catch a moving train. I found myself doing everything I could to avoid getting run into. Even a person on a scooter clipped the heel of my sneaker. Had I been wearing my canvas Keds instead of my thicker walking shoes, my heel would have been broken, and I would have spent my vacation in the hospital. When Fantasmic let out, it was a free for all. Nobody listened to the CM's.

The OP is 100% correct.

 

[Magpie]

Lucky for me I didn't have to pay for college so I had that part going for me. Me moving out was a function of wanting to be on my own and forge my own path and learn from my mistakes. I'm sure that had I asked my mother would have welcomed me home but that wasn't an option for me because of the way I thought things were suppposed to work.

If money was no object, my son would have gone to the New York Film Academy.

But, my husband feels very strongly that he had to pay his own way, and so should the kids. We saved a chunk of money for them, and that's all theirs, but everything over that is their responsibility. No free rides.

We also emphasize the importance of having a practical degree.

Both our kids put a lot of thought and planning into budgeting for their university educations.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I know its everywhere...but like a pp said...it's so crowded. You see so much rude behavior. Running in the dark so you can see fireworks, it just really irked me.

I try to avoid the parks at night. You get a much better view of the fireworks from the Contemporary Resort. You can watch them on the 4th floor balcony or eat at California Grill and use your dinner receipt to return at 10pm for fireworks. We had a lovely, unobstructed view of both Hollywood Studios Frozen fireworks off to the left then MK's in front of us on Cali Grill's left side balcony. WDW is too expensive to deal with such nonsense.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Im a pretty decent sized guy and I'm about a foot taller than my wife who hates the crowds because she can't see over or through the masses. Between her and our son in the stroller I spend quite a bit of time looking out for obstacles including the sprinters who aren't looking where they are going. I have on occasion had to slide in front of the stroller to prevent impact and had the sprinter bounce off me and have really enjoyed the laughter of people around me that the schmuck was pushing out of the way on their run.

I love that! Can I hire you to be my body guard on my next trip?

 

[Magpie]

I know that lots of other people have addressed this, but I'm personally really tired of hearing how rude, entitled, lazy, etc. my generation is, so this post struck a never that was already raw. (Admittedly, you did skew a bit older than many do. I'm usually lumped in with the 20-40 crowd).

I don't think any of the things the OP complained about are generational. The pushing, shoving, sense of entitlement and other general rudeness that OP experienced were all on display when I was a CP 15 years ago by folks of all different ages. I agree with the posters who say that if you sit back and look around, you will find that the non-rude folks do greatly outnumber the rude ones. You just notice the rude ones more because they are plowing your kids over without a backward glance.

I agree 100 percent. The ol' "kids these days" wheeze irritates me, too. It's ridiculous. You get 25 year olds complaining about 15 year olds, 45 year olds complaining about the 20-somethings. And 60 year olds moaning about the folks in their 40s. And everyone going on about the decline of civilization.

It never ends!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I love that! Can I hire you to be my body guard on my next trip?

If you'll make my FP+ reservations we have a deal!

 

[Flight]

No different from how people behave everywhere. I never get the point in starting complaining threads like this. You aren't going to change these people's behavior.

Because if we are all silent there would be no way to determine acceptable/unacceptable behavior. By establishing a dialogue, word spreads to other people about how to act. Absent a dialogue, people are free to do as they choose without regard to others.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

Yeah, I think it is becoming more and more common unfortunately. People spend a lot of money to go to Disney, lets face it, it's a very expensive vacation. Given the crowds, the months of planning, the wait times etc. I think people have the mindset of "getting their moneys worth" and want to do as much as possible and see as much as possible. hurry hurry hurry go go go has become the way.

You are right. That is why we go early at rope drop and leave at lunchtime. By 11am, I can start to feel the crowds growing to capacity, and we either find a place to eat or get out of the park. In MK, we walk through the air conditioned stores to exit. As we are leaving, droves and droves of humanity are entering the park. We always take an afternoon nap or pool break.

On this trip, we spent only 3 nights in the parks...MK fireworks/HS Fantasmic/Epcot dinner right before Illuminations. Every issue we had with crazy antics took place in the late afternoon evenings when crowds were at their peak. Never again. There are better places to watch fireworks. After seeing Fantasmic twice in 11 years, I don't need to see it again. Illuminations isn't worth trying to walk in a darkened World Showcase while people act like imbeciles.

All my nights will now be in a resort restaurant/pool/or viewing fireworks from California Grill (worth every penny).

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

If money was no object, my son would have gone to the New York Film Academy.

But, my husband feels very strongly that he had to pay his own way, and so should the kids. We saved a chunk of money for them, and that's all theirs, but everything over that is their responsibility. No free rides.

We also emphasize the importance of having a practical degree.

Both our kids put a lot of thought and planning into budgeting for their university educations.

I couldn't have gone free anywhere myself or I would have chosen differently. I went free where the scholarship took me