Snow White compared my son to Dopey

[lovewdwfun]

I am horrified. I brought my kids to the MK for last day of vacation and on our way out of the park we met Snow White. My youngest son has Down syndrome, which is a pretty obvious disability. First, Snow White said how he was the size of Dopey. She then said he was "just like Dopey" directed at my oldest two. She proceeded to ask my older daughter if she takes care of him the way Snow White takes care of Dopey. I love Disney, but I am furious about this one. I hope they will do a better job training in the future! Just needed to vent to some people who would understand.

 

[gap2368]

wow I am sorry that happened to you I hope this one event did not ruin your whole vacation. I have had some very well meaning people say things to me about my disability that I do not like some times I educate them and some times I just walk away thinking if you only know what an ideit you sounded like. have you thought about e mailing disney to let them know so that maybe it can be corrected so this dose not happen again to another family

 

[lovewdwfun]

wow I am sorry that happened to you I hope this one event did not ruin your whole vacation. I have had some very well meaning people say things to me about my disability that I do not like some times I educate them and some times I just walk away thinking if you only know what an ideit you sounded like. have you thought about e mailing disney to let them know so that maybe it can be corrected so this dose not happen again to another family

Yes, I told her handler right after. I also stopped by guest services on my way out of the park. I will probably write an email as well - I hope they will have some more training for their CMs!

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

Oh my goodness. That was so not appropriate. I am sure her intentions were not to hurt anyone's feelings, but wow was she not thinking. In all my trips to Disney I have had two interactions with cm's that have floored me and I have stood there in shock thinking did they really just say that. I also hope you guys didn't let it ruin your trip. I think it is a good thing you said something to the handler and guest services. She obviously needs some guidance in what is appropriate and what is not.

 

[HopperFan]

As a parent of a son with DS who loves interacting with characters ........... this was beyond inappropriate. Forget training this was a complete lack of common sense and ability to interact with others. This is not a hidden disability and to say what she did equates to cruel childish name calling. She doesn't need training, she needs a new role and that would be one without much guest interaction. Absolutely write and email with all details and photo so they know who she is so they can find her something more fitting.

 

[minnie mum]

OK, I get all the horror and outraged indignation, I really do. But if that Dwarf had been given a different name, would everyone still be upset? If his name was Smiley, would you be upset if she said he looked like him? Dopey is the smiliest (not a real word), most loving, and lovable of all the dwarfs. Perhaps that was what she was referring to, and not your son's intellectual challenges. This Snow White is probably not the brightest light on Main Street, but I doubt she said it to be hurtful. Just a thought.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm sure she meant well and was trying to stay in character, but saying that was tactless and thoughtless. I'm glad you reported it to the handler and Guest Relations.

 

[DisneyOma]

You can take it the way the OP thinks of it, or the way I think of it - if the OP's son is the youngest, and smallest, nothing to do with his disability, then he is in the position of Dopey in the line up for the dwarves. Dopey is the youngest, as he hasn't grown a beard yet. I would surmise that Snow White has said this to many families, pointing out that the youngest/smallest child gets to be taken care of by the rest of the family, siblings included. OP, if your youngest did not have Down's Syndrome, would you still have been offended?

I've never considered anyone with Down's Syndrome to be 'dopey' because of their diagnosis. People I know with Down's Syndrome are productive, talented, loving, and independent. Famous people with Down's Syndrome are actors, models, artists, etc.

 

[tinkerpea]

As somebody who has been a Cm friend at Disney, this most definitely had to be reported!
Not because I believe the cm to have meant it nastily, but because she may be new and young, lacking in experience and at a loss of how to react,
This friend, needs serious training and to learn from the experience, she may well have realised later what she said! It is not easy trying to think constantly of things to say, which the character would.
I really hope that she was new to this,and was trying her best to relate your child to a character she felt was warm and loving.....
It however was unfortunately in very poor taste, and definitely needed to be brought to her attention.
I'm sorry that was your experience.

 

[dbrn]

I think Dopey seems to be a favorite dwarf of many people (the other favorite seeming to be Grumpy), and maybe Dopey is the dwarf she refers to in a lot of her interactions. If that's the case, she might not have considered that the same interaction with your child would be interpreted any differently than with any other child. What was the reaction of your children? I hope they didn't feel hurt by the incident and were able to enjoy the visit and the rest of their day.

 

[kandb]

OMG, that is totally inappropriate. Glad you reported it, she needs to be confronted about it.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Oh good grief. Dopey is the best dwarf of them all. She's probably said that to a thousand kids before.

 

[mel&me]

I can see you being upset with this, but as others have said. It would seem as it was not intentional to be rude or hurtful,
just inexperience or maybe even a long overworked day.

 

[nugov2]

OK, I get all the horror and outraged indignation, I really do. But if that Dwarf had been given a different name, would everyone still be upset? If his name was Smiley, would you be upset if she said he looked like him? Dopey is the smiliest (not a real word), most loving, and lovable of all the dwarfs. Perhaps that was what she was referring to, and not your son's intellectual challenges. This Snow White is probably not the brightest light on Main Street, but I doubt she said it to be hurtful. Just a thought.

I have to agree. I feel like the OP is putting her own negative connection to how she perceives that comparison. I agree with the above poster Dopey is actually the best of all the dwarves. Is it just because the dwarfs name is "dopey" and you equate that to saying dummy or stupid? Would it be okay to compare a child without special needs to dopey, or no? And that is a legit question. It wouldn't bother me either way. If it is something you find offensive you did what you should do and reported it. I don't think that was wrong, but I also don't think it was meant in a cruel way.

 

[HopperFan]

I’m not an overly sensitive person and basically ignore things said by others. When Snow White was made our culture was different, even kids with Down Syndrome and other disabilities were locked away (my great Aunt was) and if Snow White were being made today there absolutely would be no Dopey …. and there would be no Dwarfs. But we appreciate the classic movie and it continues to be one of the most popular. Maybe Dopey is the sweetest of them all, but that doesn’t change the fact that his name is Dopey aka slow, dumb, simple and he is mute and he looks different from the others …. so if I were to hear that my son is “just like Dopey” = a complete lack of sensitivity, calling out his disability. I don’t care if a child has special needs or not, there is no need to say they are “just like Dopey.” Yes it would be different if his name were something positive, but it’s not. What if a child who was a little person walked up, would it be appropriate for Snow White so say they are just like my dwarfs? No it would not. Snow White was certainly trained on all types of conversation and she could have easily talked about many things or asked many questions. I find that the Princesses will ask my son his name, call him a Prince, they ask him to dance and many other canned questions appropriate for their character that will create a positive experience for my son and the family. OP has every right to be upset by a hurtful comment.

 

[cove61]

Felt sad reading this post. My sister has ds andmeeting characters is her favourite part of her holiday. Whilst the cm probably didn't intend to offend, I can see why it would be upsetting for both you your child and siblings. There were other characters she could have used which would have had the desired effect. I think your right to report this as it's the only way for people to learn and she may not have realised the comments caused offence. Hope it didn't ruin your holiday too much

 

[Dis703]

OK, I get all the horror and outraged indignation, I really do. But if that Dwarf had been given a different name, would everyone still be upset? If his name was Smiley, would you be upset if she said he looked like him? Dopey is the smiliest (not a real word), most loving, and lovable of all the dwarfs. Perhaps that was what she was referring to, and not your son's intellectual challenges. This Snow White is probably not the brightest light on Main Street, but I doubt she said it to be hurtful. Just a thought.

This was my first thought. Dopey was smiley, happy, and sweet and to me always seemed to be Snow White's favorite. It's very possible it wasn't meant the way it was taken.

 

[ttintagel]

Well, I'm not sure it matters if her intentions were good; it's the result that matters in the end . It's part of her job to know that. Yeah, associating a particular child with a particular dwarf may be perfectly innocent for most families but it was clearly not appropriate for this particular family. The OP was right to speak to Guest Relations, because it seems that the friend of Snow White needs some additional training. One of the great things about most of the Disney World characters is how well they interact with guests with disabilities, and she needs to learn when and when not to say certain things depending on her audience.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

It was certainly a comment that was not well thought out, but I don't think the CM meant any harm by it.

 

[kandb]

I don't think snow white should call any child "dopey", especially a special needs child. Why not use "smiley" or another dwarf? I just don't get her calling any child "dopey". Sorry, not appropriate!