So worried that my family will offend people at WDW--long!

[HappyMommy2]

We've been to WDW as a family only once, and that trip was so incredibly magical that I was blissfully unaware of anything except all the fun we were having together. This time, though, I'm doing a lot more planning and DISing before the trip, and after many hours of reading threads on the various boards I'm feeling a bit sad and worried. A lot of the things people complain about are things that my family did last year! For example, recently I've seen complaints about people at WDW:

1. Using cell phones (Of course we never used
them during rides or attractions but
we did use them occasionally
to keep in touch with each other when
separated)
2. Taking big strollers to parks and on buses (guilty--our double
stroller can be obtrusive even though we
try to manage it very courteously)

3. Feeding kids lots of junk food (I'm sure people at
WDW last summer thought
I was an awful mom when they saw me
serving my 2-year-old French Fries and
chocolate milk for lunch--on vacation we
don't eat nearly as nutritiously as we do
at home!)

4. Blowing bubbles to keep kids occupied in line (I never
even thought about people getting upset
about getting hit by bubbles!)

5. Taking kids who are still in diapers and still require a stroller


6. Sharing a popsicle among family members (yes we did this!)


There are many more. We'd never actually break rules (pool-hopping, etc.) but I just feel like I will not be so happy-go-lucky on this trip because now I know how much my crew of two adults and two very small boys may annoy people! DH says I worry too much about what other people think--that as long as we are behaving reasonably we are fine--but I would hate to end up as an example on the next "WDW Pet Peeves" thread!

Just thinking out loud here, sorry. I don't mean for anyone to comment on the individual issues I mentioned (I know they're debatable and I don't want that); I just need some advice on how to balance our family's fun and needs against others' annoyances. Thanks!

 

[hipporina]

As long as you are aware of others, just as you would be in every day life, I wouldn't worry. Why should anyone else care what your kids eat or whether or not you share a popsicle? That's crazy. I don't see a problem with anything on your list. Lst time we went, we had a stroller, ate junk food, and shared ice cream bars. In fact, the only comment I got about the popsicle was a woman telling me how nice it was that my kids got along well enough to share. Just enjoy yourself and hope that other people can too.

 

[Kallison]

Other than the bubbles, I wouldn't worry about they rest. Bubbles wouldn't bother me, but it can intrude into other peoples space. Honestly when people get uptight at Disney I pretty much let it roll off my back and I"m generally a confrontational person. I just figure I'm on vacation, why let someone else's reaction ruin my day. So just go and have a great time. As for feeding your kids junk food -- we eat MIckey bars for lunch. My kids live on cheeseburgers and fries when we are away anywhere.

 

[korzmom]

none of that bothers me, just dont hit the back of my ankles with the stroller and your good.lol.. DONT WORRY BE HAPPY!

 

[N.Bailey]

I say, go and have a good time. Stop worrying about what others think of you. It's your money, your vacation, just enjoy your time there with your family!

 

[Antonia]

I'll be there soon and I don't care if y'all share popsicles, don't care what your kids eats, am glad you're the one with the stoller and not me. LOL I remember those stroller days. But PLEASE don't blow bubbles on me. I have never heard of this until recently on these boards and can't imagine who started this bubble-blowing thing. I don't think anyone should blow bubbles except in the wide open spaces - not in line. Glad I read about it on the boards before I get there!

 

[Jungle Skipper]

I think hipporina hit the nail on the head..just be aware of those aroundyou....dont ruin the magic for others! and most imprtantly have fun yourself!

Jungle Josh

 

[palmtreegirl]

Go and have fun! Life is too short to worry about what people you'll never see again think about you! Go and have a blast!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Just have FUN! You can't please everyone.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i agree with everyone else...just have a great time !

 

[candykisses]

The bubbles are the only thing I may give a second thought about. On our last trip a child dumped his bottle of bubbles on my foot. Yuck....I never liked bubbles as a child and I didn't like slippery, sticky toes. I didn't say anything...we were in Disney....

 

[treesinger]

I'll join the "just have fun" bandwagon. If what you're doing directly affects someone, don't do it. Since, besides the bubbles, you admitted to no other infractions such as this, you should just have fun. Anyone worried about what your family does with each other while on vacation needs to keep their minds on their families and leave yours alone.

 

[battricia]

Don't worry about offending anyone else with things like that! Just make sure you're all having a good time, and be polite to others, and that's all you should be concerned with on your trip! What you feed your children isn't anyone else's business, and it's not going to hurt anyone if your kids eat junk food on vacation. Just have FUN!

tricia.

 

[Saffron]

Palmtreegirl said it best! Go and have fun and don't worry about anything! Can you imagine how many pet peeves people have in this world! I'm sure other Disney boards have different pet peeves than are listed here! Just have a good time! Your family sounds lovely!

What the heck is wrong with bubbles? You can blow bubbles all over me if you want, I don't care! Now if you were to stand there and blow one of those obnoxious air horns that are blown at sporting events, that might be a different story. What am I missing about bubbles that bothers people?

 

[helenabear]

None of what you spoke of would bother me (I could see the bubbles, but the rest????) I say go have fun and ignore the rest of the people out there

 

[slo]

Everything you mentioned (outside of the bubbles) we do too and I will do again. We are there to have fun and if you are respectful towards others, as I know we are, then don't worry about what they may think. Afterall, they should be worrying about their own family not yours or mine.

A sidenote about the frys and chocolate milk for lunch - you are lucky you were able to have him eat that. Our 2yr old (now 5yrs old) wouldn't eat that trip at all and it kind of scared me. She was so distracted by everything going on that food was something that she just didn't want. So.....I would have been grateful if she would have had frys and chocolate milk for lunch - hey, you have to do what you can to get them to eat, and if that means frys and chocolate milk then so be it!!!!!

Again, have fun and don't worry about anybody else. You are spending way to much money to have it ruined by "what will they think" mentality. Also......when you read about something you did on the pet peeves thread, you never know, they may be writing about me

 

[LittleMissMickey]

It sounds like your family is one of those that people would LIKE to see at Disney! I hate going there and seeing kids getting yelled at, spanked, I don't even care for those "kids on a leash." You realize that the vacation is for the kid in all of us. The bubbles aren't a concern for me, but I understand other peoples' worries about them. Maybe you could pack a different kind of little game? My mom always packed me strategy games once I got older, like puzzle games where you had to slide the pieces around and stuff like that. Maybe you could bring some little books with you that you could read while waiting if you are anticipating long lines, or something with buttosn that they could push. Just have fun! The kids will enjoy themselves no matter what, and if others get upset, they should just let loose and try to have more FUN!
Ashley

 

[HauntedMansionGeek]

None of that would bother me either, not even the bubbles!!!

Keep in mind the people that would be judging you can't be having much of a vacation if that's what they're doing with their time at DISNEYWORLD!!!!

The last thing I do with my time there is scrutinize people, but I do know that there are people who do that.

Ignore them and laugh at LOT...have FUN and enjoy your family time. That's what's important.

p.s. I love to see a family finding creative ways to keep the kids giggling, I LOVE to see a family sharing food, gabbing wildly about what they want to ride next.....just don't be surprised when I plop myself down next to you and sneak one of your french fries!

 

[LauraR]

I don't think anything you mentioned is offensive. You seem like a very considerate person, to be worried about bothering others, unlike many people who wouldn't give it a second thought. At worst, the kind of things you mention are very minor irritations.

I know what you mean, though, about reading certain threads and then worrying about making "mistakes". All you can really do is ask yourself whether it would bother you if someone else were doing the same thing. But since we're all different you will sometimes run into people with a lower irritation threshold. In which case, a quick, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you" is fine. But sometimes it's not you that's the problem, the other person might need an attitude adjustment. You'll never please EVERYONE in life, and there will always be nitpickers, so just try to relax and enjoy your trip!

 

[Saffron]

HMG! That's a great post! That's the WDW spirit!

Yeah! What HauntedMansionGeek said! And ... would anyone with the screen name "Haunted Mansion Geek" steer you wrong? I think not! Go and have fun!!!!!!

Believe it or not, there are people who think WDW belongs to children and only children or people with children should go there.

And there are people who believe that WDW belongs to adults and only adults should go there!

Listen to HMG and Ricky Nelson: "... you see you, can't please everyone so you got to please yourself. La ta da da da ..."