The worst parenting I ever saw in Disney was...

[flortlebap]

I think the worst parenting / grandparenting that I ever witnessed was by my own father. Me, DH, DS7 (5 at the time), niece-9, nephew-11 were at DLR 2 years ago with my dad. We grabbed some burgers bear the Buzz Lightyear ride and sat down to eat. My dad ordered and paid for my niece and nephew's food, we paid for ours. We then all sat down together to eat. Niece picked her tomato off of her burger because she doesn't like them. I get it, I do the same thing. My proceeds to tell her that she WILL eat the tomato or he will bend her over his knee. I looked at him and said "You will do no such thing". He reached across the table and grabbed her arm and yelled "EAT IT NOW!" Tables near us looking on the whole time. Meanwhile nephew did the same thing with his tomato and my dad didn't say a word. Females are second class citizens to males, in his opinion. Sickening. Anyway, my niece flew in with me and my family and was entrusted into MY care so I stood up to him on her behalf and said "she didn't order it this way, you did." and threw the tomato on the ground. My dad turned to my husband, who was sitting between us and yelled "Get her out of here or this will get real ugly real fast" referring to me, his fists were balled and his face was red with anger....over a flippin tomato. My husband said "You will not touch my wife." My dad hit my husband. My son started to cry and said grandpa was scaring him. We turned away from him and nephew (we were eating at 2 tables pushed together, so we separated them) and ate silently. I couldn't leave because we had driven in with him from Vegas. We rode a few more rides after that then headed toward the gate in time to watch fireworks. Nephew needed to use the restroom so dad said he would take him and we agreed upon a designated meeting spot. They left the park without us. Took all of our belongings, everything and proceeded back to Vegas. Me, DH, DS and niece waited for an hour and a half until we took the tram back to the parking lot only to discover that they had left. We had to call beg a taxi service to come get us at 11pm and drive us to Vegas. I had to get back to Vegas to collect my 8 month old twins who were staying with my step mother or I would have taken a plane back to Dallas from LA right then and there.

I have not spoken to him, not one word, since that trip.

That's truly shocking.

I'm guessing this wasn't out of character behaviour, though, so I can only say I'm sorry your dad is such an idiot, but your family are better off without him.

 

[AshleeH]

Um if you read what I wrote I didn't say she should have changed her child out in public but in a regular restroom. Last I checked changing costumes isn't going to the bathroom. If there are only four or five places some people can use to relieve themselves and everyone uses them to change their children into costumes, well it can be a long wait and that is just not right.

And I have changed a child's clothing in a regular stall. Tightbut can be done, even with another child in the same stall.
Also if you read what I wrote is said they are for people whose disability or other situation prevents them from using the regular restroom. So a da with a young daughter who is too young to go alone and too old to go into the men's room etc.

Oh, I agree completely. I must have phrased it wrong, but my personal view is that using one of those designated bathrooms to change a child's clothes is unnecessary. I've also changed a child's clothes in a regular stall and it is do-able. Not comfortable, but it only takes an extra minute or two in the long run and it's much better than doing it in a public area (especially when it's freezing outside - I can't imagine any mother thinking that was a good idea).

 

[kelis]

That's truly shocking.

I'm guessing this wasn't out of character behaviour, though, so I can only say I'm sorry your dad is such an idiot, but your family are better off without him.

Yeah, it all sounds pretty Whiskey Tango when I type it all out. It is definitely not out of character behavior for him but I will not subject my kids to that nonsense. Ever again.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

This one was not witness by me, but my my husband and his family when he went as a kid. In fact my mother in law still talks about it because it bothered her that much.

They were taking the boat to Magic Kingdom from Fort Wilderness. A man took his young child, around one year old and dangled him over the side of the boat. He kept doing this throughout the journey despite people on the boat protesting.

 

[RoyalMom]

I LOUDLY say, "It's not really New York City, y'all."

HAHAHAHA! Thank you!!

**edit**

(former new yorker -- seen it. I have a sense of humor about it. Still think NYC is the greatest city ITW!)

 

[2princesses1minnie]

I don't think parents should be judged by people in public. We do not know their situation. We do not know what may have happened before or if anyone has any special needs. I have a nephew that has asperger's. He is only 5 but looks 7. I see the looks people give us in public when he is having a problem. They have no right to judge his behavior or the way my sister (an awesome mom) handles the situation.
Also, Disney is a totally different situation from every day life. It can also be exhausting and over-stimulating. All we can hope is that the parent is just having a bad moment and really is a good parent. I know I try to be the best mom ever but I have made mistakes, just like everyone else

 

[QVCshopper]

Yeah, it all sounds pretty Whiskey Tango when I type it all out. It is definitely not out of character behavior for him but I will not subject my kids to that nonsense. Ever again.

Hugs! He sounds like my dad, who I still talk to and see. I'm trying to work through it all. When I was a kid, he forced me to eat potato salad. I sat for hours crying until I finally ate it and then threw it all back up. I'm 35 now and still don't eat it. And I pick off my tomatoes, too.

There are many worse incidents and abuse that I won't go into, but I totally understand where you are coming from. Thankfully my dad won't even go to Disney, but I will for the life of me, never ever understand why adults are mean to kids.

As for Disney, the worst I've seen was a kid running around the raised flower bed in Fastasyland near the old Dumbo pulling up flowers by the roots while the family sat nearby ignoring him and eating. Oh well. We moved.

 

[deuceswild10]

What's the point of this negative thread? Most of us parents are really trying our best. Can't we just leave it at that?

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

Well put...just started shaking my head when the post of child obesity and soda equals child abuse started poping up. That is a conversation for another thread.

Anyway, this is quiet the thread. Haven't witnessed anything to some of the experiences posted so far, just maybe a few minor things. The things some parents do is just.....

Well, this thread isn't "Hey did you see that child abuse at WDW?" - it was a bad parenting thread that turned into who saw the most horrendous abuse situation thread. Personally, I feel giving your 6/7/8/10 year-old child a 42-oz soda is bad parenting. Those things have as much sugar as a 9-inch chocolate cake - which can serve 20 people in moderate slices. Would you let your child eat a whole chocolate cake? And in many cases courts have taken away custody because of situations where the child has become diabetic, etc and the other parent can document it is a life style choice of the other parent. I understand that it cost more to eat veggies and fruit, and some families have a bad diets due to the high cost of those foods. However, if a family can fly hundreds of miles, stay a week a WDW; then they are not in that category.

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

It does contain water.

Which is completely negated by all the sugar, flavorings and chemicals in the soda. Your body gets not nutrients from the water in it. It is not like veggie pizza where the fat and cheese is balanced by fresh veggies cut and cooked (although not to terrible much, but is a lesser evil).

 

[t_catt11]

Well, this thread isn't "Hey did you see that child abuse at WDW?" - it was a bad parenting thread that turned into who saw the most horrendous abuse situation thread. Personally, I feel giving your 6/7/8/10 year-old child a 42-oz soda is bad parenting. Those things have as much sugar as a 9-inch chocolate cake - which can serve 20 people in moderate slices. Would you let your child eat a whole chocolate cake? And in many cases courts have taken away custody because of situations where the child has become diabetic, etc and the other parent can document it is a life style choice of the other parent. I understand that it cost more to eat veggies and fruit, and some families have a bad diets due to the high cost of those foods. However, if a family can fly hundreds of miles, stay a week a WDW; then they are not in that category.

Are there 42 ounce soft drinks for sale anywhere on Disney property?

I would agree that excessive sweets combines with lack of exercise can lead to health problems. Excessive is a relative thing.

I drank soft drinks all of my life - and am not overweight, have good blood pressure, no diabetes, no cancer. Many, many, many people (far more than have health problems) have done the same.

As stated before, my daughter is 16, has drank soft drinks most of her life. She weighs 115 pounds soaking wet.

My oldest son is 14, is athletic (very fast), is challenging for a varsity baseball spot at his high school as an incoming freshman.

Neither have health or weight problems.

But tell you what - the number for child/family services for my locality is 205.554.1100. Feel free to report my child abuse. Maybe a loving relative can take these kids off my hands, or save their younger siblings before they, too, are subjected to the horrors of soft drinks.


I am again AMAZED at this sort of sanctimonious behavior in the midst of a discussion about ACTUAL bad parenting. This kind of holier than thou attitude just takes the cake.

Wait, cake is bad too, right?

 

[minnie mum]

I like cake. Somebody please save me from myself!

 

[GiJohnsGirl]

Are there 42 ounce soft drinks for sale anywhere on Disney property?

I would agree that excessive sweets combines with lack of exercise can lead to health problems. Excessive is a relative thing.

I drank soft drinks all of my life - and am not overweight, have good blood pressure, no diabetes, no cancer. Many, many, many people (far more than have health problems) have done the same.

As stated before, my daughter is 16, has drank soft drinks most of her life. She weighs 115 pounds soaking wet.

My oldest son is 14, is athletic (very fast), is challenging for a varsity baseball spot at his high school as an incoming freshman.

Neither have health or weight problems.

But tell you what - the number for child/family services for my locality is 205.554.1100. Feel free to report my child abuse. Maybe a loving relative can take these kids off my hands, or save their younger siblings before they, too, are subjected to the horrors of soft drinks.


I am again AMAZED at this sort of sanctimonious behavior in the midst of a discussion about ACTUAL bad parenting. This kind of holier than thou attitude just takes the cake.

Wait, cake is bad too, right?

You can believe what you like, and as I said *personally* letting your kids have coke every day is not good parenting and yes, too much cake is bad for you

 

[t_catt11]

You can believe what you like, and as I said *personally* letting your kids have coke every day is not good parenting and yes, too much cake is bad for you

Just curious. Are soft drinks every day the only bad thing? Is there a suitable threshold? Are soft drinks at WDW only okay?

I mean, I want to be a good parent in the eyes of GiJohnsGirl, after all. Please explain the rules to me.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

I think the worst parenting / grandparenting that I ever witnessed was by my own father. Me, DH, DS7 (5 at the time), niece-9, nephew-11 were at DLR 2 years ago with my dad. We grabbed some burgers bear the Buzz Lightyear ride and sat down to eat. My dad ordered and paid for my niece and nephew's food, we paid for ours. We then all sat down together to eat. Niece picked her tomato off of her burger because she doesn't like them. I get it, I do the same thing. My proceeds to tell her that she WILL eat the tomato or he will bend her over his knee. I looked at him and said "You will do no such thing". He reached across the table and grabbed her arm and yelled "EAT IT NOW!" Tables near us looking on the whole time. Meanwhile nephew did the same thing with his tomato and my dad didn't say a word. Females are second class citizens to males, in his opinion. Sickening. Anyway, my niece flew in with me and my family and was entrusted into MY care so I stood up to him on her behalf and said "she didn't order it this way, you did." and threw the tomato on the ground. My dad turned to my husband, who was sitting between us and yelled "Get her out of here or this will get real ugly real fast" referring to me, his fists were balled and his face was red with anger....over a flippin tomato. My husband said "You will not touch my wife." My dad hit my husband. My son started to cry and said grandpa was scaring him. We turned away from him and nephew (we were eating at 2 tables pushed together, so we separated them) and ate silently. I couldn't leave because we had driven in with him from Vegas. We rode a few more rides after that then headed toward the gate in time to watch fireworks. Nephew needed to use the restroom so dad said he would take him and we agreed upon a designated meeting spot. They left the park without us. Took all of our belongings, everything and proceeded back to Vegas. Me, DH, DS and niece waited for an hour and a half until we took the tram back to the parking lot only to discover that they had left. We had to call beg a taxi service to come get us at 11pm and drive us to Vegas. I had to get back to Vegas to collect my 8 month old twins who were staying with my step mother or I would have taken a plane back to Dallas from LA right then and there.

I have not spoken to him, not one word, since that trip.

I don't even know what to say, aside from thanking you for sharing your story. My heart breaks for you

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

Why the shot at New York City? Terrible behavior like that isn't about a particular city - it is about terrible parenting which could happen in Michigan as well.

I really don't think they meant it as a shot. They were on the NYC street in DH

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I reckon this thread could go on for years...

We've seen a mum cleaning off her baby in a water fountain after changing its nappy. Don't think I've drunk from another fountain since...

That is so wrong!

 

[Cyrano]

Moving to community as this is no longer serving trip planning

 

[EnchantedTales]

I think the worst parenting / grandparenting that I ever witnessed was by my own father. Me, DH, DS7 (5 at the time), niece-9, nephew-11 were at DLR 2 years ago with my dad. We grabbed some burgers bear the Buzz Lightyear ride and sat down to eat. My dad ordered and paid for my niece and nephew's food, we paid for ours. We then all sat down together to eat. Niece picked her tomato off of her burger because she doesn't like them. I get it, I do the same thing. My proceeds to tell her that she WILL eat the tomato or he will bend her over his knee. I looked at him and said "You will do no such thing". He reached across the table and grabbed her arm and yelled "EAT IT NOW!" Tables near us looking on the whole time. Meanwhile nephew did the same thing with his tomato and my dad didn't say a word. Females are second class citizens to males, in his opinion. Sickening. Anyway, my niece flew in with me and my family and was entrusted into MY care so I stood up to him on her behalf and said "she didn't order it this way, you did." and threw the tomato on the ground. My dad turned to my husband, who was sitting between us and yelled "Get her out of here or this will get real ugly real fast" referring to me, his fists were balled and his face was red with anger....over a flippin tomato. My husband said "You will not touch my wife." My dad hit my husband. My son started to cry and said grandpa was scaring him. We turned away from him and nephew (we were eating at 2 tables pushed together, so we separated them) and ate silently. I couldn't leave because we had driven in with him from Vegas. We rode a few more rides after that then headed toward the gate in time to watch fireworks. Nephew needed to use the restroom so dad said he would take him and we agreed upon a designated meeting spot. They left the park without us. Took all of our belongings, everything and proceeded back to Vegas. Me, DH, DS and niece waited for an hour and a half until we took the tram back to the parking lot only to discover that they had left. We had to call beg a taxi service to come get us at 11pm and drive us to Vegas. I had to get back to Vegas to collect my 8 month old twins who were staying with my step mother or I would have taken a plane back to Dallas from LA right then and there.

I have not spoken to him, not one word, since that trip.

WOW! I'm so sorry, hugs to you. I can't even begin to imagine your pain, so many good vibrations and plenty of Pixie Dust send your way.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

As a nanny (which I am), I would've suggested taking the children back to the room. Children are children and need their rest.

Worst case of parenting I've seen was a mother berating her son who didn't want to go onto The Haunted Mansion. She grabbed his arm and was pulling him on, telling him that he had ruined the vacation and he would fix this by going on The Haunted Mansion.

The CMs were offering to take her through the exit with her son as he was just sobbing and didn't want to go. It's the first time I've seen CMs break Haunted Mansion character and they were begging, in so many words, for her not to take him on. Alas, he went on. So sad. Everyone was commenting and we could hear him sobbing throughout the ride.