Theme Park Etiquette Poll?

[Klarah]

After the announcement is giving that the light are being dimmed, what is the crowd etiquette? Do you always have to give way? OR Do you hold your ground? Here is why this is on my mind - We (myself, sister, & 2 yr. son, Husband had to stay home)went to Magic Kingdom last night, just for a little sneak away and we had an incident with another guest. We were stuck in a serious firework crowd to the left of the castle, in the worst of it all. No one could move, and the little announcement said "please remain put while we dim the lights". The fireworks began, I was shoulder to shoulder with my sister and she was holding my son, we were so close that his head was on my shoulder. When a man holding a girl maybe 9 years old, jumped in between us yelling "excuse me" he gave both my sister a good bump sending us into other guest and their strollers. Now with him standing where my sister once was - I looked at him and said "no, you're not excuse, what are you doing?" then he pushed me with his body and said something like "watch yourself" and moved past us I yelled at him "thats beyond rude, do you see anyone else moving". He made it about 5 more people in front us, lifted the girls to his shoulders and watched the fireworks. Then I felt bad, had I overacted ?, should I of moved out of the way ?? Then my sinking feeling continued as my son kept yelling "You gonna put him in time out, Mommy?" "No, honey shhh" I kept replying. During the fireworks I was at war with myself questioning - Maybe for some reason it was important to him that the girl see the fireworks (then he should of sat down an hour before like others do), what if it was an emergency (then he would not of been heading towards the castle, but away) maybe if I wasn't so gruff he wouldn't of gotten so rude ( he jumped in my lap) So, besides sharing my own personal experience, I think it would make me feel better to know what others in general think about crowd etiquette? How do you survive because even less offensive experiences can be harrowing ? I'm trying to make a poll but this is my first one, thank you .

 

[Scubee]

After the announcement is giving that the light are being dimmed, what is the crowd etiquette? Do you always have to give way? OR Do you hold your ground? Here is why this is on my mind - We (myself, sister, & 2 yr. son, Husband had to stay home)went to Magic Kingdom last night, just for a little sneak away and we had an incident with another guest. We were stuck in a serious firework crowd to the left of the castle, in the worst of it all. No one could move, and the little announcement said "please remain put while we dim the lights". The fireworks began, I was shoulder to shoulder with my sister and she was holding my son, we were so close that his head was on my shoulder. When a man holding a girl maybe 9 years old, jumped in between us yelling "excuse me" he gave both my sister a good bump sending us into other guest and their strollers. Now with him standing where my sister once was - I looked at him and said "no, you're not excuse, what are you doing?" then he pushed me with his body and said something like "watch yourself" and moved past us I yelled at him "thats beyond rude, do you see anyone else moving". He made it about 5 more people in front us, lifted the girls to his shoulders and watched the fireworks. Then I felt bad, had I overacted ?, should I of moved out of the way ?? Then my sinking feeling continued as my son kept yelling "You gonna put him in time out, Mommy?" "No, honey shhh" I kept replying. During the fireworks I was at war with myself questioning - Maybe for some reason it was important to him that the girl see the fireworks (then he should of sat down an hour before like others do), what if it was an emergency (then he would not of been heading towards the castle, but away) maybe if I wasn't so gruff he wouldn't of gotten so rude ( he jumped in my lap) So, besides sharing my own personal experience, I think it would make me feel better to know what others in general think about crowd etiquette? How do you survive because even less offensive experiences can be harrowing ? I'm trying to make a poll but this is my first one, thank you .

I'll start by saying, I have no idea how I would have reacted in that situation. I'm sorry the action of another caused you and your family emotional distress during a time that is supposed to be magical. I'd hit the do-over button for you if I could.

 

[palmtreelover08]

Personally, I stand my ground. It is a lesson that I teach my daughter. If I was there an hour holding my spot, no one is going to move me. That is called being bullied, and letting yourself be taken advantage of.That being said, I also look around once the parade gets started to see if there are any small children standing behind me. If they are, I will move my daughter to standing in front of my, and have the child come up next to DD.

In your situation, since you were already 5 people back, it is more difficult to hold your ground, and I would have said something "snarky" too.

Now..if someone pushes DD out of the way, on purpose..just to "move" her. Watch you-you and I are gonna tussle!

 

[chartle]

I'm not voting because every situation is different and I'm not sure your 4 choices can cover all situations.

I'm sorry it happened but I don't know what I would do. I would have access the situation to see if me making any type of comment would have made it worse.

 

[Krystalynn]

Personally, I stand my ground. It is a lesson that I teach my daughter. If I was there an hour holding my spot, no one is going to move me. That is called being bullied, and letting yourself be taken advantage of.That being said, I also look around once the parade gets started to see if there are any small children standing behind me. If they are, I will move my daughter to standing in front of my, and have the child come up next to DD.

In your situation, since you were already 5 people back, it is more difficult to hold your ground, and I would have said something "snarky" too.

Now..if someone pushes DD out of the way, on purpose..just to "move" her. Watch you-you and I are gonna tussle!

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

 

[Tigger's ally]

I lift weights and wear a Brazilian Shirt and nobody messes with me!

Actually, I was glad when the kids graduated from wanting to see the parades/fireworks. Makes it easier to negotiate. We still do see Illuminations each trip but it is more refined. I contribute that to the relaxation of evening libations which are prevalent at Epcot . People work together more. You would think it would be the other way around.

 

[HotMama]

There are definatly different situations!

When my DD was 3 years old we were watching the parade when all of a sudden she had to pee & had to pee bad. Of coarse we went before the parade, but this is a 3 year old and these things happen. We were by the castle, I asked the closest CM where I could take her....she told me I wasn't getting anywhere! That wasn't flying with me. I had to pick her up and fight my way through the crowd. It was insane!!! People were so RUDE!!!!!!!! I couldn't even see where I was going. I just wanted to get the heck out of there, not get a great spot for the parade. I was so upset on how people were treating me, I just wanted to get my little princess to a potty so she didn't have an accident, which would have been devastating to her. I just wish people wouldn't have snapped judgement right away & did everything but push me on the ground and start stompping on me. It was crazy. Trust me, I didn't want to ruin anyones experience....just get my DD to the restroom so her experience wasn't ruined. Sometimes people need to really respect other human beings. Standing around watching a parade is nothing to get so angry about.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

If it's for the MK fireworks, I don't care. We're already standing and have a spot so if someone stands in front of me, it's not really going to block our view. The fireworks and castle are high enough. Plus, two of my boys are now close to 6'0", so there isn't much of an issue. My youngest is still a bit short, but he's tall for his age so he could probably still find an okay spot nearby to see.

I realize that for little kids, an adult standing in front of them can block their view. When our kids were younger and someone arrives late and blocks their view, I will try to move our kids to a spot where they can see. Unfortunately, you always run the risk of that person who has been there as long as you have decides to put their kids on his shoulders which blocks your view.

If it's a spot for Illuminations or a parade, we will hold our ground. We generally arrive early and stake a spot. At Illuminations, I may sit down in front of the fence waiting for the show to start. When the show starts, I will stand up. If there's a family behind us, I hope they are tall enough to see over us. For the parades, we don't let others join us. Sorry, but we waited for a spot for us and our kids - we weren't saving it for your kids. We sit on the curb, so if you want your kid to stand behind us that's fine. If we have any room to squeeze, we will kindly do so, but we won't get up and let someone in front of us.

 

[Mr. Pig]

I had a little different situation a couple years ago at Disneyland. The lights were dimmed, the fireworks started and people were shoulder to shoulder. A women came through with a child pushing her way through rather forcefully. I said it wasn't a good idea to be moving aroung during the show and she replied that her kid had to go to the bathroom and she was trying to get back up front and then I was called a very nasty name. I let it go there. I don't mind the bathroom break thing but it is just sooo packed and dark that moving through the crowd is a bad idea no matter what.

I felt bad about it for some time. I feel bad about any confrontation but I don't think I overreacted and I don't think the OP did either.

 

[Klarah]

I think overall being in large crowds is scary, specially the ones where you cant move. I would normally be more compose. I really do feel bad for both sides, the movers and the standers. Its not the people in the crowd, I guess its just the crowd its self. I just wish that it wasn't so uncomfortable during the night time parade & fireworks. Maybe next time I'll try to snag a dessert party seating. Either way I hope you all share your thought here, it adds a little humanity to the faces in the crowd.

 

[Klarah]

Tiny joke,
taking a camping potty, lol if we cant move my kids just gonna do what he needs to do right here then, what that son you feel a #2 coming. hehehe

 

[Praying Colonel]

I just wanted to say I try to avoid the congested areas like that to watch fireworks. It's like trying to catch a parade in the Hub--just way too many people competing for too small a piece of real estate. What a hassle.

 

[GinnyEmma]

If I can make way, I do. It does not harm me to do so. What a grumpy guy, though. I wouldn't worry about it anymore. You can't change it and you did nothing wrong.

 

[The 6 J's]

Since the odds of having that kind of experience are greatest in very crowded areas - and because we are a family of 6 - I always try to set us up in a less "in demand" yet nice viewing area so that these kinds of things don't happen. I'd much rather have a slightly worse vantage point but enjoy the experience rather than stand there fuming in the place where everyone wants to be.

that being said it still happens once in a while and it sucks. However, I've come to accept that most of the world is not nearly as polite and considerate as I am.

 

[GinnyEmma]

ps, didn't vote because you forgot the all important "other."

 

[ars0525]

I have never understood people who don't want to wait, but then shove/muscle their way to the front. If I get there early, obviously it's cause I want the spot I am standing in. I did not wait 1+ hours to give you my spot cause you showed up 2 minutes ago.

Now before you think I am a complete rude obnoxious person, obviously I give way for disabled or special needs guests regardless of when they arrive.

Last fall waiting for the Electric Parade...we got there an hour early. Got decent viewing (in the hub by the Tomorrowland bridge), but then got bumped & moved around. Finally got tough & held my ground. Whoa....the late parents who showed up 2 minutes prior to the parade start didn't like that! Well I am sorry, but I want to see it too. They are yelling at us (our whole area decided to take a stand since we had been standing together for an hour) & blaming us for ruining their child's day & what was wrong with us & how were they to know parades are like this (seriously, you think everybody gets front row VIP seating?) & they are tired/hot/hungry/whatever. It was totally absurd! I do have to say we had an excellent CM posted by us who was polite yet persistent to people that came along & tried to shove in...they were told to "keep walking" & "keep the path clear" (again amazing how many people just stop a stroller along a 2 person path & create traffic pile-ups oblivious to it all).

I am more than happy to watch the fireworks while we are doing rides still. Saw them from BTMRR once while whizzing around...that was cool! And it avoids the crazy masses.

 

[Klarah]

P.S. I know better than to try and be in castle area for evening events, but now thinking back, you know what flame drew this moth there? The new - Magic , memories & you thingy where they project awesomeness onto the castle, I love it, It was a lot of fun to see something new, I thought it was great how it filled the time in between the parade and fireworks! But that most of been what everyone else was doing also. Because it was just intense, out of season intense with the crowd, but that day the park wasn't that busy, our longest wait was maybe 15 minuets and we walked into LTT, with like 5 min wait. So maybe this thought doesn't go here, but as "nap" time comes to an end and my mind is more awake it is all coming together now.

 

[Pats Dragon]

parades are not for the weak or kind. We have had all kinds of awful, worrisome experiences that used to bother me for a long time. I would go over them in my head thinking how outrageous the other person was and really wondering if I handled it right. Now we get to the curb early and I put my toughest 2 on the outside who don't mind fighting for their spot. I just don't pay attention to the skirmishes.

 

[Klarah]

parades are not for the weak or kind. We have had all kinds of awful, worrisome experiences that used to bother me for a long time. I would go over them in my head thinking how outrageous the other person was and really wondering if I handled it right. Now we get to the curb early and I put my toughest 2 on the outside who don't mind fighting for their spot. I just don't pay attention to the skirmishes.

I love this. there is no guilt or dishonor, just simple parades are tough but I get in the game, I might be rereading this alot.
I'm having one of those yeah thats right, yeah experiences.

 

[cbnsoul]

I had something similar happen where a family showed up and stood in front of us RIGHT before the parade at Animal Kingdom. Both the family next to us and our family had been waiting for over an hour and these idiots walk up like it's no big deal and stand right in front of us. I quite angrily told them to move as we had been waiting a long time and they had no right to stand right in front of all of us at the last minute. They were completely clueless but not terribly friendly, moved a little, and still managed to block our view! Can you tell that I'm still a bit bitter????