Those kids on Mom or Dad's shoulders

[dqpowell]

My children have never been able to see a parade because we refuse to put them on our shoulders.

Now there's a happy memory for them. Never getting to see the parade...

That's exactly why I put my children up on my shoulders... it's for their benefit. An adult standing behind me can move a little left or a little right to see, but my children can't suddenly grow 20" taller.

David

 

[safetymom]

What about those adults viewing the fireworks or parade for the first time ?

Should I be able to put them on my shoulders so they can see? A little common courtesy goes a long way.

 

[njchris]

Now there's a happy memory for them. Never getting to see the parade...

That's exactly why I put my children up on my shoulders... it's for their benefit. An adult standing behind me can move a little left or a little right to see, but my children can't suddenly grow 20" taller.

David

I'm pretty sure she meant they can still have fun doing other things instead of blocking people's view.

If people are courteous when they do things, then it wouldn't be an issue. But having the attitued "someone can move a little when I do that" is misplaced entitlement.

 

[Princess Minnie5]

the only time my husband ever put them on his shoulders to watch a parade was in the Animal Kingdom . . . However, he has since sworn off this practice because both times our son leaked through the diaper and peed down his dad's neck!

 

[Beep]

I think it is really rude and incosiderate to put kids on your shoulders and block other people's view. If I see people already doing that I don't stand behind them but when they do it after the parades or shows start it really annoys me. Sometimes you can't move enough to see round them.

I don't agree that it is all about the younglings at the parks, I want to see things just as much as they do. I am quite happy for kids to stand in front of me as long as my view isn't blocked.

I've worked bl**dy hard all year for my vacation and scrimped and saved - kids have been in kindergarten colouring in!

 

[brenda1966]

"Never getting to see a parade..."

Now that is sad. I haven't found securing a spot where any height person can see to be all *that* difficult because the parade travels, so the crowds lining the streets are not hundreds of people thick all along the route. It spreads the people out into more manageble groups. I also haven't experienced a lot of kids on shoulders for parades.

Fireworks is another story, where it is a sea of hundreds of people. And once that first firework hits the sky, up go the kids blocking the views of people in the back of the sea.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

You know, I'm 6'2" and usually stand in the back of the crowd. But maybe the next time a parent standing in front of me blocks my view of the fireworks and castle by placing a child on their shoulders, I'll just move and stand directly in front of them. Sure, I may block the view of the parent. But they can just move to the left or the right. In any case, the child will still be able to see. That's all that matters, right?

 

[fumipappa]

I think it is really rude and incosiderate to put kids on your shoulders and block other people's view. If I see people already doing that I don't stand behind them but when they do it after the parades or shows start it really annoys me. Sometimes you can't move enough to see round them.

I don't agree that it is all about the younglings at the parks, I want to see things just as much as they do. I am quite happy for kids to stand in front of me as long as my view isn't blocked.

I've worked bl**dy hard all year for my vacation and scrimped and saved - kids have been in kindergarten colouring in!

But you may be blocking others' view without noticing. Do you think kids on daddy's shoulder intentionally blocking others' view? I don;t think so. If you people are happy for kids to stand in front of yourself to show more courtesy, why people always staying to one of the better place to "reserve" their place to watch parade/fireworks? Because you are thinking you deserve more than others. For me, it sounds so hypocrite that a lot of people think they are couteous enough to others but reality is not. Reverse logic always can apply.
For kids on daddy's shoulder, it is so selfish to listen the logic from adult that your daddy should not carry their kids to on his shoulder because it is blocking others view. By saying it, you are already believing you are entitled to better view than the kids....

I am not saying parents does not have to be cautious. I m just saying that it is so funny to read the comment that people demanding/complaining of the lack of courtesy of others are lacking courtesy to their counterpart....

 

[BamaFan121s]

After staying with this thread and reading some of the opinions and comments, I find it ironic that the people with kids in the air are thought of as "the inconsiderate rude ones." Seems like the pixie dust and consideration of others needs to be spread on both sides of the fence.

I guess the only conclusive lesson here is that you can't please everyone.

 

[fumipappa]

I'm pretty sure she meant they can still have fun doing other things instead of blocking people's view.

If people are courteous when they do things, then it wouldn't be an issue. But having the attitued "someone can move a little when I do that" is misplaced entitlement.

It is also misplaced entitlement to demand to the kids taken off from daddy's houlder because the kid is blocking "YOUR VIEW"

 

[safetymom]

No it is being courteous so that others can see. What's wrong with holding your child up so they are at your level to see? I don't think I deserve a better view but an equal view. If I can't see because you are blocking the view with the child on your shoulder is that fair?

Thankfully I don't usually have the problem but it does happen. I just don't understand why it is ok????

 

[Kdog]

Ok, I've changed my mind a bit. I previously mentioned that kids on parents shoulders occasionally bothered me depending upon this, that, and other things. However, after reading more of the posts, I think my annoyance has more to do with my "I found this spot; it's mine" thinking rather than the actual issue (I feel pathetic admiting that.) I also hate to admit this, but staking out a spot hours in advance makes the viewing spot such a big deal to me (when it really shouldn't be.) I think that's why lately I prefer viewing from the back. It wasn't just kids on parents' shoulders that bothered me; it was anyone who pushed or squeezed into my spot. That is sad thinking on my part, and I am glad that I verbally never made a big deal about it to anyone at WDW. See, these discussion threads are good--I never thought about it from the viewpoint of parents who are trying their best to create a magical memory for their kids. I need to be more

 

[fumipappa]

No it is being courteous so that others can see. What's wrong with holding your child up so they are at your level to see? I don't think I deserve a better view but an equal view. If I can't see because you are blocking the view with the child on your shoulder is that fair?

Thankfully I don't usually have the problem but it does happen. I just don't understand why it is ok????

Ok, let me clarify. I understand your frustration. Because I felt same way until I started noticing that my reason of the frustration can become frustrateion others. "Why is it OK to others to do somthing bothering me?"
But sometimes such a reaction is bothering others.

I am not trying to feel frustration by others because I may be doing same thing at other occasion. I feel soooo wrong that I am always not doing anything to bother people. This real world cannot be easy as we think. Sometimes wrong thing is not wrong to other people.

I always think the quote, "By others faults wise men correct their own" is the way I should think.

 

[safetymom]

I understand some of what you are saying but it seems nowadays that people are more concerned with themselves than the people around them.

I remember a day when people said please and thank you, here go ahead of me. You don't see much of that anymore.

I was late coming to love Disney so I can overlook lots of stuff because I still have pixie dust in my eyes. But I really think some people just don't think when they get to Disney. It is all me, me, me instead of some courtesy.

 

[EnnEss]

I think the reason ppl do this is just so their kids can see, its not a me me me attitude. To further clarify, the reason it does not bother me ( I don't have kids) is that kids will probably only see this once, they often can't stay up that late and many families can't afford to go to Disney more than once anyways. For adults it is not near as magical, they can stay up every night of their stay to see it and they probably have the means to come back.

Last time at DLR I spoke with a lady who saved up for 6 years to take her then 11 year old to Disney. She worked at Wal Mart and this was the only vacation she had with her kid. We were both staying at the Paradise Pier and I was talking to her while we were both in the spa (hot tub). This seemed so cliche I couldn't believe it, and I hope her kid had the best trip and remembers it. While this may be an extreme example I'm sure there are lots of families in similar situations who just want the best for their kids, and sitting on a parents shoulders is a form of affection and they will have that combined with the fireworks. Pales in comparison of my view of the fireworks, which is basically burning bits of chemicals that look pretty in the sky.

 

[safetymom]

Oh I don't think they all have the me me me attitude. I was one of those people that it was a very big deal to go to Disney. After my husband died I decided to take my 3 young kids to Disney for the first time. Nothing will ever compare watching them become children and forget their troubles when they first saw Main St.

You just never know that the person you are blocking is trying to have their first magical moments also.

 

[cloudy13006]

as far as watching fire works, they are in the sky... even a kid on somebody's shoulder's, that should not block anybody's view of watching the fireworks no matter where they are standing.

Um, yeah, they can. I'm 4'11", and I have a hard time watching fireworks a lot of the times, I try to get a spot with some space between me and the people in front of me so I can see, but when it is really crowded and there are people directly in front I can't see at all Only time I ever hate being short is at Disney, specifically for that reason, lol!

 

[Goofy'slady]

EnnEss- thank you so much for what you've said. I'm a mum of two and my youngest is just two. This past May I wanted her to enjoy Spectromagic and Wishes as much as the rest of the family but in order to do that I had to put her on my shoulders. I did my best to make sure those in back of me could see and other little ones who I noticed were having a hard time seeing I asked their parents if they wanted their little ones to stand with our family so they could see. I don't know if that visit was their first and only or one of many to come but I wanted to help make sure that this visit right then and there was magical. Disney is sooo much more than "this is my spot I've been here for days keeping this spot and you can't have it" to me that's like saying you can't share in my joy. Disney is oozing with joy and magic why keep it to ourselves share you just might help make someone's dream come true.

Toya

 

[pixiemel]

Ok, I've changed my mind a bit. I previously mentioned that kids on parents shoulders occasionally bothered me depending upon this, that, and other things. However, after reading more of the posts, I think my annoyance has more to do with my "I found this spot; it's mine" thinking rather than the actual issue (I feel pathetic admiting that.) I also hate to admit this, but staking out a spot hours in advance makes the viewing spot such a big deal to me (when it really shouldn't be.) I think that's why lately I prefer viewing from the back. It wasn't just kids on parents' shoulders that bothered me; it was anyone who pushed or squeezed into my spot. That is sad thinking on my part, and I am glad that I verbally never made a big deal about it to anyone at WDW. See, these discussion threads are good--I never thought about it from the viewpoint of parents who are trying their best to create a magical memory for their kids. I need to be more

Yes!! You get it! I am proud for you!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Ok, I've changed my mind a bit. I previously mentioned that kids on parents shoulders occasionally bothered me depending upon this, that, and other things. However, after reading more of the posts, I think my annoyance has more to do with my "I found this spot; it's mine" thinking rather than the actual issue (I feel pathetic admiting that.) I also hate to admit this, but staking out a spot hours in advance makes the viewing spot such a big deal to me (when it really shouldn't be.) I think that's why lately I prefer viewing from the back. It wasn't just kids on parents' shoulders that bothered me; it was anyone who pushed or squeezed into my spot. That is sad thinking on my part, and I am glad that I verbally never made a big deal about it to anyone at WDW. See, these discussion threads are good--I never thought about it from the viewpoint of parents who are trying their best to create a magical memory for their kids. I need to be more

How about the kids behind those folks whose parents are also trying to create a magical memory????

Don't they count, too?