Tips on being courteous at WDW

[zzyzx409]

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I read your essay and found it very informative.. Thanks for sharing..

Thanks, I wrote it in the spirit of trying to help both scooter users and the folks on foot.

I can see somewhere down the road where my sis may need one of those scooters so I know where you're coming from.. But I saw an incident in Dec. where a man in one of those motorized scooters hit a little girl and trapped her leg under the scooter.. She didn't step out in front of him - nor did she stop suddenly.. It was in Epcot and the man was looking out across the lake - rather than in front of him where he was driving.. I saw several incidents like this during our trip where the drivers were looking elsewhere and literally seconds before the accident I witnessed I mentioned to my son-in-law that sooner or later someone was going to get injured.. No sooner got the words out of my mouth when we heard this blood curdling scream..

I guess we all have to be more careful - those walking around and those using the scooters.. It's really no different than driving a car - the driver of the "car" has to keep their eyes on the "road" at all times.. If the driver would like to stop to look at something (and this goes for the walker as well), move over to the side and stop - out of the mainstream of traffic..

No one should be excluded from enjoying WDW - but no one should have to run the risk of being injured by incidents that can be avoided..

You are right those of us on scooters need to be ever vigilent. I try to make the point that we are just pedestrians using wheels instead of legs, but when you add the extra weight of the scooter and the stopping distance required, well, it is different. You are also right, it is kind of like driving a car, the driver cannot enjoy the scenery, and at WDW we tend to forget that, both the scooter riders and folks on foot forget the need to watch where we are going.

I hope that folks who do read the essay will undersand that they need to be vigilent as well. We can run into people when we are just walking, the difference is that a scooter has the potential to harm more than a person running into another person. By the end of the day, I feel as if I have been on a freeway all day, just trying to avoid running into other folks, I am really emotionaly drained. Riding a scooter is a BIG responsibility. One I take seriously, and one I believe many do take very seriously. But like all other things, there are the few who do not take it seriously and those are the ones that everybody remembers. Most people do not remember the courteous folks, those with strollers who do not run into you, those just out having a good time, those riding scooters who are courteous, most folks remember the ones who are not courteous. It is just human nature to remember this way.

For every stroller that runs into a person, there are 10 who do not. For every scooter who runs into a person, there are 10 who do not. For every person who jumps in fornt of you, there are 10 who do not. For every person who smokes in line, ther are 10 who do not.

I am of the opinion that there are a lot more good folks in the world than discourteous folks. I guess my "rose colored glasses are showing again"

Later,

Andy

 

[zzyzx409]

I guess I forgot to add, Walt Disney World is a very big place, lots of distractions, it can cause "sensory overload", this "sensory overload" can cause folks walking, folks with strollers, and folks on scooters to get distracted and run into someone. But isn't that the point of Walt Disney World, to be the worlds biggest distraction, and as such, you are bound to have a few people get distracted and run into someone else, or stop for no apparent reaosn, or move in a totally unexpected manner (an maybe right in front of you and me and everyone else).

So, instead of labeling the scooter rider as careless, labeling the stroller pusher as careless, or labeling the person walking as careless, labeling the person stopping as careless, maybe we should all be a little more vigilent and watchful to help all of us keep all of us from running into each other. And, when the occasional accident does happen, why not be a little more forgiving and just help those involved get back on their feet and back to the reason we are all at Walt Disney World... Enjoyment and Distraction from the everyday life!

C.Ann said "No one should be excluded from enjoying WDW - but no one should have to run the risk of being injured by incidents that can be avoided.."

I really think this is at the heart of the matter, and if we all help each other and help to watch out for each other, then I believe we can all have a great time at Walt Disney World. We just need to forget that it is all about each of us individually, but remember that it is all about all of us together.


I believe the only label we need to apply to people at Walt Disney World is... People looking for a distraction and a good time!

Just MHO, YMMV

Later,

Andy

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Not to mention people who ruin the ride by talking loudly/screaming/or singing obnoxiously during a ride.

Here's another one ... if you feel the need to very loudly explain to your children what all the countries are throughout the entire Small World ride, at least get them right!!

 

[Miss Jessr!ca]

one of the things that bugs me are the people who just flat out dont listen.
i was in line to get a mickey bar once and the guy kept yelling "cash only!" like every 30 sec. so the lady infront of me finally got up there and handed him a credit card. they guy replied "sorry ma'am only cash"
and the lady totally flipped out! and said that he never said that.
people are so dumb sometimes.

 

[CindeBella]

I came back from my last trip and started a similar thread, but mostly in jest. As it turns out, common sense isn't all that "common" when at Disney World.

Personally, I've observed about everything mentioned above, and for the most part here is my approach: Ignore it. Laugh it off. Make a mental note and start a thread here mocking "those people." Seriously, it's my vacation, too, and why should "they" ruin it for me?

If you MUST get into the Haunted Mansion ahead of me, so be it...I'll be in Doombuggy 48 instead of 46. If you MUST smoke as soon as you're outside, guess who's looking like the idiot? If you MUST step directly in front of that stroller/wheelchair/ECV, guess who has the sore ankle?

All in all, I've witnessed some good stuff, but I can't let it ruin my trip.

Vent away, though, always feels better!

AMEN!

 

[CindeBella]

Thanks, I wrote it in the spirit of trying to help both scooter users and the folks on foot.




You are right those of us on scooters need to be ever vigilent. I try to make the point that we are just pedestrians using wheels instead of legs, but when you add the extra weight of the scooter and the stopping distance required, well, it is different. You are also right, it is kind of like driving a car, the driver cannot enjoy the scenery, and at WDW we tend to forget that, both the scooter riders and folks on foot forget the need to watch where we are going.

I hope that folks who do read the essay will undersand that they need to be vigilent as well. We can run into people when we are just walking, the difference is that a scooter has the potential to harm more than a person running into another person. By the end of the day, I feel as if I have been on a freeway all day, just trying to avoid running into other folks, I am really emotionaly drained. Riding a scooter is a BIG responsibility. One I take seriously, and one I believe many do take very seriously. But like all other things, there are the few who do not take it seriously and those are the ones that everybody remembers. Most people do not remember the courteous folks, those with strollers who do not run into you, those just out having a good time, those riding scooters who are courteous, most folks remember the ones who are not courteous. It is just human nature to remember this way.

For every stroller that runs into a person, there are 10 who do not. For every scooter who runs into a person, there are 10 who do not. For every person who jumps in fornt of you, there are 10 who do not. For every person who smokes in line, ther are 10 who do not.

I am of the opinion that there are a lot more good folks in the world than discourteous folks. I guess my "rose colored glasses are showing again"

Later,

Andy

Well put!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Here's another etiquette tip - don't harass the characters! This Tigger thing reminded me, but I've seen some people torture them before!

 

[jessica52877]

I absolutely agree its for children of all ages, but its a terrible ordeal to bring a child so young. I often see infants there and wonder WTH!?! We took a 5-year-old to Disney and even said that was too young. We spent the entire time waiting in line for characters only for her to start crying when she got up to the front of the line. She didn't want to go on any inside rides because they were too dark or too noisy. It ended up being too difficult.

I hear from so many parents how they would have never taken their toddlers if they would have known how difficult it would be. So, I stand by a "if they require a stroller, they're too young" motto. Plus, they won't remember it anyway.

Wow! I can't sit here and let this one go. My son LOVES disney, his first trip was at 6 weeks and yes, he even got something out of it then. He LOVED the lights everywhere. That being said, he just turned 4, talks of going to NO other place, is not SCARED of any ride, nor are any TOO loud. He loves the characters, first cruise at 9 months and crawled as fast as he could to everyone he could see! He naps at home, therefore he naps when at the parks, we either find a bench and sit down or he'll go to sleep right in his stroller when I tell him too. No sense in trying to head to the room, the minute you put him in his carseat he is out, the minute you stop he is awake!

Each child is different and you have to know your child and if he would like the parks, rides, characters, etc. If he was a sensitive child he might not like all the hoopla, but he LOVES it. He is a very normal child as I imagine most children at disney are.

Maybe I am a different mother, I now know who probably has cut me off before when pushing a small stroller very politely! Oddly enough I think some people get annoyed at stroller pushers for no reason. I try to keep my distance from others and find that people must just fill that three feet I leave in between as a stopping distance. People seem to just stop in the middle wherever and I want time to react.

 

[TMB1203]

Each child is different and you have to know your child and if he would like the parks, rides, characters, etc. If he was a sensitive child he might not like all the hoopla, but he LOVES it. He is a very normal child as I imagine most children at disney are.

Maybe I am a different mother, I now know who probably has cut me off before when pushing a small stroller very politely! Oddly enough I think some people get annoyed at stroller pushers for no reason. I try to keep my distance from others and find that people must just fill that three feet I leave in between as a stopping distance. People seem to just stop in the middle wherever and I want time to react.

Well said Jessica52877.....I have a 3 year old who loves Disney. He tells anybody that will listen to him about his past trips. We are getting ready to go again next month and he is soooo excited.

I guess it depends on the child. I can't imagine not bringing my son simply because he is a pre-schooler and still in a stroller. I love seeing the "world" through his eyes!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Well I will tell all my fellow DIS'ers how sorry I am for being rude to you all when I ......

2 - or you are trying to get by me while I have nicely waited in line and I have my arms stretched out to hold the handrails on both sides and you think your going to march right past me , and I won't let you cut in line. !

Maybe the rest of their party is waiting further up in the line - DARN they got there before you and maybe someone took a child to the restroom???? Maybe it would be great not to try to control everyone else in the park.

 

[CindeBella]

My children at all ages, from the time they were under 1 until now when my oldest is 9, have LOVED Disney. They don't cry, get scared, etc. They are on cloud 9 from beginning to end. They ask at least a few times a week when we're going back.

I guess we're lucky, we haven't experienced any problems in regards to strollers or wheelchairs. However, I can say that we have encountered problems from young adults to GROWN adults that cut in line and run when the park opens. DH and I watched in disbelief when cast members were removing the ropes from the castle to allow people to enter the park at 9am ~ we saw adults running almost trampling children. A few hours later we were in line for the train, we let the previous train go by so we had time to fold the stroller and not rush. We started by being the first in line but when the next train came we were several people behind the gate. Same goes for the bus stops. It doesn't matter that people with small children are in the front helping their children on, again, adults will cut right in front of them. While this is not always the case, we have seen this many times. It's frustrating when children are getting pushed aside by people 10X their size. Don't get me started on the people cutting in front of the line at the Crystal Palace buffet. It's crazy to me that people act that way.

Disney is magical, especially for children. Memories they will hold forever. Watching them see Mickey for the first time, the princesses,.. it's priceless. If everyone would slow down, be courtious and respectful of one another, we would all have a very enjoyable vacation.

 

[CindeBella]

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Oh please.. I'm 57 yrs. old and I have seen plenty of kids on leashes in my lifetime - at Disney and elsewhere - and I have NEVER seen a parent pick their child up using the leash "so their limp little bodies are dangling in the air.." Sorry - but that statement is downright laughable!

Agreed, I have never seen that. While I don't use them myself, it's better than seeing a child's picture on a flyer stating they are missing. Children can easily get seperated from a parent, especially in a large crowd. I'm confident the parent's only intention is to keep their child safe.

In a day when children are being held for 4 1/2 years in a kidnappers apartment along with another missing child, I'm happy to see parents not taking chances.

 

[CinderellaBride12]

Well I will tell all my fellow DIS'ers how sorry I am for being rude to you all when I ......

1 - am trying to fill all available seats to the end of the row and some family sits down in the middle , even with a whole line of us trying to fill the row ( because its a very busy day and need all seats ) I will just step on you to get by if you dont care , neither do I.

2 - or you are trying to get by me while I have nicely waited in line and I have my arms stretched out to hold the handrails on both sides and you think your going to march right past me , and I won't let you cut in line.

For these 2 things , when I do this to a fellow DIS'er , I will at least say excuse me to you !

The 1st one totally irritates me beyond all belief! When we were there last April people were doing this and the employees kept telling them to move and finally I said "You need to move down...other people want to sit to" and it turns out they didn't know english so some other guy said it to them (I think it was spanish if I remember correctly) along with a few choice words. LoL. The line cutting thing irritates me! I try to be understanding and think well yeah if there is one person and it's a child maybe they got seperated or maybe it's someone not healthy enough to stand in the heat or something. When I was there as a WISH kid I couldn't stand in the heat so we had the disabled pass but in lines we did wait in (I know at Universal for sure) someone would wait and then me and my mom (or dad) would go up there as they got close. (Hey a kid on Chemo can only stand so much). There are a few exceptions but you gotta draw the line when a group of like 8 just tries to push past you.

 

[CinderellaBride12]

3 More things that get me....

If you don't work at the ride DO NOT TRY TO MESS WITH THE BUTTONS! When I worked at ToT SOO many teens thought it was funny to try and mess with buttons if you turn or talk to someone for the slightest second.

Restricted Areas are meant to be RESTRICTED! Same things with fences...there for a reason and it's not to hop them!

Lastly...People who try to steal things. Yes I have seen people try to shop lift at the world. It's not just merchandise either. Good example...the glasses at Bugs Life and P.Magic. Other people want to see those shows to so don't take the glasses. If everyone took a pair each time they went in...they would probably have to close the show until they bought more and that is if they felt like buying more. I admit I accidentally walked out with some but when I noticed we took them back. It's only cause they were taken from me and hooked to my jacket. LoL.

 

[sewer]

It seems to me that it all boils down to this... treat the people around you like they are there with you, as a member of your group, because truly, they are. How great your experience is at WDW is not only the place and the weather and the CM's. We are a part of it, as the audience. And in this case, audience participation makes a big difference.
Yep, if I sound hokey to you, I would rather not be there when you are, because you are going in with an attitude of "us" vs "them".
If you would just relax, join in... realize that two or three minutes of comoraderie isn't going to make a big difference in your experience over all... unless it makes it better for both of us.
Things would be so much better for both of us.
Especially me.

I agree 100%

 

[Todd&Copper]

Originally Posted by Boston5602
Well I will tell all my fellow DIS'ers how sorry I am for being rude to you all when I ......

1 - am trying to fill all available seats to the end of the row and some family sits down in the middle , even with a whole line of us trying to fill the row ( because its a very busy day and need all seats ) I will just step on you to get by if you dont care , neither do I.

2 - or you are trying to get by me while I have nicely waited in line and I have my arms stretched out to hold the handrails on both sides and you think your going to march right past me , and I won't let you cut in line.

For these 2 things , when I do this to a fellow DIS'er , I will at least say excuse me to you !


We had one incident for each of these occur last August and both times we handled the situation pretty well.
The first one was at Universal, at the Shrek show, a guy and his female companion wouldn't go to the end of the row. Dsis tells him to move to the end, and points to the end of the row. He tells her to go around (but there were only 2 seats past him, and we needed three) so she says, "NO, YOU need to move down." and he actually did. I think he was from a country where women are subservient and was a little intimidated by a chick with 'tude. [Also, in the background, the CM facilitating entry into the auditorium encouraged kicking, shoving, stepping on, etc. bascially any means to get folks to fill every available seat. The whole thing was too funny].

The almost line cutter was at Soarin'. There was a family of close-standers behind us, so we 3 spread out across the queue to stake our space. Dsis turns around to say something to DMom, who was standing in the middle and a little in front of her, and is practically face-to-face with a little Asian man, who's family was about 2 or 3 groups behind us. Dsis did a double take (hillarious to actually see this happen in person!) and they regarded each other for almost a full minute until he turned, stone-faced, and retreated back to his family. We then heard his wife chattering at him in a kind of p.o.'s tone.

To the scooter-users, the only request I make is that you learn how to use it before you start treking around the parks. I was once pinned to a display case in a candy shop when an elderly gentlemen who was in a scooter had no idea how to work it, and it was not an experience anyone should have to go through. He scooted clear across a store at a high speed, and was less than apologetic after he finally figured out how to go in reverse.

 

[MinMouse]

To the scooter-users, the only request I make is that you learn how to use it before you start treking around the parks. I was once pinned to a display case in a candy shop when an elderly gentlemen who was in a scooter had no idea how to work it, and it was not an experience anyone should have to go through. He scooted clear across a store at a high speed, and was less than apologetic after he finally figured out how to go in reverse.[/QUOTE]

Todd&Copper-- I'm right with you on this one. My DM has to use a wheelchair some in Disney because of a bad back. When we first investigated we decided it would be better for us to push her in a standard wheelchair than rent a scooter that she has no idea how to use. I just recommended this same approach to a friend who wants her mom to use some assistance on an upcoming trip. BTW, we are careful of toes, etc. while pushing the wheelchair!

 

[dimimi]

I have seen people waiting in line for a bus and then people just walk right in front of everyone. I know it sounds silly...but they need a marker stating..."Line forms here!"

 

[almburr]

I dont like it when people pushing a wheelchair expect you to move out of the way. We were at MGM Putting kids in stroller outside of a store. A lady pushing her mother? was pushing closer to Dh stating to push him out of the way. She then says "You need to move so i can get through" There was plenty of room to get around plus she was at the little ramp that goes to the street. DH buckles the kids and moves out of the way. Woman pushes on by and bumps wheelchair off the curb.

 

[NotAmused]

I have had many of these experiences, but that's what happens when you have a ton of different people together.

I still have to vent about one thing though. I was at one of the parks and my family and I were sitting on a bench waiting for the rest of the group. A toddler was wandering around by us. His parents were standing against the wall about 25 feet away, watching the child zigzag through all the walking and sitting park guests. Well, the toddler tried running and tripped over my foot, fell on his bottom, and began crying. The mother came over, scooped him up, and gave me the dirtiest look as if I purposely tripped him. Now I KNOW toddlers are always going to want to wander around, but if you are at Disney or any other place, the parent needs to keep a better eye on the child. It would have been very easy for the child to be trampled or even picked up by a stranger. Oh, and don't get mad at paying park guests because your wandering child tripped over their non-moving foot. I paid to enjoy my vacation, not to babysit your child....that's what YOU paid for.


Oh, and this didn't happen at an actual park, but it did happen in BK in Orlando one morning. It was too funny/cute. Sitting at one booth was a few children between the ages of 5-10. Their parents were in line ordering breakfast while they waited. There was another family with a little girl, probably around 2 or 3. The mother was getting drinks and the girl started wandering around the restaurant. She found the table of children and she actually "harrassed" them A little boy was on the end of the seat and the lil girl walked to him and was reaching out to try to touch him. The boy, probably around 5 or 6, kept scooting down the bench so the child would stop. Well, the lil girl climbed up on the seat and started crawling towards him and reaching out. (It was one of those long booths at Burger King) The boy kept scooting down as if he was scared to death of the lil girl. By the time the Mom came to get her daughter, the boy was sitting on his sister's lap, scrunched against the wall.


That was the cutest/funniest thing. I was laughing so hard.