Un-Disney-like Behavior

[AU Tigger]

I'm kind of new at this, but I've been Disney-ing for a long time, so please bear with me.

I have raised 3 sons, and one of the main things I tried to teach them was to be gentlemen (or just plain good citizens--it's not all about them). That (among other things) means that if they are on a bus--or in a waiting area or just about anywhere--and someone comes in who needs that seat more than they do--a woman, a mom with kids, the elderly--they were to get up immediately. If the person chose not to sit in the seat, that was up to the person. But they were not to sit in a room where women or older people or the infirm were having to stand.

This sort of brings up the question:
What "rules" have you tried to teach your kids that they saw being broken over and over and over at Disney (or other public places)?

Another from me: "Back up and don't try to get on the elevator until others have had a chance to get off!" You're just in the way.

 

[ducklite]

Sorry but I find it inconceivable that there was not one healthy person on that bus that could give up their seat. Last March DS14 and I went and I only had to prompt him the first time to give up his seat for someone, anyone, that needed it more than he did. He was always complimented on his good manners and once they heard his southern accent, they knew why he gave up his seat. It is genetic with southern boys for the most part to give up their seat for a lady, older person or someone with a young child. It better be or momma will slap them upside the head. LOL.

I guess my point is that no one should be obligated to give up their seat, and no one should be upset if someone won't. There is always the option of taking the next bus. If you are too tired, then shame on you, you should have planned your day better.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I have raised 3 sons, and one of the main things I tried to teach them was to be gentlemen (or just plain good citizens--it's not all about them). That (among other things) means that if they are on a bus--or in a waiting area or just about anywhere--and someone comes in who needs that seat more than they do--a woman, a mom with kids, the elderly--they were to get up immediately.

My point is taht no one should get on a full bus and expect a seat to be given up for them, and then be angry when it doesn't happen. Of course it's simply the right thing for someone to give up the seat, but IMHO, it should come as an unexpected gesture as opposed to the entitlement mindset. If the bus is full and you need a seat, the polite thing to do would be to wait for the next one, not get on teh bus and expect someone to give up their seat, and be angry when it doesn't happen. Good manners are a two way street.

Anne

 

[AU Tigger]

Good manners are by nature never demanded, but always given.

And many times the busses are not empty when they arrive at your stop. Waiting for another one may not solve the problem.

 

[MareQ]

In that case those people were jerks. Although we had some nasty European lady tell my DH he should hold our DS on his lap so she could sit--which would have been fine five years earlier, our son was around 12 at the time! And there were other seats on the bus, she didn't want to walk to them--and she wasn't disabled, just manners stupid.

Anne

This was the middle of the day too - we were trying to get back to lay the kids down for a nap. It's not like it was the end of the day etc. We were the last ones on the bus but we were in the middle of the line - because the kids were asleep we left them in the strollers for as long as possible and when it was our time to board - we just moved to the side to take the kids out and of course nobody felt like waiting 10 extra seconds so we boarded last - lol - We also didn't say anything to the woman either nor did I give anybody a look.... I cannot understand what she found so amusing about our situation...

 

[scrappystamper1]

I wish this board was required reading before anyone could go to Disney World.
I think that if the people mentioned in the previous posts could really see what jerks they are being MAYBE they would not act like that. (some people will no matter what). What you have to remember on a Disney vacation is that
1. EVERYONE is tired,
2. EVERYONE walks 10+ miles a day
3. EVERYONE had to wait for the bus
4. MOST have young children who are tired, hungry etc..
5. EVERYONE paid a small fortune for this week of wonder.

Can't we just take a deep breath and maybe hold back some of the rude comments, give up your seat if you see a mom with a pooped kid or fussy baby?

Just my 2 cents, but if I act like a jerk in front of my boys it just makes them "jerks in training". If I show kindness, compassion and manners, then they become "gentlemen in training"

Janet Paddock

 

[steph73]

Perhaps I'm an oddity, but I would never expect anyone to give up their seat for me or my kids - and if it was offered, I doubt I would accept.

I don't mean any offense by this, I'm just trying to share my point of view. I don't expect strangers to accommodate me beyond extending common courtesy - particularly if I am in that situation willingly and as a result of possible poor planning on my part. Some would say that it's common courtesy to offer your seat - I do agree if the person standing is elderly or disabled. I would offer my seat in a minute if that were the case. But I don't think that just because you're traveling with children that all healthy people on the bus should offer their seat. I mean, it's WDW. Most people are traveling with children. If I saw a family with very small children pile onto an already filled bus, I would wonder why they didn't wait for the next one. I view it much like I view the lines for the attractions - one would never expect you to let a family with small kids pass you in line, even if the kids were grumpy from standing in line that long.

 

[joll43]

Just my 2 cents, but if I act like a jerk in front of my boys it just makes them "jerks in training". If I show kindness, comapssion and manners, then they become "gentlemen in training"

Couldn't have said it better myself -- Go, Janet!!!

 

[ducklite]

I view it much like I view the lines for the attractions - one would never expect you to let a family with small kids pass you in line, even if the kids were grumpy from standing in line that long.

That's a very good anology!

Anne

 

[Poohgirl]

Ok, I admit, if anyone saw an incident with me and my two boys at AK on my last trip, you would be saying "what a mean mom!" I was with my two sons 7 & 9 and my mom. We were at AK and having a good time, although my youngest was having a "I have to have EVERYTHING my way" day. We were going with his flow. My older son really wanted to do It's tough to be a bug, and Grandma had never seen it, so we go. My youngest decides that he doesn't want to and proceeds to put on his brakes. Wouldn't budge. Saying he doesn't like it and wants to do what he wants to do. Now we have done this a number of times, and he enjoyed it. So I try and say its for his brother and grandma , they want to do it etc. Nope. He turns to tantrum... Nice mom wasn't working and with how he was acting the whole day I had finally had it. I told him (ok more like a mild yell) he was acting spoiled, that we had been doing everything he wanted to do and he could at least sit through the show for his brother and grandma. He told me "no, I am not going in, I will wait right here" That was it "ok then, we go" and we did, straight out of the park and back to the resort. Mad as heck 7 year old in toe... Not my best moment, however before we got to the busses I at least got a "mom, Im sorry I wasn't co-operating"

 

[mickeyfan2]

Poohgirl I think you handle it correctly.

 

[jjarman]

I guess my point is that no one should be obligated to give up their seat, and no one should be upset if someone won't. There is always the option of taking the next bus. If you are too tired, then shame on you, you should have planned your day better.

Anne

I guess that is where we differ. I have raised my son that he is obligated to give up his seat to someone who needs it more. He is a healthy teenager. He doesn't have to sit especially if there is an older person, a pregnant woman, someone holding a young child.

 

[princessjv]

Didn't intend to start a 'give up your seat on the bus battle'... sorry

Just to clarify, in many instances we did wait for the next bus, when knowing the bus was completly full prior to boarding (there are many times when loading that you don't know until you are already on). Unfortuneatly, being that we stayed at POR, EVERY BUS that came to us was full from going to POFQ prior to getting us. (we even opted to walk to POFQ to board when possible)

We learned to stay at POFQ next time...

 

[sz9144]

I know this is petty, but.... my sons were adopted from Guatemala (very tan, very mayan) and clearly don't look anything like my dh and I who are very pale and very caucasian. we were shopping at a disney kiosk, one of my sons says "mom look at this" and the cast member working the kiosk looks at me and says, "Those are YOUR kids?"

I was really put off my that....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

However there was a family with 4 small kids all sprawled out - the mom and Dad COULD have picked up the two smaller ones and held them on their laps so DH and I could have sat too - Or even put ONE on your lap so I could sit with my two sleeping kids - NOPE. In fact the mom looked at us and laughed and said "We got here first" @@ It was a LONG ride from MK back to BWV trying to balance the kids and strollers while standing on a bus. .

I've also seen families sprawled out on the seats while others were standing. Amazes me that they can't just take up one seat each and pull little ones close to them. I would pull my 4-5yo son on my lap so others could sit. Obviously at some point kids are too big to do that with, but some people take up as much room as possible just because they can.

I would expect my older kids to give up a seat for an elderly or pregnant person or someone holding a young child. And for that matter, I would give up my seat.

Of course a person can wait for the next bus, but sometimes they don't come often or, like has been pointed out, sometimes the buses come with lots of people already on it.

 

[2giddy4wdw]

I think that this post definately goes both ways. This past trip in Nov. we got seats and a girl with a baby came on. I told my DD12 to get up and she could sit on my lap. Instead, she sat on DDbestfriend's lap. When we offered the seat to the mom with the baby she said no. We talked her into it and she thanked DD and then thanked me. I have been there before so I know what it's like. We have been going since 1995, and I have on most occasions had my DS get up or put DD on my lap.

But the 2 things that get me:

1) People with wheelchairs that come up late to the stop and get on first with a group of people and they all get seats and others that had been standing there have to stand. Or the people in wheelchairs that don't even sit in the wheelchair they take up yet another seat.

2) Parents that let the little kids sit in a seat and not move them on their lap. But what is worse was this past trip, there was a mother sitting with the stroller in front of her, baby in car seat sitting next to her and then little boy (less then 4) in yet another seat. How hard would it have been to put the stroller in front of the little boy and put the car seat on her lap.

I think sometimes it would be sooo much easier if they made everyone rent a stroller, then you wouldn't have to deal with it on the bus. I know that my comment is not what people want to hear and it may lead to being bashed. But lets face it, it would solve alot of the problems that arise from strollers. I know that since I have been going to disney DD was 2 at the time. I did bring my stroller. Was only there for 2 days. When we took the family back a year and a half later I didn't bring her stroller, nor did I even rent one. And everything worked out great.

Please understand that everyone that comments on here is right. Whether you agree or not, it is their opinion. They are not wrong for feeling the way that they do.

I just think that if everyone just relaxed and took a deep breath that things would work out. I know in the end after everything that has happened to us we realize that we are in the happiest place on earth and we have fun.

Sorry this was so long.

 

[Rudegrle]

We are a young couple (24 and 30) and tend to do "young" things like shove eachother into something, let the *f* bomb slip from time to time, or call eachother stupid names (in the most loving and sarcastic way of course), and when we do these things while vacationing at WDW we always come back w/ "That's not very Disney of you". It's always our running joke...

Besides shocking ourselves sometimes, we have witnessed a lot of un-disney things in the parks before. I think we have all seen the parents spanking their kids on Main st while they are in the happiest place on earth, the line cheaters, the barely there clothing and the list goes on and on. But the one thing that sticks out in my head are the SMOKING incidents! Too many times we encountered people not obeying the smoking rules while in the park , like smoking in the designated areas or proper disposal of their butts. We had a young girl (late teens?) smoking in front of us, in line for the bus at MK, while holding a small child in her arms As a former smoker, I understand the need to light up but please do it w/ respect to others.

The most shocking is when my BF's SIL, on a trip w/ out us, was not obeying the smoking rules and burned a kid w/ her cigarette while she was walking around MK!!! I am so embarrassed to even know somebody who would let this happen . If I was that child's parent I would've let her have it, in the most Disney way of course.

With all that said we always try to be the most respectful Disney guests while visiting. We always give up our seats on the bus, offer our table to a family, take pictures for others, read my map while I'm standing on the side of the walkway, give eachother plenty of bubble space in line, etc, etc. But no matter how hard I try I am sure that I have done a few un-Disney things myself .

 

[princessjv]

1) People with wheelchairs that come up late to the stop and get on first with a group of people and they all get seats and others that had been standing there have to stand. Or the people in wheelchairs that don't even sit in the wheelchair they take up yet another seat.

OMG! I am with you on that one! Why would you take up an additional seat, when you already have one in your wheelchair/motorized trolly? Is there a safety issue?

 

[sammielynn]

Our last time at Disney we were on a bus that was ver crowded. An elderly lady got on and there were no seats left. I reminded my DS15 and an Eagle Scout that he should offer the lady his seat. She refused even after he said "Look, I'm an Eagle Scout and this is what we are suppose to do". Maybe she didn't want to be the little old lady a scout helped across the road , but she would not take the seat.

 

[tone.def]

December 15, 2005 - last show of Lights, motors stunt show at MGM. A young boy was sitting with his family in front of me and my boyfriend. At the beginning of show, we hear the younger son (I'm guessing about 5?) tell his Dad he has to go to bathroom. Dad says wait. Boy tells Mom he has to go to the bathroom. She says too bad, you should have gone earlier. Boy then pooped his pants. Parents would not leave the car stunt show because THEY wanted to see it.

Who breeds these people???