Un-Disney-like Behavior

[CheshireVal]

I experienced something very un-Disneylike on my recent trip in December. We were on a crowded bus on the way home from Epcot one night, and there was an older couple with a baby and a stroller (it might have been their grandchild). The man was standing in the aisle with the stroller just kind of blocking the entire pathway, and the bus driver asked him to please fold the stroller, as that is policy on Disney buses.

Well, the man very RUDELY snapped back "If you want it folded you can come try to fold it yourself. It's broken."

The bus driver looked kind of shocked and didn't say anything else about it.

I mean, come on-- was there really a need for the guy to be so ugly about it? Couldn't he have said "I'm so sorry-- it's broken, I don't think it will fold."

Why do people have to be so mean and unpleasant? It hurt *my* feelings and he wasn't even talking to me!


Second most un-Disney experience, also on our last trip: coming back to our room at night to find it completely reeking of pot! The smell was coming from one of the rooms that shared the ventilation system. That is *so* tacky at WDW.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

ISecond most un-Disney experience, also on our last trip: coming back to our room at night to find it completely reeking of pot! The smell was coming from one of the rooms that shared the ventilation system. That is *so* tacky at WDW.

That brings me to my most unDisney moment--being a young teen at Disneyland with my family. We got a call on the loudspeaker (this was LONG before cell phones) to come to security. My brother had been busted for smoking pot. No charges were filed, but he had to leave the park. I could have killed him. The good news is that my parents felt bad for ended my day early and brought me back the next day.

 

[crazy4disney01]

I see so much crap from people with no manners everytime we go but last September at MK a old lady in a mobile wheelchair was going as fast as she could running over people without saying sorry. People she would run into would just turn and look at her like "what is wrong with you?" When we got up beside her, she had just run into someone else and I told her she needed to slow down. She said this is the slowest this thing will go-I told her she needed to park it then because she can't drive. Not being disrespectful to old people but she needed some kind of wake-up call.

 

[beattyfamily]

Second most un-Disney experience, also on our last trip: coming back to our room at night to find it completely reeking of pot! The smell was coming from one of the rooms that shared the ventilation system. That is *so* tacky at WDW.

You just reminded me. On our last trip this past November/December we stayed at the Contemporary Tower as a birthday gift to myself! Well, while staying on the balcony watching the fireworks, I could smell pot very strongly. It was the woman next door to us. She was sitting there smoking it.

They also were very loud and screaming at like 2:00a on their balcony.

 

[turnlisa]

OK, I wasn't going to say anything but I feel like I have to. I have read the entire thread. As one of those moms who often treks to the bus or monorail carrying a sleeping infant, I want to thank all of you parents who teach your children to give up their seats for those that need it. I have to admit that I have NEVER had to stand on the occasions when I had one of my DSs in my arms. There is always someone who will let me sit down. Even when I don't need it, I know that to the child that offered it to me he/she thinks they are doing a good deed. I always graciously accept.

To return the favor, we have taught both of our DSs (my oldest is now 9) to give up their seat when someone needs it. My DS now does it without being asked and is always graciously thanked. It makes him feel important and kind -- the reason that I always accept the seat when offered. My kids have also been taught to hold doors, help someone when they drop something and just to be courteous. It now comes naturally. I want to thank everyone who has ever been kind to us at Disney or just used their manners. It is truly appreciated!

 

[KimR]

On our last trip we were walking through EPCOT when a kid (about 12-14) passed us, practically running, pushing a smaller boy in a stroller. Had had no control over that stroller because no sooner did he pass us when he ran into a man with the stroller and just kept going. I'm sure it was an accident, but he had no business pushing that stroller so fast and didn't even bother with an apology! I believe there may have been a language barrier (I had heard him speaking Spanish), but a heartfelt 'lo siento' would have gotten the point across, I am sure.

 

[magicmaster]

While on our last trip last month, we saw a little baby about 1 year old laying on the floor of Pecos Bills and his mother standing over him. I mean the baby was laying there with his face and hands on the filthy floor moving around like he was at home playing on a clean carpet. He was not crying or having a tantrum or anything like the mother did not have control of. I guess she was waiting for someone on line. They were in the area between where you order and the fixins' bar. The restaurant was very busy and that floor is absolutely gross. Everyone was just looking at her....what a terrible thing to let your baby do.

 

[2BOYMOM]

2. The "seems more like teenager stuff to me...as in unsupervised, rowdy, attention-seeking teenagers" behavior is something that we would do when no one is around, so the only attention seeking would be from eachother

I am 46 and DH is 47 and we still laugh and push each other and call each other names and have fun. I would never push him into another person or in a crowded area, but a good wall or bush or something, just can't resist sometimes.....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

While on our last trip last month, we saw a little baby about 1 year old laying on the floor of Pecos Bills and his mother standing over him. I mean the baby was laying there with his face and hands on the filthy floor moving around like he was at home playing on a clean carpet. He was not crying or having a tantrum or anything like the mother did not have control of. I guess she was waiting for someone on line. They were in the area between where you order and the fixins' bar. The restaurant was very busy and that floor is absolutely gross. Everyone was just looking at her....what a terrible thing to let your baby do.

If that's your worst memory, you've done ok at Disney!

While I'm sure the floor was gross, there probably wasn't anything there that would kill the child. My firstborn used to hate being carried and when she was little would want down everywhere and didn't care if it was the floor at Target (she loved to crawl around there--yuck!) She was happy if she was down and screamed in the cart. Thankfully she was an early walker and was never sick as a baby so she was no worse for wear. But because of her (not to mention my other 4 kids) I try not to make judgements on what other parents are doing unless it is truly an abuse or very unsafe situation.

Of course in your situation I'd be worried that the baby would be stepped on besides get dirty from the floor.

Edited to add: I promise that I won't let my DD on the floor at any restaurants on our trip next week. Of course at 18yo I probably won't even have to tell her.

 

[MOmousefan]

The most embarrasing thing that happened to me was while standing on a bus back to POP, a sitting teenager offered me her seat! I am 57 years old and overweight so I asked her of I looked that bad after a day in EPCOT. We all laughed about it and I stood the rest of the way to the resort.
I have given up my seat to kids who look like they were ready to implode and most parents appreciate this. We did when our kids were little.

 

[dani0622]

3) If you let the "f-bomb" slip in front of my kid in Disney World or anywhere else, you're going to be pretty embarrassed by the comment you get back.

JMO and remember, you posted your behavior for the world to read about...you gotta expect the comments!

I typically write safe posts and stay out of debates, but this comment really bothered me. I do not condone cursing, but I admit that yes, curses slip out on rare occasions. I'm sorry but I can't understand the point if I was at WDW or anywhere and a curse slipped out and someone tried to "embarass" me by throwing some comments my way for cursing. On the other hand, I have witnessed groups of unsupervised teenagers swearing away and yes, I have said something to them. But as a 30-something adult, I'd have a real problem if I'd accidentally cursed and another adult tried to reprimand me.

Instead of being confrontational and causing a scene, why not take the higher road? Explain to your children that some people have potty mouths and they shouldn't use those words. Wouldn't that be better than verbally attacking someone?

 

[Equidae]

During the Dec.16 MVMCP my DH and I found a good spot to watch the fireworks in the hub area. The people around us were friendly and we didn't have to wait too long before the show started. Almost as soon as it began this family from somewhere in the crowd ahead of us walks almost in front of us. No big deal, the fireworks are up so I didn't care at all. Then the little boy (maybe 2 or 3) starts SCREAMING and asking his mom is they can leave. He is scared to death of the fireworks. He starts begging her if they can go now. Well, the hub was crowded, and I felt bad for the kid and I knew his mom didn't have much chance of leaving in the area since the lights were down and there were a lot of people standing there. What got me was that she was laughing at him, telling him he was just being a baby. I caught her eye and she just laughed and said 'isn't he silly? Afraid of fireworks!' all while he was shaking, screaming and crying in fear. I felt so bad for that little boy! We moved just ahead of them so I didn't have to watch her laughing at him.

 

[Rudegrle]

I'm sorry but I can't understand the point if I was at WDW or anywhere and a curse slipped out and someone tried to "embarass" me by throwing some comments my way for cursing. I'd have a real problem if I'd accidentally cursed and another adult tried to reprimand me.

Thank You Dani, I feel the same way!

I am 46 and DH is 47 and we still laugh and push each other and call each other names and have fun. I would never push him into another person or in a crowded area, but a good wall or bush or something, just can't resist sometimes.....

Glad to see you we look at bushes, walls, and garbage cans the same way 2boymom

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

While at Disney last September, my DH and I offered our seat to a lady with a toddler and holding a baby in her arms. Not only did she decline but she gave DH a dirty look and said 'Do I look like I need your charity' We couldn't believe our attempt to be kind resulted in such rudeness.

Needless to say, we will still continue to offer our seats to the elderly and parents with young children.

I think if I was in your position, I would have said "I'm sorry. I was taught to give up my seat to a lady. Apparently, I was mistaken."

 

[abe_bb]

Well, to start off with, on the whole "do you offer a seat" thing...

I think a lot of people don't offer seats anymore simply because others are too rude to be gracious. I will always offer a seat on the bus if someon needs it, but during our trip in September last year, I only had ONE person say thank you out of the 10 or so times I offered to stand. Two or three refused the seat and looked at me funny, and one took it and then asked me if I could move my 5 year old daughter to make room for her purse.

At any rate, during our trip here is the top 5 undisney like things we saw:

5 - In a monorail cabin, a "gaggle" (about 5) teenage girls "trying on" their new Bath and Body Works sprays. All at once. And then spraying it all over the cabin. It reeked, and I cannot go into that store most the time because of the odors (think I am allergic, but not positive). Very rude.

4 - Our waitress at Boatwrights basically ignored us. We were the first seated (right away when they opened), yet it took us 20 minutes to even have coffee and water offered. Other tables had food before we even ordered. And she sat at a table behind us with a couple she knew and gabbed instead of waiting on us.

3 - An older woman who worked at disney was having an afternoon off with her family and while we were waiting for the spectro magic parade, she sat there and talked for about 30 minutes about why working at disney was horrible, and how poor they treat people.

2 - Tommorrowland Speedway smoking area, an elderly woman holding an infant (didn't appear to be more then 6 months old), in the sunlight, very hot out, and chain smoking. The baby was COUGHING from the smoke. (Sorry, I have no patience for those who smoke while holding children )

1 - The worst thing I saw, that I wish I could forget, because it happens all the time there - Parents abusing their children. I don't care how bad your child is acting, I don't care if they asked for the ice cream 100 times in a row, you do not strike your child*, you don't throw them, you don't sit there and scream at them for having to go to the bathroom. I had to be restrained by my family at least once when I saw someone smack a child across the face (hard enough to leave a mark) who asked for ice cream. I almost went off and slugged the guy.

*I know a lot of parents spank, and I am not talking about spanking. I am talking about either using fists, or slapping the child in the face, kicking them, etc. No child ever deserves those.

 

[moppety]

*sigh*

I am one of these people. I apologize that the driver's load us first, but that's not my problem. If it isn't going to be a full bus when it's loaded, will standing 2 more minutes at the bus stop ruin your vacation??

I always try to catch a bus at off times of the day to avoid people like you.

I can agree with waiting a few extra minutes to load a person with a wheelchair or ECV, and I can agree that seating 1 or 2 extra people attending that person is very reasonable.

I CANNOT agree that a group of 19 people, all adults, only 2 of which were in ECV's, can walk up right as the bus arrives and bump all of those people who have been patiently waiting in line. 2 ECV's take up 2-3 seats each, plus the riders, plus 19 extra family members adds up to 25-27 seats, and that comes darn close to more than halfway filling up a bus. That is unreasonable.

Just because a person needs assistance does NOT mean that their entire entourage needs it as well.

 

[MagicDreamer]

Last summer we were on our way to get in line for Splash Mountain and there was this huge scene ahead of us. We couldn't actually see what was going on, but we could hear people yelling. A minute later, a young girl, probably 15 or 16 came runniung by us, almost knocking over an elderly lady. She kept on running and then we saw why. A man, I'm assuming her father, came running by, yelling, "Get back here! I'm going to beat you when I get ahold of you! Come back!" Over and over again. He was chasing her, but from what I saw, she got away at least for the time being. I was very bothered by it, being a teacher I have to report abusive behavior, but the CM's said nothing could be done unless someone actually saw the father beating the daughter. Hopefully, he was just spouting off, but I can't imagine what she could have possibly done to get him so angry and what would make her run.

 

[DVCajun]

(just deleting my own un-Disneylike remark...)

 

[arthurndove]

with my wheelchair being in the spot it sits on the busses i offerd many parents to put their strollers infront of or behind my wheelchair or i even have offerd to hold them on my lap... lol it was funny one ride i had 4 of them and a 5 yr old (not my child) holding onto the wheel of my chair ....the look of gratitude was priceless... plus i made some corny jokes like"anyone here from Out of town?" like i have told people WDW is for the kids and anything to make it easier on the parents is great... my DD who is 12 even occupied a crying baby so the parent could relax..

 

[Kimberly815]

I can't think of anything un-disney- like right now. . .but I am sure I will be back soon when something pops into my head!!