Weird experience at Jollywood last night

[CAPSLOCK]

Others will ask if you would take a picture of their mobility device, and I would say yes you might if it had blinking lights and a Christmas Sweater!

This is the answer. She intentionally made him a spectacle, not related to his service functions. If she doesn't want him to draw attention and possibly be photographed, she shouldn't put him in a costume.

I bet she yelled at lots of people last night. Her own fault. I hope she realized that dressing him up was dumb based on her expectations that no one should photograph him.

 

[lowlight]

Based on your description, I seriously doubt it was a true service dog vs a pet but that is just my view.

Yes, that was my guess as well. If she were doing something wrong, her reaction to being photographed in the act makes more sense. Either way, sorry that OP had their night ruined over something so innocent, those tickets are expensive.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Comments seem to run the gamut here.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[2vets]

I had no idea this was such a thing. It’s sad that so many of these responses reference people snarking or making viral videos. All that said, this dog was not wearing a service vest, that I could appreciate (though obviously he was in a theme park, so I knew). He was wearing a costume, for all intents and purposes, so I’d never have predicted her response. She could have told me she didn’t want me to take a photo, and I’d have apologized profusely and wished her a good night. But the yelling. Anyways, I have my answer. Thank you all.

 

[imbelle]

I'm guessing that while most dogs would be oblivious to having their picture taken, they might become anxious when they hear their owner yelling and screaming.

 

[Genie+]

We have actual law and social contracts.

Law in this case is pretty black and white. Part of the ticket fine print to enter WDW parks and events typically state you might end up in other people’s pictures, after all you are in a public place. Nobody has the right to demand to be excluded from someone else’s normal picture taking activities. It would take an additional layer of circumstances that are illegal beyond the initial picture taking (indecency, harassment, slander, etc).

Social contracts are more of a grey area - for good reason. In a culture that heavily values freedom, it’s not easy to restrict things that don’t directly harm others. More importantly though, social contracts are a 2 way street. We cannot expect people to act tolerantly or considerately when we are not willing to also do so ourselves. Doesn’t work.

The lady with the dog can’t have it both ways - expecting everyone to conform to her version of a social contract while at the same time violating other commonly shared ‘social contracts’, like not aggressively berating others in public.

 

[focusondisney]

All that said, this dog was not wearing a service vest, that I could appreciate (though obviously he was in a theme park, so I knew).

He wasn’t even wearing a service vest?? Makes me think even more he isn’t a service dog at all. Maybe an emotional support animal, but I doubt even that. And even if he is, emotional support dogs aren’t allowed in the parks. Dressing him in a Christmas sweater & lights?? Someone begging for attention. On the very slim chance he is a service dog, decorating him like that certainly doesn’t let anyone else know he’s “working” & should be left alone. And the lights alone could distract him from his assigned task. My other thought is, how did she even know you were taking a picture of her dog? There’s so much else going on everywhere at WDW, especially at something like Jollywood Nights, you could have been taking a picture of anything. My guess, she lied about him being a service dog to get him in. Didn’t want any evidence of him being in the park. Just in case you posted his picture online somewhere & people who know her IRL saw it & questioned her.

Edit to add… I’m really sorry woman was so rude & nasty to you. It definitely wasn’t deserved.

 

[PinkPixel]

Sorry you had this awkward exchange. Don't let it bother you now. It's a basic psychology thing, but try to take this negative thought, and match it up with a positive one from the trip.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

I have nothing to add but miss the presmart phone days when we could just live in a moment a little bit more.

 

[lanejudy]

The very fact that you “covertly” tried to take a picture is very telling. It would seem that subconsciously you knew it wasn’t the right thing to do or you wouldn’t have been “covert” about it. Yes they are in public and dressed up, but would you want a stranger “covertly” taking a picture of you? My guess is no. Would you have taken a picture of the woman? If she was pushing a child in a stroller that was decorated would you have taken a picture? If the answer to those questions is “no, not without asking permission” then that courtesy should be extended to the service animal as well.

Yes, her reaction sounds over the top. But as a PP mentions it could be related to a disability. Regardless, your actions caused her reaction, like it or not.

 

[elvispursley]

He wasn’t even wearing a service vest?? Makes me think even more he isn’t a service dog at all. Maybe an emotional support animal, but I doubt even that. And even if he is, emotional support dogs aren’t allowed in the parks. Dressing him in a Christmas sweater & lights?? Someone begging for attention. On the very slim chance he is a service dog, decorating him like that certainly doesn’t let anyone else know he’s “working” & should be left alone. And the lights alone could distract him from his assigned task. My other thought is, how did she even know you were taking a picture of her dog? There’s so much else going on everywhere at WDW, especially at something like Jollywood Nights, you could have been taking a picture of anything. My guess, she lied about him being a service dog to get him in. Didn’t want any evidence of him being in the park. Just in case you posted his picture online somewhere & people who know her IRL saw it & questioned her.

Edit to add… I’m really sorry woman was so rude & nasty to you. It definitely wasn’t deserved.

You are not required to have your dog vested when out in public. Your comments, however, are exactly why I do make sure I have a vest on my service dog. As for having a christmas sweater on the dog, was the weather cool enough that it was warranted? And if I ever took my service dog to WDW, I would absolutely have a light up collar on her to make sure she was visable so she wouldn't be run over, stepped on, etc.

As for the OP, agree with the comments that you really shouldn't be taking pics of service dogs without asking permission but you in no way deserved to be screamed at.

It bothers me when people are obvious about taking my dog's pic when we're out. It's one thing when I don't notice it, but I have had people talk to my dog, trying to get her attention so they get a better photo. I do ask them to please not take her pixture or call out to her as it does distract her from her tasks.

OP, I feel bad you left the party early. I'm glad your MVMCP was a good time. Reflect and "let it go"

 

[DisneyMom93]

The very fact that you “covertly” tried to take a picture is very telling. It would seem that subconsciously you knew it wasn’t the right thing to do or you wouldn’t have been “covert” about it. Yes they are in public and dressed up, but would you want a stranger “covertly” taking a picture of you? My guess is no. Would you have taken a picture of the woman? If she was pushing a child in a stroller that was decorated would you have taken a picture? If the answer to those questions is “no, not without asking permission” then that courtesy should be extended to the service animal as well.

Yes, her reaction sounds over the top. But as a PP mentions it could be related to a disability. Regardless, your actions caused her reaction, like it or not.

She was being discreet so as not to disturb the dog.

Anyone can take a picture of a really cool looking stroller in public if they want. As long as the child is not in the stroller.

Anyone can take a pic of a really cool looking wheelchair in public if they want as long as the person is not in the wheelchair.

Anyone can take a picture of a dog if they want as long as the owner is not in the photo. A dog in public has no expectation of privacy. Not even a service dog.

 

[elvispursley]

She was being discreet so as not to disturb the dog.

Anyone can take a picture of a really cool looking stroller in public if they want. As long as the child is not in the stroller.

Anyone can take a pic of a really cool looking wheelchair in public if they want as long as the person is not in the wheelchair.

Anyone can take a picture of a dog if they want as long as the owner is not in the photo. A dog in public has no expectation of privacy. Not even a service dog.

but a serviice dog is not just a dog. It is, for lack of a better phrase, a medical necessity. The service dog is functioning as the medical device. This is exactly like taking a photo of a person in a wheelchair as the dog does not leave its handlers side. We've gone from a society where we used to tell our kids (at least when I was growing up) not to stare at people with disabilities as it was considered rude. Guess what, it is still considered rude and even more so to take a photo!i

 

[lanejudy]

She was being discreet so as not to disturb the dog.

Maybe. But OP used the term “covertly” which has a distinctly different meaning than “discreet.” It implies being secretive, not just cautious or unobtrusive.

Anyone can take a picture of a really cool looking stroller in public if they want. As long as the child is not in it.

Anyone can take a pic of a really cool looking wheelchair in public if they want as long as the person is not in it.

But not with a child/individual.

Anyone can take a picture of a dog if they want as long as the owner is not in the photo. A dog in public has no expectation of privacy. Not even a service dog.

Correct, nobody can have expectation of privacy while in public. But if you would extend the courtesy of asking to take a picture of a person, extend that same courtesy to a service animal. The service animal IS legally a part of the person when on duty, just like a wheelchair with a person in it.

 

[Isthisnormalatdisney]

The very fact that you “covertly” tried to take a picture is very telling. It would seem that subconsciously you knew it wasn’t the right thing to do or you wouldn’t have been “covert” about it. Yes they are in public and dressed up, but would you want a stranger “covertly” taking a picture of you? My guess is no. Would you have taken a picture of the woman? If she was pushing a child in a stroller that was decorated would you have taken a picture? If the answer to those questions is “no, not without asking permission” then that courtesy should be extended to the service animal as well.

Yes, her reaction sounds over the top. But as a PP mentions it could be related to a disability. Regardless, your actions caused her reaction, like it or not.

To go one step further what if someone in an ECV or wheelchair really decks out their device, can that warrant stealth picture of them in their device? Where do we draw the line? Obviously taking pictures of kids in strollers is wrong unless maybe they are part of some parade. Interesting situation would be if during the fort wilderness golf cart parade what the etiquette there would be…..

If we look at the current generation of teenagers and young adults, they don’t even dance anymore at clubs because of fear of standing out and having their video plastered all over social media.

At the end of the day this person didn’t know why you were taking a picture of their service animal or OP’s motives or if it was a video or what not, apparently OP wasn’t that stealthy either.