What do you think the driver is for the perceived increase in physical altercations at the parks?

[Ikaikalani]

I've seen more and more videos/stories of altercations taking place at the parks. I wondered if perhaps there is no real increase, but just more cameras and Youtube like outlets to capture/display these events that it just seems like there has been an increase. I wondered if perhaps the parks are overcrowded and too expensive so folks tempers are high and the increase is really there. Then I wondered if folks have been on lockdown so long they've simply forgotten how to be civil to one another. Then I wondered if it's 'all the above' or 'none at all'? Then I wondered if I just wonder too much.

 

[CBMom01]

I don’t know, but the stroller to the Achilles move sure isn’t new.

 

[Ikaikalani]

I don’t know, but the stroller to the Achilles move sure isn’t new.

This is so funny and true! We learned years ago, dont stand behind a donkey unless you want to get kicked, and dont walk in front of a stroller mom/dad unless you want to loose an ankle

 

[CBMom01]

Oh, and rented stroller stealing, Line cutting. General selfishness aboit bus seats. Littering. Standing in front of kids for parades and fireworks. The occasional elbow. None of that is new.

Throwing punches? New. I worry about people thinking my ASD kids are older than they are and won’t realize they’re just kids that are doing their best

 

[CBMom01]

This is so funny and true! We learned years ago, dont stand behind a donkey unless you want to get kicked, and dont walk in front of a stroller mom/dad unless you want to loose an ankle

I’ve also been yelled at for not walking fast enough. That one just confused me; as it came from an otherwise very sweet looking older lady in a mobility device. In her defense, I was lollygagging like some yokel tourist at a theme park

 

[stinkpickle]

It's been happening on airplanes, so that doesn't surprise me.

 

[FCDub]

I would ask, jokingly, if you've been paying attention to the news since March 2020.

 

[CBMom01]

I would ask, jokingly, if you've been paying attention to the news since March 2020.

Right? Everyone is kind of going through a thing right now. I give angry people a wide berth.

 

[nekonekoneko]

In her defense, I was lollygagging like some yokel tourist at a theme park

But let's be honest, you were some yokel tourist at a theme park!

 

[parasail_of_congress]

I've seen more and more videos/stories of altercations taking place at the parks. I wondered if perhaps there is no real increase, but just more cameras and Youtube like outlets to capture/display these events that it just seems like there has been an increase. I wondered if perhaps the parks are overcrowded and too expensive so folks tempers are high and the increase is really there. Then I wondered if folks have been on lockdown so long they've simply forgotten how to be civil to one another. Then I wondered if it's 'all the above' or 'none at all'? Then I wondered if I just wonder too much.

It's a combination of all of the things you mentioned. Maybe there has been a slight uptick in occurrences, but it's not that rare to have combative customers, especially at an amusement park. As someone who worked at a Six Flags in the '90s, there were fights on a weekly basis, although most of the time it was between customers. Occasionally a team member got punched, and that usually happened only on the hottest, most crowded days. Back then, everything wasn't captured on video though.

 

[DebLovesPooh]

I think it’s a combination of all as well. Pay more money for less, keep compromising, etc. Its hard to keep up good moods.

 

[gharter]

Right? Everyone is kind of going through a thing right now. I give angry people a wide berth.

So true! too many crazy people out there that are unpredictable .

 

[CBMom01]

I think it’s a combination of all as well. Pay more money for less, keep compromising, etc. Its hard to keep up good moods.

It is not Disney’s fault if people are discourteous or unkind, and certainly not their fault if someone gets violent

 

[a1tinkfans]

Imho… It all goes back to the basics. RESPECT for oneself and others, no repercussions and Acceptance of the behaviors that then becomes the norm. It’s Everywhere, not just Disney…is it More prevalent? Likely!

 

[Moms]

It seems like civility in general has taken a back seat to anger and hostility. It seems especially bad since the start of the pandemic. Even student behavior in schools has been problematic in many areas. It’s not a Disney problem.

 

[Carol_]

When people in prominent positions tell everyone to “get in their face” regarding disagreements at family dinner, civility has taken a hit.
When similar people excuse illegal behaviors as “people simply expressing themselves”, civility has taken a hit.
When criminals are not convicted and are loosed onto the street as repeat offenders without consequences, civility has taken a hit.
There has been a culture-wide degradation of civility applauded by some and it will continue until civil people actively resist it.

 

[lockets]

IMO one can never wonder too much.

 

[TikiRob]

I don’t know, but the stroller to the Achilles move sure isn’t new.

I was walking into Magic Kingdom at rope drop and was off to the side taking a photo of my daughter (PLENTY of room around me) and a lady said "If you don't move I'm going to hit you with my stroller!"

Funny thing is she clearly didn't know what she was doing because I ended up in front of her on 7DMT and we gingerly made our way there.

 

[JZCubed]

I've seen more and more videos/stories of altercations taking place at the parks. I wondered if perhaps there is no real increase, but just more cameras and Youtube like outlets to capture/display these events that it just seems like there has been an increase. I wondered if perhaps the parks are overcrowded and too expensive so folks tempers are high and the increase is really there. Then I wondered if folks have been on lockdown so long they've simply forgotten how to be civil to one another. Then I wondered if it's 'all the above' or 'none at all'? Then I wondered if I just wonder too much.

Multiple reasons (in no particular order):
a.) Cell phones. More people have them, so more stuff gets 'caught' on video.
b.) Covid-stress. Nearly everyone on the planet has experienced some type of (ongoing) stress from Covid.
c.) Politics. Civility between people has seemingly been lost. The notion of a 'collective-good' has been chipped-away.
d.) Disney. Increased stress from Genie, loss of entertainment, etc., and over-crowded Parks in visual disrepair.

So, I think, people were frequently 'stressed' before the pandemic.

Now, however, more folks are stressed for increasing numbers of reasons (listed above) and it's just going to take a bit more time for things to 'get back to normal'.

 

[jimmymc]

It is purely perceived. More people are on social media than ever before, and with all the bad press Disney is getting from its own fans over the last year, news and Disney accounts are taking the opportunity to repost these videos and stories more often than they would in the past.

I would probably argue there are fewer fights/thousand guests today than in the past.