What is appropriate Disney etiquette? Ms. Emily Post Advocates welcome .

[DisnyMama]

Please remember to say Thank You when a teenage boy holds a door open for you. My 13 year old son always goes out of his way to hold the door open for someone. I have watched on numerous occasions where he has held the door open for someone and people just keep walking out the door and not a single person will say thank you. I finally have to say just let go of the door.

Also, Please do not cut in front of a teen when in line. I have witnessed this happen in a couple of counter service lines at WDW and the food court line at Costco where pushy people pushed their way ahead of him. He isn't a small child, he is 5'6" and is very polite. I have spoken with some of his friends who are great kids also and they all complained of teen discrimination. There are quite a few adults that automatically overlook teens and think that none of them have any manners and that just simply is not true. Some of us are raising our son's and daughters in a way that we will be proud of when they are out in public.

Just remember to say Thank You to anyone who does a kind gesture, regardless of age and to always wait your turn.

Shannon

 

[Grand Canyon]

I think the key to any manners question is RESPECT.
It has always been my opinion that if we respect each other we wouldn't have crime, war, etc.
Certainly not harsh words or actions - it all boils down to that.
I appreciated the comment on the teens. I have repeatedly seen adults treat children (and teenagers) like non-entities. They deserve the same level of respect an adult deserves - and often more. After all, where are they supposed to be learning it from?

 

[Drizzo67]

Please remember to say Thank You when a teenage boy holds a door open for you. My 13 year old son always goes out of his way to hold the door open for someone. I have watched on numerous occasions where he has held the door open for someone and people just keep walking out the door and not a single person will say thank you. I finally have to say just let go of the door.

Also, Please do not cut in front of a teen when in line. I have witnessed this happen in a couple of counter service lines at WDW and the food court line at Costco where pushy people pushed their way ahead of him. He isn't a small child, he is 5'6" and is very polite. I have spoken with some of his friends who are great kids also and they all complained of teen discrimination. There are quite a few adults that automatically overlook teens and think that none of them have any manners and that just simply is not true. Some of us are raising our son's and daughters in a way that we will be proud of when they are out in public.

Just remember to say Thank You to anyone who does a kind gesture, regardless of age and to always wait your turn.

Shannon

Shannon -

A pat on your back for raising such a fine young gentleman. I for one am delighted when a young person shows respect like holding the door for others. My DS (9) is the same type of person. All too often kids (and teens alike) just walk past others with no thought as to who they are etc. Adults often do the same to kids and teens so noone is without blame. It is nice when you see the younger generations acting politely. If they are that way when they are kids and teens it is most likely they will be that polite their entire lives.

 

[roadtripper]

As a high school teacher, I REALLY appreciate polite teens-- and there are a lot of them; they just don't get any press. Good for you Mom-- keep up the good work, and your son, too!

I admit to not reading the whole thread (etiquette faux-pas) but wanted to weigh in on the handicapped stall "discussion"--
As a mom of a son who uses a wheelchair, I view the handicapped stalls in regular rest rooms as a means of access, not an entitlement-- he doesn't automatically get to skip the line, and others are free to use them, too. I use handicapped stalls all the time when on my own. However, the companion rest rooms are for disabled people and others who need assistance, as my son does. At 8, he is too embarrassed to go to the ladies room with me, and he needs help. There are only a few of those rest rooms in the parks, and they should be reserved for those with that particular need, IMHO. They are not intended for families, as evidenced by the wheelchair sign on the door.
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[jgmklmhem]

However, the companion rest rooms are for disabled people and others who need assistance, as my son does. At 8, he is too embarrassed to go to the ladies room with me, and he needs help. There are only a few of those rest rooms in the parks, and they should be reserved for those with that particular need, IMHO. They are not intended for families, as evidenced by the wheelchair sign on the door.
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I think the problem here is that if I remember correctly they used to be designated family rest rooms and many people don't recognize the change over to just disabled use.

 

[roadtripper]

Quite possible-- never knew that-- thanks for the tip. Now I'll be EXTRA polite when I point out the handicapped sign to people coming out...

PS-- Looks like we'll be there at the same time-- our 100 day party is Thursday night!

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

If you're flying to and from WDW, please do what you can to keep your children from kicking the seat back in front of them the entire way. Happened to me a few days ago. An hour into a 3 hour flight, on which I had been kicked non-stop, I turned around and politely asked the mom if she could try to keep the kicking down to a minimum. I told her I knew her young child couldn't be expected to not do it at all, and that was fine with me, but I was just asking her to work with me on it After about 15 minutes of the kid obviously being unhappy about being asked to stop, I turned around again to tell her that it was ok - I was willing to deal with being kicked, since he was so unhappy - and she reamed me out, but good. Apparently I had "hurt her feelings" by the original request. Yikes.

I know what it's like to fly with young children - I've taken mine on some very long flights - and while their ability to deal with frustration definitely needs to be uppermost on all the adult minds, please just give the back of the person your child is kicking a little thought too!

Whoa, just thought of another one. The woman in the room next to us at the AKL thought it would be a great idea if she and her child screamed "hello" to the animals on the savannah over and over and over and over and .....Kind of ruined a quiet afternoon on our balcony.

 

[eeyore0062]

"The woman in the room next to us at the AKL thought it would be a great idea if she and her child screamed "hello" to the animals on the savannah over and over and over and over and .....Kind of ruined a quiet afternoon on our balcony."

Sometimes you just have to wonder......!

 

[DisnyMama]

Dear Grand Canyon, Dina and Roadtripper.

Both my son and I appreciate your support. I am very glad to hear that there are more of us and our kids out their.

Happy New Year,
Shannon

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

How about offering a lady with a child a seat on an over full bus? Come on guys. I am liberated and I am fully capable of taking care of myself, but I cannot believe it when I see a woman that is older, pregnant, or carrying a baby or toddler get on the bus and try to stand, while you just look at her.

i have gotten up and offered my seat. Because it is the right thing to do. And of course my DH ALWAYS offers his seat to a lady, regardless of age, etc.

And moms, do you remember how folks would open doors for you when you were pregnant, but as soon as you started carrying the car seat or pushing a stoller, you were ignored? and had doors close on you? what's up with that?

Shelly

I couldn't agree w/ you more!! In August me, my friend and her 2 children (DS~8 and DS~1 in stroller) went to WDW. You wouldn't believe the people who just stayed in their seats watching as we tried to juggle a sleeping baby and folded stroller while trying to hang on to an 8 y/o that couldn't reach the safety bar!

We certainly didn't expect them to help us w/ all of our junk but offering a seat to a lady holding a sleeping baby or even to the kid, who just for safety reasons, couldn't reach the safety bar would have been a kind gesture.

But we both noticed that the men from Britain are VERY courteous when giving up their seats. And one man from Britain took the stroller off for us!! We almost felt guilty because of his courtesy because we have grown so accustomed to not having that kind of courtesy extended anymore. It is the gentlemanly thing to do to offer your seat to a lady of any age PERIOD! And I being a woman w/out kids always offers my seat to a pregnant lady or mom w/ kids or even to the kid because if an accident were to happen (God Forbid) that kid would be thrown all over the place.

Also, one thing that I haven't read mentioned on here, exactly, is about pushing your kid to the front of the character greet lines in front of people w/ out children. As I said before we don't have children yet (want them but hasn't happened yet ), and when I stand in line with everyone else to get my picture taken w/ a character you are not entitled to push your children in front of me just because I don't have children. I love kids and I know Disney is a place for kids but that really irks me!!!

By the way, I LOVE THE THREAD!! Keep the good ideas coming.

 

[eeyore0062]

When talking on a cell phone don't talk so loud so that everybody in line with you can hear. No one is interested in your conversation, except maybe the person on the other end.

 

[all4fun]

If you're flying to and from WDW, please do what you can to keep your children from kicking the seat back in front of them the entire way.

ITA & Just a tip here - take their shoes off. At least if they're kicking the seat with their stocking'd feet, it won't be quite as bad!

 

[rkrivas]

I have a suggestion that doesn't just apply to DW. If you're with a group and you're hanging around just talking, please try not to stand near the end of a line...I've been held up several times thinking that the group in front of me was in the line while they didn't even realize where they were!

Whew, I feel a lot better now!

 

[JrsyDebs]

I would just like to agree with those who have commented on being courteous to those servers, store salespeople, etc. These people are in the customer service business, and although the word "service" means to serve others, it does not mean the service-oriented people are "below" anyone in any way. My pet peeve is when people are ordering food and they say, "Gimme (this or that)." My sis works at a WAWA near Philly and says she gets this language all the time. I used to chalk this up to upbringing, but, guess what; after you become an adult, can you not see others around you being polite to service people, can you not change your attitude?

 

[kikipug]

If you're flying to and from WDW, please do what you can to keep your children from kicking the seat back in front of them the entire way. .

I know your kids are excited about going to WDW, or overstimulated from spending the week there, but MCO is the home airport for us Central Floridians... so we have an above average # of kids on every single flight we take everywhere... even business trips. Many times we are tired and want to get home from your home and see our kids!!! A little bit of 'pre-flight instruction' for your kids on airline ettiquette will go a long way. (I do the same with my kids before every flight... inside voice, no kicking, belching, etc, etc, etc,)

Please enjoy your stay in our wonderful state!!! We're glad you love to visit us!

 

[rgribik]

This is great! I wish more people would read this thread. We have been to Dis so many times, and have seen guest behavior at its worst. We take 5 little mini and mickies with us, and try to show them how to be respectful. My tip, don't trash your room or the food court, other people use these places too. I also heard a mother tell her kid it was okay to go to the potty in the pool--- just too gross! My 3 girls also want to wear bikinis, but we have suits for home and suits i consider okay for anyone to see. My big swimsuit issue is men in speedos, yuk! You can't tell people what to wear, but you wonder if they stopped to look at themselves before they leave the room. Keep up the good work!

 

[scarboroughmom]

My sons all tend to do this. I am teaching them not to. Usually, they don't realize it. Sometimes, I do not notice it right away myself. If you ask me to have them stop, I will apologize, remind them to stop, and keep a closer watch on them after that. Likewise for pulling on the seat in front of them too.

 

[Superman]

Proper etiquette would call for healthy type men to give up their seats on a crowded monorail to women and children!!!!!!!!!!!!especially late at night when everyone is ready to drop!!!!!

 

[ladyarcher]

I read every page of this thread, and I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly. I teach high school and I truly appreciate courteous young men. I also have two boys that I am attempting to raise in a polite gentlemanly fashion. the only thing I would add is a comment on our last trip to Disney. I was about to take my son then 8 to the bathroom, when I noticed a dad and a small girl, under 6. She did not want to go into the men's bathroom, nt that I blame her. But dad wasn't going to let her go in the ladies alone. Not that I blame him. I offered to take her with me. She did great. Now I know in this day and age, children get kidnapped all the time, but if you see a dad like that, don't glare at him. he's in a tough spot. Daddy's want to take care of their little girls, and this is one of those tough breaks they get.

 

[elliemae1192]

Love this thread. I can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet. When you're in a crowded line, especially one inside, PLEASE, PLEASE, don't pass gas! I've been to DW several times and still cannot believe it when an adult will rip one with all those people held captive around them. A small child, of course, is exempt from this etiquette rule.

Also, there are garbage cans EVERYWHERE in the parks. Please use them. DW is so beautiful. Let's keep it that way.