What is Disney policy on intervening when children panic?

[ses1230]

I don't think it's the responsibility of WDW to parent the kids who are there. If what was happening was causing or potentially causing harm to the individual or others, then I would expect them to step in. But, at any given time, there are tons of kids having meltdowns and tantrums in WDW, you can't expect a CM to step in for that and in the scenario you're describing (although sounds horrible), that's likely how it was being viewed. The parents are resonsible for their kids, bottom line.

Yes kids have tantrums, but what the OP described is different. If the child tried to exit the ride, he could get hurt or so could others.

 

[seashoreCM]

Disney could help out a lot with this situation by doing something novel. Issue the family a voucher allowing them to return to the "on deck circle" after calming their child and resolving the situation away from other guests.

Yes, Disney occasionally has parents arrested:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/02/dario-napolitano_n_1644252.html

 

[minnie mum]

I am the first to admit that I have an issue with parents forcing or coercing a child onto a ride "for their own good". I only tried persuasion with my younger DD once. I talked her into riding HM when she didn't want to. She didn't cry or scream or fuss in the queue. But she spent the whole ride with her head in my lap, shaking. It was almost 20 yrs before she went on it again. I felt like the world's worst mother.

But fine. Parents will do what they think they must. However, in this whole thread I've seen so many parents talk about how the child screamed, cried or whined or fussed the whole time. And not once have I seen a single person who felt bad about the negative experience they were inflicting on everyone around them. Does anyone ever consider how their families issues affect the other people in the queue, ride or theatre? At what point would you remove yourself and your child for the benefit of the other guests who are trying to enjoy themselves and the attraction?

 

[GirlDreamer]

I'm curious, why this happened? I guess not to remove the child from the ride?

I'm asking because when my oldest Ds was about 4yo, which was 10 years ago, we were trying to make him go on Space Mountain, as a PP said KNOWING he would love it. He whined all the way up, then the closer we got he started crying, not throwing a huge fit, just crying and begging not to go on it. I tried to load him on the ride when it was time, but the CM stopped us and said they wouldn't allow anyone that upset to ride a ride, mostly for safety's sake, trying to climb out, etc. So as frusterated as I was, off the ride we went. 6 months later, I was able to get him on it...guess what?? Suprise, suprise, he LOVED it!!

This is exactly why CMs should interfere. I know a lot of you say you know your kids, but it's for their own safety. When someone is panicking, there's no knowing what they might do, including trying to get out of their safety restraints when the vehicle is moving. Doesn't matter if you're an adult or a child, a panic attack can make you do things that puts your life in even more danger. Like what happened in a log flume in Sweden in 2006. Check this link if you can use google translate; http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/liseberg-ser-over-flumeride_359772.svd

This is what the article sais:

In the accident on Sunday, a 33 year old female got a panic attack just as the log was reaching the drop, which was 14 meters tall. Her daughter and a friend was with her in the log.

The 33 year old woman tried to stop their journey by taking a hold of the outside edges of the ride just before the drop. The log kept going while the woman was still holding on to the edges before she fell down the track. After her fall, she was hit by two logs at a high speed at the bottom of the drop. The injured woman was taken to Sahlgrenska University Hospital

That's why NO ONE, adult or a child, should be forced on ANY ride. I work as a ride host myself, and if I ever see anyone that even looks slightly scared, I'll make sure to talk to them to make sure they're okay. I'll ask what they're scared off, and then explain how the ride works so they can judge for themselves. But I will NEVER let anyone that is clearly panicking go on the ride. Mostly for their own sake and safety, but also because I would lose my job if I did.

 

[GillianP1301]

But fine. Parents will do what they think they must. However, in this whole thread I've seen so many parents talk about how the child screamed, cried or whined or fussed the whole time. And not once have I seen a single person who felt bad about the negative experience they were inflicting on everyone around them. Does anyone ever consider how their families issues affect the other people in the queue, ride or theatre? At what point would you remove yourself and your child for the benefit of the other guests who are trying to enjoy themselves and the attraction?

That's a very good point. I imagine one screaming freaked out kid could very easily cause a domino affect for other kids who may be a little on the fence with apprehension.

I also think that the parents who are forcing (and by forcing, I mean like the situation in the OP) are taking a trip to WDW for themselves more than for their kids, and that's just sad. I already know going into this trip that I won't be riding some of my favourite things because DS is either too short or too young, but I could care less because I'm going for him to experience it in the way he wants to.

 

[torinsmom]

If a CM allows a guest to force a screaming child onto a ride, I will be asking to wait for the next ride vehicle. No need to subject others to your child's screaming, just because you THINK they will like it after a bit.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I respect both of these opinions , and perhaps they are best for your families, but I disagree.

Parents often (frequently) know what is best for their kids, even better than kids themselves. It is valuable and educational to give kids autonomy, but it can go too far. Even in theme parks on family vacations.

If you obey your kids' demands to skip rides all the time, without even an attempt at coaxing or persuading, then you're harming your kids in a way, as well. Your kids are missing out on rides that they would enjoy. They are just too young to realize they would enjoy it.

There is nothing wrong with being paternalistic when you are the parent!

Having said that, back to OP's case, it is probably unreasonable to force or coax a young child onto Dinosaur, which can terrify adults (myself included). When my son was 3, he was reluctant to get onto Winnie the Pooh (seriously). We coaxed and persuaded. Crying was involved. But he rode and loved it. We were the parents and we knew best.

I will agree with this statement. When DD2 (then 4.5) went on BTMRR in Disneyland for the first time she was hesitant and a bit fearful (no dramatics) EVERY SINGLE TIME she went on that ride for 6 days straight (mulitple times per day). She loved the ride and immediately wanted to go again, but once we got in line the fear set in again. There was crying some times, protest most times....and anyone who had seen us would never had known she just got off the ride and professed it was her favorite, or that she had already ridden it at least 5 times by day 4.

 

[NLD]

Parents often (frequently) know what is best for their kids, even better than kids themselves. It is valuable and educational to give kids autonomy, but it can go too far. Even in theme parks on family vacations.

If you obey your kids' demands to skip rides all the time, without even an attempt at coaxing or persuading, then you're harming your kids in a way, as well. Your kids are missing out on rides that they would enjoy. They are just too young to realize they would enjoy it.

Look, all I can say to you is this.... my post is based on knowing my kid. My kid is a people-pleaser and will sometimes suppress what's best for her to please other people. In her case, forcing her to ride doesn't help her at all. As I said, for other kids it may be different and I would never judge another parent for the level of "talking into" that I did with dd. But with my dd, it wasn't the right thing.

Expressing some hesitation doesn't mean we don't ride. It means I tell her what the ride is like, answer all her questions, and then she decides.

But I'll never again talk her into it. It's got to be her choice. And no, I don't feel like I'm harming her by letting her make the ultimate decision. She decided last trip to try Tower of Terror. She decided not to try Space Mountain. She had a blast on Tower. She had blast riding People Mover instead of Space Mountain.

Some hesitancy about a new experience is normal. Really not wanting to ride because you are really quite terrified, but being talked into it by Mommy, is something different. I didn't see the difference that first go-around on Splash. She's a good kid, wants to please her parents, and quite sensitive. She's not one to make a huge fuss in a social setting. But she probably should have been kicking and screaming, because then I'd have known. But that's not her... so now I know to pay close attention to the more subtle cues.



As for whoever said "No one thinks about the other guests..." Yes, I did. I said and I did think about it the entire time dd was sobbing through that first Splash Mountain ride. And apologized to the other guests as discretely as possible, trying to do so without making dd feel worse.

And that is part of the reason I WILL be more in tune to her cues before a ride, and will NOT have her do a ride she really doesn't want to again.

 

[photo_chick]

I get your point, but I think forcing a kid into a car seat and forcing a kid onto a ride are totally different (I know you said you don't force your son, but other have stated that they have). You have no choice but to get the child into a car seat. It's for their own safety, and it's against the law to drive if the child isn't secured.

My oldest son has Asperger's and anxiety. We didn't ride the Haunted Mansion or Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland as a family until he was 12. He was too freaked out and refused to try them. DH and I took turns riding alone, so one of us could stay with the kids. When he finally got on the rides, he loved them! But it was his choice. If he said no, we respected that. Personally, I don't think it's ever OK to be firm or forceful in getting a kid on a ride at a theme park. Sitting in a car seat - yes. A ride - no. Just my opinion.

My son has ADHD and Aspergers with some minor anxiety issues as well. And I do think there is a line where you can take things too far. But was what was witnessed physically forcing the kids? Some kids with special issues will squirm and fight against the restraints as they are buckled but are fine once they get going. And to an outsider it can look like you're doing something horrible, when in reality it's just how it is with your kid. I'm not saying this is the case here, just that sometimes all is not what it seems. Only the OP was there, and memory is a funny thing. It's slanted by our own perceptions of the event, so really, no one here knows anyway. Just before everyone jumps on and condemns parents, consider that might be the kids baseline. That may be perfectly normal for that family.

 

[Candleshoe]

EVERY trip I've ever been on I've witnessed some half-wit parents dragging their terrified child through the line and onto the ride (usually HM, Space Mountain, Splash and a few others). We're not talking about nervous or apprehensive kids. I'm talking like the OP. I've sat through many a trip on the HM while a child wailed bloody murder from start to finish.

I wish Disney had a policy that if a child or adult is that visibly upset they won't be allowed to board.

They DO. Or at least the CMs of Splash and Soaring TOLD us so. Our DD (young at the time) BEGGED to go on Splash and after about an hour wait to get to the front, decided no and started crying. DH wanted to just make her but the CMs said that no crying children were allowed on.

Same thing happened at Soaring, but there the CM took the time to convince DD to try it... explained it wasn't scary.

So yes, they do, or they DID have a policy in place.

 

[LazyDaisy]

One of our most frustrating moments was when we were on line for Soaring. Now, both DS (4) and DD (3) had ridden it a bunch of times, and we all love it. It's one of my favorites, and theirs too. But for some reason, this afternoon when our FP time came up, they didn't want to ride. I don't know if they were tired, or whatever. DD even started to get a bit teary over it. I know she doesn't get scared from it, but she was just not in the mood. I had to stifle a couple of grumbles because I had waited all afternoon to go for our second ride of the day, but I wasn't going to force the issue. We gave the FP's to another family who was thrilled to get them, and we left.

Incidentally I guess I'm lucky because my kids are always very brave. DS is to the point of being reckless and DD was game for everything. She got spooked by the cannon scene in Pirates and the elevator part of HM, but the most she did was whimper a bit and cling to me the first time. I had to talk her into the HM a bit first but I just kind of talked it up. She was nervous but agreed to go. Probably because she trusts me enough to know that I wouldn't force her to go on if she really protested. If she threw a fit... I can't imagine making her go.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I'm not sure exactly what Disney's policy is, but I don't think it's safe to have a person on a ride who clearly doesn't want to be there because they may try to get out and injure themselves (or worse) in the process. Allowing a child as the one the OP described onto a ride could be a lawsuit waiting to happen. Not to mention the fact that it's a disturbance that detracts from other guests' enjoyment of the ride.

Also, I can't imagine being forced (verbally or physically) onto a ride. I am not the bravest and it takes me a long time to warm up to rides. It took me 5 years and 3 trips to Disney to muster up the courage to go on RnR and EE. In fact, as soon as I snapped my lap bar into place on EE, I wanted to get off. But too late, the ride started moving! I normally love rides after I am on them (as was the case on RnR and EE), I just have major anxiety beforehand. I only ride Splash and Space Mountain because I rode them as a kid (when I was apparently fearless). Otherwise, I'm sure I'd be nowhere near those two.

I am old enough to understand that I do not need to be afraid of amusement park rides, yet I still am. When I have kids someday and I take them to Disney, if they don't want to ride something, that will be fine. There are SO MANY other things to do at Disney than ride rides. I can have a fulfilling experience there without the roller coasters should my kids choose not to ride them. Disney is supposed to be about families having fun, not making kids be scared and cry.

Although with my luck, I'll have daredevil children who will try to coax ME onto ToT...the one Disney ride I just can't quite force myself onto.

 

[Abharmagic]

My son has ADHD and Aspergers with some minor anxiety issues as well. And I do think there is a line where you can take things too far. But was what was witnessed physically forcing the kids? Some kids with special issues will squirm and fight against the restraints as they are buckled but are fine once they get going. And to an outsider it can look like you're doing something horrible, when in reality it's just how it is with your kid. I'm not saying this is the case here, just that sometimes all is not what it seems. Only the OP was there, and memory is a funny thing. It's slanted by our own perceptions of the event, so really, no one here knows anyway. Just before everyone jumps on and condemns parents, consider that might be the kids baseline. That may be perfectly normal for that family.

This is my DS to a T. I actually posted about my son and his need to act similarly on his first ride of anything on the disablilites board on here months ago. I try my best not to judge other people's parenting decisions.

I always try to think of this quote when I see or hear something that looks like something I would never do or say:
"Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them." Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird

 

[miprender]

Same thing happened at Soaring, but there the CM took the time to convince DD to try it... explained it wasn't scary.

Just the other day DS4 rode Soarin and was crying after we took his shoes off. The CM came up and told him it wasn't scary.

But I had to tell her that wasn't the reason he was crying. It was because I made him take his CROCS off.

 

[ttintagel]

I don't give a flying Tinkerbell if you know what's best for your child or not. You have no right to cause a scene that infringes on the enjoyment and possible safety of the other paying guests getting on the ride. It's selfish and inappropriate, and a CM ought to be empowered to intervene.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

I saw a parent trying to shove their child up a rock wall at the zoo today just so she could have a group picture. While working on shoving this child up the wall, her toddler was running around unsupervised.

I spent more time watching to make sure the toddler was OK than she did. And every time she realized the toddler was halfway down the block, she sent one of her other kids to go get the toddler.

Between her and her friend, they had a total of 9 children and 5 of them were hers.

Too many parents don't want to parent. Period. Not just at Disney. They want to have fun and enjoy their toys.

Our Disney rule with our youngest was: You have to try everything at least once. If you don't like it, you don't have to do it again. The only one he skipped a second time was ToT.

 

[dzorn]

Just back from a fantastic trip to the world, but still troubled over an awful incident we witnessed. The family in front of us in line at Dinosaur had two small boys, one of whom went into a full-on panic attack over going on the ride. The parents were, honestly, hateful, telling the boy he was ruining their vacation, squeezing and jerking his arms, and bodily forcing him into the seat and restraining him. The poor child was beyond tears, screaming, flailing, kicking. It broke my heart. If you could have seen the truly ugly looks on these parents faces....it was astonishing.

At one point, as quietly and politely as I could, I offered to have my son (12 years old, and doesn't like the ride but goes through the queue with us) sit with her son so the rest of her family could go on the ride. She barked at me that I "Have no idea what we're going through" and refused my offer and continued to manhandle the child.

We got on the ride, only to have it stop right after the loading area. The lights came on and this poor child continued to scream and kick and fight, while everyone looked on, not knowing what to do.

My question is this: doesn't Disney have a policy for situations like this? Shouldn't some Cast Member have intervened? I'm curious how this should have been handled and if the Cast Members were correct to just let the child suffer. (Not to mention the suffering of all the guests in the area.)

No idea what the policy is but I do remember when DD first road sorin' she was crying and very upset. (She has autism and I know when to push or not) and the CM said that they could not start the ride with her crying and upset. I said give me a minute. I looked at DD and said I would never make her ride something unless I knew she would like it. She stopped right away (I would have taken her out if not) We did cheat and let her stuffed animal ride poking out the top of the shirt (Blue from Blues clues). She loved it.

Denise in MI

 

[Jenn]

We boarded Tower of Terror and there was a little girl whose parents forced her to get on. She was completey hysterical. When the CM comes to verify seat belts are fastened, he said "do you want to ride?". She said no. The parents were clearly pissed and trying to talk her into it. The CM said, "I can't start the ride if she doesn't want to ride and is this upset". We were all just waiting there....... So finally they all got off. Thank goodness cause I was scared she was going to vomit all over the place or something.

 

[Diznygrl]

Well I don't know if there's an official policy in place or if it's just up to the discretion of individual CMs, but I know that Disney at least recommends not forcing your kids on a ride.

 

[smallworldnh]

EVERY trip I've ever been on I've witnessed some half-wit parents dragging their terrified child through the line and onto the ride (usually HM, Space Mountain, Splash and a few others). We're not talking about nervous or apprehensive kids. I'm talking like the OP. I've sat through many a trip on the HM while a child wailed bloody murder from start to finish.

I wish Disney had a policy that if a child or adult is that visibly upset they won't be allowed to board.

You'd think there would be some kind of rule to that effect. I mean, not only is that poor child upset and freaking out, but that situation is also ruining the ride for the other guests and upsetting them as well to be witnessing this. If these were teenagers or whoever screaming and yelling on purpose, they would most certainly be asked to quiet down or leave, wouldn't they??