What not to do at Disney?

[PrincessMom4]

Simba20, can I worship your ideas....I wish more people thought like you. My oldest child has SPD and PDD-NOS which makes life very challenging. We try to keep things to a schedule and allow for "flex" time in case we need to leave. However despite all best efforts we still encounter the occasional meltdown. People stare at her and "talk". She looks "normal" BUT her behaviour is that of a 3year old child. She has the heart of gold

 

[2princesses1pea]

Please do not have a meltdown when your family does not want to follow all your disney advice. This is for me.

Oh ummm crumbs..so that whole 5 page Disney Itinerary I sent to my family was a bad idea????

 

[LovesTimone]

Please make sure your little ones are wearing swimming diapers.

Our first day they closed the pool for an unscheduled cleaning, apparently it was so bad that they call out what looked like a HASMAT team to do the clean up. The poor little guy was a mess and they made everyone on that side of pool in chairs vacate to the other side and closed the pool for the rest of the day and we were told we could swim at POR. So please make sure that they have there swimming diapers on and have potty breaks.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Please make sure your little ones are wearing swimming diapers.

Our first day they closed the pool for an unscheduled cleaning, apparently it was so bad that they call out what looked like a HASMAT team to do the clean up. The poor little guy was a mess and they made everyone on that side of pool in chairs vacate to the other side and closed the pool for the rest of the day and we were told we could swim at POR. So please make sure that they have there swimming diapers on and have potty breaks.

Please also note that swimming diapers do NOT contain urine, so if your little one is not trained, please wait until you get to the pool area to put the swimmie on. Lest your little one contaminate the elevator or lobby or sidewalk...

Ditto for the parks. If you want them in a swim diaper for splash garden play, wait until you're ready to do that to put the swim diaper on.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Can we add adults to the "don't forget to take a potty break" list?

 

[LoriABil]

Please do not have a meltdown when your family does not want to follow all your disney advice. This is for me.

This will now become my mantra and I will repeat it daily until our family reunion trip in 2012. In fact, I might embroider it on a pillow.

 

[simba20]

Simba20, can I worship your ideas....I wish more people thought like you. My oldest child has SPD and PDD-NOS which makes life very challenging. We try to keep things to a schedule and allow for "flex" time in case we need to leave. However despite all best efforts we still encounter the occasional meltdown. People stare at her and "talk". She looks "normal" BUT her behaviour is that of a 3year old child. She has the heart of gold

PrincessMom...I was sooooo close to dropping the F word on that woman.....but I had taken the Keys To The Kingdom Tour the day before and remembered that even when a CM has someone going off on them, they still have to try to remain positive. I think, had a hiring manager been in that line, I passed the test and am now ready to work at Disney.

However, minutes later, I was in the queue for TSM and felt shaky, seriously wondering if the woman who yelled at me would come up and start somethign again.

This was the situation.......Three people are ahead of me in the FP line at TSM. I wonder what is taking so long, and upon first glance I see that those ahead of me have a handful of park tickets they are trying to get FPs for. The I glance again and see that the FP machine we are all in line for is down. I sigh. Then, my DD (the almost three year old) snatches the park tickets (2) out of my hand. I squat down and rasie my voice slightly and ask her to give me back the tickets. Out of nowhere, a woman two people behind me sighs and as I stand up to look, she says "Just take the tickets from her." The CM is trying to fix the FP machine, while using her pass to get FPs for the people ahead of me. I reach to get the tickets from my daughter and say to the rude lady "That's what I am doing." She rolls her eyes, and says matter-of-factley "Well, good, then just do it." To which I reply, "If you'd shut your mouth you'd see that's what I am doing." At this point the FP CM does step over to my DD and asks her if she can hold one of the tickets. I turn to let DD know it's okay (like any toddler she's shy around new people) and the lady behind me is still mouthing off about me. I straighten back up, and just shoot her a look, meanwhile DD's bottom lip is quivering and she hand the tickets over to the CM. Once the CM gets my FPs, I just turn back around and say "Have a magical day!" with a big smile to the woman. That CM saved the f-bomb from going off.

And I will tell you. I am the most NON CONFRONTATIONAL person ever.... EVER! I was just outraged, because the woman really had no place to even start getting fustrated at me, when at that point in time there were still 3 people ahead of me. I wasn't holding up the line. My DD took the tickets from my hand, to which like any parent, I simply asked her for the tickets back SO I COULD BE PREPARED.

My husband says it's good thing he wasn't there. He's non-confrontational too, but I think we would have been kicked out of the park when you hit one of his nerves....or maybe gotten a special pass to the "Disney Jail" (aka security).

I was slightly ruffled, but quickly LET IT GO (as in no saying more), as she continued to ramble on....an on...and on..in fact I could see people behind her scooting away and rolling their eyes.

 

[simba20]

This will now become my mantra and I will repeat it daily until our family reunion trip in 2012. In fact, I might embroider it on a pillow.

This thought tickles me.

 

[bdoyledimou]

And I will tell you. I am the most NON CONFRONTATIONAL person ever.... EVER! I was just outraged, because the woman really had no place to even start getting fustrated at me, when at that point in time there were still 3 people ahead of me. I wasn't holding up the line. My DD took the tickets from my hand, to which like any parent, I simply asked her for the tickets back SO I COULD BE PREPARED.

My husband says it's good thing he wasn't there. He's non-confrontational too, but I think we would have been kicked out of the park when you hit one of his nerves....or maybe gotten a special pass to the "Disney Jail" (aka security).

And I bet you the person in line behind you is probably non-confrontational as well... which leads into my "Don't do at Disney" tip.

Don't take things personal! Remember that 80% of the people there with you are trying to enjoy their vacations as well, they are hot, tired, stressed and anxious just as much as you, the same items that can turn YOUR personality around to being confrontational exist for others in the park... Just try to keep positive and Sunny...

 

[Liberty Belle]

Don't walk through a smoking area and choke and gag and wave your hand in front of your face. You have a map use it and besides you are OUTSIDE...get over it.

As for the breastfeeding...there is a place for that and it is not in public!!! Find a private spot and be discreet cover the child with a blanket. NOONE wants to see your ****s!

I'd much rather see a woman nourish her child than see adults slowing killing themselves with cigarettes. It's a free country, though, so we both must suffer through it.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I have to agree with Bdoyle. It's very hard to tell whose you're typical stressed out Disney guest who may be a bit on edge or so tired from the fun they may say things they don't think about, or they could just be a jerkface. I know after a long hard day at work my temper is much more easily triggered than normal, and while I may not say something like this lady with the "Just take the tickets from her!!", I'm certainly thinking it.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Please do not have a fist fight with your teenage son directly outside of the Epcot gates upon closing. Really! You are at DW, for pity sakes.

Please...PLEASE do not jerk your child violently by the arm and then proceed to "spank the tar" out of them in front of me and my children. While I am mentioning it, please refrain from telling your children very loudly that you are going to "beat their a**" if xyz. I don't speak like that to my kids and I don't want them speaking like that to other children after they here those choice, lack of class, statements coming from your mouth.

Please do not give me the stink eye because the bus is full and my toddler is sitting in his own seat and NOT on my lap. He's been talking about the bus ride home all day. He's more excited about riding the bus than he was riding the Dumbo ride. I promise I will make him sit on my lap tomorrow...but not today.

-Mama of 3 publicly breastfed babies

 

[Rekenna]

Awareness! One of my pet peeves on and off property and in the real world as well is that many people don't realize there are billions of other people on this planet beside themselves.

Be aware whether you have a stoller/don't have a stroller, yelling/not yelling at your kids (thank you ma'am for yelling across my stroller at the POTC gift shop to your child across the store and waking my baby b/c you didn't feel like getting up and going to your child and then yelling at me b/c I asked you not to yell across my stroller, "Ma'am it's Disney, everyone yells here!" Seriously.

Driving your car, parking, riding the bus, standing in line, waiting for the parade-the list goes on and on. There are other people besides you and other families trying to enjoy themselves besides you. Be aware of your actions and what you say in public-I don't need to explain to my 4 yr old the what the dirty word you just said means.

Be polite, be aware everyday.

I pledge to be happy, positive, relaxed, joyful and courteous to my family, other families and CM's as possible every day of my vacation!

 

[SFRN97]

I agree regarding if there is a child behind you at the parades allowing them to sit on the curb in front of you will make their day. DH and I try to do this when we go. Our last trip we had DS (2 1/2 at the time) it was his first trip and we were at the MK from the corner of my eye I saw alittle girl probably 7 or 8 trying to see over and through people, I looked over at her mom and said if she wanted she could sit on the curb in front of us near DS the mother smiled greatfully and the little girl was so happy actually kept DS entertained and made me feel good. But not everyone is like that the same night we arrived for Spectromagic and found a seat behind 3 people sitting on the curb, we waited there for about 45 minutes 5 minutes before the parade starts about 6 people from their group come and sit in front of them and they push us back. DH was starting to say something but I who hate to cause friction tell him to be quiet. DS even standing did not get a good view. Oh well. So please if possible let the little ones in front you will still be able to see over them.....

 

[CandyMandy]

Don't bring that fight here.... you won't win.

Is that a threat?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

Is that a threat?

I think it's more of a fact.

 

[SFRN97]

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If you can eat anywhere you like in the parks with snacks and such, then so can a baby.


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Don't give mama's evil glares if their kids are acting like a hot mess, or say aloud enough "MY Kids would/will never do that".

It is not always the parents fault. Sometimes even perfectly behaved angels have bad days, and parents can misread their childs cues. It happens to the best of us. Instead of scorn, try kindness. If you say that your kids would never, this is an invitation for them to do these things later on down the line.

I second this. DS (21/2 at the time) had meltdown when he had to get of Goofy's Barnstormer because he wanted to ride again and people were staring like they never saw a child have a meltdown We left to go to the hotel he napped then swam and we went back for Spectromagic

 

[simba20]

I have to agree with Bdoyle. It's very hard to tell whose you're typical stressed out Disney guest who may be a bit on edge or so tired from the fun they may say things they don't think about, or they could just be a jerkface. I know after a long hard day at work my temper is much more easily triggered than normal, and while I may not say something like this lady with the "Just take the tickets from her!!", I'm certainly thinking it.

This was at the beginning of the day. I understand that we all had to do "The Running Of DHS" at rope drop to make it to the FP machines, but when there are three people ahead of me, and you overhear me say somethign to my child, take a look and see that I AM NOT the one holding up the line.

And my comment to DD to give me the tickets was within a nanosecond of her jerkign them out of my hand. I was tryign to be prepared for my turn with the attendant/FP mahcine (that was down) so I immediately said it, even though I still had to wait for three people with 8,000 park tickets each. Okay, so maybe each person had 5 tops, but still.....I wanted to be prepared, even though it was still along way from my turn.

At 8 in the morning (EMH) there was no need for the lady to be in that kind of mood. She's at Disney, after all!

 

[simba20]

I second this. DS (21/2 at the time) had meltdown when he had to get of Goofy's Barnstormer because he wanted to ride again and people were staring like they never saw a child have a meltdown We left to go to the hotel he napped then swam and we went back for Spectromagic

DD was finally tall enough to ride the Branstomer this time around. After 5 trips of having to wait while MOmmy and Daddy got to ride THEIR rollercoasters, it was all DD could talk abotu int he preceeding months about riding HER rollercaoster.

So she rides it for the first time with Daddy, while Mommy waits under the shade to take pics of this historic event. DD gets off, runs to me, and then......

CRIES. Says she's never going to go on it again.

We wait a few days, go back to MK, where as soon as we enter the park, it's all she can talk about is riding HER rollercaoster. So we eat dinner and then take off to let her ride HER rollercoaster. This time she rides with Mommy and does fine, until the coaster lets us off and then cries. People walked by and gave us the stink-eye as though we forced her to ride it. We didn't. As we walk down the exit,s he says she doesn;t want to ride it EVER AGAIN!!!

So we walk over to Minnies house, where she hears kids talkign about the roller coaster. We walk back towards the Barnstomer where the stroller is parked, and she sees it, and BEGS to ride it. We ask her if she is scared, several times, if she will cry, etc....to which she replies no and adamantly jumps up and down wanting to ride. So we ride again, until we get back into the station where she........

CRIES.

Did we ever force her. No, every time it was what she wanted to do. But we go tthe looks. Sigh.

However, it's all she can talk about at home. Going back and riding HER roller coaster.

She also threw a fit at AK, because she couldn't understand she wasn't tall enough to ride Everest.

As it turns out, she did have bit of fear because when she rode the Barnstomer the first time, she hit the lap bar. So she was fearful when the coaster lurched to a stop, she'd hit the bar again. This makes since, becasue back in Feb, she got to ride in the Speedway racecars and drive, while I held down the gas pedal. We did get bumpy in the racecars, and she hit her face on the padding int he middle of the steering whell. After that, she refused to ride the racecars until Daddy promised he wouldn't bump her. Now she's a racecar lover.

 

[tigger51276]

You have been a member since 2006 and this is what you chose to post? Please show some tolerance. You eat in public, don't you? Why shouldn't a child?

Kudos!