What not to do at Disney?

[SereneOne]

My daughter is special needs and you can not tell other than she is small for her age. She will be 7 in October and finally weighs 38lbs. She has VACTERLS Assocation, it is an acronym for multiple physical birth defects. She has the V for missing and fused ribs, the a for anal atresia (repaired by surgery), C for cardiac (11mm hole, asd, repaired by Amplatzer surgery), R for renal, she has one functioning kidney, and the S stood for single umbilical cord. She has also had surgery for a tethered spinal cord, has a feeding tube, RAD and is medically fragile. She gets tired easily and yes, we push her in a stroller when we get too tired of carrying her.

If anyone was to make a rude outloud comment and laugh at her, I would make it worth the jail sentence for what I would do to that person, or that person's parent if underage. It takes a special brand of ignorance to decide one knows whether or not someone is handicapped or what have you, in order to need to use a wheelchair, stroller, etc.

We ended up with me in a wheelchair, on our trip in 2001 with our older kids when DD6 was a twinkle in her daddy's eye. I had been recently diagnosed with PCOS and put on hormones, etc. I started bleeding heavily during the trip unexpectedly (built up lining for years that had to come out, sorry to be graphic, but since there are so many ignorant busy bodies, graphic it will be). I ended up in a wheelchair for the end of our vacation, about two days, and I could do some walking here or there.

My parents are in their mid-sixties, my mother has rheumatiod arthritis, she wants a couple days with DD in the parks, MK especially, she most likely will need a wheelchair at some point and yes, on occassion she will be walking and she does not look like she is in her sixties, more like her forties.

I find Disney to be a magical place, what I find ruins this magic, is some of the other guests.

 

[scojos]

My daughter is special needs and you can not tell other than she is small for her age. She will be 7 in October and finally weighs 38lbs. She has VACTERLS Assocation, it is an acronym for multiple physical birth defects. She has the V for missing and fused ribs, the a for anal atresia (repaired by surgery), C for cardiac (11mm hole, asd, repaired by Amplatzer surgery), R for renal, she has one functioning kidney, and the S stood for single umbilical cord. She has also had surgery for a tethered spinal cord, has a feeding tube, RAD and is medically fragile. She gets tired easily and yes, we push her in a stroller when we get too tired of carrying her.

If anyone was to make a rude outloud comment and laugh at her, I would make it worth the jail sentence for what I would do to that person, or that person's parent if underage. It takes a special brand of ignorance to decide one knows whether or not someone is handicapped or what have you, in order to need to use a wheelchair, stroller, etc.
We ended up with me in a wheelchair, on our trip in 2001 with our older kids when DD6 was a twinkle in her daddy's eye. I had been recently diagnosed with PCOS and put on hormones, etc. I started bleeding heavily during the trip unexpectedly (built up lining for years that had to come out, sorry to be graphic, but since there are so many ignorant busy bodies, graphic it will be). I ended up in a wheelchair for the end of our vacation, about two days, and I could do some walking here or there.

My parents are in their mid-sixties, my mother has rheumatiod arthritis, she wants a couple days with DD in the parks, MK especially, she most likely will need a wheelchair at some point and yes, on occassion she will be walking and she does not look like she is in her sixties, more like her forties.

I find Disney to be a magical place, what I find ruins this magic, is some of the other guests.

firstly to your daughter, she sounds very brave.

i love those comments and i am with you 100%

i have a HFASD son high functioning autism spectrum disorder, as today seems to be about educating others, im going to add my 2p s worth
josh is 10, he also has severe brittle asthma. he is tall and muscular, he plays alot of soccer (to improve his lungs) and physically very strong.
so strong that i cant hold him if he goes into meltdown, like all children with asd (and i say this alittle tongue in check as all asd kids are different )he doesnt do crowds, he doesnt like to be touched, and can lose the plot if toussled.
to the lady who judged the "fat" kid in the stroller...

he will be in a stroller in aug. dont like it? tough. want to make a stupid comment about him being healthy and fit? go ahead. teach your child to think about herself and her behaviour not my son and his. ill trade you your "perfect" child for my "hidden disability" son, actually, i wont, because he has the intelligance not to make stupid comments about what other people are doing, and i have the intelligence not to laugh, i think you have done nothing but show YOUR ignorance.
im glad someones misfortune however caused you to giggle
tracy

 

[perfectparanoia]

This one drove me crazy on our last trip!! I tell ya, I was glad it wasn't my first trip to Disney or I would have been crazy mad. The offender in question was Japanese and spoke only enough english to yell out "Oh no!" or a few four letter words while on The Haunted Mansion and took pictures with flash EVERY TWO SECONDS. I'm glad he and his buddies were having such a good time and cracking up while ruining the ride for everyone else.

Don't people realize that flash pictures not only ruin the magic of the rides for the people on it, but they never turn out right when you get home. DON'T TAKE FLASH PICTURES IN A DARK RIDE EVER EVER EVER!!

Small aside. I complained about this happening on Pirates once (just telling the CMs that they should probably do a reminder which hadn't happened for our boat) and they offered to let us right back on. We didn't accept since we had other things to do but if you experience is really affected by it, you should mention it and they might let you back in. (If it were HM, my favourite I might have accepted.

 

[PudgetteD]

There are many attractions in which the CMs will tell you to move forward and fill in the gaps. Do not curse at me when I do this. I am not breaking line, I am following the CMs instructions.


Be tolerant of others at all times and it won't be a big deal when you're on vacation.

I fully respect your need and right to have an ECV, however, please realize that being in an ECV does not give you the right to zoom around honking the horn and expecting people to get out of your way. ECVs should be used as a form of transportation for those not able to get around any other way, not as a means to get to your destination faster.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Please don't treat the buffet items like they were in your kitchen. I watched a man, at the Boma buffet, take a ladle of soup out of a brand new pot bring it to his nose, sniff it then blow on it to cool it down!!!!! He promptly put the ladle back in the soup. I was so stunned I could'nt speak (quite a feat LOL). kithcen staff had to throw out the whole pot...even they couldn't believe it when I told them what he did.

... and please don't use the toppings at the condiment bar to make yourself a salad - especially if you haven't purchased anything from the restaurant!! (yes we've actually seen people do this)

 

[sissy_42]

Don't judge other people.
Sometimes people use a stroller in place of a wheelchair.
You don't know someone else's challenge just by looking.

I second this. My nephew is 5 1/2 and has childhood arthritis. We did find this out a few months after we visited WDW tho. He has always complained about his legs hurting and he need them rubied. We assumed growing pains. We could not figure out why he was so extra cranky at WDW. Toward the end of our tip his mom realized his poor legs were very swollen. A few weeks ago he was diagnosed. So next time we go he will be 6, and yes we will have a stroller for him until if and when he out grows it.

 

[livndisney]

I second this. My nephew is 5 1/2 and has childhood arthritis. We did find this out a few months after we visited WDW tho. He has always complained about his legs hurting and he need them rubied. We assumed growing pains. We could not figure out why he was so extra cranky at WDW. Toward the end of our tip his mom realized his poor legs were very swollen. A few weeks ago he was diagnosed. So next time we go he will be 6, and yes we will have a stroller for him until if and when he out grows it.

Once he outgrows a regular stroller, you may want to consider a special needs stroller. If you take a look at the disabilites thread on this board you can find some info about them.

 

[knightqueen]

Don't leave your child to hold a bench as your favorite viewing spot for fireworks, parades, etc. while you go shop for several hours.

 

[purvislets]

Please don't treat the buffet items like they were in your kitchen. I watched a man, at the Boma buffet, take a ladle of soup out of a brand new pot bring it to his nose, sniff it then blow on it to cool it down!!!!! He promptly put the ladle back in the soup. I was so stunned I could'nt speak (quite a feat LOL). kithcen staff had to throw out the whole pot...even they couldn't believe it when I told them what he did.

Ick... just gross!!

Small aside. I complained about this happening on Pirates once (just telling the CMs that they should probably do a reminder which hadn't happened for our boat) and they offered to let us right back on. We didn't accept since we had other things to do but if you experience is really affected by it, you should mention it and they might let you back in. (If it were HM, my favourite I might have accepted.

We thought about saying something to a CM, but we just let it go. Tried not to let it ruin our whole trip. Luckily, I've been to Disney more times than I can count so it didn't ruin a one-in-a-lifetime trip. Plus, these guys didn't speak any English so a warning wouldn't have gotten very far.

I fully respect your need and right to have an ECV, however, please realize that being in an ECV does not give you the right to zoom around honking the horn and expecting people to get out of your way. ECVs should be used as a form of transportation for those not able to get around any other way, not as a means to get to your destination faster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjSwL-9Bzf8 This lady is a perfect example!

 

[bdoyledimou]

Don't make comments about other guests in a foreign language assuming they won't understand..
SO is Portugese, speaks Portugease, English, French and Spanish. She is also very waspish.. (She looks like a barbie doll)

When entering "HISTK" the family in front of us stopped in the middle (another peave-ish thing to NOT do). When SO asked them to move on, the mother made some very unflattering comments about SO's mother in Spanish.. Well SO just responded right back in spanish.. the look of shock on the ladies face was priceless, and she actually had her family LEAVE the theatre completely..

(I also had something similar happen to me while in Sau Paulo Brasil on business, at dinner, where two ladies at the table beside me and my travelling companion thought we were local and did'nt understand english..

 

[ratlenhum]

I second this. My nephew is 5 1/2 and has childhood arthritis. We did find this out a few months after we visited WDW tho. He has always complained about his legs hurting and he need them rubied. We assumed growing pains. We could not figure out why he was so extra cranky at WDW. Toward the end of our tip his mom realized his poor legs were very swollen. A few weeks ago he was diagnosed. So next time we go he will be 6, and yes we will have a stroller for him until if and when he out grows it.

Can I suggest the Maclaren Major? It holds up to 140 lbs I believe and looks like a big umbrella stroller

 

[scojos]

Don't make comments about other guests in a foreign language assuming they won't understand..
SO is Portugese, speaks Portugease, English, French and Spanish. She is also very waspish.. (She looks like a barbie doll)

When entering "HISTK" the family in front of us stopped in the middle (another peave-ish thing to NOT do). When SO asked them to move on, the mother made some very unflattering comments about SO's mother in Spanish.. Well SO just responded right back in spanish.. the look of shock on the ladies face was priceless, and she actually had her family LEAVE the theatre completely..

(I also had something similar happen to me while in Sau Paulo Brasil on business, at dinner, where two ladies at the table beside me and my travelling companion thought we were local and did'nt understand english..

love this comment it has happened to us soooo many times
tracy

 

[PrincessEmmysMom]

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!

You try eating with a blanket over YOUR head

 

[aaylasecura]

Don't make comments about other guests in a foreign language assuming they won't understand..
SO is Portugese, speaks Portugease, English, French and Spanish. She is also very waspish.. (She looks like a barbie doll)

When entering "HISTK" the family in front of us stopped in the middle (another peave-ish thing to NOT do). When SO asked them to move on, the mother made some very unflattering comments about SO's mother in Spanish.. Well SO just responded right back in spanish.. the look of shock on the ladies face was priceless, and she actually had her family LEAVE the theatre completely..

(I also had something similar happen to me while in Sau Paulo Brasil on business, at dinner, where two ladies at the table beside me and my travelling companion thought we were local and did'nt understand english..

Please don't take this offensively, but I find this hilarious. I love the ignorance of people who live in the 21st century and should have 21st century skills.

 

[trickiwoo]

Don't just stand there and do nothing while your obnoxious child is bullying other children and splashing other children and adults with water in the play fountain area.

Generally it's a pretty good idea to keep an eye on your child the whole time you're at WDW. My boyfriend and I were at Raglan Road one night a little after midnight having a few drinks when this kid (probably around 8 years old) randomly ran up and sat down at the table next to ours. He started picking up the salt and pepper shakers and whatever else was sitting on the table and banging it around and hitting the table and stuff. We were both looking around to see if there was some parent chasing after this kid, but there wasn't. And then he just took off running again.

 

[LovesTimone]

DH and I decided to add this to the "What not to do" list.

Please do not let your children run all over the restaurant yes this is Disney but this is also a restaurant. On several occasion we have seen kids just running wild all over the restaurant, grabbing stuff off the buffets, and running into the servers, and other tables and guest. Most people would not let their kids run around at their local Applebees, or Red Lobster or whatever.. Why because someone might know them and they would be embarrassed. Basic common courtesy would go a long way.
While on the subject of buffets please go to the buffet line with your children it is not someones else job to fix your child's plate,or watch out that they do not get burned.
At CP last year this cute little boy used his finger to grab a strawberry then proceed to lick it and put it back in the bowl. I let the CM behind the counter know the whole bowl of berries had to be thrown out. His parents were now where is sight.
I have done disney with my DD starting at 3 yrs old and she will be 21 this month. So I understand and have been there done that. But we all pay the same price to sit down and enjoy dinner so let everyone enjoy.

 

[ebird08]

Using the idle threat. If you don't stop it we are going home right this minute.

ugh! i hate this and totally agree with you! if there's no follow through, then whats the point? pick your battles w/ the kiddos otherwise you're just wasting time.

 

[tessa67]

We started taking my DD to Disney at an early age and would use a stroller. She just turned 5 when we went last year and told her there would be no stroller anymore because she was plenty big enough to walk. She had absolutely no problems the entire trip and loved the independence. One day at MK, there was a kid heading our direction that was probably 12 or 13 in a stroller being pushed by his mother. The kid was not small by any means As he is about to pass, my DD exclaims rather loudly, "What! A big kid in a stroller, he should be walking!" Even she knew he was too old to be sitting in a stroller. My face turned so red, but I couldn't stop laughing either.

I am not sure what you were laughing at, perhaps someone's silly hat? I know you were not laughing about your DD's inappropriate, judgemental and possibly very hurtful comment. A comment that may have broken the hearts of those parents, if they heard it.

Anyway, I think you left off the end of the story. You know, the part where you knelt down in front of your DD and explained to her, in a kind, gentle and quiet voice, that it may have looked odd to her to see such a big boy in a stroller, but there is a chance that his legs or body may not be as strong as hers. It may be that his parents wanted to bring him to Disney but knew he was not strong or well enough to walk the entire day, but since they wanted him to enjoy the park they decided to use a stroller, so he could have a great day. And then you explained that you and she are so blessed to be healthy and strong and it is important to be kind and not make remarks that might be hurtful. And then you said that you hope that boy and his family have a wonderful day.

Right? Isn't that what you said? I am sure it is.

 

[aduck126]

I am not sure what you were laughing at, perhaps someone's silly hat? I know you were not laughing about your DD's inappropriate, judgemental and possibly very hurtful comment. A comment that may have broken the hearts of those parents, if they heard it.

Anyway, I think you left off the end of the story. You know, the part where you knelt down in front of your DD and explained to her, in a kind, gentle and quiet voice, that it may have looked odd to her to see such a big boy in a stroller, but there is a chance that his legs or body may not be as strong as hers. It may be that his parents wanted to bring him to Disney but knew he was not strong or well enough to walk the entire day, but since they wanted him to enjoy the park they decided to use a stroller, so he could have a great day. And then you explained that you and she are so blessed to be healthy and strong and it is important to be kind and not make remarks that might be hurtful. And then you said that you hope that boy and his family have a wonderful day.

Right? Isn't that what you said? I am sure it is.

oh god

not everything has to be so serious

 

[ophelia2002]

-If you have young kids, plan the trip for THEM, not yourself. Watch for signs of overstimulation, go back to the hotel and take naps, follow their lead.

- Don't use foul language. There are kids everywhere and no one wants to hear that.

- RE: older kids in strollers...after a day at the parks, sometimes I wish they made strollers for adults! I know my little ones get tired, jsut as I do, but they aren't able to control themselves about it as well.

- Don't forget that you have to discipline your children. Don't let them run wild. I know this is a "vacation" but there is no vacation from being a responsible parent.