What was the biggest Disney meltdown you've witnessed?

[Teresa Pitman]

I have been taking each of my grandkids on a trip to WDW the year they turn eight. When my granddaughter (we'll call her Avery, I don't want to embarrass her by using her real name) came with me for her trip, her dad sent along his Jedi Mickey stuffed toy. The idea was to get some photos of her and Jedi Mickey in different places in the park. Well, on our arrival day, we got up early, flew to Orlando, checked in, and headed to Hollywood Studios for the last day of Star Wars weekends. We were kind of tired but we had a lot of fun, and after supper we joined the massive crowds to watch the Hyperspace Hoopla. When that ended, we were pretty tired and started to go back to our room...when Avery realized she didn't have Jedi Mickey any more.

We hurried back to the restaurant (which was closing): No Jedi Mickey. Nobody had seen it. We retraced our steps but we were pretty sure we'd left him in the restaurant. So we walked up to Guest Services in the hopes that someone had turned him in. No such luck.

The kind Cast Member who was trying to help us said to Avery: "Here, I'll give you a gift certificate to get another Jedi Mickey - just go to one of the stores." SHE FLIPPED OUT! She started screaming at him that she didn't want ANOTHER Jedi Mickey, she wanted HER DAD'S Jedi Mickey and WHY did someone steal it and everyone at Disney World was MEAN! She had just completely lost it. I felt so badly for the poor CM who was just trying to help and now had this screaming eight-year-old yelling at him.

I coaxed her out of Guest Services and she sobbed all the way to the bus and back to the room.

Anyway, that was the worst I've seen....

 

[Vernie822]

We vacationed last trip with my mom, her sister (my aunt) and my cousin (my aunt's daughter). 4 of us in a regular room at POFQ for 5 nights. My mom is an "I need to be up early and be at rope drop 30 minutes in advance because I want to soak up every second of magic" type of traveler, my aunt was kinda "go with the flow, whatever you guys do" kind of traveler, and my cousin can sleep til noon and relax. I'm flexible and prefer rope drop but I wasn't going to step on any toes.

By our last day, my cousin was really tired and was moving slowly to get ready and get packed. We waited around her for maybe 30 minutes and my mom wanted to rope drop Soarin' so she was getting irritated. We made it down to the bus stop, there was at least a bus full of Epcot goers and my mom said something like "See, this is what happens when you take too long to get ready." My cousin responded with a snappy "I'm sorry I was not ready per your schedule" and my mom responded back with a "Don't **** with me in Disney!!"

I just stood there like alongside my aunt. It was a very awkward/tense bus ride to Epcot then we were good.

 

[chelynnah]

I love and hate this at the same time.



Alas, the breakdowns are usually ME. I try to not be loud, but my face does project my feelings so...

But I work so hard to include my family in decisions, I try to make things the perfect blend of planned and spontaneous, I try to really make things nice, and *every time* they suddenly act like they had NO say in things and they get all weird.

I've finally concluded, after our most recent cruise where the above scenario happened again, that they just are incapable of comprehending a question about a vacation until they are ON the vacation. They prefer to just be told where to go and when. (I despise doing this; I hate how it must look to others and I just don't like it, but it seems to be 2 to 1 at this point) They tell me they trust me to make decisions, they trust that I'll take them into account. So I either have to just do what they are asking me to do (even though I hate it) or just have every bit of trips as "go with the flow". And we've done that before, and it doesn't turn out very well.

Anyway, I'm generally the one having the meltdown. Sad but true.

OMGosh I could have written this. Just read it to DH and he nodded and agreed that this is us.

 

[horse11]

well it was not AT Disney but had to do with Disney . It was me when I found out ROL was not going to be available for our trip after thinking it was a sure thing lol!!! I am kidding of course but boy would I have loved to throw myself on the ground like a 3 year old!!!

 

[Kiersten]

I got kicked out of a gift shop in Downtown Disney. I was four and my mom had told me not to touch anything. I did anyway, I reached out and picked up a snow globe and dropped it. Then proceeded to sit down on the floor and scream. My parents had to pay for the globe and they had to take turns standing outside with me so they could shop. I remember the cast member telling them that I had to leave. I remember this clearly even though I was a preschooler when it happened. lol

 

[Jaya]

Many years ago we were at Country Bear Jamboree with my 2 1/2 year old niece who was "quirky", to say the least. When we walked in and saw the animatronic buffalo, moose and deer heads on the wall, she freaked out. "Heads is looking at me! Heads is LOOKING at me!! HEADS IS LOOKING AT ME!!!!"

She promptly disappeared into my husband's jacket, wiggled around to the back and stuck her head out the neckhole (they looked like a 2-headed turtle). "HEADS IS STILL LOOKING AT ME!!!!" she wailed.....and continued to wail, and wail, and wail. She didn't care for the bears, either, but at least agreed to stay burrowed in his jacket, occasionally peeking out, wailing, and going back in again.

So that became the family signal for "something's bothering me".......HEADS IS LOOKING AT ME!!!!!

 

[tracynicole21]

Many years ago we were at Country Bear Jamboree with my 2 1/2 year old niece who was "quirky", to say the least. When we walked in and saw the animatronic buffalo, moose and deer heads on the wall, she freaked out. "Heads is looking at me! Heads is LOOKING at me!! HEADS IS LOOKING AT ME!!!!"

She promptly disappeared into my husband's jacket, wiggled around to the back and stuck her head out the neckhole (they looked like a 2-headed turtle). "HEADS IS STILL LOOKING AT ME!!!!" she wailed.....and continued to wail, and wail, and wail. She didn't care for the bears, either, but at least agreed to stay burrowed in his jacket, occasionally peeking out, wailing, and going back in again.

So that became the family signal for "something's bothering me".......HEADS IS LOOKING AT ME!!!!!

I wish this had happened while I was present just so I could use that quote in my every day life.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

We vacationed last trip with my mom, her sister (my aunt) and my cousin (my aunt's daughter). 4 of us in a regular room at POFQ for 5 nights. My mom is an "I need to be up early and be at rope drop 30 minutes in advance because I want to soak up every second of magic" type of traveler, my aunt was kinda "go with the flow, whatever you guys do" kind of traveler, and my cousin can sleep til noon and relax. I'm flexible and prefer rope drop but I wasn't going to step on any toes.

By our last day, my cousin was really tired and was moving slowly to get ready and get packed. We waited around her for maybe 30 minutes and my mom wanted to rope drop Soarin' so she was getting irritated. We made it down to the bus stop, there was at least a bus full of Epcot goers and my mom said something like "See, this is what happens when you take too long to get ready." My cousin responded with a snappy "I'm sorry I was not ready per your schedule" and my mom responded back with a "Don't **** with me in Disney!!"

I just stood there like alongside my aunt. It was a very awkward/tense bus ride to Epcot then we were good.

I'm sure it was not funny for you at the time, but I cannot stop laughing at this. This is probably something I would say, LOL.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Last summer I took my closest friend and her 2 daughters with us, ages 1 and 2 at the time. As we were leaving Philharmagic, there was a huge crowd and we got a bit separated, but we were meeting back at thr sttollers, so no big deal. I waited and waited and waited. I finally went back to the exit where the 2 year old was causing a huge scene. Apparently she did not want to give back her 3d glasses, and she threw herself down and had the mother of all fits right there in the walkway. I felt so bad for my friend. That kid has been and still is the biggest fit thrower I've ever seen.

 

[Vernie822]

I'm sure it was not funny for you at the time, but I cannot stop laughing at this. This is probably something I would say, LOL.

Hahahahha, looking back it was HILARIOUS!! At the time, not so much, because I was like what the heck just happened?! Lol!

 

[Vylette Rose]

Unfortunately the biggest meltdown I have witnessed was between my wife and I. It was at HS, and we had a little issue that escalated until we were standing on Sunset Blvd. screaming at each other as our kids tried to walk away from us as if they didn't know us. Needless to say it was not our proudest moment. That all being said, we did recover and ended the vacay on a high note.

 

[anneboleyn]

We vacationed last trip with my mom, her sister (my aunt) and my cousin (my aunt's daughter). 4 of us in a regular room at POFQ for 5 nights. My mom is an "I need to be up early and be at rope drop 30 minutes in advance because I want to soak up every second of magic" type of traveler, my aunt was kinda "go with the flow, whatever you guys do" kind of traveler, and my cousin can sleep til noon and relax. I'm flexible and prefer rope drop but I wasn't going to step on any toes.

By our last day, my cousin was really tired and was moving slowly to get ready and get packed. We waited around her for maybe 30 minutes and my mom wanted to rope drop Soarin' so she was getting irritated. We made it down to the bus stop, there was at least a bus full of Epcot goers and my mom said something like "See, this is what happens when you take too long to get ready." My cousin responded with a snappy "I'm sorry I was not ready per your schedule" and my mom responded back with a "Don't **** with me in Disney!!"

I would like a shirt that says DON'T **** WITH ME IN DISNEY. Your mom needs to copyright that phrase ASAP!

 

[Gillyrose779]

We watched a little girl nail here not-much-older sister in the face with a perfect right cross while waiting in line to meet Ariel last year. The other girl then cracked her over the head with her autograph book, and fisticuffs ensued.

Things were pretty tense after the mom finally got it under control, but my wife managed to calm the situation by asking both girls what their favorite things at the Magic Kingdom are.

I laugh b/c this is my kids- two boys- ages 5 and 6- 17 months apart in age. They are all boy and act like this almost daily- sometimes just for fun.

For instance- our flight back from Disney a year ago- hubs and I each take a kid and sit with them- separation is key for a good flight. At the end of the flight I get the kids while my husband waits on the stroller. Well my kids acted liked they haven't seen each other in weeks (it was a 2 hr flight). We got out into the waiting area where there was a large amount of people ready to get on the next flight. My kids decide to wrestle, while smiling and laughing, and grab each other by the shoulders. Next thing you know my youngest raises his hand has high as he could and smacks his older brother HARD in the face. The sound was so loud everyone turned and stared. Hundreds of people yet it was so quiet. My boys just look at each other... long pause... and then bust up laughing. I heard them along while reprimanding them and my husband comes out completely oblivious to our sons' antics. I was used to their "play" but I think my kids may have traumatized a few adults.

 

[Turn the Page]

This one isn't as shocking as many of the examples posted but here is mine.

I am a bit ashamed of this and regret not speaking up but the parents did seem a bit nutty so in retrospect it may have been better that I didn't. Anyway, we were at TL last fall and had set up our base under one of the pavilion type things. We had spread out across several chairs and had out coolers with our drinks and snacks and all that. We had brought the plain whit towels from the resort so they weren't distinctive in any way. We got back from a round of rides and DD5 accidentally grabbed a towel off a neighboring chair. Again, it was a white Disney Resort towel, she didn't know that was someone elses towel. Within a few seconds of grabbing it we noticed it wasn't ours and corrected it. We told her to put it back and get one we had brought. She only had it for a few seconds and it couldn't have been that wet.

Anyway, we are sitting there munching on snacks and this couple and their two young boys comes back to their towels. The mom picks up the one DD5 had grabbed and hollers "This is wet! SOMEBODY USED OUR TOWELS!!!!!!" The dad chimes in with "What do you mean someone used our towels." The mom shows him how the towel was damp and they go back and forth for a bit while the mom is looking around staring accusingly at everyone. Finally, the dad throws his arms in the air and storms away. The mom is hollering after him not to walk away and she and the kids chase after him.

I would have just replaced their towel with one of ours from the beginning but all of ours were much wetter than the one DD5 had for a few seconds. I considered explaining what happened but given the way they were reacting I wasn't sure that would have helped anything. I don't know, maybe I should have spoken up.

 

[blemon]

I have worked retail at Christmas.

This. Just this:
I have worked retail at Christmas.

Love and can relate.

Really enjoying this thread.

 

[rwdavis2]

Our first trip with the kids, they were turning 2. We went onto Carousel of Progress (which we have since called Carousel of Hell) and I forgot to bring my daughter's pacifier. She started screaming/crying about two minutes into it and NOTHING could get her to stop. I was mortified. Luckily the only other family in with us was super understanding but it was horrible. We tried to get them to stop the ride but nope. So I tried to bring her to the very back to get as far away from everyone else but nope, got yelled at by the CM for getting up. It was just horrible.

Just walk out the exit door in the back. The entire rides comes to a halt. Did it when DD had a bathroom emergency a long time ago. I had no idea that would happen.

 

[gtpoohbear]

I have to admit, I was a little nervous reading this thread that someone here would have witnessed DS's epic meltdown (which ended up becoming a family meltdown) at AK a couple of years ago. He had been happily playing at the Boneyard for while one morning, but it was time for our EE FP. (And we were going to use child-swap since DS wasn't tall enough). For various reasons, I hadn't ever gotten to ride it, despite having been at AK 3 different times since it opened. So I was not about to miss it today, lol!

Well, DS was NOT willing to leave. After arguing for several minutes, I lost patience, and drug him, kicking and screaming to the exit. And he was strong! I almost couldn't manage him, and we drew all sorts of looks. But that wasn't the end of it. DH was determined to "talk him through it" and get him to calm down before we moved on, but I was used his tantrums and knew this one just had to run it's course. So DH and I were already arguing about how to resolve it.

We managed to get him forcibly strapped into the stroller, and I convinced DH that we just needed to head to EE, and ignore him. But man, he screamed bloody murder and flailed with all his might against the straps. People were literally stopping in the path to gawk and stare. I think they thought we were kidnapping him! About halfway to EE, DH lost it. And had his own meltdown, saying he was leaving and we were done for the day. (DS of course is still screaming)

Which of course, caused ODD to have HER own meltdown, because younger brother had "totally ruined our vacation". And I was fuming by now because, gosh-darn-it, I was NOT missing EE for a 4th time, lol! We were quite the attraction standing there though, totally losing our cool. I think at one point we were all yelling at the same time with our hands over our ears, lol! (And DS is STILL screaming)

I finally yelled at DH (b/c I couldn't get his attention otherwise) that DD and I were going to EE by ourselves, he could do whatever he wanted. We went on to EE, which I actually really enjoyed despite the drama, and DD and I were feeling much better afterwards. I assumed the boys would have calmed down by now, but when I called DH to see where they were... DS was STILL screaming in the background. And they were right where we left them. He ended up screaming for nearly an hour before he finally stopped, probably from sheer exhaustion. FWIW, we did go on to enjoy the rest of the day at least, but man, what a rough morning!

Unfortunately, these tantrums from DS had become a very common occurrence in the months before our trip, and shortly after we got back, his doctor recommended taking his tonsils out (for other reasons). I have to say, he was a different kid after the surgery. In the 2 years since, he hasn't thrown a single fit like that. He's so calm now, and easy-going. It's almost hard for me to believe he was even capable of that back then!

 

[msdaisy]

My own best meltdown - my Disney crew consists of myself, husband, two daughters, my mom, and my sister. This happened several trips back. We were at pizza planet having lunch. This day was smack dab in the middle of our trip. It was July. It was hot. We had been staying at the parks allllll day. We never do that now - can you say pool time?? So, we had just gotten our food and sat down at our table. My husband is attempting to distribute drinks and pizzas, but my little girl is too impatient. She grabs her drink and spills it all over herself, my husband, my sister, and of course all over our table and food.

My husband has his own mini meltdown and starts chewing out my daughter. My sister intervenes trying to say hey it's no big deal - spilled milk type of a thing. So now they are tense with one another.

I have now had it. I stood up and said vacation is over! It really wasn't as we had like 3 or 4 days left. But, I just felt like that moment called for a really dramatic line. I walked out of the restaurant, out of the park, got on the ferry, rode it to yacht club, walked to our room.....

And discovered my husband had all of our park tickets in his wallet, so I couldn't get in our room.

I sat outside of our room on the floor and watched people go by for a good hour before my family showed up. My husband said I thought you said vacation was over!

Best meltdown I ever saw - we were leaving magic kingdom and headed to 1900 Park Fare for dinner. We had just walked up the monorail ramp where we saw a lady with her hands on the shoulders of a 3 or 4 year old boy. She was giving him a little shake and screaming you are ruining my vacation!!!!

So now when the slightest little thing goes wrong while we are at Disney, we will say you are ruining my vacation!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NeuroCindy]

So, I have a disorder where my body doesn't store sodium well, so my blood pressure drops really low. When this happens I tend to have slowed cognition and hyperactive emotions.

Okay, so I'm in Universal Studios with my stepdad in August. I've lost a ton of salt, I'm exhausted, I'm getting closer and closer to fainting, and I just lost it. I sat on the ground in a corner just crying because I could not move anymore. I was sobbing that I just wanted to go home, I was done, I couldn't do it anymore.

He got me food and gatorade and I came back to life and was okay the rest of the day.

 

[Roxyfire]

She also picked up their bags off the table and threw them into the bushes behind us SCREAMING that it was her table, she called dibs by leaving her stuff there for the better part of 5 hours. Unbelievable.

I wonder if she was from Chicago. Dibs is serious business!