Whatever.

[squirrlygirl]

This is the first time we encountered this, and it really weirded me out. While we were at Hollywood Studios this morning I turned around from parking the stroller to find this guy taking a picture of my daughter (6). I grabbed her, gave the guy a dirty look, and we went into Muppets. After we came out, we stopped to watch the Cars for a few minutes, and then stopped at the fountain while DH went to get the stroller. I look up, and that guy is across the fountain from us like he's taking pictures of the fountain, but his camera is pointed straight at DD again I yanked her behind me, look back, and he had already taken off. I don't even want to think what he wanted a picture of DD for. The first time I thought maybe he was getting her eyes (she has one eye that is part hazel/part blue) but the second time she had her sunglasses on

I always picture people who do things like that looking like creeps. This guy was good-looking, well-dressed, and well-groomed. We spent the next hour looking behind our shoulders for this guy.

 

[la79al]

I totally would have talked to security or someone about him. But at the same time, the last time my sister and I were at DW she made a little friend (3ish, sis was 19) while we were waiting for the parade. We have a couple of pictures of her watching the parade.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

That is some scray stuff. people are super weird.

I had a similiar experience at Universal in Hollywood. I have 3 blonde/blue eyed girls, at the time 7 months, 2 yrs and 8. We got in line for the backlot tour thingy and were basicly assualted by a huge group of japanese tourists. You would have thought my girls were mickey mouse. the cameras came out and snaps and flashes. even trying to pose with the girls. it made me very uncomfortable. Dh of course didnt have an issue, he thought it was funny. He did draw the line at them holding the baby.


Its a bad feeling though. Hopefully you wont run into him anymore at the parks,

 

[Stitch's mom]

That is scary especially with all the problems they have had at the water parks.

 

[squirrlygirl]

This guy didn't have kids with him, and was trying to hide that he was taking the pictures.. As for reporting it, we thought about it, but what are they going to do? He had taken off when he saw I saw him, and my description (30, dark-haired, well-dressed, has a camera) doesn't do much good.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Actually you would be mighty surprised to know that MAYBE he did this to others, unless it is reported, they don't KNow! If there were several or even just you...they have cameras and security everywhere........

It is CREEPY indeed, so it is another gentle reminder to all of us that just because we choose to believe it is the friendliest place on EARTH, Creeps still visit BECAUSE it is thought as such!
Sorry you experienced this, have a MAGICAL rest of your visit!!!!
And keep vigilant too!

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

That is some scray stuff. people are super weird.

I had a similiar experience at Universal in Hollywood. I have 3 blonde/blue eyed girls, at the time 7 months, 2 yrs and 8. We got in line for the backlot tour thingy and were basicly assualted by a huge group of japanese tourists. You would have thought my girls were mickey mouse. the cameras came out and snaps and flashes. even trying to pose with the girls. it made me very uncomfortable. Dh of course didnt have an issue, he thought it was funny. He did draw the line at them holding the baby.


Its a bad feeling though. Hopefully you wont run into him anymore at the parks,

We had that happen in Honolulu with one of my dd's. She is blonde hair blue eyed and they all wanted to touch her & some take pictures with her. Most were very nice and just said how beautiful she was but there were those "others" with the camera's. She is timid so she just hid behind me.

 

[gib4]

That is some scray stuff. people are super weird.

I had a similiar experience at Universal in Hollywood. I have 3 blonde/blue eyed girls, at the time 7 months, 2 yrs and 8. We got in line for the backlot tour thingy and were basicly assualted by a huge group of japanese tourists. You would have thought my girls were mickey mouse. the cameras came out and snaps and flashes. even trying to pose with the girls. it made me very uncomfortable. Dh of course didnt have an issue, he thought it was funny. He did draw the line at them holding the baby.


Its a bad feeling though. Hopefully you wont run into him anymore at the parks,

That same thing happened to our daughter when we were there last. She had these purple shorts on that said "Disney" across the backside and they couldn't get enough pictures of her. She, too, is blonde hair/blue eyed. The wacky thing is that my other two kids didn't seem to phase them at all!

OP-way to be heads up and protect your daughter. Other than reporting him you probably did the next best thing. It's a good lesson for everyone. Thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention. We can never be too careful.

 

[trickiwoo]

That is so creepy!!!!!!! Now I will sometimes be out with my camera in public and I'll see a child doing something extra cute and the moment is just too perfect that I have to get a picture! But then again, I'm a young woman (who looks like a teenager) so I feel it's a bit more acceptable for me to do that. If I was a grown man, I would feel very uncomfortable taking photos of other peoples' children and just wouldn't do it. I can also understand people who take pictures of children wearing cute costumes or something at Disney. But your situation is just wrong and creepy!

I don't have any children, so I've never experienced anything like this. But one time I was assisting a professional photographer friend with a bridal portrait session at a park once, and a strange man came up and started taking photos of the bride with his cell phone. It was very obvious too... it was not the least bit subtle! The bride, the photographer, the bridesmaids and I were all very creeped out! Why on earth would this guy want photos of a total stranger? I imagine the creep factor would be so much more when it's a child being photographed by strangers! Eww!

If I were you, I would have taken a photo of him and then showed it to security!

 

[LWatson]

I'm sorry. I would have been weirded out too. When we first got here to El Paso people were always staring at my youngest son and wanting to touch him. Apparently its good luck to touch a baby here, and someone told me touching a red headed baby is even more good luck (yes my youngest is the random red head). I freaked out when this lady leaned down to give him a kiss...I quickly walked away and put the baby cover over him.

 

[JohnsonsLoveDisney]

If I were you, I would have taken a photo of him and then showed it to security!

Thats a good idea.

 

[brp]

The way this particular guy acted definitely seems a bit creepy but, in general, I see no problem in taking pictures of random people in public...as long as it's done without the "creep factor."

I've done this all over the world.Just sitting,people watching, and taking pictures of people that look interesting, or are doing interesting things. Not posed pictures,but candid shots - they don't even know I'm taking. Not for any nefarious purposes. Also, it's young and old, male and female...that part is not relevant.

Of course, I say this as someone without kids, so it's a different perspective.

Cheers.

 

[r1lissa]

I'm sorry. I would have been weirded out too. When we first got here to El Paso people were always staring at my youngest son and wanting to touch him. Apparently its good luck to touch a baby here, and someone told me touching a red headed baby is even more good luck (yes my youngest is the random red head). I freaked out when this lady leaned down to give him a kiss...I quickly walked away and put the baby cover over him.

It's not necessarily about them getting luck- it's about keeping bad luck from the baby. The belief is that if they look at the baby and think thoughts about him (what pretty eyes, what cute cheeks, etc.), then they have to touch or kiss that part to keep bad luck away.
I know it may be a little weird for you, but just keep some wet wipes handy.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I would've taken a picture of him the second time but he took off. If it was someone a little less intense and a little less focused, and a little less covert, it wouldn't have been so creepy.

As for the blonde/blue eyed thing, my youngest gets that, but that's kind of light-hearted awe, not dark and.. I don't know..."off".

 

[Doc CW]

When we are taking pics with characters and I see people walking by taking pics I will either step in front and block the pic or I will yell at them to keep walking and quit snapping. I have zero tolerance for those people who do that. I dont like people who take pics of my family that are not in my family, even if its just for the character and not for a member of my family. That is just how I am.

 

[carj]

I'm sorry. I would have been weirded out too. When we first got here to El Paso people were always staring at my youngest son and wanting to touch him. Apparently its good luck to touch a baby here, and someone told me touching a red headed baby is even more good luck (yes my youngest is the random red head). I freaked out when this lady leaned down to give him a kiss...I quickly walked away and put the baby cover over him.

Wow! That brings back memories of my first trip to Mexico! I am a redhead and I was 5 years old, the first time we went to Mexico. People everywhere kept touching my hair! I remember being a little scared of it.

I wouldn't think twice about people taking pictures of my kids if they were chosen to be in a show or if they were standing in front of a landmark, etc...

I would be very bothered by the situation described by the OP. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I think that the best thing to do would be to whip out your own camera or cell phone and take HIS picture! Then you would have something to show security. Of course, who thinks of those things when you are actually in the situation. Your first instinct was to protect your child, and that is what you did. That was the best you could do!

 

[brp]

If I caught someone doing that to my baby sister I would chase after them until I caught them. I honestly dont know what I would do after I caught them, probably drag them to security or something....
When we are taking pics with characters and I see people walking by taking pics I will either step in front and block the pic or I will yell at them to keep walking and quit snapping. I have zero tolerance for those people who do that. Thinking about it makes me really mad that sick people like that exist and breathe the same air I do (meaning the people who take pics of children that arent in your family)

I'm a little confused by this. Are you saying that someone who sees a cute kid with a Disney character and wants to take a picture (because the kid posed with the character just looks cute) is, in some way, a sick person? And this sickness simply stems from the fact that the kid is not in their family?

Sure seems an overreaction to me. And I hope that the "hunting them down and dragging them off to security" part would have to be for something considerably more egregious than simply trying to take a snap or two when posed with a character.

Cheers.

 

[malibuconlee]

That is some scray stuff. people are super weird.

I had a similiar experience at Universal in Hollywood. I have 3 blonde/blue eyed girls, at the time 7 months, 2 yrs and 8. We got in line for the backlot tour thingy and were basicly assualted by a huge group of japanese tourists. You would have thought my girls were mickey mouse. the cameras came out and snaps and flashes. even trying to pose with the girls. it made me very uncomfortable. Dh of course didnt have an issue, he thought it was funny. He did draw the line at them holding the baby.


Its a bad feeling though. Hopefully you wont run into him anymore at the parks,

I once worked with a lady who lived in Korea while her husband was in the military there. She said something about them finding the golden hair lucky? People were always coming up to touch her daughter. I believe it's a cultural thing.

Honestly, my fair skinned blue eyed baby is an anomaly here in El Paso!! People are always wanting to touch her here. I found it strange at first, but have gotten used to it now.

 

[Doc CW]

I'm a little confused by this. Are you saying that someone who sees a cute kid with a Disney character and wants to take a picture (because the kid posed with the character just looks cute) is, in some way, a sick person? And this sickness simply stems from the fact that the kid is not in their family?

Sure seems an overreaction to me. And I hope that the "hunting them down and dragging them off to security" part would have to be for something considerably more egregious than simply trying to take a snap or two when posed with a character.

Cheers.

No what I am saying is that if your not in my family dont take a picture of my family. I do not want anybody to take a pic of me or my family unless you are in my family, that is just how I am. I do agree the hunting them down thing is excessive and very unrealistic as far as what I would do in reaction to someone taking a photo.

 

[Lost in Wonderland]

That would have creeped me out, too. I hope he didn't ruin your whole day. Hopefully he is gone for good. Have fun on the rest of your vacation