Where have people manners gone?

[Gary M]

You have no idea what rude is until you run into a Brazilian tour group. I know it's not PC to say that, but after 31 on site-stays at WDW, they stand out in my mind.

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow sounds like you had a difficult time and the crowds were worse than you anticipated. In situations like yours I just try and remind myself that all I can control are my actions and reactions.

ITA about bus manners, I will always put my dd on my lap or the three of us squish in one bench seat for two. If the bus is really crowded and we don't want to stand then we just wait for the next bus. While I will gladly give up my seat or put my dd on my lap I don't expect others to do that for me. I know the options and make the choice to either stand or wait.

The woman who ran was just rude, no excuse for pushing anyone let alone a child, sorry about that. I like to think you get what you give and I imagine she did/does!!

I have been run into by an ECV, a total accident on both our parts. Since then I am much more careful about avoiding and giving the driver more space. Take a minute and put yourself in the shoes of the other. I know my SIL would much rather walk than use the EVC and would give anything to have you not wait for her to load the bus. Since her disability is hidden and it is much safer to sit in the bus seat than in EVC on the bus she will also transfer when loaded.

As for the child in the wheelchair, MAW or GKTW I gladly step aside for them, it is the very least I can do. Then I hug and kiss my kids and thank GOD we have the time to wait.

TJ

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Having a DH and 2 DS's (18 and 21) who always hold doors, give up their seats etc. for others makes it very hard for me to "get" men who don't. My boys started holding doors for people when they were 3 or 4. It is what they're taught by their parents, but as adults, men can pick this up pretty quickly. My ex SIL's brother sat through an entire church service while I stood which still bugs me. He was taught to be very self involved and never got it. The real definition of rudeness should be selfishness, because that's what it is. Yes, children need to be taught compassion for those who are disabled, but the child who waits patiently and then doesn't get what they waited for ends up very disappointed and hurt too. I always taught my kids that life wasn't fair, so that made it somewhat easier to deal with bad behavior in others, or that they may not get what they want at that moment. But, explaining that to a 3 year old can be very difficult.

i agree with this..my brother and i are older too (hes 18, im 20) but hes always holding doors and giving up his seats (unless its for me,,i guess he cant be nice to his sister!)..but everywhere he goes he is very polite and helped people..now the 5 year old i babysit for..he holds the door open when we go places and is more polite than many adults i encounter!

 

[kilee]

These are all topics that are touchy and everyone has personal opinions on them. Disney gets so very crowded and it can bring out the worst in some people, even good people. I just try to be a bit more understanding figuring at some point I may be the person who doesn't quite think things through and stops in the middle of traffic, I may accidentally hit someone w/ a stroller, or someday I may have to visit Disney w/ a scooter and be not so great at driving it. God willing, I won't ever be at Disney w/ my child in a siutation where we are granted front of the line access. And I'm sure that at some point and time I'm going to forget my manners. I won't mean to, but sometimes it can get overwhelming. So, I figure if I cut others some slack then hopefully I may get alittle in return. Afterall I am at Disney, and if I can't be more forgiving there where can I be????

 

[hellooothere]

There are a few of these type of threads on the boards. When I read them I think.....your vacation is what you make of it...no matter where you are... and if you spend your vacation stewing on the bus about all the people who won't get up for an older lady.....or if you spend your vacation with a frown on your face every time you get passed by a stroller.....then you are going to miss all the magic moments that make your vacation special...
If instead you spend your vacation enjoying your children ....smiling and taking everything in...and being thankful that you have your family together ....well then that kind of attitude is contagious.

As for the comment regarding the children in the wheelchair... I don't know what appalls me more - the fact that you would make this statement at all - or the fact that you would feel comfortable enough with this opinion that you are willing to put it out there on the boards.
I have a saying for you, "There but for the grace of God go I." Hug your children and be thankful.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

I have a saying for you, "There but for the grace of God go I." Hug your children and be thankful.

Nicely said!!!

 

[mickeyschickie]

it is hard for polite people to bite our tongues and continue being polite in a rude world...but even when I was at WDW and pregnant, I would always offer my seat to an elderly person and to those holding small children etc. I truly did not mind doing this, because I was in good health, etc. but you would think this would prompt others to do the same, but it never did,
re: the skooters, we completely surrounded my dear grandmother on her's because we tried to be extra careful that she never got near anyone that was not related to her while she was on it so we did not get sued...not that she was a bad driver, she has one at home, but because others also do not watch where they are going and also sometimes stop to gazed stupidly at nothing without moving out of the major walk-ways that you use to get around the parks...
you really cannot blame one specific group for rudeness...it is a univeral character flaw...

 

[momloveson]

We just came back from our first family trip. We took 8 days, then added an extra. Because of this we had a lot of days to check stuff out and really took our time. I think this helped our attitude. We experienced the week before thanksgiving....limited crowds, therefore limited anger management experiences. Plus, we were there the week of Thanksgiving....busier than a swarm of flies in a cow pasture. We noticed we were shorter tempered the 2nd week and decided to forgo the parks in favor of quieter experiences. What a great idea this turned out to be. If we DID notice rude behavior, it was much easier to turn the other cheek. We cherished the fantastic people experiences that we had. Overall though, I think the rude behavior was actually less apparent then at home.

In general I think its easier to deal with rude people when you try to imagine WHY they are acting the way they are. While some people are just plain aweful, a bad day can make even the politest person worthy of a good face slap and walking in someone elses footsteps can really affect your attitude.

Finally, the rudest thing I saw was actually my HUSBAND cutting in front of a family of 5 that included a physically and mentally challenged child in a wheelchair, to get out of the monorail. My son and I waited to depart until they were all out. I was horrified at my husbands behavior, then realized that he was just exhausted, not thinking, and he thought he was getting out of their way.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Lastly, I have to say I thank God for my healthy children, but why is a child in a wheelchair more important than my children?

Are you honestly asking that question with a straight face?? In my opinion, you should just be happy that your children ARE NOT in a wheelchair and that someone is not here on a Disney board talking about how your children interferred with their children's fun. You need to understand that some if not all of those children in a wheelchair may have gotten to see Daisy Duck for the first and last time in their lives. Your child WILL get another chance to see something that those children NEVER will. May GOD bless their souls and may He soften your heart. I'm not flaming...I just don't understand why a parent would say such a thing about a child in a wheelchair.
Blessings to you,

Denise

 

[Lucky4me]

That's why we'll NEVER go at peak times I don't care where you are, if there's 50,000 other people there with you, it most likely won't be a pleasant experience.

 

[metivier]

I definitely agree about the rudeness at WDW - although I believe this happens everywhere, not just at WDW.

TOTALLY agree with this statement. Try taking a stroller (particularly a double stroller) to a mall nowadays, especially during the holiday shopping season rush. I try my best to stay way to the right, keep a steady pace, not "race" in front of people, etc., but I always encounter some bozo who wants to "race and cut" in front of my two children in the stroller like it's a game or something. Sheesh, people -- I'm pushing a stroller -- not warming up for Richard Petty's Driving Experience!!!!

 

[dwkwootton]

Try your best not to be appalled at the OP's opinion (she is entitled to it) or or that she posted it (that is the purpose of these boards). While I'd be the first to disagree with her position on the wheelchair incident, I'll be the first to throw out these thoughts: we don't know it was a MAW kid, she may not be familiar with the MAW program and it is possible that it honestly never dawned on her that child may only have a few months to live, maybe the child had a cast on his/her ankle and it was a good ol' routine sprained ankle. If you've been to DW multiple times, you know that there are instances of scooter/wheelchair game playing. I know I have encountered it more than a couple times since 1978, people who get a scooter for an adult or yes, a wheelchair for a child for the express purpose of not having to wait in lines. Most importantly, as Americans we are called on to defend the right of others to disagree with us. Can't quote it just so, but basically .... while I may disagree with you, I will defend to the death your right to say it. All that to say ~ OP, I respectfully disagree with you and to those who insulted her personally or attacked her character I respectfully disagree with you.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I have to comment on your issue with the two children getting pushed to the FOL while you and your children were unable to meet Daisey Duck. First idea is these children could have been waiting in a shaded area and it was their turn so someone pushed them up, some children with disabilities can not handle the sun and/or heat or their condition may be aggitated by being around a large crowd (autism, etc). Secondly I think that children on WISH trips are given a special pass, could be wrong, to allow them quicker access to rides, characters, etc because either they can not physically wait too long (may only be able to spend a few hours in the park, need to return to GKTW for medical treatments, meds, etc) or they again can't emotionally take waits. Thirdly, Hello these children on WISH trips don't have much time left, thats why they are granted such experiences. Most all children on WISH trips are there because they have a terminal illness and more than likely WILL NOT recover and this may be their only chance to visit WDW.
Please have compassion for these children and their families...

 

[disneyjunkie]

It's possible that the kids OP saw were not MAW kids. Lets not forget that there are people that will use a wheelchair to avoid waiting in lines. I'm sure most people we see in wheelchairs really need them. However, there are those that will and do abuse the system.

 

[WDSearcher]

It's possible that the kids OP saw were not MAW kids. Lets not forget that there are people that will use a wheelchair to avoid waiting in lines. I'm sure most people we see in wheelchairs really need them. However, there are those that will and do abuse the system.

Sure, it's possible. But even if it IS a young kid and his/her parents trying to cheat the system (which it probably isn't ... that doesn't happen nearly as often as urban legend would have you believe), it's still an unfortunate family. Here you have a family who believes the only way they'll get to meet all the characters or see all the attractions is to have someone in their group fake an injury or disease. How sad is that? Let them have the autograph, for goodness sake, and be happy that your family has more sense and a better sense of perspective.

I agree with the poster who said that it seems all of the OP's complaints related to how busy it was. Hopefully, folks will learn from that and refine their planning next time. However, if it's all about needing Daisy's autograph (she's hard to find, and if she's your child's favorite character, that can be disappointing), just PM me, and I'll get you one. I happen to work just down the hall from Daisy.

 

[CheapMom]

I have seen people in wheelchairs treated pretty much the same as everyone else at WDW- waiting in the regular queue... I would bet that there was a special circumstance with these children moved to the front of the line.

 

[goofyforlife]

my husband and I were waiting in line for a bus after park closing at EPCOT. The line for our resort was huge and every time a bus came the people mobbed onto it from all over the line.

When we got near the front of the line I noticed a couple struggling with their three kids (one standing, one being held asleep, and an infant in a larger stroller. My husband asked the wife if he could help them with their stoller so they could get on the bus. (He expected to carry the stroller.) The wife said thank you for your help and handed my husband the infant as she folded up the stroller and got on the bus. I think my husband was in shock at this point. We all climbed on the bus and he handed her back the baby.

We had a good laugh after that because where else but Disney would you hand your kid to a total stanger. (Luckily my husband is baby trained.)

 

[emmabelle]

Goofyforlife,

that's hilarious!

 

[Chicago526]

Just a quick reply on the "giving up your seat" aspect of this thread. My BF refuses to give his seat up to anyone, for any reason. Except for me! So I always give MY seat up to someone who seems to need it (elderly, pregnant woman, etc.), so he has to in turn give his seat to me. That'll learn 'im!

 

[WillCAD]

I've seen plenty of instances of rudeness and of kindness and compassion at WDW.

One odd thing sticks in my head from this thread; multiple people have complained about men not offering thier seats to women. Certainly, you should offer your set to someone who needs it more than you do; the elderly, the infirm, or even an exhausted-looking child. But what makes a healthy woman more worthy of the seat than a healthy man?

Holding doors? I hold doors open for everybody, man woman and child, particularly those who seem to need an extra hand like those in ECVs or those whose arms are full of packages. I just don't stand there for 10 minutes waiting for the next person so I can hold the door open; if there is someone close behind me, I'll hold the door, but if someone is 100 feet behind me, they can fend for themseves. The exception to that, of course, is if the person behind me seems to need some special held, like those in ECVs or those with thier arms full of stuff.

Courtesy should not be constrained, it should flow from everyone to everyone else.