worst experience at disney?

[*disgal*]

What a sad story. I have tears in my eyes. I hope your son forgot those words too.

My beautiful 4 year old daughter is in a wheelchair too.

I am glad he was picked and I hope he had a great time.

Many hugs to you.

Amy

OH my Word!! I know, I got teary eyed also. How horrible of that person!

I know we get so caught up in wanting every Disney experience for our children but is being rude really necessary? It loses the magic then.

I'm glad your son got picked and not her son, even though her son is not at fault here. But he was used to teach his mother a lesson. So sad that it has to happen that way sometimes.


Well, I don't have any horror stories. I'm thankful I don't.

But my friend, who was about 45 years old, went to WDW with her family of 5, her mother and her step dad.

The Step Dad DIED while they were at WDW!! I think heart attack or something like that. They had to fly the body back to their home, which I can't imagine what you have to go through to make those arrangements, especially emotionally. And ofcourse, everyone flew home early.

Needless to say, the family told me they will NEVER go back to WDW......even the kids don't want to go and they were all teenagers at the time. It is definitely NOT the happiest place on earth for them.

 

[LisaFB]

My worst experience still hurts me..... and it was 3 years ago.

We were at Star Wars Weekends. We saw that the Jedi training was going to start in 30 minutes. DS(who was 6 at the time) wanted to participate.... but I didn't see a ramp leading up to the stage and he uses a wheelchair. I asked a CM if he would be able to participate. They asked me to wait while they went backstage to ask.

As we waited.... people began gathering around the stage..... but I didn't want to leave the spot we were in because I was afraid the CM would find us.

Finally the CM came out and told us to try to make it to the front of the ropes because they were trying to figure out a way he could participate... but the "Jedi" on stage would need to see him.

By this time there was a LARGE crowd gathered and I knew it was hopeless. We would never make it to the front. (I didn't want to be rude and push through)

We stood in the back...... and this part still amazes me...... people began PUSHING us through the crowd. The crowd parted and everyone so graciously.... and so kindly began pushing me and my son forward. I didn't even have to ask. I tried not to allow what happened next to overshadow the kindness shown to us that day.

We were almost to the front... but between us and the ropes stood a woman next to her son.

People around me kept telling me to ask the woman to stand BEHIND her son so I could push my son forward into her space. Reluctantly, I asked her. She turned to me and said, "NO!"

The woman next to me (Who had a very strong northeastern accent) said, "Hey! I thought this was for the kids?!?!?!"

The woman in front of me snapped around and started yelling at me. (Apparently she thought "I" had yelled that) She said the most horrible things to me.... infront of my son.

One thing that echoed over and over in my head was her shrill voice yelling, "You think you deserve special treatment because your kid can't walk? It's not my problem your kid can't walk and mine can!"

I looked down and my son was crying. I was shaking. The "TEXAN" came out of me and I told her if she didn't shut her mouth I was gonna shut it for her.

The northeastern accent lady next to me put her arms around me. I'll never forget how comforting that felt.

A gentleman at the front of the ropes overheard the whole thing and moved my son forward. I was so grateful.

My son was picked..... the mean woman next to me was livid because her son wasn't picked.

The worst part was that our children had to hear such horrible words. I hope my son has forgotten about it..... and I hope her son learns tolerance from someone besides his mother.

Wow. that was long!

My DH read your post earlier today and told me about it. I had to come read it for myself and give you {{{{BIG HUGS}}} I have tears in my eyes right now for you and your son. NO ONE deserves to be treated like that, especially not an impressionable child.

 

[suzy724]

The worst experiences I've had at WDW would definitely be the couple of times that I've gotten food poisoning and spent the whole night sick in the hotel bathroom. Yuck. Besides that, I went a long time ago with my late mother who had been recovering from breast cancer at the time and we were waiting in line to buy tickets when some big biker dude decided to take a shortcut to get back to where his family was waiting in line. He fell over the metal chains and slammed into my mother's chest. Nice.

 

[perturbatrix]

My worst experience was during a family vacation when I was a teenager (13 or so). My parents got into a huge fight in front of Cinderella's castle -- most likely about something stupid like what ride to do next. Dad stormed off through the castle. Mom stormed off down Main Street. Younger sis and I were left sitting on one of the benches outside the castle wondering what the heck to do. I hope to provide a much happier time for my kids this year. I think people put too much stress on themselves to have fun in Disney and forget to go with the flow.

 

[gladstoneganderfan]

In the middle of our trip, ds lost his tooth (only his 2nd lost tooth!) in the morning while we were still in our room. We put it on the telephone console next to his lost tooth bear so that the toothfairy could find it that night. Housekeeping threw it away. He was devastated. We convinced him that Tinkerbell came in and stole it because she didn't want the toothfairy coming onto her turf. The toothfairy figured it all out anyway and came through.

Awww, that is too cute! That sounds like something Tinkerbell would do!

 

[maxiesmom]

My worst was the time I got a small case of sunstroke. It was in May, and it was very sunny, and I didn't wear a hat. We went to eat at the Liberty Tree, and I just started shaking, I was so cold. I had a t-shirt I had just purchased in a bag, and I put that on over the shirt I was wearing. I was still so cold! We finished dinner, and went back outside. We started walking towards Fantasyland, and I had to run to the nearest bathroom, where I promptly lost my dinner.

My mom made us head back for the resort. It was great fun, because I had to stop at every bathroom on the way out. I remember that while I was waiting for the resort bus, I was glad there was a bench to sit on, and that there were some bushes behind the bench, just in case. I will admit that I line-cut up to my parents when the bus came. A lady went to say something to me, but then stopped. I'm sure I looked as bad as I felt, and she decided to leave me alone. Never was there a bus ride back to POFQ that felt like it took so long!

 

[ChefBilly]

Oh..and the Disney Cruise we were on in the middle of a hurricane..and we didn't even get to leave the ship..or even use the pool..or walk around the deck. That was back in 1999..Hurricane Irene..I believe.

STILL have not figured out WHY they didn't divert us elsewhere. The whole thing was a HUGE bust! People were so sick they actually had CM's in the halls with baskets of Dramamine because of all the rocking!

They did give us free drinks with dinner though..as compensation..

We were on that cruise! It was hurricane Irene, and it is the sole reason my wife and I will never set foot on a cruise ship again.
The weather certainly wasn't Disney's fault, but what a complete nightmare trip that was.
I was insanely sick - it felt more like norovirus than seasickness.
Ah well, it makes for good stories now, eh?

 

[tspann]

My bad experience was after leaving WDW several years ago. My then boyfriend of 4 years and I had spent 4 days at WDW then left and drove over to St. Petersburg where we were to stay for two days before flying back to IL. While waiting for our hotel room to be ready that day in St. Peters berg we went to the beach. After playing and swimming Gulf for about a 1/2 hour I decided to go up to the shore line and did for shells. After finding a few I stood up and stepped on a sting ray!!!!

Oh my *****!!!! The pain was unbelievable!!!! Brian was several yards out in the water diving and swimming and all I could do was double over and scream in pain. At the time I had not idea what was causing so much pain. An older couple came running over to me and helped me out of the water and sat me on a chair. I was still screaming in pain (and I mean SCREAMING). After what seemed to me like forever, Brian finally gets to me.

Apparently the older woman who came to my rescue had been stung by a sting ray herself last summer and recognized what had happened. She told Brian to put me in the car, drive me across the street and rinse my foot with clean water to remove the salt water then take me to a hospital or Urgent Care Center so that they could draw the poison out and give me a tetanus shot. So he puts me in the car, laying across the back seat and attempts to do as they suggested. One problem though - he had no idea were to find a hospital or urgent care center. He drove around for a little while I lay crying and moaning in the back seat. He finally stops at a gas station and asks them how to get to a hospital or urgent care center. Some smart a** tells him to pee on my foot. That will draw out the poison. Luckily for me he didn't take this advice!

So out he comes and starts driving around again. He told me later that he was just looking for a police car, fire station, anything. Finally he comes across an OB/GYN office and decides to stop there (try getting your HMO why they should pay a OB/GYN for a sting ray sting). He gets me out of the car (still in my bathing suit and nothing else), carries me inside and yells at the poor receptionist, demanding that they help me. Luckily for me they took pity on me and did help me. Apparently the only way to draw the poison out is to submerse the affected body part in boiling water for as long as possible or until the water cools. Though honestly, I didn't even feel the heat of the water as I was still in extreme pain. After 2 1/2 hours of this they decide that I am well enough to go to the hotel. They tell me to keep soaking my foot in as hot of water as we can get through out the evening and that, besides being very sore, I should be fine by morning. The doctor is even nice enough to physically show us how to get from their office to our hotel as we had absolutely no idea where we were or how to get back to our hotel.

At the hotel we asked for something to put the hot water in to soak my foot as ordered but the best they could come up with was a waste basket that didn't hold water very well. I ended up sitting in the bathroom on the side of the tub for 45 minutes or so then decided to just go to bed. The next morning my foot was swollen about twice the size of my shoe. Even my flip flops wouldn't fit on it. Since there is a restaurant in the hotel I decide to hobble down there for breakfast. THEY REFUSE TO SERVE ME because I don't have on two shoes!!! Even after explaining the situation. To make it even worse they refuse to let Brian buy anything to bring back up to the room since all they have is a breakfast buffet. This was the last straw for Brian. At this point I have not eaten since we left the world at around 7am the day before. He starts yelling at the hostess. The manager of the restaurant and the hotel security guard come over to see what's going on and finally decide to give him some yogurt, a bagel and some juice to take back to the room for me.

The rest of the day we just drove around, doing some sight seeing, looking at the Gulf. He dug some shells up at one of the beaches as I sat on the sea wall watching. That afternoon the weather turned cold and rainy but it was one of the best days ever. He spent all day taking care of me!

There's more to the story but my hands are tired and you are all asleep so I'll stop here.

 

[DanMedix]

Wow....some of these are hard to comprehend! Of course, I'm glad that many of us are good sports about the things that we are able to laugh at ourselves about...even if it takes us a while to do so.

Back in '04, while outside of Innoventions (East, I think), there was an older gentleman in front of me that slumped to the ground, having a seizure. The younger lady with him started to panic....apparently, other family members had gone to get drinks, or something. I told my wife to get a cast member, and I went over to him. Now, please remember that while I'm in the parks, I'm REEEEEEALLY careful about coming up to folks saying "Hey, I'm a Paramedic, do you need help?" But in this case, I chose to quietly do so to the family member (I think she was an in-law, or something). While there's not much I could have done for him at the moment, I told her to give him some space...and assured her that it was proper to NOT put something in his mouth at that moment! Very quickly, a CM appeared. I asked her to call for a RCFD unit. Seems like out of nowhere, the crew arrived, not too long after the seizure stopped. I started to give them what little info I had on the man, as they loaded him on their stretcher. By this time, we're barraged with a small crowd (the rest of their family). Apparently, this man has a history of seizures, and for some reason DIDN'T bring his meds with him on vacation (this was their last park day!). All of them went off together, as I rejoined my family. (Try explaining epileptic seizures to a 5 yr old! LOL)

This particular incident made me think. I didn't let the RCFD crew know I was a medic ON PURPOSE. These hardworking folks must be flooded with people screaming "I'M A NURSE" or "I'M A DOCTOR", etc etc. I know that I sometimes look at people funny when they do that to me (then again, I had a nasty experience with someone who stated that they were a doctor on one of my scenes.....turns out he was a DERMATOLOGIST, and I was treating someone with congestive heart failure...but I digress). I never want to get in anyone's way when they're on duty (especially if I'm on vacation!) But, I don't mind helping where and when I can.

 

[Mike and Natalie]

Last year, We had taken the whole family down to WDW. Me, DW, DS(3), DSIS, DBIL, DNiece(5), DNiece(2), DMom, DDada (It was mom and dad's 1st trip). Because there were so many of us we rented a house about 15 min. off property. Well one morning me and my BIL are heading to DTD with the two youngest kids to meet uo with everyone else who left early to take oldest to the boutique. Well just as we pull in the parking lot, the youngest pukes all over the rental van. YUK!!! So I clean it up as my BIL is not the Mr. Mom type, as he watches the kids. That night we head to MK b/c the youngest seems OK. Well that evening, my sis feels a little under the weather b/f dinner so she heads to the Care center. She tells us to go eat (ADR @ Plaza Resturant). We eat and she comes back feeling better after puking. After dinner, I start to feel it. Tough it out till after fireworks and we all head out to TTC via the big boat. Well after we get off the boat I b-line it to the restroom and let it rip . (side note: I clean up my own mess. I hate it when people get sick and don't even bother to clean it up or let someone know). That night eveyone except my wife and BIL get sick. We spend the whole next day recovering while my wife goes stir crazy as me ad my dad are the only "authorized" drivers on the rental vans (staying on property has is benefits). The next day we ventured out but we were all a little squeemish but heck it's Disney!!

 

[lizardqueen]

My last trip to WDW (I was solo) they had to wheel me out of the Animal Kingdom on a stretcher. I was mortified. The nurse thought for sure that I was in cardiac arrest. So I had to spend about 8 hours alone in a strange hospital with the doctors telling me they thought I had a blood clot in my lungs. They ran all sorts of tests into the early hours of the morning, but couldn't find anything to be causing my symptoms.

 

[jamescorey]

We just returned on Saturday night from our first Disney vacation ever,we were so disappointed with almost every park.Animal Kingdom was the best park we visited.The employees there were very nice and we had a good time.Magic Kingdom was the worst,the people were rude and it was so crowded we couldn't even walk.We rode 2 rides and waited a long time for them.When we went to Epcot we didn't ride anything, with a fast pass the wait for soarin was 6 hours.I would not recommend the Dinosaur ride to anyone that has children that are under the age of 13,this is at Animal Kingdom,it is very scary.We couldn't believe how rude the people are in Florida.We feel like it was a huge waste of money to go to Disney.We have a son who is almost 7 and he even said he didn't ever want to go back.We did take an airboat ride while in Florida that was awesome.I would suggest it to anybody that was going.

You must have went either July 4th, Christmas Day, or in a dream because the longest wait time that Soarin' has ever had (historically) has only been 180 mins. As for the rudness, the only thing I could attribute that to is a large influx of foreigners and northerners!!!

 

[poohbear2]

Mine was at the Pirate and Princess party on Aug. 24th last year. Although its not Disney's fault, it did rain and storm all night to the point where it was dangerous to be outside. There was deadly lightning and tornado warnings. Disney went about it all wrong in my opinion because they did not let the guests know what was going on. We weren't sure if the parade or fireworks would go on, plus we didn't know if we could get a refund or exchange our tickets. Every CM we spoke to told us something different. The next day I also found out that lightning struck the fireworks area and there was a fire. Nothing went on as scheduled and no one knew when and if any of the special pirate and princess party events would take place. We left early and found out they did do the fireworks and parade but very late.

We were there that night also! I was the only one on Splash Mountain ( YEah, I guess I am stupid). It was kind of scary walking that long stretch alone with the Happy Place music playing. Like a horror flick..

 

[Ephany]

Feb 2007 we went for a long weekend for my birthday. Everything was going good, we met one of my internet friends there and planned to meet up again the next day (my birthday) and I was having dinner with the princesses at GF that night too. We woke up that morning to my nearly 2yr old puking every few minutes. Poor baby. So we had to cancel my friend, cancel dinner and head for home (hour drive). He didn't throw up anymore that day either!

Side note: my friend's son got sick that week too- same thing!

Oh my, this is almost identical to our experience this past March! My DD (5) and I went down to meet some friends from the West Coast I hadn't seen in years. We went to the P&P party Friday night and my DD started to complain about her belly hurting. She woke me up at 1am throwing up, and it continued until about 6am. Needless to say we had to cancel the weekend and head home. Sunday morning she was fine, so at least it was just a 24 hour bug. My friend's DD caught a lighter version of the same bug, we're just not sure who gave it to whom.

 

[carj]

My worst experience still hurts me..... and it was 3 years ago.

We were at Star Wars Weekends. We saw that the Jedi training was going to start in 30 minutes. DS(who was 6 at the time) wanted to participate.... but I didn't see a ramp leading up to the stage and he uses a wheelchair. I asked a CM if he would be able to participate. They asked me to wait while they went backstage to ask.

As we waited.... people began gathering around the stage..... but I didn't want to leave the spot we were in because I was afraid the CM would find us.

Finally the CM came out and told us to try to make it to the front of the ropes because they were trying to figure out a way he could participate... but the "Jedi" on stage would need to see him.

By this time there was a LARGE crowd gathered and I knew it was hopeless. We would never make it to the front. (I didn't want to be rude and push through)

We stood in the back...... and this part still amazes me...... people began PUSHING us through the crowd. The crowd parted and everyone so graciously.... and so kindly began pushing me and my son forward. I didn't even have to ask. I tried not to allow what happened next to overshadow the kindness shown to us that day.

We were almost to the front... but between us and the ropes stood a woman next to her son.

People around me kept telling me to ask the woman to stand BEHIND her son so I could push my son forward into her space. Reluctantly, I asked her. She turned to me and said, "NO!"

The woman next to me (Who had a very strong northeastern accent) said, "Hey! I thought this was for the kids?!?!?!"

The woman in front of me snapped around and started yelling at me. (Apparently she thought "I" had yelled that) She said the most horrible things to me.... infront of my son.

One thing that echoed over and over in my head was her shrill voice yelling, "You think you deserve special treatment because your kid can't walk? It's not my problem your kid can't walk and mine can!"

I looked down and my son was crying. I was shaking. The "TEXAN" came out of me and I told her if she didn't shut her mouth I was gonna shut it for her.

The northeastern accent lady next to me put her arms around me. I'll never forget how comforting that felt.

A gentleman at the front of the ropes overheard the whole thing and moved my son forward. I was so grateful.

My son was picked..... the mean woman next to me was livid because her son wasn't picked.

The worst part was that our children had to hear such horrible words. I hope my son has forgotten about it..... and I hope her son learns tolerance from someone besides his mother.

Wow. that was long!

I am so sorry that this happened to your family. It sickens me. I feel very sorry for this woman and her son that she is living her life with so much anger and so little purpose. She really is the loser in so many ways.

 

[Nie0214]

August 2004, I had graduated from high school and booked a trip to WDW for my family with my money. We get to the airport and everything was great (I surprised my 12 year old brother who thought we were going to Hershey Park!) but after we got to the USAirways terminal, they told us our flight had been routed to Tampa airport because Hurricane Charley hit Orlando the day before.

Luckily there wasn't much damage done to the parks, and it was only a little rainy. We had to wait a few hours in Tampa (and it was pouring and thundering). We couldn't get our luggage until the lightning stopped because it was a hazard for the workers. We ended up having to rent a car (and that was a hassle in itself, very long lines, and I had to put that on my credit card too) and driving to our room at WDW. We didn't get to the resort until around 8pm instead of 2pm. The trip went well after that, but that day was pretty bad.

Nothing like hearing your father complain about the worst trip in history and how pissed off he is when you paid for the entire vacation yourself.

 

[aribelle]

You must have went either July 4th, Christmas Day, or in a dream because the longest wait time that Soarin' has ever had (historically) has only been 180 mins. As for the rudness, the only thing I could attribute that to is a large influx of foreigners and northerners!!!

I really think this person didn't understand fastpasses. That's the only way I can think of a 6 hour wait, if the RETURN time was 6 hours. I'm envisioning this poor family standing there for 6 hours holding their fast passes. If they didn't understand fastpass then they didn't realize they could grab this ticket and run off and do 6 hours of other fun things before returning.

Of course, a part of me also thinks, hmmmm, didn't they wonder while they stood there for 6 hours why the hundreds of others who also came up and got the little tickets weren't all standing around them complaining too?

 

[*disgal*]

You must have went either July 4th, Christmas Day, or in a dream because the longest wait time that Soarin' has ever had (historically) has only been 180 mins. As for the rudness, the only thing I could attribute that to is a large influx of foreigners and northerners!!!

Crack me up, jamescorey!! Yes, doesn't everyone know to get out of our way!!!

 

[angwill]

You must have went either July 4th, Christmas Day, or in a dream because the longest wait time that Soarin' has ever had (historically) has only been 180 mins. As for the rudness, the only thing I could attribute that to is a large influx of foreigners and northerners!!!

You might want to reread that last sentence and reword it. That is just way too presumtive that foreigners and northerners are rude when that is not true. You are leaving yourself open to presumtive comments about southerners that I am sure you dont' want to hear.

 

[*disgal*]

uh-oh. I thought he was being sarcastic.