Would You Intrude on This Couple

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[Dancemom03]

Here's where I think we might be misunderstanding the OP - I would bet and I'm only guessing that the OP didn't really 100% expect privacy - just really really hoped for it. And just wouldn't have chosen to do what the family did. I also think she would say that the family had every right to do what what they did and that it's a public place. But she wouldn't choose that.

In the original post it said several minutes, then later 15 minutes. In either case, that's a very short time for children to spend by a lake in the park.

I agree with your guess that the OP was really just hoping for privacy and came here only to vent just as most of us have on occassion. As I said in my PP, I like to assume the best of everyone - OP included.

In this case, it's obvious she wanted to enjoy a quiet and private lunch. OP said she felt it was an intrusion and resented their presence from the moment she heard them at the top of the hill. Some days are like that for all of us. Sorry, but to expect to be left all alone in a public park and resent the presence of others even before you see them still seems self-centered to me though.

The question was whether I would intrude on this couple. The answer is that I'd have had to have realized the couple wanted privacy and that isn't likely to have been done from the top of the hill where we can't even see them before the children start running down. For those who think I'm one of THOSE parents for letting my well-mannered, but youthfully energetic, child run down a park hill within sight ahead of me, I'd like to respectfully point out that I am 51 yrs old and there's no way I'd be able to run down a hill, keeping up with them, without needing an EMT rescue at the bottom. I'm not looking to see who else is there - I'm making sure I can see my child and don't fall on the way down the path - especially if my DM or DMIL is with me.

The fact that they only stayed for a time period of several minutes to fifteen minutes says to me that, once the adults realized OP was there they did, in fact, choose to leave. Sadly, it just doesn't seem to be soon enough for the OP, but knowing how long it takes to get kids refocused and heading in another direction it seems plenty quick to me.

Should the mom have been more observant? Maybe... but that sure doesn't make her rude or one of THOSE parents IMO. What it does make her is a parent focused on paying more attention to watching her children in a public place than to those around them. Isn't that what we say on other threads we wish some of THOSE parents would do?

 

[LiberalPrincess]

Am I missing something here? I believe the OP mentioned that the kids were there for a few minutes. No loud music, no swearing, no alcohol, no sitting at the table, heck, they weren't even for an extended period of time. We are not talking a two hour movie, we are not even talking the movie previews time -- none of those hypotheticals are even close to what happened. I think this is much ado about nothing. Do I get annoyed when I am on the phone and a plane flies overhead and I can't hear anythingfor a minute? Sure, but it is over as quickly as it began. I just don't understand any of the outrage. Being upset because other people "intruded" for a few minutes in a public park to get some pictures seems like a huge overreaction. But, maybe that is just me.

 

[Scurvy]

Okay. Let's remove the music from the scenario:

What if you and your children were sitting at the table the OP was at. The rest of the park was empty. You were having a nice picnic, normal family noises and actions. A group of let's say young adults come within 2 or 3 feet of where you are sitting. They start talking, maybe a little bit of horsing around, they run around your table. They're not swearing, they're not smoking anything, not drinking liquor, just having a fun time out together.

Would you be annoyed? Would you think they were being inconsiderate?

I think the scenario is equivalent to the OPs because it's about a group of people who are different from your group who want to do something different than you in the same space you are in, at the same time, while there are lots of other places in the park they could go to and not be in such close proximity.

It depends. Is there anything special or unusual about the area near my table? If it's just like all the other tables, and there's nothing noteworthy near me, then I'd be annoyed that they were so close. I wouldn't understand why they couldn't go somewhere further away where they would not be likely to bother anyone else. If I was near something else interesting - like the edge of the lake or a particularly good climbing tree, or it was the only shaded area, then I might privately be irritated but I would also understand why they were so close.

If by running around the table you mean literally running in circles within 2 or 3 feet around the table, then I would find that to be very inconsiderate no matter where the table was located. If you mean running around near the table, then again I think it depends on where the table is located.

 

[famofsix]

OP I can see why you were annoyed but I don't think it was an intrusion

It's kinda like when I go out with DH without the 4 kids and we get seated by a family with normal kids and one of them fusses or cries near my table. I feel annoyed but it has nothing to do with the family next to me. It doesn't mean they are wrong....it's just annoying to me because I am trying to get some peace and quiet with DH and they are raining on my parade.

They rained on your parade but it doesn't mean they were wrong to be there.

 

[Michelle and crew]

OP I can see why you were annoyed but I don't think it was an intrusion

It's kinda like when I go out with DH without the 4 kids and we get seated by a family with normal kids and one of them fusses or cries near my table. I feel annoyed but it has nothing to do with the family next to me. It doesn't mean they are wrong....it's just annoying to me because I am trying to get some peace and quiet with DH and they are raining on my parade.

They rained on your parade but it doesn't mean they were wrong to be there.

Well said. Public places have people whether we want them around or not. whether they behave as we want them to or not. lol, my signature quote was made for days like this.

 

[Cooky]

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[NHdisneylover]

I put my original post in here to refresh your memory where I said they were running back and forth DIRECTLY in front of our table. Yes, they were on the lake front, which literally was about 3 feet from the front of the table we were sitting at. So, according to you, it would be rude of the children to be running AROUND the table, but yet not if they're running BACK AND FORTH IN FRONT OF THE TABLE? Okay then. yes, there is a BIG difference "according to me" Around the table would be specifically bothering you and circling your area. IN front of the table means ON THE LAKE SHORE. It just happens in this space there is not a lot of room between your table and the lake shore. And yes, I was annoyed at the intrusion because as I said in my OP it's a SECLUDED area and very small. There was no playground equipment there. The area was maybe 15' x 10' total. The lake in front of the table, the path behind the table, and trees on the other two sides. The more you describe this area the more it sounds like EXACTLY the kind of area a mother of two young children would visit often in order to be able to easily keep tabs on both kids and not run the risk of having to chase one in one direction while hoping that the other is not venturing into the lake and drowning while your back is turned. You put a picnic table in the middle of that area and there really isn't much area left. That's why I said it was SECLUDED. If the situation had been reversed and I had my young children and saw a couple eating their lunch at that table, we would not have gone down there. I would have been more respectful to their privacy. Especially when the park was otherwise EMPTY and we could have chosen many, many other places for my children to run and play and look at the lake. were any of those other places equally "fenced in" by lake, hill and trees in order to keep the little ones corralled? Can you imagine that perhaps there is something special about this spot that drew the family there for 15 minutes in spite of your presence? Could it be that if you had picked a more generic spot that was more similar to many other spots in the park then you might not have had to share the space?

oh good grief. I'm sorry I didn't say 1-2 feet in the original post, instead of saying directly in front of. Bad choice of words according to some. So now you're insinuating that I'm lying, since I didn't say 1-2 feet right off the bat? Whatever. You're free to think what you want.I am sorry, I can see that it does look like that is what I was insinuating. i was insinuating that you might have been exaggerating the distance a bit--many people exaggerate to make their position look good when others disagree with them and quite honestly, having read your jumping to conclusions about others' sobriety in another thread at about the time this one was posted I do tend to think you might be a little quick to judge others negatively--or at least have been in the kind of mood that made you be that way yesterday




Of course they wouldn't be annoyed. Nothing ever annoys them. LOTS of things annoy me. LOTS of things involving unruly kids and oblivious parents annoy me. I just can't see how this is what the situation was.

See above in red

Ok, folks. Next trip to Disney I am seeking you all out and sitting RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU at the 3 PM parade!! Afterall, it is a public place and there for all of us to enjoy, no?

So none of you would get aggravated in the least, right?

If I was at a picnic table 3-4 feet back from the parade line I would fully expect people to get in between the table and the parade line. It would be really weird if people did not do so at WDW. Now, if I were waiting on teh line I would expect that no one would push in front of me--and I would hold my ground and not let them--but I would also almost assuredly offer to let small kids in front of me (but not their parents who can deal with the lesser view and still see their kids without blocking my view). I don't think anyone is obligated to let kids in front--I just like to be nice and do it.

Okay. Let's remove the music from the scenario:

What if you and your children were sitting at the table the OP was at. The rest of the park was empty. You were having a nice picnic, normal family noises and actions. A group of let's say young adults come within 2 or 3 feet of where you are sitting. They start talking, maybe a little bit of horsing around, they run around your table. They're not swearing, they're not smoking anything, not drinking liquor, just having a fun time out together.

Would you be annoyed? Would you think they were being inconsiderate?

I think the scenario is equivalent to the OPs because it's about a group of people who are different from your group who want to do something different than you in the same space you are in, at the same time, while there are lots of other places in the park they could go to and not be in such close proximity.

If the teens (or adults, or elderly people for that matter) were actually running laps AROUND the table, yes I would find that inconsiderate and annoying. If they were playing and running around NEAR the table then no I would not have an issue with it. Why would I?

In the original post it said several minutes, then later 15 minutes. In either case, that's a very short time for children to spend by a lake in the park.

I agree with your guess that the OP was really just hoping for privacy and came here only to vent just as most of us have on occassion. As I said in my PP, I like to assume the best of everyone - OP included.

In this case, it's obvious she wanted to enjoy a quiet and private lunch. OP said she felt it was an intrusion and resented their presence from the moment she heard them at the top of the hill. Some days are like that for all of us. Sorry, but to expect to be left all alone in a public park and resent the presence of others even before you see them still seems self-centered to me though.

The question was whether I would intrude on this couple. The answer is that I'd have had to have realized the couple wanted privacy and that isn't likely to have been done from the top of the hill where we can't even see them before the children start running down. For those who think I'm one of THOSE parents for letting my well-mannered, but youthfully energetic, child run down a park hill within sight ahead of me, I'd like to respectfully point out that I am 51 yrs old and there's no way I'd be able to run down a hill, keeping up with them, without needing an EMT rescue at the bottom. I'm not looking to see who else is there - I'm making sure I can see my child and don't fall on the way down the path - especially if my DM or DMIL is with me.

The fact that they only stayed for a time period of several minutes to fifteen minutes says to me that, once the adults realized OP was there they did, in fact, choose to leave. Sadly, it just doesn't seem to be soon enough for the OP, but knowing how long it takes to get kids refocused and heading in another direction it seems plenty quick to me.

Should the mom have been more observant? Maybe... but that sure doesn't make her rude or one of THOSE parents IMO. What it does make her is a parent focused on paying more attention to watching her children in a public place than to those around them. Isn't that what we say on other threads we wish some of THOSE parents would do?

Excellent post

Am I missing something here? I believe the OP mentioned that the kids were there for a few minutes. No loud music, no swearing, no alcohol, no sitting at the table, heck, they weren't even for an extended period of time. We are not talking a two hour movie, we are not even talking the movie previews time -- none of those hypotheticals are even close to what happened. I think this is much ado about nothing. Do I get annoyed when I am on the phone and a plane flies overhead and I can't hear anythingfor a minute? Sure, but it is over as quickly as it began. I just don't understand any of the outrage. Being upset because other people "intruded" for a few minutes in a public park to get some pictures seems like a huge overreaction. But, maybe that is just me.

No you are not missing anything and it is not just you.

Well, I guess what I will sadly take from this discussion is that there are a lot of people who do not believe in being considerate of other people.

Kindness, compassion, politeness and courtesy are becoming endangered concepts in our society.

Some people who do not agree with the OP have called her unkind names and accused her of unkind things.

In a park ... on a computer ... it doesn't matter ... I guess I just didn't know how many people believe they don't need to think about others.

What unkind names has she been called (I assume my wondering if it was really 1-2 feet only for 15 full minutes is the unkind thing). I may well have missed something. I know I was called "one of THOSE" parents--which I am pretty sure was meant unkindly but you know that is how it is here.

 

[Dancemom03]

If I was at a picnic table 3-4 feet back from the parade line I would fully expect people to get in between the table and the parade line. It would be really weird if people did not do so at WDW. Now, if I were waiting on teh line I would expect that no one would push in front of me--and I would hold my ground and not let them--but I would also almost assuredly offer to let small kids in front of me (but not their parents who can deal with the lesser view and still see their kids without blocking my view). I don't think anyone is obligated to let kids in front--I just like to be nice and do it.

Since we have already discovered that we will be racing each other around the kingdom next trip to be able to have the place to ourselves, I thought it only fair to warn you that I have just gotten this great idea to pull my picnic table right up to the parade ropes so no one can sneak in front of me and my snowflake. In fact, I may even rent a few extra snowflakes for the day and push our table into the walkway area right next to you in the event that I'm unlucky enough to arrive too late to get there before you. That's okay though... come & join us... sit down... you like diet coke???

 

[Michelle and crew]

Since we have already discovered that we will be racing each other around the kingdom next trip to be able to have the place to ourselves, I thought it only fair to warn you that I have just gotten this great idea to pull my picnic table right up to the parade ropes so no one can sneak in front of me and my snowflake. In fact, I may even rent a few extra snowflakes for the day and push our table into the walkway area right next to you in the event that I'm unlucky enough to arrive too late to get there before you. That's okay though... come & join us... sit down... you like diet coke???

I'll have you know that your picnic table had better not come near my chalkline marking our space in the world.

If your rent a kids come to chat, I will share my pins with them. Oh wait, that would be counter productive. Must suppress general character!

 

[AKL_Megs]

It's crazy how some threads take off! LOL

 

[MushyMushy]

OP I can see why you were annoyed but I don't think it was an intrusion

It's kinda like when I go out with DH without the 4 kids and we get seated by a family with normal kids and one of them fusses or cries near my table. I feel annoyed but it has nothing to do with the family next to me. It doesn't mean they are wrong....it's just annoying to me because I am trying to get some peace and quiet with DH and they are raining on my parade.

They rained on your parade but it doesn't mean they were wrong to be there.

If you were in an empty restaurant and the server seated a family with kids right next to you, I'd be annoyed with the server.

To me, it makes all the difference in the world when a place is empty and you get there first. I'm not even talking about getting a prime seat (like in a movie theater).

 

[luvsJack]

Nope, 'cause we don't watch the parades.

See you in 10 days at WDW!!

I wish!! You will have to go back in June so I can sit in front of you! Have a magical trip!!

Ummm...I would use my words and ask for my space. That is how people do this sort of thing, usually.

But it WOULD bother you, then? That was my point. It would bother you that someone invaded your space.



Someone said something about sitting back from the parade route on a picnic table (neither of the posters i quoted). So if the OP had been sitting right at the water, THEN she would have the right to be aggravated?

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Good grief, "intruding on a couple"? For real? You're in a public park. Who knows what people (small, fat, young, old, nice, nasty) you're going to cross paths with. I don't even expect "privacy" going to a fancy restaurant with my husband, and you expect it eating ribs at a public park ... get irritated when some kids play close to your table?

Wow. I'm truly flabergasted there are even people in this world who would go to some public place and get pissed when people are around.

How do you vacation at Disney? Seriously. One thing here all brings us together: crowds, heat, lines, crying kids, turkey legs, dole whips. I know some rather private people who believe the whole world starts and ends with them, but they'd never, ever vacation at a place like Disney. They go to a secluded island and live off room service. How do you deal at a place like Disney (public, popular, family-oriented, photo-opportunistic -- just like a nice park) when you're enjoying a hot dog outside of Casey's, enjoying the view of the castle, thinking of maybe some romance time with the hubby later, and some kids go running by your table with fake pirate swords?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Since we have already discovered that we will be racing each other around the kingdom next trip to be able to have the place to ourselves, I thought it only fair to warn you that I have just gotten this great idea to pull my picnic table right up to the parade ropes so no one can sneak in front of me and my snowflake. In fact, I may even rent a few extra snowflakes for the day and push our table into the walkway area right next to you in the event that I'm unlucky enough to arrive too late to get there before you. That's okay though... come & join us... sit down... you like diet coke???

I think it is someone else that you discovered will be in the land of pixie dust while you are--we, sadly, have no WDW plans on the horizon. Your plan sounds good though Just don't get jostled in the crowd and spill that dies coke all over some poor child, ruining his facepaint in the process. You COULD throw the soda onto anyone who intrudes upon your space though.

Someone said something about sitting back from the parade route on a picnic table (neither of the posters i quoted). So if the OP had been sitting right at the water, THEN she would have the right to be aggravated?

That was me. The thing is the parade (where there is a clear item everyone id there to see) and a park with a lake are not really the same thing for comparison's sake--but i answered as best i could anyway. Honestly it would be horrible rude to move a table to the very edge of the parade route OR the edge of the lake--effectively blocking everyone else from enjoying the main attraction. Now if the OP and her husband were standing at the very edge of the lake and the kids pushed through them to get into the water, or ran right in front of the splashing water onto them or something--yeah that would be rude of the kids. If kids use the strip of land between an occupied table and an attraction such as a lake to view the lake, take photos of the lake and even run around a bit--that is just also enjoying the lake in an appropriate manner.

 

[Michelle and crew]

no one can say if someone else has the "right" to be upset. I can think that it is stupid, that I would not be bothered, that i might actually enjoy seeing a family enjoying the park, lake and one another, but I don't legislate rights, lol. I have a vague feeling of deja vu, however, this feeling like an argument with my wannabe lawyer 13 year old, lol.

Have fun.

 

[Lionqueen2]

Since we have already discovered that we will be racing each other around the kingdom next trip to be able to have the place to ourselves, I thought it only fair to warn you that I have just gotten this great idea to pull my picnic table right up to the parade ropes so no one can sneak in front of me and my snowflake. In fact, I may even rent a few extra snowflakes for the day and push our table into the walkway area right next to you in the event that I'm unlucky enough to arrive too late to get there before you. That's okay though... come & join us... sit down... you like diet coke???

This just reminded me of the time I went to the Gasparilla parade in Tampa. People actually roped off areas of public property so others wound not intrude on 'their' space to view the parade.

 

[NHdisneylover]

This just reminded me of the time I went to the Gasparilla parade in Tampa. People actually roped off areas of public property so others wound not intrude on 'their' space to view the parade.

Seriously? I cannot imagine

 

[Deb in IA]

This just reminded me of the time I went to the Gasparilla parade in Tampa. People actually roped off areas of public property so others wound not intrude on 'their' space to view the parade.

Reminds me of the "chalk people" - a DIS CB classic thread!

Any other "old-timers" remember that one?

 

[Lionqueen2]

Seriously? I cannot imagine

Absolutely! Some used a kind of yellow tape similar to what police departments use. Others even used wire caging. The authorities didn't do anything about it so I'm guessing it's an accepted practice.