Wouldn't this ruin your evening?

[willis37862]

Well I don't like it when we have showed up an hour before a parade, got a great spot and some parent thinks it is okay to shove their little darling in front of us.

Sadly this doesn't happen at just the parades!

 

[Nancyg56]

Yes it certainly is sad that when we are placed in a group setting we as human beings seem to have no consideration or concern for our fellow human. I just don't understand.

I think that part of the reason is that some people seem to have no empathy for others. I have noticed that when a large group of people converge, the ill manners of a few are magnified because they impact so many. It is especially trying when you have worked so hard to teach courtesy and compassion to your kids, and then have some boor behave badly. I agree that it is sad.

 

[willis37862]

Sounds to me that the Dh of the yelling lady is to blame. When he told you that his wife was sitting there he couldn't add "and so is the rest of my family". He should have said something right then so you would have time to find another spot or work something else out. Sounds like he dropped the ball and it shouldn't have become your problem.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can't believe we are now blaming Disney for how people act. We are responsible for our own actions, no matter what happens!!! It is called self control, and more people should use it!!! The op acted with class when confronted by a b*$#!

 

[Stacerita]

Seems like this happens a lot. Too bad there really isn't much anyone can do about it. Some people will behave, others wont.

 

[BostonRob]

I can't believe we are now blaming Disney for how people act. We are responsible for our own actions, no matter what happens!!! It is called self control, and more people should use it!!!

Nice sentiment. Tell that to the poor girl who got trampled to death at THE WHO concert in the 1970's. That incident put an end to general admission concerts of that scale. Sure, you can say the concert promoter never trampled anybody personally. But if the concert had assigned seating, the death wouldn't have happened.

I think Disney's parade situation is similar. They have 40,000 people in their park, then they run a parade that is a major attraction, yet there is only reasonable seating for what, 5,000 people? And the seating situation is the ultimate free-for-all. They don't even have actual SEATS, so even when one person claims a spot, there's nothing to stop anybody from encroaching on that spot.

I'm not excusing the bad behavior of people. But I am saying that WDW has to bear some of the blame, because they designed a situation that lends itself to disputes.

 

[MareQ]

All I have to say is I am glad that parades bore us to tears. LOL!

 

[HappyLawyer]

i would have told my daughter to cover her ears, and in as much of an adult way as possible (keeping in mind it is a family park) given her a small piece of my mind.
I think you handled it very well, better then i would have.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

You move your meat you lose your seat !

I think my DH probably would've had to physically restrain me.

 

[Joanna71985]

I just don't understand why people MUST be in the front for a parade, or a show, for that matter. It seems to me that the short people (i.e., the kids) should SIT in the front along the curb, behind them should be the kids in strollers and folks in wheelchairs/ECVs, and the rest of us should stand in the rear. That way, EVERYONE can see. Nothing makes me angrier than having my kids sit for an hour along the curb and then just as the parade comes into view, the adults on their "parade side" stand up. GREAT...now NOBODY can see! Same thing at shows. We were at the Castle Forecourt on 12/13 MVMCP for the Christmas show. All the kids were sitting, several rows deep, and adults were sitting too, kindly making room to squeeze in more sitting children, etc. About 5 mins into the show, some moronic couple sitting about 2 rows from the front decided to stand up! People started popping up like jack-in-the-boxes, and pretty soon there were a whole bunch of kids buried in a sea of grown ups, unable to see anything. REALLY, folks! If everyone would just use their common sense and play nicely and fairly...oops, asking too much, I guess!

Unfortunately this happens all the time at the castle show. Most of the time people either all stand for the show, or all sit for the show. But once in awhile you will get people who will be sitting, and then all of a sudden stand up for the show. They are now blocking the people behind them. I guess they figure since there is no declared "sitting" for the show, they can stand. I don't think that's right. If I go to the castle show, I stand for the whole time and let people around me know that I'm standing, especially if I'm taping (except if people are already sitting when I arrive).

 

[dixiedizfan]

I don't know, sounds to me like she should have been mad at her husband, since it was HIS fault he didn't save enough seats! She was angry about it and took it out on you instead of him. Sorry for what you went through; you handled it well on your part.

 

[tmt martins]

I don't know, sounds to me like she should have been mad at her husband, since it was HIS fault he didn't save enough seats! She was angry about it and took it out on you instead of him. Sorry for what you went through; you handled it well on your part.

I would have went right in the middle of main street and really entertained the crowd with this one.
I would have gave the old can you beleive he didn't save all of main street for the Queen and her royal family.
Then you know if you want I can get you a spot at the castle for you.

A seat is only a seat if your sitting in it other then that it's just a spot waiting for an (you get it )

She would have left or shut her trap for sure.

 

[maxiesmom]

Nice sentiment. Tell that to the poor girl who got trampled to death at THE WHO concert in the 1970's. That incident put an end to general admission concerts of that scale. Sure, you can say the concert promoter never trampled anybody personally. But if the concert had assigned seating, the death wouldn't have happened.

I think Disney's parade situation is similar. They have 40,000 people in their park, then they run a parade that is a major attraction, yet there is only reasonable seating for what, 5,000 people? And the seating situation is the ultimate free-for-all. They don't even have actual SEATS, so even when one person claims a spot, there's nothing to stop anybody from encroaching on that spot.

I'm not excusing the bad behavior of people. But I am saying that WDW has to bear some of the blame, because they designed a situation that lends itself to disputes.

I don't think it is the same at all. We are not talking about people being trampled getting to the parade. We are talking about people being selfish and stupid. And Disney does have CM's working the parades. And as far as I know, there is no rule agains saving spots. I'm just saying that Disney is NOT to blame for people being rude idiots

 

[TDC Nala]

It's not Disney's fault that they don't do a rudeness test on guests before they let them in the parks.

I would have stayed where I was and let her steam.

I think the parades can be very stressful and I'm surprised we don't see more expolsions like this one.

Wow! Maybe they need to ban parades before someone gets HURT. Like having jerks encroach on your parade spot is the same as getting trampled by a thundering mob.

It's not the people who shove the kids in front of you (the kids are short and can be seen over), it's the parents who join them and then turn around and say "you don't have kids, so you don't need a front row spot." It's the father in the front row of the Cinderellabration show (where everyone was sitting on the pavement) who stood up when the show started and put his daughter on his shoulders. In the FRONT ROW? Of course, no one behind him could see, because Shaquille O'Neal wasn't there and nobody else can see over a guy with a kid on his shoulders. He was chastised by the folks sitting behind him but sat back down only reluctantly. It's this gal whose entire freakin family goes back to the car to get something, and whose husband couldn't be bothered to say there was an entire family with his wife, who then proceeds to freak out that someone was in her family's spot. They're everywhere, folks. Don't let them ruin things.

 

[momrek06]

ONCE SHE AND HER BUTT LEFT THAT SPOT...it was OPEN SEASON for anyone else. To think you can CLAIM a spot in DISNEY esp for any of their PARADES and WALK AWAY until it starts is COMPLETELY lame. But I feel for your own sanity as well as the fam's it was good you left the area. Your DD's were very bothered by this woman and IF you had stayed they probably would have had NIGHTMARES all night....AMazing how absolutely ridiculous people can act and a lesson learned for all to move on and away from those types of personalitites. YOU MADE A GREAT JUDGMENT CALL.

 

[lookingforward]

I understand the comparison to the general admisson concert tragedy (as far as the numbers of admissions go) but the never ending parade rudeness is something that Disney can never really enforce or stop. I don't think it is the kind of situation that can turn lethal unless two guests come to blows. An old man punched another man here is south florida while waiting on a movie line and the man died after hitting his head.

We don't do the parades anymore (unless the parks are EMPTY) because of similiar experiences. The last time was at the christmas parade viewing a few years ago. We secured our sidewalk patch very early and stayed there teh entire time. Right before the parade began a women pushed in behind us and asked if we could stand (the adults) while her kids sat. I said no because we had three small children with us and wanted to sit with them and enjoy. She began making ugly comments about us (selfish people etc) and then bought her kids ice cream cones and laughed when they stood over us and dripped on us. My friend had to get face to face with her before she and her charming children backed up. It was unpleasant and ruined it for me. I dont' usually back down from a fight that I believe in but I did not want to start yelling at this women in front of hundreds of people. It was nice when several people around us told her off but still....

The OP did the right thing by leaving and taking the high road. But it just makes you crazy when people are so rude

 

[unbroken chain]

I watched Spectromagic on Dec. 19th, I believe it was. We happened upon the last open spectator section on the parade route and decided to sit down 45 minutes early and it was a good thing we did since it filled up fast.

Anyway, a few minutes before the parade some people tried to squeeze in between us and the fence (about 8 inches, literally) and the CM who was moving the ropes around to allow pedestrians through was on them in 2 seconds: "Folks, these people have been waiting here an hour! It's not fair for you to come up here at the last minute and block the view (in that case referring to the people behind us). You'll have to move." They protested, and the CM insisted they move. So, the CMs are paying attention sometimes.

I think if they had more CMs like that, there would be fewer incidents with the parade seating.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's unfortunate that people act in such a manner. I would have been totally embarrassed if I acted like that lady. Just imagine what her children live with and possibly act like due to their mother's antics. What I can't fiqure out is who's worse...the lady beside you or the strange lady who took it upon herself to butt in a situation like that?!?!? Once again, I am very sorry this happened to you. We all need to keep in mind that kind words take you further than a harsh biting attack!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I still think I would have asked the people sitting next to the open space if it was available before I plopped my family down there.

Still the OP made some snotty comments in her post. How do you know she didn't make snotty comments when she was there that she didn't mention?

There just might have been a little screaming (maybe just loud talking) on both sides of the conversation. I wasn't there to see or hear the problem. So I'm not judging the other person who isn't here to defend herself.

And I don't sit on the curb or wait for an hour for a parade to begin anymore. It's so much easier to just show up as it begins, stand at the back and watch from afar.

Sorry, no screaming by me. I was in shock. Also, her big butt is a fact (you've made the judgement it was snotty) and I used it to illustrate that when her husband did speak up AFTER I was sitting on the blanket, I moved it to give her more than ample room.

We had a spot on Main St. for Spectromagic the Saturday night before because we go there 2 hrs before the parade and we put our blankets down to sit. Right before the parade we moved over and put our kids on our lap so that a three young boys could sit down. I've had some wonderful experiences with some other families waiting for the parade. One parade my DD had more fun playing with the new friend than watching that parade. It was pretty cute and the Mom and I chatted about how much we spent so they could have a playdate.

 

[patsal]

I was there that night and it was insane the way people were hoarding parade spots for entire families while one person was willing to sit and wait. We had no problem with not being right in the front but when we went behind a family they almost lost it, with a we're sitting in this spot--yeah but you don't take up the whole sidewalk, even my big fat butt doesn't take up the whole sidewalk! In any event, the three year old dropped a drink on accidnt and we warned the folks in front, but they didn't move so we could contian the spill. I guess it was kind of funny in retrospect when they jumped up and complained they were wet--well duh, why do you think we were coming at you with the large pile of napkins?