Wouldn't this ruin your evening?

[mic_key_mouse]

Larger sized or Pooh sized would have made the same point without being rude.

If the woman was fat she was fat. The OP got the point across. I don't see where she was rude, and she shouldn't have to get a Thesaurus out to make people on these boards happy.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

There are two sides to every situation.

I think I would have asked the people sitting next to the vacant spot if someone was sitting there since it seemed to be miraculously vacant in a sea of filled seats before I put my blanket down and staked my claim.

QUOTE]

There wasn't a sea of filled spaces, there were still other spots available but it WAS rapidly filling up because as I stated in my OP, the crowd was getting out of the theatre. If the husband had said when first stopped, "these are taken" we would have immediately moved down the street because it wasn't that crowded yet, there was still well over an hour (maybe more) before the parade.

I never said it was "miraculously vacant" and I have never had anyone ask me if they were allowed to sit in an unoccupied seat.

 

[dixiedizfan]

MaryKate'sMom: In your original post you said you saw a spot that was vacant, and you underlined vacant. So it did sound like you were surprised to find that spot. I agree with the poster who said they would have asked the people sitting there if that space was available before I sat everyone down. I usually always ask if seats are taken ... at the movies, Disney ... anywhere, just to make sure. But I also agree the husband should have spoken up before he did.

 

[willis37862]

Rude to whom? You? SHE DIDN'T SAY IT TO THE WOMAN.

I'm so glad so many here are such saintly people, they would call a woman who screamed at them "pooh-sized" AFTER THE FACT TO A MESSAGEBOARD. How nice that some of you think we should all use terms of endearment to describe people who are total jerks to us after it happens. You know what? Go to town if you want to. You can get Nicest person of the Year in the karma Olympics. But just because not everyone feels so charitable after being treated badly and screamed at, doesn't mean their story has any less merit.

Go preach somewhere else.

So true. If calling some one "fat butt" is a sin I am doomed to hell. Actually they are fortunate if I us the word butt.....

 

[Mickeyistheman]

This was a very interesting thread to read through.

I agree on a few levels with the OP. But I would not have moved, if it was vacant as you state and after getting yourself settled and sitting down, the DH NEVER said this was taken, then it was rightfully yours.

However, I myself do always ask if someone is sitting there, no matter where I go. That IMO is just being curtious.

I would so not have left, if you leave the park to get something from your car then your seats are up for grabs.

You also don't know if the other "family members" showed up as well.

I had a bad experience at Universal for Mardi Gras. It was packed. My sister at the time was like 12 and she is very very short about 4'8. I am 5'11 so I told her to try and sit behind this other family that was on the curb. They were very nice and the other younger children were playing with my sister. I was standing behind her.

There was a bench next to us with 4 people on it. After the parade began (2 hours later) yes we waited for 2 hours......

They began to throw beads every where. Well these young women who were maybe 21 or a little younger decided to push me away from my sister just so they could get closer to the front to get beads.

I am not a small person but come on, so I said excuse me that is my child and I think you should stand behind me, (they were my height as well maybe a little shorter) They called me a very bad name and stood there.

My sister got nervous because I was now 2 rows back.

This very very nice gentleman saw what happened and he was standing on the bench now, he called her over and said he would bring her up there so #1 she could see and he grabbed beads for her!! She had so much fun and he was grabbing beads for all the kids that were right in the area.

But the kicker for me was those lovely girls who were so rude, didn't get any. I was able to catch a few myself and gave them to others behind me because, You should share!!!!

You get more bees with Honey I always say

 

[ksoehrlein]

"No my whole family is here!!" I say, "What are you talking about?" Obviously, I am not sitting on anyone. Are they invisible people? She yells, "They just ran to the car to get something!"

Too late to help you feel better now, but I'm getting a chuckle out of how disappointed she must have been when her family didn't get back in time to see the parade.

Think about it. Even with an hour before parade time, taking the monorail or ferry, maneuvering through the TTC area, getting to a parked car, and returning to the MK would be cutting it awfully close. Especially if they needed to take the parking lot tram to their car. Then, when they got back to MK, went through security again, and passed under the railroad station, how on earth would they manage to swim upstream against the crowd and roped-off parade route to find Loud Angry Lady and her husband? Especially if the other family members had left for the car before the "happy couple" snagged their spots? -Oh never mind. I'm sure they would have called Loud Angry Lady on her cell phone *during* the parade so she could shout directions to them at the top of her lungs over the soundtrack.

 

[jonestavern]

The OP was venting &, justifiably, upset. Anyone can vent, it does not translate as that is what was said in the actual situation
the point is, do folks have the right to rant because you can't read their SO's mind?
I agree with the poster saying this rude woman took it out on the OP.

I am fat, I have no trouble with that term. I also have no trouble with 'large' or "Pooh-size'. Many fat folks don't care for euphemisms, just as many don't care for the 'f 'word.

This boor may have been fat, a bone with a hank o' hair or drop dead gorgeous, but what she definately was not, according to OP, polite & under control-


I often have had people ask if a seat is saved, even in WDW!

Jean

additional:
the overwhelming majority of posters have given some good advice & well thought out suggestions, sometimes humourous, & nearly always, sympathetic responses
As for the fat calling, I find nothing wrong with good will to fellow posters-
Actually, I didn't think there was an issue here, other than a rude, out of control whacko that just happened to be fat-
A few seem to think the issue is fat people & semantics, & IMHO, simply need a punching bag--and now, I want to apologize if I've jumped to that conclusion, but honestly, it does seem that way

Peace on Earth good Will to Everyone!

JG

 

[OceanAnnie]

A big butt by any other name is still a big butt.

Stop it!!!! You are killing me!

I don't know what I would've done in your situation. I really don't. I could see myself staying and ignoring her (while telling my kids this is NOT how you behave in public). I could also see myself leaving if it upset my family/ children.

Having a stubborn streak if it were up to me and involved only me, I'd have to say, "Yell all you want. You left. I'm staying. Look around. You are becoming the show."

 

[Ride Junkie]

Rude to whom? You? SHE DIDN'T SAY IT TO THE WOMAN.

I'm so glad so many here are such saintly people, they would call a woman who screamed at them "pooh-sized" AFTER THE FACT TO A MESSAGEBOARD. How nice that some of you think we should all use terms of endearment to describe people who are total jerks to us after it happens. You know what? Go to town if you want to. You can get Nicest person of the Year in the karma Olympics. But just because not everyone feels so charitable after being treated badly and screamed at, doesn't mean their story has any less merit.

Go preach somewhere else.

What a funny and brutally honest response. If some ignorant beast had been that rude to me, I wouldn't be painting a very pretty picture while describing her either. And anyway, she didn't say it to her face, just while posting on a board that the beast will probably never see. Even if she does, I hope she recognizes herself and is totally embarrassed by her behavior. Certain posters here need to get off their high horse and stop defending these miserable people who ruin other people's trips with their big fat mouths. Oh, excuse me -- "Pooh-sized" mouths.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I would have put the kid on my lap. I'm a sucker for a child and you can't blame the little guy that his mother is unprepared. I know this isn't for everyone but I probably would have been pointing and laughing with that kid all through the parade - make the best of it ya know?

~Amanda

Hmmmmm...I'm not exactly sure what that mother was thinking (not Mom2be...the one that wanted to put the screaming kid on a stranger's lap). You don't put a child of any age on a strange man's lap and for that matter, any man shouldn't be putting a child they don't know on their lap. These days, that's just asking for trouble....as innocent as it maybe.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

Something quite similar happened to me in October when I went with my sister. We were looking for a spot to watch the SpectroMagic parade and found one in Frontierland. There was more than enough room for me and my sister to sit down. Sitting above us on a ledge was an overprotective grandmother with her grandson and her husband. To tell you the truth, we didnt even notice them until they said something to us, thats how far enough away they were! Me and my sis had sat down infront of them but they were sitting waaaay above us with a perfectly clear view of the parade. It was fair and empty terrirory! But regardless, the grandmother started cursing us out saying we were blocking her grandsons view! I looked back in shock and horror...1st of all I could clearly see that the kid was fine and enjoying himself until then...2nd, I couldnt believe this woman would have such a foul mouth infront of her grandson. So I told her she had a lot of nerve talking like that with so many kids around, including her grandson! Then we showed her that there were like 10 feet of empty spaces on each side of my sister and myself if there really was a viewing problem. We later overheard her husband tell her that she knows she shouldnt have said that to us because she could see perfectly fine and told herr that she was very wrong for doing so. That made me so happy that even her husband was on our side and knew she was wrong! Some people just like the drama I guess!!

ug:

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

The original post was a bit confusing in terms of the op being saintly. Three parts...the word "vacant" being underscored and the reference to another person standing up saying "she" was there all along...which she was it? the original poster or the upset woman? The other odd thing is... if there was that much availability why take a seat so close to a man sitting by himself that there isn't even room for a small adult and he has to say "my wife is sitting there?" This is where I can understand Deb & Bill saying there are two sides to every tale. It sounds like asking if anyone was sitting there would have been the polite thing to do...if doing the polite thing was the desirable thing for the op.

All that aside if I had claimed the spot I wouldn't have left since odds are the rest of the family would never be able to squeeze back through the crowds in time. Fortunately I'm not so interested in parades that I do anything to try and actually catch one.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Actually, I underlined vacant to let you know that it was, according my thesaurus, empty, available, unoccupied, not in use, unfilled, not taken and free. It was a large empty space which is how I got the blanket that fits 4 adults laid down. We didn't touch a thing.

I never said I was saintly, just in shock. I work in customer service so even if I wasn't in shock, after 15 yrs working in retail, I probably still wouldn't have yelled. I did need to vent because if it was just myself, I would have stayed but the look of disgust on my BIL's face and her grumbling made it not worth it.

Sorry if my post was confusing.

I am reminded of a lost camera, that kept a whole stretch of curb next to us unoccupied. Ourselves and the family on the other side thought it was being used by the other to save spaces. (Don't know if I explained it well but the camera was between us and them and we thought it was the others - sorry doing my best) We kept looking at it and each other thinking "Jesh, when are they going to show up?" Finally, we realized it wasn't either of ours, had a good laugh and handed it to a CM.

I've never had anyone ask me if the empty seats next to them were taken. Maybe because of the stroller and the blanket it is obvious. In fact, that is one of the reasons we like taking a blanket, no confusion of where we are sitting.

 

[MommyPoppins]

j/k I sure hope I never run into one of those people.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Sorry if my post was confusing.

Not sure why you continue to apologize to people that are flaming you. Isn't worth the time or effort imo. They will move to the next 'drama' post soon enough.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Not sure why you continue to apologize to people that are flaming you. Isn't worth the time or effort imo. They will move to the next 'drama' post soon enough.

Amen to THAT! One time I very innocently posted something that people took the wrong way and someone told me then, that it is always these same people who go from post to post making trouble and that I shouldn't feel bad about them. So that is my advice to you.

 

[GrumpyCAdad]

My wife probably would have crushed her like a bug and we would have been thrown out of the park!

Seriously, this lady was sooooo in the wrong, my wife and I would have made sure she knew that until she got the message and left.

 

[black562]

Some of you are still saying how she should have asked if the spot was taken....the bottom line is, they left the park to go to their car. You can't save a spot for 6 people, and if they get up and leave, the spot is gone. Sure he could say "those spots are taken" but how is that fair? In all probability, he may have went alone to get the spot and the family was out doing who knows what. So does that mean if I take the Brady Bunch, we can take one volunteer to reserve a spot for us all, while the rest of the family rides and plays in the park?

Sorry, but saving a spot for one person is understandable...but not the entire curb. I don't think you should have left and let that lady win and I have experienced this behavior myself and don't believe you did a thing wrong.

So please, stop appologizing...

 

[pxlbarrel]

I think you can save spots for more than a few people...it's just that it should be a certain ratio....like 1 person can save a spot for every 2 people. I certainly can't believe anybody would leave a poor soul to defend 6 spots or more. Logistical nightmare...the guy would have to bounce from one end to the other... hehe...sort of a Tigger like movement.

 

[GlennI]

Ever listen to Bon Jovi.... I would have politely told her to "HAVE A NICE DAY" all the while under my breath knowing what I was really telling her what I wanted.... You handled it much much better than I would have.