"Wow! That Took Some Nerve!"

[jann1033]

After our experience with a woman being downright witchy when sending my two children back to us (when they had politely asked if it was okay to view from in front of these two adults, the woman YELLED at them), ~Ev

ah the magic of disney. i've never gotten this either, if they are shorter than you what's the harm... but then i'm not fanatical about seeing a parade 800 times either.

worst i ever encountered in a wdw rest. was Boma, when we were using a breakfast voucher ( which saved oh, maybe $1.98) and the snotty waiter sniffed and said "Oh food stamps " then avoided us the entire time we were there...husband gave him a tip( above the automatic one in the voucher like we always do) but i sure wasn't planning on it!

 

[TDC Nala]

worst i ever encountered in a wdw rest. was Boma, when we were using a breakfast voucher ( which saved oh, maybe $1.98) and the snotty waiter sniffed and said "Oh food stamps " then avoided us the entire time we were there...husband gave him a tip

That's pretty goldarned rude. I would have given him jack squat.

I used to wait for parades...and I let kids stand in front of me...they're short, I can see over them. That worked until I encountered the parents who felt they were entitled to sit right next to them and see their little faces. After one such parent told me "you don't have children, you don't need the view" I quit waiting around for parades.

My favorite parade kid that I let in was a little girl who spoke Spanish and a bit of English, and she sat with me on the curb (there was just enough room for her to squeeze in) and we traded names for the colors the castle was turning.

 

[funnybunny921]

Wow!

You know I've actually joked about doing that, but there's no way I could ever actually do it! Wow...

This sorta reminds me of experiences going to shows or even seats on an airplane... you get to your seat and someone is sitting in them... you tell them they are in your seat and they say, "Oh, I didn't realize I was in your seat" or "I was hoping no one was going to be sitting here because it is such a good seat".... just wanna go *SMACK*

This actually happened to me and my DH once, except we thought we had heard our names called and it was for a party of two... turns out there were two party's of two with the same names and they were calling the other party. We didn't know until the hostess came to our table about 5 min later asking which party we were. We felt really bad and would have never done it intentionally. Sometimes, though i wish they would hand out pagers for the people waiting --it gets so noisy in some of the restaurants.

 

[ufgator]

worst would be at CP when someone asked why they hadn't been seated yet, and they were told they had been seated. Turned out someone just walked up wihtout a PS, heard a name called out, and claimed to be them.

Wow! I wouldn't have even thought of that!

 

[lovmy2girls]

Did you miss what the other poster said?

"Now the thing I am seeing and has happend to us now more than once is when the parents send the kids up front and they stay back behind. You feel bad telling small kids, "Hey we have been here for over an hour, please quit trying to stand on my girls legs to get a view of the parade!"

#1 she mentioned her kids so obviously these other children were standing near/in front of/on her kids #2 I don't care how long you've been standing behind another family - if you have been standing for an hour in a mid-crowd depth where your kids have no chance of seeing - that's your own fault. If you want your kids to see - the polite thing to do would be to ask as soon as you start waiting in that area if it would be ok for your children to move forward when the parade starts - if the people won't allow that for whatever reason- then find another spot.

Hey MQuara, glad somebody read the post correctly. Thanks for catching that when some of the other posters didn't. Easy there posters, if you quote someones post you should quote all of it, not just part, don't you think?

 

[KNEIPPK]

on our first trip ever- I planned for 3 monthss-we lined up to the parade in mgm 90 minutes early sitting right on the line the whole time-15 minutes before the start a lady in a wheel chair is pushed close to us- we give us some space- mind you this is not the handicap area it is across the street- where another couple of people are parked- when the parade starts we stand up I have the video on and starting to enjoy our very first disney parade- the lady tells me that now that parade is started our party needs to move behind her party of 5 now as she gets preferred seating- I very nicely inform her where the handicap area is- and how to get there. DH says I said it not so nicely --I further explained that we were waiting in our spot alot longer than her and would not be moving- received killer looks from the lady- but we stand our ground and she still has front row seating and her party behind her- and she tried to report us to a CM who directed her attention to the seating area across the street. we loved the parade thrugh you can hear here complianing on the video

 

[bdg100]

I doubt anyone would admit to doing something like that, but things like that certainly don't suprise me. Reminds me of the people who try to get a front-row view of the parade 2 minutes before it starts... meanwhile you've been there waiting in your prime spot for an hour!

I hate that. I patiently wait, usually in the hot sun, saving spots for 5 for over 45 minutes, then, 10 minutes before the parade starts people start horning in on my spots. Usually, we make room for the kids but still, why don't they think they have to wait just like me.

 

[jann1033]

right next to them and see their little faces. After one such parent told me "you don't have children, you don't need the view" I quit waiting around for parades.

.[/QUOTE

i really think childless or older people should get a cut rate at disney...according to some evidently we don't need to see any thing since we don't have kids( i'll have to remember next time to walk around with my eyes tightly shut at all times), don't need the sidewalks since we don't have strollers etc etc etc . personally i would want to see my kids faces to ( well not now that would just be weird if i got all teary eyed looking at 25+ yr olds watch a parade but when they were little) but then i'd either get there earlier or go somewhere i could see their faces and sit by them, not in front of someone else. the weird thing is can't they just go someplace other than main st? we usually go towards the end and even the one time we went in peak season saw fine.

 

[MelessaG]

on our first trip ever- I planned for 3 monthss-we lined up to the parade in mgm 90 minutes early sitting right on the line the whole time-15 minutes before the start a lady in a wheel chair is pushed close to us- we give us some space- mind you this is not the handicap area it is across the street- where another couple of people are parked- when the parade starts we stand up I have the video on and starting to enjoy our very first disney parade- the lady tells me that now that parade is started our party needs to move behind her party of 5 now as she gets preferred seating- I very nicely inform her where the handicap area is- and how to get there. DH says I said it not so nicely --I further explained that we were waiting in our spot alot longer than her and would not be moving- received killer looks from the lady- but we stand our ground and she still has front row seating and her party behind her- and she tried to report us to a CM who directed her attention to the seating area across the street. we loved the parade thrugh you can hear here complianing on the video

I think we must have been in MGM at the same time. We had a very unpleasant encounter there with a woman in a wheelchair ourselves.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

What have you seen at a WDW restaurant that made you say, "Wow! That took some nerve!"

We had been seated at Tony's in a prime spot - out on the patio with a perfect view of the parade. We'd been assured by our server that it was a great spot, and that when the parade started, all people would be cleared in front of us - no standing at the rails, etc. As we were looking at the menu, a family climbed up the steps and plopped down at a table about two away from us - a table for six, if I remember correctly. The dad even said, "Just be cool - I'm going to try and eat here." I heard enough of the conversation with the waitress who eventually discovered them to know they didn't have an ADR, and that they knew they were "getting away with" something pretty major. And by golly, they did get away with it!!!! There were some pretty irritated managers, but they didn't make the family move, so they must have already seated everyone in the lobby. How angry would you be if you'd been waiting for a "parade view" and someone just walked up on to the porch and took a big table??? I was amazed they let them stay - if I'd been the manager I'd have made them leave.

Anyone try something like that when you were at a WDW restaurant????

I would have had the nerve to give em the boot if I were the manager.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We went to California Grill in January. We made reservations to coincide with Wishes. We had a quite a wait in the bar beforehand. Of course everybody wants to see this and people began to get pretty nasty holding their tables and chairs in the lounge area near the windows. That's fine but one lady didn't want to miss Wishes and didn't want to leave her space so she proceeded to change her kid's dirty diaper on the floor. It was so gross. This was in the bar area and there were quite a few people sitting there eating and drinking. I would have been happy to save her spot and save my nose that's for sure! And then she gave the diaper to a waitress who came up to take her drink order. Some people .

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

ah the magic of disney. i've never gotten this either, if they are shorter than you what's the harm... but then i'm not fanatical about seeing a parade 800 times either.

worst i ever encountered in a wdw rest. was Boma, when we were using a breakfast voucher ( which saved oh, maybe $1.98) and the snotty waiter sniffed and said "Oh food stamps " then avoided us the entire time we were there...husband gave him a tip( above the automatic one in the voucher like we always do) but i sure wasn't planning on it!

Kind of makes you wish you had some real foodstamps and leave one as a tip.

 

[hookedup]

Last month we were on Disney Magic. On Formal Night, where most people wear either formal wear or at least nice attire, the family next to us at dinner came to Lumiere's unkempt and in tattered tee shirts. It didn't interfere with my night one way or another; I was more embarrassed for them than anything since they looked very much out of place. But it did seem rather nervy. On subsequent nights they were dressed appropriately.

Oddly enough something like this happened to my sister and family on their cruise. Their luggage got lost and they had very little to wear until it caught up to them. They were so bummed. My ds was horrified at having to go out in the wrong attire for her dream vacation!

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Kind of reminds me of an incident I experienced at BG this weekend. We waited for four hours to see Irish Thunder (imported for a brief stint) since it is something my grandmother enjoys and this was her first trip tp BG since the 80's. Well, the first show is full and we are turned away, so we wait till the next show two hours later, have been sitting in our seats for over and hour (for anyone how has been to BG, it was in the Desert Grill , use to be the German place), long bench tables. Well we're all set and it's about to begin when a family with kids around five and six come up and sit on the bench next to ours. The mom plops both kids ON TOP of the table blocking any view and encourages them to dance and jump, etc. They could have seen fine seated, but instead she blocks our view and the others around us. Ugh!

I'm always very watchful of my placement, etc as to not block others. Even for those behind me I try to lower my head some so that they may see.

 

[SandraVB79]

Worst thing that happened:

People changing their baby's dirty diaper on a table at Le chalet de la marionette (DLP's version of Pinocchio Village House) (there are restrooms JUST NEXTDOOR!!!!!)

Thing that shocks me each time at that same restaurant during the Good Morning Fantasyland Breakfast: People bringing Tupperware boxes so they can stock on enough food for the coming three weeks. It says "all you can eat", not "all you can stuff in your Tupperware to eat at home"!

 

[mbw12]

I'd say that the worst thing I ever saw was in Magic Kingodm. People were all lined up near the front of the castle to see spectro magic or the fireworks...I forget...it was about 6 years ago. anyway, this man and his family (but I never really saw the rest of his family, just this man) came barreling through the crowd and start pushing people and pointing towards the castle....he is trying to get past the ropes, and keeps yelling "I have to get there..." and keeps pointing towards the castle and pushing people....apparently he had reservatiosn at the CRT for late dinner, and was trying to get there....but he started actually PUSHING people and made a few people in the crowd push forward, which in turn made a few little kids sitting on the ground get toppled on! He just kept pushing and pushing forward and pointing at the castle......and saying "I have to get there:. He was just downright rude...people kept telling him to calm down, and he got very beligerent....one woman said "sir, please watch the children"...and he said "I have dinner reservations and I NEED to get there"....finally a CM came over and told him that he needed to walk around and pointed him the correct direction, but he was having no parts of it...than he said "I am late for my reservation and Need to get there NOW!"
Hope his dinner at CRT was well worth having a few kids get toppled over.

 

[CarolB]

I've had many experiences with "Parade Pushers" as I call them, as it looks like we all have. As far as dining is concerned, we had the opportunity to sit on the porch at Tony's during the night parade a number of years ago and the wait staff and managers did a great job of keeping people away from the porch itself. It helped that all the tables were full. There was one loud man however, who decided he needed to stand on the porch steps (at first) and then moved down the rail, so that he could see over everyone (he was not a diner). Of course, if he's standing those of sitting behind and eating couldn't see (nor could the folks standing at the windows inside Tony's see). The server politely told him to move several times and he was quite loud and nasty to her. Finally one of the managers had to come out and almost physically remove him. Something like "the porch area was reserved for the people dining at Tony's, he would need to leave the porch, rail, steps area, they would call security if he didn't comply", etc. Needless to say, he left, after much argument. So, they did take care of the situation, but it was a big disruption to everyone sitting there.
DH wants to return to Tony's again this June and do the same thing again. It is a cool spot to watch the parade, but my memories of this incident (and obviously it isn't isolated) make me wonder if it's a good choice.

 

[sha_lyn]

We've only had one encounter with a "parade pusher". It was in 2000, during TON. If I remember correctly we were in the German Pavilion, and were right up front. DD was 2 1/2 and in her stroller. DH was standing behind the stroller and I was beside him, Ds who was 10 was right in front of me.
2 ladies come up behind us with 2 girls about DS's age or slightly older.
One "lady" tells the girls to go stand in front of my kids. They do, and cross the line for the parade. CMs ask them to move so they go back to the moms.
This happens several times. As the parade approached the one mom insist the girls move in front on my kids again, then she had the nerve to say DD was too young to enjoy the parade, and moved DD's stroller. DH and I both could not believe what she just did. DH grabbed DD. The lady started going through our stroller yelling "what the hell stinks in here". I turned and said "only your alcholic breathe" But I don't think she heard me. The parade was right in front of us now, so I tied to watch it. I spent the whole time forcing myself to not punch this person. What really topped it off was the 2 girls were picked to participate in the parade.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

My DH, DD, DGS, were sitting on a bench just outside Pecos Bill's eating our lunch. I went back inside for something and came out to see a woman sitting on the other bench just outside the doors of the restaurant. She helped her daughter (about 5 ys old) pull her pants down and go to the bathroom right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just outside the doors of Pecos Bill's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was having a fit and told her the bathroom is right inside the restaurant and she totally ignored me so I stomped in and asked for CM help!!!! They came out and spoke to her, sent her on her way and cleaned up the mess promptly and offered my family an apology (of course, it wasn't their fault that there are PIGS, even in WDW). Now HOW NERVY WAS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I have had a few of the bad experiences mentioned here but many more great ones.

Since it is just my hubby and I now and we come quite often I have adopted the attitude that we want to share the magic. We have the time to stake out great seats and always save a spot or two for small children. Many of their families are there for a trip of a lifetime and cannot spend the hours to get prime seats. It is the highlight of our trips when we can invite small children to sit in front of us to get a great view and we can see just as well over their heads. Sometimes I even end up with a lapful of children. I am a fluffy grandma and most comfortable. lol I have only had one bad experience but it would not stop me from sharing again.

When the bad things happen I comfort myself with the thought that I will be back again and it will be better. I do not demand perfection since I am not likely to ever accomplish it myself.

I am so glad not to be a CM after reading some of the things they have to deal with. I sure I will think differently a bit later in the day when I consider all the good things they also see though.

Slightly Goofy