Your worst moment at a Disney park?

[Singledad]

.either way for everyone's safety it needs to be enforced regardless.

true, it needs to be enforced, but there are ways to enforce the rules without losing it, as clearly that CM did. That was the issue, the overthetop screaming at them, not them doing their job enforcing the rules. Maybe that CM had way too many people trying to do that running jump on that day, maybe they didn't get to eat lunch/breakfast... whatever the reason, a meltdown of a CM like that is never excused. when you work with the public you need to know how to keep your cool and professionally enforce the rules.

 

[heatherwillmom]

It has to be the year that we took my mother & her husband. My step-father is not the nicest or most well liked in our family, but they asked if they could go with us. I think I would never go to WDW again if I have to take them. First, we usually drive down in 11-12 hours. It took 13.5 with them with us. They are slower than us which I expected, but we usually time rest stops so everyone goes to the bathroom at the same time. It never failed that one of them would say that they didn't have to go when everyone else went. Of course that would change in a few minutes down the road. I don't think we missed a single rest area in the whole 650 mile trip! We also had to stop for food a lot even though I carry a cooler & a "snack bag" everywhere we go. Once we got to the parks, SF had to stop at every food stand in the parks "just to try it." Of course he had to have a drink at each food stand too which meant we were still stopping at every bathroom. They complained about the cost of everything. We didn't enjoy ourselves nearly as much. My SF's favorite activity is complaing but I thought he might be better at "the happiest place in the World", but I was wrong. We have taken my mother by herself & it wasn't good but not quite as bad. We also have tried taking my SIL & niece. We just seem to have a better time when it's just us. WDW is special to us & we want only good memories so we have stopped taking anyone else. DM has said that she would like to go back so I offered to plan her trip with just them.

 

[goofyernmost]

true, it needs to be enforced, but there are ways to enforce the rules without losing it, as clearly that CM did. That was the issue, the overthetop screaming at them, not them doing their job enforcing the rules. Maybe that CM had way too many people trying to do that running jump on that day, maybe they didn't get to eat lunch/breakfast... whatever the reason, a meltdown of a CM like that is never excused. when you work with the public you need to know how to keep your cool and professionally enforce the rules.

This is my take on it. If my life is in danger then scream until your vocal cords bleed. Scream until you get my attention. Scream until I finally realize that you mean it. Don't reason with me until I have been removed from the dangerous situation. If I am so shallow and unappreciative that I will be upset with you for attempting to save my sorry hide, then maybe next time you should just turn away and let them scrape my tire printed body off the pavement.

This foolishness that CM's (and carry it a step further, parents) should never raise their voice no matter the situation live in a world of marshmallow and cotton candy. If someone is carrying on for no reason then OK. If they are trying to prevent me from being just another statistic then thank you for making your position clear.

If I were a CM I know what my position would be. If I had to chose between you being upset with me for raising my voice or being sued because I was negligent and didn't do everything I could to save your life, guess which one I'm taking. Run that to Guests Relations and complain about it.

 

[JACH1976]

My worst moment was this past Christmas. It was our first time to WDW having children adn we have a 2 and 3 year old. They overall did awesome and didn't have as many meltdowns as I was expecting. However, on Christmas Day my 2 year old son had a major meltdown and was kicking and just being awful. It became apparent that discipline was a must and we had to create a time out corner right by the castle. There is a booth next to the castle right by a bridge and we put him in the corner of the booth and the railing for a time out. He just screamed and we had our backs to him and the stares from the people are just crazy. Our rule is 1 minute per age, so he had to stay there for 2 minutes and then say sorry and then behave. Well it took a few time outs for him to say sorry and to act like a normal child but I know we did the right thing. He stopped the tantrum and was well behaved the rest of the day. I didn't even care what people were thinking because I knew we were doing what we needed to do, but I was just thinking, how many parents have I seen discipline their kids at WDW, none, what is wrong with me, but now I know it was the right thing to do.

My DH and I came up with a saying during our last vacation, in the middle of a particularly "trying" moment: "A time-out at Disney is better than a time-out at home!"

 

[Liberator]

I have a story, too.

Typhoon Lagoon in the morning, Oct. 2009.
There was a mother with her son (maybe 6 years old) walking hand in hand in front of us.

The son seemed not to be in mood for having a great time now, he just looked very tired.

The mother pulled him meter by meter along the way. She was walking too fast for her son.
He just tried to follow her and did his best, he did not say or do anything else!
Suddenly the mother stopped, pointed her finger on him and started to yell at him:
YOUR BEHAVIOUR IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. YOU ARE GOING TO RUIN MY DAY!

She shouted that loud, that almost everyone passing by stopped and took notice of her yellings.

It was totally emberassing for that poor, tired boy.
The monster-mother went on shouting at him and he startet crying.
She still did not stop.

She repeated that "ruin my day"-thing a few times, I will never forget these sentences and the upset devil-voice.

 

[scottmel]

My worst day still haunts me b/c I think I am angry I didn't do anything but I was frozen on the spot. I saw a couple with their kids having ice cream at a table in MK that was near a restroom. I decided to take DD who was then 3 or 4 maybe to the restroom and while she was in there I could hear a lady really going at it with her kid in the stall next to me. I actually looked thru the side of the stall and saw the ice cream mom with her kid shaking her and honestly putting toilet water on her - not quite dunking her head but forcing her down. I froze I can remember my heart pounding and I tried to open the door and she looked out all crazy and smiling "we are fine in here". Another lady saw it to and she went to get the security gaurd and I had DD and couldn't leave her in a corner and didn't know how to detain the woman. She came out with the kids wet from the toilet and left by the time Security got there. That was 9 years ago and that memory haunts me. I wonder what kind of life she had or what happened or just anything....it was horrifying.

 

[kathie859]

My worst day still haunts me b/c I think I am angry I didn't do anything but I was frozen on the spot. I saw a couple with their kids having ice cream at a table in MK that was near a restroom. I decided to take DD who was then 3 or 4 maybe to the restroom and while she was in there I could hear a lady really going at it with her kid in the stall next to me. I actually looked thru the side of the stall and saw the ice cream mom with her kid shaking her and honestly putting toilet water on her - not quite dunking her head but forcing her down. I froze I can remember my heart pounding and I tried to open the door and she looked out all crazy and smiling "we are fine in here". Another lady saw it to and she went to get the security gaurd and I had DD and couldn't leave her in a corner and didn't know how to detain the woman. She came out with the kids wet from the toilet and left by the time Security got there. That was 9 years ago and that memory haunts me. I wonder what kind of life she had or what happened or just anything....it was horrifying.

Scottmel, I am horrified just reading your account. I can imagine how you were/are affected by this incident. It would haunt me, too.

 

[spacemountainmom]

My worst day still haunts me b/c I think I am angry I didn't do anything but I was frozen on the spot. I saw a couple with their kids having ice cream at a table in MK that was near a restroom. I decided to take DD who was then 3 or 4 maybe to the restroom and while she was in there I could hear a lady really going at it with her kid in the stall next to me. I actually looked thru the side of the stall and saw the ice cream mom with her kid shaking her and honestly putting toilet water on her - not quite dunking her head but forcing her down. I froze I can remember my heart pounding and I tried to open the door and she looked out all crazy and smiling "we are fine in here". Another lady saw it to and she went to get the security gaurd and I had DD and couldn't leave her in a corner and didn't know how to detain the woman. She came out with the kids wet from the toilet and left by the time Security got there. That was 9 years ago and that memory haunts me. I wonder what kind of life she had or what happened or just anything....it was horrifying.

That was horrifying. I might have been tempted to stand in front of the stall door to detain her. The problem being, the poor child is trapped in there as well.

Most of us have had those moments as moms that we regret and wish we could take back, but that seems quite over the top.

We can only hope it was a rare incident and the mom did not normally behave in this manner.

Poor kid...

 

[Jaybrad]

true, it needs to be enforced, but there are ways to enforce the rules without losing it, as clearly that CM did. That was the issue, the overthetop screaming at them, not them doing their job enforcing the rules. Maybe that CM had way too many people trying to do that running jump on that day, maybe they didn't get to eat lunch/breakfast... whatever the reason, a meltdown of a CM like that is never excused. when you work with the public you need to know how to keep your cool and professionally enforce the rules.

What ever the reason, never excuse a CM for a meltdown or losing it? But excuse the "public" for ignoring safety rules and instruction from CM's? I don't think so. Some one getting their feelings hurt is way better than getting injured or killed. If I had reported anything from the information provided it would have been the ignorance of the "public" putting themselves and others on the tram in harms way.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

OMG! I would have totally freaked out on him! Seriously, they would have been calling for a manager and security on me!

What did you do? IMO, those ages are too young to be going alone on that kind of ride.. What the heck was he thinking?

ITA I am not one for causing a scene but that is far too young for two children to be left alone on a ride in the dark. They could have easily slipped out of the buggy and a serious accident could have occurred. I I definitely would have lost it as would my husband. I would love to know his reason for not stopping the ride.

In hindsight, I should have stood there and screamed bloody murder until he stopped the ride. I think I was in shock and numb from disbelief.

The CM that tells you what car to get in, sent us to a car too far forward on the moving platform. I was letting the little ones climb in before I got in. DH and DS who was 6yo at the time got in the buggy behind us. After the kids got in, I was all set to climb in when the bar came down. I tried to pry it open, thinking it was going to move. It was locked solid. My brain would not register that fact, so I kept trying to pull it open, determined to get in with the kids. Meanwhile, I am being pulled toward the tunnel. I was not letting go of the car. As the buggy entered the tunnel, I realized I had to let go, or I was going to lose my arm. I let go, and that's when the screaming started. I yelled to DH to watch them, and turned to the CM at the controls. At this point, being in shock, I wasn't even thinking he could stop the ride (though he can, because it gets stopped constantly to let handicapped people on). I was just thinking I need to be at the exit when they come out, they need to see me as soon as the ride finishes. I asked him how do I get to the exit? He just grumpily tells me I need to ride through! I NEED TO RIDE THROUGH???? I yell again, where's the exit?? He tells me to ride through. I am shaking at this point, but jump in a buggy. so I am now about 10-12 cars behind my kids. I am freaking out the whole ride...let me tell you it was the LONGEST HM ride I have ever taken. My imagination was running away from me. I kept envisioning them climbing out of the moving car.

I finally made it to the exit, and I see DH was holding our sobbing 2yo DS and my 4yo DD was standing at his side. As soon as she saw me, she started sobbing "Why did you leave us?" I started sobbing myself, scooped her up and told her I never would have left her. We walked out with me and the two kids sobbing and sobbing. I sit down on the bench just outside the exit trying to get it together.

Someone must have noticed that something was wrong and reported us, because the manager of the ride came over and asked us if there was a problem. Boy did I go off on her! They are 2 and 4 years old and they were sent through ALONE! I pointed out that on every ride in Disney there is a sign that says no riders under the age of 7 can be alone, and they were 2 and 4!!!! Oh boy was I a mess. She apologized and told me that it never should have happened. It was unacceptable that the CM did not stop the ride immediately. She offered to let us ride through again which I thought was a very good idea, as I didn't want that to be the last HM experience for them to remember.

So, the kids agreed they would ride again, as long as I stayed with them. She offered to stop the moving platform for us, so they wouldn't be scared. She then escorted us right onto the loading platform FROM THE EXIT TUNNEL!!!! Amazing, but yes, you can get to the exit from the loading platform. hhhhhmmmmmm.

Anyway, we rode again, I made it a point to tell the kids how silly the ghosts were and they had fun.

The one it affected the most over the years was my oldest DS. He was very troubled that they went through alone. He would bring it up for years.

I did make a phone call to complain when I got home and Disney did contact me to apologize, and from the sounds of it, I think that CM found himself without a job. You know what? I didn't even care.

 

[lovebug33]

I have a story, too.

Typhoon Lagoon in the morning, Oct. 2009.
There was a mother with her son (maybe 6 years old) walking hand in hand in front of us.

The son seemed not to be in mood for having a great time now, he just looked very tired.

The mother pulled him meter by meter along the way. She was walking too fast for her son.
He just tried to follow her and did his best, he did not say or do anything else!
Suddenly the mother stopped, pointed her finger on him and started to yell at him:
YOUR BEHAVIOUR IS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. YOU ARE GOING TO RUIN MY DAY!

She shouted that loud, that almost everyone passing by stopped and took notice of her yellings.

It was totally emberassing for that poor, tired boy.
The monster-mother went on shouting at him and he startet crying.
She still did not stop.

She repeated that "ruin my day"-thing a few times, I will never forget these sentences and the upset devil-voice.

We saw something like that at DL. The child was sleeping and the mom was shaking him to wake him up and yelling that they didn't spend all this money to sleep. Really? My parents would have just pushed me along in the stroller and just kept going!

 

[erincon23]

Not really...Down's Syndrome does not make a person unable to respond to simple commands and my experience has been that most with the situation are far less inclined to deliberately break rules then the general public. Right is right...wrong is wrong... regardless of whatever syndrome one might possess. If the person was alone then they had already shown a much higher functional level then many others with Down's. Following directions should not have been an issue at all. Deliberate violation of rules deserves a calling out just as it would with any other human being.

If the degree of function is less, and companions are required then it is the companion that needs to be called out...either way for everyone's safety it needs to be enforced regardless.

If I remember the original post, it sounded to me like the person with Down's got on the tram and the family followed -- if your child rushed onto the tram, wouldn't you follow so they wouldn't be by themselves? I can easily see a child or a person with a condition like Down's not realizing that they shouldn't go where they did, and as their family member, I certainly wouldn't allow them to do that by themselves, whether that meant I also broke the rules or that I pulled them off (if that was a possibility). In either case, it wasn't appropriate for a CM to scream at them -- I can understand a polite reproach, but not a full-out CM tantrum.

 

[barbarabini]

Two bad times:
1. when I passed out from heat sickness near the hall of presidents while witing for the electrical light parade last summer. It was so hot and crowded.

2. The ride from our hotel in the magical express to the airport .... and all the way home, when my kids got sudden stomach vrus and vomited the whole way to the airport, in the airport and all the way home to new jersey.
It was ugly. But, I did by more plastic bags at the airport, so it was contained.

BTW - this was the 3rd stomach virus in three trips, I think they need to bleach disney.

 

[tsme]

This isn't a worse moment more like a disturbing moment. It was my first trip to DW (1990, spring break) with my then DBF, now DH. We were in Epcot enjoying our day. When we saw a family. The family consisted of dad, mom, 2 kiddies, & a older woman. What caught our attention was that the man was full on SCREAMING at his wife in a degrading & threatening tone. We couldn't understand what he was saying because he was speaking a different language but there wasn't any doubt that it was ugly. The poor woman never said a word back & stood there with her head hanging down & the older woman was just standing nervously to the side with the kids, not helping. I was completely horrified. All we could do was stare. I thought maybe since other people were around staring too the man would stop, but nope kept on. Finally my DBF said we should just leave there was nothing we could do. But I never forgot that moment. Really? If he'd do that in the middle of DW what do you think he does when they're alone? Just horrible!

 

[maxiesmom]

The Cast Member may have been out of line, I do not know. But on all of the trams, when the operator says no more loading and wait for the next tram there should be no more loading! I have on many time seen people running from several yards away trying to get on the tram after they have been told not to and the tram being delayed several minutes because these nuts were seating in each others laps, hanging objects over the side and all possible infractions of the safety rules to try to save a couple of minutes. If the tram was "about to pull away" as you said, the guest should not have been allowed to board. The cast member had a problem either way. Someone report him/her for being rude or some one getting hurt and the cast member gets fired and Disney sued. I support the cast member doing his/her job. If some one got their feelings hurt, too bad. Thanks to all the cast members for doing a great job.

I agree with everything you have said. When it comes to safety issues, there is no room for well, ok, you can do xx even though I said you can't.

The parents should have known ahead of time if their child wouldn't be able to listen to instructions, and should have made sure they were right with them at all times. To make sure their child didn't get hurt anywhere! There are so many ways someone can get injured at WDW if they don't follow directions, that I wonder how that family made it thru the parks without a serious mishap.

Maybe that is what the CM was thinking, that if someone didn't wake the parents up that their child was going to end up hurt. Even at WDW they shouldn't have been letting their guard down.

 

[Tikitoi]

This is my take on it. If my life is in danger then scream until your vocal cords bleed. Scream until you get my attention. Scream until I finally realize that you mean it. Don't reason with me until I have been removed from the dangerous situation. If I am so shallow and unappreciative that I will be upset with you for attempting to save my sorry hide, then maybe next time you should just turn away and let them scrape my tire printed body off the pavement.

This foolishness that CM's (and carry it a step further, parents) should never raise their voice no matter the situation live in a world of marshmallow and cotton candy. If someone is carrying on for no reason then OK. If they are trying to prevent me from being just another statistic then thank you for making your position clear.

If I were a CM I know what my position would be. If I had to chose between you being upset with me for raising my voice or being sued because I was negligent and didn't do everything I could to save your life, guess which one I'm taking. Run that to Guests Relations and complain about it.

I agree with this. "Guests" definitely need to behave or learn to behave as well. Stop coming to Disney with the attitude because of all the money you paid that you deserve the special top of the line treatment and are never wrong. You're just another paying guest like everyone else and everyone CM's, guests, deserve respect.

 

[wtccheermom]

In hindsight, I should have stood there and screamed bloody murder until he stopped the ride. I think I was in shock and numb from disbelief.

The CM that tells you what car to get in, sent us to a car too far forward on the moving platform. I was letting the little ones climb in before I got in. DH and DS who was 6yo at the time got in the buggy behind us. After the kids got in, I was all set to climb in when the bar came down. I tried to pry it open, thinking it was going to move. It was locked solid. My brain would not register that fact, so I kept trying to pull it open, determined to get in with the kids. Meanwhile, I am being pulled toward the tunnel. I was not letting go of the car. As the buggy entered the tunnel, I realized I had to let go, or I was going to lose my arm. I let go, and that's when the screaming started. I yelled to DH to watch them, and turned to the CM at the controls. At this point, being in shock, I wasn't even thinking he could stop the ride (though he can, because it gets stopped constantly to let handicapped people on). I was just thinking I need to be at the exit when they come out, they need to see me as soon as the ride finishes. I asked him how do I get to the exit? He just grumpily tells me I need to ride through! I NEED TO RIDE THROUGH???? I yell again, where's the exit?? He tells me to ride through. I am shaking at this point, but jump in a buggy. so I am now about 10-12 cars behind my kids. I am freaking out the whole ride...let me tell you it was the LONGEST HM ride I have ever taken. My imagination was running away from me. I kept envisioning them climbing out of the moving car.

I finally made it to the exit, and I see DH was holding our sobbing 2yo DS and my 4yo DD was standing at his side. As soon as she saw me, she started sobbing "Why did you leave us?" I started sobbing myself, scooped her up and told her I never would have left her. We walked out with me and the two kids sobbing and sobbing. I sit down on the bench just outside the exit trying to get it together.

Someone must have noticed that something was wrong and reported us, because the manager of the ride came over and asked us if there was a problem. Boy did I go off on her! They are 2 and 4 years old and they were sent through ALONE! I pointed out that on every ride in Disney there is a sign that says no riders under the age of 7 can be alone, and they were 2 and 4!!!! Oh boy was I a mess. She apologized and told me that it never should have happened. It was unacceptable that the CM did not stop the ride immediately. She offered to let us ride through again which I thought was a very good idea, as I didn't want that to be the last HM experience for them to remember.

So, the kids agreed they would ride again, as long as I stayed with them. She offered to stop the moving platform for us, so they wouldn't be scared. She then escorted us right onto the loading platform FROM THE EXIT TUNNEL!!!! Amazing, but yes, you can get to the exit from the loading platform. hhhhhmmmmmm.

Anyway, we rode again, I made it a point to tell the kids how silly the ghosts were and they had fun.

The one it affected the most over the years was my oldest DS. He was very troubled that they went through alone. He would bring it up for years.

I did make a phone call to complain when I got home and Disney did contact me to apologize, and from the sounds of it, I think that CM found himself without a job. You know what? I didn't even care.

I wonder how that grumpy old man would have felt if it were his children or grand children riding alone that young. I am glad that it all worked out and I agree that would have been the longest ride of my life.

 

[goofyernmost]

If I remember the original post, it sounded to me like the person with Down's got on the tram and the family followed -- if your child rushed onto the tram, wouldn't you follow so they wouldn't be by themselves? I can easily see a child or a person with a condition like Down's not realizing that they shouldn't go where they did, and as their family member, I certainly wouldn't allow them to do that by themselves, whether that meant I also broke the rules or that I pulled them off (if that was a possibility). In either case, it wasn't appropriate for a CM to scream at them -- I can understand a polite reproach, but not a full-out CM tantrum.

Yup, I can easily understand that as well. So at what point did that become the CM's responsibility. Wouldn't it have been the responsibility of the family to insure that they didn't run ahead and put themselves in danger, or is that only someone elses problem. Down's syndrome kids do not read as much into events as others that do not have that particular challenge. The embarrassment should have been the families for allowing it to happen not the person assigned to help insure that they don't do something harmful. If what it takes to get the situation straightened out is elevated voice...seems pretty minor when compared to what might have happened. Don't you think?

Also I have found that one persons "tantrum" is another persons elevated voice.

I'm not saying that it is a constant need but to blanketly say that "it should never happen" isn't anymore accurate. I wasn't there to see the event or the events leading up to it, but I'd say that something above just a kid running ahead and jumping on the tram probably happened. My guess would be a hurry up and jump on the tram before it leaves was probably in the script someplace.

 

[lovebug33]

I agree with everything you have said. When it comes to safety issues, there is no room for well, ok, you can do xx even though I said you can't.

The parents should have known ahead of time if their child wouldn't be able to listen to instructions, and should have made sure they were right with them at all times. To make sure their child didn't get hurt anywhere! There are so many ways someone can get injured at WDW if they don't follow directions, that I wonder how that family made it thru the parks without a serious mishap.

Maybe that is what the CM was thinking, that if someone didn't wake the parents up that their child was going to end up hurt. Even at WDW they shouldn't have been letting their guard down.

What gets me is that CM's are being blamed for yelling. When I worked daycare, we went on field trips with kindergartners. I had one take off into a parking lot and there were cars coming. I grabbed the boy and yelled at the same time. A person in the lot called my daycare and I was suspended for three days while the police investigated me for child abuse. If I hadn't grabbed that boy, he would have been hit by a car. My reward? Three days, no pay, and a police investigation. However, like I am sure that Cm was thinking, I'd much rather have that on my conscience than a dead or injured child.

 

[luvthatduck]

Back on our 2007 trip, we were in the entrace to the store in ToonTown when it started to pour. You know, one of those Florida afternoon storms. Anyway, I look out and there is a toddler, couldn't have been more than 2 walking by himself! I waited a few seconds to make sure he wasn't with anyone and then flew out and picked him up and brought him inside. The poor kid was bawlin' his eyes out! I tried to comfort him while looking for a cast member when I come upon a group of people standing around. I asked them if they knew this kid and it turned out to be one of theirs! Maybe they were in shock or something, but their complete lack of reaction took me aback. I mean, I didn't want a medal or anything, but they kinda were "thanks..say, mom do you like this hat?"

Definitely a *** moment.