"You're to old to be here...."

[goopysolelady]

FELLOW DISNEY SENIORS...I returned a week ago from a 5 day visit for the Flower & Garden Festival. I'd like your opinion on how you would have handled a situation I encountered. BOTTOM LINE...I was told by a fellow Disney guest (youngish mother) that (direct quote), "You're to old to be taking up a viewing spot for the fireworks; after all, Disney is for THE KIDS"

Briefly, I was solo at this point and chose to not watch the fireworks on Main Street because of the crowd. I'm "vertically challenged" and 99% of the time my view of the Castle is blocked. I wanted a few pictures of the Castle during the show and 30 minutes before went to the spot in the picture above...the area to the right of the Tomorrowland entrance behind the "rocks". While the spot wasn't perfect, I was able to view the top of the Castle. As the show began a youngster, maybe 4-5 years old, pushed me aside. I moved slightly but didn't want to loose my view (the area had become crowded compared to when I arrived and there were only 2 other adults in the spot) when the mother made the statement from behind me. She kept making unkind comments about "elderly people taking spots from children" and after about 5 minutes I left. As I passed by her she told me, "It's about time!" I won't deny, my feelings were hurt; I don't ever remember being addressed like that before. I met some WONDERFUL people on this trip but this lady wasn't one of them! What would you have done?

 

[hardcorestitch]

No one is too old for WDW

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I wouldn't have given up my spot. What a turd. My feelings would be hurt, too, but my anger would have brought out my stubborn/pig-headedness, LOL. Nothing against the kid, but the entitled mother is a POS.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’m sorry that happened to you.
She sounds like an ignorant idiot.
Next time someone is behind you complaining, fart.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm the reverse at 6'6",aleays at least a head above. But, In your position, is gave done the same, stood my ground. And I most likely would have had a comment to make.

 

[goopysolelady]

I'm the reverse at 6'6",aleays at least a head above. But, In your position, is gave done the same, stood my ground. And I most likely would have had a comment to make.

That's the same thing my daughter said when I told my family after returning! I'll be honest, I was speechless; in all my years (since 1978) I've visited DW, I've never had anyone talk to me like that! Oh...and I'm 5' 3" and have never had "your view"!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Im a lot younger than you but Ive had the same thing. Im a solo female around 5 foot and over the years Ive had so many similar experiences, from Disney parents feeling their kids are more important than me and that Im taking experiences away from kids by just existing as an adult without kids in a Disney park. Its wrong and I dont tolerate it. I have paid my money the same as them and I have just as much right to be in Disney Parks and have experiences.

I am that person who will push back and stand up to obnoxious Disney Moms. I am that person who will swear if I have to at Disney Moms. I dont care, if I have curbside for a parade, or have a good viewing place for a show or whatever the situation is, I will not be intimidated and pushed away.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

I tell people, if you wanted a good view, get there early & wait like I do. Then I would say, besides I paid the same price for my ticket as you did! I wouldn't move. If there was room in front of me for a kid to sit, fine. We always have people trying to push in front at parades like Santa Claus & St. Patrick's Day. We would put kids in front of us & watch them - not the parents. If they didn't like that, they could go elsewhere.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Some entitled Mom tried this with my Dad not realizing I was standing next to him & we were together as a big group. How he should move for her and her kids. I politely but firmly let her know that he wants to view it himself & with his grandchildren sitting in front of me (slightly to his right) if she cared that much about her and her kids view, then she could have gotten to the spot an hour early like we did, not 2 minutes before and that she can discuss with me not bully a 75 year old man. Well that set her off screaming, which also gave me the opportunity to say "so you won't get to a spot early for your kids but you'll act like this in front of them? Great example.". That ended that conversation.

 

[birchtree95]

You paid for your ticket, you picked your spot to view the show. What's the problem?

They can complain all they want, but you don't have to move an inch for anyone.

 

[NJTOAD]

View attachment 954987

FELLOW DISNEY SENIORS...I returned a week ago from a 5 day visit for the Flower & Garden Festival. I'd like your opinion on how you would have handled a situation I encountered. BOTTOM LINE...I was told by a fellow Disney guest (youngish mother) that (direct quote), "You're to old to be taking up a viewing spot for the fireworks; after all, Disney is for THE KIDS"

Briefly, I was solo at this point and chose to not watch the fireworks on Main Street because of the crowd. I'm "vertically challenged" and 99% of the time my view of the Castle is blocked. I wanted a few pictures of the Castle during the show and 30 minutes before went to the spot in the picture above...the area to the right of the Tomorrowland entrance behind the "rocks". While the spot wasn't perfect, I was able to view the top of the Castle. As the show began a youngster, maybe 4-5 years old, pushed me aside. I moved slightly but didn't want to loose my view (the area had become crowded compared to when I arrived and there were only 2 other adults in the spot) when the mother made the statement from behind me. She kept making unkind comments about "elderly people taking spots from children" and after about 5 minutes I left. As I passed by her she told me, "It's about time!" I won't deny, my feelings were hurt; I don't ever remember being addressed like that before. I met some WONDERFUL people on this trip but this lady wasn't one of them! What would you have done?

Being from Jersey, I must recuse myself as this is a family oriented website, my response to the woman would be a bit too "colorful"...and I am old

 

[Simba's Mom]

What would I say? Nothing! I'd be too shocked! As well as, with her child around, what I'd be thinking wouldn't be appropriate to say around children. But my feelings would be hurt, and I'd think "No wonder some kids are brats-they learn it from their parents."
Sometimes I get situations like this-one time I was solo at Coral Reef and had the perfect tank-side table. Two young children came over while I was eating and they were really interested in watching the fish, and we talked about what kind of fish they might be, etc. Suddenly Mom appeared, berating them for "disturbing the lady" and apologized profusely to me. As I told her, they were great company, and I got to play pretend Grandma, even though mine were at home. I've had many a parent appologize for their kids, but I'd be speechless if anyone essentially said I was taking space or something that their kids deserved.

 

[goopysolelady]

What would I say? Nothing! I'd be too shocked! As well as, with her child around, what I'd be thinking wouldn't be appropriate to say around children. But my feelings would be hurt, and I'd think "No wonder some kids are brats-they learn it from their parents."
Sometimes I get situations like this-one time I was solo at Coral Reef and had the perfect tank-side table. Two young children came over while I was eating and they were really interested in watching the fish, and we talked about what kind of fish they might be, etc. Suddenly Mom appeared, berating them for "disturbing the lady" and apologized profusely to me. As I told her, they were great company, and I got to play pretend Grandma, even though mine were at home. I've had many a parent appologize for their kids, but I'd be speechless if anyone essentially said I was taking space or something that their kids deserved.

Exactly! You described ME...I was to shocked...and speechless, at a total loss for words. Our granddaughters joke about our age all the time and we joke with them but her tone and total disrespect for "the elderly" is what threw me for a loop. Again, same as you, HAD I "found words" they would not have been words I'd have wanted her children to hear. Like your Coral Reef experience, the previous night I followed 2 families leaving Epcot. We "stayed together" as we boarded the Skyliner and ended up at the POP/AoA Skyliner Station. One family consisted of a mother and two, I'd say 9 and 11 year old children who held her hand the entire time, never complaining and following her guidance. (I did compliment her on our final stretch of travel on her very well behaved children.) The other was a family of 4, nice group but tired like the rest of us. When we changed Skyliners at the CB the line for AoA/POP was long but moving. During a pause in forward movement the little girl (maybe 6-7) was leaning on the rail, daydreaming. We started moving forward to the loading spot when I noticed her parents were close to boarding...maybe 3-4 groups ahead of where she was standing. I went back and tapped the little girl on the shoulder and motioned her toward her parents. At the same time, the parents realized their she wasn't with them and turned around to look for her. They saw me motion her toward them; NEVER said "thank you"! Just put her in front of them and turned their backs. I've "been there, done that" as a parent and grandparent but never would I have spoken to anyone, much less an older person, like the "fireworks lady" did and I certainly would have "fallen all over myself" thanking someone that guided my child/grandchild back to me!

 

[bluecastle]

View attachment 954987

FELLOW DISNEY SENIORS...I returned a week ago from a 5 day visit for the Flower & Garden Festival. I'd like your opinion on how you would have handled a situation I encountered. BOTTOM LINE...I was told by a fellow Disney guest (youngish mother) that (direct quote), "You're to old to be taking up a viewing spot for the fireworks; after all, Disney is for THE KIDS"

Briefly, I was solo at this point and chose to not watch the fireworks on Main Street because of the crowd. I'm "vertically challenged" and 99% of the time my view of the Castle is blocked. I wanted a few pictures of the Castle during the show and 30 minutes before went to the spot in the picture above...the area to the right of the Tomorrowland entrance behind the "rocks". While the spot wasn't perfect, I was able to view the top of the Castle. As the show began a youngster, maybe 4-5 years old, pushed me aside. I moved slightly but didn't want to loose my view (the area had become crowded compared to when I arrived and there were only 2 other adults in the spot) when the mother made the statement from behind me. She kept making unkind comments about "elderly people taking spots from children" and after about 5 minutes I left. As I passed by her she told me, "It's about time!" I won't deny, my feelings were hurt; I don't ever remember being addressed like that before. I met some WONDERFUL people on this trip but this lady wasn't one of them! What would you have done?

I am so sorry you had to deal with that. I honestly don’t know what I would have done. On my last trip I was watching the MK fireworks from a very open area near the exit and this woman was walking backwards and almost bumped into me. And then she just stood there totally blocking my view and ruining my very solitary enjoyment of singing along and watching the fireworks. So I surprised myself when I actually stood up for myself. First I asked her to move and she didn’t and then I just said forcefully, Move!! I was there first, the fireworks were almost over, and there was so much empty space all around us!
In your case though, I would say it’s just another example of how some peoples’ sense of entitlement seems to get worse at WDW. There are still nice people and those moments are so special. And such a contrast to people like this! I think I would have told her to find another spot and that at WDW that is how it’s done, you show up early for whatever you want. But, that’s hindsight talking! I probably would have decided to leave because I don’t like confrontations!

 

[HopperFan]

Without going in to my whole explanation why Disney parks are for EVERYONE and there is no age .... I would have held my ground and no one would have pushed me out of the way. She would have been the one leaving.

41 years ago we took our 7 month old into NYC to see the Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time ever. We got to our spot about 7 am knowing the parade would not be to us for about 2 hours. It was 19 degrees but we were on the shady size so cooler. Baby was in snowsuit, in carrier and covered with blanket. He was fine. We stood there and waited right on the curb as it got more and more crowded, probably 5 deep. Everyone was polite. About 15 minutes before the parade some kids started pushing their way through. By time they got to DH (behind me) I stopped them before they tried to push me and the baby back. I told them "This is not happening. You go tell your parents if they had wanted you to have front row view they should have gotten here 2 hours ago with the rest of us." Back they went ~ I'm sure to bully someone else. I NEVER understood the entitlement some have so they don't have to arrive early. Needless to say I have always been a "stand your ground" in situations like this. Age is a non-factor.

 

[Cynt]

Your poor planning is not my problem.

 

[Bete]

Maybe, the best approach would be to tell her to take her complaint to Disney or a Disney cast member, not me. I'm sorry you had to endure that situation. I would further state there are no signs saying seniors are not allowed. And basically, it's always been first come, first serve for viewing fireworks and parades.

As older guests most of us can't enjoy all the rides anymore for one reason or another. The parades, fireworks and shows are what is left for most of us.

 

[miksicnarf]

That's unfortunate and I'm sorry that happened to you. I avoid confrontation and would have felt very uncomfortable remaining in the presence of such rude people so I doubt I would have responded. I may have stayed put on principle but I would not have enjoyed the experience. To put a positive spin on it, it would renew my joy in having raised polite, kind, compassionate humans who are now raising another like generation. How sad for the grandparents of those children you encountered.

 

[goopysolelady]

Maybe, the best approach would be to tell her to take her complaint to Disney or a Disney cast member, not me. I'm sorry you had to endure that situation. I would further state there are no signs saying seniors are not allowed. And basically, it's always been first come, first serve for viewing fireworks and parades.

As older guests most of us can't enjoy all the rides anymore for one reason or another. The parades, fireworks and shows are what is left for most of us.

That's unfortunate and I'm sorry that happened to you. I avoid confrontation and would have felt very uncomfortable remaining in the presence of such rude people so I doubt I would have responded. I may have stayed put on principle but I would not have enjoyed the experience. To put a positive spin on it, it would renew my joy in having raised polite, kind, compassionate humans who are now raising another like generation. How sad for the grandparents of those children you encountered.

SO true on the statement the fireworks and shows being "all that's left" for some of us. It was pretty difficult getting out of the boat on It's A Small World! The bottom line being this was a horrible place for the actual fireworks and her family certainly didn't get the view I'm sure she was hoping for. I just wanted a few pictures of the Castle! The edge of the fireworks were visible but the spot I ended up in (the area in front of Space Mountain) gave me a beautiful, full view!

I also prefer to avoid confrontation but came really close to staying "on principle"! Our oldest granddaughter would have guided me out of the area immediately ; the youngest one would have given her an earful and I'd have had to guided HER out! Another Disney Senior friend of mine described it perfectly...AGEISM PREJUDICE...that's what "hurt" the most.

 

[North of Mouse]

It's so hard to think clearly when someone like that is so rude and entitled. What I would have liked to do was turn to crowd around me and ask if I was to old to enjoy the parade as this person here says I am? She says I'm taking a spot a child should have? Of course the words never come when they should, right?