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

[fab4fam]

As I approach the senior years, I can think back over all the time I've enjoyed WDW throughout my lifetime -- and, oh my, what stories I could tell. However, your account saddens me because I've never considered everything Disney to be age specific. While it is true that Walt originally focused the parks on children, kids grow up and even Walt loved his parks. Thus, I don't feel Walt Disney ever intended anyone to be 'aged-out' over time. Therefore, I still enjoy the opportunities that I can experience. I also enjoy seeing the wonder and excitement in the eyes of those much younger. The attitude of the woman who engaged in ageist rhetoric is pathetic.

 

[stargoop]

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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?

Disney said that he built his parks so adults could also have fun, not just the kids. If the park is just for kids why do they have so many rides that her kids are too short to ride on? In fact, since you can ride everything but they can't obviously the parks are for adults and her kids should move out of the way!

 

[Genie+]

Sorry. Glad you realized they were wrong. Hard not taking it personally but I’ve learned not to.

It’s a rare occurrence but has happens often enough around fireworks, night shows and parades to recognize the pattern. I have learned to quickly dismiss and ignore when parents aggressively act out that their kids take priority over anybody who is not a child.

It’s happened with 6 inches of clearance (4 of us standing at the Epcot lagoon rail and the parents send their kids to stand on top of our feet). Happened with zero clearance (parents send their kids to climb and sit on the railing/wall in front of us). I’ve had strollers jammed at us to move and nasty comments made. I’ve questioned parents who repeatedly bumped and lightly kicked us and was told it was because I was moving.

We’ve had a parent send their 2 kids up to the front line of MK parade to sit on my husband’s ECV - with him on it! No joke. When I turned around to the mom and pointed out her kids - she shrugged. Seriously? C’mon now. It’s not all the kids’ fault but I no longer have any qualms telling them to go back to their parents. And then put the family on ignore.

People get tired, maybe stressed, or are inexperienced, etc. But if you’re aggressively trying to ‘get your way’? Prepare to be 100% ignored.

My kids were important too. It was financially hard the few times we took them WDW back then. I understand the stress of trying to make a trip great for them. When the night show view was important we prioritized arriving early enough for them to get a decent view.