I read “Dear Abby” every day. She often gives great advice – and sometimes, not so great. Occasionally, she’ll run a letter written by one of her readers reminding us to behave “correctly” under certain circumstances. For example, a bank teller might write in suggesting that we have all of our paperwork completed before reaching the window. And a supermarket checker might suggest not getting into the “Ten Items or Less” line unless you actually have ten items or less.
I always laugh when I read these columns because I know that the intended audience never recognizes themselves in these situations. We always believe it’s the “other” guy misbehaving, not ourselves. But despite the fact that I think these articles are basically useless at changing human behavior, I’m going to write my own version of this “advice” column in connection with visiting Disney parks. I’m hoping against hope that it might make people rethink some of their actions. Silly me.
First, and foremost, I want to cut everyone some slack. When people pass through the turnstiles, they leave their brains behind – myself included. Disney parks offer so many sights, and sounds, and smells that it overwhelms the senses. There is so much happening all around us that it’s impossible to process it all. It’s little wonder that we behave differently inside the Magic Kingdom than we do on the outside. People have a sense of wellbeing in a Disney park. We think nothing bad can happen to us inside the magical world of Disney. For example, the person who works in a big city and crosses many busy streets in their daily life without incident, will be the same person who trips over a curb on Main Street. Like I said, we leave our brains someplace else when we enter a Disney park.
So here I go with my list of suggestions aimed at “certain” guests. Not you, my faithful readers, but the “other” guy.
Bag Check:
Unfortunately, the world we live in is not as innocent as the one Walt left in 1966. Today, security guards must check all guests’ bags before they enter a park. And the key word here is “ALL.” If you have a purse, a camera bag, a Disney bag wadded up in the back of your stroller, any container that can be closed and does not fit in your pocket, you MUST let a security guard check its contents. You CANNOT go through the “No Bags” line. It’s that simple.
And if you do accidently find yourself in the “No Bags” line and the security guard asks you to proceed to Bag Check, don’t ask him or her to make an exception for you and check your bag(s). If they make an exception for you, then they have to make an exception for the next guy. This just complicates the job they’re trying to do and slows down the line for those guests who don’t have bags waiting behind you.
Photography:
In the days of real film and developing, if someone walked in front of me just as I was snapping a picture, I would be annoyed. But not so much anymore. In the age of digital photography, I just shrug and take another picture. Since most people are kind enough to wait while guests snap a photo, I have to believe those who pass in front of me were just so caught up in the moment that they never noticed me and my camera. I know I’ve unthinkingly walked in front of my share of photographs.
However”¦ I would like to offer some suggestions to would-be photographers.
If you’re taking a picture across a busy walkway or thoroughfare, you do not have five minutes to compose the perfect shot. You have roughly 10 seconds. That’s about all the time people are willing to wait for you. You need to point and shoot.
If you’re group is posing in front of an icon, like the entrance sign to an attraction, or a fountain, or topiary, or the Partners statue, move away from the icon once the picture has been taken. The photographer should not join the group in front of the icon to discuss the merits of the photograph and try to determine if a second shot is needed. There are others waiting to take the same picture.
Cast members and recorded messages will often ask that guests refrain from using flash photography on certain attractions. Please comply. It is very annoying to those around you.
Doorways & Escalators:
There is something about doorways that compels people to stop dead in their tracks once they reach this opening. I don’t know why, but they do.
If you are exiting an attraction or shop, do NOT stop in the middle of the doorway. There are people behind you who want to exit (or enter). Please proceed to a less trafficked area to take care of whatever it is that needs taking care of.
In this same vein, do not stop at the top or bottom of an escalator. Move away! There are most probably people riding behind you and the escalator is going to deposit them into the space you’re occupying.
Counter Service Restaurants:
Disney does their best to post their menus conspicuously so folks can read them and make up their minds BEFORE getting in line. I understand that if the line is long, you might get into queue beforehand with the thought that all decisions can be made in advance of reaching the cashier. But I’m amazed at the people I encounter that haven’t even looked at the menu until they are asked by the cast member what they’d like to order. This is NOT the time to be querying your party. This should have been done earlier.
And another thing that baffles me is the matter of payment. People really seem surprised when the cashier asks for money. Please have your credit card, room charge, or cash out and ready to give to the cashier. After ordering, is not the time to be opening your purse or wallet to search for a form of payment. This should have been done while you were in line.
Confined Spaces:
More often than not, Disney parks are crowded. This means we must share our personal space with total strangers. For most people, this really isn’t a problem and at Disney it often promotes some great conversations when waiting in long lines. But I would like to offer a few reminders.
For those of you wearing a backpack, your back now extends 8 to 12 inches further than it usually does. Remember, when you’re standing in a crowded line or on the monorail, you cannot make quick twists and turns. If you do, you will whack the people standing next to you with your backpack. The same is also true for those of you with long hair. When you abruptly turn your head, your hair hits a stranger in the face.
When a group of two or more is walking along a sidewalk or narrow passageway, and they encounter another group of two or more coming toward them, BOTH parties need to form single file lines so everyone can pass easily. I have grown tired of always being the person who yields so the other party won’t be “inconvenienced.”
Wheelchairs & Strollers:
Maneuvering a wheelchair in a congested park can be a challenge. It’s difficult enough to find an opening for a small child let alone a bulky wheelchair on a crowded day. And many people perceive that the wheelchair will be moving slower than they want to walk, so they cut in front of it as to not be “inconvenienced” by its slower pace – which only makes it all the more difficult for the chair-bound person and their party to move through the crowds. So please, give the person seated in the wheelchair and their “driver” a break. Are you really in so much of a hurry that you can’t allow them to proceed in front of you?
I really, really, really feel sorry for people pushing a stroller in a crowded Disney park. Maneuvering one of these baby-carriers can be a difficult challenge when traversing from one attraction to the next. I know my heels have been bruised more than once by a distracted parent. For the most part, I’m pretty understanding. These things happen when it gets crowded. However, my patience grows thin when I’m hit by the same stroller more than once.
Complaints:
Cast members are fantastic! However, things sometimes go wrong that are completely out of their control. When things do go awry, try to assess the situation. Was it really the cast member’s fault? If it was, ask to speak to a supervisor – or go to Guest Relations. If it wasn’t the cast member’s fault, don’t take it out on them. Ask to speak to a supervisor – or go to Guest Relations.
I have a good friend who works attractions in the Magic Kingdom. She has told me that guests have cursed her, kicked her, and spit on her just because things didn’t play out the way they believed they should. I was appalled to learn this.
Diapers:
All restrooms, both men’s and women’s, have changing tables. Use them. Even if the diaper is just wet, I don’t want you changing your baby at the table or bench next to me. Especially when I’m eating. Unfortunately, this has happened to me more times than I care to remember. Yuck!
Smoking:
Believe it or not, I’m not going to come down on smokers here. I rarely encounter people smoking outside of the designated areas. I believe that designated smoking areas have become so common in the U.S. that most smokers are fully aware that they need to check the policy before lighting up. I find it’s usually visitors from countries with less stringent rules that smoke inappropriately while visiting the parks. If you do run into someone smoking, you can politely inform them of the guidelines in place at Disney. However, I think a better idea would be to let a cast member know. They have all been trained on how to approach guests in these situations.
Language:
Keep it clean. There are children everywhere (and adults too who don’t want to hear it).
Don’t talk during the attraction:
Many people have visited the parks so often that they become blasé about the attractions. All too often, I will encounter guests carrying on lengthy and loud conversations during an attraction’s preshow. For example, the Stretch Room of the Haunted Mansion, or the preshow for Ellen’s Energy Exchange, or the recording room on Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster are often full of talkers.
Please remember, even though you can recite the dialoged word for word, the people standing next to you may be visiting for the first time and would like to hear what’s going on.
Theater Seating:
When a cast member asks that you move all the way to the end of a row (or three-quarters of the way when the show isn’t full), please comply. Do not plop yourself down in the middle of the row and force everyone else to go around you. If you don’t want to sit at the end, then don’t be the first person to rush through the entrance doors. Hold back and let a few people into the theater before you.
Cell phones:
Cell phones are a fact of life today. We’re constantly checking our email, texting, and chatting with others. And that’s fine. However, once again, there is a time and place – and rides and attractions is NOT the place. It’s annoying to others.
In addition, when you’re on a call within a restaurant, try to talk in your normal tone and volume. If you need to “speak up” in order for your listener to hear you, then those sitting around you can now hear you as well – and they don’t really care that Uncle Bob needs a colonoscopy.
Don’t feed the animals:
I know it’s tempting. I know they’re cute. But human food isn’t good for our woodland friends. I know what you’re thinking – one French fry won’t hurt them. But dozens and dozens of fries will. Feeding the animals has to stop with each of us.
Dress appropriately:
So far in this blog, all of my suggestions for appropriate behavior have been pretty cut and dried. It’s easy to take an objective look at what I’ve presented – but how people dress is far more subjective than objective. What right do I have to tell anyone what they can and cannot wear? None! However, Disney used to do just that.
When I worked at Disneyland in the ’70’s, Disney routinely stationed plain-clothed security guards at the entrance to the park. Their purpose was to inconspicuously examine how guests were dressed and deny them entrance if they felt their outfit was too suggestive or their clothing contained offensive language or depicted drug use. Those days are long gone. Today’s mores are not what they were in the ’70’s and we live in a far more progressive society. Trust me when I say, a good 2% – 3%% of the people visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World today would not have been admitted to the parks back then.
I’m not a prude. Far from it. I routinely see t-shirts at the parks that crack me up. Yet, I wonder how appropriate they are at Disney as some of them boarder on risqué. Is this really the place to hint at sexual content? Can’t these statements be made someplace else?
Disney will ask people to change clothes if they encounter a guest sporting a truly offensive word or slogan, but there is little they can do when brand names hint at impropriety (like French Connection United Kingdom).
All I ask is that you remember there are children everywhere at Disney. How much skin needs to be shown and how suggestive does your t-shirt really need to be? Save the bathing suit for the waterparks and the risqué t-shirt for a tailgate party.
Is Jack the perfect Disney guest?:
Nope. I try. But I’m human too. Even I “forget” sometimes. But when I commit a transgression, I try to apologize quickly with a humble smile.
In conclusion:
I’m glad to know that none of my readers really needed to read this blog and that they would never lapse into less than perfect Disney behavior. However, if you know one of those “other” people, be sure to tell them about my article.
I read this a couple of weeks ago and didn’t comment but I couldn’t forget some of the things that were mentioned or said. We are frequent visitors and have been since before we had children. We always try to be courteous and spread the magic a little. On our last trip I noticed a number of things, probably because we had our child with us and because I was pregnant. I cannot believe how many people complain about strollers. In my experience I was cut off or people stopped directly in front of me to pull out a map while I was trying to navigate the crowd. I mean a little courtesy for people having to push the strollers would help in avoiding people getting hit by them. Second, I was pregnant and showing. I cannot tell you how many nights on the monorail or boat NO ONE offered me a seat. Not kids, not teenagers, not adults. When I was a child I was directed to always give up my seat for people who looked like they needed it. I would have made my daughter give up her seat for someone else. And others nailed it in the head about the F & W and drinking. We watched vomiting, heard cursing and saw a lot of PDA in the evenings. So much so we probably will avoid Epcot on weekend nights during F & W. Still, a magical trip and we’ll be back in the fall again.
BEST ARTICLE EVER!!! This should be on the front page of allears for required reading!!!!
Love this blog! We just got back and saw most of these things unfortunately!
Some of the worst are the parents putting their kids on their shoulders during the fireworks. If you are going to do that, move somewhere where nobody is behind you. You are creating an extremely tall person that blocks the view of the people behind you. Most nights as soon as the fireworks would start, a wall of kids would pop up in front of us which would block the view of many people. If you want to stand where you are, hold them at your level, not on your shoulders.
Also, please don’t ram my ankles with your stroller when I’m walking in a crowd. I can’t walk faster than the person in front of me and it’s very painful. I was there with my young adult kids and we were hit so hard a couple of times that we almost fell on the stroller.
If we’re in line for a ride, standing really really close to me won’t make the line move faster. I had people stand so close to me that everytime I took a step they touched me. I also wear a backpack so it makes me nervous to have a stranger that close.
On Haunted Mansion, we had a group of teenagers cut in line in front of us and during the entire ride scream, play Marco Polo and disrupt the ride. I felt bad for anybody who was there for their once in a lifetime trip since this ruined the ride for us…at least we rode it multiple times!
just catching up on my blogs – this one obviously struck a chord (or 3!) with guests! Of course, never having done any of these myself, I’m completely certain these were written for everyone around me at the parks… 🙂
Grrrrreat report/list.
I have “come upon” a very used diaper laying in a flowerbed at the Animal Kingdom. Right across from a restroom none the less.
There are trash cans every two steps, what made them think that this is alright? Can’t find a receptacle? Walk a few steps. Blah
Spending the month of May in WDW and at every turn we see something from your wonderful article. At this point we can only laugh at how inconsiderate and rude some people are. We’re voting for one night a month being “adults with common sense only”. No kids or strollers allowed.
Please, Please pull the balloons down during fireworks or parades. I saw one guy put his daughter on his shoulder for Wishes and she had a balloon tied to her wrist. Not pleasant for those behind them.
What a well-written and comprehensive rules of the road. I try to not let too much get me down when I’m at the happiest place on earth, but I can agree with just about everything you and your commenters have written!
I would add just one more thing to the Code: when it’s raining, please don’t take up Counter Service seating when there are diners with trays of food in hand looking for a spot to sit and eat. If you aren’t eating food purchased at that restaurant please don’t take up a table when there are others whose food is getting cold waiting for a table to free up.
Great blog Jack and I loved the photos! Walking through people’s photos is probably the one I’m most guilty of because I simply don’t notice them.
My biggest pet peeve is the line cutters and we don’t let them through if we can help it. On our January trip, we rode Midway Mania just before closing & we’d been in line for probably 25min when the guy in front of us started trying to let in a group of 6 people (and people in line behind us were letting them thru!). My aunt & I wouldn’t let them pass us & he ended letting us & the couple right behind us go ahead of his group. There was a woman w/ a little girl who got out of line to go to the bathroom & came back but that was 1 person and we saw her leave.
As for those who are offended by the ECV users, I’m one of them & simply can’t walk long distances or stand for very long. I go with my family and my mom usually rents one too or we trade off b/c she has trouble with long distances too. I wouldn’t be able to visit WDW without using one & it cost an extra $400 this trip for the privilege. Heck, I use one when I go to Walmart at home. I do think people need to practice with one before their trip b/c they do take awhile to get used to, especially in a crowd. The only person I ran into this trip was my aunt and she was behind me (leaned on the tiller & shot backwards).
The flip side of those who complaining about people like me running over you though is the vast number of people I’ve had walk into me even when I’m not moving. We were at the Studios on a previous trip probably 8 years ago and I’d stopped near the curb on the road leading to TOT while the rest of my family hit the bathrooms. Was just sitting reading my map & 2 guys walked into the side of my scooter and had the nerve to cuss at me & tell me to watch where I was going.
Jack,
This blog was hilarious and so very true. Love all of the Disney characters in your photos. Keep up the great work!
Dear Jack,
Thank you so much for this blog. I’m glad you have highlighted this sometimes tricky subject, and I aggree with all of your examples of dubious behaviour.
My pet hate number one is the excessive use of flash photography inside dark rides after being specifically asked not to use flash photography that totally ruins the atmosphere that the imaginiers have created, and two; people who find it neccessary to scream and make as much noise as possible during a parade or fireworks display usually right in your ear!
thankyou Rawdon
Great blog, Jack! Way to say what most of us are thinking, only nicer.
I have a few pet peeves when visiting Disney, but my biggest one is when parents just let their children run around and do whatever.
During my last visit for marathon weekend, my friend and I were trying to enjoy our pre-race meal at Wolfgang Puck’s and a table close to us decided that it would be a great idea to allow their three children to run around the restaurant while they sat and enjoyed their wine. Not only did the children bump into several tables in the process (including ours more than once), but they almost took out a few members of the wait staff too. Seriously, what is wrong with people?
Jack,
I’m your fan. OMG, I really am! A long time ago, I decided to let a comment to you here, and never did it anymore, don’t know why. As I told you that time, I’m brazilian, and when we’re in the US, not only in Disney, we have the sad feeling that you guys are quite ahead of us in terms of behavior and education. So, as a brazilian, I’d like to apologize for all the brazilians who behave like all the characters you showed in the post!
Besides that, the post it absolutely cool, I would like to turn that in a public campaign here in Sao Paulo. Since our adults probably can’t be changed any more, we would at least teach the children some good habits. All the things you said here, I’m pretty sure they apply for every situation of our lives, not only when you’re visiting the World.
Once again, congrats for the nice work you do here. And if you’re not the perfect guest, I don’t think will be able to find one! Keep in mind that you have big fans of your blog here in Brazil (since my parents don’t have the best english, they enjoy the pictures!).
With my best wishes,
Fernanda Lima
Such a great list of reminders! Just got back from a trip and encountered most, if not all of these. However, I know I am guilty every now and then as well. We all are!
One thing I will add, which a few others have touched on, is how parents let their kids be so rude sometimes! We were waiting to get onto a bus and these two little boys ran ahead of my mother and I and the parents didn’t say anything! I can’t imagine letting my kids do that, especially without reprimanding them. It obviously isn’t so much that they got on the bus first, it’s just the principle. Kids these days can be so entitled, and their parents allow them to be that way.
Whew, venting over 😉
I must add my 2 cents worth on the ECV/Wheelchair issue. I’m 58 and have had MS since my late 20s. While my condition is thankfully mild, I do have balance, walking, and visual problems and I get weak and fatigued, particularly in even mild heat, although I guarantee you that you would never know anything was wrong with me if you saw me (most of the time). I’ve prided myself on managing to spend full days at WDW without the help of an ECV or wheelchair by traveling off season, going into the park early in the morning and later in the day and hiding out in air-conditioning during the hottest part of the day.
This strategy worked until 3 years ago, when my left hip joint tore spontaneously, all the way to the bone. I’m too young I’m told, to have a hip replacement, so arthroscopic surgery repaired what it could and I’m left a partial cripple who has about 2 miles a day in her. I need a cane for anything more than a short distance. Needless to say, my extended walking days at WDW are over although I do try to walk on rides (with cane) in the morning until my limp becomes too pronounced and the pain becomes too bad. From that point on, I’m confined to either the chair or the ECV.
Before and after surgery I used a wheelchair but my distractible husband turned out to be a terrible driver and I found that I couldn’t enjoy anything, as I was constantly watching out for the safety of the people in front of us, as well as myself. My husband had dumped me out of the chair as he dropped me off curbs, he has rammed me into rails and posts, and this has not made for enjoyable trips. Yes, he has clipped a few ankles along the way but I’ve found that it’s much more common for people not to notice me in a chair in front of my husband (he is over 6 feet tall) as they cut in front of us or stop suddenly, thinking there’s plenty of space between themselves and him. They are shocked and often horrified to look down and see me in a chair and they apologize profusely, even when they are the ones who got clipped. It’s amazing how invisible you are when you are at that low profile, in a crowd.
Pushing a wheelchair is hard work. My husband will tell you that there are hills in WDW that he never noticed were there in the past. I may be able to push myself around a store or a short distance but there’s no way I could push myself for a full day in a chair, not unless I was used to that type of “exercise” on a daily basis. I found early on that WDW wheelchairs are not in the best shape so they are hard to push and even when you rent you never know about the quality you will be getting. We now bring our own from home.
The loss of independence, however, coupled with my husband’s horrible “driving” led me to try out an ECV during my last trip. I wasn’t sure I would be able to use one because of my visual issues (double vision and poor 3-D vision). Yes, they are difficult to drive so I got the smallest one they make and I did fine. Let me tell you, I felt as if I had been given the best gift in the world, and so did my husband! He was finally freed of having to be tied to pushing me around and I could go where I wanted to go and so could he. I no longer had to keep my eyes glued ahead of me to protect myself and others — I was in control of my own fate.
I used the EVC to get from ride to ride in the mornings and I walked on rides, as usual, but as I deteriorated as the day progressed, I stayed in the ECV although WDW now bans ECVs from many attractions so I had to transfer to a wheelchair which meant I still got my share of banged up elbows and knees and such. I had my cane with me the entire time and I can tell you that any time I got out of my ECV or wheelchair it was obvious that I wasn’t walking well or that I was having trouble loading or unloading ride vehicles. I even injured myself several times in the process (you’d be surprised the rides that are the hardest for me to board).
Despite that, you would not believe the ugly looks I got from people who must have assumed that because I was using an ECV, I must be faking it. I never got such looks when I was using just a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are cheap to rent, ECVs are expensive. While I find it hard to believe that people would pay that much money just to “cheat” the system, I guess there must be some. But WDW has done their best to make sure that everyone has an equal chance in line and they are constantly changing the way they do their handicapped lines so that things will be fair to everyone. It may seem like wheelchair people get taken to the front of the line but they are just taken to a special boarding area and sometimes they have to wait longer than the regular line (Toy Story is a good example of that).
The more people who demand these special “perks,” the longer the wait, by the way. I’ve waited in a long line of scooters and wheelchairs in the past, in the special boarding area, for my turn to board an attraction. There’s only so many scooters and chairs they can store so we have to wait in our own little line in some attractions and this isn’t always visible to people in the regular line. I will guarantee you that the person thinking that I got ahead of them was long finished with the attraction before I ever got to board. Newer attractions accommodate everyone while only the older attractions may skip only a short area of line. I’ve found that, overall, it all evens out. A few rides let you get ahead, a few make you wait, but most rides put you with everyone else. If everyone understood that, perhaps there wouldn’t be such jealousy. Of course I travel in the off-season when line waits aren’t all that long — maybe it makes more of a difference during more crowded times of the year, but there tends to be more older people traveling during off-season so there are a lot of ECVs when I travel in proportion to the crowd size. I’ve wanted to put a sign on my chair or scooter that says, “Want to trade places with me? I’d much rather be walking than riding.” Perhaps that would put it in perspective for some people.
I think it all comes down to not judging. I have to admit that I had suspicions in the past about lazy people using ECVs until I found myself having to use one, which may seem strange since I’ve had MS since my 20s and had a good chance of ending up using one at some point in my life. Denial, I guess…..
Thank you so much for your “Disney Code of Conduct” piece. Even though I agree that you will not change the ignorant among us, it is refreshing to hear an article from someone with the same views!Mike
I’m one of those people who would never loose my common sence in a Disney park (lol), and appreciate the fact that I’m not the only one who notices the little indiscretions. Perhaps my biggest pet peeve is the “Sudden stopper”. You know the ones- crowd’s moving along nicely and all of a sudden the person in front of you stops to look at whatever and you very nearly plow right into them. I think we’re probably all guilty of it at some point. Disney is the kind of place you need to check your blind spot even if you’re walking. 🙂
Great blog! I laughed out loud more than once. Your pet peeves reminded me of one of my own.
This problem may seem small, but it has happened to me more than once. I usually go to Disney with my mom. She doesn’t like to ride on the ‘thrill’ rides. I usually take advantage of the single-rider line whenever an attraction has one, and it is open.
On several occasions I’ve reached the main part of the queue, running parallel to the regular line only to find a large group (think 40 people or more) in the single-rider line. When they finally get to the front they insist on being seated together. So much so that they often sneak by the cast members when one of them is called and force there way on to ride. In the fast-paced job of loading guests, they usually miss the second guest.
Or they use the access the single-rider line provides to sneak into the regular line well ahead of others waiting in line. Of course that compounds the problem of the single-rider line because as a large group they can easily pair up to match the seating arrangements. That little trick ignores the problem it causes to the other guests trying to follow the rules in the regular line.
Consequently, I’ve had to wise up before I blindly get in the single-rider line. I ask the cast member at the entrance if a large group just entered the single ride line. They do tell me when a group has entered the line, but they usually are vague about it.
I think they should refuse entrance of large groups to the single-rider line.
Love love love this post! Normally I don’t let inconsiderate guests ruin my magic at Disney and try to brush it off, however recently I had a trip where I was blown away by some people. I just ran the WDW Half Marathon and decided to go to the park to celebrate. I was wearing my medal and it was obvious I was tired and wobbly on my feet when I ran into several rude guests. One family jumped in front of me and stole my table at lunch. I was too tired to say anything but my dad politely asked if we could at least borrow an extra seat from the stolen table and explained that both my mom and I had run thirteen miles that morning and really needed to sit. They refused because they “needed it for their bags”. It makes me so sad to think about those who are elderly or handicapped struggling through the parks their entire trip with people like that running around.
I enjoyed this very much but I have to take issue with some posters. I use an ECV in the parks because otherwise I couldn’t visit them. I can walk I to the rides and attractions and so I do. Don’t think I’m lazy because I can no longer manage to be on my feet all day. And please try not to suddenly jump in front of me. I’m a good driver but those things don’t always stop on a dime. And don’t get so caught up that you trip over me and land in my lap like the running teen last trip, although it really was funny. And don’t sit your rude self down in the first seat of the reserved ECV/wheelchair section when you shouldn’t even be there and ignore the CMs and the guests who need to be there. Especially not with your fat feet sticking out. I accidentally ran over them last time… The lack of apology was deliberate though. I don’t normally get ugly but oh my goodness! Now I promise to drive carefully and be polite 99% of the time… just don’t be the oaf that brings out the villian! LOL
Awesome blog! I also can’t stand it when there is a mob of people in front of the FP line waiting for their time – Space Mntn is a good example. And we had an experience while waiting for “Reflections” @ Epcot. We always stake out a bench about 2 hours in advance. One time a family that was standing behind us (there was another couple next to us) kept making comments about how their kids would like to see and be “up front.” Part of me felt like a cad but hey – we had been waiting for 2 hours. And then the last time we saw “The American Adventure” the people next to us talked the whole time. Ggggggrrrrrrrrr……
Hey Jack!
Great post, and I concur with just about everything you said. And in fact, many of the points your brought up are a lot of my biggest complaints about Disney, which otherwise is my favorite place in the world. However, while I do have sympathy for people pushing wheelchairs as you mentioned (a kid having broken foot is no way to spend your vacation at Disney,) I have much less sympathy for people in motorized scooters, and in fact, have wondered why Disney allows them in the park at all. I feel like there is little to no reason why the majority of the people using them couldn’t use a regular wheelchair. Do you have any insight into why Disney allows these in the parks? I personally feel like they are quite a nuisance to the rest of the guests. I apologize if this seems unsympathetic, I certainly don’t mean it to be. I feel like Disney should be able to be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Thanks!
Jack’s Answer:
You asked if I have any insight as to why Disney allows ECVs in the parks. The reason: There are MANY people who legitimately need them. As Marc stated in an earlier blog, the reason is often invisible to the rest of us. We may think that people are faking it, but we really don’t know.
You stated: I feel like there is little to no reason why the majority of the people using them couldn’t use a regular wheelchair. This may or may not be true. Why should someone who already owns an ECV have to rent a wheelchair? They hauled it all the way from Kansas and now Disney is telling them they can’t bring it into the park. And a person in a wheelchair needs a “driver.” And being a driver is tiring. Sure, the person could maneuver the wheelchair themselves, but I certainly wouldn’t want to for 8 hours on a busy day in the Magic Kingdom. This would especially be true for elderly couples.
So I think the real question should be, “Why does Disney rent ECVs?” If Disney only allowed guests who already owned an ECV (or rented from an outside source) to use them inside a park, then there would be significantly fewer to contend with.
The answer: Disney truly is offering a service to their guests. Not everyone coming to Walt Disney World is able to bring their ECV with them. So offering to rent them is a real godsend to some people.
Are their “cheaters” out there that are abusing the system just because they are lazy and want to secure prime locations for the shows and parades. ABSOLUTELY! But how does Disney screen out these losers? I’ve heard people say, “Guests should have to provide a doctor’s note before they are allowed to rent an ECV.” Well, that sounds good on the surface, but this isn’t always practical. To give you just ONE example, I’ll go back to that elderly couple. They visited the Magic Kingdom on their first day with no ECV. They found that they were exhausted by day’s end. So they decide to rent ECVs on their second day (wheelchairs would not be practical for them). These people won’t have a doctor’s note, but they have a legitimate need.
The Disney cast member renting the ECVs cannot discriminate. They can’t say “You have to be over 65 to rent an ECV.” Or you have to have an obvious malady before we’ll rent to you. If they did, Disney would be sued in an instant.
I once visited Epcot with a person who needed an ECV but had no obvious ailment. While they were in the restroom, I tried driving one of these rented vehicles. It was difficult. It didn’t start and stop smoothly and didn’t turn like I anticipated. It would have taken me a little time to get the knack of driving it. These rented chairs take a lot of abuse from guests.
Disney tries to be ADA compliant in every way possible. And year after year, they are singled out for their efforts. ECVs are a part of this process of making Walt Disney World accessible to everyone.
All very true, am at the world right now and saw examples of almost all of the don’ts today. To me the worst of all is stopping at the top or bottom of esclators, as I have seen a very nasty accident caused this way, it’s not just thoughtless it’s dangerous too. And I’m not sure where the person who said in the uk we don’t have designated smoking areas has been for the last few years but we do, I was at the uk legoland a few weeks ago and there the smokers are corralled behind a large wall so you can’t even see them or smell the smoke.
Another terrific blog! Thank you Jack!
I’d like to also add something I’m guilty of — disciplining the kids. Parental patience runs to the limit after a long day at the parks. We must remember that yelling at the kids in the middle of a crowd is not really a “Disney approved” action.
My own daughter got an earful from me once in Japan. She refused to eat some chicken teriyaki and I couldn’t face another cheeseburger. I hollered at her, she relented and we ate in Japan. (I do still feel bad!)
Next trip with free dining this shouldn’t be a problem!
I loved your common sense suggestions about appropriate disney code of conduct. We all get caught up in the moment at times (epecially when we are hot, tired or immersed in a crowd) and could benefit from these reminders. The pictures were so cute and really hit the mark in highlighting the advice.
One of the BEST blogs ever! It should be required reading for anyone visiting any park! Only would add do not come to a sudden stop in the middle of a walkway (not just doorways), regardless if it is one person, or group of 20. I agree that many (including myself many times) leave our wits at the front gates to immerse ourselves in the magic, but please try to still be courteous to others. Regardless of how many times you have visited, EVERYONE has paid to have a good time and enjoy themselves-it is not just you that is entitled to be enjoying your vacation!
Once when I was in line for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad I noticed a teenage boy with a stereo who turned it on load enough that you couldn’t hear the background music. I was somewhat suprised he was even allowed in the park.
Hi Jack,
You hit on every one of my pet peeves. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone….
Don’t ya’ just love it when you’re walking along with just one other person and here comes a family of eight…walking abreast! I’d like to know just how many extra miles I’ve put on my shoes over the years going around these people.
Great blog, as usual. ~ Take Care…. Johnny
What incredibly wonderful tips!! I especially enjoyed all the graphics you took the time to make. Great pointers, and it’s nice to be reminded of such things. You’re right, sometimes we are so caught up in the moment that we might not pay attention and end up leaving a few manners behind!
I remember a few times when I had people not be considerate. One year while on line for Splash Mountain a family of 4 (2 kids and parents) were in back of me. I was walking at a nice pace on line but the kids were inconsiderate, trying to pass me and called me names. I know they are kids but their parents were right there! How Rude! Anyway, That’s about it.
I really liked the pictures you took and put the characters in the pictures as well.
Another brilliant blog!
Like many people I too leave my brains on the bus and get a little over excited while in the parks. Overall I keep to the ‘rules’. I have never abused a Cast Member, as you rightly say things are beyond their control.
I have had other guests literally climb over a stroller I was pushing and one guest actually picked up my daughter and moved her in Blizzard Beach as she was a little hesitant to get on a water slide (she was two years old). My husband had a quiet word with the lady in question, who was mortified as she hadn’t realised what she’d done.
That’s my rant over lol
Thanks again for another great blog
take care
Great article, very entertaining also, Unfortanetely the people that read this probably aren’t the people that are doing these things. I have to agree with you on every point! Love your blog.
Regarding the folks who may try to cheat the system by using ECV’s or wheelchairs they don’t really need: I visited WDW with my brother shortly before he lost his battle with cancer. At another time, I visited with my niece who had broken her ankle some years before. For both of these folks, we rented a Disney ECV or wheelchair. Both of them could walk short distances without showing discomfort. But walking any distance would exhaust my brother, and would cause pain in my niece’s ankle. So while some people may choose to use these vehicles even though they don’t really need them, others are deserving even though it doesn’t show. I can’t tell the difference. I don’t think most people, including Disney Cast Members, can tell, either.
Two things you might add to this list–if you have a small child with you and the kid clearly doesn’t want to go on a ride, don’t yell or force the child to do so. This can create a nuisance for other guests (who wants to hear you yelling at your child in Disney, of all places?) and tends to lead to screaming children on rides.
Also, remember that the cast members who work in less desirable areas of the parks are still cast members and deserve to be treated with respect. I once watched a lady push a cast member who was trying to sweep up toilet paper from the floor in the bathroom. The cast member tripped and hit her head, and the lady who pushed her didn’t care in the least.
Hi Jack:
I’ve got a good story about Disney’s dress code policy. During my family’s last trip to WDW in 2008, we made a point of riding Splash Mountain. For a variety of reasons (kids too young, weather too cold, or just due to timing), I hadn’t been on Splash Mountain since 1997, and was due.
Our family also had never visited either of the waterparks, definitely due to the kids being too young to enjoy them.
So one morning we decided that we would get on the monorail from the Polynesian, and enter the Magic Kingdom and make a bee-line to Splash Mountain, wearing swimsuits and crocs/flip-flops, and then make our way to Typhoon Lagoon.
My wife was wearing a bathing suit, but also shorts. When we entered the turnstiles a cast member (appeared to be a manager) approached us and informed my wife that she was in violation of the dress code. We honestly had no idea. We explained our plan and said we’d be happy to go right to the Emporium and purchase a t-shirt for my wife.
The cast member than wrote up a voucher for a free shirt, saying “this one’s on me.”
I am certain that our polite and respectful response made all the difference.
Great blog and great job with the photos!
Something I haven’t seen mentioned is about when we coming up to the fastpass entrance at our designated time. There are so many guests standing in the way waiting for their time that I can never tell who’s really waiting for the CM to check their ticket and who’s waiting for the clock to tick by. Please move off to the side if you are waiting for your fastpass time!
Hey Jack,Loved your blog, it was spot on! I’ll admit in the past I have comitted a few of the transgressions you mentioned but I do try to do the right thing!One pet peeve I have is peoples use of perfume! I have a sensitive nose and sure I’m not the only one, so when going to the parks is it really necessary to takd a “bath” in cologne? It really puts a damper on enjoyment when your in close quarters! P.U.
Love the blog on Code of Conduct! My family and I have discussed every single one of them at one time or another. I am guilty of walking in front of someone w/ a camera because I just get so excited at seeing something. I apologize to them and 99% of them are really nice. I do agree with you on the stopping at the entrance/exit of rides, restaurants, etc. That drives me nuts!!!! Just move your group to the side, for pete’s sake!! But, I do have one other thing – the electric scooters used. I know the folks are disabled, but they need to be like the folks that walk – if you’re going to stop, go to the side!!! I don’t know how many times those scooters would slow down, we would try to pass while walking, they speed up, and then decide to stop right where they are. They could use some courtesy lessons too.
Great article, as usual, Jack!
My pet peeve is, claiming a spot for a parade at least an hour ahead of time and two minutes before it’s suppose to start someone with a strollers trys to push their way in saying they want “junior” to be able to see the parade. This has happened to us more times then I care to count. I know we’re adults, but we enjoy the parades as much, if not more, then “junior”. To these parents: Get there early and bring something to entertain the kids while you wait.
Jack,
Wonderful, as usual.
I would like to speak to those of you who are rude to we scooter users. I know that there are inexperienced drivers and they need to be VERY careful, but please don’t dash in front of us because you can’t wait a nano-second until we pass. The scooters in general don’t stop on a dime. I watch for those in front of me and for those “on the move” but if you jump in front of me to get somewhere faster, sorry I can’t stop that fast even on “Turtle”. Would you jump in front of a car to get to the other side of the road a second faster. I know that some people are going too fast, but please help by not jumping in front of us. I have NEVER hit anyone but the closest I have come was people darting to get ahead of me and I’ve had to jam my feet onto the ground and made my situation worse. And PLEASE, if you have children in tow don’t call me a lazy b#@$*
AH! the scourge of WDW! The ECV being driven by people who think they have the right of way and do not yield to pedestrians! They are obviously not handicapped as they pull up to the ride and jump off and walk or run to the entrance. Just too lazy to walk! Disney should require evidence of disability prior to allowing them in the park (or to park rented ones in the hallways of the resorts all night!
OK – I have another problem with this comment:
“two – wear appropriate clothing at the pool. No one wants to see what God gave you hanging out all over the place. If you are larger – like myself – don’t wear a bikini. NO THNONGS PLEASE. Trust me you don’t look as good as you think you do. Unless you are Heidi Klum. stop wearing the string bikini.”
In the parks – yes, agreed 100%. But at the POOL? So you have to be a supermodel in order to wear what you want in and around the swimming pool? I don’t agree with this at all.
You mean the guests who paid thousands for their once-in-a-lifetime trip don’t appreciate my entire family reciting the dialog in the stretch room of Haunted Mansion? How about my rendition of “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.”? Really? OK, point taken.
I did recognize myself in one instance. I say more than half the time I’m never prepared to pay at a counter service line. Not sure why that is.
Hi Jack
Love it! so true on all points. But I must mention about elevators. Same as escelators. move away as you exit. Also don’t puch your way onto an elevator until the people on it have gotten off. It is must easier to enter an empty elevator then to fight the people getting off. and number two – wear appropriate clothing at the pool. No one wants to see what God gave you hanging out all over the place. If you are larger – like myself – don’t wear a bikini. NO THNONGS PLEASE. Trust me you don’t look as good as you think you do. Unless you are Heidi Klum. stop wearing the string bikini.
Jack,
Well said. This should be REQUIRED reading for all prospective Disney World guests.
I have been going to Disney World for over 30 years and have experience all of the mentioned guest no no’s and some not mentioned. It would take days to list them all.
I try to be considerate at all times to my fellow guests and would like the same, but in today’s world that is unrealistic. All the same, if everyone read a code of conduct prior to going, maybe they would be more mindfull of their behavior. thanks for writing this.
I LOVE your most recent blog about park Code of Conduct!It was right on the money and brought make some funny memories!! I think we are all at fault one time or another, not meaning to be, but like you said, caught up in the moment!Thank you!!
The amount of teenage girls’ butts we have seen here this weekend is absurd. I get that there were a bunch of cheerleading things going on, but do you really need your butt cheeks showing in Magic Kingdom? My husband yelled at me across the Odyssey walkway to “check out the girl in the sports bra and underwear”, hoping to embarrass her. She was seriously in a bra and underwear. Luckily, I saw a lot of them checking out today. I hope our next two days have a lot less butt in them.
Wonderful blog!! You hit the nail on the head with this article!!
Great blog. As a former complaints investigator for a UK holiday company, the term ‘This one checked his/her brains in at the airport’ was in common usage.
I’d also like to agree with the person who was commenting about being asked to give up her bus seat because she looked OK, although she actually has a heart problem. In fact, a large percentage of disabilities are ‘invisible’. Maybe this is a case for advising people to put their brains in gear before engaging their mouths, or not making assumptions.
Regarding wheelchairs, please, please try to be considerate, not just for the sake of the wheelchair user, but for your own safety. As a previous post stated, the user may not be experienced, as they only use the chair when they have to cover big distances. Also some folk who normally use an electric chair aren’t able to bring it on the flight, and the ‘pusher’ isn’t used to steering etc. Wheelchairs are heavy and not so easy to control. We had this experience when my son in law’s wheelchair broke down, and though we too it in turns to push him, we didn’t find it that easy and were all a bit tired and achy at the end of the day. A scooter isn’t suitable for him. And he knows his way around WDW, he’s a cast member!
My final remark is about suitability of clothing. My 25 year old party girl daughter, who loves short dresses, has a least had the sense to buy a pair of shorts to wear under her short Pirate Outfit for our upcoming cruise. If she can do it, anybody can!!
End of Epistle
Great Article.
To add the the smoking comment, I am not a smoker, but often see non-smokers make rude comments to those IN the smoking areas about having to breathe there smoke. If you are in the smoking area, it is your issue, not theirs.
Hi Jack!
Great blog! It’s too bad that we’ve all shared the same experiences from “certain guests” from one degree to another.
I have 2 in particular that I’d like to vent about:
1. I’m in line for Soarin (moving 7 inches every 20 minutes) and people cut through to “catch up to their family” – seriously – where have they been for the past hour that I’ve been in this line? Raise your hand if you believe them!
2. The Mowing Mama’s…please throw away the schedules – stop and smell the roses. How many times have I been run over by strollers because the parents are running to every ride? Please remember that it’s not US that have to move FASTER – it’s YOU that NEEDS to RELAX!
Honestly, size does matter – I’ve been “taken out” many times by people swinging backpacks the size of Cooper Mini’s that don’t even realize that they’ve hit someone. Not all little people travel with 6 friends and have names like Sleepy!
Wow, Jack. You really hit the nail on the head with this one! Often when I am visiting one of the parks I am amazed at the things people do, and now I know there are others that feel the same way!!! Thank you!
I think Disney should put this blog into a brochure format and insert it into the resort welcome folder that they hand out to guests checking-in.
Sorry to say, the smoking rule is still an issue. I see guests all the time smoking in non-smoking areas – especially at the resorts. I just give them a dirty look, LOL.
Do you think you will ever do a blog on the 3 DL resort hotels? I was wondering what you thought of them since you refer to DL often in your posts and I would like your opinion.
Jack’s Answer:
I probably will not be writing blogs on the Disneyland hotels. When I visit Disneyland, I’m on vacation. A detailed hotel blog takes me several days to photograph, videotape, and research. It would take me a full week to gather the necessary information for three hotels.
Jack, thanks for your candid observations. We’re regulars at DW and have noticed many of these offensive actions, and more than likely we’ve been the guilty party as well. Here are my additions to your list: 1) At Food & Wine, we have witnessed many adults (particularly on a Saturday) vomiting in the bushes around England or Germany. Unbelievable! 2) Once we were in a pre-show area and a guest got in a heated argument with a CM. Sadly, the CM argued loudly and strongly along with the guest. I filed a complaint because if the CM was rude to that guest (even though the guest was at fault), how often did she get away with it on other occasions? 3) When approaching the area where you enter the line for an attraction, so many families let their young children run ahead and “break up” parties who are trying to stay together as they enter. These youngsters wind up between other people, not even close to the parents. 4) Our daughter was a CM in the college program and was a hostess at a signature restaurant. You would not believe some of the things she put up with. The guests felt entitled to be rude because they were paying the higher prices for dining at a signature restaurant. 5) I have witnessed many, many people strolling through the parks smoking cigarettes and nothing is ever said to them by a CM. None of this is a “big deal” but it does detract from your enjoyment of the World.
This may have already been mentioned (I did not read all of the posted comments), but I have a tip for going through the bag check. The last time we were at Disney, I read somewhere to take a clear (see through) bag. It was a great tip. I took a clear, vinyl backpack. Bag check was a breeze because the checkers could quickly turn the bag this way and that and see everything inside it, and non of my belongings inside were touched. I believe the checkers at all 4 parks commented on how great it was. I plan to do this again when we return this fall.
Hey Jack
Awesome blog topic and unfortunately much needed.
Parents need to understand that just because you are in a Disney park does not mean you can allow your children to act like animals. I have had many meals ruined by children running and screaming through restaurants while mom & dad ate their meals ignoring them. We were also woken up at 5AM by a child in the next room screaming I WANT TO SEE MICKEY over and over again while mom & dad did nothing.
This might fall under the heading of inappropriate clothing. Had the “pleasure” of sitting behind a man with an anatomically correct tattoo of a naked woman on his arm. It was so detailed and large it was like looking at a Playboy centerfold and of course he was wearing a sleeveless shirt. I’m sure many a child learned the difference between boys & girls way earlier than their parents intended.
Oh yeah and folks when you are waiting for an elevator in a resort please remember their may be people sleeping in the rooms around that elevator so please keep your voices down and don’t allow your children to bang on walls and door.
If only people wouldn’t leave their brains at home/hotel.
I at least remember these rules and try to make the trips to the mouse enjoyable.
Bag Check: My mom gets annoyed that they’ll check every pouch on her fanny pack but when my sister brings her tote bag of a purse they barely look in it. When I get to the bag check while the person in front is getting checked I take my drawstring bag off and get it open to be checked but I try going without a bag by tying a coat around my waist so I don’t have it stuck in a bag or in a locker.
Photography: We use Photopass so these really apply since the guy taking the picture does nice and quick and when he’s done we go up to him instead of the other way around.
Doorways: If my party is inside and I don’t want to wait in the store I go outside and ‘lean’ against the nearest wall that won’t get in the way of traffic but if it’s on Main Street I try to stay in the alcove doorways since there’s enough room without being in the doorway.
CSR: The only time I’m guilty of this is when I can’t decide what I want by the time I get up to the counter but I at least try to figure out what I want.
CS: If I get someone I apologize but I very rarely have a bulky backpack on so it’s usually a Disney shopping bag.
Wheelchairs/Strollers: I don’t have a problem with them except for when the driver treats them as battering rams. Same goes for the ECVs since when me and my family went to DW a woman in one of those carts nearly ran over my mom and it was a crowded walkway too.
Complaints: I don’t really have complaints because I try to understand that the CMs are just doing their jobs, might be having a bad day and in the case of dining understand it might be an off day since every resturaunt has an off day. My complaints are more guest related than anything. When I went to DL over Christmas me and my dad ate at Taste Pilots Grill and a guest had put a pair of tongs into the 1000 island and didn’t bother to take it out. I fished it out, set it aside, got my condiments and a CM had already taken it before I could notify them. During that trip the only time we complained about CMs was when people were being ushered out of DCA and this one guy was being rude about it and we took it to GR and went on our way.
Diapers: It disgusts me when people change their baby and don’t even bother to throw the diaper away. Honestly where were those people raised?
Smoking: I hate smoking alot. I hate seeing the butts smushed on the ground in the non-smoking areas.
Language: I would appreciate if people wouldn’t talk like they’re in an R rated movie when you have there are families around but what can you do about that?
Talking: If I have to talk I do it in the line not during the show itself.
Theater: I usually go in a least used row so I don’t have a problem with seating.
Cell Phones: I see cells as an emergency only case in the parks unless you’re going up with someone later and want to know where to meet up at. But during christmas I had an emergency call from my mom and me and my dad were just going into Captain EO and she called up because her card had been stopped and she needed to ask my dad some security question. Luckily as soon as the call ended the movie started. During our DW trip we had gotten a seat for LMA and my mom just had to go to the bathroom. She tried calling us to get to the seats but our phones never went off and it was quiet enough to hear a ringtone. It’s happened multiple times after and she assumes we don’t answer when it never went off in the first place.
Feeding Animals: I’m guilty of this by giving popcorn to the birds.
Dress: I’ve seen some bad stuff worn at the parks that I have to wonder how they were allowed in. I once saw a girl come in wearing hot pants and a bikini top and a guy wearing Iron Maiden. Don’t these people think?
What a great article Jack! I totally agree with each and every one of these as well as some that other readers posted. I am sure that I have been guilty of a couple of these but as a D.W. veteran of sorts I try to be more aware of my surroundings! I do agree with the bag check about making sure you have your bags open and ready for inspection, it saves so much time. Also, let one or two people in the party go through the bag check line while the rest go through the other line. I also agree with the one reader who stated please take a shower and wear deodrant. You are often times in confined spaces and having to smell someones horrible body odor takes all of the “magic” out of the experience. We had a situation like that while at the Flights of Wonder show in A.K. and it was awful!!! Also, please adults remember to be aware of small children. Keep the profanity at bay and be mindful of your behavior (pda) while in the parks. Also, be aware of children when walking. The first time we took our children to DW we were at Epcot waiting on the Finding Nemo ride and some man trying to catch up with his group was breaking through the line and pushed my daughter (7 year old then) out of his way. Needless to say “momma bear” came out and I let him know real quick he needed to be a little more patient. Again fantastic article and one that everyone can take something away from!
Dear Jack,
Excellent!!! I love it!!!
I think you are too kind, Jack. Kinder than me anyway. I think people are incredibly self-centered and that is the reason for the incessantly rude/poor behavior.
It always makes me wonder: Who are these people???
Excellent work on the photos, too!
Karen
I agree with most of these comments, but I have two exceptions:
1. “If you are done eating at a table, leave so the next guest can enjoy it, don’t loiter and hang out reading the map to plan the rest of your day!”
“Loitering” at a restaraunt & planning my day is part of “stopping to smell the roses”. If I waited my turn to get a table I’m not going to hurry to leave. Its part of being on vacation. Not everything is a race.
2. “…I would add please don’t make out in the background of my photo. I really don’t need to have the memory of your had on your girlfriends backside (or visa verse) in my photo album.”
Sorry – but when I am in the parks I am not concerned in the least that what I’m doing might disrupt THE BACKGROUND of someone’s photo. I won’t cut in front of photographers, and have often offered to take pictures for people (so both the Mom & Dad can be in the picture. for intance). But you can’t be concerned with your actions because they MIGHT be in the BACKGROUND of someone’s photo.
I told you this blog would get a ton of responses, Jack 😀
Dan
First, I will admit that I am sometimes guilty of doing these things, but I whole heartedly agree with everything you have said. As a parent, I find it hard to teach my children common courtesy when the people around us aren’t doing what I’m asking my child to do. I will say to my daughter, “Keep moving to the end of the row”, but then in return I get “But why didn’t they have to do it?”. Then my lesson in courtesy becomes a lesson in why others don’t display the same courtesy that I am asking my daughter to display.
Thanks for a great article ! So true !
I have noticed on recent visits far more people taking video with their cameras on dark attractions such as Hall of Presidents. Although not using flash the bright screens are very distracting.
My other gripe is after waiting for the parade to start sitting with others by the line, when the parade begins all those at the front then stand up, blocking the view of others behind. If those at the front continued to sit everyone would have a good view..
Hay Jack!
Great list! I have not only encountered these people at WDW, but I work in downtown Chicago and they are there as well!
I would like to add one thing to your list. I’m a smoker and I know that people who aren’t don’t want to be around it. I completely understand and if I didn’t smoke I would feel the same way. I have no problem smoking in the designated areas and only there. But I have seen many guests go to these areas and then complain about the smoking. We have been banished to just a few areas of each park. 99% of the parks are smoke-free. If smoking bothers you, then you should also make a note of these areas on your park maps and avoid them. Please don’t stop at these few places and say negative things to me about my smoking. It’s not any less rude then someone smoking in a non-designated area.
Thanks again for the article, Jack. I look forward to the next one!
Sarah
I never go to the parks that I don’t encounter camera-holders who’ve backed up at least 10 meters from their subjects and proceed to stop an entire sidewalk full of people while they slowly try to frame faces they can now hardly see. The France bridges at Epcot are a notorious spot. Oh, and last month, we’re behind a couple at the fast-food cashier. Man to cashier: “What do you have?” The cashier, after glancing at the huge menu board above her, recites the entire menu top to bottom, burgers,chicken bits, salad,etc. Man: “I’ll have a grilled cheese sandwich.” Cashier: “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have grilled cheese here.” Man: “Hmmmf. Martha, whaddo you want?” Martha: “Whaddo they got?”
All I can say Jack is – bravo!
I agree with one of the earlier comments from Kim that I get annoyed with myself sometimes for getting annoyed as those that dont move down.
But, its so very easy to be a good Disney (and all theme parks) citizen!
I do try my very hardest to be understanding of those who don’t show consideration, but I know how much I value myself being a ‘good neighbor guest’.
I must admit I have admonished some people in my own party for reciting pre-shows and forgetting there might be first timers! Its easy to forget….but also so easy to fix!
Thanks for another great blog!
Great blog, and another thumbs up for the work you did on the pictures. I especially loved Pocahontas ‘working’ her hair and nearly whacking the guy in the face behind her. Very cleverly done. 🙂
Cara Richards
Portsmouth, England
I have to agree with some other people about the kids on the shoulders. There is nothing more annoying than being on a busy Main Street USA waiting for fireworks – thinking I have a great spot – and then as the show is starting, a dad puts his kid on his shoulders right in front of me. I understand kids need to be help up to see, but I think its proper to hold them to your side. That way they are at your height – not 10 feet up in the air…
Love the pictures, especially Goofy snapping away in the Hall of Presidents!
Ride music is my Kryptonite. I often don’t even notice that I’ve been singing along to “Grim, Grinning Ghosts,” “There’s a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow,” “It’s a Small World,” or “Yo ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me” until the song’s been going on a while. I sing them so often at home that it has become second nature. At least now the Tiki Room is back, there’s a constructive place to take my bad habit.
The one thing that really annoys me is when a mother pushes her kids in front of my group when I’m taking their picture. There’s no way she didn’t see them there; she just thinks her kids are more important. I’ve resolved that my new reaction will be to offer to take her picture with them if she’ll do the same for my group afterwards. Then, at least we can gang up on a third group if it tries to get in!
I have to agree with an earlier post about stepping between family groups with small children. I’m constantly having to pull my kids back and around people who aren’t paying attention and push between us in lines (the last queue after the stretching room in the Haunted Mansion is a great example). But all of these things are on my pet peeve list… it’s supposed to be a happy place, being cranky and/or rude isn’t going to enhance your trip, please remember some common courtesy.
Wow – you hit the nail on the head 100% here! I have said each of these things more than once to my hubby (but usually not as tactfully as you did here… LOL)
My worst one is from our recent trip to Disneyland (March 2012) — saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said “Heads or Tails, either way I win!” and it had stick figures performing sexual acts to go with both statements. I reported him to a cast member but, aparently, nobody did anything about it. He was still there after Turtle Talk w/Crush and nobody was looking for him and his HIGHLY inappropriate shirt.
I have a jaw dropper for you, and I swear every word of it is true. We had just sat down with our food at the Columbia Harbour House. A family (not foreign) mom, dad, 2 little boys and an infant sat at the table directly in front of us. Dad takes one boy with to go order food. Mom starts digging around in the stroller and puts all sorts of “baby equipment” on the table.She promptly throws open her blouse,displaying everything in all its glory, and starts pumping her breast. My son’s eyeballs about popped out of his head (he was about 11), and my husband literally choked on his coke. We were so shocked! We gathered our lunch back on the tray, and went outside to eat. It takes all kinds.
Jack’s Comment:
Although I realize you were unprepared to see a woman pump her breast in Columbia Harbour House, she has a legal right to do so in the State of Florida. Here is the basic law:
“The breastfeeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values. A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother’s breast is covered during or incidental to the breastfeeding.”
Although the above statement did not specifically mention breast pumping, I found other portions of this same law that discuss a nursing woman’s right to have access to fresh water and a location for the cleaning of her pumping equipment.
Disney periodically sends memos out to their cast members reminding them that they should NOT approach a nursing woman, asking them to cover up or move to a more secluded place. If ASKED by a guest where they may nurse their baby, the cast member can direct them to one of the Baby Stations that are available at each park. But they CANNOT suggest the Baby Stations unless asked.
not every young person that refuses to give up is rude. my adult daughter had a heart attack last may. on our trip just after a number people voiced that she should let an older person her seat. something to think about she looks normal so say she gave up her seat and on trip her heart slowed to where her machine decided to shock her anyone touching her would also be shocked. machine is under her skin and not visable. also i am one who needs extra tmie to get off moving ramps. if i step wrong, i go down and can not get up. i have to get knee to workwhen i step off and with nothing to hold on to this is slower than i and others like. i have been pushwhen i do not move as fast as someone likes. so i can see from both sides. thanks for letting me vent.
Hi Jack,
FANTASTIC BLOG and loved the graphics- just wish everyone would read and abide by it. I had an incident at Casey’s Corner- I was in line for a hot dog and just as I was about to go to the counter a man came up the exit and jumped ahead of me. I truly hate rudeness and the ‘it’s all about me’attitude too many people have these days. The cast memeber looked apologetic and actually gave me a free bag of cracker jacks because of this man’s inconsiderate actions.
Going down in 2 weeks and hoping not to meet to many of these characters.
Bonnie
Not gonna lie, out of all of the great blogs you’ve written, this is one of my absolute favorites!
And this is why you are the BEST, Jack! When my elder daughter was 3 or 4 a huffy woman pushed by us when exiting the Liberty Belle knocking my little one over. Her apology? “All the little kids are too slow.” Kindly add, Disney World is a family destination. Little Mouseketeers take more time. Mickey wants all his guests to enjoy the Magic. Take more time to smell the roses.
Thanks,
Tracy
P.S. We will visit the World on June 4th and will be so sad to miss you. First stop? Citrus swirl!!!
Another wonderful blog Jack,
I have another problem with photo taking that you didn’t mention. It used to be in the old days of photography that you had to hold the camera up to your eye to take a photo. Now with digital cameras and a color screen, many people hold out the camera and look at the screen instead. Unfortunately many people hold the camera up over their head to take photos they can’t see normally. This becomes a major distraction on rides. It also makes it difficult to see certain shows and attactions that you have to stand in a crowd for. I just wish people would consider the people behind them when they want to take pics.
Well done! I have refered to it as going on vacation and forgetting to pack your brain…haha the wheelchair one is a definate. I was at the world in September and managed to sprain my ankle stepping into a drain. I walked around until I couldn’t anymore fearing getting pushed around in a wheelchair, my poor GF doing the pushing. try getting out of fantasmic with that thing…I do think you for got a point tho…the electric scooter people. I’ve been smashed by them more times then i want to think of because they drive without looking where they are going…
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this blog – especially the photos! That had to be a LOT of work to select the photos and the characters and place them in there. I thought they were really well done.
And the code itself was very well thought out – those are certainly a lot of my pet peeves! But someone changing their baby on a table?
Ewww!!! How disgusting!
Thank you Thank you Thank you for mentioning the swearing! This should be true for being out anywhere in public, but especially in a crowded area where frustration can get the best of you. I don’t need my kids to hear that.
Many great things were mentioned in your post. But, I would like to add 2 that were a big problem on our last trip. People doing things to stop a ride ruins it for the rest of us. In one Haunted Mansion ride we were stopped 6 times beacuse people were standing in the Doom Buggies. Also, please do not flash or make “hand signals” for the ride pictures. It then erases the entire car. I missed getting the picture of my 4 year olds first trip on Splash Mountain because the 2 teens behind us flipped the camera off. On Tower, two girls flashed the camera.
Don’t forget about large groups. Some large teenage groups seem to think they own wdw. Don’t sing and yell as loud as you can while at the parks. Don’t try and cut in front of lines. Also, there is a thing called personal space. Quit getting all up on me and my children. One group from south america last summer was literally up against me and my children who are 4 and 7. it got to the point I became nervous for my wallet and for my kids safety. When reporting it to a CM, I was told they paid for their trip too. True, but I did not pay for the large groups being rude and disrespectful, especially when they all got hot and tired and took a nap in front of entrances to attractions.
NO POOH. DON’T FEED HIM! seriously cracked me up.
Great article, and as someone who was once a teenager growing up in Anaheim and was guilty of more than one of these, I can vouch that this stuff needed to be said.
Good One.
Loud Kids in the Hotel Rooms. Thin walls not a good combo. We had a room once where the parents must have been out and left 5 or 6 kids alone or they had their own room and they took turns slamming each other agains the wall all night. ugh!. I agree with the Move ALL the WAY Down in theaters also. They act like they can not hear. And when you are standing on a line waiting for a parade or show and here come 5 people that had saved spots for others always in front of you RUDE. Or the people that go down early to the pool and put about 10 towels on the good table or lounge chairs spots then go have a long leisurly breakfast. Not Fair.
LOL!!! Great blog! I couldn’t agree more…I’ve been a victim of a group of people who was at least 15 minutes taking pictures at the entrance of Magic Kingdom…I had to ask them to let us take the picture and then they proceed taking more pictures!!!
I would like to add if you are wearing hats, a big one like a Goofy hat or a farmer hat, and your enter to the theater please don’t use it inside…please please please think in the person who is behind you, specially if is a child or a small person.
I really enjoyed this blog and I’ve encountered all of these!! One thing regarding backpacks and this one really gets me….if you are in a que line for a ride and you happen to sit on the rail, please take your backpack off. By sitting on the rail you’ve, 1)put your behind (butt) way out into the next row, 2)if you are carrying a large backpack, it has now extended way out into the path of the folks in the next row. I always try to be courteous to photographers, people in wheelchairs and all the things you’ve stated. But every once in awhile, we needed to be reminded.
Thanks again!!
Great article. We can all use a bit of a reminder. The excitement and wonder causes us to do some uncharacteristic things, but above all else, I try to take a breath, step aside and regroup. It really helps me to think clearly when it’s crowded, hot and I’m going crazy trying to make the family happy. Sometimes we take a second to sit and people watch. In a way, it preserves the rest of day and we get to see some of the 2-3% you speak of. Very interesting.
Thanks for all these wonderful “reminders”. I know I have been guilty of a few. I usually give a smile and a quick, “sorry”. But there are a lot of idiots out there!! I have to take an extra dose of patience when I’m at the parks or sometimes it almost ruins my day. ;-(
Great post. Some to add of my own –
1) If you have a small child and decide to put he/she on your shoulders to watch a parade, don’t stand in the front row! If you do, then hold your child in your arms normally.
2) I’m ok with a little PDA, but please don’t make out while your waiting in line for Space Mountain. Ugh.
3) Don’t yell and scream at your child in front of everyone. And especially don’t hit them. I’ve seen many of these “scenes” in my day at the parks.
This is all so true! I am glad to know I am not the only one. Especially in the Haunted Mansion and Pirates – I have been inside and on those attractions many, many times. I enjoy the dialogue each and every time. All too often others talk, take pictures and in general distract from the experience. The Haunted Mansion is supposed to be quiet and creepy/scary – not full of loud conversation and flash photography! And if I may add one suggestion – restaurants (especially)and holding areas for the attractions are not a playground for kids! All too often my party looks around and sees kids running wildly through the area, and the parents are entirely MIA – talking amongst themselves and completely ignoring the fact that the kids are disruptive and distracting. If you are looking for a playground to let your kids run wild, a restaurant or the holding area in Mickey’s Philharmagic is not the place! Disney attractions are not your personal babysitter! I would like to give a shout out to the cast members as well – especially those who become the character, i.e. the Haunted Mansion folks – we really appreciate and love the added experience!!
Some simple parade etiquette;
Pick up your garbage and dispose of properly. Just because Disney will sweep the street in not a reason to leave the rements of your meal next to the curb.
Note the time of the parade and allow enough time to find a spot to view the parade. Do not assume that every person sitting in the hot sun waiting would like to give your child space because you push in at the last minute.
And about the bag check…really is it necessary to bring everyting you own to the park?
P.S. I love find Disney and find most guests to be very enjoyable and polite.
Hi Jack! I have to say, this blog cracked me up, just because everything you said is sooooooo true!!! But, you forgot the one about wearing deoderant. There have been so many times when I’ve encountered guests who didn’t bother to put it on. It’s especially disgusting in confined places like The Tree of Life, Space Mountain, and waiting for the Haunted Mansion. 🙂
I loved this post! One night my family and I were sitting down for the Wishes fireworks, and a guy who happened to be a former cast member decided to make fun of the event that he “got so sick of hearing when he worked there” and proceeded to sing the entire Wishes song and narration. I still wonder to this day why he sat through the whole performance if he hated it so much! And my sister and I have run in the half marathon or full marathon in January every year for 6 years now, and let me tell you that getting hit in the back of the ankles over and over by the same stroller being pushed behind you the night before the race is not a fun experience. So, please, all of you with strollers, keep in mind that it is slow getting out at night and to keep enough space in front of your stroller so that you don’t hit people so hard in the backs of the ankles that it almost causes them to fall down and sit on your child!
What do you think about this Jack? On every trip to WDW I encounter people who think it’s OK for them to join park guests that they know who are already in line. I don’t mind if someone joins a guest in front of me when I’ve been in line for a minute or two but too often I see folks join a friend in line ahead of me after I’ve been in line for 30 minutes or more. Once when I was in line for Toy Story Midway Mania a group of 15 or so orange shirt clad guests joined a pair of orange shirt clad guests who were ahead of me and I had been in line for over an hour at that point. To me, if they want to ride together, the people who are ahead should come back to join their friends, not the other way around.
I like your code of conduct and I will try to follow it and be considerate of my fellow park guests. It reminds me very much of the code of conduct you should follow at a busy boat ramp. Get your boat ramp business done and then clear the ramp for the next folks, you can stow your gear when you have moved your rig somewhere else.
Thanks as always for your efforts jack!
Totally get what you mean about the backpack, but I have something to add to that. As someone who constantly caaries one at the park, I am usually well aware of the extra space I require, however, it seems that the people behind me are never paying attention, especially if they have a child. I don’t recall hitting anyone but TONS of people consistently are running into me. When in line, PAY ATTENTION to your surroundings!
Bravo! I’d like to add a note especially aimed at teenagers – don’t run at top speed in large groups through the parks! I’ve had my little ones knocked over, and more astonishing, one young man decided to vault over my twin stroller as he was chasing his pals. Needless to say, this didn’t end well – he flew into a lovely flowerbed after catching his foot on my toddler’s chin!
This should be a handout to each person who enters a Disney park! You hit all of my pet peeves, especially the people who stop. On the escalators or moving ramps this can be dangerous. I don’t know how mny times I’ve been behind a kid who just stops, or even backs up, as they reach the end of the ramp. And don’t even get me started on flash photography.
You were so close to one of my new pet peeves – people texting (or Facebooking, or whatever) on their bright cell phone screen in a dark area of an attraction. The stretching room at the Haunted Mansion seems to be a favorite place for this.
Thanks for a most excellent blog!
It’s all so true. I hate the theatre seating soooooo much and the inconsiderate photographers and the people who ram you with pushchairs and the idiots who stop in your way and don’t even get me started on people feeding the birds at the Flame Tree BBQ. Although I have been known to swear ‘a little’ on roller coasters. I shall make more effort on my August visit.
In defense of others from the UK, we don’t have outdoor designated smoking areas and F.C.U.K. has been a huge brand over here for 20+ years that we don’t even notice the correlation anymore until somebody else reminds us of it. I hope all these ‘other’ people from the UK, remember this.
Loved your article. I always laugh at the myth (at least I HOPE it’s a Disney myth!) in which a family stopped in the middle of main street to look at their park map, and a line formed behind them!
Yay! Thanks, Jack, for writing this! This is close to your stroller comment, but I cannot believe how many times I am in line for a ride and the person behind me is breathing on my neck or bumping into me. Seriously, standing as close to each other as possible won’t get us on the ride any quicker! 😉
I love this! I try to give people the benefit of the doubt whenever I can. Some people on the message boards complain about things that are clearly only commonly known to veteran visitors – newbies often don’t know better. And like you said- people are often so awed by everything around them, they lose their common sense.
But the ones that drive me crazy are the ones that people are specifically told about – like stopping in the middle of a row and taking photos in a dark attraction. I have seen people do both while being repeatedly told not to! The flash photo gif is absolutely perfect!
Brilliant. I love it. Should be read and signed before park entry for all guests. Is it bad to admit my brother and husband compete to get in as many people’s pictures as possible and yes they are grown men, I didn’t say mature!! Thank you.
Thanks for the reminders, which were entertaining with the pictures, and fair.
I always get out of the way from the wheelchairs, because I think that they had the option to get one of those huge scooters, and they didn’t… so they aren’t taking advantage of cheating the system. Not saying all scooters are trying to cheat the system, but some of them are.
I loved reading article. It made me laugh. Cause I have ran into a few of these people. LOL!!!
Great blog! I would add just on more to your list: Be aware of family groups and don’t cut in and start walking between a parent and their small child. Keeping track of small children is difficult in a crowded Disney park but it becomes much harder when people insist on wedging themselves in front of children walking with their parents.
Jack, excellent article! Also, please remember personal space..no need to stand on top of someone while waiting in line for an attraction..others folks dont need to smell your body. Please keep a nominal distance behind…great article!
Jack This is an awesome blog and should be printed and handed out at the entrance to the parks. All of these things happen so often and I get the impression from some people doing them that they feel the admission ticket is a license to do what “they” want. Like they are the only guests in the park. I would also like to add if you have many people in your party and you are getting tired or whatever reason walking slower than rest do not walk side by side by side by side, holding back a crowd behind you. Also the guests who think noone will see when they cup their cigarette in their hand and walk and smoke. It really is amazing how oblivious people can be sometimes. But overall I think most people at Disney are great and there for same reason I am.
Hi Jack,
As usual, great blog. I can relate to all your comments. It definitely has to be a challenge to maneuver strollers and wheelchairs in a crowded park. Unforunately, I saw a wheelchair hit the ankles of one poor man several times in a crowded crosswalk in Animal Kingdom. The wheelchair driver was outraged when the hurt man asked him to be careful. The situation quickly went bad and Disney cast members stepped in to separate the two. It was upsetting to me to see the individual in the wheelchair standing at the bus stop with no apparent disability just five minutes or so after the incident. It takes all kinds!
Thanks again, for a great summary of DisneyWorld do’s and don’ts.
MaryAnn
Ahh! Disney clipart! It’s everywhere!
lol Oh well. I dunno. You just get so excited with it =) And they were cute. This time!
THIS TIME.
I tend to cuss like a sailor but in the parks I find myself naturally just.. not doing it. It’s very odd. Otherwise, I stop in doors and stare like a deer in the headlights like everyone else. On the other hand, I’d rather sit on the outside of a row of seats. 1 out of 3 isn’t bad. Right?
I am slightly ashamed to admit I have “accidentally” stepped on the toes of people who have selfishly seated themselves smack dab in the center of a theater row (not all the way at the end as instructed) as I have been forced to crawl over and around them. And I laughed out loud the time my 5-year-old loudly inquired, “Why didn’t those people do what the teacher (cast member) told them?” That drew laughter from surrounding guests and embarassed blushes from the offenders!
Great article – I went to the F&W Festival for the 1st time last year and I must say what was the most annoying to me was those who came in groups and would stand in the middle of the walkway. The other thing I found annoying were those who came and drank so much as to be over the legal limit – I hope these people were not driving home that evening. I had a woman bump into me as we were leaving the park – she didn’t even have to say excuse me, I could smell the alcohol. Yes, the F&W is there to partake, just don’t overdo it.
Jack:
Great article and pix are even better. I think one thing you forgot in the wheel chair section is that you have to assume that the people in the motorized scooters are newbie drivers. At home they can probably walk a block, but walking 10 miles is beyond them so the family rents a scooter. So believe they don’t know what they are doing. And, if you are a scooter driver, just because you have 200 lbs of steel underneath you, you shouldn’t just plow full speed ahead and expect the crowds to part. Go with the flow and everyone is happy.
Thank you so much for this blog. Retuned from Disney World last week and the Backpack tip is right on. I can’t count how many times I got hit in the head by one will riding Disney buses. I was sitting and the person wearing the backpack was standing…..ouch.
Your comments about the treatment of cast members reminds me of one of my favorite stories from Epcot’s MouseGear.
I was in line behind a foreign guest who was checking out her purchases at the register while the cast member took time to clip the tags, wrap fragile items, etc. The guest was insulting the cast member in her native tongue to the amusement of her companions, including her mother!
When the cast member gave her her total in the guest’s native tongue, the girl turned ashen, realizing the cast member understood every word she said. I was proud of the cast member for keeping her composure as I’m not sure I’d have done the same. The girl did not apologize.
Great article. I kind of wish every guest had to read these rules prior to entering the parks. I definitely have to second Josh’s comment about saving spots in line.
I’d also like to add that parents should be watching their children and remain responsible for their actions. I sat on a boat ride in Epcot where the little girl sitting on her oblivious mom’s lap, hit me in the head 5 times within a very short boat ride. Even though I turned around with an irritated look after times 3, 4 and 5, the mother failed to say a word to me or the child about it.
That was great an very well said. I just find it amazing that people think they are the only ones that count when there in Disney. It’s called common courtsey which people lack nowadays.
Ex: I have been to Disney many of times but never Christmass. So here I am all happy at MVMCP in front of the Castle. Now it’s packed shoulder to shoulder no where to move. The man in front puts his daughter on his shoulders. Seriously !!! I thought that was so rude. I really wanted to say something but I didn’t cause I didn’t want to cause a problem. I said to my husband we would never have done that when our boys were little we have five. Common courtesy people please.
Your Disney Code of Conduct should be a must read & sign by guest when they ck in. lol Have a Magical Day everybody.
Roe ºOº
Another great blog, Jack.
I’m sure you will get lots of feedback on this blog!
I agree with (almost) all of your points. I tend to be a “middle of the theater seater”. But most of the theater attractions I do this on are about at 25% capacity, not packed houses.
Keep up the great work!
Dan
Great article! I just returned from our most recent trip and encountered every single thing you just highlighted and more. However, I do have patience and realize as you say, “tourists leave their brains at home”. I’m not innocent either as I’ve commited a few of those sins on my first few trips and when I was traveling with young children.
One note that you could add to the bag check rules is to take the bag off your body. The guards will not check a backpack on your back or a purse over your shoulder. It was amazing the number of times that I heard a guard requesting someone to remove their bag and lay it on the table, and then the tourist looking confused.
Thanks for this! Especially the ‘menu’ part. Once, I stood in line behind a guy for about 20 minutes at a QS location. When it was finally his turn, the cast member asked what he’d like. He looked baffled, and then spent the next 5-10 minutes looking over the menu, consulting with his family (who were sitting down, so shouting was involved) and asking “how are the burgers” to the cast member. ARGH.
I was a cast member for a year, and often had guests swear at me (usually when I asked them to stop doing something dangerous, like climbing right where the Illuminations torches come out of on the rocks in Epcot). It was disappointing and always upsetting, no matter how many times it happened.
I would add another: when you go to Epcot, stop making fun of the countries to the cast members who are from that country. It’s so insulting.
I love this. Many times I have attended a concert, function or park and have been so frustrated that I wanted to write a letter in the newspaper to tell people how to act.
The sad truth, as you stated, is that the people that need this most will never read it because they don’t realize they have a problem.
People need to have to read these rules before they enter the park.
Keep the great work coming, Pam
I forgot to add that I loved the pictures! LOL They are awesome!
Wonderful article! I especially agree with the groups of people forming a single file because like you, I’m always the one who yields! I really appreciate what you said about wheelchairs too, because believe me, if the impatient people ever had to push someone in them, they would be a lot more understanding.
I loved this…and I think everyone needs to be reminded of these things. We are all guilty (even if on accident) of some of these points.
I would like to add, I am always disapointed when I see a pregnant woman, an elderly man or woman, or a sleepy child who enters a crowded bus, and able bodied guests do not give up their seat to this person. If I see a little tike who is so tired I will give up my seat for them…or for anyone who seems tired or elderly, pregnant, etc. It saddens me…I see this EVERY time I ride the bus to and from the parks.
The one about diaper changing is huge! I’m so tired of seeing people change their kids on public benches, tables, etc. I’m going to sit & eat there…. use the changing table in the bathroom for goodness sake.
Even worse…using a drinking fountain as a baby bidet… Gaaa! Needless to say I won’t touch a public water fountain now!
I’ll admit I’ve accidentally walked through at least a couple photos, however, I would add please don’t make out in the background of my photo. I really don’t need to have the memory of your had on your girlfriends backside (or visa verse) in my photo album.
Also, people do the same things with strollers as they do with wheel chairs. I can keep up a pretty good pace pushing a stroller. There’s really no need for you to cut diagonally in front of me just because the stroller is shaped like a triangle. And if you do and I run over your heel, maybe you need to move a little faster.
This is a great blog! The last time I was at the “World” I remember thinking about each of these at least once! This almost makes me want to print a bunch out and hand it to every offender next time I go! 🙂
Someone mentioned not stopping in the middle of a crowded walk way and I think that is so true in Disney and everywhere! That has to be one of my biggest pet peeves, I can’t stand it!
Thank you, Jack! You’re speaking my language here. Sadly, common sense these days isn’t so common anymore. These tips are perfect for anyone visiting The World. Even knowing these things ahead of time doesn’t make it any easier when someone does something rude. You pay a lot of money to enjoy your day there, so it’s best just to take a deep breath and move on. Can’t we all just get along 🙂
Grest list. I’d add to the bag check, if you have only one or twofold in your party who have bags, send the rest through the no bag line. It helps cut down on the length of the bag line And you don’t have to worry about being separated as the no bag people can come meet you on the other side of the bag check table
Great blog, my pet peeves exactly, well said Jack! A few others:
– Put trash & gum in the trashcans, they are everywhere.
– If you are done eating at a table, leave so the next guest can enjoy it, don’t loiter and hang out reading the map to plan the rest of your day!
– Likewise if you are at a table and leave a mess, get a few napkins and wipe it up. In the busy months a CM might not have time to clean the table for the next guess.
– If you have to leave your party in a line at a ride, do not cut back through the line to get back to your party.
– Move all the way to the back of the bus, and pleases give up seats to the elderly and disabled is not merely a suggestion!
– Lastly, please shower and wear deoderant, I was in HOP next to a person who reaked of BO, was horribly bad!
Love the article. Must admit that I am sometimes “that guy” in the doorway. Sorry.
But if everyone takes only one thing from this article, please, please, PLEASE don’t use your %$#^%$#$ flash on Pirates.
I walk with a service dog so I’d like to add: Please do not try and suddenly walk in front of me. Like a wheelchair, it takes more than a moment to stop the momentum of walking with a dog. A very sudden stop can actually cause me to trip and fall. Also, please do not distract or disturb the dog. That means, do not say “hi” or talk to him. Don’t pet him. A distracted dog will miss a command and can overturn a wheelchair or walking partner in a millisecond if going in the wrong direction toward a stranger. Also, a medical alert dog can miss alerting to his owner and thus put him/her in medical jeopardy. Thanks for understanding.
One more to add: If you are an adult who forced your way in front of several children to watch the parade, please at least have the decency to sit down for the children behind you to see. I had a woman push her way in front of us with her stroller, park it directly in front of my family of 6, and she and her husband (and the stroller) stood and blocked all of us from seeing anything in the parade. It not only caused us to not be able to see, but the other 4 families that had gathered behind us to be unable to see as well.
“we live in a far more progressive society”? Oh dear…what are we progressing to?
I hope it’s not the repeat-vomiting children Kim Smith just remarked on earlier. That’s something I haven’t seen yet at Disney and hope I never do!
But I appreciate your clever artwork and will remember your tips. Thanks.
Another I would love to add for those who frequent Disney on a regular basis. We know that you know all of the words to every song and every pre-show, but please don’t feel the need to sing or talk along with the attraction. No one is impressed, but you.
Great reminders!
When Bruce Springsteen was on Late Night w/Jimmy Fallon earlier this spring, he told a story about how he & some musician friends were denied entrance to Disneyland back in the ’70s because of how they were dressed! Bruce! So he said they left & went to Knotts Berry Farm instead — where they were also denied admittance! Funny how things change.
LOL – love the pictures in this blog!! They crack me up!
I wholehartedly agree with all these tips! Especially the baby changing- a lady changed her baby at the restaurant table next to me- yuck!
When we were there in December, I was waiting with my sleeping son while my husband and daughter rode Splash Mountain in a little stone nook off to the left of the entrance before the steps. There was a large family from another country gathered and a little boy in the group kept trying to tell them that he had to use the restroom. The adults told him to “go over there.” An older boy led him to a corner of the walkway and he urinated on the pavement! I was appalled. It all happened so fast, I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I have spoken to the boys? Confronted the adults? (I didn’t speak their langauage) Notified a cast member? (there wasn’t one nearby at all). By the time I could stand up and gather my stroller, the group had hurried off. I am still unsettled by the event!
I can believe, but am horrified that your cast member friend has had people treat her in that manner. I used to wait tables and have seen behavior like that firsthand. I guess it’s that special way that Disney has of making us feel like the park is there just for us.
And I have seen my fair share of ladies wearing mini skirts/shorts with low cut halter tops and 6 inch heels. Not to mention the thong spotted at Blizzard Beach. Let’s keep the most magical place on Earth magical people!
sorry for the novel
PS- Holy cow! When was that picture taken at the Magic Kingdom entrance (with Pocohontas)?? Christmas week? That crowd is insane!
And one more I would add…. if you or your kid is throwing up or sick, stay home instead of stocking up on bags for them to throw up in in the parks. I know people probably think they spent all this money and don’t want to miss out but it’s just going to get a lot of other people sick and make them all miss out.
I’m embarassed to admit that pushing a stroller through crowded Main Street has caused me to hit more a few ankles… and I’ve probably done others on this list. However, I agree with all of it and think a lot of them should be applied everywhere! Especially the walking on sidewalks side by side and just stopping in the middle of traffic. Thanks for all the entertaining blogs!
Thanks for the great reminders. All of us are guilty at one time or another. I often walk in front of people taking pictures without realizing it. I especially like the escalator reminders. On my last visit I had a near collision in the Land when a family stopped at the bottom of the escalator just as I reached the bottom. Luckily they moved away just in time. My best advice is when someone does something annoying is to take a deep breath and have lots of patience.
Hi Jack,
Thank you for this entry and I agree on every point that you made (and I thought the pictures were fun too!)
I was a cast member at Disneyland years ago and while I met so many great guests and wonderful people, there were still a fair share of rude ones. It was always hard to have to tell a child that they were too small to ride a certain attraction, but what made it even worse was when the parents would get upset and yell at the cast members because their child was not tall enough. Height requirements are there for a reason and the cast member is only saying no because its not safe for the child to ride, not because they want to be mean.
I think that as guests we should all be cooperative and kind to the cast members who spend all day standing in the sun and do it with a smile on their face no matter what has happened to them that day.
Thank you SO MUCH for these reminders! I think you hit on almost every pet peeve out there.
A tip for bag check, have your bags open and ready to go before you get to the person checking the bags! I have a large camera bag w/many pockets and when I get up to the table, I typically take the time I’m waiting while the security guard checks the person across from me to open my bag’s pockets. 2 seconds later, I’m through the line and off to the side zipping everything back up.
Jack,
Always look forward to your blogs and this did not disappoint…one of my favorites. One thing did come to mind that you may have overlooked….when a group STOPS in the middle of a thoroughfare for a variety of reasons (look at a map, grab something out of a stroller, discuss the Proclamation of 1763). It only takes a few seconds to move to the side and not block the flow of traffic.
Can you also add…
Please if you are in a large group, don’t have 2 family members go get in line for a ride and save places for the other 10 in the group and have them all cut in front of you. Make sure the whole group gets in together. This has happened many times to my mom and I. If it’s a family of 4 and mom takes one of the kids to the bathroom, we don’t mind but when a whole bunch come into a “saved” spot it’s annoying.
hey jack
I admit i have committed some of the acts listed on your blog once in a while but overall I feel I am a good visitor when it comes to the disney parks. I have encountered other guests who seem not to care about some of these conduts especially the one about sitting in the middle of the theater. I hope that this blog helps get your message out because it is an important one. can’t wait for your next blog and as always keep up the great work.
I really enjoyed this post. You brought up some VERY key points. I have to say the “Theater Seating” really gets me. I mean, seriously people, how many times do they need to say MOVE ALL THE WAY DOWN and they remain stagnant? It’s very irritating. But worse is that I let it irritate me. Hah! BTW, great job with the characters in the photos. Captain Hook and crew getting on to the People Mover was great as was Pochahontas whipping her hair. Very cute funny! Have a great day!
To quote from one of my favorite attractions, “Yes, John (in this case Jack) you’re a genius!” Well said.