Entertaining things I've discovered at Disney that aren't on the brochure

[crispy]

Why be sad? I was seeing a couple girls during my cp's and the best times I had in the parks was when I was by myself.

I got to go on anything I wanted when I wanted as many times as I wanted.

Well, we just didn't need to know that....oh, you meant touring the park by yourself. NEVERMIND!

 

[MaxsDad]

I find look-a-likes to pass the time sometimes. Some just look lkie people we know, others are celebs, etc.

One new past time I just discovered on my recent somewhat frustrating vacation is a new game for waiting in slow moving stand by lines. I call it "How many faces can you find planted in a cell phone screen instead of spending time with their friends/family standing right there beside them?" I got as high as 10 in a 60+ minute SINGLE RIDER line at RnR.

 

[crispy]

On another note, we were once waiting in line to get in AK when I hear the lady behind me loudly whisper to her husband, "That cast member thought we worked here!" and just laughed delightedly. I turned around to see an older woman and her husband dressed like safari guides including hats. I have a feeling that she had been planning that outfit for months in advance.

 

[Bob]

And, surprisingly, I hear people pass gas a lot. Like a lot a lot. I think they don't think people can hear them cause they do it all non-nonchalantly .But, I can definitely hear you. And, even worse, I can definitely smell you. But, I'm a mom, so I'm used to terrible smells. Comes with the bizz.

If they're walking when they're doing that, we say that someone is "crop dusting".

 

[GenerationX]

I'm a WDW veteran snob, so I'm amused by folks stopping in the middle of anywhere to unfold their park map. Bonus chuckles from me if I hear they're trying to find something like Tower of Terror or Spaceship Earth.

 

[katiekinzakat]

Tourist watching is like the greatest thing. Even though I was stuck working at the parks on my 21st birthday, afterwards I witnessed quite possibly some of the greatest shenanigans ever that almost made up for it:

First, we saw a giant egret in Frontierland eyeing a tourist's turkey leg. Sensing that something was about to go down, we stopped and watched for a bit. Sure enough the bird sneaks up behind the man and snatches the meat right out of the guys hand. It was the greatest bit of bird cannibalism I have ever witnessed.
Later as we rightfully made our way to Epcot, we witnessed a lady pushing her husband in a rental stroller while her kid walked. It was fantastic.
Also, we witnessed some father in the Pirates queue lift up his infant and place him on top of one of the column things in the line and then snap a picture of it. Clearly safety isn't really a priority.

Seriously though, people are crazy.

 

[Marc Gil]

It's sad, but I can't count how many times I've overheard an angry Hispanic woman threaten her child with a beating if they didn't stop crying... Lol

 

[Ron Burgundy]

It's sad, but I can't count how many times I've overheard an angry Hispanic woman threaten her child with a beating if they didn't stop crying... Lol

I've actually heard a parent say to their child... "If you ever tell me -no- again I will whip you! Do you want a whippin' !??!?" I felt bad for the kid who was paralyzed with options and refused to answer.

 

[Black Pearl]

My wife and I were in line for candy at the Halloween party during our honeymoon last year when a woman on a motorized scooter in front of her says in a very Roz/rude manner "Uhh .... I'm with them", as if my wife wanted to cut (not sure why she would have thought that other than we were curving with the line).

I told my wife later that I held back telling the woman that I really liked her Bi!€H costume, and throwing the banana I received at her.

 

[Marc Gil]

I've actually heard a parent say to their child... "If you ever tell me -no- again I will whip you! Do you want a whippin' !??!?" I felt bad for the kid who was paralyzed with options and refused to answer.

Horrible.. another instance was when I was taking the FriendShips to DHS. A little boy was begging his Mom to let him sit on her lap to see the water. The Mom got so fed up with it, I heard her say "Quiet, or I'll slap the bejesus out of you!" While it ending the obnoxious whining and screaming, I felt kind of bad for the little guy.

 

[rob0519]

This is my apprentice, Darth Maul.

He will clear the route for your parade!

Okay, first of all, it is never ok for anyone to push a child as was done in this video. How Disney handles this is between them and the family of this young man.

That being said, where were the parents who should have been keeping him out of the street and away from the parade characters to start with? We have a special needs son as well and in a crowd situation like that he is always at our side and out of harms way. Does anyone else find it odd that the child was so far away from the parents that they did not immediately run to the child's side? Sorry, but I see two parties that could have handled this better.

 

[AllyInWonderland]

Okay, first of all, it is never ok for anyone to push a child as was done in this video. How Disney handles this is between them and the family of this young man.

That being said, where were the parents who should have been keeping him out of the street and away from the parade characters to start with? We have a special needs son as well and in a crowd situation like that he is always at our side and out of harms way. Does anyone else find it odd that the child was so far away from the parents that they did not immediately run to the child's side? Sorry, but I see two parties that could have handled this better.

Exactly! Darth Maul was just doing his job. Terrible parenting right there! I usually avoid that video because it just makes me angry..........and because I like Darth Maul.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Exactly! Darth Maul was just doing his job. Terrible parenting right there! I usually avoid that video because it just makes me angry..........and because I like Darth Maul.

In light of some of the things Darth Maul -could- have done, I'd say this kid got off easy. I mean.. I've seen the Star Wars movies. **electricity noise**

 

[englanddg]

I've seen this video before, and the time it took for the parents to produce it with their own mock outrage is telling.

Could the situation have been handled better by the CM? Certainly. Could the parents have kept better control their child, whom they KNOW has trouble understanding social norms and proper behaviors (of no fault of his own)? Absolutely. It was a sad incident, and frankly I don't think anyone is at direct fault.

That being said, if my kid (who is perfectly normal, as far as I know) would also have tried to do the same thing, and I would have yanked her back so fast the moment she crossed the parade line her eyes would have jumped out of her sockets.

I've done costume work in hot and crowded environments, and I can tell you...you will be attacked.

Kids will hit you, smack you in the private spots, punch you, bite you, kick you, rip off your head or costume, etc...list goes on. Many times with parents urging them on or laughing along.

I even did some professional sports mascot work where ADULTS (with some liquid encouragement) tried the same (hello Greenville and Jacksonville hockey fans, if you are tuning in, I'm thinking of YOU!)

Now, I'm not implying that "little Joe" was attempting to attack Maul...but, the video makes a very convenient use of a "still frame" to imply he was looking for a "high five", and was unjustly physically rejected, which the previous scenes in the same video, when taken in real time, looks a lot more like he was trying to swat Maul, rather than asking for a high five...you know...where you hold your hand up in anticipation of a response?

I also find it telling that "little Joe" looked back at his parents right before he ventured out, who were gleefully filming the entire incident, before proceeding (which implies he was looking for parental approval, which, he either got an affirmative from them through positive action or inaction as they were so consumed with filming)...

In any case, the kid wasn't harmed, outside of being a bit shook up and probably and understandably upset...

But, his parents trying to turn this into a claim of massive emotional and long term meaningful harm? That I don't buy, condition aside.

The whole case just reeks of sad opportunism to me.

 

[Radok Block]

I've done mascot work too, and although 99% of the people are cool, there's always somebody who thinks it's funny to have a go at you. (I'm pretty sure this is why we have to wait 90+ minutes in line to meet characters now.) I totally get why Maul pushed that kid back. I wouldn't have been as rough about it, but yeah, I would have directed him off the parade route too.

 

[wild01ride]

Tease

I second the motion!

 

[tare]

People watching is the greatest

 

[dvitali]

Love counting the number of Amish and people from other countries dress in their native costume in MK, and other parks then counting the numbers of teenagers with wedding ears and hats who is too young to be married.