what was the best WDW guest meltdown you've observed

[Wendy Pleakley]

My dad caused a bit of a meltdown once. My sister was terrified of riding POTC because of the drop (I'm sure my teasing didn't help), so it was decided my mom and I would ride while dad & sister waited. A few minutes later my sister is screaming because dad decided to ride after all, and he was carrying my crying sister through the queue to join us.

One I witnessed was at Epcot. It was shortly before Illuminations and it was in a very small restroom, the one with just a couple of stalls. Guy walks in asking to cut ahead because his young child really has to go to the bathroom right away. The guy in line refused, saying he had been waiting a while and wasn't about to give up his spot. The young kid ends up crapping his pants and the dad berated the other guest for not letting him cut ahead to use the toilet.

 

[LAKid53]

No match for the Smog in LA, it removes your ability to reason.

Fortunately, I grew up in the hills ABOVE LA, so that smog never touched my brain. At least that's my excuse.....

 

[Goofyernmost]

I've had two 'meltdowns' myself. Although they were more 'speak my mind' and less uncontrolled outburst.

One was with a huge batch of line cutters (one person saved spot at buses for another 30). I spoke up. Crowd support was significant.

The second was with a guy who pushed (granted it was gently) my wife before she could sit down, because he wanted the bench. Many have heard the story, but I wanted to say again how impressed I was with the CM's for separating us very quickly. It was like they have magic teleporters or something.

I have not ever witnessed any major meltdowns (physical altercations) at WDW. I have at Six Flags, but that's another topic. A few moderates @ WDW here and there and tons of minor.

Moderate: I was at the bus stops (a common theme with stress it seems) with about a 20 minute line (a long time after a full day at park) when a group of about 8 scooters (seems entire family just got them for fun) rolled up and took their place at the front of the line. Another guy in the line had a moderate meltdown and was very loudly exclaiming his displeasure with the new surprise wait time and line cutting. It was awkward, but I felt his pain.

Moderate: I have seen on multiple occasions people smacking the snot out of their kids. I though the era of corporal punishment has passed, but when you have people from all around the world in one place, you get to witness some wild parenting techniques.

Mild: Profanity is expressly prohibited, but I hear it all the time.

Mild: Family members snapping at each other

Mild: Young children going bezerk after just a ton too much stimulation for hours and hours on end.

That seems odd that they would get upset by that since only two can be loaded anyway. It's not like they are all going to get on the same bus.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

I remember one time earlier this year. My family an I were leaving EPCOT for our home resort. It was a busy night. So much so in fact that they brought in MEARS contract buses to help ferry guests to their resorts. They were plain white buses. Kinda weird when you are used to seeing the Disney Transport buses. Well, anyway. There was a bunch of us in the queue waiting for the bus. Our buss pulls up and this family that is just walking up tries to run directly the front door of the bus by bypassing the entire queue. Our entire queue started yelling at them almost in unison. STOP!!! GET TO THE BACK LINE! and a few more choice words were used as well. I kinda felt bad for the family afterwords. But like I said it was a crazy night and I guess everyone had their fill of line cutters.

 

[Phineas]

We were staying at Pop Century in July. Basically guaranteeing us the opportunity to constantly wait for multiple buses to come at the end of the night, before having any hopes of getting to stand on board, let alone get a seat. So after a long day in the parks, filled with tremendous heat and clapping, chanting Brazilians shoving us out of the way, I'm exhausted, and my feet are killing me. I'm walking with a limp-(I'm reasonably sure I have plantar fasciitis that will rear its ugly head badly enough to bring me to the doctor someday ), we decide we are NOT standing on a bus, let people pass us, and opt to wait for the next bus to come, so we'll be first in line, and get a seat.

So another bus comes, we go into the far back and sit. This bus is also filled to capacity, people standing. I keep my head down, staring at the floor. I needed to decompress. Then someone taps my shoulder. It's this 40-something year old guy, who looks sternly at me and says:

"Hey pal, how about being a man and giving your seat to my wife?"

I just stared at him. his wife said "Honey, no. I'm fine. We're fine." I look back down. Then, some other woman, not even with these people, starts screaming at me.

"Why DON'T you get up for them?! It's so disgusting how rude you are, you're young enough to stand! You could at least offer to give up that seat to those of us with kids! We've been walking all day!"

So after being emasculated by that guy, and finding myself getting berated by this monster of a woman, I decide (along with my feet) that enough is enough. I don't yell. I make eye contact with her, and say in complete monotone:

"I waited for this bus so I could get a seat. You could have done the same thing. I was walking just as much as you."

She came back with-"BUT MY KIDS...!"

"It's not my fault that you decided to procreate."

"YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE!"

"Have a magical day."

I didn't raise my voice once, just kept that low monotone. I heard her whisper-ranting to her husband, going through the laundry list of 4-letter words to apply to me. I didn't care.

 

[jloucks]

We were staying at Pop Century in July. Basically guaranteeing us the opportunity to constantly wait for multiple buses to come at the end of the night, before having any hopes of getting to stand on board, let alone get a seat. So after a long day in the parks, filled with tremendous heat and clapping, chanting Brazilians shoving us out of the way, I'm exhausted, and my feet are killing me. I'm walking with a limp-(I'm reasonably sure I have plantar fasciitis that will rear its ugly head badly enough to bring me to the doctor someday ), we decide we are NOT standing on a bus, let people pass us, and opt to wait for the next bus to come, so we'll be first in line, and get a seat.

So another bus comes, we go into the far back and sit. This bus is also filled to capacity, people standing. I keep my head down, staring at the floor. I needed to decompress. Then someone taps my shoulder. It's this 40-something year old guy, who looks sternly at me and says:

"Hey pal, how about being a man and giving your seat to my wife?"

I just stared at him. his wife said "Honey, no. I'm fine. We're fine." I look back down. Then, some other woman, not even with these people, starts screaming at me.

"Why DON'T you get up for them?! It's so disgusting how rude you are, you're young enough to stand! You could at least offer to give up that seat to those of us with kids! We've been walking all day!"

So after being emasculated by that guy, and finding myself getting berated by this monster of a woman, I decide (along with my feet) that enough is enough. I don't yell. I make eye contact with her, and say in complete monotone:

"I waited for this bus so I could get a seat. You could have done the same thing. I was walking just as much as you."

She came back with-"BUT MY KIDS...!"

"It's not my fault that you decided to procreate."

"YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE!"

"Have a magical day."

I didn't raise my voice once, just kept that low monotone. I heard her whisper-ranting to her husband, going through the laundry list of 4-letter words to apply to me. I didn't care.

I happen to agree with you. I am tired of people for whatever reason thinking they are somehow more entitled than other people for any unearned reason. Unpopular I know, but in the grand scheme of things, unless you are somehow actually better than me (some are), then you are no better than me and don't get to *insert entitled privilege here*. Ironically, that really gets some peoples hackles up.

You gave up time for a seat. To be asked to abandon your time investment is incredibly selfish.

If I want to give up some of my assets (time, energy, etc.) for another person I will, but don't vilify me if I chose not to give up one of these assets for whatever reason.

People always undervalue time. It boggles my mind. The most valuable commodity in the universe is squandered so readily. Weird. ...However people also readily steal it from one another. Considering its value, most are surprisingly very calm about it.

 

[Flyersgirl17]

last year during the MNSSHP, a little girl(maybe5) was dressed as tinkerbell and of course her mom had to match her-dress, wings, hair, glitter, the works. It was October but it was probably 90 degrees at 9pm and it was muggy. It was right before the fireworks so many people were gathered in front of the castle. The little girl looked tired and hot and sweaty. She was crying and said "Mommy i wanna go home". The mom then proceeded to tell her child how ungrateful she was and how she spent all this money for matching outfits, and the tickets, and the bibity-Bop boutique, etc. It was really embarrassing that a grown woman had to yell (and i mean YELL) at this child who just had enough of the day.

 

[DisneyManOne]

It'll be a grand and glorious day when Brazilian tour groups are banned from Walt Disney World.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Another time on a Disney bus everyone was on their way home to their resort from a long day in the Parks. Someone onboard had a crying child. We have 3 kids so are understanding. Well, one woman onboard had enough. After a few minutes of the child crying, this lady screamed out. shut that kid up. To which the entire bus told the lady to shut up. It was a great moment. I love those times when the entitled get put in their place.

 

[bpadair32]

I happen to agree with you. I am tired of people for whatever reason thinking they are somehow more entitled than other people for any unearned reason. Unpopular I know, but in the grand scheme of things, unless you are somehow actually better than me (some are), then you are no better than me and don't get to *insert entitled privilege here*. Ironically, that really gets some peoples hackles up.

You gave up time for a seat. To be asked to abandon your time investment is incredibly selfish.

If I want to give up some of my assets (time, energy, etc.) for another person I will, but don't vilify me if I chose not to give up one of these assets for whatever reason.

People always undervalue time. It boggles my mind. The most valuable commodity in the universe is squandered so readily. Weird. ...However people also readily steal it from one another. Considering its value, most are surprisingly very calm about it.

I completely agree that no one should have asked or expected him to give up his seat. That said, I always offer my seat to women, children, elderly, etc.

Another time on a Disney bus everyone was on their way home to their resort from a long day in the Parks. Someone onboard had a crying child. We have 3 kids so are understanding. Well, one woman onboard had enough. After a few minutes of the child crying, this lady screamed out. shut that kid up. To which the entire bus told the lady to shut up. It was a great moment. I love those times when the entitled get put in their place.

Its Disney, kids go all day and have a great time. They are tired and cranky at the end of the night. If you can't deal with that, don't go!

 

[Matt_Black]

News flash- kids will be tired and cranky at the end of a long day anywhere. Most adults too, now that I think on it.

 

[G00fyDad]

I happen to agree with you. I am tired of people for whatever reason thinking they are somehow more entitled than other people for any unearned reason. Unpopular I know, but in the grand scheme of things, unless you are somehow actually better than me (some are), then you are no better than me and don't get to *insert entitled privilege here*. Ironically, that really gets some peoples hackles up.

You gave up time for a seat. To be asked to abandon your time investment is incredibly selfish.

If I want to give up some of my assets (time, energy, etc.) for another person I will, but don't vilify me if I chose not to give up one of these assets for whatever reason.

People always undervalue time. It boggles my mind. The most valuable commodity in the universe is squandered so readily. Weird. ...However people also readily steal it from one another. Considering its value, most are surprisingly very calm about it.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. No one is "better than you". We are all equal regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other defining factor. For someone to be able to make you feel that they are better than you only shows how useless that person really is in the grand scheme of things.

 

[DisneyOutsider]

Here's my favorite:

Was there on Christmas eve 2014 with my wife, park was open until 1am or 2am. It was getting kinda late and it had been raining A LOT and it was still coming down. We went on the 'Jingle Cruise' for the first time.

There was a family towards the back of the boat that kept standing up to try to avoid the rain dripping from the roof of the boat and splashing them. Apparently this is a big no-no to stand while the boat is in motion. After 3 or so very reasonable and mild-mannered requests for them to remain seated, the skipper stopped the boat and became VERY stern and direct with them that they needed to sit down immediately or we could not continue. The offending family was very upset at this, as they pleaded that the mother in the family was getting soaked and that they are covering her to make her less miserable. The CM was unrelenting and sternly ordered them to stay seated. The family continued to angrily shout back, but after a minute or so they begrudgingly decided to comply and sat down so the boat could continue.

So we get to the part of the cruise where an elephant pops up out of the river and shoots a huge stream of water. IDK if it always happens like this or if the timing was just perfect, but the stream of water came into the boat and NAILED their entire family. They were the only ones who got hit with it and they went BEZERK... accusing the Skipper of making the elephant soak them on purpose.

At this point I was dying in laughter at the whole situation, while feeling really bad for the CM who had to take all of their verbal abuse. It was my first ever Christmas at Disney and that story was a small part of probably my most memorable night at the Magic Kingdom ever.

 

[ULPO46]

Mine isn't a meltdown. How ever the craziest thing I have ever seen was a single mother running through the MK park screaming at the top of her lungs looking for her lost daughter. Everyone around her looked frightened. I didn't stay around much longer but I hope she found her daughter soon there after. This was something like 10years ago. Something I will never forget. Something else I wont ever forget is June 10,2010. I stood in line for WWHP and my god the things I saw people do!

 

[G00fyDad]

Mine isn't a meltdown. How ever the craziest thing I have ever seen was a single mother running through the MK park screaming at the top of her lungs looking for her lost daughter. Everyone around her looked frightened. I didn't stay around much longer but I hope she found her daughter soon there after. This was something like 10years ago. Something I will never forget. Something else I wont ever forget is June 10,2010. I stood in line for WWHP and my god the things I saw people do!

Saw this happen once at Kings Island about 20 years ago. A mother was frantically searching for her son at the front gates while screaming/crying his name as loud as she could. Horrible.

 

[jloucks]

That seems odd that they would get upset by that since only two can be loaded anyway. It's not like they are all going to get on the same bus.

The lines were pretty long, we had a couple more buses to go. Scooter penalties

I'm sorry, but I disagree. No one is "better than you". We are all equal regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other defining factor. For someone to be able to make you feel that they are better than you only shows how useless that person really is in the grand scheme of things.

I see what you are saying. The law is in total agreement with you. I just have a hard time comparing my value as a human to doctors that train here in the U.S. and then go to poor countries and devote their lives to charity work and sharing their hard earned skills to help others. That is just one of many examples that I was thinking of when I made that statement. Legally I am wrong, but ethically I think these people are more valuable than I. A much more extreme example would be comparing the charity doctor to a mass murder.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

We were staying at Pop Century in July. Basically guaranteeing us the opportunity to constantly wait for multiple buses to come at the end of the night, before having any hopes of getting to stand on board, let alone get a seat. So after a long day in the parks, filled with tremendous heat and clapping, chanting Brazilians shoving us out of the way, I'm exhausted, and my feet are killing me. I'm walking with a limp-(I'm reasonably sure I have plantar fasciitis that will rear its ugly head badly enough to bring me to the doctor someday ), we decide we are NOT standing on a bus, let people pass us, and opt to wait for the next bus to come, so we'll be first in line, and get a seat.

So another bus comes, we go into the far back and sit. This bus is also filled to capacity, people standing. I keep my head down, staring at the floor. I needed to decompress. Then someone taps my shoulder. It's this 40-something year old guy, who looks sternly at me and says:

"Hey pal, how about being a man and giving your seat to my wife?"

I just stared at him. his wife said "Honey, no. I'm fine. We're fine." I look back down. Then, some other woman, not even with these people, starts screaming at me.

"Why DON'T you get up for them?! It's so disgusting how rude you are, you're young enough to stand! You could at least offer to give up that seat to those of us with kids! We've been walking all day!"

So after being emasculated by that guy, and finding myself getting berated by this monster of a woman, I decide (along with my feet) that enough is enough. I don't yell. I make eye contact with her, and say in complete monotone:

"I waited for this bus so I could get a seat. You could have done the same thing. I was walking just as much as you."

She came back with-"BUT MY KIDS...!"

"It's not my fault that you decided to procreate."

"YOU'RE UNBELIEVABLE!"

"Have a magical day."

I didn't raise my voice once, just kept that low monotone. I heard her whisper-ranting to her husband, going through the laundry list of 4-letter words to apply to me. I didn't care.

Good for you! That is one of my pet peeves, people that think they should get the seat when they come dragging up to the bus at the last second just because they have kids. I waited you can wait.

 

[Minnie1986]

Good for you! That is one of my pet peeves, people that think they should get the seat when they come dragging up to the bus at the last second just because they have kids. I waited you can wait.

Good for you! A- plantar fasciitis is a $&?!@( I have it) and B- for all they knew, you are disabled and needed the seat! People can be so damn rude! Also, if your kids don't want to stand/walk, don't bring them to an amusement park!

 

[Minnie1986]

And I bet he was banned for life. Sure hope the mom got the kids back. And filed for divorce.

If I were that man's wife, I would've gotten my kids back and filed for divorce! Those poor kids were probably scared out of their minds. What a jerk!

 

[POLY LOVER]

Good for you! A- plantar fasciitis is a $&?!@( I have it) and B- for all they knew, you are disabled and needed the seat! People can be so damn rude! Also, if your kids don't want to stand/walk, don't bring them to an amusement park!

its ashame people make judgements about people based on what they see on the surface and never know what health issues people have that are not apparent by just looking at them. Its our world snap judgements.