I've worked at Kilimanjaro Safaris for a year now and I can tell you that number 5 (or some variation of it) happens all the time.
One memorable afternoon we were rounding the corner and a guest said "there's the lady elephant!" I knew immediately it was the bull because they're kept in a separate location from the females. Anyway, just as I was beginning to correct the woman we rounded the corner and the penis came into view. I paused and deadpanned, "that is not a female elephant."
Wow. What is wrong with some people? Some are just dumb, but some people are jerks. Always great to know that going on a ride is more important than the safety of your child.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
Wow to some of those, especially the break up one. I know when The Haunted Mansion first opened at Disneyland, and the same thing happened with the Adventures in Inner Space ride the year before in Tomorrowland, there were so many issues at their New Years Grad Night with couples having sex that during different years they would either have extra lights in the rides, or close them altogether. Something about those clam shell vehicles...
WDW opened when I was a senior in h.s. in Florida, so on a whim my best friend and I drove up to check it out. Now keep in mind the year was 1971 and people could smoke in a lot of places they can't now--but Disney lines and rides were smoke-free areas.
We boarded the Haunted House ride and as soon it got dark, the kid in the car in front of us lit up a Marlboro. Then, just before we reached the "ballroom" section, an attendant mysteriously and suddenly appeared through the black curtains, took the cigarette from the kid's mouth and disappeared the same way she came in.
Needless to say, it was far more startling that anything on the actual ride.
***
But here's the super, secret (if second-hand) scoop: my sister managed a Disney Store in Pittsburgh. (Do they still have those?) All new managers had to come to Anaheim for a week of orientation that included a tour of Walt's office, just as he left it with paper clips and used Kleenex in place.
The climax of the week was "graduation" when the adult students had to form a circle, hold hands, and sing "M-I-C, K-E-Y, M-O-U-S-E," etc. No lie. My sister isn't the type to make up a good story.
Been years since I went to WDW, but little kid on a leesh getting dragged about 30 feet by their parent/guardian on the walking surface until other park atendees called them out on it sticks out in memory.
Yeah, people seem to think they can do whatever they want now and nobody will stop them or they can complain to get them in trouble.
I still don't get why people think bringing kids somewhere not appropriate for them saves money on a babysitter. You still have to pay for stuff for them. You might as well use that money on a babysitter.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
I think it's interesting to look at footage from the opening day of Disneyland. You see almost no strollers with toddlers there. The kids who are there are all old enough to walk (and run) on their own.
Young kids, yes. Babies in strollers, no.
I wonder why that changed. It's so different now. And most of those strollers are as big as SUVs with a "designer running shoe" look to them. I don't get that.
Oh, and the worst are those toddler "covered wages" that parents pull around, like they're crossing the great prairie.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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best, it is a byproduct of the "helicopter parent". The wee ones have to come everywhere and everything has to be appropriate for a tot... If it is not, HOW DARE YOU?!? It used to be that you could get a sitter or a relative to sit while you take the other ones on an outing, but now you have parents who a. do not want to allow their child out of their sight because they are terrified of the world or b. think that good parenting means being physically present 100% of the time.
She we talk about bars and restaurants? I often go to a particular bar / restaurant and mid-day / early happy hour can sometimes be interrupted by parents with screaming children that parents have lugged out in strollers so that they can have a cocktail while the kids make a commotion and the other adults in the bar have to watch their words around little ears. The other day found me at brunch with a friend when 4 couples with multiple small children each arrived, parked their strollers outside like a parking lot (and somewhat blocking the entry) and lugged all their toys inside... without stopping at the host stand, one of the kids ran right for one a group of tables and claimed their spot, demanding to sit there - of course, the parents insisted because the kid wanted it. As they were handed menus, two of the mothers insisted that tv TVs behind the bar, all broadcasting different games, be changed to children;s programming for the kids while they were there and have a FIT that the establishment wouldn't oblige. One of the kids became antsy and, NO JOKE, started riding though the place on a scooter! Not to forget the couple who showed up next to us halfway through the meal with a young boy and an infant girl where the mother lugged food from home in her bag for the two kids and then proceeded to use condiments to draw pictures on the side plates to amuse the kids, eventually asking for several more from the bar so that she could keep redoing it until the kids were happy with their pictures (I think she went through 7 or 8..), the father giving the screaming infant his credit card to play with (yes, credit card) and both parents just sucking down a steady steam of bloody marys.
Are those Disney, no. But it speaks to the mentality of lugging the small ones and forgetting that family means appropriate for a varity of ages and not catering to the stroller set.
A few years ago I was at a now defunct restaurant in midtown when the hostess seated a four top and what appeared to be a 2 or 3 month old baby. The mother was offended that the restaurant wouldn't her allow to place the child carrier on one of the restaurant chairs. The manager explained that if the carrier fell out of the chair the restaurant could be liable for any injuries. The adults ordered cocktails and the baby began loudly crying. The mother gave the baby a bottle to no avail. We asked the waitress to ask them to leave. She said she couldn't because of fear of lawsuits. Finally, a woman at nearby screamed at them -- "WILL YOU TAKE THAT F*CKING BABY OUTSIDE? YOU ARE RUINING OUR DINNER! WE HAVE CHILDREN BUT WE LEAVE THEM AT HOME WHEN WE GO OUT!" The other patrons in the restaurant started clapping and the woman took the baby out to sidewalk where you could still hear it screaming every time the restaurant door opened.
The problem today is many parents believe their children are little darlings. And everybody should think the same as they do. Heaven forbid, you accuse their little darling of any wrong, because their child would not do such a thing. That is why many children, today, are not taught accountability and responsibility. And later in life, have no regard for others.
I was in Disneyland last January and was amazed at the parents who bring the infants to the park. We are talking 6 and 8 week old infants - yes, I asked. They respond with pride about it bring their first trip. WHY! The baby won't remember it. They have to tote around a diaper bag with all the contents.
The worst part about the hiding babies stories is that you just need to talk to an employee on the ride and they'll set it up so that mom can go first while dad holds the baby, then dad goes on while mom holds the baby. I've seen it dozens of times at the park. Standard policy. They make the other parent wait in the exit lane and then an employee walks the parent who waited right onto the ride.
I saw a fat idiot in a rented scooter knock down a four year old and stop to yell at the four year old for getting in his way. I saw it because the idiot then backed up into me and tried to start a fight. I don't fight and I feared the idiot would drop dead from exertion if he tried. He had no trouble getting out of the cart and starting to walk toward me. It was the first time I saw security pop out of nowhere that didn't involve a missing child in Disney parks. Security made sure the man who was running down other guests in a scooter had no trouble walking from Fantasyland to the nearest exit.
Different hoveround story. A young disabled veteran with two prosthetic legs was trying to get on the Finding Nemo ride. The employee offered to stop the carts and help him but he insisted on doing it himself. Some fat idiot in a rented hoverround started a scene about how they better not expect him to walk that fast to get on a ride. The vet and his family just sat down when the carts stopped. The fat idiot was screaming "Stop the cars!" into the employees ear and she stopped the cars. He then got up, shoved the cart at the woman, and walked without issue--faster than necessary to get on the ride--into the ride car. He got booed by the line and told us to go eff ourselves. I didn't see him near the exit so I think some Disney magic removed him from the park.
At least the staff are mostly nice. I sat front row for someone's first time running the Great Movie Ride alone as the tour guide--the other employees wished her good luck on her first solo trip--and did my best with my brother to make it a really good experience for her (laughing at the jokes, reacting to the story, all that stuff). She was actually one of the better tour guides I had seen in years and really committed to the bits. When we got back to the loading dock, the other employees were giving her a standing ovation. They held signs congratulating her and gave her flowers and a box of candy. It was a low traffic day with few people riding, so almost everyone stationed at the ride came in to congratulate her. Never saw anything like it before.
That's interesting to know about the lines at Disney, trentsketch. Honestly, I have never heard of a place as accommodating to families as the Disney parks. It does seem ridiculous now that people are so rude and obnoxious there.
I know my parents took me and my sister to Disneyland when I was about 1 1/2. But, we only went because my dad also had a business trip for work out in that area. I don't remember anything from that trip now. But, I know my parents weren't stuffing me and my sister into bags or their coats to get onto rides.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates
These are nothing. Crap like this goes on ALL the time.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
