Originally Posted By 999ghosts I know I am new to posting but as I said in community I have been around a long time. Something happened on my very first visit to DL that has stayed with me for several years now and I wanted to get you all's thoughts on it. We were in line right by the rope drop and had been since they opened the gates. We were on the left side as I said we always go left to Tiki room first. I have a learning disabled son who at the time was 2-3. We were also traveling with my daughter, husband and other 2-3 year old son. We were standing there for quite a while when I noticed my disabled son squirming. I know that this means that we had to get him to the bathroom or have an accident. I decided to take him to the nearest bathroom that I knew about. (1st visit didn't know the layout) So I walked back through the crowd and left the rest of the family by the rope. The bathroom visit went really fast and we were walking back through the crowd to get to my family. Some woman with a stroller turned to her companaion and said "Don't you hate it when people feel they can butt to the head of the line like that?" While I didn't have to stop and say anything I felt obligated to point out the 3 members of the rest of my family standing at the rope. She rolled her eyes and said sure sure. She then said some people shouldn't be allowed at Disneyland as it ruins the experience for everyone who comes in contact with them. I know that I didn't do anything wrong, but I still felt funny about it. Now I try to make sure none of my actions would cause anyone to think I do not belong there or to ruin their experience. I love Disneyland and we go quite often, however I am always reminded of that visit and while I would like to be carefree and happy when I go through that gate, I still remember that moment. What would you all have done? I love the diversity of the people here and I know that you will give me great opinions on what I should have done. I probably wouldn't have carried it around these last few years if I didn't continue to run into her all that day and she made comments each time. I don't have a mean streak if that helps at all. Also I know it has been done before, but does anyone have a similiar experience? Thanks in advance for your replies.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF wow----great first impression, huh?...to be honest...she did NOT require an explanation....alot of people would have done what you did...but seriously...as with everything in life..there is usually more to something that meets the eye..try to forget it and enjoy your visits awful....I always try to look back and laugh things off like this..
Originally Posted By goinagain its sad that happened, lets just hope when she got back to her car she had a flat. theres not that much you really could have done, had you got into it with her it could have caused a seen and I'd bet thats not what you want to show for your kids anyway, you did the right thing you showed a level of class she obviously does not have. Me however, I have a bit of a mouth and probally would have stuck my tongue out given her a rasberry and just said "jealous" and walk away smiling. unfortunitly that moment will probally always 'haunt' you just keep remembering the people who didn't act like fools. And next time go to WDW we're better there..hee hee...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Don't worry about it 999Ghosts. Some people just never understand. Some people abuse the system (which she was classing you in), and indeed, you did exactly what I would do with my 3 year old. I'd forget about it.
Originally Posted By tapdancemom That's too bad that your first Disneyland experience started that way. You did nothing wrong and shouldn't feel bad. It should have been fairly obvious a mom with a little one. Some people just have to have something negative to say.
Originally Posted By distwins I don't think you did anything wrong at all. We have been in that type of situation many times before. We have 4 kids ages 9 and under. It probably happens once or twice a day that one of them has to use the bathroom right when we're in the middle of a line. What can you do? We normally try to make it back to the rest of the family, but if they're too far in line, then we just wait for them at the exit and don't bother trying to squirm past everyone. But at the rope drop? It's not even a line to a ride...big deal. I wouldn't let that lady's comments bother you...it's kind of ironic that she's the one saying some people shouldn't come to Disneyland because they ruin others' experiences. I used to be a little bothered when others would cut in front of us in line...whether they had family or friends in front of us (I would never say anthing to anyone though regardless of how bothered I was). But is a handful of people cutting in front really going to make your wait in line that much longer?...I just try to let it go and enjoy where I'm at and make sure that my family is having as much fun as possible.
Originally Posted By gaston lives She's lucky she didn't say that to me, I would have been a little more vocal towards her in an unpleasant kind of way. I try not to be, but dang, she was asking for it.
Originally Posted By ABBY I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine someone getting angry over that - You did nothing wrong. What a grouch she was. She's the kind of person that ruins the Disneyland experience! And how much fun is she going to have if she's dwelling on that all day???
Originally Posted By Amynleroy Sorry that this happened, but I do know people get so frustrated with the other people that do intentionally try to "be the first for EVERYTHING" that we do take it out on the wrong(innocent) visitors! Last week I was there and got really frustrated with one family in peticular. We were in line for Mickey's house and I was trying to take pictures of my son and they had a 5yr old with them that would get in front of my camera EVERY time I took a picture! I guess not everyone has the same courtesy as me! I always try to let others get the best photos as possible! So I know where they are coming from, but Your situation makes me realize that us veterans need to be more sympathetic to newbies! I hope that your next visit is less frustrating!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM My DH's favorite saying is..."what goes around, comes around." I really believe that to be true. She will someday get the same hurt she caused you...but 10 times over. I will agree with her when she said certain people shouldn't be allowed at DL...people like her. I apologize for her behavior towards you...stuff like that makes me embarrassed to be part of the same species.
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes As many others have said, I’m sorry this happened to you. You were only doing the right thing, and to probably many more people than this objectionable woman, you gave the appearance of doing the wrong thing – cutting in line. At this point, you should have dropped of your disabled son with your husband and gone back to the woman and explained your entire life story, how you are a thoughtful responsible mother, a loving wife, where you were born, how you were raised, why you would never make such comments like she did to anyone else in a crowd, etc. etc. This is going to sound harsh, and I sure don’t mean for it to sound like it’s going to, but it’s the best advice I can possibly give: Get over it. You did the right thing. The perception of at least one other person was wrong. If you had a couple of days to kill, perhaps you could have changed their perception. But you didn’t. Know that what you did was right and FORGET about what others wrongly perceive. That woman was probably a jerk. However, that woman actually might have been a saint, a woman who adopted fifty orphans and ran a leper colony. You’ll never know. You are hurting yourself by dwelling on it. I mean this in the kindest way, and if you knew me, you would know I don’t mean it as rude as it sounds. That’s really the problem. You don’t know me. That woman didn’t know you. She sounds awfully rude, but you don’t know her. Once again: FORGET ABOUT IT!!!! You are punishing yourself for doing the right thing. Stop it right now! It’s a hard lesson, it was very hard for me to learn, but you just have to let it go because there is nothing you can do to change what happened, and if the same situation came up again with your son, I don’t think you could have handled it better. You’re obviously a good mom, that automatically makes you a good person – now forget about it!
Originally Posted By Superjosiah Well, I would have just looked at her and said: "I love cutting, it gets me on the rides faster" and then just continued on to the front... let her think what she thinks.
Originally Posted By netenyahoo There is no line at the rope drop, so what does she care. I had a similar thing happen during the fireworks a few visits ago. I still remember it too and think about it and how it could have been different. A man was really rude as I and my daughter were trying to reach my wife on the other side of the hub. We stopped in the middle of a big group, so my daughter could see the fireworks and it was hard to navigate. I wasn't blocking anyone's view, but he felt I was ruining the fireworks for his family. There is no reserved spot, so people need to just chill. I have no problem letting someone ahead of me in line for rides if they have family in line. It is just basic curtesy and I wish more people had it.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb She was wrong to say that to you and to continue to bring it up everytime she saw you. Here's my advise to you: Forgive her. Holding on to your hurt feelings doesn't hurt her in the least, she probably doesn't even remember you. But it hurts YOU. You don't need the memory souring your fun at DL, forgiving her is the first step towards forgetting her and moving on.
Originally Posted By alexbook >>Forgive her. Holding on to your hurt feelings doesn't hurt her in the least, she probably doesn't even remember you. But it hurts YOU. You don't need the memory souring your fun at DL, forgiving her is the first step towards forgetting her and moving on.<< Excellent advice! I'm one who holds onto stuff like this and goes over and over it and worries about what I coulda/shoulda/woulda said or done differently. It just makes me unhappy, and it doesn't do anything to affect the other person. It's a bad habit I've been fighting for a long time. Suddenly, I'm reminded of Bowler Hat Guy's advice to little Goob. ;-)
Originally Posted By Mr Snappy "Forgive Her" uh...no, IGNORE HER. My advice is the following: 1. Ignore the idiots 2. Enjoy your family, especially the early years 3. Get a tougher skin..really. Understand their are idiots in the world and don't give them a second thought. Just the fact that you still remembers this mean that she was successful. 4. Rope Drop for the TIKI room? LOL, that is the first time I have heard that one ! Don't get me wrong, I love it as well, but I have never seen a mad rush to the Tiki room at rope drop !
Originally Posted By ncnike7 I'm glad you shared this story because there have been many times when I see people doing something similar to what you were doing and I feel like that woman felt...now I know not to jump to such conclusions. There have been many "rant" topics here where we all complain about people and their "bad" behavior and I don't think that we realize that there might have been extenuating circumstances. I think that this is a perfect example of not judgeing the actions of others when you don't know the whole story. 999 ghosts, You did nothing wrong, and you don't need to explain your actions to anyone.
Originally Posted By EighthDwarf People suck - the world would be a better place without them. When I go to Disneyland I pretend everyone is an audio animatronic figure - that way the jerks that are everywhere are just a part of the experience. The pirates on POTC are just as real to me as the party of six people that feel they have to block the entire walkway as they hold hands.
