Originally Posted By woody I think this situation should have been handled differently. In a public place, you have to regard public opinion to be important. The kid was spooked. The best lesson to provide TO THE KID is NO RIDE if you misbehave. That includes sounding scared about going on the ride. Therefore, the kid will learn a lesson that sounding paranoid, and thus embarrassing the parents is unacceptable so the penalty is NO RIDE. In the end, no one needed to be confronted except for the kid. The kid didn't know how to behave in public and he learned nothing.
Originally Posted By Clotho "There is no right answer here. The parents ultimately have the right to decide whether their children should go on the ride or not. Sometimes it's the right decision, sometimes it's the wrong decision. It's just one of those things that makes parenting so difficult. You can't do it correctly 100% of the time. Even if you don't make the same mistakes your parents did, you usually end up making a few different ones." Well put Mele. No answer to this is going to work 100% of the time with 100% of the parents/kids relationships and situations. We have to take it as they come. And I don't know how this turned into a "if you give the child some autonomy, they will start disrespecting all adults". Um, no! You can still teach your child to be respectful of adults, and you as their parent, without having to drag them through every situation based on YOUR opinions, never taking theirs into account! This is not that black and white. Sometimes the parent really knows better, and needs to guide the child through a situation they would not choose for themselves--for their own good: first days of school, trips to the doctor...come on people! No brainers, and you KNOW that is NOT what we're taking about here! But sometimes the child needs to be able to make their own decision as to what feels right for them. It empowers them and teaches them to make their own decisions, and allows them to understand that while they must respect you, you listen to them and care about their feelings and respect and honor their decisions when appropriate. It's called trust. And in the case of a theme park, which is supposed to be FUN, why force them to do anything unpleasant, even if you *think* they might find out it was not so bad on the other side? As I said, I think most parents know what is a real "no" and what is just an initial balk. But why not let the child decide for themselves? If this were something that was vital to their health and well being (like in the example of school or doctor/dentist), then it is IMPORTANT to push their boundaries. But for a theme park ride...I can't say I understand that entirely. And it's okay that I don't agree. I am not meaning disrespect to parents who see it differently, only offering my viewpoint.
Originally Posted By alphabetmom "my oldest started crying that he was scared." The story changes: "It was a whinning, I believe a bit crying, kind of fit" I was just at Disneyland at about the same time. And did ride Tower with a terrified child. There was not much of a line we only had to wait a few minutes where you load the elevator. There was a child crying and pleading not to ride the ride ahead of us. The CM loads, us and the child is crying louder. At the end of his spiel, he just stands there not knowing what to do. He goes ahead and starts the ride. The child screams the entire time. Is it fair to the rest of us in the elevator? I understand making your child face fears as we made our daughter ride a roller coaster for the first time in fourth grade. But the difference was she was not crying and making it unpleasant for others. Also, after that she loved roller coasters. But if she was truly afraid the outcome may have been totally different.
Originally Posted By skywilliams I don't see how the story changed. In both statemnets it says he was crying. It just wasn't a wailing kind of cry. It's like when your kid wants something and is begging for it while pulling on your shirt. Their were tears, but that is what my kid does. But I agree if it was like the child you mentioned alphabetmom then my wife would have either taken him aside to see if he would calm down or bring him out to me since I was outside with the infant and then got right back on with my other son. In this situation it wasn't a loud fit, obviously it was loud wnough to be heard by the lady behind my wife, and it stopped once the doors to the elevator opened. It was the queue that set him off not fear of the ride itself.
Originally Posted By momrussell I think the cast member should have moved one of the families after he came over and saw the tension. He could have helped difuse the situation with a bit of action. People who are angry with each other should not have been further stressed by riding in the same car We never make our children ride. Even if they have been on the ride before and done fine. We're there to have fun and next year they may be ready again. I hate the sun wheel, orange and mailboomer - the kids don't make me ride. That being said I think the lady was wrong. She could have said, "Is there anything I can do to help?" People tend to respond to caring concern.
Originally Posted By doombuggy If a kid crys at a movie you take them out as should be done on a ride. I for one don't want to hear a kid crying the whole time. Thats like yapping on a cell phone on a ride. Now I would NEVER say anything to the adult. I just ask the CM if we could load on the next boat,car or what ever we happen to be on. I agree that woman had no biz speacking to you. If I had been standing there and not knowing you I would have told the other woman to mind her own biz and wait for the next car if she didn't like it. I'm glad your kid did remember he liked it and stoped crying but what if he hadn't? To me a crying kid ruins the ride as much as taking flash pictures.
Originally Posted By woody I agree with you. I think the Mother is at fault here. She is completely out of touch with the crowd. She should have known there would be people who might view the incident of a mis-behaving child as something more sinister when she insisted the kid do the ride. What an embarrassment!!!
Originally Posted By Disney_Blonde I am going to be a downer on my opinion, which is that 4 & 5 are a little young considering the special effects & scrainess factors alone. My mom used to take me on POTC a lot when I was little because there was (maybe still is) no height requirement. Whatever happened to me on one occasion scarred me for a long time. I think that I was about 5 & had a nightmare about it & flling down the shoot. I didn't go on that ride until was about 8. I didn't ride Matt until I was 11,BTMR until I was 12, Space & Splash Mt until I was 13 years old. I also remember going to Universal Studios as a small child, riding the backstage tram & I must have had a nightmare of that too, because I remember the Jaws part being absolutely the most terrible thing ever. I remember feeling like the tram was tipping over & unstable with a huge shark. When I rode it as a teen, I didn't understand why I remember it being so scary. Am I sad I missed out on all those years until I could start enjoying myself? No I'm not. People always felt sorry for me, but I didn't understand, because I was still enjoying my time at DL without hindering other people. I would always stand in line & "pass" through & wait until they got off the ride. One time a DL ride operator let me push the buttons while my parents went on the Matterhorn & I waited for them. & now I do enjoy the rides, but they were decisions that I made myself & I have the whole rest of my life to enjoy them.I still am very cautious about rides I get on. All I'm saying is that small children have powerful imaginations & may remember things differently as they age. It did effect me for a long time. Let your children make decisions on what makes them comfortable for themselves.
Originally Posted By Disney_Blonde & just for the record, I do think that wman was out of line as well.
