Why wait in line?

[felinefan]

I agree. But I was thinking along the lines of a greeter who actually interacted with guests. It could take the pressure off. You know how crabby people can get when they have to stand in a long line. It was just an idea, I appreciate your courteous response. When I was growing up, we never would've dared do half of what kids today do. It was simply unthinkable. I think we let the camel's nose get too far into the tent with giving people certain rights, and of course what with the breakdown of morality in this country, it doesn't take much for the monster of entitlement to take hold.

[DisneyMom]

I respect your opinion, but I have one of my own. I'm tired of paying for everybody else's problems. When I was growing up, we didn't have ADD, we had overactive kids. There were no "special needs" people, what was effectively used back then was solid, no nonsense parenting.

Part of the problem with the world today is that everyone seems to think that we all must share in the responsibility of raising their children. I wasn't there for their creation, I sure as hell do not want to be responsible for their upbringing. Parents! You had them, you take care of them. If they are unruly, remove them from the cause. It is not our problem...it is yours. Teach them proper social behavior instead of giving them the notion that whatever they do will have a safety net...life isn't like that and they don't stay children forever. Rude awakenings are lying ahead unless you do your job and teach them what is acceptable and what isn't.

No Disrespect, but the world has changed- not necessarily for the better!
It used to be that there were no Special Needs people you saw because parents were encouraged to put them in an institution. I was told to do that with MY son by his STUPID elementary school principal, and anyone who has
ever met him would be shocked at that notion- He attends the local college and is now attending ROP classes, and his dearest wish is to move out and be independent, but because of his Autism, he will not get to do that anytime soon, like in the next decade.
It used to be the incidence for Autism was 1 in 10,000 children, now some people are estimating 1 in 98 children. There is no government who can adequately provide lifetime care for 1 in 100 children, so our government encourages us to keep our kids (and now adults) and made laws to provide special education in our neighborhood schools. I agree that we need to immerse our kids to the maximum amount possible in normal activities and have HIGH expectations for them, but as I pointed out before, it may take YEARS/ DECADES beyond what is normal to teach those skills. You are right that some parents do not want to take on that responsibility and do the right thing, but that happens in Neurotypical families as well.
Oh, and guess what? They are finally shifting the focus on research on the causes of Autism to less Genetic causes and now more like 50-50 genetic and environmental causes. So yes, all of us are paying- you are paying for an epidemic that most likely was caused by environmental toxins. I'm mad too!
So PLEASE be patient with those of us who have children with REAL disabilities(that includes other disorders than autism as well) and realize that for the "good" parents, we are trying really hard to have a "normal" life and INDEPENDENT, FUNCTIONING WELL KIDS :)

[mechurchlady]

Hugs DinseyMom

My mom and I never got the help we needed and over the years lifes have been ruined by there not being the proper counseling, therapy and programs. I am crying because mom cannot understand the pain I am in but only knows that she wants Calvin to have a chocolate muffin. I cry now because I am in pain but know I must do what she says because she is miswired. You love them despite their quirks and if anyone gives one peep about special needs people better be prepared for my words.

Hugs DisneyMom and I am glad that finally kids are getting the help they need to leave nearly normal and productive lifes.

[Goofyernmost]

So PLEASE be patient with those of us who have children with REAL disabilities(that includes other disorders than autism as well) and realize that for the "good" parents, we are trying really hard to have a "normal" life and INDEPENDENT, FUNCTIONING WELL KIDS :)

I never said that they didn't. What I said was that I am tired of being asked to pay for that problem everywhere I go. Yes, I know that years ago parents were encouraged to "hide" them away. Do I think it is better now that everyone can give a shot to mainstreaming? Of course I do. I have stated this before...they don't call them disabilities for nothing. Translated that means that not everything is available to everyone. If the disability interferes with participating in some things, well that's why it's called disability. If everyone could do anything, regardless of their situation, there would then, logically, be no disabilities.

I will repeat what I said...if your child cannot cope with the situation he or she finds themselves in then they need to be removed from that situation. I think it is cruel to do otherwise. Forcing someone with a problem to "enjoy" everything regardless of how they feel is a complete exercise in futility for yourselves and everyone within range of the problem.

Sorry, if that sounds callous, but there is a limit to everything. I have mild joint problems in my knees, hip and shoulders. What that means is that I cannot ride Space Mountain because it is extremely painful and difficult to get out of the ride vehicle. I accept that SM is no longer an option.

[mechurchlady]

I never said that they didn't. What I said was that I am tired of being asked to pay for that problem everywhere I go. Yes, I know that years ago parents were encouraged to "hide" them away. Do I think it is better now that everyone can give a shot to mainstreaming? Of course I do. I have stated this before...they don't call them disabilities for nothing. Translated that means that not everything is available to everyone. If the disability interferes with participating in some things, well that's why it's called disability. If everyone could do anything, regardless of their situation, there would then, logically, be no disabilities.

I will repeat what I said...if your child cannot cope with the situation he or she finds themselves in then they need to be removed from that situation. I think it is cruel to do otherwise. Forcing someone with a problem to "enjoy" everything regardless of how they feel is a complete exercise in futility for yourselves and everyone within range of the problem.

Sorry, if that sounds callous, but there is a limit to everything. I have mild joint problems in my knees, hip and shoulders. What that means is that I cannot ride Space Mountain because it is extremely painful and difficult to get out of the ride vehicle. I accept that SM is no longer an option.

My comments to above statement are as follows:

Wait anything I want to say would end up with me in time out or permanently banned from the site I love so much.

Crying will not make it better.

Telling them they hurt me to the quick will not help.

A sad day for this site, very very very sad day. :(

[Goofyernmost]

My comments to above statement are as follows:

Wait anything I want to say would end up with me in time out or permanently banned from the site I love so much.

Crying will not make it better.

Telling them they hurt me to the quick will not help.

A sad day for this site, very very very sad day. :(

Sorry if anything I said upset you, but since I don't even know you, I don't know of any of your problems and I wasn't even thinking about that when I wrote what I wrote, I think it can be safely said that I didn't direct anything at you.

If my stating my opinion is offensive to you, I don't know what else to say. I will always have my opinions. Logical argument might cause me to change my opinions, but that is the only thing that will do that. I will never see where discussing situations should make it a "very, very, very sad day" for this site. We cannot expect that any of us will always be in agreement.

[Lady Heartilly]

Another thing that has become a real nerve twitching for me is parents who just can't wait in line to take pictures. Seriously, your kids will only be little once. They want to meet Mickey, Do the freaking line!!!! I have seen people tell kids that 20 minutes is too much. Are you serious? Then they proceed to rant about how long are the lines and how we really, for the price you pay, really should have no lines. Obviously these people have been living under the rock. Disney, a number one destination, around the world with no lines. That would be the day when Pigs fly. What breaks my heart is the faces of the little ones as they go away. The sad faces. The comments!!! Comments on how 'we don't do anything', 'I'm tired of walking and not get on anything' or so, really do break my heart. Again, I must be one hell of a freak. Because if I want to get on something I really do wait whatever time it takes.

I can't tell you how much I agree with this paragraph. My job at Disney has absolutely nothing to do with characters (even though I'm trying to get more into that department), and yet I can't tell you how many parents have come up to me because I'm wearing a nametag and whispered in my ear to blatantly lie to their children and say that Mickey is playing with his friends or he's too busy getting ready for the parade or something so he doesn't have time to come out and meet them. I tell them that he actually is in Toontown and it's quite easy to meet him, but the parents always say to me "I know, but I don't want to wait in line, and if you tell my kid he can't come out maybe they'll believe you more than me because you work here." I usually wind up giving in because I don't want to start a fight, but I can't tell you how awful I feel lying to these kids when I know darn well that they could very easily go meet Mickey right now if their parents weren't so lazy. It makes me feel so bad that their parents brought them all the way here and yet they won't let them do the one thing they want to do! Why did they even bother to bring their kids?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Sorry if anything I said upset you, but since I don't even know you, I don't know of any of your problems and I wasn't even thinking about that when I wrote what I wrote, I think it can be safely said that I didn't direct anything at you.

If my stating my opinion is offensive to you, I don't know what else to say. I will always have my opinions. Logical argument might cause me to change my opinions, but that is the only thing that will do that. I will never see where discussing situations should make it a "very, very, very sad day" for this site. We cannot expect that any of us will always be in agreement.

Remember that some posters on other boards (and here?) will take things personally if you don't absolutely 110% agree with everything they say, and you must also adopt their world view on everything and agree with them. Otherwise you are a target for them to attack your lifestyle, values, and even what you like to eat, drink, or go on vacation! (kinda sad for them!)

Have some RUM!!!!!

hehehehehehehehe

[Syndrome]

I will repeat what I said...if your child cannot cope with the situation he or she finds themselves in then they need to be removed from that situation. I think it is cruel to do otherwise. Forcing someone with a problem to "enjoy" everything regardless of how they feel is a complete exercise in futility for yourselves and everyone within range of the problem.

Amen! I shake my head in wonderment at the parents on Board X who ask "Will my child enjoy Attraction X? Attraction X has ____, ____, and ____, and all of those things upset my child, but I want to know whether I should drag him/her on it or to it anyway." If you need to ask the question, the answer is probably "no." Mainstreaming is a great thing, but torturing kids or anyone else in the name of forcing them to be "normal" is not. Special needs kids have limitations, and so do typical kids. A good parent works around those needs instead of forcing the child and often having a negative impact on everyone else around them. Yes, I know kids melt down, but a good parent has a pretty good sense of what might trigger that...not 100 percent of the time, but the questions on Board X show that they have a good idea much of the time and decide to drag the kid through fireworks or a scary ride or whatever anyway.

I'm also sick of the dumbing down of society to meet the needs of the few. Not necessarily special needs, but just people in general. There was a recent thread on Board X about toning down Whispering Canyon and 50s Prime Time, not just because it disturbs autistic kids but because some people in general are uncomfortable with the antics. Those are just two out of dozens of places to eat at Disney. Why should my enjoyment be ruined just because people don't like it, or even because they may have a condition that makes it bother them? Why do they HAVE to eat there, despite the other choices, at the cost of dumbing down my experience? I have hyperacusis, and fireworks are like an ice pick going through my ears, but should I demand that Disney stops all fireworks shows to accommodate me? It's my responsibility to watch out for the show times and either be gone or have my special headphones.

And the idea of the ADA is equal access, not superior access. Yet "superior" has become the expectation for some people...not all, but some for sure (and some don't even have a real need but have learned to milk the system), and their blatant and abusive attitudes taint the opinion of everyone who sees them. (I am specifically thinking of the woman I heard in Jiko bellowing into a cell phone how she loves to come in the peak season and get a GAC so she can give it to her family so they don't have to wait in line while she just hangs out at the hotel...she obviously learned that no one is going to check names).

Okay, end of soapbox!

[DisneyMom]

Isn't the GAC pass to prevent the "torture" of waiting in line? (or more importantly the torture of those around them?)
BTW, my now Young Man enjoys EVERYTHING at Disneyland,always has, and waits patiently in the same long lines I do......Did show impatience once to get in when he was 4....never has been tortured there.