Abusive Parents

[Zazu]

Also whenever a CM is assaulted by security they attempt to cover it up and pressure the CM into not pressing charges.

Never, *ever* call security when a CM is assaulted. *Always* dial 911 and ask for the police or sheriffs. They *do* consider assault to be an urgent matter, and will generally arrive before security or management.

Once you file a criminal complaint against the guest, then you are in the drivers seat. "What's that? You want me to drop the charges? What will you do for me? How about banning this guest from Disney parks for life? No? Then I guess I don't have any reason to drop charges."

It's also an actionable offense -- both under union contract and state law -- to threaten job action against a CM for reporting a crime or refusing to drop such charges.

And even if you aren't seriously injured, do it for the *next* CM the guest will assult. I'll appreciate it.

[coldfire409]

I agree with you, and when I used to train people that's what I told them. I think it's sad though that the sheriff's department can get to WDW before security can get to the location. Espically since there isn't ususally a deputy inside the park.

[Christopher]

Once you file a criminal complaint against the guest, then you are in the drivers seat. "What's that? You want me to drop the charges? What will you do for me? How about banning this guest from Disney parks for life? No? Then I guess I don't have any reason to drop charges."

Wow, it's that difficult to get violent criminal activity banned for life? I would have thought otherwise since it's Disney and children would be considered a top priority with security? :shock: If I were in you guys' shoes, I'd dial 911 too if this is the case.

But whatever the case is with Disney security, I'll tell you all one thing: I'm all for Zazu and GMC both being present at such a situation, their responses here make me feel confident about children's safety in the parks already. :D

[screnwriter]

Also whenever a CM is assaulted by security they attempt to cover it up and pressure the CM into not pressing charges.

Never, *ever* call security when a CM is assaulted. *Always* dial 911 and ask for the police or sheriffs. They *do* consider assault to be an urgent matter, and will generally arrive before security or management.

Once you file a criminal complaint against the guest, then you are in the drivers seat. "What's that? You want me to drop the charges? What will you do for me? How about banning this guest from Disney parks for life? No? Then I guess I don't have any reason to drop charges."

It's also an actionable offense -- both under union contract and state law -- to threaten job action against a CM for reporting a crime or refusing to drop such charges.

And even if you aren't seriously injured, do it for the *next* CM the guest will assult. I'll appreciate it.

Excellent tips to pass on, Zazu. I've always been lucky not to have been abused by guests (being 6'2" and over 200, people tend not to mess with me), but for those who are - your knowledge could really help them.

[DizneyDad59]

I'm not a CM (and I don't play one on TV), but I have taught elementary school, directed a child care center, and teach Early Childhood Education at the college level...having said that (trying so hard not to sound pretentious) my suggestion is probably not much different then the way I've seen well-trained CMs handle any kind of dispute:
The non-intervention intervention--distract from the situation with conversation about some aspect of the park...this usually works best when directed at the loud parent. I act as though the altercation isn't happening and engage dad (it's usually dad, but I know moms can be cranky, too)...What happens is a kind of meta-recognition. Dad (for sake of this discussion) gets distracted long enough to chat with me about someting and slowly realizes what's happening and is usually grateful for the safe way out with no harm to his pride.
In most cases I never have to make any reference to the abusive situation at all. It does work best when I intervene at the verbal level...I seem to have an ear for these tip-offs, maybe from have a Marine sergeant dad, I dunno.
I wind up including the kids in on the conversation about anything than what was just happening and send them on their merry way. As both teacher and director I often had parents who would 'open up a can' on their children in front of others, so I have had (unfortunately) a chance to practice this a lot.
Anyway, I support the philosophy of this thread--that the child's safety and well-being are paramount. Thanks for keeping focused on what really matters! :D

[lady ulrike]

Just a note on the Roger Rabbit incident. What most likely happened (And there's no proof cause there's no cameras in that section of the ride) is one parent was in the front car with the child and one in the back. The kid wanted to be with the parent in the back and most likely the front parent tried to pass the kid to the back car while it was in motion inside the ride. I know one of the CMs that was working the ride when the accident happened and that was what was speculated at the time.

[Zazu]

I think it's sad though that the sheriff's department can get to WDW before security can get to the location. Espically since there isn't ususally a deputy inside the park.

I don't know what gives you that idea. The MK has it's own sheriff's substation upstairs above the Confectionary, right next door to Security. It's manned every hour the park is open.

Since 9/11, there's normally an OCSD in uniform and on duty at the entrance to every park. Two if we're expecting trouble (grad nights and Night of Joy).

Trust me, at least at WDW, the police are never very far away.

[Zazu]

Just a note on the Roger Rabbit incident. What most likely happened (And there's no proof cause there's no cameras in that section of the ride) is one parent was in the front car with the child and one in the back. The kid wanted to be with the parent in the back and most likely the front parent tried to pass the kid to the back car while it was in motion inside the ride. I know one of the CMs that was working the ride when the accident happened and that was what was speculated at the time.

I think you may be confusing the Roger Rabbit incident with the Spaceship Earth incident that happened about the same time (IIRC).

SSE had stopped with a family split up as you described on the upramp. As parents were lifting the child from one Time Rover to another, the system started up, tossing said kid into the mechanism. A CM was in the ride a couple of cars back and witnessed the whole bloody mess.

If Roger Rabbit did indeed happen the same way, I'd be more than a little surprised. First, because there are lap bars on that attraction (even though the smaller guest is barely constrained by them), and second because reports I've heard from DL CMs had the kid slipping sideways out the door. That would also explain why RR got doors.

Whatever, I'm interested to hear more if anyone knows about it.

[Main Streeter]

I thought the child on RR was reaching out of the car to get a hat he dropped. Also heard the lap bar didn't fit across the mother as it should cuz of her size. The lap bar non fit seems hard to buy as those are locked before departure. Correct? Could she have somehow moved bar's level? I worked a shift right after this accident & was relieved not to be near RR that day!

[lady ulrike]

Well, the description I got of what may have happened at Roger Rabbit came from a CM working it at the time of the incident. Maybe they got the idea from what happened at Spaceship Earth and it was the only think they could think of? As for the lap bars, kids can get out of them pretty much at will, apparently WDI thinks that parents will just make their kids stay seated, which they don't I yell myself hoarse at unload telling kids in car after car to sit down. Noone ever thinks it's their kid, they look everywhere except at their own kid.

And the incident with the kid slipping out of the side, from what I understand (and I have less reliable information on this one) it was a teddy bear and it was older sister who leaned out to get it. I don't think she fell out, but I think she broke her arm or something. I could be completely wrong on this one however.