Have the CMs noticed kids being dragged around by crazy parents?

[AndyFL]

I honestly feel sorry for what you CMs have to see out of parents. The past two times I've been I saw other fathers absolutely go OFF on one of their kids.....one, at Dinoland, actually jumped up and flew across a bench to snatch his child up to yell at him. I literally felt my pulse double in a micro-second and I would have intervened except for the fact that I was pushing my 3 yr old in her stroller while my Wife and daughters rode some rides and I wasn't about to leave her just to make this guy back off...not to mention I didn't want to get banned from the parks.

When it comes to my own kids and riding the rides, I always remember that WDW was made for KIDS....NOT parents. I'm not going for myself, I'm going to see my children have the time of their lives. On our last trip three weeks ago while my Wife rode height restricted rides with my 2 older daughters I rode the Winnie the Pooh ride over and over and over with my 3 yr old. The CMs at the ride seemed to get a kick out of my being willing to do this and they made a "big deal" out of it with my daughter which of course she loved. My daughter loves to wave and made a special effort to wave at the CM that is where you get off the ride......by the time the park closed that CM had an ear-to-ear smile when she saw us. She still talks about it so to the CMs who were working the Pooh ride the first week of Aug...your smiles and humor really made my daughter's day which made my day. Thanks!

[Shorty82]

When it comes to my own kids and riding the rides, I always remember that WDW was made for KIDS....NOT parents.

This is a common misconception that annoys me. Walt made DLR and WDW to be places where families can have fun together. The parks are for everybody, not just the children. Walt would take his daughters to the local park and while they were having fun on the carrousel and the like he and the other parents would be sitting on benches bored so he came up with the idea for Disneyland where everybody can have fun.

[AndyFL]

This is a common misconception that annoys me. Walt made DLR and WDW to be places where families can have fun together. The parks are for everybody, not just the children. Walt would take his daughters to the local park and while they were having fun on the carrousel and the like he and the other parents would be sitting on benches bored so he came up with the idea for Disneyland where everybody can have fun.

I didn't say or imply that parents shouldn't have fun but the parks WERE primarily designed for kids. Mr. Disney certainly wanted to create something that could be enjoyed by the entire family but that doesn't negate the primary focus which is the kids....hence all those cartoon characters running around in costume. A good example of this thought process is the newer children's movies like Cars....they were made for kids BUT they were careful to inject things the parents would laugh at and enjoy because they realized that if the parents enjoyed it they'd be more apt to buy tickets and watch the movie with their kids rather than one parent in the neighborhood volunteering to suffer through a "kids movie". We're probably just splitting hairs here but I just wanted to make sure my point wasn't misunderstood.

BTW, we were planning on heading down there this morning.....would probably have already passed Tallahassee by now but the Wife came down with a stomach bug the other day. Oh well. Luckily we didn't tell the 2 yr old what our plans were.

[ZeroToHero]

I didn't say or imply that parents shouldn't have fun but the parks WERE primarily designed for kids. Mr. Disney certainly wanted to create something that could be enjoyed by the entire family but that doesn't negate the primary focus which is the kids....hence all those cartoon characters running around in costume.

"You're dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway."

-Walt Disney

[kurtisnelson]

hence all those cartoon characters running around in costume.

What are these cartoon characters running around in costume you speak of? All I know of are Minnie and Mickey greeting everyone they see. Those two do like to dress up in all kinds of ways and enjoys greeting everyone.

[AndyFL]

What are these cartoon characters running around in costume you speak of? All I know of are Minnie and Mickey greeting everyone they see. Those two do like to dress up in all kinds of ways and enjoys greeting everyone.

Ummmmm, how about Pooh, Tigger, the white cat from Aristocats, Woody, Buzz, etc.

[kurtisnelson]

Ummmmm, how about Pooh, Tigger, the white cat from Aristocats, Woody, Buzz, etc.

Those are not characters running around in costumes! It's Pooh, Tigger, etc!
And yes, Tinkerbell flys every night. Not a dummy, not some guy in an outfit, not an actor, TINKERBELL!

(I've worked PAC twice this weekend, don't mess with my characters)

[AndyFL]

Those are not characters running around in costumes! It's Pooh, Tigger, etc!
And yes, Tinkerbell flys every night. Not a dummy, not some guy in an outfit, not an actor, TINKERBELL!

(I've worked PAC twice this weekend, don't mess with my characters)

LOL!!! I kinda wondered if that's what you meant. I understand totally. When we were at Epcot a very nice CM was talking to my Wife and I while waiting to get pics of our kids with Belle. I mentioned to her that it must be unbearable for the people in those costumes. She asked me WHAT costumes? Then she said "Oh, you must mean the cape that Beast wears. Yes, he says the cape CAN get hot sometimes." You guys and gals are VERY well trained!! When I asked a CM working at Storytime with Belle if that was indeed Erin from Fireproof, she got that look in her eyes where I could tell she was searching for a response and then she smiled and said. "Belle wasn't in Fireproof but Belle knows the actress who WAS in Fireproof and could relay a message." I laughed about that for the rest of the day.

[joanna71985]

I didn't say or imply that parents shouldn't have fun but the parks WERE primarily designed for kids. Mr. Disney certainly wanted to create something that could be enjoyed by the entire family but that doesn't negate the primary focus which is the kids....hence all those cartoon characters running around in costume. A good example of this thought process is the newer children's movies like Cars....they were made for kids BUT they were careful to inject things the parents would laugh at and enjoy because they realized that if the parents enjoyed it they'd be more apt to buy tickets and watch the movie with their kids rather than one parent in the neighborhood volunteering to suffer through a "kids movie". We're probably just splitting hairs here but I just wanted to make sure my point wasn't misunderstood.

Sorry, but no. The parks are not primarily designed for kids. They are designed for people of all ages. As for characters, they also aren't just for kids. I know plenty of adults who enjoy meeting them (myself included).

[Nobleman]

Sorry, but no. The parks are not primarily designed for kids. They are designed for people of all ages. As for characters, they also aren't just for kids. I know plenty of adults who enjoy meeting them (myself included).

I think what AndyFL and others meant was that PARENTS bringing their KIDS should have their kids enjoyment, safety, sanity, and fears in mind before their own.

In other words, the parks are well suited for most ages to enjoy themselves, but a parent should be putting their kids needs before their own.

i.e. if a kid is terrified and doesn't want to go on a scary ride that the parents really want to go on, they should consider their child first and find another solution rather than forcing their kid on the ride.

e.g. if the parents want to run all over the entire park on schedule to get their money's worth, but the kid really wants to keep doing something they enjoy, the parents should adjust their schedule within reason.

And I still say psycho dad needs a frozen coke poured over his head.