Rude guests and their cell phones...

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Cell phone yakkers always bothered me when I was in attractions -- I feared they'd pay even less attention than normal to the safety spiel. I was even coached once for asking a guest to hang up so I could brief them.

Now that I'm at a hotel desk things are much easier. I can get almost anyone to hang up and deal with me by saying one thing: "Can I help the next person in line while they finish their phone call?"

Zazu, that should be made the "standard" at WDW and DLR!!!

Including seating on attractions!

[EeyoresButterfly]

Bru- I see where you are coming from but respectfully disagree. Like I said, more often than not I'm by myself. I very rarely talk on the phone in line, and if I do it's to my parents. (I too hate phone conversations. I think I've talked to my bf a total of 3x on the phone since we started dating in December). I try to be as quiet as I can. I don't ask anybody to listen to what I'm saying. I've been behind many loud and boisterous parties where I could hear every word of their conversation and every little detail of their lives- and they wren't on the cell phone. If ther person on the phone is being quiet, I have no problem with it. When I'm in a long line by myself, it's nice to have someone to talk to once in awhile. Once we enter a building like at ToT or get near where there is a CM, I always hang up. Nobody should be on their phone on a ride or during a safety spiel.

I will admit I rarely turn it off on attractions. Normally they are so loud I can't hear it, and the only people who call me are my parents and they don't call me that often if I am in the parks. I cna't think of a time it ever rang in an attraction. I do not understand people in attractions on the cell phone-what was the point of waiting in line?

What is more disturbing to me is the people who text in theatres. The darkness of the theatre makes it painfully obvious (literally) when somebody is texting. When the light shines in my eyes from one side like that, it tends to give me a headache. I remember one time I was watching a movie with my bf, and I actually asked some tweens in front of me to put their cell phones away as it was giving me a headache. They complied, but did not look too happy. What got me was the adult woman with the group gave me a dirty look! Ugh! It's like people think that because they aren't talking it's okay to be on the cell phone during a movie. Texting is just as distracting if not more so. Not to metion that with the prevalence of camera phones these days, you risk getting yourself kicked out of the theatre if you have it out during the movie since they don't know if you are recording or not.

[accioetoile]

What is more disturbing to me is the people who text in theatres. The darkness of the theatre makes it painfully obvious (literally) when somebody is texting. When the light shines in my eyes from one side like that, it tends to give me a headache. I remember one time I was watching a movie with my bf, and I actually asked some tweens in front of me to put their cell phones away as it was giving me a headache. They complied, but did not look too happy. What got me was the adult woman with the group gave me a dirty look! Ugh! It's like people think that because they aren't talking it's okay to be on the cell phone during a movie. Texting is just as distracting if not more so. Not to metion that with the prevalence of camera phones these days, you risk getting yourself kicked out of the theatre if you have it out during the movie since they don't know if you are recording or not.

When I went to see Juno, there were these two tween girls sitting in front of me. One of them was with her boyfriend, so she spent most of the time cuddling with him. The other girl spent her time texting. At one point, it was so distracting, I leaned over between them, and told her to shut her phone. She didn't use it the rest of the movie. But she did get a phone call, and got up and left the theater to take it. Why bother going to a movie if you're just going to miss it?

And I do use my cell phones when I'm at the park. I also go by myself a lot, I don't shout, I don't talk about anything personal, I just talk to my mother, or my friends, while I'm walking around, or waiting in a long line. I'm often surrounded by people who are all talking louder than I am, so I don't see how my being on the phone would be bothering them.

[Theme Park Where]

I'm sorry Bru & Susi, but I'm going to agree with EB and Mayo too. I think actually you and Mayo ARE agreeing in a way. Mayo is saying that speaking on a cell phone in a quiet manner, in places where other parties are also speaking to each other in a quiet manner, when there IS no one else in your party to speak with is not rude. I agree. I don't use the cell phone in queues or on attractions. I don't use it in shows or movies. I don't use it in sit down restaurants.

I do argue that I'm no more rude speaking quietly to my family on a cell phone while sitting along the road waiting for a parade or in an outdoor seating area for a food location than you are speaking with your family that happen to be there with you. If I stated that I didn't want to hear the minuatae of YOUR conversation and would you please stop talking to your family about whatever you're speaking about you would be offended. If I'm speaking in a normal tone of voice, and I do speak in a normal tone of voice over the phone when I'm in a location where conversation is acceptable, and if you overhear me, hey it's part of being out in public. You overhear other conversations.

I do agree that stopping to take a call in the middle of the street is rude, but no more rude than stopping in the middle of the street to take a picture, or stopping in the middle of the street to check the map, or all the other reasons people stop in the middle of the street. I do agree it's rude to speak loudly over the phone about subjects that shouldn't even be discussed in person in public, but no more rude than to speak loudly in person about those subjects. I do agree it's rude to talk on the phone while someone else is spieling, or while a show is going on or on an attraction, but no more rude than continuing a conversation in person under those circumstances.

And there seems to be an assumption that speaking on the phone is always detracting from familiy that is present. That is not always the case. In my case, there IS no other family present. They are at home and I call occassionally to check in. In other circumstances, a family checks in with a loved one at home, or a neighbor who's watching the pets, or whatever, and those conversations are appropriate in my opinion when they're short and held at normal volume in places where normal conversations are acceptable. We always enjoyed calling my Grandmother from the park when she was alive, because it tickled her that we could call her from Disney. We'd say hello, tell her we loved her, and hang up. No big deal. Dad always did the talking, and ususally called while we were waiting for the parade. None of us felt left out. We enjoyed making Grandma part of our day.

Bru, all of the things you mentioned ARE rude. But they would be equally rude if no cell phone was present. You're just making a blanket statement that all people who speak on cell phones in the park are rude, and that's what others are taking offense at. Some of us use the phone because we have no one there to have a normal in-person conversation with. That is NOT rude - and should not be distracting you from your enjoyment of the day any more than your conversation with the members of your party in person should be distracting me from mine. It sounds like you've had some bad experiences with rude PEOPLE who happened to be using cell phones. I'm sorry to hear that. But don't assume I'm rude just because I use one.

[Princess Susi]

Susi! Are you home? or still at WDW? are you having FUN??? can't wait to hear about your trip!

And I agree with you 100% I am just not a phone person. Talking on the phone always gives me a headache within 10 minutes no matter whom I'm talking to- I use them, get what I have to say, said, and then I'm done. It exhausts me when people want to just chat and chat.

I'd much rather write email (or board posts LOL) But then, I guess it grates on me because I am a very audio sensitive person- noise of any kind just drives me out of my mind in very short order.

We are home now. Just flew in Tuesday morning and my arms are still tired! Ba dum bump! hehehe Yeah, noise bothers me now. I suppose my 20 years with headphones on listening to loud rock and roll waiting for my cue to speak did it. My ears are so sensitive. We went over to Rain Forest Cafe to have lunch and had to leave before we ordered, The screeching Monkey did it for me. That place is loud. It hurt my head to be in there. I am so sensitive to sound now, it is weird. For years it never bothered me, but it truly HURTS my inner ear physically to be in loud places. I truly think we are psychic sisters, Bru!

I'm going to hope you meant that literally, because if you meant it the way I've come to understand it's meant here and in the parks, that was really uncalled for. I was only trying to gain an understanding of why it's upsetting. I asked several follow up questions you have declined to answer in the hopes of understanding your assertion that using a cell phone is inherently rude. I have not insulted you. I have not attacked you and I have not insulted you, I have even agreed with the majority of your points. I'm leaving this thread now, and suppose I will continue to speak on the phone in public since no one can say why it's rude if you're not shouting or inconveniencing anyone, only that it is.

You can have your own magical day, in whichever spirit you meant me to have mine.

8^S

Geeze, I better stop telling the CMs to have a magical day at the parks. I always say it to CMs who have been helpful and kind. I did not know I was insulting them. I will usually say something like "Have a magical day filled with pixie dust and Mickey magic and the joy of Disney!" Am I insulting CMs when I do that? I knew that CMs have kind of turned the saying "Have a Magical Day!" into a sort of insult for SGs when they say it with a sneer in their voice, but I still use it. It is fun. I thought saying "Have a Disney Day!" was the undercover insult for SGs. Correct me CMs. I need to know if I am insulting you or making you cringe because you have heard it a gazillion times from every guest. I don't want to make you roll your eyes at yet ANOTHER SG spouting the infamous saying! ;)
Anyway I wish everyone a Magical Day filled with Pioxie Dust and Mickey Magic! :D:

Princess S

OR: I could say say "Have a Disney Day filled with Pirates, Princesses, Pins and Plush!" That is pretty much what Disney is filled with these days...

[thomaskr]

Then you've never seen me at the parks. I go by myself quite often. I enjoy the time to explore without having to follow someone else's agenda. I also ocassionally use my cell phone to speak with friends or other family members while I'm killing time waiting for parades, in a prolonged wait (like outside waiting for a show to load), etc. I'm quiet and don't discuss inappropriate topics, ususally just discussing my day and what I've seen so far and what I still plan to do. If an attraction has a preshow or a highly themed queue, I don't use the phone. I certainly turn it off in attractions. Even on silent mode, I tend to turn it all the way off in shows. But handsfree bluetooth does give me the ability to talk to friends and family and share the park with them when they aren't with me, or when I want to share an experience.

I've had a couple of cell phone conversations that have actually added to the day. My brother called just as Wishes was starting to tell my Dad that my nephew had just been born. It was about 2 minutes before the lights went out, and Dad answered the phone since caller ID showed it was my brother and we knew my SIL was due any day. He got as far as a name and weight and the show started so he couldn't hear anything else. He said we'd call back, told us what the call was about, and all three of us cried through the whole show! It was particularly special because it was before I had moved back to the area permanantly and my brother didn't know I was there with my folks.

On another visit, I had just lost my job and had come back to Orlando to visit my parents while I decided what to do. I had applied for a job and got the call with an offer while I was playing at MK. I excused myself from the crowd and went to a more quiet place to take the call. Then I spent the rest of the day in the park on cloud nine, since it now seemed that everything was going to be ok. I had been worried that I wouldn't be able to find a job in the hospitality industry again, since it was right after 9/11.

Well, I wasn't referring to you because you're one of the minority of people that still is considerate to others! If everyone with a cell phone at the park (and I left mine turned off in my pocket the whole time) acted as considerately as you do, I wouldn't have anything to complain about, would I?

[thomaskr]

I'm still waiting for localized cell phone jammers to be legalized.

Thomaskr, you jumped in on several posts pretty quickly, so this is as good a place as any to say...

to from :wallaby: and !!! :D: :D: :D:

Thank you! I'm a big Disney fan and I've been going to WDW since the year it opened (I was 3 or 4 at the time). I've been to DL as well as all of the WDW properties in Orlando.

I still remember being 6 years old and my brother (he was 5 and he was basically a foot shorter bookend of me) and I were going onto the skyride and the attendant made a funny remark on the "Joe Cool" tshirts we were wearing; it made our day for some reason. Guess we thought we were the only ones into Snooy... funny how you remember little things like that.

Anyway, I have 3 kids: a daughter age 8, a son age 6 and a new daughter age 7 months and it's been amazing taking the older ones to WDW.

BTW, we live in Canada although my folks have a place in Florida we vacation at, so unfortunately we can't go there as often as we'd like.

Just bear in mind, Disney employees: you're as much a part of our great memories at WDW as any attraction so thanks for all you do (this bud's etc.).

[Theme Park Where]

Well, I wasn't referring to you because you're one of the minority of people that still is considerate to others! If everyone with a cell phone at the park (and I left mine turned off in my pocket the whole time) acted as considerately as you do, I wouldn't have anything to complain about, would I?

Funny, I say the same thing all the time! :D: Welcome by the way!

[thomaskr]

Thanks for the welcome!

Um... just to clarify:

1) I feel sorry for anyone who has to conduct day-to-day work while on vacation. They should find a new job if they can't put the phone aside for one day. If you have to, leave a "Hi, I'm spending the day with my family at WDW, so please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible." message on your answering service then shut the phone off.

2) People who have serious ad hoc phone calls such as kidneys, births and relatives to spread joy to are completely excempt.

3) People who take the effort to speak softly, leave to a private area etc. get two thumbs up from me. Hell, that's what I do.

4) My biggest beef is with those people who are not actually conducting work, receiving important phone calls or telling their relatives they're having a good time. They're either locals (esp. Gainesvillians) or jaded jackasses from wherever. When people yack loudly on their cell phones, for some reason people tend to clam up. Maybe it's from years of conditioning: when someone is talking on the phone you be polite and be quiet so they can talk. It just exacerbates the problem. And we're not talking interesting conversations whatsoever. I guess what pisses me off is the look of dissinterest these people have. Yeah, lines suck, but it's a line at WDW! If you don't really want to be there -- LEAVE. It just struck me as slightly elitist, exlusionary and rude. If you're in line talking on a phone, you're - de facto - ignoring the people around you, like as if they're not even there. It's a shitty way to treat people when you're on the recieving end.

5) Oh, and finally - the one I don't even pretend to TRY to understand: washroom stalls. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've heard people taking dumps in the washroom at work and answering or calling from their cell phone. WHAT is up with THAT??? That's just... sick. Besides the fact that you're probably getting fecal matter all over your phone ("hold on while I wipe") do people not hear your "plop" "plop"s? I literally burst out laughing one time because it was so funny to think of a guy in a business suit and tie with his pants around his ankles, conducting business on his cellphone to the sounds of his ass.

Incredible.

[SRT_GB]

5) Oh, and finally - the one I don't even pretend to TRY to understand: washroom stalls. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've heard people taking dumps in the washroom at work and answering or calling from their cell phone. WHAT is up with THAT??? That's just... sick. Besides the fact that you're probably getting fecal matter all over your phone ("hold on while I wipe") do people not hear your "plop" "plop"s? I literally burst out laughing one time because it was so funny to think of a guy in a business suit and tie with his pants around his ankles, conducting business on his cellphone to the sounds of his ass.

I don't know why, but for some reason I find it funny when someone does just that but talks on said phone in another language. Happened a lot at my college. I heard some interesting sounding bathroom conversations in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Arabic, plenty of English, and some other languages I didn't recognize.