In this week’s Disney debate, we are diving down the rabbit hole of other guests who are just, well, annoying. For years now, we’ve included a casual series called Five People You Don’t Want to be at Disney, which showcases some of the less desirable behaviors we have seen within the walls of Disney Parks. It’s not a complaint letter but more of the idea that if we can have a little laugh about it, it’s better than getting all worked up and mad.
We’ve covered everything from Backpack Guy (the Dad with an oversized backpack that seems to clobber someone in the face with every movement) to the Blocker Family (that party of eight family members who insist on walking slowly, side by side, taking up the entirety of the walkway with no way to get around them. It’s like a big therapy session for those really frustrating moments that are out of our control.
Today, we are wondering about your experiences in Disney Parks. Who knows, it might even bring some awareness to the unsuspecting enormous backpack owner who doesn’t realize there is a wake of casualties in his rearview. So, now it’s time for our group session. What is the most frustrating behavior or habit that you’ve seen? A couple of our top picks for the grand prize include:
- Line Cutters & Expando-Families – This is where either a group of people will pretend there is someone ahead they are trying to get to in order to push through the line, or there will be one person in the queue, holding the position for 15 other people who arrive at the last minute. The practice is bad enough, but the attitude that usually comes with it is the kicker. As they push past, without a ‘sorry’ or ‘excuse me’ in earshot, it’s one of the most annoying things people do. And one time, we were behind a group that finally reached close to the front, only to notice they were not meeting anyone at all, which made me furious.
- The Flashers – Flash photography on a dark ride can easily be a mistake; it usually causes the person holding the phone or camera more embarrassment than anything else. Sometimes, you find a person who does it repeatedly, not caring that they are disrupting the ride (not to mention likely taking the worst series of photos ever taken), and continues to do it. It really does change the whole experience for everyone on the ride. Though I’ve been lucky enough to visit more than once, I’m always mindful of the guests who might be trying to enjoy their only opportunity on a particular ride. Not cool, Flashers; not cool!
- Start Stoppers – Have you ever been walking down a busy area or walkway in a Disney Park, the traffic flowing as well as possible, and the person in front of you suddenly comes to a complete stop? Like a cartoon, those behind you start piling up as the sudden stop creates chaos. It’s never an emergency either; it’s always something trivial like looking at a phone or spontaneously tying a shoe, nothing that couldn’t easily be navigated to the side of the walkway to handle without causing destruction. Making it even worse, you sometimes get stuck behind someone who will do it repeatedly, pushing a stroller and texting or doing some other oblivious task, and they will take a few quick steps and stop, over and over.
Okay, now over to you. What are your pet peeves when it comes to guest behavior in Disney Parks?
Feature Image: Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash
