By Cassie
Walt Disney World has so many opportunities where we CAN do things we can’t experience anywhere else. The focus on a great Guest experience is strong, but it is sometimes not enough for some people. Everyone has a bad day now and then, but WDW can cure that, if you’ll let it. These are some behaviors that do not bring you toward a magical moment, but rather away from it. Consider the advice given here and remember to keep things light and you too can have a great time!
10. Being rude on the bus. Offer your seat to pregnant or older women and/or older men. Moms with babies certainly deserve a seat over a young man who would find it easier to stand than she can with a little one in her arms. Let’s bring back what once was common courtesy, from the time that inspired Walt Disney to create his theme parks.
9. Forget to wear deodorant- Central Florida is usually very warm to very hot although we do have some cooler days too. When it is warm to hot outside, please, put on deodorant. You will be standing in queues with hundreds of other people, sometimes find yourself in an enclosed space with others, or just for personal hygiene alone, please, use deodorant when visiting the Disney parks. If you forgot yours you can purchase some in the resort gift shops.
8. Not using the bathroom. This leads to all sorts of problems. Please only use the bathrooms to relieve yourself or your children. It is not ok to tell your child to urinate in public areas, in queues, off the side of boats, etc. It is not ok for adults to do it either. If there is an “accident” that occurs on the ride please alert a Cast Member right away so they can remove that ride vehicle until it is properly cleaned. Please alert a Cast Member anywhere you see this so it can be properly cleaned up. The best way to avoid this is to use the restrooms in between attractions. If you are in a queue and your child really suddenly needs to go, exit the queue the way you came in and advise the Cast Member at the entrance that you need a restroom and they will direct you to it. You can then visit the restroom. Re-enter the line and join up with the rest of your party. There is no good reason not to visit the restroom.
7. Smoke outside of a designated smoking area. Finding an off the beaten path area is not good enough. Pushing your way backstage where you don’t belong, is also off limits. There are designated smoking sections in each park where you are permitted to smoke cigarettes and e-cigarettes. You are not being clever in hiding your smoke in the palm of your hand as you walk. People see it, inhale it, and it is not cool. Smoke in the designated areas only. If you don’t know where the nearest one is consult your map and go there before lighting up. If you can’t read a map you can ask a Cast Member and they will direct you to the designated smoking area. If someone near you is smoking in a non-designated area just alert a Cast Member and they will speak to them. My efforts in speaking directly asking them to put out their cigarette has only led to them being belligerent and defiant so I alert a Cast Member instead and let them handle it. If you are asked by a Cast Member to put out your cigarette, do it then. Don’t think it is ok to carry it and continue smoking as you make your way to the designated area.
6. Touching Cast Member’s in any way-this is reasonable. They are surrounded by Guests for several hours every day, just like you are when you are at Disney. Would you want strangers coming up to you all day pulling your hand, tapping you on the shoulder, and much worse? You can get their attention by speaking to them. There is no need to touch them, anywhere, anytime. There is no need to get in their faces when you are angry and spit either. You would be surprised how often this happens. Face Characters like the Princesses or other characters may put their arm around you for a nice photo, but that is not an invitation to be grabbed, punched, groped, or knocked down. Sadly, I have witnessed some of these as a guest. Just be respectful of them as human beings because that is what they are.
5. Spread your party all the way across the walkway. It is good when groups stay together, but it is rude for a large group to line themselves up side by side blocking an entire walkway. You can walk in single file or groups of two where space permits. If you want to walk slow, fine, just please walk to the side and no more than two people across so others who walk faster than you can still enjoy getting to their desired destination without unnecessary delay. We can do a better job of being aware of others around us.
4. Trying to gain access to the FastPass+ line when you don’t have a FP+ reservation. The system is set up according to the times you chose, and will turn the light blue, indicating you are not a valid FP+ holder because you may have come early or late to your reserved time, or you may have never had a FP+ for that attraction at that time. Cast Members can not admit you outside of your window. If you are having problems with the FP+ system you can visit a FP+ kiosk at several locations throughout the parks and they will assist you. Don’t try to use a paper FastPass re-entry paper ticket you may have been given on an attraction it was not intended for. These paper tickets tell you what attractions it can be used on. Don’t take it to another park to try and get on an attraction there. Don’t expect to use it except on the day, time, park, specific list of attractions it was intended for. It is unreasonable for you to demand special treatment including going through FastPass+ when you do not have a valid FP+.
3. Expect extras and demand to be treated like a King or Queen- you are not entitled to have your way all the time or magical experiences beyond that which you purchase. Just because you are a guest at a Walt Disney World resort or theme park does not mean you should expect royal treatment above everyone else in the resort/park. You purchased admittance to a wonderful park so go enjoy it. Smile and Cast Members will smile back. Complain and yell at the Cast Members and it will not get you what you want. Enjoy what there is, it is enough. If a magical moment happens be glad you were there to see it, as a spectator or the person receiving it. Don’t immediately demand “I deserve that! You did it for them now do it for me!” It is impossible to provide special magical moments for everyone in the park. I love coming to Walt Disney World because I like the welcoming feeling I get from Cast Members, the fun I have visiting the attractions, the great food and top notch service that happens there that I don’t get anywhere else. It is magical for me to watch Cast Members welcome a little girl to their attraction calling her “Princess!” or wishing someone a Happy Birthday who is wearing one of those buttons. It is the little things that I witness that makes Disney so magical for me. You will miss many of them if your attention is only on your smartphone so keep your eyes open!
2. Taking flash pictures on Dark Rides. There are many reasons for not doing this. One is that it ruins the experience for everyone else within range of your flash, another is that you are politely asked not to do it on those attractions. It changes the experience to flashing lights and blindness rather than what the Imagineers worked hard to create for everyone. Another reason is that the flashing lights will cause headaches and can cause seizures for guests. You do not deserve to have a flash picture at the expense of someone else’s health. There are medical reasons, common politeness, and adherence to restrictions set for the rides—let these be enough reason to not take flash photos on the dark rides. There are professional photos online that you can print and put in your scrapbook. This consideration also goes for your large electronic devices that you stick above your head to record shows like The Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, etc. that is otherwise dark. We all pay a lot of money to get into the Disney parks so don’t think you are the entitled guest to ruin it for everyone else.
1. Insult Walt by being discourteous in the park and saying attractions he was involved with are stupid-For those of us who have a great admiration for Walt Disney it pains us to hear certain things in the parks. Walt was directly involved in several attractions that got him the attention he needed, and deserved, to build his theme parks and watch his dream grow. Walt overcame many obstacles by creating new technology needed to bring his dreams to life. We should not be so quick to throw away his personal achievements. He also created the Disney parks to be a place where families could go to together and enjoy rides and shows, have a bite to eat, see parades, etc. in a clean, happy atmosphere. When guests mow other guests down with their strollers, use foul language with children around, show disrespect to others, parents screaming at their children (or at Cast Members), these all take away from the atmosphere Walt Disney worked hard to create. Let’s all enter the parks with the perspective that we are going to have fun together, no matter what. Remember there are young children watching you all the time and let’s determine to not ruin the magic for them. If you would like to know more about Walt Disney, the man, and how the parks were established, please visit the attraction “One Man’s Dream” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is a great attraction and you will be amazed at all Walt accomplished!
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