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I am not the kind of person to lead with the negative. I tend to create elaborate excuses for people when they are exhibiting not-so-pleasant behavior. Maybe they are having a bad day? A headache? Fighting with their spouse? When my family and I travel to the Disneyland Resort, I am the same way, but I do secretly keep my running list of things, both big and small, that drive me crazy. While this article might seem like my list of Disneyland Resort related pet peeves, it can also be seen as ways to have a great trip and make friends along the way.
Bad Stroller Behavior
Strollers are meant to transport children, not to be used as a battering ram when working your way through crowds. Take a step back, slow down, and stick to the outside walkway. My family and I will try our hardest to do the same. If your small travelers require a mid-walkway stop (or several stops over a 20-foot walk) please pull to the side so others can pass without running you over or being separated from the rest of their group.
Your Mom Is Not Here (well maybe she is but, seriously?!):
The Disneyland Resort is a welcoming and—almost always—clean environment, but it drives me crazy when other guests leave their garbage behind, especially in show venues. Everyone at the Resort is there to enjoy themselves and taking the extra time to throw away your empty popcorn bag and water bottle makes everything a little easier for everyone.
Bad Input and Advice
This usually happens before and after our time at the Disneyland Resort, and its more common to happen to friends of ours, but bad Disneyland advice really gets me going. Yes, you can travel with small children. No, not all attractions have FastPasses. No, you won't wait in line all day. Yes, the shows are worth it do a lot to combat someone who says: "I'm sure nothing has changed since I went there 20 years ago." I try to provide the positive spin as much as I can but sometimes it's a nod of the head and walking away.
Not-So "Disney-esque" Language
I know not everyone at the Disneyland Resort is traveling with children, and many are there to celebrate more raucous occasions. but please try to watch your language. Kids hear everything and when that language is directed toward other guests or cast members, it can be hard to explain. Our family has embraced our own brand of "angry" words–our 4-year old commonly using the phrase "Ugh, peanut butter sandwich" when she is frustrated, and that is fine by me.
Patient and Kind
I have had my fair share of bad customer service and, sometimes, complaining is a deserved reaction. However, blaming your bad day or an attraction's closure on a cast member is definitely not deserved. I understand being frustrated. You traveled a long distance, have one day at the Resort and Indiana Jones Adventure is once again closed, but the cast member is not at fault. Try to engage with cast members: ask them about their favorite attractions or long they have worked for the Disneyland Resort, check out where they are from on their nametag, and make small talk!
Lack of Planning
OK, so this one may be more controversial, and I don't mean this with any malice, but please do your research before coming to the Disneyland Resort or be OK with what could result. Check the online calendar for park hours, special events, and attraction closures. While this little bit of research might not address everything, it can really help in setting realistic expectations. I totally get being a first-timer, asking questions, not knowing where the FastPass line is, etc., so I am happy to help when I see a dazed and confused group—but try to prep a little at least.
Parade Spacing
Having an entire group slip under the rope line five minutes before the parade to stand directly against your back and pushing you forward is a big no in my book. Move on and catch the parade another time, it will just be uncomfortable for everyone. If you did land a great spot and have some space to share, please share, especially with little ones. Countless times we have invited smaller Disney fans to join us along the curb so they can see.
So now that I have laid out all the things that bug me I want to point out that it's hard for me to be in a bad mood at the Disneyland Resort. Generally I think the majority of the people who go there are lovely and there to a have good time.
What are your dos and don'ts at Disneyland?
Comments
When people do let you in front of them to see better when you have little ones, Do not block their view by lifting said little one on your shoulders and block their view. (happened to me last trip at World of Color
)
Do buy a churro at the tomorrowland cart near tomorrowland terrace. Best churros in the park!
LOL! Stroller etiquette goes both ways. Everyone needs to be aware of their surroundings and not push and jostle people, step in front of someone, or stop in the middle of the walk way. This seems to be a big issue in the morning as people are "running" to certain attractions. Sorry my stroller just hit your ankle, you literally just came out of nowhere as you navigate yourself to your destination without a care of the other thousands of people walking this direction.
Do slow down and enjoy the music around you.
Not so much a peeve, but a safety concern...
JUST KEEP WALKING!
This might seem contrary to enjoyment for some, as DL is a place you do want to soak in, but my concern stems from numerous occasions where I and/or my family were circulating from one point to the next, paying full attention to our surroundings, when someone or group in front of us decides NOW is a good time to just come to a stop. No reason. They just stop walking, as if they find themselves lost. It's worst along the path from the Hub into TL.
Know thy surroundings! Find a better place to take the 'offramp' from human circulation and allow your fellow man to continue unabated. Please?
Conversely, on the 'do' side of the ledger, if you find yourself a little confused, lost, or questioning whether a Fastpass makes more sense... Find a place to pull over and talk it out with your group. There are plenty of nooks and crannies all over the Park that are better than down the center of traffic.
My biggest "don't" these days is this: DON'T hold your phone over your head to shoot video of ANYTHING for 15 minutes. I don't mind if you hold up your phone to take a couple of photos now and again, but, for the sake of everyone standing behind you, please don't keep your phone in my line of sight for more than a few seconds at a time. Whether you're watching a parade, watching the fireworks, or you're on an attraction, just enjoy the experience. Take a couple of photos, then put the phone away.
Sometimes I feel like they should issue special hats to people who intend to prop their child up on their shoulders so you can tell who they are when scoping a viewing position. (in jest , but maybe not
This (or with an iPad, which is of course 5 times worse than a phone!).
Do: (I hope I am a good example here) try to keep your photo equipment such that it doesn't protrude too much from in front of your body (where it is not blocking views much more than you standing there is). I don't use a phone or iPad, but I am a photo nut with some quick point and shoot type digicams, and I do my best to try not to impact others (example: I never use a flash, especially on dark rides). My cameras that take video have tilting screens, so I often have the body of the camera roughly in front of my chin with the screen tilted up slightly so I can glance down from watching the action live and see the screen and tap it to take some stills if I feel the need to. If I am messing around trying to get a few shots using my regular still camera maybe using different settings, I will try to limit my reaching out of my personal space as suggested above.
Oh, this argument has been going on forever. I get that kids can't see. I think it's usually the men that are guilty of this because they don't want to have to actually hold the child. Most women sit the children on their hips, so the child can see just as well as everyone else, but they're not significantly taller than most people around. The men seem to find it easier to just plop the kid on their shoulder and then don't have to worry about anything. I know you want them to see, but your kid doesn't have to be 2 feet taller than everyone else to be able to see. And meanwhile, the guy who's a couple of inches taller than me that I was standing behind is now 8 feet tall, and the view is now blocked for quite a few of us.
Couple more things to keep in mind:
Like with strollers, wheelchairs (whether motorized or manual) cannot stop on a dime. Don't be mad if you get hit by someone in a wheelchair because you've just stepped right in front of them. They're trying not to run anyone over or hit anyone but if you pop up without warning, there's only so much they can do. And, just because they've left 2 inches between them and the person in front of them does not mean that's your cue to fill in that space to try to get ahead. Again, they're just trying not to hit anyone. And, someone in a wheelchair is also not an obstacle course that your kid can use or something your climb over to get somewhere else. Because smoking is restricted to certain areas now, it's not as much of a problem, but I know it used to be a real issue with people walking with a lit cigarette swinging their arms, oblivious to the fact that their lit cigarette is at eye-level of some children and people in wheelchairs.
Don't glare at the people who are walking past you while they're using Fastpass and you're in the standby line. I know, it sucks, but they're not "cutting in front of you". They're using a service you either chose not to use or didn't get to early enough.