10 Annoying People You Meet at Disney
We love Walt Disney World, but being the attraction it is, we always tend to run into some people that we... uh... don't appreciate as much as the rest of the park.
In this post, we're listing our top 10 annoying types of people we meet at Disney, AND because we're not one to complain without offering suggestions, providing tips where we can to avoid, defuse, or otherwise deal with them.
So without further ado, here we go:
1. Standby riders who cut into the Fastpass line before the merge point.
Yes, the two lines will merge at some point, but the Standby line and the Fastpass line are two very different things, and cutting into the Fastpass line before it's your turn is... well... cutting in line.
The best way to thwart these guests in my experience is to not give them any space to cut in. If you see someone eyeing a potential opening in the Fastpass line you are in, close it with your body as well as you can.
2. Guests who complain to Cast Members about the heat
Part of me gets it. Disney World is so magical that it's easy to begin to think that every aspect of it is controlled by the corporation. But one very important thing is not controlled: The weather.
Another part of this that irks me is that yes, we know that as a guest you are hot. But guests don't consider that if THEY are hot, how hot must that Cast Member be, in uniform, and at that one post most likely for more hours than the guest will be outside.
The best way to deal with this is to be kind to the Cast Member in your encounter with them.
3. Photo op monopolizers
First mom need to take the picture of little Jimmy and Sally and Dad together in front of the Partners statue. Then, mom wants to get down low and take the picture from another angle. Then, she wants Jimmy to put his arm on Sally, like that - snap - no actually not like that. Dad wasn't smiling. Here we go - snap - Oh hey, maybe mom should get in the picture. Dad can hold the camera. Oh hey, why don't we rotate who holds the camera.... They don't notice others standing there waiting. They don't realize that EVERYONE wants a picture of Partners, not just them.
If there is a Cast Member around who has a moment, sometimes they will intervene. They are trained in crowd control. So my advice in response to this type of guest is to do what a Cast Member would do and speak up. "Hey, would you mind if I take a picture of all of you together and then maybe you can take one of my family?". This solves both problems and ensures you'll get your picture. Unless of course someone was in front of you, waiting, in which case you can suggest the same tactic to them.
4. Guests who talk/ use phone throughout the attraction
Maybe it's the former Cast Member in me but I just CAN'T STAND when some guests ruin the time for other guests. Want to ruin a ride experience for everyone in your car? By all means, get on that smartphone and talk to your agent or bookie for the ENTIRE RIDE. (You might be able to tell this has happened to me several times).
On any ride, it's a faux pas, but on a dark ride, it's the absolute worst. The light from a smartphone can ruin the effects in a dark ride, like the holographic ghosts in haunted mansion, or black light effects.
I have to admit, I hate speaking up about this one, especially in a ride vehicle, because of the potential for my own speaking up to start a disruption even worse than the phone. But if you feel up to it, you can try some sign language, signing putting the phone away. Or you could lean in and say quietly "I'm sorry to disturb your conversation but I'm having trouble enjoying the ride because I can't hear over your conversation/can't see the effects. Would you mind taking that call after the ride?"
5. Body odor emitters
it's Florida - hot, humid, and damp. People are going to sweat. This particular issue is not one that you can really approach a guest about either because even when practicing hygiene, some people just smell more ripe than others. The only thing you can do here is avoid.
6. Guests who refuse to give up their seat for those less able
One night, on a trip with four year old daughter to Disney World, we left the park at closing and she was so tired she was falling asleep standing up. The bus was standing room only. As we boarded, we passed several seated peopled who appeared to be able-bodied adults. Some commented on how sweet she looked but not a single one offered their seat.
And I've learned that only truly outstanding people offer. Many people won't move unless asked. So ask. Ask for yourself if you have young kids, elderly, or those who can't stand very long with you, and ask for others if they look like they need help.
7. Guests who use strollers as plows
With this one, it's hard to say whether the guest knows they are using the stroller as an offensive weapon to clear crowds and rake the heels of those in front of them so they move, or whether they are simply oblivious to the reach of the stroller they are pushing. I have few tips other than to try to avoid walking directly in front of a stroller, if you can.
8. Guests who wait til the front of the line to decide what to order
The Quick Service line could be thirty people deep when you enter. The menu is clearly posted and, if the line is really long, a Cast Member might be handing out paper menus as well. But despite all this, sometimes the people in front of you get to their turn to order, and then BEGIN the deciding process. "Jimmy, did you want chicken? Not chicken today? Let's see they have hot dog... hamburger..." No no NO.
But there are two tips to avoid this one. One requires more foresight than the other. The first, and the one that requires some foresight, is to mobile order when you can. It's the best. You'll never have to stand in the line of decisions any more!
The other tip is more assertive, and that is if you get to that point where the people in front of you are now having their first conversation about what to order and you know what you want, ask politely if you can squeeze in ahead. "Excuse me. We know what we want. Mind if we squeeze in while you finish deciding?"
9. Blockade families
Blockade family (n.) definition - A family or group of guests that walk through the park abreast each other, forming a line across the width of the path. This prevents others from passing and narrows the path in the opposite direction as well. Also,these guests are often wearing the same color shirt, so not only are they walking in formation but also they are in uniform.
Blockade families are near the top of our list of annoying people at Disney because there is so little that you can do in response to them. It's hard to get around them if you are coming from behind them because of how wide a formation they create. You could come up from behind and say "excuse me" but 50% of the time this is ignored. The most effective way to break the blockade is when you are coming in the opposite direction and see them coming at you. Maintain eye contact and make no move to get out of the way, especially if it's not possible to get out of the way, or getting out of the way would put you off the path. They will have to break formation or plow right into you (some do choose to plow right into you anyway. If you feel slightly mischievous, you could use this opportunity to do a soccer player impersonation by acting like a personal foul just occurred).
10. Guests who act more entitled than other guests
The expense of Disney and all the hype can tinge a Disney vacation with a sour tint of entitlement. Guests paid a lot to get there. They were promised MAGIC and sometimes they aren't feeling so very magical. It's hot, it's tiring, its noisy, it's expensive. But hey, everybody paid to be there. Everybody wants to have a nice vacation. No single guest is more entitled than other guests. OK, except for maybe Make A Wish guests. THEY are legit more entitled. And I have never EVER seen a Make A Wish guest making a huge stink because they didn't get the seat they wanted on a ride, or they didn't get the most prime viewing spot for a parade or because they weren't comped anything because it was hot.
Thankfully, as a fellow guest, you don't often bear the brunt of the entitled behavior unless you happen to be the guest they want to trade places with. Then, an "I'm sorry but we paid for our vacation too" suffices if you feel the need to say anything. And by suffices, I mean makes clear your stance. The thing about entitled people is they often won't let up, so say your thing and then ignore them.
And if you see bad behavior toward a Cast Member, like I said before, make your interaction with that Cast Member pleasant. Because, yes, they make magic, and yes, they look like they have the patience of saints, but trust me on this - Cast Members need magic too.
Those are my 10 most annoying people you'll meet at Disney. Have you got any to add? Share your story in the comments or on our Facebook page. Until next time...
