Disney Parks Pet Peeves
In the immortal words of Frank Costanza, I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and now you’re going to hear about it! This blog is normally sunshine and rainbows, but it’s time for you to hear what I really think. It’s time for my annual “Airing of Disney Parks Guest Grievances” in honor of Festivus. (Updated December 23, 2023.)
This is a companion piece, of sorts, to our new Top 10 Guest Complaints About Walt Disney World. Those are all of the grievances that you have about the parks. Here, it’s time for all of the issues the parks have with you. Well, not “you” as an individual, and theme parks are inanimate objects so they don’t really have grievances to air. I think you get the idea, though. That list was grievances of guests; this one is grievances about guests.
In our Essence of the Disney Magic post that discusses what makes the parks so special, we share a Walt Disney quote about it taking “people to make the dream a reality.” Clearly, he was referring to the exceptional Cast Members, as all other guests do at Walt Disney World is clog up walkways, obstruct views, make noise during attractions, and lead to longer wait times. 😉
Fair warning: this post is in no way helpful to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or other park trip planning. Actually, it’s not really helpful to anyone, anywhere at all. Think of it as a junk food blog post that you shouldn’t waste your time reading. That is, unless you don’t really care about wasting your time on the internet, in which case, read away!
I want to underscore that this is meant in good fun and with a lighthearted sense to it. No one is perfect. While these things do bug me, I’m sure I do plenty of things that bug others, and I certainly don’t have any malice towards anyone who does these things. We’ve both been guilty of some of the “offenses” here!
Most of the time, I don’t think people are doing any of these things intentionally, or at least with the express purpose of inconveniencing others. While this could be a helpful heads up to let you know what behavior might be unintentionally obnoxious, it’s mostly just some lighthearted venting.
With those caveats out of the way, I’ll let my inner Frank Costanza (I’d like to think he’d be proud of this list…but at the same time would be its biggest offender) take over and share a few of my Disney theme park pet peeves…
Screens Up! – I don’t know who needs to hear this, but YouTube exists. Joking aside, it’s such an odd phenomenon to see the fireworks start and hundreds of screens go up over heads. Wanting to capture a small snippet to share on social media is one thing, but some people are out there recording the full show with shaky hands from an off-center angle behind a shoulder kid (see below) on a phone with a busted screen. There’s a 100% chance that video will be worse than 100,000+ videos already on YouTube, freely accessible to all.
Don’t get me wrong: having your own photos and videos–even subpar ones–is important. Documenting experiences and having tangible reminders of lasting memories is far better than any souvenir you can buy. What’s key is making them your own. Don’t take photos or video of JUST the fireworks or JUST the stage show or JUST the food.
After recording a few seconds of pyro, pan back to capture the wide-eyed wonder of your child as the glow of the fireworks washes over their face. Take a snapshot of your significant other about to devour a dessert the size of their head. Obtain photographic evidence of grandpa falling asleep during MuppetVision as a future reminder of their distinctly unpatriotic gaffe.
Flaunting Disney Knowledge – Let’s level with one another: I write a Disney blog and you read at least one. We both clearly have too much free time on our hands and probably know much more about Disney than John Q Public.
This is neither a Scarlet Letter, nor is it a badge of honor. Some Disney fans don’t seem to understand this. They share their Mad Park Smartz with their friends in the parks. There’s nothing wrong with this by itself, but when it’s done in painfully loud voices that are clearly for the benefit of those around them in a queue, that’s where I draw the line. You know what I’m talking about.
I’ll be honest with you: it’s possible I’ve become part of the problem. As a frequent photographer of construction walls on both coasts, I very frequently overhear other guests wonder whether Splash Mountain is being converted into a restaurant. If they seem the friendly type, I’ll respond: “I don’t know if you were kidding or not, but it’s actually going to be a similar ride based on The Princess and the Frog. Kinda funny and confusing that they have signs that say ‘Tiana’s Foods’ and nothing about a ride, but that’s what it’ll be.”
That is the script I have “perfected” in my head that is, in my opinion, a good mixture of disarming and not too know-it-all-y. At least, that’s my hope. I’ll let you be the judge as to whether I’m being helpful or have become part of the problem!
Rudeness to Cast Members – Don’t like the quality of the beef patty in your burger at Cosmic Ray’s? Having yet another issue trying to book Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations? Think lines for everything are too long? Yelling at the nearest Cast Member seems like a totally reasonable solution that will absolutely fix the problem.
Oh wait, no it doesn’t. At all. Frontline Cast Members are about as much to blame for those problems and decisions as the McDonald’s burger flipper is for Hamburglar’s many crimes. The Cast Members you see in parks don’t create the unpopular policies, even if they are tasked with enforcing them. Yelling at any of these people is wholly unreasonable. What exactly are guests expecting to accomplish?
Spending a lot of money on a Walt Disney World vacation does not entitle guests to be jerks to anyone who gets in their way or prevents them from having a “perfect” trip. Cast Members go out of their way to put a smile on kids’ faces and make magic for guests, and should be treated accordingly.
This is especially true now. Cast Members are under increased stress, having had to play babysitter and rule enforcers to adults for the last year, while also seeing thousands of their colleagues lost during mass layoffs. On top of that, they also bear the brunt of ever-increasing guest complaints about reduced entertainment, Genie+, and other policy changes and cuts made by people at a way higher pay grade. None of this is their fault–being rude to Cast Members only exacerbates problems and degrades the guest experience for those who visit later, as Cast Member burn-out worsens.
A good rule in life is to follow Wheaton’s Law. If that’s too tough to follow, a lower standard is: “don’t be rude to people regarding situations that are out of their control, especially when they are doing their best to be nice and help you.”
Walking Etiquette – I walk at an extremely brisk pace. I have no time for shenanigans such as meandering aimlessly. However, I understand not everyone desires or can maintain my pace, and I certainly don’t expect it.
What I also don’t expect is a convoy of 4 double-wide strollers walking side by side taking up the entire walkway so no one can pass. Instead, observe the rules of the road. Allow sufficient room for oncoming traffic. Leave open space next to you for a “passing lane.”
On a highway, you wouldn’t aimlessly zigzag from lane to lane without regard for traffic behind you, so don’t do the same in walkways. Likewise, just as you wouldn’t come to a dead stop in the middle of your lane when driving 70 MPH, don’t stop in your tracks to look at a map in the middle of a walkway. Navigate the parks like it’s not your first time walking in public.
Filling In All Available Space – I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’re at the end of the extended queue in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the wait time is 180 minutes, standing as close as possible to the person in front of you won’t make the line move any faster. Spacing way back in line has no bearing on efficiency at load, which is the only thing that really matters. You can leave a little breathing room for comfort farther back in the line.
To be sure, there are times when filling in all available space is necessary. If a Cast Member makes the request, do it–there’s likely an operational reason for it (like getting enough people into the Haunted Mansion Stretching Room to ensure a steady flow in the queue afterwards). Moreover, no one should expect 6′ in all directions at this point. But most of the time, there’s no reason to invade the personal space of the strangers around you. There’s a happy medium.
Disproportionate Line Jumping – I’m a reasonable guy. If you’re a large family with a herd of small children, I get that a trip to the parks is a veritable Detrol commercial. Bathroom breaks are a frequent, time-consuming part of the theme park experience. One parent taking a child to the bathroom while the other jumps in line with the rest of the pack is absolutely reasonable.
What I don’t appreciate is when one member of a multi-generational party of 27 jumps in line, and then slowly the other 26 members trickle ahead of me. That’s not meeting the “rest” of your party, it’s thinly-veiled line-jumping. I never say anything to these people, but you better believe the back of their heads receive a contemptuous glare.
A fair rule: unless 51% of your party is farther forward, the rest of the party moves back. Fair enough?
Talking on Attractions – Again, I’m reasonable. I understand that parks are a social environment. They aren’t a library or a movie theater. Some small, quiet comments here and there are totally fine.
Now it’s everyone else’s turn to be reasonable and understand that the rest of us waited 45 minutes in line so we could enjoy an immersive attraction, not so we could hear you talk about that epic party from last night in excruciating detail as if it has all the drama of the Iran-Contra Affair.
Quoting Attractions – Continuing on the ‘talking’ subject, here’s my biggest pet peeve: quoting lines from attractions in the attraction right before the line is said in the attraction. This is a variation of Flaunting Disney Knowledge, but it’s so annoying that it deserves its own spot.
I don’t mind people quoting attractions in general. I’d like to think the wisdom gleaned from Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree can be applied to all facets of life. What I mind is people beating the attraction to the punch, showing off their own knowledge as if this gives them some sort of ill-gotten street cred. It doesn’t.
Just try and go on the Jungle Cruise without someone saying the words ‘backside of water’ before the skipper, or to the Haunted Mansion without someone saying ‘there’s always my way’ before the Ghost Host. A few words is mildly annoying but relatively harmless–let’s just avoid trying to quote entire paragraphs of the attraction script.
Stroller Etiquette – This has become less of an issue in the last couple of years due to a rule change last year. There was a brief period when Walt Disney World turned into the wild west for strollers, with huge wagons, royal carriages, and Star Wars spaceships. No joke–there were businesses renting out “themed” strollers!
If you operate a stroller, please be mindful of the heels in front of you. Let’s again use the roadway analogy: strollers are like cars–yield to pedestrians. Don’t use your stroller as a battering ram to help you plow through crowds when Walt Disney World walkways are a bit congested with traffic!
Shoulder-Children – Are you 6′ tall and want to put your kids on your shoulders for the fireworks? No problem! It’s not as if there are hundreds of people behind you who also want to see the show or anything. I really am curious as to what line of thought can justify this?
Kids have a tough time seeing a show from the ground and parents have a difficult time holding them at normal eye level. This leaves parents with a conundrum: put them on shoulders or don’t. If you put them on your shoulders, they can see but you’re blocking the view of countless people behind you. This effectively says, “my children seeing the show is more important than anyone behind me seeing it.”
Fair rule: if you want to put your kids on your shoulders, do it from a location where there are not people behind you. Alternatively, choose a viewing location where there are not obstructions in front of you. Both exist, particularly when it comes to Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom or Luminous: The Symphony of Us in Epcot.
Shoulder kids could really fall under a general penumbra of “Selfish Guests” that would encompass everything from sitting in the middle seats of what clearly will be a packed theater (despite directions from Cast Members to move all the way down), throwing trash on the ground or not cleaning up the trash at your table for counter service meals, smoking wherever you feel like, waving around your selfie stick without regard for others, and a myriad of other things. Again, that $100+ per day ticket is not a license to do whatever the heck you want because, “YOU PAID A TON OF MONEY FOR THIS VACATION.”
Have you steered clear of my airing of Disney theme park grievances thus far? Well, I have a lot more that you are doing! You couldn’t smooth a silk sheet if you had a hot date with a babe…ah, I lost my train of thought. 😉 (I’m sorry, a lot of the references in this blog probably don’t make sense if you’re not a Seinfeld fan. Then again, I’m not so sure I want people reading this blog who aren’t Seinfeld fans.)
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What are your Disney theme park pet peeves? Are you so high on the magic of pixie dust when you visit the parks that nothing annoys you? What do I do that annoys you (this is the airing of theme park grievances, after all)? Feel free to vent in the comments. You won’t change anything about how other guests behave at Walt Disney World, but at least it’s therapeutic!
I really wish they would do something about the bag check to get into the parks. If people would open all zippered pouches, unpack the multiple bags, take backpacks off strollers etc. in preparation for the security guard it would be faster. I also don’t understand why 2 adults and their 3 children need to stand in the line when they can send one adult with the bags through security and allow the others to wait on the other side- usually in the shade and with places to sit,
I wish Disney would have in addition to the no bags line, a small bag line, a multiple bags line and a line for strollers. Then I realize that so many people don’t follow directions and that it would most likely not work. But people need to be paying attention in those lines- get it together folks!
Combining Disney and Festivus – Tom, this may just be your best blog yet!!
Yes.
A million times Yes.
To all of them.
I have shut my own family down in regards to saying the lines on attractions. A hissed ‘some people are on this for the FIRST TIME’ has happened.
I do use my Disney knowledge sometimes though – to defeat the negative nancys.
Like if a JC Skipper has a tough crowd, I laugh it up extra loudly at the jokes and cheer even harder for the other side of water.
Or if I see a CM getting a hard time, I am extra polite and extra cheerful and thankful with them.
Choose to use your powers for good! 🙂
Just returned from a trip to WDW. My biggest pet peeve was people with their noses in their phones not paying attention while standing in line. Wait times were long enough without having to add time waiting for people to fill in the gap.
I’m behind much of this. I don’t have kids but the stroller thing doesn’t push my buttons. I have gone with my mom with her scooter so I have an understanding of patience when dealing with these things. I’m all about making it easier for all to navigate these very large parks. And about quoting the attractions, I don’t think people are grandstanding, I think it’s just plain fun. It’s about loving the attraction. Keep up the good work.
Yes!!
My husband and I waited an hour to ride Tower of Terror. It was having technical difficulties. It was our one chance to ride. A local, who hit many of your pet peeves, spoke loudly, talked through the whole thing, pre-narrated everything, bragged how she comes daily etc. Totally ruined it for all of us. She wouldn’t be quiet when asked etc. Looking back after the ride was over we should have found a CM to see if we could have a do over. It really was awful, ruined what we were anticipating.
I like this list. Talking on attractions is completely unacceptable to me. Two strangers behind me BSed loudly through Pirates before I asked them to stop so I could experience the ride. They were strangers to each other who thought they discuss how long it had been since they’d been there, where they were from, etc. The one guy hadn’t been there in a decade but he decided to talk through it all rather than enjoy the ride. It’s hard to believe people could be that clueless.
Bright phone screens during shows and attractions are also very rude to me. I’m not talking about running out to take an important call. I mean checking Facebook and Twitter excessively while shining the light throughout the room. Can’t we just experience things anymore? Surely your friend’s dog photo can wait until you’re waiting in a line.
The kid on shoulders thing really irks me… but I also feel kind of weird when i stake out a place up front at parades and take up as much space as I can get away with. There is a sidehand method of generosity to this though as just as the parade starts I look behind me and see if there are kids who may enjoy an invite to the front with me as i now need a much smaller bubble. I’m not tall but i am taller than most kids
My pet peeve is strollers as big as “mini coopers” on the buses. They take up so much room and are dangerous when buses are crowded with standing room only! I raised 2 children taking them to WDW twice each year beginning at ages 1 and 3. We used small umbrella strollers and 1 small backpack that contained everything we needed. Less is more!
I agree 100% with all of your peeves. As for the kid-on-shoulders thing, why doesn’t Disney create an adults-only viewing area like the adults-only areas on the Disney cruise line? And at no extra fee, just an area for those of us who love the parks as adults. No kids allowed, therefore no kids on shoulders blocking the view of the rest of us who want to see the shows/fireworks/castle projections. And until this dream comes true, hold your kid/grandkid on your hip, or get there early enough to be towards the front. Kids on shoulders should be outlawed like selfie-sticks have been.
I don’t know why they don’t have a cast member going through the crowd shining flashlights in these peoples eyes telling them to get down the way they do at concerts or other events.
PERFECT!!! Glad someone FINALLY spoke our minds!!!
I agree with everything on this list. Personally I would add that way too many choose to ride scooters rather than walk the parks. It makes being a pedestrian in the parks a bit hazardous and frustrating at times, especially when they are packed!
Many people don’t have a choice; walking long distances is impossible for them due to disability or injury. I have a leg so badly injured that I narrowly avoided amputation. I can walk with a cane for short distances, to enter a restaurant, to board a ride, to go to the restroom. I can’t walk around World Showcase. If I couldn’t use my scooter, I would not be able to come to WDW with my family. Same for the grocery store, the mall, “walking” my kid to school, etc. I don’t want to miss those things but I need help to participate.
We’re not doing it to annoy you, we’re doing it because the alternative is to not visit at all. Maybe think about why people use scooters before you talk about “choice.”
I believe Lori P. is talking about those who claim to need it but really don’t. They are the ones riding around with their grandchildren or children on laps and other parts of the scooters.
I have a sister who is 51 and has needed to use one for several years due to MS so I understand what you are saying Brighter. It’s the ones that really don’t need it she’s talking about.
How can you tell who needs a scooter and who doesn’t? You can’t, without putting onerous requirements on disabled people.
I would have to add yelling at your children and/or other party members. In life it isn’t necessary and at the parks it detracts from the experience of others. Chill, take a deep breath, and be thankful for the people you are with and the magical place you were able to come.
My next pet peeve is people who use scooters as weapons. Slow down and be courteous to others. On that same note, pedestrians please be courteous to strollers and scooters. They do need more room to maneuver.
As someone who uses a scooter, the biggest thing is that I’m short because I’m sitting and I can’t see as far ahead as someone who is walking. I can’t always see what I’m coming up on, and I know walkers can’t always see me. My wish would be that there be lanes–inbound on the right, outbound on the left. If we were all walking in the same direction, it would be so much easier. It’s people cutting across perpendicular to the path that leads to chaos IMHO.
There are moral & ethical reasons to treat castmembers with politeness and respect. Having worked customer service myself, (in retail and at a phone call center) I know what it’s like to be rudely blamed for something I have no control over. So by all means, follow the Golden Rule because it’s the right thing to do.
But there is ANOTHER reason to be as nice as possible to these employees: you might get better service if you’re friendly. Sometimes a customer service rep will make more of an effort to solve your problem if you’re nice. It’s counterintuitive, but it’s often in your own selfish interest to be as nice as possible.
For example, I once had a coupon I was trying to redeem for a Las Vegas hotel room, and the phone agent told me that the coupon wasn’t valid on weekends (the fine print of the coupon didn’t distinguish between weekends or weekdays.) Did I argue? No. Did I throw a tantrum? No. Instead, I politely thanked her for her time, hung up the phone, waited 8 hours (for her shift to end) called back, and got a different phone agent who happily accepted the coupon for a weekend reservation. Be friendly, be nice, and if all else fails try talking to a different employee.
I believe the biggest take away is we all have our pet peeves and there are plenty of ignorant people. And, yes, I am guilty of stopping dead in a walk way, usually because I realize I’m a child short. But I always apologize. I am also guilty of loosing patience over thoughtless people. My point is you are in the happiest place on earth. I remind myself, sometimes frequently to ‘let it go’ or politely remind others there are other people here trying to enjoy the magic.
I agree with everything except for the kid on shoulders part. A 3-5 year old kid can in no way see over the top of all the 5-6 ft adults standing in front of them and why is adults viewing pleasure anymore important than the child’s. Also, If the parent with the child is in front of you, that means they got there first to stake out there spot. I would say a far more important issue than kids on shoulders would be the people with the enormous balloons holding them up blocking everyones view behind them.
An adults view is just as important as a child’s view. We are all there to see a “show” and should be respectful to everyone around us. Regardless of who got there first doesn’t mean you have the “right” to obstruct someone else’s view. Hold the child on your hip at your eye level–if you can see, the child can see. They don’t need to be a whole foot higher than the rest of us. Be kind and respectful.
Try holding a 50lb child on your hip throughout Happily Ever After. You’ll likely drop your child or tweek your back. These are facts. Writing that “an adult’s view is as important as a child’s view” is an opinion. Thanks for yours.
Kevin, I guess they aren’t facts. I’ve held my 50+lb. child for all of HEA. It sure would been easier to hoist my child on to my shoulders, but there were people behind me, and I didn’t want to be rude to them.
Was it the most fun thing to do in the Florida humidity? Nope. But we sure enjoyed the show. I’ll never get tired of hearing my child quietly sing along as we’re cheek to cheek.
I’ve camped for over 1.5 hours before to get a decent, centered view. Eventually people fill in front and behind us. Does that mean I should block someone’s view at the last moment? No.
I always book my Disneyworld vacation right after Thanksgiving because I love to see the changeover to Christmas, it’s simply magical! But along with choosing those dates, the cheer girls always seem to be at the same time. They seem to think that they can block the “roadways” and stop in the center and do a cheer! I did not book my Disney vacation to see and hear alot of cheerleader/dance girls n boys! They also take over the moderate n value resorts. Had to call the front desk 3 times one night because they were practicing their cheers right outside our room at 11:30 one night!
Thank you for having a frustration venting article.
I was beginning to think I had just become a grumpy old man who shouldn’t go to public places any more.
Unfortunately in today’s society these things need to be said.
I couldn’t possibly agree more with you on this list, especially the last 4 points.
Over the last 20 years I have taken several trips to Disney World with groups ranging from just the immediate family of 4 to the extended family of 16 people including 7 children at once.
My two older children ranged in age from 5-15 and my now two step daughters were 16 on our most recent trip.
All of these things have gotten exceptionally worse over the last two decades.
The stroller problem started before we ever even left the airport where instead of bringing a reasonable size stroller or checking it in at the ticket counter or upon arrival at the gate, everyone felt the need to take them all the way down the ramp to the point people couldn’t even get by to get on the plane. This delayed our flight by roughly 45 minutes and yes we know for sure as they announced the delay was due to that very thing. Our flight also had at least one or two small children in every other row at a minimum. We had the courtesy and respect for others to check strollers and carry or let our kids walk which is super easy if you simply plan the little extra time that you need to be considerate of others.
Once at the parks we never brought in huge strollers or used them as battering rams to rush through crowds of people, we never had all of us walking side by side to obstruct the entire walkway just for our own convenience of conversation, never let the kids act like complete wild animals and disrupt others ability to enjoy rides, restaurants, the swimming pools, gardens, or anything else.
They were taught how to act in public, be courteous to others, thank those who helped you or gave you compliments, pick up after themselves, not shove or crowd others in lines, wait your turn at the playground or swimming pool slides, etc.
Simple courtesy and especially not running people over with strollers was definitely absent our last trip earlier this year. By the end of day 3 my shins were black and blue after having been bumped into numerous times a day and a couple of times flat out ran over with one incident ending with me on the ground and not even an apology from the person who ran me over with their monster truck stroller. Granted I could have walked in front of my family and let all of them get run over instead but I wanted them to be safe and enjoy their trip.
I would add two things to the list: 1. don’t crowd up against other people in line, we are all going to the same place and leaving a few inches of personal space between you and the stranger in front of you isn’t going to get you there any slower. 2. Don’t hold your tablets, ipads, and smartphones up in front of other people to record shows or fireworks. They paid to watch it live not on your personal recording device.
Jeff, you are a king among men. I love this comment.
My parents have always said about myself and my sister and now their grandchildren ‘I can take these children anywhere’, because we were taught to have manners, and not behave awfully in public.
Don’t put children on your shoulders?! How can you say that?! I’m 5’1″and I LOVED my recent first trip to WDW and getting to watch the back of 6′ tall sweaty dude with a 3 month old on his shoulders instead of the Hocus Pocus Spectacular that I had been anxiously anticipating for the past year! That was the best part of my trip. I will never forget how the golden locks of the child changed with the color of the lights or his glazed, tired expression as he slumped over his father’s head. I’m sure the 3 month old child will never forget this moment either. Total highlight.
I’m in complete agreement with you! I’m 4’8” and it’s very frustrating when a taller person walks right in front of me, blocking my view. Come on people, notice your surroundings!
Bravo!
Agree 100%. especially the line jumping thing as it seems to have become more and more prevalent as the years have gone on. people are just plain rude and think they’re fooling someone when they have to take a whole string of people through the line just because one four-year-old had to go potty. Thank you for airing all of our grievances
Loved it even though neutral about Seinfield . You opened a flood gate. Add holding up phones to video rides like Pirates or Navi River to the list. I do think your post should be considered required reading as preparation, and reminding us not to be a “d..k”.
A great big “Thank You” for publishing my thoughts exactly. These are a long -time coming. And, before anyone accuses me of not having kids, I have already raised three daughters and taken them to WDW, thank you very much. All of these were observed by us and the girls even commented on some. Please add that yelling at your kids at “The Most Magical Place on Earth” does not contribute to the ambience and rarely does it change the child’s behavior. Once again, thank you.