Disney park maps cause accidents

[MaxPower]

I've noticed a lot of posts on here lately about rude behavior at Walt Disney World and the fact that it seems to be more and more common.

I'm going to throw in my two cents worth. I know the parks like the back of my hand and never need to use a park map to find my way around.

However, I have noticed in all of the parks that when someone needs to stop to use a park map, they do just that - they abruptly STOP, pull out the map and read. This would not be a problem if they were not in the middle of main walkway. It's rude to be walking through a main walkway with hundreds of people behind you and stop abruptly and halt those behind you just because you don't know where you are. I'm amazed at how many people will not step to the side so that others can pass.

On my last visit near the TOT, I saw a woman get knocked down by a large stroller because she decided to stop instantly to read her map and she didn't even think about the people behind her.

The same is true when members of a group get separated. How many times do you see whole groups stopped in the middle of a main walkway to all turn around and look for someone in their group? Once again, they should step to the side to wait for the missing person to catch up.

In a nutshell, many people in WDW act like they are the only ones there even though they are surrounded by hundreds of people. And it's rude.

[nicster]

You said it so well! This is one of the irritating things that happen in public places, the stopping abruptly or in doorways, on stairs, etc and then continuing to linger there like the bottle neck that they are creating has nothing to do with them!! I try not to be too put out and say excuse me as I try to nudge past, not too sarcastically... maybe they will get the point

[satchel01]

I totally agree. It's extremely rude and self-absorbed to just stop where you are and look at a map or whatever. Most of the time you're going to get plowed down if you do that.

I'd like to come up with a line to say to people who do that. Nothing mean, just something that might make them stop and think about their actions and how they affect those around them.

[Disney Doll]

We notice this too especially when we are with my mother who uses a scooter. She can't just hop the curb to go around a group creating a blockage. I'm sure most people just don't think about it so I'm always polite with my excuse me.

[medic9016]

I'll jump on this band wagon and agree with you. We noticed on our last few trips people texting on cell phones and walking and not paying attention.

[Tinksalot]

OMG! I couldn't agree with you more! This is one of my major pet peeves.

[Madame Leona]

I'll admit that my mom is a stopper. I always have to stop with her and usher her over to the side. Luckily, we usually go during non-peak times and she hasn't caused any major accidents (yet). She really isn't a rude person at all, she just gets caught up in the moment. I think we can all relate to that. Instead of getting mad, maybe try to remember that some people just get overwhelmed being at the happiest place on earth and need a moment to get there bearings.

[Phantod]

I think we've all done it ourselves, at one place or another. But how do we react when it's brought to our attention, whether that happens in a rude or nice way? Do we move out of the way regardless? Are we capable at all of learning and refining our behavior? Like I said, we've all done it, but I think it's just a sign of the society we have been creating in the US, the me only, inconsiderate to the extreme mentality. Now clearly that doesn't apply to everyone, but I see it more and more than I did years ago.

And the texting is getting insane...like the young woman who fell in a manhole while texting. Yeah, there should have been barriers, but, please. How can you miss a manhole? I don't have a lot of sympathy. And now all of the reports of people dying as a result of texting when they should know better.

We've gotten to the point where every little inane potential hazard has to be spelled out and legislated. It's amazing to me that anyone ever reaches adulthood any more.

Okay, off the soapbox...and on to WDW in 2 months.

[Camping Mom]

This, too, is a major pet peeve of ours, especially my husband. When people just stop in front of us I now will say "Excuse you" and they look so perplexed!!! Hello....you just almost caused a collision!!!

I know there are those of you who need strollers, but please realize when you stop, no one can go around you on a busy day. Parents with strollers can not stop quickly when others stop in front of them, either.

Bottom line...be mindful of those around you and if you do stop quickly and someone runs into you...don't blame it on the other person. You know what you did!

[EeyoresBestFriend]

Love the thread! It seems I'm always reminding people in our party to step aside if we are going to conference.

The few times I have plowed into someone that stopped for no apparent reason it's a "Sorry you stopped". My DH will give a dog-like growl . . . you should see their faces!!

To others, I usually say, in a cheerful voice as I walk past, "move your issues to the side of the road please".

I think I got it from Ice Age.

I find the same problem at my local grocery store, too . . . .

[Daisy'sMom]

I am the first to agree with this topic, but as I was readingand nodding my head, one thing occurred to me. We, as a whole are just not tolerant of others anymore.
So with that, I am going to try and be someone who is. If someone stops in front of me, (especially in doorways), I will patiently say excuse me and smile.
You know what they. "Pass it on".

[mainemajor]

I'll jump on this band wagon and agree with you. We noticed on our last few trips people texting on cell phones and walking and not paying attention.

How true. It's much more than just the maps. It's people not thinking about the thousands of people that are not them and how they are at Disney, too. Step to the side or next to a lamp post if you need to stop or wait OR USE YOUR CELL PHONE. I can not tell you the number of times I have been run into by people using their cell phones and not paying attention to anyone except the person on the other end of the phone.

[Tinksalot]

I can understand being a little "overwelmed" by WDW, and at times I have offered to point people in the right direction. However, some of these people act as if they are the only ones there at the park. I also understand that alot of these people paid alot of money for this trip and this is their "one and only vacation" for the whole year . But! Be aware of your surroundings and the fact that the park is "full" of people and you can't just stop in the middle of "Main Street" to check the map!
Sorry if I went off..... Long day at work. Anyways, you get my point.
I'll go have a glass of wine and wind down.....

[bretski99]

I wish this were a phenomenon that occurred only at DW, but unfortunately I agree with the other poster, we have a society now where people really only care about themselves. The same types of things happen at shopping malls, on the road, at the movies....everywhere. My biggest pet peeve in fact, is not when people stop, but when a group of people walk side by side as slowly as possible so you can't get by them. I totally get what everyone is saying.

However, as much as I agree, the way I look at it....we're at DW. We are blessed with the means to pay for a trip to the happiest place on earth. I can't control anyone's behavior, only my own. Most people aren't rude on purpose, they are just clueless to the world around them. My wife always says "OK, take your 'vacation pills'" meaning "you're on vacation, enjoy it!!"

So I put on a smile, and have a good time. You can try, but will never be able to change anyone's behavior in the short term, and if you try to, you just end up being the only one that's not having fun.

[momef3grls]

Just read this post and have to comment. My family noticed this the last time we went and cracked up every time. We call it "doing a Disney" and see it everywhere. Each time we laugh and try to avoid the person but we laugh like crazy each time. Puts us in our happy place and we just giggle, people must think we are nuts. We just call it doing a Disney and laugh and go with the flow.

[11290]

Disney park maps cause accidents

Your title says " Disney park maps cause accidents" then you go on to say it's the people stopping to READ the map that cause people to bump into them.

Pray do explain, how does the paper MAP cause the accident??? Do you propose that if they remove the maps that the people will never stop in front of someone again??

[Sneaky Pete]

reminds me of the "stopping short" episode on Seinfield.

Back on topic, I also hate door way jammers -- those folks that stop in the middle of the door way.

[TheVBs]

It is annoying, but I really think it's an honest mistake most of the time. WDW can be an overwhelming place. I explain to my kids that you can't control what people do around you, which is why you have to be aware yourself. We go around or politely say excuse me. Even if it's intentional rude behavior, which seems unlikely most of the time, I simply try to stay polite, especially at the Happiest Place on Earth.

[Mousemates]

I am the first to agree with this topic, but as I was reading and nodding my head, one thing occurred to me. We, as a whole are just not tolerant of others anymore. So with that, I am going to try and be someone who is. If someone stops in front of me, (especially in doorways), I will patiently say excuse me and smile.You know what they. "Pass it on".

As I was reading this thread I had the same thought...while it is annoying to have someone "stop short on you" while walking up Mainstreet...there is something that just doesn't sound quite right (perhaps even self-centered) about complaining about the self-absorbedness, selfishness or rudeness of the people who are so caught up in their own little world that they stop and momentarily inconvenience us while we are walking around WDW in our own little worlds.

[DisneyOtaku]

It does get annoying, but for some reason at Disney it doesn't bug me as much--at least not if I can see if they are trying to figure out their surroundings. Probably because I know people don't know the place as well as I do. For me, it's more like people on my campus--SOME of us need to get to class!