It’s no secret that Disney guest behavior hasn’t been great lately, but on the brighter side, it’s not as bad as it could be! That is to say, we at Disney Dining haven’t reported on any guest brawls in a while, so things could definitely be worse.
Still, while guest behavior isn’t as bad as it can be, it’s…not perfect. Guest entitlement is still quite a big issue in Walt Disney Parks.
Guest Entitlement Is High, Sure, But Who Can Blame Them?
Related: “Scary” Disney World Interaction Has Guest Asking For the Opposite of a Cast Compliment
As everything from the cost of living to a Walt Disney World vacation goes up in price, wages are increasingly stagnating; with the current cost required for a Disney vacation, the experience has become more expensive and unattainable than ever.
As a result, some guests can act selfishly on their vacations. And in all honesty? We can’t exactly blame them.
Higher prices coupled with tensions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the polarizing state of political strife have all come together, creating the perfect mix for a visible ‘us versus them’ mentality that can be felt anywhere, even in Disney World.
One Story, In Particular, Stands Out
Related: Change Is Coming: Disney FINALLY Addresses Bad Guest Behavior
Make no mistake: things aren’t terrible, but they aren’t great.
We can see this in a lot of stories shared on social media, but one guest recently shared a story in which they asked other fans of Walt Disney World for their opinions. Needless to say, the internet was as unforgiving as ever.
The anonymous guest posted their story on Reddit. They set the scene, stating that their family boarded the bus headed for Magic Kingdom. Not just any trip to Magic Kingdom, but a trip to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which meant that the Disney Park would undoubtedly be crowded.
The two adults sat in the empty seats and “watched as people piled on.” The guest writes:
My husband was forced to put the collapsed [stroller] on his lap while I balanced the diaper bag and baby. When we thought it was finally full. A family of 10 asked to come on and the bus driver looked at the bus, paused, and agreed. He yelled to make everyone push back. This family of 10 was packed so tight that they pressed against our stroller on my husband’s lap and kept on pushing onto our [little one]. I tried telling the bus driver I don’t think they’d all fit but he ignored me. The whole ride to [Magic Kingdom] was uncomfortable. We felt like the family of 10 could’ve waited.
Is this worth a complaint?
byu/mrstshirley1 inWaltDisneyWorld
Related: Disney Guests Are Beginning to Target Fellow Guests On Social Media
The comments were unanimous, pointing out that this is par for the course when it comes to visiting a Disney Park. They were also quick to point out that while the guest didn’t believe the bus had enough room for another family, the Cast Members know the exact specifications as far as capacity goes.
One Redditor wrote, “Sounds like a typical bus experience during a busy period. The drivers know the limits on passengers and won’t go past it. Perhaps you should consider other forms of transportation if this is an issue.”
Another Redditor wrote,
The bus driver ignored you telling him they don’t fit because it’s his job to make that decision, not yours. The actual capacity of the bus and your preferred capacity are 2 different things. A packed bus is normal for a holiday weekend, going to a special event… I don’t think it’s worth the energy you took to type this out, let alone a complaint.
Related: Disney World Confirms More Than 90 Stylish New Rides
Crowded transportation can be uncomfortable, but, unfortunately, that’s just the name of the game when it comes to Walt Disney World, as many anonymous Disney fans pointed out. Not only that, but each Disney Cast Member has been specially trained, and knows the ins and outs of their stations.
It probably goes without saying, but it’s generally best not to assume that a guest would know better than a Cast Member.
Have you ever experienced something like this on Disney transportation? Let us know in the comments.
I don’t see anything in the story that makes the person “Entitled”.
You mean other than “I know more about how many people will fit on the bus than the guy who’s been trained as a bus driver” level of ‘Entitlement’?
I personally agree with the OP. There should be a maximum amount of people allowed on the bus. Once the seats are taken that should be it. Safety has to be considered. Once I had an accident at the airport after landing. My arm was in a sling. I remember having to wait in the middle of tge parking lot for the bus. Once one arrived I was pushed and shoved by people who hadn’t waited as long as my husband and I had. It was a dangerous situation. Safety needs to come first.
Agreed… too many entitled people, for what ever reason, think they deserve better than the rest… usually based on the digits the see in the investment column I think… Protect your little ones first, if that means putting them down on the seat with your wife or? and standing up to make room and cradle them! and shut up about it cause it’s just courtesy, but, “common” does not apply to ‘you’, huh?