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?
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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
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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 onto 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.
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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.
READ MORE: Make No Mistake, Guest Entitlement Is Alive and Well at Walt Disney World
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.