Entitled Mom Says Kids Should Get Priority Viewing for Disney Shows

Disney theme parks are known for a lot of things — great rides and attractions, mouthwatering food, and more shops than you can shake a stick at. However, one thing that should not be overlooked is the incredible shows that can be found in nearly every theme park. Over at Walt Disney World Resort, guests can watch Happily Ever After fireworks at the Magic Kingdom, enjoy Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, watch Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom, and so much more.

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At Disneyland Resort, the big nighttime spectaculars are Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular at Disneyland Park and World of Color – ONE at Disney California Adventure Park. However, those are not the only memorable shows guests can enjoy. There is the Magic Happens parade at Disneyland and the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration at DCA, along with several shows guests can watch in Avengers Campus.

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Avengers Campus opened in June 2021, and guests who visit the area can watch Dr. Strange practice the mystic arts in the Ancient Sanctum, learn how to defend Wakanda with the Dora Milaje, and watch Spider-Man fly through the air above the W.E.B. building.

Many guests who visit The Happiest Place on Earth know that if they want to get a spot to watch a show, they have to pick their spot a little early, especially if the crowds are heavy. One Reddit user did just that, but she still wound up getting yelled at by a mother who thought her young child should take priority.

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Redditor u/antoniaestark said that they were visiting Avengers Campus and wanted to watch the Spider-Man show. She was traveling by herself and took her spot early since she wanted to be able to film the show. The OP (Original Poster) noted that she is short and holds her phone close to her chest so she does not bother anyone.

I wanted to film the Spider-man show, so I went to the show area about half an hour before it started. When the cast member arrived that was going to be the crowd handler, I asked her if she could please point out the line on the sidewalk that she was going to line people up on to watch the show when it was ready to start, which she did, so I noted it and went back to stand against the wall to wait. Ten minutes or so before show start she says we can start gathering, so I walk up and toe the line. The crowd gathers, but it doesn’t pack in instantly by any means, since many folks don’t even realize it’s about to happen.

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Just as the show was about to begin, a family squeezed in behind the woman. The woman claimed that the family asked her if she was alone, and then asked her to move from the front spot she had so their son could stand there. The woman declined to move, saying that she had gotten there early so she could get a good spot.

About two minutes before the show, when there is now a sizable crowd behind me trying to creep forward (but I’m a good little park guest, my toes did NOT cross that line! 😀 ) I get a tap on the shoulder and it’s a woman, a fairly tall man, and a boy who is roughly five years old. The woman asks me if I am alone, and I said yes, and she asks me to move out of the way so her child can take my spot. I said that I’m sorry if her family didn’t have the best view, but I had shown up a half hour early to get a good spot so I could videotape without holding my phone over people’s heads, and at five feet tall, if I step back there’s no way I could do that. 

Should kids get priority viewing?
byu/antoniaestark inDisneyland

That answer was completely unacceptable to the entitled mother, who felt that her son should get a priority viewing spot, even though they had gotten there at the last minute. She also told OP that they did not get there earlier because they didn’t want to waste park time by standing around and waiting for the show.

She looks shocked, and says “but my child can’t see!” I calmly said that if she wants to ensure that her family is up front for a show, I personally recommend that she get to the show area around twenty minutes to half an hour early so they can line up at the front, and she snaps that doing that takes away from park time and he’d get bored. I was very blunt and said at Disney, sometime you have to decide what’s the most important for your family to do, such as move between things quickly or wait for a better experience at fewer things. She went off on an absolute rant about how people with families shouldn’t have to wait for the best spots and SELFISH people like me who are alone should make way for them without question.

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Thankfully, a cast member stepped in and defended OP. However, the whole scenario left the OP wondering if she was in the wrong. She noted that she offered to let the young boy stand in front of her, but the parents wanted to stand with him, which would have blocked OP’s view.

Commenters overwhelmingly sided with OP, saying the children do not have the right to the best spots. In addition to that, OP offered a solution, but the entitled mother wanted what she wanted.

Nope. She was rude. You are fine. I just got back from Disney with my three kids – I didn’t ask anyone to move for them and I certainly didn’t harass someone for politely declining. You paid for your ticket, you lined up early, you deserve to enjoy the show! Hope it was a great one – other than crazy mom!

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Others pointed out that areas fill up on a first-come, first-serve basis. If the mother wanted a good spot, it was her responsibility to get there earlier.

We must follow the law of parades and other public viewing events: first come, first serve. If folks want a prime viewing location, they should make the effort to snag one early. It’s not your or my fault they got there too late.

If you want to get a good spot for one of Disneyland’s fantastic parades but do not want to get there too early, there are dining packages available. The Magic Happens dining package gets you a meal at the Plaza Inn and a reserved seating section. Pixar’s Better Together parade offers a dessert package with a preferred seating area.

Whose side are you on, OP’s or the angry mom? Do you think children should get priority for the front spots? Let us know in the comments!