wacky wednesday - where's the magic?

I think I have mentioned once or twice that we LOVE Disney. Because it's fairly close, we go to Disneyland in California most of the time but once in awhile we shake it up a bit and head to Orlando to check out Walt Disney World. We just returned home after spending a week there with our sweethearts (aka grandkids) and their parents.

I love walking down Main Street at the Magic Kingdom early in the morning before it gets crowded!

While I had a good time overall, I was disappointed in the behavior of some a lot of the adult guests who seemed to be very self-involved and disengaged from the experience. They didn't appear to be having a very good time and, at times, were preventing other guests from enjoying their time there. I know it isn't "the happiest place on earth" - that's reserved for Disneyland - but  it shouldn't look like "the grumpiest, most selfish place on earth" either.

As I was reflecting on our time there, I came up with a list on how to be a considerate guest (aka customer) whether you are at a Disney park or pretty much anywhere in public.

1. Use common courtesy. Saying please, thank you, excuse me and I'm sorry doesn't stop when adulthood begins. Bumping into someone in a crowded place is inevitable but glaring at them like it's their fault they are where you want to go is rude.
2. Put your phone away while you are walking. Texting and walking in a crowded place is a recipe for an accident - like small children being knocked over or running into people. Texting and driving a scooter is akin to texting and driving a car - don't do it! In fact, just put your phone away period and enjoy the experience. Email can wait.
3. Observe personal space. Pushing up against people in lines or crowded situations (like a parade or fireworks, for example) frightens children who are sandwiched in between adults. They can easily get trampled when adults behind them don't see them.
4. Obey the posted rules and verbal instructions. If a sign says "NO Flash Photography" then turn your flash off unless it says "Except for (insert your name) ."
5. Be considerate of people behind you during parades, fireworks, etc. (in a movie theater, at a sporting event...). Holding your phone or iPad above your head to shoot video of the entire show limits the visibility of the people behind you. Multiply this practice by hundreds of people and no one past the second or third row of guests can see anything. Putting your child on your shoulders effectively does the same thing. If they aren't tall enough to see above the crowd, hold them with their head at the same height as yours.

It seems that the "magic" of Disney is slipping away as the entitlement generation "grows up." Or maybe society as a whole has become more self-centered. Whatever the reason, I find it sad and discouraging that adults are modeling such self-indulgent, inconsiderate behavior to this generation of children. I guarantee no good will come from that.