A wise man once said, “The test of good manners is to be patient with the bad ones.”
Walt Disney World draws a wildly diverse crowd—young, old, teens, singles, couples, families from every corner of the globe. With an average of 56,000 visitors a day at Magic Kingdom alone, it is not uncommon to witness cringeworthy etiquette violations or for values to just get rubbed the wrong way.
How is one to stay polite in a place that is so insanely busy, though? We’ve gathered six universal rules of theme park etiquette that can benefit any visitor.
1. Do unto others as you’d have them do to you
Image: Disney
The famous Golden Rule also has a reverse: don’t do something to others you wouldn’t want done to yourself. Going both ways, this adage is an essential element of theme park etiquette.
An obvious place where this applies is in lines. Stay aware of your fellow guests and keep lines moving. You’re all headed to the same place, but it’s a general courtesy. Line jumping is never, ever okay. The only exception is if kids get separated from their families. People usually give grace when one or two members of a party meet up with family in a long queue, but having six people jump ahead to catch up with others in a line? Not so much.
Avoiding blatant line cutting seems like common sense, but regular parkgoers see it all the time. I watched two women cut fifteen riders ahead in the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean once, making an excuse with each jump why it was okay. “They’re piddling on their smartphones”, “They’re not paying attention”, etc. There is no logic or rationale that makes this behavior okay.
Image: Disney
Another area where the Golden Rule applies is in respecting people’s personal space. Different cultures have different perceptions for what is an appropriate “bubble” to maintain from others, but in general, if you can literally breathe on the neck of the person in front of you, it is time to take a step back. Never push or shove other guests, and in general, it is best to keep your walking path fluid while travelling through the parks rather than “playing chicken” with anyone in your trajectory. Avoid walking in a marching formation across a walkway so guests moving at a brisker pace can pass you if need be.
The best way to stay courteous to remain aware of other guests. Every other person at Disney is, in theory, attempting to enjoy a vacation just like you are. Just maintaining this awareness that other guests are individuals who need respect too can result in a much better vacation experience. The smiles you get as you give way to another person and maintain courtesy will far outweigh any negative experiences.
2. Smartphone and camera etiquette
Image: Disney
Whether you’re a tech genius or a Luddite, smartphones are an unavoidable and integrated part of the Walt Disney World experience now. Our phones have quickly taken the place of cameras, camcorders, reservation slips, and paper Fastpasses. While this added convenience has proven a great boon to Disney regulars, smartphones users do need to remain cognizant of a few etiquette rules.
First, the absolute no-no’s. Selfie sticks are banned at Walt Disney World for good reason—they can prove dangerous if they fly out of someone’s hand on a ride or when waved the wrong direction in a crowd. Thinking about sneaking one in? Even if you get it past bag check, realize that you’ll quickly be identified as “that guy” when you’re the only person in the park pulling one out. Just leave it behind.
Flash photography is also still banned on Disney dark rides. This was somewhat easier for Disney to enforce in the days of standard cameras, but many smartphone users don’t even know how to turn their flash off. Learn how to do this before your trip and leave the flash off before heading onto any dark rides. You should also lower the brightness of your screen or leave your phone out of sight during dark ride and show experiences. The same premise that applies when texting in a movie theater applies at Disney—a phone at full brightness distracts other guests.
Image: Disney
Want to take a picture? We mentioned in our previous article about hacks for navigating crowds to never stop in the midst of a moving crowd. Instead, move off to the side or at least to a stationary object where people can pass around you while you get your shot. Stopping suddenly isn’t just annoying to the people behind you. It can prove dangerous and injure those who crash into you. If you’re going to set up a tripod for professional photography, try to pick an out-of-the-way spot and consider marking the legs of your tripod with neon tape so people are less likely to trip on it.
The best point of etiquette smartphone users can follow is to look up from your device regularly, and don’t be glued to your smartphone while walking. Most of us do not have Belle’s ability to walk and read at the same time. Consider your Disney vacation an opportunity to disconnect from constant phone attachment. You’ll have an easier time staying aware of your fellow guests, and you’ll be able to see where you’re going.
3. Strollers and scooters – Courtesy goes both ways
We’ve mentioned stroller etiquette a few times on Theme Park Tourist. It is regularly a controversial subject. What everyone can agree on is that stroller and scooter courtesy must go both ways.
Families driving a stroller or scooter must resist the temptation to use your little angel’s carriage or your sweet ride as a battering ram. It is surprising how many people try to defend this particular tactic. Moving through Disney crowds with a stroller or scooter—particularly if you have more than one child—is no easy task, and calm assertiveness is a must. Most Disney visitors using a stroller or scooter do their best to be polite and don’t resort to shoving and ankle-assaults. However, it is astonishing how many stories abound of guests getting injured, accosted, or shoved by strollers and scooters at Disney World. It is far too common an issue.
There will definitely be awkward moments trying to get a stroller through Walt Disney World. It is tricky to discern when to give right of way to other guests and knowing when to press forward. Be ready with lots of “Excuse me’s”, “Thank you’s”, and “Pardon me’s”. No one is perfect at this. It helps if you can keep as light a stroller as possible (consider using two small ones instead of a double wide if you have two children), but just remain patient and press forward at a reasonable pace.
At the same time, it is easy for those who don’t have small children or mobility issues to forget that families with strollers and scooters are just trying to enjoy their vacation as well. Try not to cut them off by stepping right in front of them. Stopping suddenly in front of a stroller or scooter is a recipe for disaster. If you are travelling at a leisurely pace, let families with strollers get ahead. Smile and show them courtesy and you’re likely to receive it back. Many moms and dads are stressed beyond belief just trying to get their little ones from ride to ride. Letting them gain some ground with a smile on your face might be just the ray of sunshine they need on their Disney day.
4. Be a rock star to the elderly and expectant/nursing mothers
Image: Disney
We mentioned previously that one of the best habits of a Disney parkgoer is giving your seat on Disney transportation or in a waiting area to an elderly guest or an expectant mother. Disney puts signs on their busses and the monorail encouraging this behavior, but it is all too easy to get caught up in conversation and not realize that the poor mom next to you juggling a newborn would consider it a gift from God to get a seat. It is also a good practice to hold doors open for mothers and the elderly.
This is the sort of behavior which parkgoers shouldn’t just acquiesce to. Make it part of your paradigm for visiting a place like Disney. Actively look for opportunities to make other’s vacation experience just a little more pleasant. This is a benefit no upcharge experience can buy.
5. Watch your kids
Image: Disney
This is an unfortunate but important issue: keep an eye on your kids.
I recall once seeing a dad chat away on his smartphone while his child climbed a barrier wall on the edge of World Showcase lagoon. The man was completely oblivious when his child lost their grip and fell off the other side of the wall. We and another family hurriedly alerted the man and rushed to the edge. It turned out the child landed on a small beach on the other side, but the situation could have been disastrous.
Disney cast members cannot watch your children. Other guests cannot watch your children. With tens of thousands of visitors a day, you do not want other guests watching your children. Keep your kids in sight and use your vacation as an opportunity to teach them good safety and courtesy practices.
Image: Disney
If Disney cast members or signage give directions like “do not climb” or they block off an area, follow those directions and teach your little ones to do the same. In the same way adults must exercise some extra courtesy at Disney World, it is a good idea to teach kids to be respectful of other guests and children as well.
We have mentioned the “Magic Backpack” trick before as a great incentive to encourage good behavior during a Disney trip. The basic premise is, before your trip, fill a backpack with souvenirs and rewards that your little one can enjoy during the vacation. After completing an interval of good behavior, the child gets an item from the Magic Backpack: maybe an autograph book and pen, a pin lanyard, a snack, or a toy. You can add to it during the trip if they see something in a shop. This continues throughout your vacation until the backpack is empty. This helps establish a regular routine and gives kids something to work towards as they learn to maintain courtesy and good behavior while having fun.
6. Remember, it’s the kids’ magical day
Image: Disney
More often than not, it is adults, not children, who act up the worst at Disney World. The Most Magical Place on Earth is a wonderful destination for singles and couples, but never forget that it is the kids who the magic was originally designed for.
If you are proficient in the use of profanity, tone it back at Disney World. You never know who might be listening. While it is easy to get carried away while on vacation, remember that kids are almost always nearby at Disney World. Be on your best behavior for their sake. While Disney World is a romantic honeymoon destination, also keep any PDA tasteful. Even on dark rides, night vision cameras operated by watching cast members can see everything you do (and the ride may be stopped if you start getting too frisky).
Image: Disney
Parents, never forget that it is the kid’s vacation too. Not every child is going to enjoy the same things at Disney World you might expect. For example, it is often reported that families with toddlers find their little one enjoyed the resort pool more than any other part of the vacation. Small children may get scared of characters, dark rides, and become overstressed by the crowds. Stay sensitive to their needs and know when to take a break and let them catch a rest, and when to just let them enjoy the fun even when you might be stressed out.
For those without little ones, kids are going to be kids. They’re going to scream on rides, wig out with excitement at seeing stormtroopers, and maybe even meltdown. Maintain a little extra courtesy and grace for families in the midst of this. Disney World is a destination for all, and it can be all the more magical if we just do to others as we would have done to ourselves.
What other points of Disney etiquette do you think are important?
