Surprisingly Unmagical - a trip better off forgotten. About This Page:

[Retro Mommy]

Every year since my kids were born we have been consistently going to the Disneyland Resort. My daughters and I bought passes every year when we lived in LA, and now that we live in Northern California, we make a point of driving down once a year (2 if possible). Growing up a part of the Videopolis crowd *remember that?* I wanted my girls to share in the same magic I felt as a kid. Usually our experiences have been stellar. In fact, I remember 3 years ago my daughter got a bloody nose on the Matterhorn because the ride moved before she had time to buckle up and she hit the front bar with her face. I was extremely impressed with the staff. The CM's called the people in charge & the paramedics on site. They brought us into the office & sat her down, tending to her wound & offered us fast passes to several rides for our inconvenience. I remind myself of this when I begin to think of the horrible treatment we received on this particular visit to Disneyland to remind me not all Disneyland staff is as insensitive as this one cast member. This brings me to my story.

Some background first: it was my birthday *I make it a point to go every 4th of july for my birthday* and my family celebrated with me at Disneyland. It was a hard time for my family physically...My father has diabetes (poor circulation) which requires him to walk short distances & he usually ends up gets a wheelchair. Also, I had recently torn a ligament in my foot and was still having trouble walking on it. My daughter, Amber, has had problems with her feet since she was a little girl, something we discovered when she had to quit dance classes due to bone spurs in the heals of her feet. She doesn’t usually have problems walking unless she overdoes it physically.

My father & I decided to rent a wheelchair for him & he offered the wheelchair for me when he wanted to take a break and relax for long periods of time. For the most part our day at Disneyland was exceptional. We always have a wonderful time at this resort. By midday we had a small incident near the Winnie the Pooh ride. Amber was very excited to see Eeyore, her favorite character. She went up to him to get an autograph but the cast member with him told her no, he had to leave. Eeyore walked away leaving her disappointed. I understand that there are time schedules for character signings and I tried to explain to her that it was Eyores break time, but she got really sad and said, "I don’t like Eeyore anymore, he's mean". lol. kids. I didn’t feel this warranted a complaint, because it was totally understandable why he couldn’t stay, but this is the beginning of when my daughter's day went downhill.

We continued with our day and by the time it got dark my daughter began to cry due to the pain in her feet. When she told me we stopped for about an hour. My dad tried talking her into using the wheelchair so she could enjoy the rest of the day and go on a few more rides. At first she rejected the idea, feeling self conscious about using a wheel chair, but I told her we could take it easy & go on a slow ride (I thought it might cheer her up). We left my dad on a bench seat somewhere near the main street hub and I wheeled her to the Storybook ride, I noticed she began to cheer up.

As you know there is not enough room for a wheelchair in the line so we had to use the wheelchair accessible entry. When we got there, a very obnoxious woman looked my daughter up and down then looked at the people waiting in line and very sarcastically said to them, "Isn’t it nice that people get to cheat? Everybody else has to wait in line, it must be nice to cheat & cut in line. I wish I could cheat, don’t you?" You should have seen my daughters face. She looked like that woman reached down and slapped her, like it was all HER fault that she was in the wheelchair. I could see tears forming in her eyes and she stared at the ground. I was literally speechless. The CM wouldn’t look at us after that. She made a point of being very friendly to the other guests in line & ignoring us. We didn’t mind the wait. We didn’t mind that she let everyone on before us, I mean they were there before us. I did mind, however, her extremely rude behavior to me and my daughter. She is just a child, a child in a lot of pain & I just wanted to scream at this woman and say, "how dare you! you have no IDEA what she has been through, I would LOVE for you to spend just one day in her shoes, you’re insensitive and cruel & I want to speak to someone in charge!"

I didn’t however due to the fact that I didn’t want to cause a scene in front of my daughter, I wanted to get her mind off of it so we could get away from this woman. While we were on the ride my daughter just stared off into space and I knew she wasn’t enjoying the ride. When we got off I asked her if she would like to go on another ride. She said, "No mommy, I just wanna go home now please" It was still hours before closing, physically she was beginning to feel better, but because of this woman's poor treatment we had to leave early. I can’t believe that this kind of treatment of the disabled, especially children, is allowed. In fact, I dont think it is. Mr. Walt Disney would roll over in his grave if he witnessed this.

I understand that patrons of Disneyland might harbor bitterness toward the disabled due to having quicker access to rides, but from a Cast Member, this is inexcusable. I have spoken to a lot of people about this since it happened & all responses are the same…That I should go public with this & contact the relations department. If I would have thought about it then I would have asked for her name & called later to have her reprimanded, but It was too little too late. I do not believe this Cast Member represents the general attitude of the Disney Company towards people with disabilities. I have a lot of respect for the people at Disney & since then we have had MANY wonderful, magical vacations. This was just one trip out of many that leaves a bad taste in our mouth.

[olendl01]

I think you should contact the relations department, not that you can give a name of a single CM but perhaps it can be a general coaching to all CM's to remind them of how Walt Disney would have handled that situation.

[eff051102]

I'm so sorry you and your DD had that horrible experience at DL. I agree that you should say something to the Disney Company about your unDisneylike treatment however since it's been so long (July) since your trip, I'm not sure how much they could do for you.

I would say that if this happens again, you need to speak up for yourself and for your DD. It would show your DD that people shouldn't treat others the way this CM did and that she has every right to use the handicap access when she needs to. If not at the time it happens at least right after with another CM who can get a supervisor.

Again I'm sorry and I hope your next trip is VERY Disneymagical!!!

[TigerLily]

"I would say that if this happens again, you need to speak up for yourself and for your DD. It would show your DD that people shouldn't treat others the way this CM did and that she has every right to use the handicap access when she needs to. If not at the time it happens at least right after with another CM who can get a supervisor. "

I agree with eff051102


Definitely speak up when it happens. Hopefully, it will never happen again.
I am so sorry that happened to her.

[Chrissi]

It's not too late to call guest relations. Tell them what time and day you were there, what ride you went on, and give them a description of the CM. Disneyland can probably track down the CM through their scheduling/HR dept. and at the very least narrow it down to a small group of people who need reminding that not all disabilities are obvious.

You were far nicer than I. Nobody talks to my baby that way.

[Retro Mommy]

Thanks for your comments Like I said, I was speechless when it happened. And It happened some years ago, so i couldnt even begin to remember dates and descriptions. Reading some posts brought up the memory which is why I shared, but I would definately say something if it ever happened again. Thanks again for commenting

[DyanKJ130]

So to hear that your visit wasn't as magical as you were hoping. It is so sad when others can ruin such an experience. Hope your DD is feeling better now

[Lilianna]

Unfortunately all CMs are not kind. We found that out at WDW a couple years ago. It was simple thing. I was pregnant and we exited to find that we had to walk a ways to actually get out the exit gate. There was a CM nearby and I asked if she wouldn't mind letting us out were we were. You would have thought I asked her to move the world!

I forgot I was pregnant when I quickly marched up to the nearest ticket counter and complained. He jotted down the information I gave him, but who knows if it was reported.

I suppose even CMs have a bad day. I'm just sorry she took it out on you and your daughter. You should write and report it.

[scottjs]

Wow. So sorry that happened. I would report it immediately!!! You mess with my family I mess back! I have noticed now that the new Disneyland and Walt Disney World Planning Videos have handicapped people in them!! I hope that it is a change that also takes place in the parks!!!