This isn’t a post about hats! It’s about tempers. It seems that no matter the weather in Orlando, tempers have been hot, hot, hot this year. Have you ever seen so many news articles about people fighting at Disney? Last month, we saw first hand multiple altercations. One group, in front of Cinderella's castle. Another, right on Main Street. There was another that nearly had my youngest and I in tears we felt so horrible for the kids, as the dad was outside of Space Mountain and absolutely using every word in the adult vocabulary to berate them for: 1. Being scared to go on the ride and 2. Too small to go on said ride. He repeatedly told them he didn't come all this way just to ride baby rides. Yikes. It seems the happiest place on Earth isn't as happy anymore. What's to blame? Sure, it's hot, but these reports are happening almost daily, and have been even in the cooler months. Is it the fact that the new Lightening Lane is a little tricky and also expensive, making park goers have to pay for something they used to get for free? Maybe it's that there still isn't quite everything open. Cast members are stretched thin, and shortages in staff, merchandise, and food are stressing out families, while prices are going up, up, up! A souvenir I bought in 2020, and was looking to get a second of, (That cute, small Pixar bouncy ball) went from $6.99 (still had the price on the bottom) to $14.99. OUCH! I'm not sure what's making people so upset, possibly a combination of everything, but it seemed no matter where we were, we were surrounded by angry people. The worst, was in the Skyliner line during a storm when my youngest and I had been waiting for over an hour, as busses were to be called in. The good news is, the following day we talked to the engineer at the station, and she showed us just how in an emergency they help riders! Coming soon! Regardless of what frustration is happening at the park, resort, or transportation line, it's important to stay calm. Just like young children can feel your emotions and it sets off theirs, I think the same is true for tired, hot, spent-too-much, hungry crowds. This absolute anger going on right now is really spreading, and it's growing more and more frequent, both in people seeing it, and in the news reporting. So how can you stay calm when others around you are getting upset? Or how can you keep cool when something is making you embrace your inner Donald Duck and get steamed up? Here are three things that I do myself. 1. Ignore it. Someone's got the crankies in your party? Ignore it. Smile, point out interesting things to the not cranky members, and accept that we should all be allowed to feel irritated at some point on vacation, even at Disney. 2. Be forgiving. Yeah, no one likes when someone cuts the line on purpose or when a group joins the single person in line just in front of you. It's rude. You're going to get my stink yet, oh yes you will. But I'm not going to say anything, why? This Mama has been the one to do the mad dash to get the kid to the bathroom in time, or run back to get the forgotten MagicBand, the thing in the stroller, or get the needed thing from the stroller that couldn't wait, like Epipens that got left, the camera, or someone's money. I'm sure I'm not the only one! At least...I hope so. Maybe those people had to do something too? Maybe they didn't, but when you think of it that way, it puts a little cooling on that heat rising. 3. Accept it. Let's face it...the world is full of imperfect humans, excluding us, right? So, let's just accept they aren't as awesome as we are, and give them a little grace. By doing so, embracing our inner Elsa, and moving on, we get to enjoy our day, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dahing down the way, while they are losing precious part time getting mad. Now, it's been suggested these are just avoidance methods. Maybe. Call them that if you want, but I'm calling them no-one-has-time-for-that strategies, and gets-us-trough-the-day-without-killing-each-other tactics. You might have different tactics, other than the usual ones mention, like breathing! What are yours?
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