Discipline at Disney

Our family just returned from a Disney vacation. This is our third trip with the boys and during all three trips, I have observed the various techniques parents use to control their children. Now remember, Disney World has been called the Happiest Place on Earth, but I must tell you that even at this place, parents are parents and kids are kids.

There are the counting parents. You mostly hear these parents at the Character Dining experiences. These require that the children, who are very excited about seeing their favorite Disney character, sit and wait their turn. The characters are moving from table to table so the children are not allowed to approach them. To make matters worse, the children are expected to eat! Parent says, sit in your chair. Child responds by not sitting. Now comes the counting; one, two, three. Child sits but only for a moment. Then it starts again. Now how many numbers are counted varies from parent to parent. You can tell what the highest number is because the child always sits on the number right before; if the number is three, the child sits on two.

There are the physical parents. Now I am not talking about spanking or anything like that. This is physical intervention. Disney has devised a rope or chain system to maintain the lines leading to the rides. Now these chains are just at waist high for adults, but, just right for the children to do various gymnastic moves on them. Some kids swing on them which usually results in the child plopping to the ground and the rope being pulled down. Other little ones use the rope as a guide, holding to it as they run up and down the line. Still others just try to sit on the rope; this is the most popular one, since Disney lines are long and BORING! How do parents handle this? If the child is small, they pick them up and hold them. If the child is too big to hold, the parent will move the child away from the rope to another location; of course, in just a few minutes the child makes his way back to the rope. Some hold the child's hand. The child does not like this and so struggles pulling away or doing the sitting plop to the ground.

There are the reasoners. These parents believe on making eye contact with their child and making a detailed explanation of why the child should do whatever. This is especially amusing when the parent is dealing with a small child. Now you see the parent squat down and get close to the child's face. "You can't hang on the rope. It is not strong enough to hold you. You will fall down. You have to wait your turn. The other boys and girls have to see Mickey then he will come to see you." Sometimes after multiple explanations, the parent's voice may increase in volume, but the endless explanations continue.

Last, but certainly not least, there are the yellers and threateners. These parents are loud and the truth is that they draw more attention than their children. We have all heard these parents in public places. Their correction usually starts with "If you don't....." Many times the children ignore the threats and go merrily on their way. Sometimes they conform briefly and do what they are told.

Now I must admit, the Duso adults are guilty of each and everyone of these discipline techniques. The first day we are very intent on making the boys "act right." Then some Disney cast member...that is what Disney calls their employees....makes this statement, " It is Disney World. It is for kids." I think they must be trained to say this line because we hear it in restaurants, waiting lines, stores, and rides. Then we lighten up and let the kids be kids. That is when we adults begin to have fun and enjoy ourselves. Before we know it Disney World does become the happiest place on earth; at least for a week.