What was the biggest Disney meltdown you've witnessed?

[here757]

Last time I was in Disney.. waited for frozen parade (oh yes been that long) I waited got my spot. Been there forever. I noticed a mom with 2 young girls. I let them in front of me. I made sure my girls stood by dad. So all 4 girls had a good view.
Side note I hate frozen anyhow! Lol

 

[siskaren]

How was that a meltdown?

 

[jvz82]

Biggest meltdown was my brother 3 years ago at Animal Kingdom. He was a grown adult with kids who were 6 and 7. My kids were 1, 3, and 5 at the time. My 5 year old son, who the following year was diagnosed with autism, was extremely disregulated. We had an umbrella stroller that we were sharing between kids, and he asked for a turn so I said yes. In the meantime, my 6 year old niece sat down in it. When my son saw that, he started screaming and crying and swatted at her like he was going to hit her (but didn't). My brother, being protective and probably disregulated himself, just lost it. He started yelling and swearing and saying that my son better not "****ing go near her again" then stormed off. I was absolutely shocked. I haven't had much of a relationship with my brother as an adult, because he moved to Florida after he graduated high school. But I couldn't believe he would respond that way. I realize my son shouldn't have behaved the way he did, but he was still a 5 year old child. My brother was the adult, he should have been able to be more appropriate. I was pissed and honestly I didn't talk to him for about 2 years after that. He's since apologized and I've mostly forgiven him, but never will forget.

Later that day, my dad had a grand mal seizure in line to see Lion King. He has zero seizure history, I thought he was dying.

All in all, NOT a good day at Disney.

 

[LukDuk]

Waiting for fireworks at the GF boat dock, I spotted a man I was certain was my 65 yo neighbor -- but cuddling and kissing a 20-ish hottie who was def not my neighbor's wife. As I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, the woman noticed me looking. Her face crumpled into a vicious mask and she started hissing things like, "Oh, look at that couple, I'm a fat midwestern church prude and I disapprove," etc. in a sneering, mocking voice. The man sat with his arm around her and champagne glass in hand, straining to look the other way and pretend nothing was happening. I quickly turned, hoping things would deescalate.

Several minutes later she was still directing taunts at my back. The people around us seemed very uncomfortable; embarrassed murmers and sidelong glances had replaced the dock's happy buzz. I told my big guy (who was oblivious to it all) that since DD was sound asleep in her stroller we should skip fireworks and head to our room. As we walked away she spat something like, "Riiiiiiiiight, the baby's why you're leaving."

She was just awful. Their age gap, though, probably drew many curious stares; maybe mine put her over the edge. My confusion no doubt looked like disapproval. To this day I wish I'd just interrupted her tirade, apologized for staring and explained about my neighbor. Maybe it would have restored the peace.

 

[chelynnah]

Waiting for fireworks at the GF boat dock, I spotted a man I was certain was my 65 yo neighbor -- but cuddling and kissing a 20-ish hottie who was def not my neighbor's wife. As I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, the woman noticed me looking. Her face crumpled into a vicious mask and she started hissing things like, "Oh, look at that couple, I'm a fat midwestern church prude and I disapprove," etc. in a sneering, mocking voice. The man sat with his arm around her and champagne glass in hand, straining to look the other way and pretend nothing was happening. I quickly turned, hoping things would deescalate.

Several minutes later she was still directing taunts at my back. The people around us seemed very uncomfortable; embarrassed murmers and sidelong glances had replaced the dock's happy buzz. I told my big guy (who was oblivious to it all) that since DD was sound asleep in her stroller we should skip fireworks and head to our room. As we walked away she spat something like, "Riiiiiiiiight, the baby's why you're leaving."

She was just awful. Their age gap, though, probably drew many curious stares; maybe mine put her over the edge. My confusion no doubt looked like disapproval. To this day I wish I'd just interrupted her tirade, apologized for staring and explained about my neighbor. Maybe it would have restored the peace.

There is no deescalating someone in that mood. It makes you feel like crap, but anything you could have said would only have added fuel.

 

[Kriii]

I was in the FP line for Peter Pan and a woman got highly irate about the FP riders being let ahead of the regular line. Lots of venom spewed. Not pleasant.

 

[QueenGsMama]

It wasn't a meltdown, but on our last trip, my DH overheard a young boy yell to his Dad "WHY DID YOU BRING YOUR WALLET IF WE AREN'T GOING TO SPEND ANY MONEY??!!". Had us cracking up for the rest of the trip.

 

[Branflakes]

Walking through ALK Jambo lobby, headed out the front door, a kid I would estimate to be 11-12, was yelling at his parents who were a good 10-15 feet ahead of him. He was yelling what "an ***hole" his dad was for not letting him stay at MK by himself. Followed by "why the F did we come here". I said very firmly while pointing as we passed him, he better watch his smart filthy mouth. And maybe through my teeth added you ungrateful brat. This was a conversation among many on the bus
to MK! The irony.

 

[lovethattink]

Reminder to please keep it friendly here and follow DIS posting guidelines.

 

[cinderelly828]

DH and I were at AK and I went to use the restroom near the front entrance and I think I was changing into pants because it was chilly or something (it was end of November) so it took a little longer than normal. He said he'd be right outside, but when I got out I looked around for probably 15 minutes and couldn't find him. He wasn't answering his cell phone and I started freaking out a bit. (I can occasionally overreact ). I just remember thinking, "omg I'm all alone in Florida and he's dead in a ditch somewhere and what am I gonna do!?" About 30 minutes later (I timed it) DH comes strolling out from the path by the Rainforest Cafe or whatever that restaurant is after going to take some pictures. I was so relieved but upset that he worried me and stressed me out that I started scolding him and was almost in tears. He kept saying that it should have been obvious where he was and I eventually just walked (stormed?) off towards the rest of the park to cool off. I just now asked DH about what he thought the biggest meltdown we've seen was and reminded him of this story. He didn't remember at first, but then it came back to him. He of course said, "well it was obvious where I was!" And we both just started cracking up because it was so clearly not at all obvious and I was so ridiculously upset. Lol. It's good to be able to laugh about it now!

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

My meltdown story is a little off topic but it does have a Disney connection. My DD, her DH and our DGD were going on DCL to Alaska. The day before I am finishing up my packing and getting my documents together. I look all over for my Passport and I can't find it. It had been in the bedroom on a counter. I ask my husband if he knew where it was. He looks in the safe and No not there. I am getting more and more upset. I call my daughter in tears. I can't go. I lost my Passport. She says don't panic. TOO LATE. Fifteen minutes later they are at my front door. I am even more upset. I told my husband :you did this on purpose because you aren't going." He just laugheed at my tantrum.
My daughter comes in the bedroom says we are going to fing that Passport. She starts opening drawers and about the 3rd drawer she says "Here it is". It was in a drawe, sort of stuck to the side of the drawer.
I felt like a jerk but at least I appolgized and he does not hold it against me.
Now back to you normal programming.

 

[JennLTX]

I'm barely a third of the way through this thread, and I am having the BEST TIME EVER!!!

I've seen plenty of unhappy little ones at the ends of their emotional ropes, but the one that sticks out was a ride on Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The ride broke down and we had to be escorted out. Now, my son and I absolutely loved being able to see everything with the lights on and actually walk through it (we were almost at the midway point). Going backwards through the ride, the CM in charge would evacuate one honeypot, move to the next, have everyone stop, evacuate that one and so on. By the time we got to the last honeypot, which was near the entrance, a little boy with his family had realized he was NOT going to finish the ride, and was NOT happy. And also NOT willing to let go of said honeypot. I felt so awful for him, and his parents kept apologizing, which wasn't necessary; all of us who were waiting felt equally bad for the poor kid. But holy crap, does it ever ECHO in there, and this kid had a truly impressive set of lungs!!!

 

[Babrook]

Sitting at a bus stop at a resort waiting for a bus, middle of the day. A large family group, 10+, is waiting with us. One teenage boy is pouting on a bench. The mother (we assume) simply says "Someone has their crabby pants on today!" to him. The phrase "crabby pants" has entered legendary status as a reoccuring meme for my family as a result.

This thread is gold, Jerry, gold.

 

[85glht]

This thread is gold, Jerry, gold.

Hilarious!!

 

[richkaryn]

My meltdown story is a little off topic but it does have a Disney connection. My DD, her DH and our DGD were going on DCL to Alaska. The day before I am finishing up my packing and getting my documents together. I look all over for my Passport and I can't find it. It had been in the bedroom on a counter. I ask my husband if he knew where it was. He looks in the safe and No not there. I am getting more and more upset. I call my daughter in tears. I can't go. I lost my Passport. She says don't panic. TOO LATE. Fifteen minutes later they are at my front door. I am even more upset. I told my husband :you did this on purpose because you aren't going." He just laugheed at my tantrum.
My daughter comes in the bedroom says we are going to fing that Passport. She starts opening drawers and about the 3rd drawer she says "Here it is". It was in a drawe, sort of stuck to the side of the drawer.
I felt like a jerk but at least I appolgized and he does not hold it against me.
Now back to you normal programming.

When DS and I were preparing to get our passports last January for our end of May Alaska DCL, DH already had a passport from having to travel for work. Well, we'd looked for his for MONTHS and it wasn't in drawers, safe, anything.....I told him make one last search because I'd seen it last when we'd changed bedroom suites a while back. We started tearing house apart again one night just knowing we'd have to report as lost and reapply. We had exhausted every possibility and he all of a sudden leaves the room and comes back and unlocks this little wooden treasure chest box he'd had since a child (not even sure how he knew where to find the key but apparently he had it on a random keychain). He unlocks the box and there was his passport. Why on earth he ever locked it up in there instead of the safe I'll never know....and what possessed him to think to look there after months of searching is still beyond me!

 

[Willlyb]

I once saw a large Asian family get flustered with another family during the MSEP for standing up and blocking their view. After being asked to sit so that the children could get a better view, one of the males in the other family turned around and said, "This is America! It's a free country! Go back to where you came from!"



Generally, I'm of the opinion that "if you get there first, you can do what you want", but they were the ONLY people standing on the curb. EVERYONE else was seated that were on the edge of the parade like that. It was so awkward (and infuriating) to hear someone speak to another stranger that way.

 

[MagicallyMom]

We already bought my daughter a Duffy bear at Epcot, and there was some other toy she wanted not but half an hour later, and we said no. She was already hot & wiped out, so she started the nuclear fallout, and we decided to leave the park. Once she figured out we were headed for the buses, it elevated to "I HATE YOU. YOU RUINED MY LIFE!"

She was 4.

 

[MagicallyMom]

Waiting for fireworks at the GF boat dock, I spotted a man I was certain was my 65 yo neighbor -- but cuddling and kissing a 20-ish hottie who was def not my neighbor's wife. As I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, the woman noticed me looking. Her face crumpled into a vicious mask and she started hissing things like, "Oh, look at that couple, I'm a fat midwestern church prude and I disapprove," etc. in a sneering, mocking voice. The man sat with his arm around her and champagne glass in hand, straining to look the other way and pretend nothing was happening. I quickly turned, hoping things would deescalate.

Several minutes later she was still directing taunts at my back. The people around us seemed very uncomfortable; embarrassed murmers and sidelong glances had replaced the dock's happy buzz. I told my big guy (who was oblivious to it all) that since DD was sound asleep in her stroller we should skip fireworks and head to our room. As we walked away she spat something like, "Riiiiiiiiight, the baby's why you're leaving."

She was just awful. Their age gap, though, probably drew many curious stares; maybe mine put her over the edge. My confusion no doubt looked like disapproval. To this day I wish I'd just interrupted her tirade, apologized for staring and explained about my neighbor. Maybe it would have restored the peace.

That's rough. I'm sorry someone put you through that on your vacation.

 

[Carolyn Louise]

I almost fainted by the pool at the AKL when I had some sort of bug. I had gone down there to sit in the sun (not go in) in the hopes that I might feel better and as I was walking all of a sudden tunnel vision closed in and I sort of folded to the ground. It was quite scary as I'd never come close to fainting before and then quite embarrassing after as a couple helped me to a chair and paramedics came. I was there solo and it sucks to have no one to help you when you're not feeling well. I was in tears while the paramedics were there and of course they couldn't really do anything other than offer hospitalization. Instead I went back to the room and stayed there for the next two days--basically my whole trip. Not exactly a meltdown but certainly upsetting.

 

[Babrook]

"This is America! It's a free country! Go back to where you came from!"

This kind of stuff just kills me. That and folks complaining about "all the people here speaking spanish". Such a bummer that people feel the need to be this way at WDW, or anywhere really.

It's like go ride It's A Small World again, dudeski, you could learn a thing or two.