My New Pet Peeve!!

[KAJUNKING]

what really burns me up is when a teenager is sitting in front of me at the movie theater or on a dark attraction the light those little screens put off is really distracting

[Ed]

I just think that it's sad that the obsessive texters in the parks are missing at least 50% of the overall WDW experience - - the visual elements and the fun of "people watching" - - while their faces are buried in the screen and keyboard.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

I guess I'm out of touch , but I WILL NOT allow my hubby to take any work cells or laptops on vacation. The one time he did, he only checked at night when we got back to the room, but he would get wound up about things going on at work and then fret about stuff. He did not have a vacation or let go of work the whole time.
Next time the boss asked him to take it I said "only if you pay him for the whole vacation as if he was here." Pretty much got the point ~ for personal emergencies I leave our resort # with family ~ that's it!

No cells, no computers ~ vacation only

We are gone ~ leave us alone

[PirateLover]

And I would rather have someone next to me texting their way through an attraction rather than having a conversation on that cell phone.

Really? I think both are incredibly rude. I had a few encounters with teens texting on rides on our last trip. It was extremely annoying. The thing that shocked me the most is we were getting on our return flight and some man was having an extremely loud, heated conversation on his phone as we were getting on the plane! I shared a look with a woman and she said something about how rude and self absorbed people can be on cell phones I said "Yeah I know, I couldn't believe how many people were texting during rides in Disney!" To which she replied "Yeah, well, I mean we texted on rides sometimes but that's because we had a big group and had to make sure everyone knew where everyone else was."

[Seasonscraps]

The only times texting bothers me is if the person in front of me is sort of meandering aimlessly in front of me because they are not paying attention, if the light from the cell is distracting and of course while driving/operating any kind of vehicle (that's all other issue entirely). Otherwise, I couldn't care less. It's their vacation. It's their money. I don't care if they miss something.

[MNNHFLTX]

I just think that it's sad that the obsessive texters in the parks are missing at least 50% of the overall WDW experience - - the visual elements and the fun of "people watching" - - while their faces are buried in the screen and keyboard.

I agree with you, Ed. It doesn't really affect or bother me personally, but I feel kind of bad for the person doing it because they're missing out on experiences and interactions. And yes, I think many kids are actually obsessive about it, which is not a healthy thing.

[DizNee143]

i could careless what other people do on there vacation..they wanna text the whole time..have at it..you dont see them complaining about there vacation..im sure they are having fun!
as for me..i text and call people while at disney..just because im in disney doesnt mean im dead to the world..ill call my friends or family..if im not with them..
especially if im just there with my hubby i call my sister alot.let her know what we are doing so she can day dream..and she does the same thing when she is there and im at home..
unless someone is being really rude or bumps into you cuz they are on the phone (one way or another) i might say something..otherwise like i said..i could careless what other people do on there vacation..i dont worry about them or even give them a thought..who cares!?!

[Ian]

Personally I think this is a generation gap issue.

I agree.

Also, people need to realize that there are people out there who don't have the luxury of leaving the office behind when they're on vacation. I know personally ... I couldn't afford to pay for my Disney vacations if I refused to check email and texts while out of the office because I'd be fired.

All that said, though, there's a time and a place for everything and I totally agree that in shows, rides, etc. is really not the time or the place. I nearly killed a dude at Candlelight Processional 2 years back because he texted on his Blackberry during the entire show.

I mean, his loss okay, but the light from the screen and the constant clicking noise and those flashing thumbs of his were so distracting that I couldn't really enjoy the show at all!

[jaredkari]

I agree with some of the people who say that texting is ok but put limits on it. There should be limits on it!!! People need to know when it is time to put the cell phone away, while driving, while at work, and while spending time with your family which is what most vacationers are at WDW for.

For those who say it shouldn't bother me when others use their cell phones to text consider that most WDW attractions are dark so the glow of a cell phone screen is a considerable annoyance on an attraction. Also last week we had a Father talking on his cell phone throughout the entire Tiki Room show!!!!

My opinion is that everyone paid to get into the WDW therefore everyone should be considerate to others and stop being RUDE!!!

[bretski99]

I'm going to put myself on the 'firing line' with you! Admitting that sometimes it is beyond ridiculous how much (and where and when) people text, overall I think it's not one of the things that bothers me that much.

We all have our peeves, but to me texting is relatively quiet (much better than someone on the cell phone at dinner or on a ride), it doesn't give off an annoying flash, and it doesn't smell (like smokers in line).

With our kids, we most definitely reduce the texting time while on vacation. But for us it's kind of a give and take thing with older teen-agers. They limit the texting to friends on vacation, we don't give them a rough time. Then when we make plans for a restaurant that serves more than burgers and fries, they don't give us a rough time. It really is a new generation, and texting and IM is the thing to be doing. Like I said, there are several things that bother me a lot more than texting fingers.

Well said. You highlighted my thoughts perfectly. We won't be allowing texts during any meals next week, but beyond that, kids are used to multi-tasking, and the cell phone is their lifeline. It's not any different than me wearing one of them "new-fangled walkmans" when I was 15. Asking teens to not do that except for an hour or two a day is asking them to cut off their right arm - it's their way of communicating now. I've seen parents try to enforce rules like that, then wonder why their kids are broodish and ticked off all week. It's not worth the hassle, and doesn't take the kid's perspective into account.

So everyone, here's the deal: If you see a 5' 6" blonde haired teenage boy with glasses and a gray, backwards baseball cap with an R on it, walking too slow in front of you next week when you are trying to get to space mountain before it closes, feel free to tell him to stop texting his girlfriend and step aside - tell him his Dad said so. If you see us texting or using our cell phones in a restaurant, call us on it (hint: We'll be the ones NOT actually doing any of that). Otherwise, cut him (and the rest of the teens) a little slack. They really are having fun, whether you think so or not.

And I like the point about smokers. Smoke somewhere other than in line for a ride - PLEASE! That would be my peeve.

[PittFan]

Why should anyone care if someone else choses to spend there vacation playing with a cell phone? As long as they are not using it in the middle of an attraction and it's not disturbing your experience, who cares? And I would rather have someone next to me texting their way through an attraction rather than having a conversation on that cell phone.

I agree completely. Texting is alot better than annoying everyone on an attraction with an obnoxious ringtone every 3 min.

[cer]

Also last week we had a Father talking on his cell phone throughout the entire Tiki Room show!!!!

Unfortunately, and this is just my opinion, what Disney has done to the Enchanted Tiki Room is far more criminal than the Father talking on his cell phone.

[Marceline]

Unfortunately, and this is just my opinion, what Disney has done to the Enchanted Tiki Room is far more criminal than the Father talking on his cell phone.

Ohhh yeah! We have a winner!!

I also completely agree with DizNee143.
If it's not harming me or somebody else, why is it my business to care. A person quietly tapping on a cellphone is pretty harmless.

If I gave my energy to thinking negatively about all the people in the world that I thought were not putting their attention where they ought to and not enjoying all the sights and sounds that I do....I would have to question if I was putting MY attention where I ought to.

[Septbride2002]

I get annoyed when my dinner companions text or are checking the internet while we are eating. It is one thing if it is for work in the - OMG I just got this email give me a second to respond. But when they are checking the scores for football games, the stock market prices, etc - that sort of ticks me off. It's like saying - you are not that interesting.

I take my cell to Disney because I call my Mom on the trip as she is a Disney-holic too. I also take it to text our friends who usually travel with us - the text are usually "Headed 2 MK" or "Leaving MGM" that way if they want to meet up they have a general idea of where we are.

~Amanda

[Melanie]

I might be bringing my cell to the parks this year so that I can journal via facebook, but I'm still not completely committed to that yet!

SO guilty, as you know.

[SurferStitch]

DH and I have had iPhone since they came out, and now have the new 3GS with video capability, so we will definitely have them with us in the parks....BUT....I never use it as a real phone in the parks! I'm not one to call people to tell them that I'm having a great time when I know they're at work or home or whatever. I have a guilty conscience and just feel like I would be gloating. I don't really like talking on the phone anyway....ESPECIALLY at WDW!!

I like to have internet access if needed, or to snap a quick pic or video to post on Facebook or whatever, but that's about it. Don't know if I'll even do that!

DH and I are texters, but not to the extreme. I love to shop in the parks, and lots of times DH likes to just sit outside and relax while I do that. Texting comes in handy to quickly find each other.

It does bother me to see so many kids and teens with their noses in their phones and Gameboys, and not having conversations with their families, but that's how it seems to be anymore. My niece is notorious for that. When we take her and my nephew up to NYC on trips, she knows that the phone stays in her purse. She only answers calls that come in, and keeps them short. But, around her parents, I swear the phone is sewn to her ear!

[Mousemates]

I tend to agree with the "who cares" group on this one...that is unless its my teen who's doing the texting...we'll let them have at it (texting wise) to a point, but when we are at a meal or in a show they know their limits (or they lose phone for a while).

I also agree with the whole generational thing in terms of the complaints...seems that I remember "adults" (llike people my moms age) complaining about "kids" walking around with their ipods not paying attention ) or 'adults talking on cell phones (in restaurants, malls, etc) acting like "bigshots" (what my father in law called them)....now that generation wears ipods and talks on their cell phones everywhere they go ...in my opinion its only a matter of time until this technology completely jumps the generation gap as well.

[Aggie97]

If someone wants to text while on vacation, in line for a ride, on a bus or boat, in a shop, while dining in a restaurant, or in lieu of ever speaking to the other members of their party, I could not care less!

However, it REALLY bothers me when someone texts during a darkened ride, show, or movie. The bright light from a cell phone/PDA screen is unbelievably distracting.

I feel that's the only time a stranger's texting actually has an adverse affect on my WDW experience. It's truly inconsiderate.

In my opinion, it would have to be a pretty dire texting emergency () to prevent a person from waiting until the end of a darkened WDW attraction to send a text....

[Jeniflower]

Hey if they want to text its their choice but if they miss out its their loss. I'll be leaving my phone at the resort, but thats my choice

One time texting is good: Text a joke to the Monster's Inc laugh Floor

[TheVBs]

I don't think the complaints are centered around texting in general. It's a great tool that a lot of people use and it's very popular with teens. I think the frustraion really lies with texting when it's inappropriate, dark rides, movies, when it impedes your ability to navigate around others.