Theme Park Etiquette, Part Two
Following up on the last post, here is Part 2 of my Theme Park Etiquette post, focused on handling yourself well:
Wait your turn. This seems to be a bigger issue in what I will call group gathering areas like bus stops. When people have been lined up waiting for transportation or a show to start, don’t be *that person* and walk in front of them to board first or have a better view. That is just rude.
Consider your attire. I don’t mean wearing business or dressy clothes. Casual is the standard for theme parks. However, I do encourage thinking about writing or graphics on your clothes and whether they are meant for mixed company. Even if they aren’t blatantly vulgar or filled with curse words, if they are a “wink wink” suggestion of something vulgar, they probably should be kept for a time when you aren’t surrounded by people of all ages. I was astounded at the number of t-shirts I saw during this recent trip that broadcast some not-very-well-veiled innuendo, and hoped that I would not be put in the cringeworthy position of my child asking “what does that mean?”
Along with this: consider your language. I am not personally offended by adults engaging in “spicy” language with one another in an appropriate setting. However, I do think that it needs to be kept to the right time and right place. I still remember the guy behind me and my then five year old child on an airplane who apparently thought that the “F word” needed to be said every three or four words as he spoke loudly throughout a two hour flight. There are a lot of different people with different tolerances for harsh language around. And plenty of them don’t want you teaching their children new words.
Keep the volume of electronic devices low. Whether you are on a bus, in a line, or resting on a bench, be aware that the device you or your child is listening to might be disturbingly loud to others. Your video or voice call should not encroach upon the conversation of the family at the next table, and your child’s video game may not be a welcome soundtrack to others’ experience.
Be careful about not stopping in the middle of a walkway. These places are crowded. Really crowded. When the herd is moving along, it can create a dangerous situation when someone stops suddenly and everyone else has to screech to a halt. If you need to stop, move over to the side so that others can go around you more easily and a traffic jam doesn’t ensue.
Do not walk down sidewalks or walkways with your entire family lined up shoulder to shoulder. I guess this is okay if your family is just two, maybe three people. But any more than that, and you need to make a few lines. Having six or more people walking all together and blocking a walkway is a sure way for everyone struggling to get past you think that you are self absorbed and rude.
Watch yourself. By this, I mean be careful of how you are moving and might be encroaching on others’ personal space. Flinging your arms out to point at something could result in poking another person in the eye. Not watching where your stroller or scooter is in relation to those around you can mean a scraped ankle or tumble onto the ground for a person you accidentally hit in front of you.
I hope that these notes will help you and others around you to have a great experience on your next visit to an entertainment venue!