"It's his/ her Birrday!!!" Woes

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

O k, early today on the parade route. I went off to close A - side of Matterhorn. Matterhorn has two lines, which leads to two sides. We close off one side, because it was for a parade, small parade route, big floats, you get the picture?? Anyways, I believe about half an hour later, after saying, "Sorry, this side is close, but the other line on the other side of the mountain is still open." to hundreds and hundreds of guests, I went up to a point where the entrance lines intersects the exit, a group of black people came up saying that they want to enter. I said, I was sorry, but the line is already closed for the parade. The mother goes, but it's her Birthday!! I said that I was sorry, I can't let them in since I alreadt said "No" to lots of people. We continue this for about 5 or 10 more minutes, when a family of four came hopping over the chains to join their remaining party in the line, after one of remaining party members told me that the rest of them went to the bathroom and are coming back, and the black mother goes to me and asks why I let them in, and I replied that they are joining their family. She then goes to say "Can't you find it in your heart to let her in just because it is her birthday??" I was thinking, "No, ma'am, I have no heart!" She then goes to say that God will look down on me with vengence........or something like that, lol!! Again, I am thinking, "Yeah.......sorry, ma'am, I am not a religious man!!!" Soon, I left them to follow the line in and the next thing I know, the mother drops the chains, follows me, and asks for a lead!!! I went up to Matterhorn Greeter and asked for their lead, he went to get the lead, the lead comes, and takes care of the situtation. The lead talke to me, and then talks to them. He comes back to me and tells me what he is going to do for them and reviews it with me. So, as a result, he has them wait for 15 minutes outside, and lets them in to wait some more, the whole length of the line. I swear, people want to be treated special just because it is thier son's or daughter's birthday!! They have a nerve to ask for it!!

Anyone got any more Birthday Woes?

[Main Streeter]

the black mother goes to me and asks why I let them in, and I replied that they are joining their family. She then goes to say "Can't you find it in your heart to let her in just because it is her birthday??" I was thinking, "No, ma'am, I have no heart!" She then goes to say that God will look down on me with vengence........or something like that, lol!! Dan, you put this so totally correct! On the floor:hysteria: Can't count the times I've been called heartless, or if I have a heart some guests say it's black. The vengance thing is a riot. At the Happiest Place On Earth we all have been threatened with hell @ least once per per day. Sorry this happened to you, but you've just posted my laugh for the week. Thanks ;)

[Alyssa3467]

What? Heartless at Disneyland? What will King Mickey and Sora do? :p:

[CBeilby]

What? Heartless at Disneyland? What will King Mickey and Sora do? :p:

We'll find out next week when KH2 comes out. :p: :p: :p: :p:

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

She then goes to say that God will look down on me with vengence

Got to love it when they pull out the God card. Haha.

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Yeah, hahaha, that made me laugh inside!!!
Dan, you put this so totally correct! On the floor:hysteria: Can't count the times I've been called heartless, or if I have a heart some guests say it's black. The vengance thing is a riot. At the Happiest Place On Earth we all have been threatened with hell @ least once per per day. Sorry this happened to you, but you've just posted my laugh for the week. Thanks ;)

Well, I am glad that I made you laugh, hahaha!!!

Oh, the thing I forgot is, when the mother dropped the chain, a whole line of people start to follow her. Before that, when she asked to let them through she goes, "Well, at least I had the tendencey to come up to ask you and not jump the chains!" At that point, I thought to myself, "Well, it doesn't mean that I would let you through if you asked." I said no, no matter what.

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Well, I believe earlier tonight I have the tendency to make children cry, :twisted: Muahahaha!!! Earlier on tonight, on Astro Orbitor, a young kid who wanted to ride by himself in a rocket. I go and ask him how old he was, he replied that he was 6 and a half. He father informed me that this weekend would be his Birrfday weekend that would be in four days. I regrettable informed them he was too young to go alone. He then started to cry and his dad goes, "Good job, you made his day" in the rudest tone of voice possible. I apologized saying that I don't make the rules, just enforce them.

Hmmm..........my job or his Birthday, his safety or my behind? I am not going to bend or break the rules just because it is their Birthday, geez!! If something happends to him, it would be my job on the line, but he lied about his son's age and something then happened to him, then it would be his fault. I am not going to risk that!

[Main Streeter]

I am not going to bend or break the rules just because it is their Birthday, geez!! If something happends to him, it would be my job on the line.Good call DLR Dan :hi5:. His actual Birrday was probably last Sept. ;) You know how these parents always pad the kid's shoes & lie. Everyday is their Birrday when they want something @ DLR :twisted:

[PirateJohn]

I go and ask him how old he was, he replied that he was 6 and a half. He father informed me that this weekend would be his Birrfday weekend that would be in four days.Is my math bad here? The kid is 6 1/2 and his birthday is in four days?

Are years only eight days long now?

[felinefan]

Isn't it amazing how such a common thing as a birthday is held to be the day when miracles happen--like the laws of physics suddenly take a hike, safety rules magically become irrelevant, and there is just no way anything bad could possibly happen, just because it's somebody's birthday? Trust me, I and just about anyone else you ask, if they've had enough birthdays, can testify to the fact that just because a day happens to mark your entrance into the world, that does not mean nothing bad can happen, because it can and does. The forces of nature and physics don't care if it's your birthday or not, you break the rules, you pay the penalty. Another one guests give is that the kid has ridden this ride thousands of times before, and nothing happened. If that were true, literally thousands of times, that means the kid must've been riding before they were born, and pretty dang lucky to boot. I remember reading about this 6 year old girl--don't know what park, and I don't think it's on themeparkinsider.com--she qualified for her favorite ride by age and height, and asked to be allowed to ride six times--one for each year. For the first 5 rides, she obeyed the rules and kept her feet on the floor during the ride. But on the last ride, she put her feet up on the seat, so that her safety belt didn't restrain her properly, and she fell out of the ride unit and was killed. And when I worked at Knott's, more than once I've seen kids stand up, hang hands, arms, feet and legs out, etc., and it's a miracle they didn't lose life or limb. And of course as we all know, when/if something does happen, the parents decide it 's our fault, and sue the park. I understand that when that woman was killed on Perilous Plunge at Knott's several years ago, they argued back and forth about the restraint system, how it was Knott's fault, when in reality it was the fact that she put the belt too low on her waist, changing her center of gravity, and I've been told it was also her weight and where in the boat she was sitting that contributed to the accident. But you try telling a morbidly obese person they can't ride. Yeesh! But if it had been that woman's birthday, if nothing else changed, she still would've died, birthday or not. A birthday isn't special enough to circumvent reality.

[NotANewbie]

i have an easy solution to this problem:

i keep a stack of birthday stickers in my pocket... when a parent plays the "it's his/her birthday" card, i immediately stop talking to the parent, and focus ALL of my attention on the kid...

"happy birthday, sweetie! want a sticker so everyone knows it's your birthday? are you having fun? what's the coolest thing you've done today? have you met mickey yet? etc. etc. etc..."

when the parents see that i don't hate their child, and that i really AM just enforcing a rule they're usually a lot nicer about letting me do my job.

also, for some reason, parents just LOVE watching their children talk... and they usually forget all about how pissed they are when they see their kid being cute.

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Is my math bad here? The kid is 6 1/2 and his birthday is in four days?

Are years only eight days long now?

Their words, not mine! I can see that the kid gots his edumacion! LOL

[Main Streeter]

Are years only eight days long now?Possibly. DLR made 18 months = a year. ;) :D:

[leftcoaster]

Possibly. DLR made 18 months = a year. ;) :D:Do you mean how TWDC's "yearlong celebration" that last for 18 months? ;)

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Possibly. DLR made 18 months = a year. ;) :D:

It reminds me at Knott's halloween haunt, they make fun of Disney at "The Hanging" saying that "Only disney will make you believe that one year is 18 months!" When I heard that I laugh my ass off!! LOL

[Cire]

Once I checked this little girl's height.

I determined she was too small to ride.

The mom looked at me and said, "but it's her birthday!"

"Happy Birthday!" I said and then I opened the chain and escorted them out of line!

[felinefan]

In ancient Rome, Roman politicians would regularly lengthen or shorten months, as well as recalculate the length of years, for their own ends, such as staying longer in a favored position of government, or getting out of a hated job. Isn't it amazing how little things have changed!

[Max Fischer]

Got to love it when they pull out the God card. Haha.


No Shit!! I would prefer that God focus on important issues like the Middle East Crisis, Gas Prices and Britney's parenting skills.....

[Max Fischer]

Once I checked this little girl's height.

I determined she was too small to ride.

The mom looked at me and said, "but it's her birthday!"

"Happy Birthday!" I said and then I opened the chain and escorted them out of line!That is SO sweet.

I used to work for a large cities truancy enforcement (anti-ditching squad) and this kid missed over 100 school days and I was citing him. Well you have to have their height/weight, etc. and I asked him his date of birth and he told me what it was. I looked at his DOB and then at the date I wrote under the 'Today's Date' section. It was the same date. I was like, uhh, sorry kid.

[PirateJohn]

That is SO sweet.

I used to work for a large cities truancy enforcement (anti-ditching squad) and this kid missed over 100 school days and I was citing him. Well you have to have their height/weight, etc. and I asked him his date of birth and he told me what it was. I looked at his DOB and then at the date I wrote under the 'Today's Date' section. It was the same date. I was like, uhh, sorry kid.And if you were citing him the day before, I'm sure he would have listed the date before as his birthday...

[Max Fischer]

And if you were citing him the day before, I'm sure he would have listed the date before as his birthday...


In theory that could be true, but trust me PJ, this kid wasn't so bright. I pulled him up on the computer, his DOB was correct. He wouldn't have been able to think of switching his info, which he might have learned if he would have just stayed in school and gotten an education on how to lie, etc.

[leftcoaster]

No Shit!! I would prefer that God focus on important issues like the Middle East Crisis, Gas Prices and Britney's parenting skills.....

He must be busy with some really super important stuff, because he surely isn't focusing on those. ;)

[Max Fischer]

Great point. Maybe he is really into golf and that's what he has been up to.

[Main Streeter]

Britney's parenting skills.....Now this is one STUPID who shouldn't be allowed to breed :eek:

[leftcoaster]

Great point. Maybe he is really into golf and that's what he has been up to.

He could be working on His handicap.

[Ottar]

Thankfully, bitrhdays (real or not) are not a common thing to bring up at DLP when you want your kid to be traumatized by a safety harness...
However, once when working on Peter Pan's Flight I had trouble getting a mother with a 5-year old boy to get out of their ship when the ride was over. They just would not get out and she kep repeating "Je parle pas francais!" and just sat there. I had to reply "But I'm SPEAKING ENGLISH!" several times until she reacted and instead told me to let the ride once more because it was her son's birthday today.
I bent down, asked for the kid's name ("Michael!") and then said "Wow, Michael, its your birthday today?!" and the kid replies "No, my birthday is on the 14th of January!" (this was halfway into July).
In the end, I had to let them ride again because the backup of ships that was piling up behind their ship was getting to the point where we were risking a 101. However, when they did disembark after the second ride, my lead (who has been watching the whole thing and was still laughing at the mother's expression when her kid didnt play along) told her to "set a better example to her son. Liars don't get far in this world.". She hissed something to the effect of "None of your d*** business" and dragged her kid away.
Some people...

[PirateJohn]

In the end, I had to let them ride again because the backup of ships that was piling up behind their ship was getting to the point where we were risking a 101. However, when they did disembark after the second ride, my lead (who has been watching the whole thing and was still laughing at the mother's expression when her kid didnt play along) told her to "set a better example to her son. Liars don't get far in this world.". She hissed something to the effect of "None of your d*** business" and dragged her kid away.
Some people...

Frankly, if I had been the lead I would have made sure it was security waiting for her at the exit.

[lady ulrike]

In the end, I had to let them ride again because the backup of ships that was piling up behind their ship was getting to the point where we were risking a 101. However, when they did disembark after the second ride, my lead (who has been watching the whole thing and was still laughing at the mother's expression when her kid didnt play along) told her to "set a better example to her son. Liars don't get far in this world.". She hissed something to the effect of "None of your d*** business" and dragged her kid away.
Some people...


I would've been highly tempted to let it back up and then make sure the whole line knew why the ride wasn't running. Honestly if something like this happens on my last day, I would let it back up and then get on the PA to tell the line. :twisted:

[Cire]

What made me mad about the birthday excuse is that the parents seem to think that I would compromise the safety of the child simply because it's their birthday!! That is so ridiculous to me! I can't believe people would even mention that!