Skip to main content

Do you love or hate places that are...

...very crowded?

My wife and I have hit up three Walt Disney World parks over the last couple of days (hence the reason you haven't seen me post new content lately!) and let me tell you: Never in my life have I seen or been in so crowded a place.

It's mind-boggling how packed the Disney parks get, especially Magic Kingdom. You can't walk a few yards without bumping into someone. I realize this is perhaps the busiest time of year to visit in light of all the holiday shows they put on. But they'll have to do something to contain the number of people going into these parks. Otherwise, pushing and shoving will escalate into all-out brawls, and mad dashes to go on rides might devolve into stampedes where people get seriously injured.

Maybe it's just me, but the police presence at Disney has seemed rather light. Perhaps the massive crowds are indicative of the fact that Disney has become too big for its own good.

This brings me to my main point: I absolutely loathe going to places that insanely crowded. It's not that I'm claustrophobic per se -- but I become overwhelmed when there's too much noise and commotion in my immediate environment. It feels like an assault on the senses. I don't know how my wife and I managed to do it, but we spent all day at the parks over a 3-day span. We were there from about 8 a.m. until after 10 p.m.

We got home so exhausted yesterday that we agreed to use our next two vacation days to relax and recharge.

What I find even more jarring is the number of moms/couples who go to the parks with newborns in tow. I saw many of them carrying the babies while in line to get on rides, or navigating the parks with their young children in strollers, even after sundown.

I think parents should follow this rule of thumb: If the kids are so young where they probably won't remember the trip when they get older, then their little ones are not at the age where they should thrust into all the hustle and bustle of Disney World.

Thus, I try to avoid big crowds like the plague. There's a lot to be said for a quiet evening with a good book and cup of joe. Mind you, I don't mind being around people, but when it gets to the point where I feel they're invading my personal space, that's where I draw the line.

If I have a choice between seeing the widely watched New Year's Eve countdown in New York City (hosted by Ryan Seacrest) on TV from the comfort of my home or being there in person, I'd choose the former.

Where do you stand on this? Do you hate enormous crowds as much as I do?

Comments

Unknown said…
Im glad you said this because I was feeling bad we didnt take our kids to disney when they were little but we did take them to Busch Gardens and it was not crowded and included n amazing aquatic adventure there were only like 27 familys and we were the only Americans. It as really neat I think it was Discovery Cove. and Busch Gardens was beyond amazing. Yall should try that.
Will look into it -- thanks for commenting!

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

The 1 good thing cheaters do for us

Nothing good could come of a relationship marred by infidelity, right? The heartache, the shock, the feeling of one's trust being violated.  In the short-term, being cheated on can turn one's world upside down. But eventually, there may be a light awaiting the cheated at the end of the tunnel.  If you really think about it, cheaters end up doing us a huge favor.  In their selfishness and disloyalty, they end up showing us that we deserve better.  If you're so unfortunate as to be a victim of such acts of betrayal, you can only hope the cheater is considerate enough to own up to their missteps.  But we all know full well that, in many cases, the cheater is either caught in the act or leaves behind a trail of hints that ultimately culminates in their undoing. The more classy thing to do is to discuss their feelings openly with their partner before straying.  If all talks lead to an impasse or a further escalation of tensions, both parties should take it as a ...