What do you do?
We were close, had I been 2 seconds later I do believe he would have touched her.
I missed the beginning as I had the 3yo in a stroller about 15-20 feet away. Aparantly a larger than most female stood directly in front of our 5yo in a stroller watching the fireworks. My wife asked the lady to move as the boy could not see. Lady makes some snippy comment about getting the kid some glasses if he can’t see. My wife, not mentioning, the lady’s size states she is the reason the 5yo can’t see the fireworks and there is room elsewhere.
I am about 20 feet to the side as there was a large planter that I went to the other side of for my 3yo to have a better view. I don’t see the interaction between my wife and the lady. What gets my attention is the lady begins yelling at a male he comes back. Lady says something to him then she points at my wife, I can’t hear what was said because of the fireworks. He then turns to my wife and advances on her pretty quickly with his index and ring finger pointed at her face. Of course I see this and start towards my wife and I hear him yell “ mind your fucking business” there was something he said before that but again could not hear.
I make the angle and get beside him and look him in the eyes and politely but quite sternly say “I think it is time you get to stepping.” He looked at me quite surprised, pretty sure he thought my wife was alone since I was a bit away. I think he said “don’t fucking tell me.” I stopped him and said “no it is really time to step on.”
I’m 6’2” 240 he was not and I think his sense kicked in and they decided to get along their way.

Had I been a few more seconds behind or not caught the interaction when I did I have no doubt he would have made physical contact with my wife who had a sleeping 1yo strapped to her chest.

I like to think I would have kept my composure and shuffle my crew out of there but I am honestly not sure he would not have been introduced to the pavement had he touched her.
Thankfully we did not find out but the what if sceneries certainly rolled around in my head afterward.

Good on you for stepping up to your families defense. Asshats like him and his large woman are too common in our society.

After he got off the floor, I'd find out if florida had laws about allowing children to witness violence, and charge him with them. You can't not see a child on a chest bro.

You responded exactly as I would have. Good for you!

What's wrong with people?

Thank goodness you were nearby enough to stave off what he might have done next, even if it was "just" a moron laying an inappropriate (but non-murderous/etc) hand on her.

You guys were seconds away from a life changing scenario, and that guy probably doesn't even realize how lucky he was that you were right there. Seconds later he could have been a drunk fool or garden variety asshole mistaken for a kidnapper or rapist or something...

I'm impressed you handled it as cool and non-physical as you did, given how close he got and his approach. The inclination to put him on his ass/back must have been strong.

I don’t know what I would do but you seemed to have done right.

I can see the guy stepping in but to talk and behave that way... like someone asked, what is wrong with people???

That’s part of the Disney experience now. Get yelled at, cussed out, your shit stolen, and/or pickpocketed by a foreign tourist. Happiest place on earth.

Did your wife hear what was said? How did she respond? How fricking awful to have that happen, esp at Disney.
With her baby physically on her, she would have been defenseless.
What an ahole, and what a bitch to say something so snarky instead of trying to make room. Sad.

You did what I would have done. Calm and quiet, eyes locked on his.

quote:

Originally posted by rsbolo:
You did what I would have done. Calm and quiet, eyes locked on his.

This.

You responded very well. It is best not to escalate things and create an even bigger problem. It is a real shame there are animals like these people at a theme park where everyone should be having a good time.

It sounds like you handled it really well. The only thing I would have possibly added is to report them to security and find out if the family-oriented park has a policy regarding profanity.

So did this woman just walk up and stand in front of your son?



.

He could have been a short run attraction.

OP, you have more restraint then I do when it comes to my family

It sounds like you handled it perfectly.

This example is why my wife and I avoid crowds altogether any more. People are too into themselves and have lost their social manners in this day and age.

Jim

Thank you for that Jack Reacher moment. Size matters.

In California or Florida ?
Back in the 90's Disney in Fla Was wonderful. I saw nothing like that the whole 2 weeks we were there.
Times have changed .....

In my mind, you would have been justified in doing pretty much anything to get him out of touching distance. If you thought he was winding up to swing and you shot him, I think most prosecutors would not charge. If he tried to punch her and hit the 1 yr old strapped to her chest, they could easily be killed. I have seen too much of what adult strength can do to babies.
That could have gone so wrong, so fast, that I applaud you for getting it handled so peacefully and wouldn't deny you anything in the toolbox, to solve that problem.

Shudder.

That's the stuff of nightmares, right there.

Glad everyone is safe.

Bruce

When we were in Paris I had an aggressive African street vendor of Chinese produced Eiffel tower miniatures make a move toward my eight year old daughter as if he was going to be grabbing her wrist.

I said to him "Have you no further use for that arm?"

He erupted in English with words to the effect of "You crazy fucking Americans think you can get away with anything."

The bottom line was he backed off and did not touch my child and I did not have to defend her and all was well.

Often a verbal warning will cause even the most ardent idiot to reconsider what they were doing.

Good on you.

You were probably within seconds of Disney security stepping in. You are being watched constantly when outside your room.