11 Of The Rudest Things People Do At Theme Parks

Etiquette experts share the faux pas to avoid when you visit an amusement park.

Culture & Parenting Reporter, HuffPost

The expectation versus reality of a theme park day can be quite stark. Think: blazing sun, massive crowds, line-cutters with no remorse, selfie sticks getting conspicuously close to your eyes and people filming videos everywhere you try to move.

And then there are the folks who just stop suddenly right in front of you to check their phone, causing a five-person pileup. And that’s just the first hour. Etiquette experts say these kinds of moments are far too common but entirely avoidable.

“Keep in mind, whether for a day or over a week, theme parks are an escape from reality, but not from other humans,” Jodi R.R. Smith, the president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, told HuffPost. “They may not live up to their commercials or your expectations if you are unprepared.”

You have a responsibility to do your part by remaining respectful, patient and kind, which helps create a pleasant environment for yourself and everyone else.

“Visiting a theme park is not simply about enjoying the thrilling rides and eating cotton candy. It is also about how you interact with others and how you make people feel as you navigate the park,” said Jackie Vernon-Thompson, the founder of From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette. “The rides may provide the excitement, but courtesy helps make the experience enjoyable for everyone.”

To help make your next amusement park outing a good time for all, HuffPost asked Smith, Vernon-Thompson and other etiquette experts to share the common rude behaviors they recommend avoiding ― and what to do instead.

Trying To Cut The Line

“A significant faux pas is pushing or attempting to make your way ahead of others in line,” Vernon-Thompson said. “This is the epitome of poor etiquette and inconsideration.........

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